US3894477A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Follow-up control device
Assignee: Tsubakimoto Chain Co
•
Filing: 1973-03-21
•
Granted: 1975-07-15
•
Expires: 1993-03-21
Abstract
Abstract A follow-up control device comprising a pneumatic cylinder connected in series or parallel with a hydraulic cylinder for controlling the movement of a load device relative to a further device, such as for transferring an article or commodity from a load device onto the hanger of a movable conveyor. The pneumatic cylinder functions as the power source for moving the load device, and the hydraulic cylinder functions as a speed control for controlling the speed of movement of the load device. The hydraulic cylinder is coupled with a substantially closed hydraulic circuit for controlling the movement of the load.
Inventors
- 👤 Hisao Tomikawa
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 13:51
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G47/00; B65G47/52; B65G47/60; B65G47/61; F; F15; F15B; F15B11/00; F15B11/02; F15B11/06; F15B11/072; F15B11/076; F15B21/00; F15B21/08; F15B2211/00; F15B2211/30; F15B2211/305; F15B2211/30505; F15B2211/30525; F15B2211/31; F15B2211/3138; F15B2211/32; F15B2211/327; F15B2211/40; F15B2211/405; F15B2211/40515; F15B2211/42; F15B2211/426; F15B2211/455; F15B2211/46; F15B2211/60; F15B2211/63; F15B2211/6303; F15B2211/6336; F15B2211/665; F15B2211/6654; F15B2211/70; F15B2211/705; F15B2211/7051; F15B2211/7053; F15B2211/7055
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
452 words
In combination, a follow-up control device connected to a reciprocating article transfer unit for controlling the operation thereof, comprising: power means drivingly connected to said transfer unit for moving same; speed control means coacting with said power means for limiting the rate at which said transfer unit is moved in at least one direction; said power means including pneumatic cylinder means having a first cylinder housing and first piston means slidably disposed within and movable relative to said cylinder housing, said first piston means including a first piston rod slidably extending outwardly from at least one end of said first cylinder housing; said speed control means including hydraulic cylinder means having a second cylinder housing and second piston means slidably supported on and movable relative to said second cyLinder housing, said second piston means including a second piston rod slidably extending outwardly from at least one end of said second cylinder housing; means coacting between an operatively connecting said first and second piston rods for causing synchronous movement thereof; means associated with one of said piston rods for fixedly interconnecting same to said transfer unit; hydraulic circuitry means associated with said hydraulic cylinder means for providing for flow of hydraulic fluid between the opposite ends of said second cylinder housing in response to movement of said second piston means, said circuitry means including flow control valve means associated therewith and defining a restricted flow passage for controlling the rate at which fluid may flow therethrough from one end of said second cylinder housing to the other end of said second cylinder housing, whereby said flow rate through said flow control valve means restricts the rate of movement of said second piston means, which in turn restricts the rate of movement of said first piston means; said flow control valve means being shiftable between open and closed positions, said flow control valve means being normally maintained in said closed position wherein flow from said one end of said second cylinder housing to said other end thereof is prevented, movement of said flow control valve means into said open position permitting controlled flow from said one end of said second cylinder housing to said other end thereof; a control device operatively associated with said flow control valve means for activating same to cause movement thereof from said normally closed position into said open position; and detecting means mounted on the transfer unit for detecting the presence of an object which is moving relative to said transfer unit, said detecting means when sensing said object activating said control device to cause said valve means to be moved into said open position to unlock the hydraulic cylinder means to permit controlled movement of the transfer unit.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
452 words
In combination, a follow-up control device connected to a reciprocating article transfer unit for controlling the operation thereof, comprising: power means drivingly connected to said transfer unit for moving same; speed control means coacting with said power means for limiting the rate at which said transfer unit is moved in at least one direction; said power means including pneumatic cylinder means having a first cylinder housing and first piston means slidably disposed within and movable relative to said cylinder housing, said first piston means including a first piston rod slidably extending outwardly from at least one end of said first cylinder housing; said speed control means including hydraulic cylinder means having a second cylinder housing and second piston means slidably supported on and movable relative to said second cyLinder housing, said second piston means including a second piston rod slidably extending outwardly from at least one end of said second cylinder housing; means coacting between an operatively connecting said first and second piston rods for causing synchronous movement thereof; means associated with one of said piston rods for fixedly interconnecting same to said transfer unit; hydraulic circuitry means associated with said hydraulic cylinder means for providing for flow of hydraulic fluid between the opposite ends of said second cylinder housing in response to movement of said second piston means, said circuitry means including flow control valve means associated therewith and defining a restricted flow passage for controlling the rate at which fluid may flow therethrough from one end of said second cylinder housing to the other end of said second cylinder housing, whereby said flow rate through said flow control valve means restricts the rate of movement of said second piston means, which in turn restricts the rate of movement of said first piston means; said flow control valve means being shiftable between open and closed positions, said flow control valve means being normally maintained in said closed position wherein flow from said one end of said second cylinder housing to said other end thereof is prevented, movement of said flow control valve means into said open position permitting controlled flow from said one end of said second cylinder housing to said other end thereof; a control device operatively associated with said flow control valve means for activating same to cause movement thereof from said normally closed position into said open position; and detecting means mounted on the transfer unit for detecting the presence of an object which is moving relative to said transfer unit, said detecting means when sensing said object activating said control device to cause said valve means to be moved into said open position to unlock the hydraulic cylinder means to permit controlled movement of the transfer unit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
61 words
A combination according to claim 1, wherein said circuitry means includes means associated therewith for permitting return flow of fluid from said other end of said second cylinder housing to said one end of said second cylinder housing at a rate substantially greater than the rate at which fluid is permitted to flow from said one end toward said other end.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
178 words
A combination according to claim 1, wherein said circuitry means includes first passageway means providing fluid communication between the opposite ends of said second cylinder housing, said flow control valve means being associated with said first passageway means for permitting restricted flow therethrough at a controlled rate as said fluid flows in a first direction from said one end of said second housing to said other end of said second housing, said first passageway means further including one-way check valve means associated therewith for preventing flow of fluid through said first passageway means in a second direction which is opposite said first direction, said circuitry means including second passageway means disposed substantially parallel to said first passageway means and providing communication between the opposite ends of said second housing, said second passageway means including one-way check valve means associated therewith for positively preventing flow of fluid from said one end of said housing to said other end thereof while permitting unrestricted fluid flow in a direction from said other end of said housing toward said one end thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
124 words
A combination according to claim 3, further including shiftable valve means associated with said pneumatic cylinder means for controlling the flow of pressurized air thereto, said shiftable valve means being selectively positionable in a first position for supplying pressurized air to one end of said first cylinder housing for moving said first piston means in a first direction and being shiftable into a second position for supplying air to the other end of said second cylinder housing for moving said first piston means in a second direction which is opposite said first direction, and controlling means responsive to the movement of said transfer unit for effecting shifting of said shiftable valve means for causing reversal in the direction of travel of said transfer unit.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
417 words
A controlled transfer apparatus for use with a device moving in a first direction along a first path to permit transfer of an article between said device and said apparatus, comprising: guide means defining a second path which is spaced from but substantially parallel to said first path; carriage means coacting with said guide means for reciprocating movement along said second path, said carriage means having means associated therewith for permitting transfer of an article between said device and said carriage means; power means drivingly connected to said carriage means for reciprocating same, said power means including pneumatic cylinder means having a first cylinder housing and first piston means slidably disposed within and movable relative to said first cylinder housing, said first piston means including a first piston rod slidably extending outwardly from at least one end of said first cylinder housing; speed control means coacting with said power means for limiting the rate at which said carriage means is moved in at least said first direction, said speed control means including hydraulic cylinder means having a second cylinder housing and second piston means slidably supported on and movable relative to said second cylinder housing, said second piston means including a second piston rod slidably extending outwardly from at least one end of said second cylinder housing; means coacting between and operatively connecting said first and second piston rods for causing synchronous movement thereof; means associated with one of said piston rods for fixedly interconnecting same to said carriage means; first valve means associated with said pneumatic cylinder means for controlling the flow of air to and from said first cylinder housing; second valve means associated with said hydraulic cylinder means for controlling the flow of hydraulic fluid between the opposite ends of said second cylinder housing, said second valve means being normally maintained in a closed positin for preventing flow of fluid between the opposite ends of said second cylinder housing and being movable into an open position for permitting controlled flow of fluid from one end of said second cylinder housing to the other end thereof to permit controlled movement in said first direction, said hydraulic cylinder means being positively locked in a stationary condition when said second valve means is closed irrespective of the energization of the pneumatic cylinder means; and detecting means mounted on said carriage means for detecting the presence of said device and for activating said second valve means to move same into its open position when said device is detected.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
417 words
A controlled transfer apparatus for use with a device moving in a first direction along a first path to permit transfer of an article between said device and said apparatus, comprising: guide means defining a second path which is spaced from but substantially parallel to said first path; carriage means coacting with said guide means for reciprocating movement along said second path, said carriage means having means associated therewith for permitting transfer of an article between said device and said carriage means; power means drivingly connected to said carriage means for reciprocating same, said power means including pneumatic cylinder means having a first cylinder housing and first piston means slidably disposed within and movable relative to said first cylinder housing, said first piston means including a first piston rod slidably extending outwardly from at least one end of said first cylinder housing; speed control means coacting with said power means for limiting the rate at which said carriage means is moved in at least said first direction, said speed control means including hydraulic cylinder means having a second cylinder housing and second piston means slidably supported on and movable relative to said second cylinder housing, said second piston means including a second piston rod slidably extending outwardly from at least one end of said second cylinder housing; means coacting between and operatively connecting said first and second piston rods for causing synchronous movement thereof; means associated with one of said piston rods for fixedly interconnecting same to said carriage means; first valve means associated with said pneumatic cylinder means for controlling the flow of air to and from said first cylinder housing; second valve means associated with said hydraulic cylinder means for controlling the flow of hydraulic fluid between the opposite ends of said second cylinder housing, said second valve means being normally maintained in a closed positin for preventing flow of fluid between the opposite ends of said second cylinder housing and being movable into an open position for permitting controlled flow of fluid from one end of said second cylinder housing to the other end thereof to permit controlled movement in said first direction, said hydraulic cylinder means being positively locked in a stationary condition when said second valve means is closed irrespective of the energization of the pneumatic cylinder means; and detecting means mounted on said carriage means for detecting the presence of said device and for activating said second valve means to move same into its open position when said device is detected.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said detecting means includes a swingable detecting member mounted on said carriage means and projecting transversely therefrom towards said first path so as to be disposed for contact by said device.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-07-14 | 1979-01-13 | 1979-07-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-07-14 | 1983-01-13 | 1983-07-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-07-14 | 1987-01-13 | 1987-07-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |