US3920128A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Article transfer system with spatial adjustment
Assignee: Kliklok LLC
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Filing: 1974-01-25
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Granted: 1975-11-18
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Expires: 1994-01-25
Abstract
Abstract An article transfer apparatus and method is provided wherein a plurality of article pickup heads mounted on a movable support means is operative to pick up a plurality of spaced articles at a transfer station and move the articles to an output area while the array of articles is being compacted or spread, as desired. The adjustment of the space between the articles is accomplished by making the pickup heads in the form of collapsible suction cups with anti-collapse stiffening means on one side of the cups to tilt the articles either inwardly or outwardly with respect to the original article pattern. The stiffening means in the suction cup includes wedge members mounted in annular folds of the cup and interconnecting beads between the wedge members. The bottom fold is normally not provided with a wedge member and the lip serves to seal the cup on the article. A bifurcated wedge member is provided on the top of the cup and serves to cooperate with index means on the movable support. A second support means with pickup heads to handle a second array may be provided with mechanical mechanism to shift the two supports toward or away from each other.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas R Baker
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 05:58
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G47/00; B65G47/74; B65G47/90; B65G47/91; B65G47/918; A; A21; A21B; A21B3/00; A21B3/18
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
171 words
An article transfer system comprising an infeed conveyor for providing a group of articles in substantially a planar array at a transfer station, a plurality of article pickup heads corresponding to said array, each of said heads comprising a collapsible suction cup, and cup support means including a pneumatic manifold, and vacuum means connecting said manifold to effect attachment of said array of articles to the corresponding cup when said heads are brought into engagement therewith, said support means for said pickup heads being relatively movable to shift the same as a gang with respect to said transfer station and an output area having different spatial requirements for said array, and means to tilt at least one of said pickup heads toward or away from at least one adjacent pickup head, said tilt means being provided by anti-collapse stiffening means on one side of said cups opposite to the direction of the tilting action, whereby said array is compacted or spread and the spatial requirement of said output area is met.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
171 words
An article transfer system comprising an infeed conveyor for providing a group of articles in substantially a planar array at a transfer station, a plurality of article pickup heads corresponding to said array, each of said heads comprising a collapsible suction cup, and cup support means including a pneumatic manifold, and vacuum means connecting said manifold to effect attachment of said array of articles to the corresponding cup when said heads are brought into engagement therewith, said support means for said pickup heads being relatively movable to shift the same as a gang with respect to said transfer station and an output area having different spatial requirements for said array, and means to tilt at least one of said pickup heads toward or away from at least one adjacent pickup head, said tilt means being provided by anti-collapse stiffening means on one side of said cups opposite to the direction of the tilting action, whereby said array is compacted or spread and the spatial requirement of said output area is met.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
54 words
The article transfer system of claim 1 wherein said cups include a plurality of annular folds, said anticollapse stiffening means comprising a wedge member in at least one of said folds on said one side to maintain the fold uncollapsed, whereby the differential collapse of said folds across the cup produces the tilting action.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
The article transfer system of claim 2 wherein one of said wedge members is provided in each of said annular folds except the bottom fold, the lip of said bottom fold serving to seal said cup on said article.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
57 words
The article transfer system of claim 2 wherein one of said wedge members is provided in each of said annular folds except the bottom fold, screen means attached to the bottom fold serving to seal said cup on said article, said screen means having cross members to hold the top of said article from entering said cup.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
55 words
The article transfer system of claim 2 wherein one of said wedge members is provided in each of said annular folds except the bottom fold, and wherein is further provided reinforcement bead means spanning the inside limit of said annular folds on said one side and interconnecting adjacent wedge members to further assure against collapse.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
72 words
The article transfer system of claim 2 wherein one of said wedge members is provided in each of said annular folds except the bottom fold, a bifurcated wedge member on the top of each of said cups on said one side to further assure against collapse, and index means on said support means to be embraced by said bifurcated wedge member, to assure proper positioning of said cups on said support means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
192 words
An article transfer system comprising an infeed conveyor for providing a group of articles in substantially a planar array at a transfer station, a plurality of article pickup heads corresponding to said array, movable support means for said pickup heads to relatively shift the same as a gang with respect to said transfer station and an output area having different spatial requirements for said array, and means to tilt at least one of said pickup heads, said array is in the form of a polygon and said tilt means is applied to each of said heads to tilt the same in concert substantially toward or away from the center of said polygon to give two-dimensional hOrizontal adjustment, whereby said array is compacted or spread and the spatial requirement of said output area is met, said conveyor provides a second polygon-shaped array of articles adjacent the first mentioned array to be transferred, a second support means and corresponding pickup heads for said articles of said second array and means to shift said first and second support means relative to each other, whereby to effect composite spatial positioning of said first and second arrays.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
192 words
An article transfer system comprising an infeed conveyor for providing a group of articles in substantially a planar array at a transfer station, a plurality of article pickup heads corresponding to said array, movable support means for said pickup heads to relatively shift the same as a gang with respect to said transfer station and an output area having different spatial requirements for said array, and means to tilt at least one of said pickup heads, said array is in the form of a polygon and said tilt means is applied to each of said heads to tilt the same in concert substantially toward or away from the center of said polygon to give two-dimensional hOrizontal adjustment, whereby said array is compacted or spread and the spatial requirement of said output area is met, said conveyor provides a second polygon-shaped array of articles adjacent the first mentioned array to be transferred, a second support means and corresponding pickup heads for said articles of said second array and means to shift said first and second support means relative to each other, whereby to effect composite spatial positioning of said first and second arrays.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-11-17 | 1979-05-19 | 1979-11-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-11-17 | 1983-05-19 | 1983-11-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-11-17 | 1987-05-19 | 1987-11-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |