US3921820A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Picker
Assignee: ALPHA MACHINE AND TOOL CORP
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Filing: 1974-03-04
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Granted: 1975-11-25
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Expires: 1994-03-04
Abstract
Abstract The picker includes an open frame carrier secured to a molding machine for linear movement along support rods in the direction of movement of one of the mold platens, i.e., a Y-axis direction, under control of a first fluid cylinder. The carrier, in turn, mounts a carriage for linear movement in a direction normal thereto, i.e., an X-axis direction, also under the control of a second fluid cylinder. Depending from the carriage is a picker arm under control of a third fluid cylinder for movement in the X-axis direction and which picker arm terminates at its inner end in a pair of jaws or fingers, the opening and closing of which are under control of a fourth cylinder. A limit switch is mounted on the mold machine for actuation when the movable mold platen obtains its open position. A pair of air switches are carried by the carrier. When the mold is fully open, the limit switch is closed by the movable platen to actuate the first air switch which, in turn, actuates the second and third cylinders for movement of the jaws along the X-axis and between the mold faces. Toward the end of the movement in the X-direction, the first cylinder is actuated to move the jaws in the Y-direction. At the end of the carriage movement, the carriage actuates an air switch which closes the jaws about the article. The carrier is then automatically retracted after a time delay in the X and Ydirections. The second air switch is then reset and opens the jaws whereby the article grasped is dropped onto a chute.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert Raymond Crockett
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 15:59
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29C; B29C45/00; B29C45/17; B29C45/1759; B21; B21D; B21D43/00; B21D43/02; B21D43/04; B21D43/10; B21D43/105; B25; B25J; B25J9/00; B25J9/02; B25J9/023; B25J9/026; B25J9/10; B25J9/1005; B25J9/101; B25J9/14; B25J9/144; B29C45/40; B29C45/42; B29C2045/4266; B29C45/76; B29C45/7626; B29C2045/7633
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
213 words
A picker comprising a mounting unit, a carrier carried by said mounting unit for linear movement along a first predetermined linearly extending path, a first fluid actuated cylinder for moving said carrier in opposite directions along said predetermined path, a gripping unit carried by said carrier for movement with said carrier along said first predetermined path and for linear movement along a second predetermined linearly extending path substantially normal to said first predetermined path, a second fluid actuated cylinder for moving said gripping unit in opposite directions along said second predetermined path, said gripping unit including a pair of gripping elements movable between open and closed positions, means carried by said gripping unit for moving said elements between said open and closed positions, a carriage slidably carried by said carrier for linear movement along a path parallel to said second predetermined path, means coupling said gripping unit to said carriage for movement therewith, said second fluid actuated cylinder being carried by said carrier for moving said carriage and the gripping unit carried thereby in opposite directions along said parallel path, a third fluid actuated cylinder carried by said carriage for movement therewith and coupled between said gripping unit and said carriage to provide for movement of said gripping unit relative to said carriage.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
213 words
A picker comprising a mounting unit, a carrier carried by said mounting unit for linear movement along a first predetermined linearly extending path, a first fluid actuated cylinder for moving said carrier in opposite directions along said predetermined path, a gripping unit carried by said carrier for movement with said carrier along said first predetermined path and for linear movement along a second predetermined linearly extending path substantially normal to said first predetermined path, a second fluid actuated cylinder for moving said gripping unit in opposite directions along said second predetermined path, said gripping unit including a pair of gripping elements movable between open and closed positions, means carried by said gripping unit for moving said elements between said open and closed positions, a carriage slidably carried by said carrier for linear movement along a path parallel to said second predetermined path, means coupling said gripping unit to said carriage for movement therewith, said second fluid actuated cylinder being carried by said carrier for moving said carriage and the gripping unit carried thereby in opposite directions along said parallel path, a third fluid actuated cylinder carried by said carriage for movement therewith and coupled between said gripping unit and said carriage to provide for movement of said gripping unit relative to said carriage.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
A picker according to claim 1 wherein said gripping element moving means includes fluid actuated means responsive to substantial completion of movement of said gripping unit in one direction along said second path for moving said gripping elements toward their closed position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
A picker according to claim 2 wherein said gripping element moving means is responsive to movement of said gripping unit in the opposite direction along said second path for moving said gripping elements toward said open position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
76 words
A picker according to claim 1 wherein said first and second cylinders are operable to move said gripping unit in one direction respectively along each of said first and second predetermined paths, control means for actuating said first cylinder in timed sequence after actuation of said second cylinder whereby said gripping unit is moved in one direction along said first predetermined path after said gripping unit is moved in one direction along said second predetermined path.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
91 words
A picker according to claim 4 wherein said first and second cylinders are operable to move said gripping unit in an opposite direction respectively along each of said first and second predetermined paths, control means responsive to substantial completion of movement of said gripping unit in one direction along said second path for moving said gripping elements toward their closed positions, said control means being responsive to movement of said gripping unit in the opposite direction along said second path to enable said gripping elements to move toward their open position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
A picker according to claim 1 wherein said carrier is comprised of an elongated open frame housing having a pair of guide rods extending between its opposite ends, said carriage being carried by said guide rods for slidable movement therealong.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
56 words
A picker according to claim 6 wherein said carriage has a pair of guide rods projecting therefrom through a side of said open frame housing, said gripping unit being carried by the latter guide rods at selected positions therealong, and means for securing said gripping unit to the latter guide rods in a selected position therealong.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
58 words
A picker according to claim 1 wherein said mounting unit includes a pair of spaced parallel guide rods extending in a direction parallel to said first path, said carrier being mounted for sliding movement along said guide rods, said first cylinder being coupled between said mounting unit and said carrier for moving said carrier along said first path.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
143 words
A picker accordIng to claim 8 wherein said carrier is comprised of an elongated open frame housing having a pair of guide rods extending between its opposite ends, a carriage slidably carried on the second mentioned guide rods for linear movement along a path parallel to said second predetermined path, means coupling said gripping unit to said carriage for movement therewith, a third fluid actuated cylinder carried by said carriage for moving said gripping unit carried thereby in opposite directions along said parallel path, said second cylinder being carried by said carrier and coupled between said carrier and said carriage to provide for movement of said gripping unit relative to said carrier, said carrier being mounted on the first mentioned guide rods at one end thereof with said carrier projecting outwardly from and substantially normally disposed relative to the first mentioned guide rods.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
56 words
A picker according to claim 9 wherein said carriage has a pair of guide rods projecting therefrom through a side of said open frame housing, said gripping unit being carried by the latter guide rods at selected positions therealong, and means for securing said gripping unit to the latter guide rods in a selected position therealong.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
88 words
A picker according to claim 1 wherein said first and second cylinders are operable to move said gripping unit in one direction respectively along each of said first and second predetermined paths, and control means coupled to said first and second cylinders providing for simultaneous actuation thereof at least for a portion of the movement of said gripping unit in the one direction along each of said first and second predetermined paths whereby said gripping unit is movable simultaneously in directions parallel to said first and second paths.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
310 words
A picker comprising a mounting unit, a carrier carried by said mounting unit for linear movement along a first predetermined linearly extending path, a first fluid actuated cylinder for moving said carrier in opposite directions along said predetermined path, a gripping unit carried by said carrier for movement with said carrier along said first predetermined path and for linear movement along a second predetermined linearly extending path substantially normal to said first predetermined path, a second fluid actuated cylinder for moving said gripping unit in opposite directions along said second predetermined path, said gripping unit including a pair of gripping elements movable between open and closed positions, means carried by said gripping unit for moving said elements between said open and closed positions, said mounting unit including a pair of spaced parallel guide rods extending in a direction parallel to said first path, said carrier being mounted for sliding movement along said guide rods, said first cyldinder being coupled between said mounting unit and said carrier for moving said carrier along said first path, said carrier being comprised of an elongated open frame housing having a pair of guide rods extending between its opposite ends, a carriage slidably carried on the second mentioned guide rods for linear movement along a path parallel to said second predetermined path, means coupling said gripping unit to said carriage for movement therewith, a third fluid actuated cylinder carried by said carriage for moving said gripping unit carried thereby in opposite directions along said parallel path, said second cylinder being carried by said carrier and coupled between said carrier and said carriage to provide for movement of said gripping unit relative to said carrier, said carrier being mounted on the first mentioned guide rods at one end thereof with said carrier projecting outwardly from and substantially normally disposed relative to the first mentioned guide rods.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
310 words
A picker comprising a mounting unit, a carrier carried by said mounting unit for linear movement along a first predetermined linearly extending path, a first fluid actuated cylinder for moving said carrier in opposite directions along said predetermined path, a gripping unit carried by said carrier for movement with said carrier along said first predetermined path and for linear movement along a second predetermined linearly extending path substantially normal to said first predetermined path, a second fluid actuated cylinder for moving said gripping unit in opposite directions along said second predetermined path, said gripping unit including a pair of gripping elements movable between open and closed positions, means carried by said gripping unit for moving said elements between said open and closed positions, said mounting unit including a pair of spaced parallel guide rods extending in a direction parallel to said first path, said carrier being mounted for sliding movement along said guide rods, said first cyldinder being coupled between said mounting unit and said carrier for moving said carrier along said first path, said carrier being comprised of an elongated open frame housing having a pair of guide rods extending between its opposite ends, a carriage slidably carried on the second mentioned guide rods for linear movement along a path parallel to said second predetermined path, means coupling said gripping unit to said carriage for movement therewith, a third fluid actuated cylinder carried by said carriage for moving said gripping unit carried thereby in opposite directions along said parallel path, said second cylinder being carried by said carrier and coupled between said carrier and said carriage to provide for movement of said gripping unit relative to said carrier, said carrier being mounted on the first mentioned guide rods at one end thereof with said carrier projecting outwardly from and substantially normally disposed relative to the first mentioned guide rods.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
56 words
A picker according to claim 12 wherein said carriage has a pair of guide rods projecting therefrom through a side of said open frame housing, said gripping unit being carried by the latter guide rods at selected positions thereaLong, and means for securing said gripping unit to the latter guide rods in a selected position therealong.
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) | 1978-11-24 | 1979-05-26 | 1979-11-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-11-24 | 1983-05-26 | 1983-11-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-11-24 | 1987-05-26 | 1987-11-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |