Linear indexing machine

Claim 2

A linear indexing machine comprising: a. a plurality of pallets each of which is adapted for carrying a work piece; b. conveyor means for conveying said pallets to and from a plurality of index stations; c. an index cam follower carried by each said pallet; d. an index cam disposed at each index station; e. means for driving said index cams in synchronism with said conveyor means; f. each said index cam having a cam surface means for coaction with said index cam follower; g. means for detaching a said pallet from said conveyor means as said pallet approaches each index station, with said index cam surface means coacting with said cam follower to decelerate said pallet to stop at said index station, to hold said pallet at said index station for a predetermined time interval and to thereafter accelerate said pallet to conveyor speed, and means for thereafter attaching said pallet to said conveyor means.

Claim 3

A linear indexing machine comprising: a. a plurality of pallets each of which is adapted for carrying a work piece; b. conveyor means for conveying said pallets to and from a plurality of index stations; c. an index cam follower carried by each said pallet; d. an index cam disposed at each index station; e. means for driving said index cams in synchronism with said conveyor means; f. each said index cam having a cam surface means for coaction with said index cam follower, said cam surface means having in serial order from the entry end an entry portion, a deceleration portion, a dwell portion, an acceleration portion, and an exit portion; g. means for detaching a said pallet from said conveyor means while said cam follower is coacting with the entry portion of said cam surface means and attaching the said pallet to said conveyor means while said cam follower is coacting with the exit portion of said cam surface means.

Claim 4

A linear indexing machine comprising: a. a plurality of pallets each of which is adapted for carrying a work piece; b. conveyor means for conveying said pallets to and from a plurality of index stations; c. an index cam follower carried by each said pallet; d. an index cam disposed at each index station; e. means for driving said index cams in synchronism with said conveyor means; f. each said index cam having a cam surface means for coaction with said index cam follower, said cam surface means having in serial order from the entry end an entry portion, a deceleration portion, a dwell portion, an acceleration portion, and an exit portion; g. means for detaching a said pallet from said conveyor means while said cam follower is coacting with the entry portion of said cam surface means and attaching the said pallet to said conveyor means while said cam follower is coacting with the exit portion of said cam surface means.

Claim 5

The machine of claim 1 wherein: said conveyor means comprises an endless conveyor means supported for movement along a linear path of a predetermined distance, said work stations being located at spaced positions along said linear path, each index cam comprises a cylindrical member supported for rotation at its associated station near said conveyor means and located such that its axis of rotation is parallel to the path of travel of said conveyor means at its associated station, said cam surface means extends continuously from one end of said cylindrical member to the other and comprises in serial order a deceleration portion, a dwell portion which extends a predetermined number of degrees around said cylindrical member in a plane perpendicular to the axis of said cylindrical member, and an acceleration portion, said means for driving said index cams in synchronism with said conveyor means comprises: means for rotating said cylindrical members in synchronism with the velocity of travel and position of said conveyor means along said linear path.

Claim 6

The indexing machine of claim 3 wherein said cam surface means comprises: an initial constant velocity portion serially ahead of said deceleration portion and which is helical in form, and a trailing constant velocity portion serially behind said acceleration portion and which is helical in form.

Claim 7

The indexing machine of claim 1 wherein: said conveyor means comprises an endless conveyor means supported for movement along a linear path of a predetermined distance, said index stations being located at spaced positions along said linear path, each index cam comprises a cylindrical member supported for rotation at its associated station near said conveyor means and located such that its axis of rotation is parallel to the path of travel of said conveyor means at its associated station, said cam surface means comprises a slot formed in the cylindrical surface of said cylindrical member for receiving said cam followers carried by each pallet, said slot extends continuously from one end of said cylindrical member to the other and comprises a helical entry portion, a deceleration portion, a dwell portion which extends a predetermined number of degrees around said cylindrical member in a plane perpendicular to the axis of said cylindrical member, an acceleration portion, and a helical exit portion having the same pitch as that of said helical entry portion, said means for driving said index cams in synchronism with said conveyor means comprises means for rotating said cylindrical members in synchronism with the velocity of travel of said conveyor means along said linear path.

Claim 8

The indexing machine of claim 5 wherein said means for detaching and attaching said pallets from and to said conveyor means, detaches said pallets when their cam followers are in said helical entry portions of said slots of said cylindrical members and attaches said pallets to said conveyor means when their cam followers are in said helical exit portions of said slots of said cylindrical members.