Fluid bearing apparatus and method utilizing selective turntable diverter structure

Claim 2

Fluid bearing apparatus for handling articles comprising A. a first fluid bearing track structure over which articles enter said apparatus from a first station, B. a second fluid bearing track structure over which articles pass from said apparatus to a second station, C. a third fluid bearing track structure angularly oriented relative to said first and second fluid bearing track structures, D. a selectively indexable article storage magazine at one end of said third track structure, and E. article diverter means interposed between said three fluid bearing track structures for selectively diverting articles from said first track structure onto said third track structure and into said magazine, comprising

Claim 3

a selectively rotatable fluid bearing turntable structure for receiving articles from said first track structure and either passing said articles on a fluid cushion onto said second track structure or diverting the same on a fluid cushion onto said third track structure, a. said turntable structure including a crescent shaped diverting gate thereon with which said articles come in contact when positioned on said turntable to direct such articles in one of two directions, and 2. mechanism including means for selectively rotating said turntable between positions in which said articles are diverted thereby onto said third track structure or bypass the same.

Claim 4

a selectively rotatable fluid bearing turntable structure for receiving articles from said first track structure and either passing said articles on a fluid cushion onto said second track structure or diverting the same on a fluid cushion onto said third track structure, a. said turntable structure including a crescent shaped diverting gate thereon with which said articles come in contact when positioned on said turntable to direct such articles in one of two directions, and 2. mechanism including means for selectively rotating said turntable between positions in which said articles are diverted thereby onto said third track structure or bypass the same.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 1 in which said turntable rotating mechanism includes means for selectively rotating said turntable to a third position in which articles on said third track structure may be diverted on a fluid bearing onto said second track structure for transfer to said second station.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 1 in which said third track structure is bidirectional so that articles may pass thereover on a fluid bearing in both directions relative to said magazine.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 1 in which said turntable rotating mechanism comprises a pneumatically actuated rack and pinion assembly operatively connected with said turntable.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 1 which further includes F. a sensor adjacent said magazine for transmitting control signals to effect indexing of said magazine selectively upwardly or downwardly in accordance with the entry of articles into or discharge of articles from said magazine.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 1 which further includes F. a guide rail adjacent said turntable to be contacted by said articles as the same pass across said turntable, said guide rail including 1. two generally arcuate edges facing said turntable, 2. each of said edges conforming generally to the curvature of said crescent shaped diverting gate to form a continuation thereof when said turntable is in either of two article diverting positions.

Claim 10

In a fluid bearing apparatus for handling articles passing between first and second stations on first and second article transmitting track structures, A. a third track structure angularly oriented relative to said first and second track structures, 1. said third track structure comprising a fluid bearing for transporting articles thereover on a fluid cushion, B. a selectively indexable article storage magazine at one end of said third track structure, and, C. article diverter means interposed between said three track structures for selectively diverting articles on a fluid cushion from said first track structure onto said third track structure and into said magazine, comprising

Claim 11

In a fluid bearing apparatus for handling articles passing between first and second stations on first and second article transmitting track structures, A. a third track structure angularly oriented relative to said first and second track structures, 1. said third track structure comprising a fluid bearing for transporting articles thereover on a fluid cushion, B. a selectively indexable article storage magazine at one end of said third track structure, and, C. article diverter means interposed between said three track structures for selectively diverting articles on a fluid cushion from said first track structure onto said third track structure and into said magazine, comprising

Claim 12

a selectively rotatable fluid bearing turntable structure for receiving articles from said first track structure and either passing said articles on a fluid cushion onto said second track structure or diverting the same on a fluid cushion onto said third track structure, a. said turntable structure including a crescent shaped diverting gate thereon with which said articles come in contact when positioned on said turntable to direct such articles in one of two directions, and 2. mechanism including means for selectively rotating said turntable between positions in which said articles are diverted thereby onto said third track structure or bypass the same.

Claim 13

a selectively rotatable fluid bearing turntable structure for receiving articles from said first track structure and either passing said articles on a fluid cushion onto said second track structure or diverting the same on a fluid cushion onto said third track structure, a. said turntable structure including a crescent shaped diverting gate thereon with which said articles come in contact when positioned on said turntable to direct such articles in one of two directions, and 2. mechanism including means for selectively rotating said turntable between positions in which said articles are diverted thereby onto said third track structure or bypass the same.

Claim 14

The apparatus of claim 7 in which said turntable rotating mechanism includes means for selectively rotating said turntable to a third position in which articles on said third track structure may be diverted on a fluid cushion onto said second track structure for transfer to said second station.

Claim 15

The apparatus of claim 7 in which each of said first and second track structures also constitutes a fluid bearing for effective movement of said articles thereacross on a fluid cushion.

Claim 16

The apparatus of claim 7 in which said third track structure is bidirectional so that articles may pass thereover on a fluid cushion in both directions relative to said magazine.

Claim 17

The apparatus of claim 7 in which said turntable rotating mechanism comprise a pneumatically actuated rack and pinion assembly operatively connected with said turntable.

Claim 18

The apparatus of claim 7 which further includes D. a sensor adjacent said magazine for transmitting control signals to effect indexing of said magazine selectively upwardly or downwardly in accordance with the entry of articles into or discharge of articles from said magazine.

Claim 19

The apparatus of claim 7 which further includes D. a guide rail adjacent said turntable to be contacted by said articles as the same pass across said turntable, said guide rail including 1. two generally arcuate edges facing said turntable, 2. each of said edges conforming generally to the curvature of said crescent shaped diverting gate to form a continuation thereof when said turntable is in either of two article diverting positions.

Claim 22

The method of claim 14 which includes F. subsequently discharging and moving said diverted and collected articles on a fluid cushion from said third station in accordance with requirements at said second station, and G. positioning said crescent shaped diverting gate of said turntable to divert said discharged articles on a fluid cushion back onto their path of travel on a fluid cushion toward said second station.

Claim 23

The method of claim 15 which includes moving said articles over the same fluid cushion during movement thereof into and away from said third station.

Claim 24

Apparatus for handling articles comprising A. a first track structure over which articles enter said apparatus from a first station, B. a second track structure over which articles pass from said apparatus to a second station, C. a third track structure angularly oriented relative to said first and second track structures, D. a selectively indexable article storage magazine at one end of said third track structure, and E. article diverter means interposed between said three track structures for selectively diverting articles from said first track structure onto said third track structure into said magazine, comprising 1. a selectively rotatable turntable structure for receiving articles from said first track structure and either passing said articles onto said track structure or diverting the same onto said third track structure, a. said turntable structure including a crescent shaped diverting gate thereon with which said articles come in contact when positioned on said turntable to direct such articles in one of two directions, and 2. mechanism including means for selectively rotating said turntable structure between positions in which said articles are diverted thereby onto said third track structure or bypasses the same.

Claim 25

Apparatus for handling articles comprising A. a first track structure over which articles enter said apparatus from a first station, B. a second track structure over which articles pass from said apparatus to a second station, C. a third track structure angularly oriented relative to said first and second track structures, D. a selectively indexable article storage magazine at one end of said third track structure, and E. article diverter means interposed between said three track structures for selectively diverting articles from said first track structure onto said third track structure into said magazine, comprising 1. a selectively rotatable turntable structure for receiving articles from said first track structure and either passing said articles onto said track structure or diverting the same onto said third track structure, a. said turntable structure including a crescent shaped diverting gate thereon with which said articles come in contact when positioned on said turntable to direct such articles in one of two directions, and 2. mechanism including means for selectively rotating said turntable structure between positions in which said articles are diverted thereby onto said third track structure or bypasses the same.

Claim 26

The apparatus of claim 17 which further includes F. a guide rail adjacent said turntable structure to be contacted by said articles as the same pass across said turntable, said guide rail including 1. two generally arcuate edges facing said turntable, 2. each of said edges conforming generally to the curvature of said crescent shaped diverting gate to form a continuation thereof when said turntable is in either of two article diverting positions.

Claim 27

In an apparatus for handling articles passing between first and second stations on first and second article transmitting track structures, A. a third track structure angularly oriented relative to said first and second track structures, B. a selectively indexable article storage magazine at one end of said third track structure, and C. article diverter means interposed between said three track structures for selectively diverting articles from said first track structure onto said third track structure into said magazine, comprising 1. a selectively rotatable turntable structure for receiving articles from said first track structure and either passing said articles onto said second track structure or diverting the same onto said third track structure, a. said turntable structure including a crescent shaped diverting gate thereon with which said articles come in contact when positioned on said turntable to direct such articles in one of two directions, and

Claim 28

In an apparatus for handling articles passing between first and second stations on first and second article transmitting track structures, A. a third track structure angularly oriented relative to said first and second track structures, B. a selectively indexable article storage magazine at one end of said third track structure, and C. article diverter means interposed between said three track structures for selectively diverting articles from said first track structure onto said third track structure into said magazine, comprising 1. a selectively rotatable turntable structure for receiving articles from said first track structure and either passing said articles onto said second track structure or diverting the same onto said third track structure, a. said turntable structure including a crescent shaped diverting gate thereon with which said articles come in contact when positioned on said turntable to direct such articles in one of two directions, and

Claim 29

mechanism including means for selectively rotating said turntable structure between positions in which said articles are diverted thereby onto said third track structure or bypasses the same.

Claim 30

mechanism including means for selectively rotating said turntable structure between positions in which said articles are diverted thereby onto said third track structure or bypasses the same.

Claim 31

The apparatus of claim 19 which further includes D. a guide rail adjacent said turntable structure to be contacted by said articles as the same pass across said turntable, said guide rail including 1. two generally arcuate edges facing said turntable, 2. each of said edges conforming generally to the curvature of said crescent shaped diverting gate to form a continuation thereof when said turntable is in either of two article diverting positions.

Claim 34

The method of claim 21 which includes F. subsequently discharging said diverted and collected articles on said other fluid bearing track structure from said third station in accordance with requirements therefor at said second station, and G. selectively positioning said turntable to divert said discharged articles on a fluid cushion back onto said path of travel toward said second station.

Claim 35

The method of claim 22 which includes moving said articles on a fluid cushion over the same bidirectional fluid bearing track structure during movement thereof toward and away from said third station.