Automatic indexing and transferring apparatus

Claim 2

An article transferring apparatus, comprising: a transfer table for receiving articles to be transferred from an infeed conveyor; a transferring member for individually moving said articles across said table onto an outfeed conveyor; means connected to said transferring member for elevating it behind each individual article and for pushing each individual article with said transferring member across said table onto said outfeed conveyor; first control means for actuating said elevating means to elevate said transferring member behind an individual article in position for pushing that article in response to movement of that article onto said table; means for monitoring the presence of a preceding article on said outfeed conveyor in the path of a following article, said monitoring means comprising an enclosed volume having an orifice opening in a wall thereof, said opening being positioned to be covered by a preceding article located on said outfeed conveyor in the path of a following article; means for admitting fluid under pressure to said volume; switch means responsive to a preselected pressure rise in said volume when said orifice is covered; and means responsive to said switch means for temporarily preventing actuation of said infeed conveyor and said elevating means.

Claim 3

An article transferring apparatus, comprising: a table having a surface for receiving articles to be transferred from an infeed conveyor; a plurality of indexing rollers projecting above said surface of said table for accelerating and separating successive individual articles received from said infeed conveyor, said indexing rollers being arranged to move said articles through a first distance across said table from said infeed conveyor; a transferring member for individually moving said articles along a path beyond said first distance and across said table onto an outfeed conveyor; means connected to said transferring member for elevating it to a position behind each individual article for pushing that article along said path onto said outfeed conveyor; means for shifting any articles received on said table at a location displayed laterally from said path into alignment with said path, said shifting means comprising an upstanding alignment plate mounted for sliding motion across said surface and linkage means driven by said elevating means for moving said alignment plate across said surface into contact with said articles, whereby said articles are moved into alignment with said path; first control means for actuating said elevating means to elevate said transferring member behind an individual article into said position for pushing that individual article in response to movement of that article onto said table; and means for actuating said shifting means in synchronism with movement of said transferring member as said transferring member is elevated behind each individual article.

Claim 4

An article transferring apparatus, comprising: a table having a surface for receiving articles to be transferred from an infeed conveyor; a plurality of indexing rollers projecting above said surface of said table for accelerating and separating successive individual articles received from said infeed conveyor, said indexing rollers being arranged to move said articles through a first distance across said table from said infeed conveyor; a transferring member for individually moving said articles along a path beyond said first distance and across said table onto an outfeed conveyor; means connected to said transferring member for elevating it to a position behind each individual article for pushing that article along said path onto said outfeed conveyor; means for shifting any articles received on said table at a location displayed laterally from said path into alignment with said path, said shifting means comprising an upstanding alignment plate mounted for sliding motion across said surface and linkage means driven by said elevating means for moving said alignment plate across said surface into contact with said articles, whereby said articles are moved into alignment with said path; first control means for actuating said elevating means to elevate said transferring member behind an individual article into said position for pushing that individual article in response to movement of that article onto said table; and means for actuating said shifting means in synchronism with movement of said transferring member as said transferring member is elevated behind each individual article.

Claim 5

An article transferring apparatus, comprising: a table having a surface for receiving articles to be transferred from an infeed conveyor, said table being stationary relative to said infeed conveyor; a plurality of indexing rollers projecting above said surface of said table for accelerating and separating successive individual articles received from said infeed conveyor, said indexing rollers being arranged to move said articles through a first distance across said table from said infeed conveyor; a transferring member for individually moving said articles beyond said first distance and across said table onto an outfeed conveyor; a frame movably mounted to said table for supporting said indexing rollers and said transferring member; means for adjusting the position of said frame relative to said table and said infeed conveyor; means connected to said transferring member and mounted to said frame for elevating said transferring member to a position behind each individual article and for pushing each article across said table onto said outfeed conveyor; and first control means for actuating said elevating means to elevate said transferring member behind an individual article into said position for pushing that article, in response to movement of that article onto said table.

Claim 6

An article transferring apparatus, comprising: a table having a surface for receiving articles to be transferred from an infeed conveyor, said table being stationary relative to said infeed conveyor; a plurality of indexing rollers projecting above said surface of said table for accelerating and separating successive individual articles received from said infeed conveyor, said indexing rollers being arranged to move said articles through a first distance across said table from said infeed conveyor; a transferring member for individually moving said articles beyond said first distance and across said table onto an outfeed conveyor; a frame movably mounted to said table for supporting said indexing rollers and said transferring member; means for adjusting the position of said frame relative to said table and said infeed conveyor; means connected to said transferring member and mounted to said frame for elevating said transferring member to a position behind each individual article and for pushing each article across said table onto said outfeed conveyor; and first control means for actuating said elevating means to elevate said transferring member behind an individual article into said position for pushing that article, in response to movement of that article onto said table.

Claim 7

An article transferring apparatus, comprising: a transfer table for receiving articles to be transferred from an infeed conveyor; a transferring member for individually moving said articles across said table onto an outfeed conveyor; means connected to said transferring member for for elevating it behind each individual article and for pushing each individual article with said transferring member across said table onto said outfeed conveyor; and control means for actuating said elevating means, said control means comprising a source of power connected in circuit with said elevating means, said elevating means having a brake portion and a clutch portion; electronic eye means in said circuit for establishing a first control signal when an individual article has moved onto said table a predetermined distance; means for deactuating said brake portion and actuating said clutch portion in response to said control signal, whereby said elevating means is actuated; a cam driven by said elevating means in synchronism with said transferring member, said cam having a first lobe; and means actuated by said first cam lobe for deactuating said clutch portion and actuating said brake portion to deactuate said elevating means when said transferring member has been elevated into position behind said individual article, until said outfeed conveyor is ready to receive that individual article.

Claim 8

An article transferring apparatus, comprising: a transfer table for receiving articles to be transferred from an infeed conveyor; a transferring member for individually moving said articles across said table onto an outfeed conveyor; means connected to said transferring member for for elevating it behind each individual article and for pushing each individual article with said transferring member across said table onto said outfeed conveyor; and control means for actuating said elevating means, said control means comprising a source of power connected in circuit with said elevating means, said elevating means having a brake portion and a clutch portion; electronic eye means in said circuit for establishing a first control signal when an individual article has moved onto said table a predetermined distance; means for deactuating said brake portion and actuating said clutch portion in response to said control signal, whereby said elevating means is actuated; a cam driven by said elevating means in synchronism with said transferring member, said cam having a first lobe; and means actuated by said first cam lobe for deactuating said clutch portion and actuating said brake portion to deactuate said elevating means when said transferring member has been elevated into position behind said individual article, until said outfeed conveyor is ready to receive that individual article.

Claim 9

An article transferring apparatus, comprising: table means for receiving articles to be transferred from an infeed conveyor; a transferring member for individually moving said articles across said table onto an outfeed conveyor; means connected to said transferring member for initially elevating it to a position just behind each individual article and for subsequently pushing each individual article with said transferring member from said position across said table onto said outfeed conveyor; and first control means for actuating said elevating means to elevate said transferring member behind an individual article into said position for pushing that individual article onto said output conveyor, in response to movement of that individual article onto said table; and for subsequently deactuating said elevating means to maintain said transferring member in said position until said outfeed conveyor is ready to receive that individual article; and second control means for deactuating said infeed conveyor before said elevating means is actuated by said first control means to elevate said transferring member to said position to move an article and for actuating said infeed conveyor when said transferring member is in said position and said outfeed conveyor is ready to receive an article, said first and second control means comprising: a source of power connected in a circuit with said infeed conveyor and said elevating means, said elevating means including a brake portion and a clutch portion; first electronic eye means in said circuit for establishing a first control signal when said article has moved onto said table a predetermined distance; means for deactuating said brake portion and actuating said clutch portion in response to said first control signal; a cam driven by said elevating means in synchronism with said transferring member, said cam having a first lobe; means actuated by said first cam lobe for deactuating said clutch portion and actuating said brake portion until said outfeed conveyor is in position to receive said article; means cooperating with said outfeed conveyor and connected in said circuit for closing said circuit to said infeed conveyor when said outfeed conveyor is ready to receive said article; second electronic eye means in said circuit for establishing a second control signal when a following article is in position to be received on said table means; and means responsive to said second control signal for opening said circuit to said infeed conveyor.

Claim 10

An article transferring apparatus, comprising: table means for receiving articles to be transferred from an infeed conveyor; a transferring member for individually moving said articles across said table onto an outfeed conveyor; means connected to said transferring member for initially elevating it to a position just behind each individual article and for subsequently pushing each individual article with said transferring member from said position across said table onto said outfeed conveyor; and first control means for actuating said elevating means to elevate said transferring member behind an individual article into said position for pushing that individual article onto said output conveyor, in response to movement of that individual article onto said table; and for subsequently deactuating said elevating means to maintain said transferring member in said position until said outfeed conveyor is ready to receive that individual article; and second control means for deactuating said infeed conveyor before said elevating means is actuated by said first control means to elevate said transferring member to said position to move an article and for actuating said infeed conveyor when said transferring member is in said position and said outfeed conveyor is ready to receive an article, said first and second control means comprising: a source of power connected in a circuit with said infeed conveyor and said elevating means, said elevating means including a brake portion and a clutch portion; first electronic eye means in said circuit for establishing a first control signal when said article has moved onto said table a predetermined distance; means for deactuating said brake portion and actuating said clutch portion in response to said first control signal; a cam driven by said elevating means in synchronism with said transferring member, said cam having a first lobe; means actuated by said first cam lobe for deactuating said clutch portion and actuating said brake portion until said outfeed conveyor is in position to receive said article; means cooperating with said outfeed conveyor and connected in said circuit for closing said circuit to said infeed conveyor when said outfeed conveyor is ready to receive said article; second electronic eye means in said circuit for establishing a second control signal when a following article is in position to be received on said table means; and means responsive to said second control signal for opening said circuit to said infeed conveyor.