Patent DE902188C successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
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US4078672A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Device for step-feeding panels to a machine
Assignee: OMCA Srl
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Filing: 1976-09-20
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Granted: 1978-03-14
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Expires: 1996-09-20
Abstract
Abstract A device for step-feeding panels, in particular support bases for printed circuits, to a machine, and in which said panels are arranged edgewise on a support plane, and are advanced step-by-step transversely along said support plane and towards one end thereof by a bearing plane moved along said support plane by a powered slide. At said one end of the support plane cyclically movable feeding means are arranged, which support engage the panels moved, at any step, past said one end of the support plane, and displace the same from a first position substantially parallel with the bearing plane to a second position, in which said panels project outwards from said one end of the support plane and operate a means for stopping said movable feeding means.
Inventors
- 👤 Sergio Crepaldi
- 👤 Adriano Buzio
- 👤 Romano Cornelio
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 13:12
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65H; B65H3/00; B65H3/24; H; H05; H05K; H05K13/00; H05K13/0061
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
181 words
A device for step-feedng panels, particularly for feeding printed circuit support bases to a machine for manufacturing said printed circuits, comprising in combination: a support plane for said panels, the panels being disposed substantially edgewise; a slide movable along said support plane under the thrust of first driving means; a bearing plane for said panels which is rigidly connected to the leading end of said slide, said bearing plane being rearwardly inclined, a main feedng shaft disposed horizontally and parallel to said bearing plane, an axial side groove formed on said main feeding shaft having a width sufficient to receive the edge of one of said panels, a pick-up shaft located between the feeding shaft and said support plane, a flat surface extending axially on said pick-up shaft, the arrangement being such that as the slide moves forward the lower edges of the leading panel drops into a trough formed by the flat surface on the pick-up shaft and on rotation of the pick-up shaft the edge of the panel becomes engaged in the axial groove of the main feeding shaft.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
181 words
A device for step-feedng panels, particularly for feeding printed circuit support bases to a machine for manufacturing said printed circuits, comprising in combination: a support plane for said panels, the panels being disposed substantially edgewise; a slide movable along said support plane under the thrust of first driving means; a bearing plane for said panels which is rigidly connected to the leading end of said slide, said bearing plane being rearwardly inclined, a main feedng shaft disposed horizontally and parallel to said bearing plane, an axial side groove formed on said main feeding shaft having a width sufficient to receive the edge of one of said panels, a pick-up shaft located between the feeding shaft and said support plane, a flat surface extending axially on said pick-up shaft, the arrangement being such that as the slide moves forward the lower edges of the leading panel drops into a trough formed by the flat surface on the pick-up shaft and on rotation of the pick-up shaft the edge of the panel becomes engaged in the axial groove of the main feeding shaft.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
69 words
A device according to claim 1, characterized in that said panels disposed edgewise form at least one stack in which the lowest panel is in contact with said bearing plane; said pick-up shaft being arranged to cooperate with the first panel of said stack and movable with said feed shaft in order to supply thereto, at each cycle, the leading panel after having picked it up from said stack.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
A device according to claim 2, characterized in that positioner means are interposed between said pick-up shaft and said main feeding shaft in order to support said first panel till it engages said feeding shaft.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
A device according to claim 1, characterized in that the axial side groove is formed along a plurality of cylindrical sections of the main feeding shaft which have an enlarged cross-section and are distributed along said feeding shaft.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
A device according to claim 4, characterized in that said feeding shaft has a toothed section which defines a crown gear engaged by gear means on the pick-up shaft.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
55 words
A device according to claim 5, characterized in that there is a second driving means comprising a fluid pressure cylinder and a rack connected to an output rod of said cylinder; said cylinder being disposed below said support plane, and said rack engaging said crown gear to impart to said feeding shaft a reciprocating rotation.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
73 words
A device according to claim 1, characterized in that said pick-up shaft is disposed at the leading end of said support plane and projects above the latter; said pick-up shaft being movable with respect to said support plane, against the action of resilient means, to move from a rest position to an operative position; and sensing means being provided for diactivating said first driving means when said pick-up shaft reaches said operative position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
126 words
A device according to claim 7, characterized in that said pick-up shaft is a horizontal shaft parallel to said bearing plane, which shaft is rotatably mounted at said first end of said support plane and projects above said end; said shaft having a plane substantially radial surface substantially arranged to align itself, for a determined angular position of the shaft, with said support plane in order to cooperate with a lower edge of said first panel, and being driven by said second driving means to rotate, with a reciprocating rotational movement, starting from said determined angular position; and said plane surface being disposed in such a manner as to rise above said support plane for angular movements of said shaft starting from said determined angular position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
97 words
A device according to claim 8, characterized in that said pick-up shaft is disposed parallel to said feeding shaft and in a raised position with respect to the same and is connected to it by means a couple of cylindrical pinions meshing with one another and keyed one on the feeding shaft and one on the pick-up shaft; the coupling being such that to an angular displacement of the feeding shaft from said first position to said second position corresponds a reversed rotation of more than 90° of the pick-up shaft starting from said determined angular position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
A device according to claim 8, characterized in that said plane surface defines a part of the surface of a recess extending axailly along the side of said pick-up shaft.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
86 words
A device according to claim 3, characterized in that said positioner means comprise at least one support element movable between a first position, in which said support element is disposed on the path followed by said first panel in its movement towards said feeding means, and a second position in which said support element is disposed outside said path; said movable support being displaceable from said first to said second position under the action of said second driving means and against the action of resilient means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
90 words
A device according to claim 11, characterized in that said positioner means are parallel, articulated and connected to each other for simultaneously rotating about axes perpendicular to the direction of movement of said slide; each of said articulated positioner means comprising a frame rigidly connected to said support plane, and two cranks connected to said frame and to a link; and one of said cranks being constituted by an equalizer having a free arm disposed in face of said first end of said support plane and supporting said support element.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
80 words
Device according to claim 12, characterized in that each said support element is constituted by a roller; said articulated positioner means being disposed below said support plane and being arranged to cooperate with said second driving means, at a determined and adjustable point of the movement of said feeding means from their said first position to their said second position, to move said rollers out of the path followed by said first panel in its movement towards said feeding means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
106 words
A device according to claim 1, characterized in that said first driving means comprise a fluid pressure cylinder having an output rod connected to said slide, and a hydraulic control circuit comprising a movable element connected to said output rod and acting on a hydraulic fluid contained in said circuit to impart to said fluid a flow direction and speed as functions respectively of the direction and speed of movement of said output rod; there being also provided means on said hydraulic circuit which serve to adjust the speed of said flow as a function of the position of said first panel on said support plane.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
A device according to claim 14, characterized in that said adjustment means comprise valve means of the on-off type arranged to interrupt said flow along said circuit.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
A device according to claim 15, characterized in that said valve means are controlled by said pickup shaft.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
A device according to claim 1, characterized in that said support plane is inclined upwardly and towards said first end.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
19 words
A device according to claim 17, characterized in that said angle of inclination is comprised between 10° and 15°.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
A device according to claim 1, characterized in that said bearing plane forms with the vertical an angle comprised between 25° and 30°.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2879918A
Cited
US3708094A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-03-13 | 1981-09-12 | 1982-03-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-03-13 | 1985-09-12 | 1986-03-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-03-13 | 1989-09-12 | 1990-03-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |