High speed continuous assembly machine

Claim 1

In a high speed continuous assembly machine adapted to assemble parts of regular shape such as tubes, discs, rods and cylinders, the combination comprising: (a) a machine frame; (b) a work transport conveyor journaled in said frame; (c) a series of work fixtures mounted in longitudinally spaced relation along said conveyor; (d) a satellite station mounted on said frame in position to feed parts to said work transport conveyor; (e) said satellite station including an endless carrier having a portion parallel to said work transport conveyor and being driven at the same linear speed as the latter; (f) a plurality of tool heads fixed to said carrier for movement in unison therewith, said tool heads being longitudinally spaced for registration with consecutive ones of said work support fixtures; (g) discharge means defining a transfer station for feeding parts to said satellite station; (h) a plurality of pick-up chucks each fixed to said carrier for movement in unison therewith, said pick-up chucks being longitudinally spaced for cooperation with respective ones of said tool heads; (i) each said pick-up chuck having a chuck body; (j) a pair of relatively movable gripping jaws pivotally mounted on said body; (k) a cam follower pivotally mounted on said body for movement in unison with one of said jaws; (l) a drive gear mounted for movement in unison with said one jaw and said cam follower; (m) a pinion disposed in meshing engagement with said drive gear; and (n) said pinion being mounted for movement in unison with the other of said jaws, the movement of said other jaw being substantially greater than that of said one jaw.