US4387064A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for sorting defective parts
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1981-08-03
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Granted: 1983-06-07
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Expires: 2001-08-03
Abstract
Abstract Peak pressure in a mold is sensed and if it is outside a predetermined range the part or parts being molded are separated from parts produced while the peak pressure is within the predetermined range.
Inventors
- 👤 Frank J. Werderitch
- 👤 Frank A. Eltvedt
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 21:04
CPC Classifications
B; B07; B07C; B07C5/00; B07C5/34; B29; B29C; B29C45/00; B29C45/17; B29C45/76; B29C45/768; G; G07; G07C; G07C3/00; G07C3/14; B22; B22D; B22D17/00; B22D17/20; B22D17/32; B29C2945/00; B29C2945/76; B29C2945/76003; B29C2945/76006; B29C2945/76163; B29C2945/76177; B29C2945/76254; B29C2945/76257; B29C2945/76929; B29C2945/76939; B29C2945/76943
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
173 words
A method of sorting acceptable parts from defective parts produced by a parts producing machine having at least one operating variable whose value is determinative of the acceptability of the parts being produced, comprising the steps of sensing said variable during a part production cycle of said machine to provide a control signal when the value of said variable is within a predetermined range, positioning a parts sorter mechanism responsive to said control signal in proximity to said machine to intercept parts produced by said machine, causing said parts sorter to respond to said signal to separate the parts produced by said machine when the value of said variable is within said range from the parts produced by said machine when the value of said variable is outside of said range, determining whether the value of said variable is above or below said range, and separating the parts produced when the value of said variable is above said range from the parts produced when the value of said variable is below said range.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
173 words
A method of sorting acceptable parts from defective parts produced by a parts producing machine having at least one operating variable whose value is determinative of the acceptability of the parts being produced, comprising the steps of sensing said variable during a part production cycle of said machine to provide a control signal when the value of said variable is within a predetermined range, positioning a parts sorter mechanism responsive to said control signal in proximity to said machine to intercept parts produced by said machine, causing said parts sorter to respond to said signal to separate the parts produced by said machine when the value of said variable is within said range from the parts produced by said machine when the value of said variable is outside of said range, determining whether the value of said variable is above or below said range, and separating the parts produced when the value of said variable is above said range from the parts produced when the value of said variable is below said range.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said machine is an injection molding machine having a mold in which said parts are produced, said variable being the peak pressure in said mold during a parts production cycle.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
165 words
A method of sorting acceptable parts from defective parts produced by a parts producing machine having at least one operating variable whose value is determinative of the acceptability of the parts being produced, comprising the steps of sensing said variable during a part production cycle of said machine to provide a control signal when the value of said variable is within a predetermined range, positioning a parts sorter mechanism responsive to said control signal in proximity to said machine to intercept parts produced by said machine, causing said parts sorter to respond to said signal to separate the parts produced by said machine when the value of said variable is within said range from the parts produced by said machine when the value of said variable is outside of said range, counting the number of machine cycles wherein the value of said variable is outside said range, and providing a second control signal if said number exceeds a predetermined number within a predetermined time interval.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
165 words
A method of sorting acceptable parts from defective parts produced by a parts producing machine having at least one operating variable whose value is determinative of the acceptability of the parts being produced, comprising the steps of sensing said variable during a part production cycle of said machine to provide a control signal when the value of said variable is within a predetermined range, positioning a parts sorter mechanism responsive to said control signal in proximity to said machine to intercept parts produced by said machine, causing said parts sorter to respond to said signal to separate the parts produced by said machine when the value of said variable is within said range from the parts produced by said machine when the value of said variable is outside of said range, counting the number of machine cycles wherein the value of said variable is outside said range, and providing a second control signal if said number exceeds a predetermined number within a predetermined time interval.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method according to claim 3 comprising the further step of providing said second control signal if the number of machine cycles wherein the value of said variable is outside said range exceeds a predetermined number during a predetermined number of machine cycles.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
155 words
A method of sorting acceptable parts from defective parts produced by a parts producing machine having at least one operating variable whose value is determinative of the acceptability of the parts being produced, comprising the steps of sensing said variable during a part production cycle of said machine to provide a control signal when the value of said variable is within a predetermined range, positioning a parts sorter mechanism responsive to said control signal in proximity to said machine to intercept parts produced by said machine, causing said parts sorter to respond to said signal to separate the parts produced by said machine when the value of said variable is within said range from the parts produced by said machine when the value of said variable is outside of said range, storing said control signal after said sensing step, and delaying the operation of said parts sorter mechanism until said parts production cycle is completed.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
155 words
A method of sorting acceptable parts from defective parts produced by a parts producing machine having at least one operating variable whose value is determinative of the acceptability of the parts being produced, comprising the steps of sensing said variable during a part production cycle of said machine to provide a control signal when the value of said variable is within a predetermined range, positioning a parts sorter mechanism responsive to said control signal in proximity to said machine to intercept parts produced by said machine, causing said parts sorter to respond to said signal to separate the parts produced by said machine when the value of said variable is within said range from the parts produced by said machine when the value of said variable is outside of said range, storing said control signal after said sensing step, and delaying the operation of said parts sorter mechanism until said parts production cycle is completed.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
86 words
Sorting apparatus for use with a parts production machine, comprising in combination a conveyor disposed to receive parts produced by said machine, reversible drive means for driving said conveyor in one direction or the other, means responsive to an operating variable of said machine for causing said drive means to drive said conveyor in one direction when the value of said variable is within a predetermined range and to drive said conveyor in the other direction when the value of said variable is outside said range.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
86 words
Sorting apparatus for use with a parts production machine, comprising in combination a conveyor disposed to receive parts produced by said machine, reversible drive means for driving said conveyor in one direction or the other, means responsive to an operating variable of said machine for causing said drive means to drive said conveyor in one direction when the value of said variable is within a predetermined range and to drive said conveyor in the other direction when the value of said variable is outside said range.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
In combination with a plastic part molding machine sorting apparatus as set forth in claim 6 disposed in proximity to said machine for intercepting plastic parts ejected from said machine.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The combination set forth in claim 7 wherein said operating variable is the peak pressure within the mold in which the plastic parts are molded.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-06-06 | 1986-12-06 | 1987-06-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-06-06 | 1990-12-06 | 1991-06-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-06-06 | 1994-12-06 | 1995-06-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |