Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
400 words
An apparatus for sorting substantially conical bobbin tubes, comprising: transporting means including at least one substantially trough-shaped transporting pocket for receiving an individual substantially conical bobbin tube; said at least one transporting pocket having a longitudinal dimension; said at least one transporting pocket togehter with said substantially conical bobbin tube located therein being transportable by said transporting means in a predetermined transport direction which extends transversely relative to said longitudinal dimension of said at least one transporting pocket; said at least one transporting pocket receiving therein said substantially conical bobbin tube which defines a longitudinal axis, a base end and a tip end, in either one of two opposite positions with respect to the location of the base end and the tip end of said substantially conical bobbin tube; means for longitudinally displacing said substantially conical bobbin tube in said at least one transporting pocket in either one of two opposite directions depending upon the relative position of said base end and of said tip end of said substantially conical bobbin tube located in said at least one transporting pocket; said longitudinal displacing means comprising: two rolls each journaled in a related roller bearing for rotation about a related rotational axis; a frame; said frame being supported for pivotable movement about a pivot axis extending substantially parallel to said at least one transporting pocket; said roller bearings being mounted at said frame and being substantially equally spaced from said pivot axis of said frame; said two rolls being arranged such that said rotational axes thereof extend through an imaginary plane, which extends substantially at right angles to said at least one transporting pocket and divides the same into equal halves, on the same side of an imaginary straight line which interconnects said roller bearings; said two rolls being arranged such that their rotational axes intersect said imaginary plane at a predetermined angle and extend at a further angle relative to said longitudinal axis of said substantially conical bobbin tube; and said two rolls being displaceable towards said transporting means such that one of said two rolls bears upon said substantially conical bobbin tube placed in said at least one transporting pocket, while the other one of said two rolls stays out of contact therewith, in order to exert a transversely directed force on said substantially conical bobbin tube so as to laterally displace the same relative to said transport direction.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
400 words
An apparatus for sorting substantially conical bobbin tubes, comprising: transporting means including at least one substantially trough-shaped transporting pocket for receiving an individual substantially conical bobbin tube; said at least one transporting pocket having a longitudinal dimension; said at least one transporting pocket togehter with said substantially conical bobbin tube located therein being transportable by said transporting means in a predetermined transport direction which extends transversely relative to said longitudinal dimension of said at least one transporting pocket; said at least one transporting pocket receiving therein said substantially conical bobbin tube which defines a longitudinal axis, a base end and a tip end, in either one of two opposite positions with respect to the location of the base end and the tip end of said substantially conical bobbin tube; means for longitudinally displacing said substantially conical bobbin tube in said at least one transporting pocket in either one of two opposite directions depending upon the relative position of said base end and of said tip end of said substantially conical bobbin tube located in said at least one transporting pocket; said longitudinal displacing means comprising: two rolls each journaled in a related roller bearing for rotation about a related rotational axis; a frame; said frame being supported for pivotable movement about a pivot axis extending substantially parallel to said at least one transporting pocket; said roller bearings being mounted at said frame and being substantially equally spaced from said pivot axis of said frame; said two rolls being arranged such that said rotational axes thereof extend through an imaginary plane, which extends substantially at right angles to said at least one transporting pocket and divides the same into equal halves, on the same side of an imaginary straight line which interconnects said roller bearings; said two rolls being arranged such that their rotational axes intersect said imaginary plane at a predetermined angle and extend at a further angle relative to said longitudinal axis of said substantially conical bobbin tube; and said two rolls being displaceable towards said transporting means such that one of said two rolls bears upon said substantially conical bobbin tube placed in said at least one transporting pocket, while the other one of said two rolls stays out of contact therewith, in order to exert a transversely directed force on said substantially conical bobbin tube so as to laterally displace the same relative to said transport direction.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein: said two rolls are of essentially the same diameter; and said rotational axes of said two rolls constitute the two equal legs of an isosceles triangle which includes said imaginary straight line interconnecting said roller bearings.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
50 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein: said rotational axes of said two rolls intersect said imaginary plane extending substantially at right angles to and through said at least one transporting pocket forwardly of said imaginary straight line interconnecting said roller bearings as seen in said predetermined transport direction.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
52 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein: each one of said two rolls defines a related contact zone bearing upon said substantially conical bobbin tube placed in said at least one transporting pocket; and said contact zone of each one of said two rolls being provided with a high friction coating.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein: said at least one transporting pocket comprises a surface of low-sliding friction.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein: said rolls are arranged such that their rotational axes form a further predetermined angle with said imaginary straight line interconnecting said roller bearings; and said further predetermined angle being in the range of 20 to 50 degrees.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
90 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein: said transporting means comprise: two rotatable rollers each of which defines a surface; a transport belt extending around said two rotatable rollers and comprising a predetermined number of transporting pockets constituting said at least one transporting pocket; each said transporting pocket extending transversely of said transport belt; a predetermined number of troughs provided in said surface of each one of said two rollers; and said transporting pockets of said transport belt coinciding with said troughs in said surfaces of said two rollers.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein: said frame comprises support members; said support members and said roller bearings forming an assemly mounted at said frame; said assembly being displaceable in a direction substantially parallel to said pivot axis of said frame into a selected position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein: said assembly is arranged for pivotable movements about a substantially horizontal axis into a selected pivot position; and said assembly being rigidly fixable in said selected pivot position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
62 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein: said frame comprises support members; said suport members and said roller bearings forming an assembly mounted at said frame; said assembly being displaceable in a direction substantially parallel to said pivot axis of said frame into a selected position; and said assembly being pivotable about a substantially horizontal axis into a selected pivot position.