Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
128 words
A loading apparatus suspended by a cable and having a plurality of chucks, each adapted for grasping a containerized spool, including strand material disposed thereon, transporting the spool to a position proximate a creel and orienting the spool for positioning on a creel spindle comprising, suspension link means adapted for attachment to the cable, support means suspended by said suspension link means, a plurality of block means mounted on said support means, each of said block means carrying one of the chucks, means for selectively moving at least some of said block means along said support means for varying the distance between the chucks, means mounting the chucks for rotation relative to said block means, and chuck rotation actuator means for effecting coordinated, equiangular rotation of the chucks.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
128 words
A loading apparatus suspended by a cable and having a plurality of chucks, each adapted for grasping a containerized spool, including strand material disposed thereon, transporting the spool to a position proximate a creel and orienting the spool for positioning on a creel spindle comprising, suspension link means adapted for attachment to the cable, support means suspended by said suspension link means, a plurality of block means mounted on said support means, each of said block means carrying one of the chucks, means for selectively moving at least some of said block means along said support means for varying the distance between the chucks, means mounting the chucks for rotation relative to said block means, and chuck rotation actuator means for effecting coordinated, equiangular rotation of the chucks.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said chuck rotation actuator means has projecting lever arms attached to said means mounting the chucks for rotation relative to said block means and connecting links joining each of said lever arms.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
Apparatus according to claim 2, including a position biasing mechanism having cam means affixed to one of said lever arms and biased roller means engaging said cam means for biasing said chucks toward the extremities of the rotational travel thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
161 words
A loading apparatus suspended by a cable and having a plurality of chucks, each adapted for grasping a containerized spool, including strand material disposed thereon, transporting the spool to a position proximate a creel and orienting the spool for positioning on a creel spindle comprising, suspension link means adapted for attachment to the cable, support means having a bar suspended by said suspension link means, a plurality of block means mounted on said support means and slidably engaging said bar, each of said block means carrying one of the chucks, means for selectively moving at least some of said block means along said support means for varying the distance between the chucks, and interconnect links pivotally attached to at least some of said block means and pivotally attached to a pivot pin movable in a slot in a guide plate to move the chucks equal distances relative to said suspension link means, whereby said support means is maintained substantially horizontally balanced.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
161 words
A loading apparatus suspended by a cable and having a plurality of chucks, each adapted for grasping a containerized spool, including strand material disposed thereon, transporting the spool to a position proximate a creel and orienting the spool for positioning on a creel spindle comprising, suspension link means adapted for attachment to the cable, support means having a bar suspended by said suspension link means, a plurality of block means mounted on said support means and slidably engaging said bar, each of said block means carrying one of the chucks, means for selectively moving at least some of said block means along said support means for varying the distance between the chucks, and interconnect links pivotally attached to at least some of said block means and pivotally attached to a pivot pin movable in a slot in a guide plate to move the chucks equal distances relative to said suspension link means, whereby said support means is maintained substantially horizontally balanced.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein adjustable clamp bar means is selectively positioned on said guide plate along said slot to control the extent of travel of said pivot pin.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
156 words
A loading apparatus suspended by a cable and having a plurality of chucks, each adapted for grasping a containerized spool, including strand material disposed thereon, transporting the spool to a position proximate a creel and orienting the spool for positioning on a creel spindle comprising, suspension link means adapted for attachment to the cable, support means suspended by suspension link means, a plurality of block means mounted on said support means, each of said block means carrying one of the chucks, means for selectively moving at least some of said block means along said support means for varying the distance between the chucks, and means mounting the chucks for rotation relative to said block means, said means mounting the chucks for rotation relative to said block means includes a shaft rigidly attached to the chucks and extending through a detent mounted in said block means and a pin extending through said shaft and engaging said detent.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
156 words
A loading apparatus suspended by a cable and having a plurality of chucks, each adapted for grasping a containerized spool, including strand material disposed thereon, transporting the spool to a position proximate a creel and orienting the spool for positioning on a creel spindle comprising, suspension link means adapted for attachment to the cable, support means suspended by suspension link means, a plurality of block means mounted on said support means, each of said block means carrying one of the chucks, means for selectively moving at least some of said block means along said support means for varying the distance between the chucks, and means mounting the chucks for rotation relative to said block means, said means mounting the chucks for rotation relative to said block means includes a shaft rigidly attached to the chucks and extending through a detent mounted in said block means and a pin extending through said shaft and engaging said detent.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said detent has an arcuate recess in which said pin rides to define the extent of rotational travel of said shaft.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said arcuate recess has grooves tending to maintain said pin positioned therein.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
120 words
A loading apparatus suspended by a cable for simultaneously grasping a plurality of containerized spools, including strand material disposed thereon, transporting the spools to a positioning proximate a creel and orienting the spools for positioning on creel spindles comprising, suspension link means adapted for attachment to a cable, support means suspended by said suspension link means, a plurality of block means mounted on said support means, each of said block means carrying a chuck, means for selectively moving at least some of said block means along said support means for varying the distance between said chucks, means for rotating said chucks relative to said block means, and means pivotally mounting the spools in said chucks for selectively orienting the spools.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
120 words
A loading apparatus suspended by a cable for simultaneously grasping a plurality of containerized spools, including strand material disposed thereon, transporting the spools to a positioning proximate a creel and orienting the spools for positioning on creel spindles comprising, suspension link means adapted for attachment to a cable, support means suspended by said suspension link means, a plurality of block means mounted on said support means, each of said block means carrying a chuck, means for selectively moving at least some of said block means along said support means for varying the distance between said chucks, means for rotating said chucks relative to said block means, and means pivotally mounting the spools in said chucks for selectively orienting the spools.