Apparatus to manipulate workpieces
First Claim
1. An apparatus to manipulate workpieces, the apparatus including the combination of:
- means for delivering a workpiece at a first orientation to a workpiece receiving site;
gripper means including at least one displaceable gripper for supporting a workpiece at the workpiece receiving site;
pivot means supporting the gripper means for movement between the workpiece receiving site and a workpiece transfer site;
means for moving the displacement gripper into a workpiece gripping position and for moving the displaceable gripper into a workpiece release position at the workpiece transfer site thereby changing the workpiece orientation;
means for conveying the workpiece in a second orientation at the workpiece transfer site along a path of travel; and
means to position said pivot means to a preselected position between and relative to each of said means for delivering and said means for conveying by moving said pivot means toward or away from said means for delivering, said pivot means being moved by said means to position said gripper relative to the workpiece on said means for delivering to compensate for varying length workpieces while the workpieces are manipulated between said first and second orientations and without damaging impact with said means for transferring and without changing the distance between the means for delivery and the means for conveying.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Workpieces are manipulated between the receiving position and the discharge position by supporting gripper arms on a platform mounted on a pivot shaft. The pivot shaft pivots between a position where a workpiece is gripped by one or more moveable gripper arms through a pivotal discharge position where the workpiece is released by the gripper arms. The pivot shaft is moved horizontally by a threaded adjusting screw toward and away from a vacuum chuck in a silk-screen printing machine to compensate for changes to the length of the workpiece to be carried by the vacuum chuck. This allows conveyors to remain at fixed elevations and merely change the site at which the workpieces are picked up in the case of a loading mechanism from a feed conveyor and the site where workpieces are deposited on a conveyor for an unloading operation.
26 Citations
15 Claims
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1. An apparatus to manipulate workpieces, the apparatus including the combination of:
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means for delivering a workpiece at a first orientation to a workpiece receiving site; gripper means including at least one displaceable gripper for supporting a workpiece at the workpiece receiving site; pivot means supporting the gripper means for movement between the workpiece receiving site and a workpiece transfer site; means for moving the displacement gripper into a workpiece gripping position and for moving the displaceable gripper into a workpiece release position at the workpiece transfer site thereby changing the workpiece orientation; means for conveying the workpiece in a second orientation at the workpiece transfer site along a path of travel; and means to position said pivot means to a preselected position between and relative to each of said means for delivering and said means for conveying by moving said pivot means toward or away from said means for delivering, said pivot means being moved by said means to position said gripper relative to the workpiece on said means for delivering to compensate for varying length workpieces while the workpieces are manipulated between said first and second orientations and without damaging impact with said means for transferring and without changing the distance between the means for delivery and the means for conveying. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15)
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13. The apparatus according to 11 wherein the means for moving the displaceable gripper includes:
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rotatable cam rollers each coupled by cam followers to a cross head, means for imparting displacement of the cross head to support rod for a C-shaped gripper for movement of the gripper away from the workpiece; and resilient means for urging the C-shaped gripper into an engagement with a workpiece.
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14. The apparatus according to 1 wherein the means for moving the displaceable gripper includes:
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a rotatable cam roller coupled by cam a follower to a cross head, means for imparting displacement of the cross head to a support rod for a C-shaped gripper element which is for movement of the gripper away from the workpiece; and resilient means for urging the C-shaped gripper into an engagement with a workpiece.
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Specification