Modular low friction spindle assembly

• US 7,077,258 B2
• Filed: 04/23/2004
• Issued: 07/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Graham Packaging Company LP (Graeme Richard Hart, MBA)
• Original Assignee: Graham Packaging Company LP (Graeme Richard Hart, MBA)
• Inventors: Varone, Russell
• Primary Examiner(s): Bidwell, James R.
• Application Number:
  US10/830,131
• Publication Number:
  US 20050241912A1
• Time in Patent Office: 816 Days
• Field of Search: 193/37, 198/379, 198/470.1, 118/107, 118/232, 269/48.1, 335/59
• US Class Current: 198/379
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 13/0228 the movement of the objects being rotative B05B13/0242 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2207/26 Hygienic features, e.g. easy to sanitize
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2207/38 Pin used as carrier of one article
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/90 Devices for picking-up and depositing articles or materials

Abstract

Spindle assemblies include an upper spindle shaft with an undercut section, which reduces wear on parts. Assemblies include a depth stop on a probe pin to ensure accurate alignment upon reassembly with minimal time and effort.

Claims

1. A spindle assembly, comprising:

a spindle having a spindle bore; and

an upper spindle shaft having an upper section, a lower section, and

an undercut section, located between said upper section and said lower section,

said upper spindle shaft located at least partially within said spindle bore and capable of rotating with respect to said spindle.

2. The spindle assembly of claim 1, further comprising

a spindle shaft set comprising said upper spindle shaft of claim 1,

said lower section comprising a threaded spindle shaft receptacle, and further comprising

a probe pin having a first end and a second end distal to said first end that comprises

a probe knob with a support ledge at said first end and probe threads vicinal to said second end,

said probe threads capable of being screwed into said threaded spindle shaft receptacle.

3. The spindle assembly of claim 2,

said threaded spindle shaft receptacle comprising a receptacle end wall,

said probe pin further comprising a depth stop,

said depth stop extending from said probe threads to said second end of said probe pin, and

said second end of said probe pin contacting said receptacle end wall when said probe threads are screwed into said threaded spindle shaft receptacle.

4. The spindle assembly of claim 1,

further comprising a spindle stop connected with said upper spindle shaft,

said spindle stop capable of limiting axial motion of said upper spindle shaft relative to said spindle.

5. The spindle assembly of claim 4,

further comprising,

a probe pin capable of being inserted into said spindle bore and

a shaft stop connected with said probe pin,

said shaft stop capable of limiting axial motion of said probe pin relative to said spindle when said probe pin is inserted into said spindle bore, and

said probe pin capable of being connected with said upper spindle shaft.

6. The spindle assembly of claim 5,

said spindle being in contact with said upper spindle shaft and said probe pin over less than about 50% of a length of said spindle bore, when said upper spindle shaft and said probe pin are inserted into said spindle bore and said upper spindle shaft and said probe pin are connected with each other.

7. The spindle assembly of claim 6,

said spindle being in contact with said upper spindle shaft and said probe pin over less than about 30% of a length of said spindle bore, when said upper spindle shaft and said probe pin are inserted into said spindle bore and said upper spindle shaft and said probe pin are connected with each other.

8. The spindle assembly of claim 7,

said spindle being in contact with said upper spindle shaft and said probe pin over from about 20% to about 25% of a length of said spindle bore, when said upper spindle shaft and said probe pin are inserted into said spindle bore and said upper spindle shaft and said probe pin are connected with each other.

9. The spindle assembly of claim 1, further comprising

a locking collar fixable to said upper spindle shaft.

10. The spindle assembly of claim 1,

said spindle further comprising a spindle body and a nose.

11. The spindle assembly of claim 10,

said spindle body comprising a body bore, and

said spindle body being in contact with said upper section and said lower section of said upper spindle shaft over less than about 60% of a length of said body bore, when said upper spindle shaft is inserted into said body bore.

12. The spindle assembly of claim 11,

said spindle body being in contact with said upper section and said lower section of said upper spindle shaft over less than about 45% of a length of said body bore, when said upper spindle shaft is inserted into said body bore.

13. The spindle assembly of claim 12,

said spindle body being in contact with said upper section and said lower section of said upper spindle shaft over about 40% of a length of said body bore, when said upper spindle shaft is inserted into said body bore.

14. A spindle assembly, comprising:

a spindle; and

a probe pin, comprising a first end, a second end distal to said first end, a probe knob with a support ledge at said first end, and a depth stop,

said probe pin capable of rotating with respect to said spindle.

15. The spindle assembly of claim 14,

said probe pin further comprising probe threads vicinal to said second end, said depth stop extending from said probe threads to said second end.

16. The spindle assembly of claim 15, further comprising

a spindle shaft set comprising said probe pin, and further comprising

an upper spindle shaft, comprising a threaded spindle shaft receptacle with a receptacle end wall,

said probe threads capable of being screwed into said threaded spindle shaft receptacle, and

said second end of said probe pin contacting said receptacle end wall when said probe threads are screwed into said threaded spindle shaft receptacle.

17. The spindle assembly of claim 16,

said upper spindle shaft further comprising

an upper section,

a lower section, and

an undercut section located between said upper section and said lower section.

18. The spindle assembly of claim 16,

said spindle comprising a spindle bore;

and

said probe pin and said upper spindle shaft capable of being inserted into said spindle bore.

19. The spindle assembly of claim 18,

further comprising a spindle stop connected with said upper spindle shaft,

said spindle stop capable of limiting axial motion of said upper spindle shaft relative to said spindle when said upper spindle shaft is inserted into said spindle bore.

20. The spindle assembly of claim 18, further comprising

a locking collar capable of being affixed to said upper spindle shaft and

capable of limiting axial motion of said upper spindle shaft relative to said spindle when said upper spindle shaft is inserted into said spindle bore.

21. The spindle assembly of claim 18:

said spindle further comprising a spindle body and a nose;

said spindle body comprising a threaded body receptacle;

said nose comprising nose threads; and

,

said nose threads capable of being screwed into said threaded body receptacle.

22. The spindle assembly of claim 21,

said nose threads being of an opposite handedness than said probe threads.

23. A spindle assembly comprising said probe pin of claim 15,

and further comprising:

an upper spindle shaft, comprising an upper section, a lower section, and an

undercut section, said undercut section located between said upper section and said lower section;

said lower section of said upper spindle shaft further comprising a threaded spindle shaft receptacle with a receptacle end wall, said probe threads capable of being screwed into said threaded spindle shaft receptacle, and said second end of said probe pin contacting said receptacle end wall when said probe threads are screwed into said threaded spindle shaft receptacle;

a spindle comprising a spindle bore, said probe pin and said upper spindle shaft capable of being inserted into said spindle bore; and

,

a locking collar capable of being affixed to said upper spindle shaft.

24. The spindle assembly of claim 23:

said spindle comprising a spindle body and a nose;

said spindle body comprising a threaded body receptacle;

said nose comprising nose threads;

said nose threads capable of being screwed into said threaded body receptacle; and

,

said nose threads being of an opposite handedness than said probe threads.

32. The spindle assembly of claim 14, wherein said probe pin, said probe knob, and said support ledge are formed as a single piece.

25. A method for assembling a spindle assembly, comprising the steps of:

providing an upper spindle shaft, comprising an upper section, a lower section, and an undercut section;

providing a spindle comprising a spindle bore; and

,

inserting said upper spindle shaft into said spindle bore so that said upper spindle shaft can rotate with respect to said spindle.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising the steps of:

providing a locking collar; and

,

affixing said locking collar to said upper spindle shaft.

27. The method of claim 25, further comprising the steps of:

providing a spindle body comprising a threaded body receptacle;

providing a nose comprising nose threads; and

,

screwing said nose threads into said threaded body receptacle to form said spindle.

28. A method for assembling a spindle assembly, comprising the steps of:

providing a probe pin comprising a probe knob with a support ledge at a first end, probe threads vicinal to a second end distal to said first end, and a depth stop extending from said probe threads to said second end;

providing an upper spindle shaft comprising a threaded spindle shaft receptacle with a receptacle end wall;

providing a spindle comprising a spindle bore;

inserting said probe pin and said upper spindle shaft into said spindle bore; and

,

screwing said probe threads into said threaded spindle shaft receptacle.

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising the steps of:

providing a locking collar comprising a collar bore; and

,

affixing said locking collar to said upper spindle shaft.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein said providing a spindle comprises

providing a spindle body;

providing a nose;

connecting said nose with said spindle body to form said spindle.

31. The method of claim 29, further comprising the steps of:

providing a positioning jig comprising a support shoulder and an insertion pin connected with said support shoulder;

inserting said insertion pin into said collar bore of said locking collar so that said support shoulder contacts said locking collar; and

,

inserting said upper spindle shaft into said collar bore so that said upper spindle shaft contacts said insertion pin.