Rotary machine with separately controllable stations

• US 8,261,631 B2
• Filed: 08/19/2008
• Issued: 09/11/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Computrol, Inc. (Creation Technologies LP)
• Original Assignee: Computrol, Inc. (Creation Technologies LP)
• Inventors: Weil, William W., Woolley, Scott J., Buckley, Ian J., McBride, James N., Johansson, Bert, Crabtree, Harley S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Krause, Justin
• Application Number:
  US12/194,380
• Publication Number:
  US 20100049357A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,484 Days
• Field of Search: 748/13.R, 748/13.C, 748/16, 748/25
• US Class Current: 74/825
• CPC Class Codes: B65C 9/06 Devices for presenting articles in predetermined attitude or position at labelling station
• CPC Class Codes: B67B 3/2033 comprising carousel co-rotating capping heads
• CPC Class Codes: B67B 3/26 Applications of control, warning, or safety devices in capping machinery
• CPC Class Codes: B67C 3/246 Bottle lifting devices actuated by cams B67C3/242 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/416 characterised by control of velocity, acceleration or deceleration G05B19/19 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/37555 Camera detects orientation, position workpiece, points of workpiece
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/45048 Packaging
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/1418 Preselected indexed position
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/1471 Plural operators or input drives
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/1488 Control means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/18296 Cam and slide

Abstract

A rotary machine may have multiple stations that have a linear motion operated by a cam and a rotational motion operated by individual motors mounted on each station. Each station may perform a motion profile that is proportional to the machine'"'"'s central axis rotation or, in some cases, independent of the central axis rotation. In some embodiments, each station may rotate to orient a part prior to processing. In one embodiment, the cam driven linear motion may enable a station to lower for loading and unloading, then raise for processing. The rotary machine may have various mechanisms at each station for processing a part. One such embodiment is a rotary machine that may be outfitted with compound dispensing mechanisms at each station.

Claims

1. A rotary machine comprising:

a table having a center axis and being configured to rotate about said center axis, said table comprising a plurality of stations disposed about said center axis;

a first motor connected to drive said table to rotate about said center axis;

a position sensor for said table, said position sensor capable of resolving a rotational position of said table;

a cam;

each of said stations comprising;

a non-rotating guide attached to said table;

a rotating element configured to rotate within said non-rotating guide, said rotating element revolving about a station axis;

a station motor configured to cause said rotating element to rotate with respect to said non-rotating guide; and

a linear slide configured to enable said non-rotating guide to linearly move along a linear axis with respect to said table; and

a controller configured to cause said first motor to rotate said table at a first speed and cause said station motors to rotate according to a motion profile.

2. The rotary machine of claim 1, said motion profile being performed at a speed proportional to said first speed.

3. The rotary machine of claim 1, said motion profile being performed at a speed independent of said first speed.

4. The rotary machine of claim 1, said motion profile being a constant speed profile.

5. The rotary machine of claim 1, said motion profile being a variable speed profile.

6. The rotary machine of claim 1, said motion profile comprising an orientation routine.

7. The rotary machine of claim 1, said motion profile being dependent on said rotational position of said table.

8. The rotary machine of claim 1, said stations being substantially below said table.

9. The rotary machine of claim 1, said station axis being substantially parallel to said center axis.

10. The rotary machine of claim 9, said linear axis being substantially parallel to said center axis.

11. The rotary machine of claim 10 further comprising:

a compound dispenser at each of said stations.

12. The rotary machine of claim 1, said cam comprising a cam path generally circular in shape and substantially centered about said center axis.

13. The rotary machine of claim 1, said linear axis being substantially perpendicular to said center axis.