# US 11,078,029 B1 · Apparatus for profile re-orientation for handling

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- Number: US 11,078,029 B1
- Document ID: US11078029B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 17/084,330
- Filed: 2020-10-29
- Granted: 2021-08-03
- Earliest claimed: 2020-05-22
- Assignees: Tata Consultancy Services Limited
- Applicants: Tata Consultancy Services Limited
- Inventors: Venkatesh Prasad Bangalore Srinivas
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11078029B1

## CPC

- B29C 48/355: Conveyors for extruded articles
- B65G 47/24: orientating the articles
- B21C 35/02: Removing or drawing-off work
- B65G 15/28: Conveyors with a load-conveying surface formed by a single flat belt, not otherwise provided for
- B65G 21/10: movable, or having interchangeable or relatively movable parts; Devices for moving framework or parts thereof
- B65G 47/2445: {by means of at least two co-operating endless conveying elements}
- B65G 47/248: by turning over or inverting them (B65G47/244 takes precedence)
- B65G 47/82: Rotary or reciprocating members for direct action on articles or materials, e.g. pushers, rakes, shovels {(means for pushing glass articles onto a conveyor C03B9/453)}
- B65G 47/88: Separating or stopping elements, e.g. fingers (attached to star-shaped wheels B65G47/84)
- B29C 31/008: {Handling preformed parts, e.g. inserts (B29C37/001 takes precedence; for injection moulding B29C45/14008; for blow moulding B29C49/2408; for thermoforming B29C51/165)}
- B29C 48/09: Articles with cross-sections having partially or fully enclosed cavities, e.g. pipes or channels
- B29C 48/12: Articles with an irregular circumference when viewed in cross-section, e.g. window profiles
- B65G 23/04: Drums, rollers, or wheels {(B65G23/18 takes precedence)}
- B65G 23/44: Belt or chain tensioning arrangements
- F16H 19/04: comprising a rack
- B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00)
- B65G: TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS (packaging B65B; handling thin or filamentary materials, e.g. paper sheets or thread, B65H; cranes B66C; portable mobile or lifting or hauling appliances, e.g. hoists, B66D; devices for lifting or lowering goods for loading or unloading purposes, e.g. fork-lift trucks, B66F9/00; emptying bottles, jars, casks, barrels or similar containers, not otherwise provided for, B67C9/00; delivering or transferring liquids B67D; filling or discharging vessels for liquefied, solidified or compressed gases F17C; pipe-line systems for fluids F17D)
- B21C: MANUFACTURE OF METAL SHEETS, WIRE, RODS, TUBES, PROFILES OR LIKE SEMI-MANUFACTURED PRODUCTS OTHERWISE THAN BY ROLLING; AUXILIARY OPERATIONS USED IN CONNECTION WITH METAL-WORKING WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL
- F16H: GEARING

## Abstract

Conventionally, in industries, different complex profiles (e.g., objects) are extruded and cut to required lengths for handling these profiles. This requires moving profiles from one location to another and placing them together with other similar or identical profiles which is currently a manual process. Present disclosure provides an apparatus for re-orientation of profiles for easy pick and place of these profiles from one location to another location. The apparatus includes actuator arm assemblies that are actuated for movement in upward and downward direction, wherein actuated rollers are trigged to move upward/downward directions accordingly. Profile is placed in initial position on an endless re-orienting belt above the surface of actuator arm assemblies wherein each actuator arm assembly is actuated to move the profile from one sub-region to another sub-region until the profile attains a desired orientation for pick and place of the re-oriented profile to desired location with required angle.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An apparatus for re-orientation of one or more profiles, comprising:
a mounting stand;
at least one motor body that is fixed on the mounting stand, wherein the at least one motor body is configured to house one or more motors, wherein the at least one motor body comprises a plurality of slots, and wherein the plurality of slots are positioned adjacent to each other;
a plurality of actuator arm assemblies, wherein each of the plurality of actuator arm assemblies comprises:
a first end and a second end; and
a rack holder, wherein the rack holder is positioned between the first end and the second end,
wherein the rack holder is adapted to accommodate at least one rack gear,
wherein each of the plurality of actuator arm assemblies is adapted to move in at least one of a first direction and a second direction based on a corresponding pinion gear coupled thereto, and being operated by a corresponding motor from the one or more motors,
wherein each of the first end and the second end comprises a first flange and a second flange that (i) protrude outward from the first end and the second end and (ii) are separated by a distance forming a gap, wherein each of the first flange and the second flange comprise a corresponding hole, and
wherein each of the plurality of actuator arm assemblies is adapted to fit in a corresponding slot from the plurality of slots;
a plurality of actuated rollers, each of the plurality of actuated rollers comprises a first end and a second end, wherein each corresponding actuated roller from the plurality of actuated rollers is adapted to fit in the gap, and wherein the first end and the second end of each of the plurality of actuated rollers are adapted to be fitted through the corresponding hole of the first flange and the second flange respectively;
a first belt tensioner plate and a second belt tensioner plate, wherein each of the first belt tensioner plate and the second belt tensioner plate comprise a first surface and a second surface, and wherein each of the first surface of each of the first belt tensioner plate and the second belt tensioner plate is coupled to a first side and a second side of the at least one motor body respectively;
a third belt tensioner plate and a fourth belt tensioner plate having a first surface and a second surface, wherein the second surface of the third belt tensioner plate and the fourth belt tensioner plate is positioned opposite to the second surface of the first belt tensioner plate and the second belt tensioner plate respectively, and wherein each of the third belt tensioner plate and the fourth belt tensioner plate comprises a plurality of holes on either side therebetween,
wherein each of the first belt tensioner plate, the second belt tensioner plate, the third belt tensioner plate and the fourth belt tensioner plate comprise a first side and a second side, wherein each of the first side and the second side of the first belt tensioner plate, the second belt tensioner plate, the third belt tensioner plate and the fourth belt tensioner plate comprise one or more set of fingers, and wherein a first finger of each finger set from the one or more finger set is positioned opposite to a second finger of the finger set to form a corresponding gap, each finger from the one or more fingers set comprises a first end and a second end, and wherein the second end comprises a corresponding hole;
a plurality of stepped rollers, each of the plurality of stepped rollers comprises a first end and a second end, wherein each corresponding stepped roller from the plurality of stepped rollers is adapted to be fitted in the corresponding gap formed by the first finger and the second finger of the first belt tensioner plate and the second belt tensioner plate such that the first end and the second end of each corresponding stepped roller passes through the corresponding hole of the first finger and the second finger;
a plurality of dancing rollers, wherein each dancing roller from the plurality of dancing roller is adapted to be fitted in the corresponding gap of the first finger and the second finger of the third belt tensioner plate and the fourth belt tensioner plate such that a first end and a second end of each corresponding dancing roller passes through the corresponding hole of the first finger and the second finger;
a plurality of guiding rods, wherein each guiding rod comprises a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of a corresponding guiding rod from the plurality of guiding rods is fixed to the first side and the second side of the at least one motor body respectively, and wherein the second end of the corresponding guiding rod is coupled to a corresponding side of a corresponding guiding rod plate through a corresponding hole from the plurality of holes comprised on either side of each of the third belt tensioner plate and the fourth belt tensioner plate; and
an endless re-orienting belt that is held by the plurality of actuated rollers, the plurality of stepped rollers and the plurality of dancing rollers,
wherein a profile is received on a region of the endless re-orienting belt that is above the plurality of actuator arm assemblies, in an initial orientation, and wherein each of the plurality of actuator arm assemblies move in the at least one of the first direction and the second direction based on the corresponding pinion gear coupled thereto, and are operated by the corresponding motor from the one or more motors such that the endless re-orienting belt moves until the profile attains a desired orientation.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a groove on either side of the endless re-orienting belt, and along the length of the endless re-orienting belt.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a first belt tensioner and a second belt tensioner coupled to the third belt tensioner plate, the fourth belt tensioner plate and the corresponding guiding rod plate via a wire and a pulley mechanism, wherein the first belt tensioner and the second belt tensioner are configured to adjust and balance tension of the endless re-orienting belt for movement of the endless re-orienting belt in at least one direction.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of pins, wherein each of the plurality of pin is adaptively coupled to (i) the first end and the second end of each corresponding actuated roller from the plurality of actuated rollers, (ii) the first end and the second end of each corresponding stepped roller from the plurality of stepped rollers and (iii) the first end and the second end of each corresponding actuated roller from the plurality of actuated rollers.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein when each of the plurality of actuated rollers moves in at least one direction, the third belt tensioner plate and the fourth belt tensioner plate are configured to (i) slide on the plurality of guiding rods and (ii) adjust the endless re-orienting belt to a desired tension.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein rotary motion of the corresponding pinion gear triggers a sliding motion for each of the plurality of actuator arm assemblies to move in the at least one of the first direction and the second direction.

### Claim 7 (depends on 2)

The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the endless re-orienting belt comprises:
a center area; and
a first step arrangement and a second step arrangement joining a corresponding side of the center area, wherein each of the first step arrangement and the second step arrangement comprise the groove.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a plurality of bearing rollers, wherein when one or more of the plurality of actuated rollers are actuated, each of the plurality of bearing rollers is configured to contact with the first step arrangement and the second step arrangement respectively to enable:
(i) an outer surface of the endless re-orienting belt to be in constant contact with each of the plurality of bearing rollers, and
(ii) a reduced friction between (a) each of the plurality of bearing rollers and (b) the first step arrangement and the second step arrangement of the endless re-orienting belt.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of stepped rollers is in contact with an outer surface of the endless re-orienting belt, and wherein each of the plurality of dancing rollers and each of the plurality of actuated rollers are in contact with an inner surface of the endless re-orienting belt.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the profile is a non-circular object.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the profile is an object comprising at least one side with a flat surface.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the profile is a non-circular object having cross section same across the length of the profile.