Coupling for handling workpiece, conveyor combined therewith, and method

A machine for carrying a workpiece between a workpiece loading station and a workpiece unloading station and return comprising the combination of:

• a. a machine base;
• b. a coupling capable of engaging and disengaging a shaped portion of a workpiece responsive to being moved to and from respectively said workpiece loading station and said workpiece unloading station;
• c. conveyor means movably mounted relative to said machine base for supporting said coupling for repeated movement along respective first and second paths to and away from said respective stations for loading and unloading, said conveyor means including bearing means for revolvably supporting said coupling therefrom whereby said coupling may be revolved about an axis through the bearing;
• a carrier body on which said bearing means is supported;
• a track on said machine base extending between said stations;
• roller means supporting said carrier on said track;
• a chain led between two sprockets in parallel with said track;
• and means connecting said carrier to said chain whereby driving one of said sprockets moves the carrier;
• d. means for operating said coupling to engage and disengage said workpiece responsive to said coupling arriving at said loading station and at said unloading station, respectively;
• e. means for feeding workpieces one at a time into said coupling when said coupling arrives at said loading station;
• and
• f. conveyor drive means that alternately and periodically interrupts movement of said conveyor means between said stations to alternately stop said conveyor with said coupling arrived at said means for feeding to receive a workpiece therefrom and then to advance said conveyor a predetermined amount.

A machine for carrying a plurality of workpieces each having a longitudinal axis between a workpiece loading station and a workpiece unloading station and return comprising the combination of:

• a. a machine base;
• b. a plurality of couplings arranged in rank and file manner each capable of engaging and disengaging a shaped portion of a workpiece responsive to being moved to said workpiece loading station and said workpiece unloading station, respectively;
• c. conveyor means movably mounted relative to said machine base for supporting said plurality of couplings in said rank and file manner for repeated movement along respective first and second paths to and away from said respective stations for loading and unloading;
• d. respective loading and unloading means for operating a rank of said couplings to engage and disengage workpieces therefrom responsive to such rank of said couplings arriving at said loading station and unloading station, respectively;
• e. means for feeding a workpiece along its axis into each said coupling in such rank in unison with similarly feeding a workpiece into each of the other couplings in such rank when such rank arrives at said loading station and to repeat such feeding when the succeeding coupling in each file has arrived at said loading station;
• f. means for engaging and rotating continuously about the respective said workpiece axes all of those couplings in a portion of successive ranks between said loading and unloading stations while said couplings are being conveyed by periodic advancement between said loading and unloading stations;
• and
• g. conveyor drive means that alternately and periodically interrupts movement of said conveyor between said stations to alternately stop said conveyor with each said coupling arriving in turn at said means for feeding to receive a workpiece therefrom in unison with other couplings in its rank and then to advance said conveyor a predetermined amount.

A machine for carrying a workpiece having a longitudinal axis between a workpiece loading station and a workpiece unloading station and return comprising the combination of:

• a. a machine base;
• b. a coupling capable of engaging and disengaging a shaped portion of a workpiece responsive to being moved to and from respectively said workpiece loading station and said workpiece unloading station;
• c. conveyor means movably mounted relative to said machine base for supporting said coupling for repeated movement along respective first and second paths to and away from said respective stations for loading and unloading;
• d. means for operating said coupling to engage and disengage said workpiece responsive to said coupling arriving, respectively, at said loading staton and at said unloading station, respectively;
• e. means for feeding workpieces one at a time along its said axis into said coupling when said coupling arrives at said loading station;
• and
• f. conveyor drive means that alternately and periodically interrupts movement of said conveyor between said stations to alternately stop said conveyor with said coupling arrived at said means for feeding to receive a workpiece therefrom and then to advance said conveyor a predetermined amount;
• and wherein
• g. said coupling comprises a support member having an upper stem portion for securing to said conveyor means, a cup-shaped lower support portion having a wall surrounding a chamber, said wall having an internal detent release surface on its inside lower edge, an internal detent engaging surface above said skirt, an open end adjacent said skirt and a closed end opposite said open end and supporting said upper stem portion;
• h. a detent carrier movably mounted in the upper end of the chamber to be axially movable toward and away from said skirt, actuable for movement by means outside of said wall and having a workpiece receiving space with an open end adjacent said skirt and a closed upper end;
• i. detent means supported by said detent carrier and radially movable in and out from the central part of said chamber responsive to respective axial movement of the carrier between said detent engaging surface and said detent release surface;
• j. whereby moving said carrier axially relative to said support member toward said skirt moves the detent means to a position disengageably from any workpiece if one be present and moving the carrier in the opposite direction moves the detent to a position engageable with a workpiece if one be present.

A method of loading a workpiece into a coupling, conveying it along a path to an unloading station and there releasing it comprising the steps of:

• a. providing a coupling for holding said workpiece which comprises a generally cup-shaped support member revolvably mounted on a linearly movable conveyor means, a cup-shaped carrier member slidably mounted for axial movement within said support member and detent means carried by said carrier and operable to move radially responsive to axial motions between said carrier and support members;
• b. moving said coupling to and arresting motion at a loading station;
• c. feeding a workpiece axially thereof into said coupling;
• d. moving said detents radially inward to grasp said workpiece responsive to the aforesaid axial motion;
• e. conveying said coupling and workpiece by intermittent periodic increments of advancement toward said unloading station;
• and
• f. releasing said workpiece by causing said detents to move radially away from said workpiece responsive to movement to said unloading station.