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US 4,067,694 AGranted
Loading and unloading mechanism for continuously rotating container
AssigneeEastman Kodak Company
InventorsRobert Bruce Blakely, Clyde Leroy Fetterman, Horace Glynn Warren
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In a continuously rotating container having substrates to be processed, a loading and unloading mechanism is provided which introduces and removes the substrates without interruption of the rotation of the container.
Claims9
In apparatus for analysis of a substrate, the apparatus including
- supporting means disposed around a fixed axis for supporting a plurality of substrates;
- means for sensing the state of the substrates supported by said supporting means;
- means for continuously rotating at a prescribed speed about said axis said supporting means and the substrates supported thereon;
- and means for loading and unloading a substrate into and from engagement with said supporting means;
- the improvement wherein said loading and unloading means include,
- a. a stationary loading station;
- b. holding means for mating with and holding said substrates, said holding means being disposed for continuous rotation about said axis and for linear movement into and out of positions aligned with said supporting means or with said loading station;
- c. and moving means for individually and selectively moving any of said holding means from said supporting means to said loading station and back,
- whereby said any holding means is brought into a mating position with a stationary substrate on said loading station while said any holding member is moving with respect to said loading station, without interrupting said continuous rotation.
6 more elements
In apparatus for analysis of a substrate, the apparatus including
- supporting means disposed around a fixed axis for supporting a plurality of substrates;
- means for sensing the state of the substrates supported by said supporting means;
- means for continuously rotating at a prescribed speed about said axis said supporting means and the substrates supported thereon;
- and means for loading and unloading a substrate into and from engagement with said supporting means;
- the improvement wherein said loading and unloading means include,
- a. a stationary loading station spaced away from said supporting means along a line parallel to said axis;
- b. a plurality of frames mounted for rotary movement with each of said supporting means, each of said frames having fingers spaced apart a distance sufficient to accommodate a substrate therebetween;
- c. a plurality of rods adjacent said supporting means, each extending generally parallel to said axis, said frames being slidable on said rods between positions aligned with said supporting means or said loading station;
- d. and camming means for individually and selectively moving any of said frames towards and away from said loading station,
- whereby substrates are loaded from said loading station to said supporting means without interrupting said continuous rotation.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.