Article contour follower mechanism

An article contour follower apparatus comprising:

• first and second members mounted concentrically for rotation in a support in the same rotational direction;
• a plurality of followers pivotally mounted to said first and said second members for movement therewith, said first and said second members defining an axial opening through which an elongated object is movable, said followers being responsive to changes in the phase relationship between said first and said second members to open and close toward and away from said axial opening, said followers being adapted to contact and follow the contour of an elongated object passing through said axial opening;
• a drive means including a common drive for rotating said first and said second members in the same rotational direction, said drive means also incuding a first drive and a second drive, said first drive directly coupled to said common drive to rotate one of said first and second members, said second drive being coupled to a third drive for rotating said other member;
• phase shifting means connected between said second drive and said third drive, said common drive being coupled to said second drive to rotate said other of said first and second members through said phase shifting means, said phase shifting means being adapted to momentarily change the relative rotational speed of said other of said first and second members to thereby change the phase relationship between said first and said second members urging said followers to open and close said opening.

Apparatus for controlling contour follower members pivotally mounted between a pair of rotatable members mounted for rotation about a common axis in the same rotational direction defining an opening through which an elongated article is axially movable, said follower members being shiftable toward and away from the axial center of said opening with changes in the position of said rotatable members with respect to each other, said control apparatus comprising:

• drive means for rotating said rotatable members in the same rotational direction, a first drive directly connecting said drive means to one of said members to rotate the same;
• a second drive and third drive connected to said drive means for rotating the other of said members;
• differential means connected between said second drive and third drive and thereby between the other of said rotatable members and said drive means, said differential means including an input means connected to said second drive and an output means connected to said other rotatable member through said third drive to rotate said other rotatable member, and shifting means associated with said differential means for changing the rotational relationship of said output means and third drive with respect to said input means and second drive to advance and retard the rotational relationship of said other rotatable member with respect to said one of said members to thereby shift said follower members toward and away from said axial center.