Spark plug conveyor and assembling means
AssigneeU.S. Automation Company
InventorDaniel J. Borodin
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A pneumatic conveyor for transporting and locating a series of spark plug insulator and electrode assemblies in individual corresponding spark plug cells comprising a hollow pneumatic transfer line and opposed first and second pneumatic vacuum pumps disposed in the line and controlled first to propel an insulator and electrode assembly at high speed toward the downstream end of the line and then to decelerate the assembly such that the latter exits the downstream end by substantially the force of gravity. A placement hand receives successive assemblies from the transport line and is operative first to center a corresponding shell beneath the assembly and then to drop the assembly into the shell for swaging at a later work station.
Claims23
A pneumatic conveyor adapted for transferring fragile parts at high speed comprising a hollow pneumatic transfer line having an upstream end adapted to receive parts to be transferred and a downstream end from which the parts are discharged, first pneumatic vacuum pump means disposed in said line between said ends for generating a first high velocity air stream in said line to propel a part from said upstream end toward said downstream end, second pneumatic vacuum pump means disposed in said line adjacent said downstream end for generating a second high velocity air stream in said line in opposition to said first stream to decelerate a part approaching said downstream end, and means connected to said line between said first and second pump means for exhausting said first and second air streams from said line.
A pneumatic conveyor comprising a hollow pneumatic transfer line, first and second pneumatic vacuum pump means disposed in opposed relation and exhausting toward each other in said line, means for exhausting the portion of the line extending between said first and second pump means, and control means coupled to said first and second pump means for first actuating said first pump means to propel a part at high speed from an upstream end of said line toward the downstream end of said line and then actuating said second pump means as said part approaches said downstream end to decelerate the part such that the part exits said downstream end at low speed.
Apparatus for locating and placing a series of spark plug insulator and electrode assemblies in individual corresponding spark plug shells as the latter are successively positioned beneath said apparatus, said apparatus comprising a placement hand including a vertical barrel having an upper end adapted to receive an insulator and electrode assembly, a movable finger on said hand having a finger tip extending into said barrel to capture the assembly in said barrel, locator means for centering a shell beneath said barrel coaxially therewith, and means for lowering said placement hand and said locator means over a shell when the latter is positioned beneath said apparatus, said lowering means including means to move said finger tip out of said barrel when the shell is centered therebelow such that the insulator and electrode assembly may drop into the centered shell by force of gravity.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.