Apparatus for checking features of mechanical pieces, or other objects, transported by a conveyor

An apparatus for checking features of mechanical pieces, or other objects transported by a conveyor along a determined path, comprising:

• a support;
• a slide coupled to the support for alternatively performing a forward stroke and a return stroke with respect to the support;
• first control means acting on the slide for controlling said strokes, the first control means being coupled to the conveyor for rendering at least a portion of the forward stroke synchronous with the conveyor;
• checking means arranged on the slide and including clamping means adapted to clamp the pieces to be checked and checking devices for checking said features;
• and
• second control means coupled to the clamping means and the conveyor, the second control means including resilient means adapted to actuate the clamping means for clamping the piece and transmission means coupled to and receiving operating power from the conveyor, the transmission means being adapted to permit actuation of the clamping means, under the action of the resilient means, during a determined first portion of said forward stroke and being adapted to disengage the clamping means from the piece, overcoming the action of the resilient means, during a determined second portion of the forward stroke.

An apparatus for checking features of mechanical pieces or other objects being supported by a conveyor at a constant distance from each other and being subsequently transported by the conveyor along a determined path, comprising:

• a support;
• a slide movably coupled to the support, the slide being adapted to perform alternatively a forward stroke and a return stroke with respect to the support;
• checking means supported by the slide and including jaws adapted to clamp the piece to be checked and checking devices for checking said features;
• first control means including:
• first spring means cooperating with the support and the slide for urging the slide to perform said forward stroke;
• and first transmission means coupled to and receiving operating power from the conveyor, the first transmission means including a rotatable shaft, a first cam rotatable with the shaft as a consequence of the conveyor displacement, a rod cooperating with the first cam and slidably coupled to the support and a stop element fixed to the rod and arranged at a side of the slide, the stop element being adapted to contact the slide for contrasting the action of the first spring means and determining the speed of the slide during at least one portion of the forward stroke, whereby the slide displaces in synchronism with the conveyor during said at least one portion of the forward stroke and the stop element controls the return stroke of the slide overcoming the action of the first spring means;
• second control means coupled to the jaws and the conveyor, the second control means including:
• second spring means coupled to the jaws and applying to the jaws a resilient action for closing the jaws against the piece to be checked;
• and second transmission means coupled to and receiving operating power from the first transmission means, the second transmission means including a second cam fixed to said shaft, lever means cooperating with the second cam, and at least one rotatable shaft actuated by the lever means and slidably coupled to the slide, whereby the second transmission means are adapted to permit closure of the jaws, under the action of the second spring means, during said at least one portion of the forward stroke, and to open the jaws, overcoming the action of the second spring means, during a determined second portion of the forward stroke.