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AssigneeSociete d'Exploitation des Machines Dubuit
InventorsJean-Louis Dubuit, Eric Rouly
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A transfer apparatus conveys work holder supports along a closed pathway, defined by a fixed guideway, passing by at least one work station. A first, drive conveyor which is preferably an endless conveyor and operates continuously transports the work holder supports along a first segment of the closed pathway and a second, pickup conveyor which in practice operates intermittently transports the work holder supports along a second segment passing by the work station or stations. The path of the first conveyor has a section which is detoured away from the work station or stations. The work holder supports are releasable engageable with the dogs on the first conveyor and projecting pins on cranks of the second conveyor for coupling and uncoupling the work holder supports upstream and downstream of the work station or stations. The second, pickup conveyor comprises for each work station two cranks having projecting pins selectively engageable with a corresponding groove in each work holder support for selectively coupling it for displacement.
A transfer apparatus for conveying work holder supports along a closed pathway passing by at least one work station, said transfer apparatus comprising a fixed, closed, endless guideway defining said closed pathway, said work holder supports being individually mounted for movement on said fixed guideway, a first, continuous drive conveyor for transporting said work holder supports along a first segment of said closed pathway, a second, stepwise pickup conveyor taking over from said first, drive conveyor for transporting said work holder supports over a second segment of said closed pathway passing by said at least one work station, and releasable engagement means for coupling said work holder supports to said first, drive conveyor, said releasable engagement means releasing said work holder supports from said first, drive conveyor upstream of said second segment of the closed pathway and coupling said work holder supports to said first, drive conveyor downstream of the second segment of the closed pathway, said second, pickup conveyor comprising a plurality of rotatable cranks arranged in series and having projecting pins sequentially engageable with a single so-called pickup groove of each of said work holder supports provided for advancing in unison said work holder supports along said second segment of said closed pathway, and means for indexing and immobilizing said work holder supports in synchronism with said second, pickup conveyor for positively positioning and immobilizing said work holder supports after stepwise displacements of said work holder supports at said at least one work station.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.