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US 6,276,514 B1Granted
Toothed wheel and method for transferring components
AssigneeAds
InventorFrançois Cochin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Method and apparatus for transferring components which includes a wheel which can rotate between an arrival station and a discharge station, each station being located adjacent a periphery of the wheel. A plurality of independent peripheral teeth are pivotally mounted to the wheel via mounting spindles. The teeth are designed to carry along at least one component during a rotation of the wheel in a transfer direction. Each of the teeth can pivot in a direction opposite to the transfer direction, such that each tooth can release a component when there is resistance to rotation of the wheel.
Claims40
A toothed wheel for transferring, one of, preforms and receptacles each including a ring or a neck fitted with a flange, said preforms or receptacles being supported by their flanges during rotation of said toothed wheel, between an arrival area and a discharge area, each of which is located close to a periphery of said toothed wheel, said toothed wheel comprising;
- a plurality of independent peripheral teeth pivotally mounted on a spindle, each of said teeth being designed to carry along a preform or receptacle during the rotation of said toothed wheel while each tooth is able to pivot in a direction opposite to a direction of rotation of said toothed wheel and to release said preform or receptacle if a resistance to a driving force is greater than a force of an elastic recall means which urges said each tooth towards a normal transporting position,
- wherein at least two adjacent teeth have closely arranged corresponding concave and convex surfaces such that the concave surface of one adjacent tooth is engagable with the convex surface of the other adjacent tooth.
A toothed wheel for transferring, one of, preforms and receptacles each including a ring or a neck fitted with a flange, said preforms or receptacles being supported by their flanges during rotation of said toothed wheel, between an arrival area and a discharge area, each of which is located close to a periphery of said toothed wheel, said toothed wheel comprising;
- a plurality of independent peripheral teeth pivotally mounted on a spindle, each of said teeth being designed to carry along a preform or receptacle during the rotation of said toothed wheel while each tooth is able to pivot in a direction opposite to a direction of rotation of said toothed wheel and to release said preform or receptacle if a resistance to a driving force is greater than a force of an elastic recall means which urges said each tooth towards a normal transporting position,
- wherein said toothed wheel further comprises a disc which provides a pivoting bearing surface for each tooth such that each pivoting spindle of said tooth is freely mounted, said spindle being rigidly fixed in rotation to said tooth,
- wherein said elastic recall means for each tooth is a coil torsion spring arranged around said pivoting spindle of said tooth, one end of which is rigidly fixed to said disc and another end of which is rigidly fixed in rotation to said pivoting spindle, and
- wherein said end of said coil torsion spring that is rigidly fixed in rotation to said pivoting spindle is fixed between a part of said pivoting spindle and a part of a sleeve which surrounds said spring and which is rigidly fixed in rotation with said pivoting spindle.
1 more element
An apparatus for transferring components comprising:
- a wheel which is rotatable between an arrival station and a discharge station, each station being located adjacent a periphery of said wheel;
- a plurality of independent peripheral teeth pivotally mounted via a spindle to said wheel;
- said teeth being designed to carry along at least one component during a rotation of said wheel;
- wherein each of said plurality of said teeth is pivotable in a direction opposite to said wheel rotation and wherein each tooth releases said at least one component when there is substantial resistance to rotation of said wheel, and
- wherein at least two adjacent teeth have closely arranged corresponding concave and convex surfaces such that the concave surface of one adjacent tooth is engagable with the convex surface of the other adjacent tooth.
2 more elements
An apparatus for transferring components comprising:
- a wheel which is rotatable between an arrival station and a discharge station, each station being located adjacent a periphery of said wheel;
- a plurality of independent peripheral teeth pivotally mounted via a spindle to said wheel;
- said teeth being designed to carry along at least one component during a rotation of said wheel;
- wherein each of said plurality of said teeth is pivotable in a direction opposite to said wheel rotation and wherein each tooth releases said at least one component when there is substantial resistance to rotation of said wheel,
- wherein each tooth is pivotally biased by a spring mounted on said spindle, and
- wherein at least two adjacent teeth have closely arranged corresponding concave and convex surfaces such that the concave surface of one adjacent tooth is engagable with the convex surface of the other adjacent tooth.
3 more elements
An apparatus for transferring a component from a supply position to a discharge position comprising:
- a frame having an outer component guide surface;
- a wheel rotatably mounted with respect to said frame;
- an entry guide located on one end of said frame leading to said supply position;
- an exit guide located on another end of said frame leading to said discharge position;
- a plurality of teeth pivotally mounted on said wheel;
- a component travel path comprising said outer component guide surface and a component engaging surface on at least one tooth;
- wherein said component is engaged by said at least one tooth at a position adjacent said entry guide and moved to a position adjacent said exit guide when said wheel is rotated in a transfer direction, and
- wherein at least two adjacent teeth have closely arranged corresponding concave and convex surfaces such that the concave surface of one adjacent tooth is engagable with the convex surface of the other adjacent tooth.
5 more elements
An apparatus for transferring a component from a supply position to a discharge position comprising:
- a frame having an outer component guide surface;
- a wheel rotatably mounted with respect to said frame;
- an entry guide located on one end of said frame leading to said supply position;
- an exit guide located on another end of said frame leading to said discharge position;
- a plurality of teeth pivotally mounted on said wheel;
- a component travel path comprising said outer component guide surface and a component engaging surface on at least one tooth;
- wherein said component is engaged by said at least one tooth at a position adjacent said entry guide and moved to a position adjacent said exit guide when said wheel is rotated in a transfer direction,
- wherein each tooth of said plurality of said teeth is pivotally biased by a spring which is mounted on a spindle, and
- wherein one end of said spring is fixed to a tooth and another end of said spring is fixed between said spindle and a sleeve mounted on said spindle, such that said sleeve surrounds at least a portion of said spring.
6 more elements
A method of transferring a component from a supply position to a discharge position comprising:
- engaging a component with a tooth engaging surface of one tooth of a toothed transfer wheel having a plurality of pivotally mounted teeth, said component being engaged at a position adjacent an entry guide located on one end of a frame;
- moving said component through a circular travel path in a transfer direction by rotating said toothed wheel with respect to said frame, said travel path being defined by an outer component guide surface of said frame and said toothed wheel;
- disengaging said component at a discharge position adjacent an exit guide located on another end of said frame,
- wherein at least two adjacent teeth have closely arranged corresponding concave and convex surfaces such that the concave surface of one adjacent tooth is engagable with the convex surface of the other adjacent tooth.
1 more element
An apparatus for transferring a component from a supply position to a discharge position comprising:
- a frame having an outer component guide surface;
- a wheel rotatably mounted with respect to said frame;
- an entry guide located on one end of said frame leading to said supply position;
- an exit guide located on another end of said frame leading to said discharge position;
- a plurality of teeth pivotally mounted to said wheel using a spindle;
- each of said teeth comprising an S-shaped configuration and a heel;
- each of said teeth being biased to pivot in a transfer direction;
- a component travel path comprising said outer component guide surface and a component engaging surface on at least one tooth;
- wherein said component is engaged by said at least one tooth at a position adjacent said entry guide and moved to a position adjacent said exit guide when said wheel is rotated in said transfer direction, and
- wherein at least two adjacent teeth have closely arranged corresponding concave and convex surfaces such that the concave surface of one adjacent tooth is engagable with the convex surface of the other adjacent tooth.
7 more elements
A method of transferring a component from a supply position to a discharge position comprising:
- engaging a component flange with a tooth engaging surface of one tooth of a toothed transfer wheel having a plurality of pivotally mounted teeth, said component being engaged at a position adjacent an entry guide located on one end of a frame and said plurality of teeth having, an S-shaped configuration, a heal, and being pivotally biased in a travel direction;
- moving said component through a circular travel path in a transfer direction by rotating said toothed wheel with respect to said frame, said moving corresponding to sliding contact between said component flange and an outer component guide surface of said frame;
- disengaging said component flange at a discharge position adjacent an exit guide located on another end of said frame after said component has been rotated to said discharge position,
- wherein at least two adjacent teeth have closely arranged corresponding concave and convex surfaces such that the concave surface of one adjacent tooth is engagable with the convex surface of the other adjacent tooth.
1 more element
An apparatus for transferring components comprising:
- a wheel which is rotatable between an arrival station and a discharge station, each station being located adjacent a periphery of said wheel;
- a plurality of independent peripheral teeth pivotally mounted via a spindle to said wheel;
- at least one of said plurality of teeth being adapted to carry along at least one component during a rotation of said wheel;
- at least one of the plurality of teeth being adapted to release said at least one component when there is substantial resistance to rotation of said wheel;
- at least one of said plurality of said teeth being pivotable in a direction opposite to said wheel rotation;
- and
- at least two adjacent teeth have closely arranged corresponding engaging surfaces,
- wherein an engaging surface of one of the at least two adjacent teeth engages an engaging surface of another of the at least two adjacent teeth.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.