180 degree inverting mechanism
OwnerLindy Lawrence Mayinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A mechanism for inverting containers or other objects. The mechanism inverts the container or object a full 180 degrees while providing motion control without the use of hydraulic actuators; thereby eliminating the costs, maintenance, environmental issues, and contamination concerns associated with hydraulic systems. The primary application for the inverting mechanism is inverting containers for the purpose of emptying the contents. The mechanism may also be employed to rotate a variety of other objects in other applications.
Claims19
An inverting mechanism for inverting an object, said inverting mechanism being comprised of:
- a) a stationary frame,
- b) a carriage adapted to move in a linear direction relative to said stationary frame,
- c) a rotating member pivotally affixed to said carriage, and
- d) a drive for moving said carriage in a linear direction;
- wherein the improvement comprises said rotating member being adapted with a plurality of cam rollers and said stationary frame being adapted with a plurality of cam tracks;
- at least one of said cam rollers being located in a different plane than the other said cam rollers and at least one of said cam tracks being located in a different plane than the other said cam tracks;
- more than one said cam rollers interfacing with said cam tracks as said carriage is moved in a substantially vertical and in a singular linear direction relative to said stationary frame, thereby causing the rotation of said rotating member.
A cam mechanism for rotating an object, said cam mechanism being comprised of a cam track assembly, a carriage adapted to move in a linear direction relative to said cam track assembly, and a rotating member pivotally affixed to said carriage;
- wherein said rotating member is adapted with a plurality of cam rollers and said cam track assembly is adapted with a plurality of cam tracks;
- at least one of said cam rollers being located in a different plane than the other said cam rollers and at least one of said cam tracks being located in a different plane than the other said cam tracks;
- more than one said cam rollers interfacing with said cam tracks as said carriage is moved in a substantially vertical and in a singular linear direction relative to said cam track assembly, thereby causing the rotation of said rotating member.
An inverting mechanism for inverting a container, said inverting mechanism being comprised of:
- a) a stationary frame,
- b) a carriage adapted to move in a linear direction relative to said stationary frame,
- c) a rotating member pivotally affixed to said carriage, said rotating member being comprised of a receiver adapted to receive and secure said container, and
- d) a drive for moving said carriage in a linear direction;
- wherein the improvement comprises said rotating member being adapted with a plurality of cam rollers and said stationary frame being adapted with a plurality of cam contact surfaces;
- more than one said cam rollers interfacing with said cam contact surfaces as said carriage is moved in a substantially vertical and in a singular linear direction relative to said stationary frame, thereby causing the rotation of said rotating member and inverting said container.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.