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US 8,893,761 B2Granted
Method and apparatus to improve reel feeder efficiency
AssigneeRaytheon Company
InventorsW. Royce Taylor, IV, Ryan J. Koller
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In one aspect, a device includes a first portion having a length substantially the same as a length of a gap of a slot of a free link of a reel feeder. The device is configured to be placed in the gap to limit movement of a take-up arm along the slot. In another aspect, a method includes placing a device in a gap of a slot of a free link of a reel feeder to limit movement of a take-up arm along the slot.
Claims8
A device comprising:
- an end being concave-shaped and configured to engage the fastener of a reel feeder, the reel feeder comprising:
- a take-up arm;
- a take-up spool;
- a take-up spring configured to apply a force on the take-up arm to rotate the take-up spool;
- and
- a free link having a slot and the fastener disposed through the slot and configured to secure the take-up arm, a location of the fastener along the slot corresponding to a feeder pitch setting;
- and
- retention tabs configured to secure the device in the slot,
- wherein the device is configured to extend from an end of the slot to the fastener to restrict movement of the fastener and the take-up arm along the slot and to enable the take-up arm to be driven directly by the free link.
6 more elements
A reel feeder system comprising:
- a reel feeder comprising:
- a take-up arm;
- a take-up spool;
- a take-up spring configured to apply a force on the take-up arm to rotate the take-up spool;
- a free link having a slot;
- and
- a fastener disposed through the slot and configured to secure the take-up arm, a location of the fastener along the slot corresponding to a feeder pitch setting;
- and
- a device disposed in the slot and configured to extend from an end of the slot to the fastener to restrict movement of the fastener and the take-up arm along the slot and to enable the take-up arm to be driven directly by the free link, the device comprising:
- an end being concave-shaped and configured to engage the fastener;
- and
- retention tabs configured to secure the device in the slot.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.