Apparatus for loading prophylactic devices on test apparatus
AssigneeThe Akwell Corporation
InventorLawrence Povlacs
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A machine for automatically handling thin tubular rubber articles such as prophylactic devices or the like including a vacuum pickup to retrieve randomly oriented articles and deliver such articles to a pneumatic conveyor. The pneumatic conveyor includes a tube with air blowing therethrough to transfer the articles to a delivery position. An orienter is provided in the conveyor tube so that the article is delivered closed end first at the delivery position. At the delivery position a mandrel is provided which includes a support adapted to loosely support the article in position to receive a mandrel. Grippers grip the open end of the article on the support and hold it against movement with the mandrel while the mandrel is inserted into the article.
Claims25
A machine for placing thin tubular rubber-like articles on a mandrel comprising conveyor means operable to receive randomly oriented articles in a collapsed condition and deliver such articles individually to a discharge location in a predetermined orientation with the article extended, and article receiving means including a mandrel operable to receive articles at said discharge location in said predetermined orientation and position said articles on said mandrel.
A machine for placing flexible tubular articles on a mandrel wherein said articles are closed at one end and open at the other end comprising an elongated mandrel, support means operable to loosely support an article with its open end adjacent to the end of said mandrel, gripper means operable to grip the open end of an article on said support means, and power means operable to produce relative movement between said mandrel and gripper means while said gripper means grips said article open end to pull said article over said mandrel.
A machine for handling thin tubular rubber articles which are closed at one end and open at the other end comprising an elongated support, means for retrieving randomly oriented collapsed articles and automatically positioning said articles over said support with the article closed end against one end of said support, gripper means operable to grip the open end of an article positioned on said support, a mandrel connected to said support, and power means connected to produce relative longitudinal movement between said support and mandrel while said gripper means hold said article until said article is stretched over said mandrel.
[A] In combination, a conveyor system for thin, flexible, tubular articles closed at one end, open at the other end and having a thickened rim around said open end comprising conveyor tube means having a passage therethrough, and means producing a flow of air through said passage, said conveyor tube means including orienting means [operating] disposed therein and acting on the articles passing therethrough one after another to extend and orient the articles [passing therethrough] in a predetermined orientation with the closed end forward and the open end trailing ;
- receiving and positioning means operative to engage and coact with the articles in said predetermined orientation as they are discharged from said conveyor system to position the articles for performing a subsequent operation thereon .
A conveyor system for thin, flexible, tubular articles closed at one end, open at the other end and having a thickened rim around said open end, said system comprising a container for holding a supply of said articles in randomly oriented positions;
- transfer means for picking up articles from said container, one at a time, and positioning and releasing them for travel into and through a conveyor tube;
- an open ended conveyor tube having an inlet end disposed for receiving articles one at a time from said transfer means;
- and means producing a flow of air through the conveyor tube from said inlet end thereof;
- said conveyor tube including orienting means therein operating to extend and open the articles passing therethrough while orienting them in a predetermined orientation with their closed end forward and their open end trailing and to discharge the articles one at a time in said predetermined orientation to an article receiving and positioning means adapted to engage and coact with the articles in their open condition and in said predetermined orientation to position the articles for performing a subsequent operation thereon;
- and control means synchronizing the operation of said article receiving and positioning means with passage of the articles one by one through the conveyor means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.