Abstract: Pressure flow regulator for use in pneumatic pressure control devices for maintaining a constant predetermined output pressure from a given constant or variable input pressure. The regulator includes a main housing, an inlet port, an outlet port, an air adjustment regulator and an insert assembly forming air passages when installed in the main housing. The insert is formed such that when inserted in a bore machined into a blank, the insert and the bore mate to form chambers and passages needed for pressure regulation of the pneumatic medium, in this case air.

Abstract: A gripper assembly for gripping a workpiece having removable and replaceable mountings. A gripper assembly is substantially square-shaped and has a corresponding square-shaped mounting spacer. The mounting spacer may be positioned about any side of the gripper assembly. This allows an operator to locate the assembly in any orientation to a workpiece assembly unit. The mounting is also removable and replaceable with other mounting configurations as desired. Several mounting couplings may be provided on the gripper to restrict or enlarge movement of the gripper about a workpiece holder assembly.

Abstract: A vacuum control apparatus is positioned remote from the vacuum operated work holding devices themselves, thereby allowing for a remote control system over a plurality of vacuum operated work holding devices. The apparatus also provides the ability to increase the vacuum flow rate available to the vacuum operated work holding devices within the system by increasing the number of vacuum generating venturis engaged in the system. The apparatus includes a venturi manifold and a plurality of venturi nozzles in fluid communication with the manifold. A venturi control valve controls the flow of pressurized air into the manifold and venturi nozzles. The system is fluidly connected to vacuum operated work holding devices by various passages and ports in the manifold. The manifold, venturi valve and venturi nozzles are stackable in two different ways.

Abstract: A work holder support apparatus includes an elongate support member having an undercut longitudinal slot. A base plate at one side of the support member carries a spherical ball and a clamp bolt seated in a recessed bore in the ball passes through the base plate and slot to be threadably received in a first clamp plate at the opposite side of the support member. An elongate work holder mounting member and a second clamp plate cooperatively define a ball receiving socket at one end of the mounting member enabling the mounting member to be clamped at any of a wide range of rotative adjustments relative to the ball. An opening into the socket affords access to the recessed clamping bolt head.

Abstract: A work holder support apparatus includes an elongate support member having an undercut longitudinal slot. A base plate at one side of the support member carries a spherical ball and a clamp bolt seated in a recessed bore in the ball passes through the base plate and slot to be threadably received in a first clamp plate at the opposite side of the support member. An elongate work holder mounting member and a second clamp plate cooperatively define a ball receiving socket at one end of the mounting member enabling the mounting member to be clamped at any of a wide range of rotative adjustments relative to the ball. An opening into the socket affords access to the recessed clamping bolt head.

Abstract: A vacuum cup control apparatus for applying and releasing vacuum in a vacuum cup includes a venturi passage for inducing a vacuum within the vacuum cup upon the flow of pressurized air therethrough. Another air flow passage extends through the housing for injecting a flow of air under pressure to the vacuum cup to relieve the vacuum therein. A sensor senses the vacuum level attained in the vacuum cup. A feedback signal is sent by the control apparatus to the external controller as an indication that a predetermined, selectable vacuum level has been achieved. The control apparatus is responsive to the sensor and signals from an external controller for applying vacuum to the vacuum cup until a predetermined vacuum level is attained in the vacuum cup.

Abstract: A vacuum cup control apparatus for applying and releasing vacuum in a vacuum cup engaging a workpiece includes a housing having a venturi passage for inducing a vacuum within the vacuum cup upon the flow of air through the venturi passage. A one-way check valve in the passage seals the vacuum in the vacuum cup upon cessation of air flow through the venturi passage. Another air flow passage extends through the housing to a control port on the housing for injecting a flow of air under pressure to the vacuum cup to relieve the vacuum therein. A sensor mounted in the housing senses the vacuum level attained in the vacuum cup. A feedback signal is sent by the control apparatus to the external controller as an indication that a predetermined vacuum level has been achieved. The control apparatus is responsive to the sensor and signals from an external controller for applying vacuum to the vacuum cup until a predetermined vacuum level is attained in the vacuum cup.

Abstract: Various forms of mounting devices for mounting workpiece gripper carrying spreader bars upon a boom of a transfer device are disclosed. The boom is formed within an undercut T slot which extends the length of the boom and slidably receives a retainer member. A base spans the slot and is clamped to the side of the boom by clamping screws threadably received in the retainer member so that the base and retainer can be fixedly clamped to the boom at any selected location longitudinally of the boom. A recessed clamp member cooperatively defines within a recess in the base the socket of a ball and socket joint. In one form of the device, the same clamping screws which clamp the base to the boom simultaneously clamp a spherical coupling member fixed to a spreader bar and received in the socket in a selected fixed angularly adjusted position between the clamp member and base.

Abstract: A transfer boom adapted for suspension from a reciprocal shuttle carriage comprises a boom arm having a plurality of interior passages extending the length of the boom arm. These passages define air passages, thereby eliminating the need for exterior hoses. A T-shaped cavity is provided within the exterior walls of the boom arm. A boom mount, having Venturi cups or grippers is detachably mounted to the boom arm within the T-shaped cavity by a T-bolt. This enables the boom mount to be mounted anywhere along the length of the boom arm. The T-bolt provides for easy removability of the boom mount from the boom arm.

Abstract: A workpiece holder includes first and second workpiece engaging members, one of which is rotatable with respect to the other. A rotary actuator drives the rotatable workpiece engaging member between two positions relative to the other workpiece engaging member. The rotatable actuator includes opposed, radially extending vanes mounted on a rotatable shaft extending through a hollow, closed body. The rotatable workpiece engaging member is fixedly connected to and rotatable with the rotatable shaft. The vanes are disposed in the hollow body and respectively create a pair of chambers between themselves and circumferentially spaced legs formed in the body and extending radially inward into the interior cavity of the body toward the rotatable shaft. Pressurized fluid is alternately supplied to and exhausted from each pair of chambers to exert force on and rotate the vanes, the rotatable shaft and the rotatable workpiece engaging member between the two positions.

Abstract: An article lifting device includes vertically elongate hollow tubular frame members, one telescopically received within the other for guided vertical movement. The outer member includes a bracket for fixedly mounting the outer member upon a support, which may be a horizontally movable shuttle carriage, and carries a reversible drive motor coupled to a drive gear mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis near the lower end of the outer member. A flexible belt having teeth at one side is fixed at opposite ends to the upper and lower ends of the inner member and a bight portion of the belt is meshed with the drive gear, the bight portion projecting from the inner member between two idler rolls mounted on the outer member and passing around the drive gear. The idler rolls hold those portions of the belt other than the idler rolls in face-to-face engagement with the inner member.

Abstract: A vacuum cup assembly is disclosed for holding a workpiece when a source of sub-atmospheric pressure is connected to an interior space of the cup. The assembly includes a vacuum cup having a base portion with a shaped fitting and a housing having a complementary shaped aperture with an open end for receiving the shaped fitting on the base portion of the vacuum cup, and a push button member adjacent the open end of the complementary shaped aperture for releasably retaining the vacuum cup fitting within the aperture of the housing.