Abstract: A coupling includes an outer cup-shaped member which acts as a support for other portions of the coupling and which itself is revolvably supported on a conveyor that moves the coupling between workpiece loading and unloading stations. The outer cup-shaped member acts as a shield against ambient conditions which may include heating, coating or other processing means. One embodiment of the invention has a plurality of fingers mounted to move radially inward of the coupling to grasp the workpiece, which fingers are mounted to form a part of the outer shield or wall at the time that they are grasping a workpiece. Another embodiment of the invention involves an internal chuck sort of coupling using an expandable elastomeric member which can expand outwardly into a grasping relationship with a hollow portion of the workpiece. The coupling and conveyor are suited for use in handling soft or easily marked materials such as plastic, soft metals and the like.

Abstract: A mechanism to transfer small flat workpieces (chips) between locations has a pair of interlinked four bar mechanisms one of which mechanisms carries a chip spreading means operated by two cams so that the chip pickup and release means moves in substantially vertical and horizontal timed relation to pickup a number of chips, move through a shallow horizontal arc, simultaneously spread the chips further apart, drop the chip; and repeat. Mechanism is disclosed for moving a plurality of chips of biaxially orientable polystyrene between a heating means and a forming means while laterally increasing the spacing between the chips.

Abstract: A coupling includes an outer cup-shaped member which acts as a support for other portions of the coupling and which itself is revolvably supported on a conveyor that moves the coupling between workpiece loading and unloading stations. The outer cup-shaped member acts as a shield against ambient conditions which may include heating, coating or other processing means. One embodiment of the invention has a plurality of fingers mounted to move radially inward of the coupling to grasp the workpiece, which fingers are mounted to form a part of the outer shield or wall at the time that they are grasping a workpiece. Another embodiment of the invention involves an internal chuck sort of coupling using an expandable resilient member which can be an elastomeric ring to expand outwardly into a grasping relationship with a hollow portion of the workpiece. The coupling and conveyor are suited for use in handling soft or easily marked materials such as plastic, soft metals and the like.

Abstract: A manually operated four bar linkage on a conveying device permits manual removal of preforms or other workpieces when they have not been ejected from the device at the desired unloading station. The linkage device has a cam track located adjacent to the return path of an endless type conveyor. The cam track is manually brought into conjunction with the couplings or collets which have accidentally retained a preform to force the coupling mechanism to move to a release position thus enabling manual removal of the preform. Preferably a bar or similar knock-out device is located downstream of the point where the cam track engages the coupling to ensure that all such preforms or other workpieces are removed.

Abstract: A coupling includes a pair of cup-shaped members with one mounted for sliding axial motion inside the other. The outside coupling acts as a support or base which is connected to a conveyor that moves the coupling between workpiece loading and unloading means. The inside member also carries detents which move radially in and out to grasp or release the workpiece in response to axial motion between the two cup-shaped members. When combined with a conveyor, appropriate cam and follower means are provided to cause the coupling to be operated for grasping and releasing the workpiece in a timed sequence and to move the coupling from a workpiece loading station to an unloading station. The coupling and conveyor are suited for use in handling soft or easily marked materials such as plastic, soft metals, and the like. A method for workpiece handling includes steps of rotating, advancing in stop-and-go fashion while continuously rotating, and unloading.