Abstract: An assembling apparatus which is capable of assembling a multi-part article having a base with a plurality of receptacles for receiving components, such as make-up trays, and a lid hinged to the base, comprises an assembly chassis, having an endless rectangular guideway. A plurality of pucks are moveable from one accurately located station to another along the guideway. A transporting conveyor feeds a plurality of articles in an upside down condition to a labeling device which labels the bottom of each article. The articles are then flipped over to a right side up position and unloaded one at a time onto pucks of the endless guideway. The lid is mechanically opened and glue is deposited into each receptacle. Components are then loaded into each receptacle as are a brush or applicator and a dust cover. The lid is then closed and the articles are unloaded from the pucks. Sensors along the guideway sense whether each operation has been achieved successfully. A computer is connected to the sensors.

Abstract: A speed reducer construction for use with a drive motor which has a drive motor housing and a drive motor shaft which extends out of the housing comprises a reducer housing which is adapted to be coupled to the drive motor housing and encloses a portion of the motor drive shaft. The motor drive shaft is advantageously journalled in the reducer housing and it carries a worm made of a Nylatron material which is rotatable therewith. An output shaft extends transversely to the drive shaft and is journalled in the reducer housing and it carries a sleeve which is keyed thereto for rotation therewith. A gear is freely rotatable on the sleeve alongside a collar portion of the sleeve and is in meshing engagement with the worm. The drive of the motor through the worm to the gear and the output shaft is regulatable by a clutching device including a clutch spring which is biased against an end of the gear with a biasing force which is regulated by a torque adjusting wheel which is threaded on the sleeve.

Abstract: A rectangular guide way having side and end segments carry a plurality of pucks in each segment. The pucks have side edges parallel to the side segments and end edges parallel to the end segments so that the pucks ride smoothly along the guide way. The side and end segments are connected at corners where the pucks are transferred from guiding along the side edges in the side segments to guiding along the end edges in the end segments. A walking beam with a plurality of upwardly extending pins is moveable alone each of the segments. In an upper engagement position, the pins of the walking beam engage holes in each of the pucks in its segment. In this way all pucks are indexed an exact amount along each segment. A locking beam which is moveable only upwardly and downwardly may also be provided for firmly holding the pucks when the walking beams are disengaged therefrom.

Abstract: A device for picking up and placing articles on a moving conveyor or assembly line, comprising a conveyor including a support adapted to be moved in a first conveyor shaft, an article station adjacent the conveyor, an article handling device support assembly adjacent the conveyor, an arrangement mounting the article handling device support assembly for movement along an article handling path, and a reciprocating drive connected to the conveyor and to the article handling support assembly to move the article handling support assembly in timed relationship to the conveyor.

Abstract: An endless conveyor, particularly for the precision assembly and disassembly of parts, comprises a plurality of pivotally interconnected links at least one of which includes a block member having at least one longitudinally extending bore defined therethrough. Linear bearings are mounted in the block bore and a fixed longitudinally extending cylindrical guide rail is adapted to be engaged in the linear ball bearing within the bore so that the block member is supported on the guide rail during an upper horizontal movement of the block member. A guide member is disposed below and substantially parallel to the guide rail. First and second sprocket wheels are rotatably mounted on respective axes between the guide rails and the guide member beyond the respective ends thereof and rollers are provided on the block member for engaging the guide member during a lower horizontal movement thereof.

Abstract: A device for picking up and placing articles on a moving conveyor or assembly line, comprising a conveyor including a support adapted to be moved in a first conveyor shaft, an article station adjacent the conveyor, an article handling device support assembly adjacent the conveyor, an arrangement mounting the article handling device support assembly for movement along an article handling path, and a reciprocating drive connected to the conveyor and to the article handling support assembly to move the article handling support assembly in timed relationship to the conveyor.