Swinging Patents (Class 104/49)
  • Patent number: 7066318
    Abstract: A transporting apparatus permits to intermittent indexing with freely and independently setting stop position of work tables and stopping period adapting to each individual work station. The transporting apparatus sequentially transports a work table across a plurality of work stations. The transporting apparatus has a linear transporting path linearly connecting a plurality of work stations and guiding linear motion of the work table, a cylindrical cam engaging with a contactor provided on the work table for driving the work table for linear motion, and the cylindrical cam having a stopping zone formed corresponding to each position of the work station and having no axial displacement relating to cam rotation angle and a transporting zone formed corresponding to a position between the work station and having an axial displacement relative to cam rotation angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: Sankyo Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Heizaburo Kato
  • Patent number: 5255610
    Abstract: A conveyor for a suspension conveyor system comprising a carrier bar suspended from two yokes for receiving objects to be transported. Each of the yokes is suspended from a rail by a pair of rollers and is connected to the carrier bar via at least one joint having an axis of rotation which extends horizontally to the rail and an axis of rotation which extends transverse to the rail. To make the conveyor more universally usable without any negative impact on its conveying properties, the end of the carrier bar is connected to its yoke via a pivot pin extending at right angles to the horizontal axis of rotation, the pivot pin being received in a bearing shell on the end of the bar that permits the carrier bar to be pivoted relative to the pivot pin over a predetermined angular range in a vertical plane about a horizontal axis extending perpendicular to the pivot pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1993
    Assignee: RSL Logistik GmbH & Co.
    Inventor: Robby Enderlein
  • Patent number: 5001987
    Abstract: A lightweight car-on-track system having a pair of spaced-apart rails and an associated rotatable drive tube with a captive carrier movable along the rails and having a drive wheel in driving engagement with the rotatable drive tube. The drive wheel is spring-loaded against the rotatable drive tube and the capture of the carrier to the rails results in a controlled drive force achieved regardless of the weight of the carrier or of a load supported thereon. The system is made up of a selected number of modular units, each having adjustably mounted frame members supporting opposite ends of a rail section and a drive tube section. Adjustable mounting of frame members to an alignment plate assures alignment between rail and drive tube sections when assembling the system. A transfer device is utilized for transferring a carrier from the end of one track section to the spaced-apart end of another track section with the transfer device being oscillatable about a pivot axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1991
    Assignee: Heico Inc.
    Inventors: Barry L. Ziegenfus, Russell H. Scheel
  • Patent number: 4757767
    Abstract: A mobile platform (B) for transit about a working face (51) of a truss. The truss has a grid of node guide pins (54) having stationary sprockets (54D). The platform (B) has a rail system (52) comprised of transversely disposed T-shaped tracks (60), direction changing means (58) at their intersections and retractable, reversible chain drive systems (22). The chain drive (22) selectively engages the sprockets (54D) of the guide pins (54) providing selective movement of the platform (B) in two orthogonal directions (L and T). The present invention provides a near-uniform traversing velocity with minimal dynamic loading on the system. Pivoting changers (C1 and C2) move the platform (B) from one face (51) to another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1988
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Clarence J. Wesselski, William C. Schneider
  • Patent number: 4756660
    Abstract: A towable truck with a rotatable platform for transferring cargo units from or to intermediate transportation devices, for handling goods in particular within airport structures. The platform comprises alternate projecting and re-entering parts which, when the truck is in its loading or unloading position, are disposed along the longitudinal sides of this latter and are suitably designed for approach and copenetration by intermediate transportation devices or the like comprising complementary terminal parts provided with motorized rollers, so as to allow automatic transfer of the cargo units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1988
    Assignee: Geo Meccanica Idrotecnica S.R.L.
    Inventor: Franco Cesarini
  • Patent number: 4746257
    Abstract: A driveway for tractor-trailers is elevated along one side having a side coupling runner mounted to roll on wheels in a track along the side of the driveway facing a single-arm rotary loader. The runner is longer than the tractor-trailer and has a lift push gate at one or both ends for lowering in front of the tractor to push the runner along its track and has recesses for vertical coupling rods or tubes on the loader's trailer-lifting turntable to engage in to move the loader with the tractor to rotate the loader into alignment under the trailer and lift for transfer. Then the tractor driver can release the fifth-wheel and lift the gate and drive away. The loader is further rotated or driven and disengaged from the runner before the runner is returned by motor drive. The loader can load the trailer removed from the tractor onto a railway car as in my earlier U.S. Pat. No.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1985
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1988
    Inventor: Barry, Leonard D.
  • Patent number: 4746005
    Abstract: A workpiece transfer assembly which enables a workpiece affixed to a pallet to be rotated at a work station and thereafter returned to its original position for longitudinal indexing along the transfer line. The transfer line includes a pallet locating and supporting unit which carries a first transfer bar segment. The pallet locating and supporting means includes bearing which enable the first transfer bar segment to be longitudinally indexed and rotated about its longitudinal axis. A rotary indexing assembly is provided for rotating the pallet supporting and locating device. A second transfer bar segment is carried by an intermediate transfer section. Both transfer bar segments include end features which interlockingly engage; thus, enabling the rotational and longitudinal movement to be transferred along the bar sections when they are aligned, but permitting the first transfer bar segment to be rotated out of engagement with the remaining transfer bar segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1988
    Assignee: Standard Tool & Manufacturing Co.
    Inventors: Frank Bihary, Alfred J. Huber, Henry N. Shoiket, William F. Crawford
  • Patent number: 4736687
    Abstract: A computer-controlled system for transporting workpieces, in which each workpiece is placed on a load carrier, each workpiece and load carrier being marked with an identifier. A central computer is loaded with data relative to each given workpiece, its respective load carrier, and work to be performed on such workpiece, and predetermines a path to be followed by such load carrier. The load carrier is placed on a main path, its identifier is read, and if work is to be performed on a workpiece carried thereon, a switch is thrown to divert the load carrier to an auxiliary path and then to a work station. The load carrier may be diverted to the work station by a swing-out device or by a spur path, for example. After such work, the load carrier is returned to the main path and its identifier is read again to determine whether it again is to be diverted to an auxiliary path for performing further work on a workpiece carried thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 12, 1988
    Assignee: Durkoppwerke GmbH
    Inventors: Erwin Grube, Gerhard Schilling
  • Patent number: 4722657
    Abstract: In apparatus for transporting and storing bobbins, especially for removing them from automatic spinning machines, the bobbins are received and collected in an inclined collecting chute from a conveyor belt, are then brought into a horizontal arrangement as a result of the pivoting of the collecting chute, and are pushed in groups from the collecting chute into a transfer chute. A conveyor carrier belonging to a suspension conveyor and provided with at least one chute portion for receiving a group of bobbins is brought into a position adjacent to the transfer chute. The transfer chute is moved into a position located next to the chute portion of the conveyor carrier, and the bobbins are transferred into the chute portion of the conveyor carrier. The bobbins are subsequently moved into a desired target position by means of the conveyor carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1988
    Assignee: Durkoppwerke GmbH
    Inventor: Erwin Grube
  • Patent number: 4718810
    Abstract: A high-speed, bidirectional transporter for a multiple station production line provides for the programmable pickup, transport and delivery of materials at non-sequential work stations along the production line. The transporter is self-propelled by a rack and pinion drive and moves along a track that defines a course through the multiple work stations. A turntable on the transporter carries an extensible and retractable arm whose motion, when coupled with a materialladen pallet, provides for either the pickup or delivery of a pallet to or from an individual work station. Coupling and uncoupling of the arm with a pallet is effected by the controlled rotation of the turntable, which is capable of 180 degrees of rotation to also impart to the transporter the ability to transfer pallets off of both sides to address a work station on either side of the track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1985
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1988
    Assignee: Lico, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert A. Hoehn, Thomas B. Doyle, Donald L. Van Pelt
  • Patent number: 4684314
    Abstract: A pipe handling apparatus is adapted for transferring oil well pipe to and from a drilling rig. The apparatus includes a transportable chassis having tracks for supporting and guiding a reciprocable and rotatable table. A first scissors lift mounted to the table provides vertical motion to a platform to which is mounted a second scissors lift. The second scissors lift is designed to impart vertical and horizontal motion to a conveyor. The conveyor comprises three axially spaced endless belts for moving the pipe longitudinally to the conveyor takeoff point. Tapered spades protrude into the spaces during the pipe return operation to eject the pipe from the conveyor. The conveyor and platform are reciprocable with respect to the second and first scissors lifts, respectively. The chassis includes pivotable arms for raising a pipe to the top of the collapsed scissors lifts so that a pipe rolls onto the conveyor belts prior to lifting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1984
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1987
    Assignee: Weatherford/Lamb, Inc.
    Inventor: Royse I. Luth
  • Patent number: 4389941
    Abstract: In a driverless vehicle conveyor system wherein a driverless vehicle rides on tracks, two straight sections of the tracks have adjacent ends spaced by a gap. A transfer vehicle is provided in the gap for supporting and transferring driverless vehicles across the gap. The transfer vehicles are mounted for oscillation about an upright axis from a receiving position adjacent one end of the gap to a discharge position adjacent the other end of the gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1980
    Date of Patent: June 28, 1983
    Assignee: SI Handling Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Donald M. Berk, Charles E. Jacoby, Larry Reagan
  • Patent number: 4363275
    Abstract: A driverless vehicle is supported by wheels adapted to ride on a floor whereby the conveyor system does not include rails for supporting the vehicle. Guide rollers are provided on one side of the vehicle for contact with a guide on a floor mounted frame. The frame includes a drive shaft for driving a drive wheel on the vehicle. The drive wheel can oscillate about a generally horizontal axis between a drive position and an accumulation position. The floor supported frame includes pivotally mounted sections so that the vehicle can traverse 90.degree. angles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1980
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1982
    Assignee: SI Handling Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Kazusuke Kaji
  • Patent number: 4301984
    Abstract: In an airplane adapted to carrying cargo, particularly wheeled and/or tracked vehicles, and having a side loading cargo door, a rectangular turntable is installed near the door. The turntable and its pivot are so located that (1) the turntable extends through the door when it is crosswise to the fuselaage and is totally enclosed in the airplane when it is aligned with the fuselage and (2) vehicles longer than the width of the door or width of airplane can be accommodated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1978
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1981
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Olason, Ray