Abstract: A device to bundle rolled bars which are advantageously flanged and channel sections coming from a delivery line, comprising a conveyor cooperating with retractable separating and sorting stops and a two-armed lever able to take the bars from the conveyor and to place them in successive layers on suitable gathering and discharge conveyors, the two-armed lever being keyed to and supported on a central shaft and whereby the end of at least one arm of the lever is equipped with a swinging magnetic head which is pivoted at one of its ends on the end of the arm according to a horizontal axis substantially crosswise to the arm, and whereby the magnetic head is rotated and positioned so as to move towards and prolong the lengthwise axis of the relative arm when it is taking, carrying and laying down the bars.

Abstract: A double hand for an industrial robot comprises a hand body, two sets of work clamping units and two sets of actuators to drive the work clamping units, respectively, for opening and closing motions. The hand body has a rear end attachable to the free end of the robot wrist of an industrial robot, a front end and opposite sides extending between the front end and the rear end. Each work clamping unit has a pair of gripping fingers and the pairs of gripping fingers of the two sets of work gripping units are supported pivotally at the roots thereof on the opposite sides of the hand body for turning motion. The paired gripping fingers are turned about the respective roots thereof in opposite directions by the associated actuator.

Abstract: An industrial robot is described having a movable arm, a wrist pivotally mounted for motion about an axis at the free end of the arm, and a cylindrical shaft perpendicular to said axis and rotatably mounted on the wrist. To enable it to be used for holding components subjected to forces, as during grinding operations, the robot is provided with a pair of jaws that can be clamped on the shaft and are able to prevent both the shaft from rotating and the wrist from pivoting. Movement of the jaws is controlled by shoes which are slidably mounted on a pair of circularly curved parallel rails having a common center coinciding with the pivotal axis of the wrist.

Abstract: A numerically controlled automatic tool changing machining center is provided with a rotary driven spindle concentric within which is a spindle bar that may be reciprocated out from or into the spindle by a hydraulic cylinder. Located at the forward end of the spindle bar is a tool receiving socket which is operative to releaseably engage the shank of a single toolholder or multiple spindle toolhead transferred to the spindle bar from the machine tool storage magazine by a tool transfer arm. When a large, single toolholder is engaged by the spindle bar, the spindle bar is retracted into the spindle to urge the large single toolholder against the nose of the spindle.

Abstract: A pick-up and lay-down apparatus that will pick up drill pipes, casings, collars and riser pipes from pipe racks of a variety of different off-shore drilling installations, such as a drill ship, semi-submersible drill rig, jack-up drill rig, platform drill rig, etc., and set (lay-down) the pipes on the drill floor for easy access is disclosed. The apparatus also operates to transfer the pipe from the drill floor to the pipe rack. The pick-up and lay-down apparatus may use either hydraulic or electric motors for the primary power source to drive it. Rack and pinion systems are employed to move the various components of the apparatus during pick-up and transfer of the pipe. The system includes a moveable gantry beam; two moveable pick-up and lay-down carriages; one or more moveable troughs; and, two or more lifting and rotating arms. The apparatus could also be truck mounted for onshore operations.

Abstract: A telescopic remote manipulator includes a rotary passage block which passes through a partition, a telescopic master arm having upper and lower segments, and a telescopic slave arm having upper, intermediate and lower segments. The arms are articulated by their upper segments on the passage block by pins. A control handle and gripping member are respectively mounted on the free ends of the master and slave arms. Means are provided for transmitting to the gripping member movements of the handle and include cable means associated with the master arm and cable means associated with the slave arm, both coacting with a rotary shaft in the passage block to transmit the handle movements to the gripping member. The slave arm cable means pass over pulleys carried by a mobile carriage positioned externally of the slave arm and then on pulleys mounted on the slave arm in the vicinity of its shoulder pin.

Abstract: A pick-up claw apparatus connectible to a farm truck for handling baled material, in particular baled roughage, comprising a carrier beam which when the apparatus is coupled to the truck, is at right angles to the direction of travel of the vehicle. The carrier beam is connected to one or more hydraulically operated claw members, which are connected to the carrier beam in parallel and laterally reciprocating relationship, in a direction at right angles to the beam.

Abstract: A cylindrical goods lifting and placement apparatus comprises a platform, an angularly disposable frame pivotably connected to the platform and having a drill pipe holding system for holding a length of drill pipe. An angularly displaceable member is pivotably connected to the platform and has a cylinder and piston assembly for angularly displacing the member from a first position substantially adjacent the holding system. Drill pipe grippers are connected to the member and the grippers are rotatable on an axis from a first position to a second position substantially aligned with the holding system. A drive system for rotating the pipe grippers is provided. Similarly, a drive system for operating the grippers is provided.

Abstract: To effect the automatic changing of tools rapidly and provide a large number of tool pots with a small space in an automatically controlled machine tool, an automatic tool changing apparatus is positioned between the magazine proper and the spindle axis and an arm having a tool gripping claw at each end thereof is adapted to engage and disengage with the tools perpendicularly to the tool axis and the spindle axis, whereby the tool changing operation is accomplished by a series of movements including forward and backward movements, in-and-out movements, half-turn movements and spiral movements.

Abstract: Apparatus is described for remotely positioning, connecting, and generally andling components in a hot cell of a reprocessing plant for spent nuclear fuels. The apparatus includes a housing mounting a first stationary clamp for holding one end of a pipe and a second movable clamp for holding the end of a second pipe to be welded to the first. By adjusting the movable clamp, the pipe therein can be aligned with the pipe in the stationary clamp. The movable clamp can be moved longitudinally to press the pipe ends together, upwardly to compensate for pipe out of round, and can be tilted where pipes are to be joined at an angle. The adjustment permits accurate alignment of the parts. A tool support is rotatably mounted on said stationary clamp to permit welding or other processing through 360.degree..

Abstract: A robot wrist of an industrial robot having a wrist housing supporting two orthogonally arranged rotating output shafts therein, each of the shafts being connected to a robot hand, and a built-in fluid conveying means provided for distributing pressurized air introduced from the outside of the robot wrist toward the robot hand attached to one of the rotating cutput shafts. An output end of each of the two rotating output shafts may either be plugged by a plug element or closed by a stop valve when the output end is not connected to the robot hand.

Abstract: A device for operating a hand of an industrial robot is so constructed that fluid pressure cylinders (43, 44) are provided as a driving mechanism of the hand (4) of the industrial robot, branch passages including a pressure-reducing valve (47) are provided in a fluid supply passage to the fluid pressure cylinders (43, 44), the supply of fluid is switched by solenoid valves (SV.sub.2, SV.sub.3, SV.sub.4), and the switching of the solenoid valves (SV.sub.2, SV.sub.3, SV.sub.4) is carried out in accordance with the selected grasping force which has been selected in the teaching mode of the industrial robot, whereby the grasping force of the hand can be controlled stepwisely.

Abstract: The take-out mechanism comprises a tong carrier (2) movable in an arcuate path between a position at which tongs (4) carried by the carrier can grip an article and a second position at which the tongs release the article on to a dead plate of the machine. A piston and cylinder assembly (58, 60) provides cushioning means operable to oppose the movement of the carrier (2) as it approaches its second position to thereby reduce any impact between the articles and the dead plate.

Abstract: An automatic tool replacing device for use in a machining center of the type equipped with a tool storage magazine having a linear portion in which a plurality of tools are arrayed in a row at a predetermined pitch. The tool replacing device has a turret having a plurality of tool holding sections and adapted to make an indexing rotation to bring any one of the tool holding sections to an index position adjacent to the linear portion. A plurality of tool grippers are attached to each of the tool holding sections of the turret and adapted to grip tools in such a manner that the axes of the gripped tools extend in the same direction as the axes of the tools stored in the linear portion of the tool storage magazine and that the axes of the gripped tools are spaced from adjacent ones by the same distance as that between adjacent tools stored in the linear portion of the tool storage magazine.

Abstract: In a robot machine, a hand is rotatably mounted on one end of an arm. The hand is provided with two sets of grasping units each including a pair of opposed fingers which are used to grasp or release an article, for example, a workpiece to be machined by a machine tool. A piston-cylinder assembly is provided for rotating the hand through a ninety degree angle.

Abstract: A transporting device for lifting and relocating material from one position to another. In one embodiment, the transporting device comprises a stationary central support pedestal and a rotatable turret situated at the top of the pedestal. The turret has at least a pair of arms which extend radially outwardly from the pedestal. Each arm has an adjustable lifting and stacking mechanism for gripping and transporting of material as the turret is rotated. In another embodiment, the transporting device comprises a rotatable central support turret situated on a stationary pedestal. A pair of arms extend radially outwardly from the turret. Each arm may be raised and lowered independently of the other and includes a mechanism for gripping material as the turret is rotated. In either embodiment, the turret is driven by a motor situated in the stationary pedestal.

Abstract: Stacks of generally dish-shaped, nested plastic articles are gripped and transferred from elevated, horizontally adjacent chutes comprising circumferentially disposed, axially extending supports, which are open at both ends to permit articles to be both fed thereto and removed axially therefrom, to a conveyor disposed at a lower level. A transfer arm, mounting stack gripping receivers, which pivot on the transfer arm, is swung in an arcuate path and the receivers are moved relative to the transfer arm, responsive to swinging movement of the transfer arm, such that the receivers travel from a first position, horizontally axially aligned with said chutes and axially intermeshed with the supports, in a path having a first axially linear increment, then a downward arc to rotate said stacks substantially 90.degree., and finally a vertically linear path to deposit the stacks on the conveyor.

Abstract: In an apparatus for feeding laundry articles to a mangle, with a spreading-out and conveying device for spreading out the laundry articles when hanging down freely and for feeding the laundry articles centrally to a belt-shaped feed conveyor conveying towards the mangle, wherein two corners of each laundry article are gripped in clamps which are arranged in pairs at a short distance from one another on the spreading-out and conveying device and which can be moved away from one another, the clamping jaws of each clamp are arranged at an angle to the vertical, and the clamping jaws of a pair of clamps are directed opposite to one another in such a manner as to form a roof shape. The clamping jaws of each clamp are also made self-clamping.

Abstract: A mechanical transfer system for lifting and transferring parts to load and unload fixtures and pallets in a path which includes vertical and horizontal motions with a rotary input and which includes a cam modifier for the output motion to obtain a modified arcuate motion curve which will have substantially straight sections at the start and finish. This enables a straight lift or lower action for parts that need to be lowered into or lifted out of pallets or fixtures which have receiving receptacles for the parts.

Abstract: There is herein disclosed a take-out arm mechanism for a glass forming machine particularly suited for the simultaneous handling of four or more containers wherein the arm is provided with an integrally molded and formed counterweight carried thereby to counteract the weight and mass of four take-out tongs, holders and attendant mechanisms. In addition, a novel tensioning means is provided for maintaining an adjustable, constant tension in an endless chain which extends between a pair of sprockets carried within the take-out arm. The sprockets and the chain together form, in essence, a parallel linkage mechanism which maintains the tong holder end of the take-out arm vertical relative to the movement of the arm through 180.degree. about the axis of the fixed spindle.

Abstract: A mechanical transfer system for lifting and transferring work parts to load and unload fixtures and pallets in a path which includes vertical and horizontal motions. Mechanical hands are provided to grasp the parts and deposit them at a new location. A lifting beam carrying these hands is moved horizontally and also shifted by mechanically driven arms to provide a straight lift or lower action for the work parts at the beginning and end of the transfer path. A mechanism associated with the mechanically driven arms is actuated in response to the movement of the arms to change the orientation of the mechanical hands and the supported work part during the transfer motion so that a work part can be lifted in one orientation and deposited in another orientation.

Abstract: A carriage assembly for transporting two eggs in side-by-side relationship from one station to another such as from a weighing station in an egg grader to a packing station. A pair of oppositely disposed egg engaging members are pivotally mounted on fixed shafts positioned in a platform. The engaging members are curved to engage the egg upon closing of the members, the closing movement being controlled by means of a cam in engagement with the upper horizontal portion of each engaging member. Each of the cams in engagement with the horizontal portion of the engaging members, is mounted on a shaft disposed perpendicular to that of the fixed shafts. A spring member is mounted on the fixed shaft and urges the egg engaging member toward the open position. An actuating bar is fixed to and extends from the mounting shaft in order to rotate the cams into and out of engagement with the horizontally disposed upper portion of the egg engaging members thereby controlling their closing and opening movement.

Abstract: A double-hand unit adapted to be secured to the wrist part of an industrial robot and to be used for gripping shaft works or the like is disclosed. The double-hand unit comprises two hand units (2, 3) comprising at least two pairs of fingers (2-1, 2-2 and 3-1, 3-2), respectively, and being disposed in a back-to-back relationship with the respective opening sides of the fingers directed in opposite directions with each other. The driving mechanisms for operating the associated fingers of the hand units (2, 3) are disposed one over the other along a plane including the fingers.

Abstract: A robot hand of an industrial robot used as a manipulating device of a bar-like workpiece having a pair of gripping members attached to a base member and arranged so as to be slid toward and away from one another so that an appropriate distance between the pair of gripping members is established depending on the difference of lengths of workpieces to be gripped by the gripping members of the robot hand.

Abstract: For the mounting of electrical and/or electronic components on a substrate, the components are presented in a pick-up position in a fixed, invariable pattern, preferably in a straight row. The components are simultaneously picked up in this pattern by a number of transfer devices and simultaneously moved toward their mounting positions over the substrate. During this transfer, they are moved different distances into a modified pattern with respect to one another, which corresponds to the desired pattern in which the components are to be positioned on the substrate. The transfer devices are programmed by means of exchangeable program plates.

Abstract: An industrial robot, mountable on a machine tool for carrying a workpiece to a spindle of the machine tool, and having an arm, one end of which is equipped with a wrist having a gripping device for gripping a workpiece. The robot further includes a main body having first and second rods with perpendicular spanning plates movably mounted on the machine tool rotatably connected to the second rod, first driving means provided on the main body for moving the arm axially of the spindle on the machine tool, and second driving means for allowing movement axially of the spindle for rotating the arm in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the spindle, with the other end of the arm serving as the center of rotation about the first rod.

Abstract: An industrial robot having a hollow arm rotatable in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of a spindle of a machine tool, a wrist mechanism attached for rotation at one end of the arm, the wrist mechanism having a rotary shaft, and a gripper connected to the rotary shaft of the wrist mechanism for being rotated thereby. There are provided first and second air cylinders colinearly disposed within the arm, the first cylinder being fixed and the second cylinder being movable longitudinally of the arm. A piston rod interconnects the first and second air cylinders, the piston rod having a first piston at one end received in the first cylinder and a second piston at the other end received in the second cylinder. The piston rod is moved longitudinally of the arm by introducing air selectively into the first and second air cylinders. A pulley is affixed to the first cylinder, and a tension member such as a wire or belt is connected between the rotary shaft of the wrist mechanism and the pulley.

Abstract: The contact positioning apparatus comprises a plurality of contact holding portions (11, 11') adapted to receive a series of contacts at a first pitch and to deliver the contacts to a second, different pitch. The portions (11, 11') are arranged in spaced parallel coplanar relation and are supported from a carriage (19) on respective cranks (13, 14) individually rotatable by respective pinions (16, 16'). Arms (13, 13') of the cranks are of progressively increased length and elements (55, 23) provide for bringing the pinions (16, 16') into engagement with a common rack (27), traversable to rotate the cranks and bring the contact holding portions to the desired different pitch. The carriage is suitably supported on an XYZ positioning mechanism to move the contacts between receiving and discharge stations.

Abstract: A workpiece handling apparatus includes a workpiece gripper having gripping elements and capable of both internal and external gripping functions rotatably attached to a support arm of a manipulation system. The workpiece gripper is controlled by an actuator capable of overcoming spring tension which is applied to the gripping elements.

Abstract: Apparatus for handling a plurality of clad elements of a predetermined configuration formed from a sheet consisting of a layer of an elastomeric material bonded to a layer of inert material and deposited in openings of a die corresponding in number and arrangement to cavities of a mold. The apparatus has a transfer mechanism with a plurality of rods having a pickup face with at least one fluid port. The rods correspond in number and array to the die openings and mold cavities. The fluid port is connected to a source of vacuum to retain a clad element on the pickup face when it engages the element in the die openings and to an air pressure source to discharge the clad element in the cavity of the mold. The apparatus further includes a reciprocating punch having a plurality of punch rods for forming the clad elements from the sheet material and depositing them in the openings of the die. The said die and mold are positioned adjacent one another.

Abstract: A self-contained power-operated manipulator for piping and the like is capable of coordinated movements which approximate those of the human arm and hand. Spaced pairs of cooperative opposing fixed and movable jaws on a common carrier structure can rotate in two directions around the axis of a main support to which the carrier structure is pivoted on crossing relationship. The carrier structure, with the attached pairs of jaws, can be swung in two directions through large angles around the pivot axis of the carrier structure. The pairs of jaws on the carrier structure can be rotated in unison around the axis of the carrier structure and the movable jaws of the opposing pairs can be rotated relative to the fixed jaws around the axis of the carrier structure. Separate power units are utilized for producing the several movements of the manipulator in a coordinated manner. The pipe manipulator can be attached to a crane boom jib or other support.

Abstract: Articles (18) are transferred from a first position, such as a feed track (37) on which they are located closely spaced, to a second position such as a heat seal apparatus. At the heat seal apparatus the spacing of the articles is to coincide with the spacing of frame members (32) to which the articles are to be joined. The change in the spacing occurs during the transfer of the articles from the first to the second positions by means of a transfer mechanism (41). A plurality of pickup members (43) are slideably mounted to an arm (44) of the mechanism (41). The pickup members (42) which are resiliently urged apart with respect to each other are forced together at one end of the travel of the arm (44) to assume the close spacing established by the width of the pickup members. At the other end of the travel of the arm (44) the resilient urging force drives the pickup members (43) against predetermined stop positions.

Abstract: A carrier supports electrically conductive hollow pins for insertion and soldering in terminal lead-holes passing through the non-conductive substrate of a printed circuit board and formation of an electrical socket in the non-conductive substrate. Each hollow pin forms an electrical receptacle contact of the socket having an exposed opening for receiving a mating contact pin terminal of an electrical plug. The carrier includes a support structure for receiving and releasably supporting a plurality of the hollow pins in a selected pattern for inserting in a like plurality of terminal lead-holes arranged in the selected pattern. The carrier also includes a barrier structure joined to the support structure relative to the openings of the supported hollow pins and to the printed circuit board substrate to prevent solder applied to the hollow pins to secure them in the lead-holes from entering the openings.

Abstract: A robot hand provided for an industrial robot used in association with a machine tool for carrying out a manipulating operation of attaching a workpiece to and detaching a workpiece from a workpiece chucking means of the machine tool, said robot hand being characterized by including means for removing chips and other foreign materials attached to the workpiece holding means during the manipulating operation.

Abstract: In an apparatus for manipulating workpieces in an electron beam drilling machine, workpieces are mounted on rotatable disks which in turn are mounted on a housing which is rotatable and translatable. Each disk, as a fixture holding the workpiece, is unlocked, rotated, and locked in a new position by the motion of a single driving member and associated elements. The single driving members associated with each workpiece indexing assembly are driven through a system of gears from a single central shaft which passes through the vacuum chamber wall to externally mounted actuators and controls.

Abstract: An improved tool changing machining center adapted for boring, drilling, milling, tapping and tool changing operations under numerical control. The machining center, which may be built in both vertical and horizontal spindle configurations, has an automatic tool changer including a tool storage matrix, a swing spindle transfer device mounted on the matrix, and a two-handed transfer arm mounted on the headstock. It operates with current commercial tapered shank toolholders and utilizes the existing power drawbolt engagement structure of the toolholders to secure them during tool change.

Abstract: Disclosed is apparatus for aligning a plurality of circuit packages in a row and transferring the row of circuit packages to a corresponding row of receiving sockets in a burn-in board. The apparatus includes a transfer arm carrying a transfer rack pivotal about a non-rotatable shaft which moves axially to raise and lower the transfer arm. The transfer rack includes a plurality of reciprocal blades adapted to receive the circuit packages therebetween and transfer them to the receiving sockets. The reciprocal blades are retracted to release the circuit packages and the pins on the circuit packages are inserted into the sockets by spring loaded plungers positioned intermediate the blades.

Abstract: An improved tool exchange apparatus for milling machines with sliding carriages comprising a magazine and a pincer-arm for conveyance.The magazine is disposed so that the tools are presented with horizontal axis at an exchange station, the pincer-arm is rotatably mounted on one of the horizontal axes of a crank having two parallel horizontal axes. The crank itself is rotatably and slidably mounted along the other horizontal axis to a rotary head which is rotatable about a vertical axis which is fixed relative to the magazine.

Abstract: A tool changing mechanism for a machining center comprising arcuate shuttle path means including rail means having a uniform width with opposing sides and a gear track parallel to the rail, and a tool shuttle including a tool change arm, shuttle path engagement means including post means, means for mounting the post means on the tool shuttle for selective rotation about a vertical axis, a pair of guide rollers, means for mounting the pair of guide rollers on the post means with a selected spacing therebetween substantially equal to the rail width, whereby the pair of guide rollers will engage the opposing rail sides and selectively change their orientation to automatically maintain an orthogonal relation thereto while the shuttle traverses the arcuate shuttle path, a driven gear concentrically mounted for rotational movement relative to the post means about the post rotational axis and for engagement with the gear track, and means for driving the driven gear, whereby the shuttle may traverse the arcuate shutt

Abstract: A device for supplying a piece of preformed synthetic resin to the next process line in an apparatus for producing a bottle-shaped blow-molded container of biaxially oriented polyethylene terephthalate by overturning the piece from neck portion upward position into neck portion downward position, engaging the piece thus overturned to neck portion downward position with orienting jigs held at equidistant central angles at the peripheral edge of a turntable rotating at constant speed in predetermined direction, and supplying the piece held at the jigs around the turntable to a next process line adjacent to the turntable. Thus, the pieces can be continuously rapidly and exactly supplied to the next stage or line.

Abstract: An automatic tool changer for transferring single tools and/or multiple spindle toolheads between a tool storage magazine and a horizontal spindle of a machine tool. A plurality of single tools and/or toolheads are stored in the tool storage magazine with their shanks in a vertical position. A first tool change arm transfers a selected tool or toolhead from the storage magazine to a tilt unit which tilts the shank of the tool or toolhead by 90.degree. from a vertical to a horizontal position parallel with the axis of the spindle. A second tool change arm removes the tools or toolheads from the tilt unit and spindle simultaneously, interchanges them, and inserts the interchanged tools or toolheads into the spindle and tilt unit. The tilt unit then tilts by 90.degree. back to the vertical position, and the first tool change arm returns the tool or toolhead in the tilt unit back to the tool storage magazine.

Abstract: A tool-changing mechanism for machine tools of the kind in which tools can be inserted into a spindle. A tool magazine receives several tools and a double-ended tool-changing arm is provided on each of its two ends with gripping mechanisms. The tool-changing arm is rotatable about an axis of rotation which is parallel to the spindle axis and the tool-changing arm can be moved along the direction of its axis of rotation. The tool-changing arm can also be pivoted, between a working position and a rest position, about a pivot axis which is parallel to its axis of rotation.

Abstract: An automatic, cam-actuated precision transfer apparatus operable to transfer and simultaneously invert workpieces between adjacent work stations. The transfer apparatus utilizes a common input shaft to provide input rotation to both a stationary oscillator device as well as an indexer device rotatably mounted atop the oscillator. The output of the oscillator device horizontally oscillates the rotatable indexer device through a desired number of degrees of rotation, and the indexer's output vertically indexes a turret-type transfer arm assembly which has associated pick and place units. The combined indexing and oscillating movements produced by the transfer apparatus allow a workpiece to be picked up at a first work station, vertically inverted while being horizontally transferred, and finally deposited at a second work station. The transfer apparatus is adjustable to accommodate any variations in manufacturing setups.

Abstract: Apparatus for transporting knives, sockets, holders and analogous devices for severing, supporting, transferring and/or otherwise manipulating rod-shaped articles which constitute or form part of smokers' products has first and second disks which are rotatable about parallel axes and carry sets of levers each pivotable about an axis which is parallel to the axes of the disks. Each lever of one disk is coupled to a lever of the other disk by a crank unit one pin of which carries a tool. One of the disks is driven and transmits torque to the other disk by way of the levers and crank units whereby the crank units orbit and their pins hold the tools against any change of orientation. Stationary cams have congruent grooves for roller followers which are provided on the levers of the first and second disks, and the cam grooves are configurated in such a way that the cams can reduce or increase the absolute speed of movement of crank pins by moving the pins toward or away from the axes of the respective disks.

Abstract: A multiple stage press of the type having a plurality of punches and dies mounted in substantially parallel planar die sets and including a tool changing mechanism comprising a magazine for holding the tools, a transfer mechanism movable for carrying tools from the magazine to the die sets and from the die sets to the magazine, the transfer mechanism including a gripper arm pivotable about an axis inclined relative to the planes of the die sets, the gripper arm being mounted on a slide so as to be rectilinearly movable parallel to the planes of the die sets, whereby a tool carried by the gripper arm may be positioned between the die sets.

Abstract: This relates to a feeder for feeding articles on a continuous basis one behind the other. The feeder includes a plurality of flight bars which are mounted for rotation about an axis with the flight bars being circumferentially spaced and having article engaging elements carried thereby. The flight bars are so mounted wherein the distances of the flight bars from the axis of rotation may be infinitely varied to thereby infinitely vary the circumferential spacing between adjacent flight bars. In this manner, the feeder may be readily adjusted so as to feed articles of all dimensions within a prescribed range.

Abstract: An inverted U-shaped frame is provided to straddle the injection molding machine, and a chain conveyor provided with spaced apart groups of L-shaped insert carriers is moved along the frame. An insert chute is provided for working side of the frame for loading cylindrical inserts on the carriers. An insert transfer device is provided on the other side of the frame for transferring the inserts from the chain conveyor to an insert holder which is swung between the insert transfer device and the metal mold. The holder holds the inserts in a pattern corresponding to the pattern of the inserts when they are disposed in the metal mold. The chain conveyor is moved intermittently at a predetermined feed pitch. An insert detector is provided near the chute and when the detector detects that an insert carrier is not loaded with an insert, the direction of movement is reversed to return the empty insert carrier to the chute to load an insert thereon.

Abstract: A reciprocating transfer mechanism having grippers for grasping and extracting a row of upholstery spring coils from a coil feeder and thrusting the coils into a spring assembly machine in a continuous composite coil-reorienting delivery movement which simultaneously conditions alternate grippers for the succeeding transfer cycle without reorientation thereof on the return movement.

Abstract: Apparatus for receiving a row of spaced coils in which the coils are at a predetermined spacing and transferring them to a coil assembly machine at a different spacing.

Abstract: A transfer device in an automatic tool exchanger is provided wherein a pair of transfer arms, each formed with semicircular openings at respective opposite ends thereof, are secured respectively to one of the ends of first and second support shafts and extend mutually in parallel relation and transversely of the support shafts. The support shafts are co-axially mounted to be bodily axially moved by a reciprocation drive device and also to be rotated by a first rotational drive device in the same direction. A second rotational drive device for rotating the support shafts in opposite directions is composed of a rotational cylinder with two rotors connected respectively to the support shafts, so that tools are maintained reliably gripped by the semicircular openings during tool transfer movements.