Product Mover Including Gripper Means Patents (Class 83/151)
  • Patent number: 5189934
    Abstract: Arrangement for production of sections cut out from a material web (18), such as sections for articles of clothing. It comprises a carrier element (19) with a deposit surface (17) for the material web (18), an automatic cutter (16) which is displaceable over the cutting member (70; 77) is supported by the slide arrangement. The cutting member is moved by means of a computer program along the intended contours of the sections which are to be cut out. The carrier element (19), which can be a conveyor belt, is of a material which is elastically compressible. The material, by virtue of its elasticity, tends to form a main plane in which, as a result of the compressibility of the material, depressions can be formed by exerting a force on the material, for example by pressing-down of bottom parts of the cutting and picking members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1993
    Assignee: Eton Construction AB
    Inventors: Mats I. Davidson, Dan Davidson
  • Patent number: 5088363
    Abstract: In an automatic sawmill, logs are first sawn horizontally into pieces that are respectively deposited flat side down on a bed plate and conveyed through multiple, close spaced horizontal bandsaws located above the bed plate. Sawn cants are positioned by clamps to have their waney edges removed by a flying saw after clamp retraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 18, 1992
    Assignee: Aaron U. Jones
    Inventors: Aaron U. Jones, Vincent M. Howard, Edward A. Kohler, Mark L. Carter, Edward A. Komori, Ralph Wijesinghe, Ronald W. McGeehee
  • Patent number: 5024128
    Abstract: A sheeter for a web fed printing press having:an infeed section;a first cutting head into which the infeed section feeds the web, the first cutting head for cutting the web transversely comprising a circular knife cylinder and corresponding anvil cylinder having circumferences larger than the repeat length of the press;a sheet transfer section having rollers, which moves the cut web from the first cutting head to a second cutting head;the second cutting head comprising a circular knife cylinder and corresponding anvil cylinder to cut a chip from the cut web, a motor to rotate the first and second cutting heads and sheet transfer section rollers at the same surface speed; andnip rollers to deliver the finished product from the second cutting head to a delivery system.The second cutting head can be rotated with respect to the first cutting head so that the length of the chip can be increased or decreased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 18, 1991
    Inventor: Gaines P. Campbell, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4977803
    Abstract: A saw mechanism for logs convolutely wound on cores and method wherein the upstream end of the log has its core supported on a support member attached to a log-advancing pusher, the chain carrying the pushers being equipped with stripper plates immediately downstream of the pushers to strip trim annuli from the pusher support members incident to arcuate movement of the stripper plate around the chain tail sprocket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 18, 1990
    Assignee: Paper Converting Machine Company
    Inventor: Lawrence E. Blom
  • Patent number: 4914996
    Abstract: A pressing tool including means for cutting a blank from a strip fed longitudinally into the tool. The cutting means comprise a stationary lower punch carried by a press table and a vertically mobile upper die normally located above the punch and intended to be moved in the direction of this punch by the mobile press slide. Means are provided for cutting the end scrap from the strip, these means comprising shears having a stationary blade and a mobile blade, a device for transfer of a cut blank, prestamped blank, or stamped blank, from the station which the blank occupies to the following station, and means to lift each cut blank to the level of the transfer device. The stationary blade is carried by the support of the punch while the mobile blade is carried by the die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 10, 1990
    Assignee: Atelier de Decoupage Emboutissage et Mecanique de La Vallee de L'Arve ADEMVA
    Inventor: Gerard Lavorel
  • Patent number: 4905599
    Abstract: A notch cylinder unit for selectively activating a plurality of impaling pins such as might be used for separating and removing a strip from a paper web. The notch cylinder unit comprises a cylinder having a longitudinally extending hole and a hollowing driving shaft extending therethrough, at least two rows of removable blades extending radially outwardly from and longitudinally of the cylinder, and adapted to cut a strip in the web, and a plurality of slidably mounted impaling pins generally equally spaced between the rows of blades and adapted to puncture, hook and remove the strip. The notch unit cylinder unit further includes an activating means including an activating means for activating or deactivating the impaling pins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 6, 1990
    Assignee: AM International, Inc.
    Inventor: Jarold L. Richey
  • Patent number: 4867434
    Abstract: An apparatus for grasping ends of a belt-like member, a support base for supporting the ends of the belt-like member, and an embracing member extending in width directions of the belt-like member and movable toward and away from the support base for urging the ends of the belt-like member against the support base when the embracing member has moved toward said support base. The apparatus further comprises at least one folding member extendible from and retractable into the support base for folding the ends of the belt-like member along edges of the embracing member when the folding member has extended from the support base, and embracing plates supported by the embracing member movably toward and away from the embracing member for embracing the folded ends of the belt-like member over their widths in cooperation with the embracing member when the embracing plates have moved toward the embracing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 19, 1989
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Okuyama, Minoru Sawai
  • Patent number: 4862780
    Abstract: A cutting die (10), which has one or more blades (20) forming the perimeter of a ply (16) to be cut from a sheet of material (14), has a resilient insert (40) placed within the blades to detach the ply (16) from the material and from the cutting die (10) after the ply (16) has been cut from the material (14) and has a hook-like appendage (28) extending from the perimeter of the blades to grip the material after the plies have been cut therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1989
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: James V. W. Memmott, Allan H. Fidler, Steven D. Singer
  • Patent number: 4819533
    Abstract: Wire processing apparatus comprises a wire selector/feed mechanism for feeding a selected one of a plurality of different wire strands lengthwise into a wire insertion mechanism which then presents a wire segment severed by a wire cutter mechanism laterally to the infeed ends of a pair of laterally spaced apart conveyor units of a conveyor mechanism. Each conveyor unit comprises a support frame on which a conveyor belt assembly is mounted. The conveyor belt assembly is adjustably positionable on the support frame to enable wire segment end portions of desired length to project from the conveyor belt assembly. The wire selector/feed mechanism comprises a wire selector device including a pair of spaced apart rotatable plates having pairs of aligned holes for releasably supporting the wire strands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 11, 1989
    Assignee: Artos Engineering Company
    Inventors: Kenneth Wollermann, Ragnar Gudmestad, Terry R. Kroening, John E. Conrardy
  • Patent number: 4796499
    Abstract: An apparatus for stacking and delivering double bags of plastic film receives the bags from a transfer device at a stacking station which includes vertical pins on which the bags are impaled to form a stack. A stack conveyor with built-in grippers moves a completed stack to a severing station where a heated knife separates the double bags lengthwise of their travel while they are still in the grip of the grippers. The severed bags are then transferred to a delivery station where the grippers are released. The conveyor has separate side-by-side runs and separate gripper jaws are carried on each run. The stacking pins and the severing knife are located between the conveyor runs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1989
    Assignee: Windmoller & Holscher
    Inventor: Fritz Achelpohl
  • Patent number: 4793227
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for trimming signatures moving in a continuous stream and in an arcuate path as controlled by a conveyor. A trimming knife is stationarily disposed adjacent the arcuate path for engaging the marginal edges of the signatures and trimming those edges. Input and output conveyors are in signature-flow communication with the conveyor of the arcuate path, and either input or output conveyor can be reversed for the input and output function, and also the conveyor having the arcuate path can accordingly be reversed so that the signatures can move in either continuous arcuate path of movement for the trimming process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1988
    Assignee: Stobb Inc.
    Inventor: Walter J. Stobb
  • Patent number: 4777711
    Abstract: A stacker for a flexible strand, such as a flimsy wire, comprises:(a) a conveyor having an elongated endwise traveling stretch onto which the strand is fed to be carried endwise on the stretch,(b) a gripper to grip a trailing portion of the strand as forward extent of the strand is carried endwise on the stretch,(c) structure to effect displacement of the gripper to a position locating the gripped portion of the strand sufficiently out of alignment with the stretch that the strand is progressively pulled sidewardly off the stretch in response to endwise travel of the stretch relative to the strand.Pins may travel with the conveyor to displace the strand off the stretch; and the strand in wire form may be cut and stripped, as it is fed toward the conveyor and gripper. A collector collects strands that are displaced off the conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1986
    Date of Patent: October 18, 1988
    Inventors: Robert R. Forkner, Thomas A. Ferree
  • Patent number: 4691603
    Abstract: Cutting apparatus for cutting moving sheets or webs. A rotatable cutter carrier and a rotatable backup member are respectively provided with cutter blades and grooves, which cooperate in the plane of the sheet and are moved by planetary gear trains through cutting positions wherein cutter blades and backup bars are moved into face-to-face relationship to effect cuts in sheet material that passes therebetween. The gear trains include a stationary sun gear, and idler gears that are rotatably carried in carrier discs and that mesh with the sun gear and with planet gears that are non-rotatably connected to respective ones of cutter bars that carry the cutter blades and to cooperating backup bars. One of the cutter bars or the backup bars is provided with extensible needles for piercing a portion of the sheet section that is intended to be removed therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1987
    Assignee: Windmoller & Holscher
    Inventor: Aloys Winnemoller
  • Patent number: 4682524
    Abstract: Apparatus for cutting stacks of flat workpieces, particularly of undershirt-shaped bags from stacked tubular film sections made of thermoplastic material and formed with side gussets and with top and bottom end seam welds. The apparatus includes a group of two punch-and-die sets, which are mounted in a transversely movable machine frame and include punches associated with drive means for moving the punches up and down, and die plates, which are fixed to the machine frame, and also includes a conveyor for intermittently feeding the stacks to and for removing them from the punches and dies. At least two punch-and-die sets and a drive motor associated with them are arranged in a row in a carriage, which is guided for reciprocation in the machine frame in a direction which is transverse to the direction of travel of the stacks. The carriage is adapted to be secured in the machine frame in two operating positions, in each of which at least one of the punch-and-die sets protrudes laterally from the machine frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1985
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1987
    Assignee: Windmoller & Holscher
    Inventor: Fritz Achelpohl
  • Patent number: 4672871
    Abstract: A pair of wire feed clamps are affixed to parallel flights of a pulley-supported steel cable which is axially driven back and forth by an oscillatably rotatable cable drum whereby the wire feed clamps, which reciprocably move in opposite directions, feed a wire strand along a first path. The cable drum is driven by a drive rod reciprocably movable by an orbiting crank pin on a support member which is adjustably mounted on a motor-driven rotatable feed crank. Crank pin orbit determines drive rod stroke, cable drum position, wire feed clamp spacing and travel, and wire segment length. A locking mechanism releasably locks the support member (crank pin) in desired adjusted positions. Two laterally spaced-apart conveyor assemblies, each having conveyor clamps for receiving the wire strand, convey severed wire segments along a second path perpendicular to the first.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1987
    Assignee: ARTOS Engineering Company
    Inventor: Ragnar Gudmestad
  • Patent number: 4612006
    Abstract: An improved die cutting apparatus separates the gripper margin from the product portion and the releases the gripper margin from the gripper at the same station, i.e. at a pair of rolls. Further, the gripper margin is re-held and re-released at the pair of the rolls to prevent the gripper margins from becoming up with the product portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1984
    Date of Patent: September 16, 1986
    Assignee: Rengo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masateru Tokuno, Tetsuya Sawada
  • Patent number: 4605115
    Abstract: Device designed to move a section (2) being machined past machining means (9, 10) and in the long direction of the section so that it can be positioned with respect to the machining means, comprising at least one clamp (20) designed to grip the said section at at least one position along its length, means (27) for actuating the said clamp (20) so that it grips or releases the said section, and translation means (12, 13, 18) for moving the said clamp (20) in the lengthwise direction of the section in order to move this section past the said machining means (9, 10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1984
    Date of Patent: August 12, 1986
    Assignees: Dufieux, Societe Nationale des Chemins de fer Francais
    Inventor: Michel Genans
  • Patent number: 4604928
    Abstract: An apparatus for automatically conveying and cooling the cut sections is described. The head and tail of each section are grasped and pulled by head and tail chuck which are moved by respective chuck conveyors. The head chuck conveyor is constituted of a endless chain which has an engaging mechanism for engaging with the head chuck when the head chuck moves horizontally and release the head chuck when the head chuck moves vertically. The tail chuck conveyor includes a chain for conveying the tail chucks from the conveyance starting position to end position, and other path and carriage for returning the tail chucks from the conveyance end position to the start position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1985
    Date of Patent: August 12, 1986
    Assignee: Ube Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Masahiro Honda
  • Patent number: 4583436
    Abstract: Apparatus for longitudinally and transversely trimming articles moldingly formed on plastic sheet which is brought by means of a pair of clamp chains between longitudinally movable pointed tip knives and longitudinally extended holder members as well as transversely movable pointed tip knives and transversely extended holder members respectively held in retracted position and then trimmed by moving said knives and holder members to forwarded position and by moving said knives. Trimmed articles fall down by gravity and the waste portion is kept in one piece and brought out by said clamp chains to be collected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1984
    Date of Patent: April 22, 1986
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Asano Kenkyusho
    Inventor: Kazuo Asano
  • Patent number: 4580473
    Abstract: An intermittent motion horizontal packaging machine in which pouches made one at a time by a pouch making section operating at a high index cycle rate are filled two at a time while being advanced in a single row by a pouch filling section operating at one-half the index cycle rate of the pouch making section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1984
    Date of Patent: April 8, 1986
    Assignee: Rexham Corporation
    Inventors: Frederick C. Seiden, Allen B. Canfield, Norman W. Carey
  • Patent number: 4493233
    Abstract: Apparatus is provided for repeatedly cutting segments from a strand of wire or cable and for conveying them to work stations so that either or both ends can be processed to provide a partly or fully finished wire lead or cord.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1983
    Date of Patent: January 15, 1985
    Assignee: Artos Engineering Company
    Inventors: Robert O. Dusel, James J. Berres, Harold J. Keene
  • Patent number: 4448099
    Abstract: An improved method of operating an apparatus to cut sheet material workpieces eliminates the inadvertent dropping of a relatively small scrap or remainder portion of a workpiece into a clearance space between a pair of cutter blades and a discharge conveyor. Thus, a relatively large sheet metal workpiece is gripped by a holder which moves the workpiece relative to a pair of blades. The blades are moved relative to each other to cut the workpiece to form a product having a desired configuration. The product is dropped onto a discharge conveyor. In order to prevent a relatively small scrap piece remaining in the holder from being dropped into a space between the discharge conveyor and the blades, the holder is extended through the space between the blades to a location over the discharge conveyor and is opened to drop the scrap or remainder portion of the workpiece onto the discharge conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1981
    Date of Patent: May 15, 1984
    Assignee: The Warner & Swasey Company
    Inventors: Naoki Kuroda, Kimihiro Tsuge
  • Patent number: 4411181
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for cutting and holding a piece of wire cord. The apparatus comprises a conveyor which includes a plurality of plates for movement in a first direction and a plurality of holding blocks wherein each of the holding blocks is mounted on a corresponding one of the plates. Each of the holding blocks has a fixed portion and a slidable holder portion, the slidable holder portion being slidable relative to the fixed portion. An advancing device advances the cord a predetermined length in a direction perpendicular to the first direction, and a cutter is positioned downstream of the advancing device for cutting the wire cord into cut portions of the predetermined length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1981
    Date of Patent: October 25, 1983
    Assignee: Kawasaki Electric Wire Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideo Imai
  • Patent number: 4384915
    Abstract: A cam operated gripper driven by an endless chain receives at a feed station a wrapped straw having a heat-bondable portion and carries the straw to a bonding section. The gripper is associated with an electric heater which is in contact with the gripped straw. In the bonding section, an electric power supply rail is provided so that a collector of the heater slides on the rail, energizing the electric heater to heat the heat-bondable portion of the wrapped straw. In the bonding section, the heater is also pressed against the carton travelling in a production line at the same speed as the moving speed of the heater with the heat-bondable portion of the wrapped film therebetween. Thus one film wrapper is heat-bonded to each carton. After the completion of bonding, the cam operated gripper releases the straw allowing the straw to remain attached on the carton.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1981
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1983
    Assignee: Tetra Pak International Aktiebolag
    Inventor: Yoshikazu Utsumi
  • Patent number: 4362075
    Abstract: A common intermittent drive mechanism intermittently rotates a feed roller and a cutter rotor. An intervening gear and the radii of the feed roller and the cutter rotor differentiate the circumferential speed of the roller and the rotor to provide a slip between a continuous strip-like dispenser sheet fed by the feed roller and the cutter rotor surface. A suction means in the cutter rotor surface holds the dispenser sheet while allowing the slip thereof. When the movement of the cutter rotor is interrupted, a cutter is actuated and separates the individual articles from the remaining dispenser sheet. While the separated article is carried by the moving surface of the cutter rotor for a distance greater than the pitch of the article wrapped in the dispenser sheet, another single article is moved into the position for separation, and this procedure is repeated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1981
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1982
    Assignee: Tetra Pak International Aktiebolag
    Inventor: Yoshikazu Utsumi
  • Patent number: 4327616
    Abstract: An apparatus for trimming the top and the bottom from ears of corn to produce standardized size corn for packaging comprises a plurality of spring loaded clamps for holding individual corn pieces. The clamps are pivotally attached in a conveyor fashion and serve to transport the individual corn pieces past a pair of vertically spaced shearing blades. Each clamp includes an outer slidable member which rides on a cam surface. The cam surface pulls the sliding member away from a fixed member to release the corn cob after the slicing operation is completed. The cam surface holds the clamp open for insertion of additional corn pieces to be cut. A vertically adjustable gauge surface is disposed below the corn insertion position for determining the correct vertical trim position at which the corn is to be held.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 1980
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1982
    Assignee: Stayton Canning Company Cooperative
    Inventor: Edward L. Klukis
  • Patent number: 4283973
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for handling articles (such as web stacks) wherein a series of articles is advanced along a first lineal path and gripped therein, thereafter directed about an arcuate quadrant to a second path perpendicular to the first path and while still being gripped, and thereafter translated, while still being gripped, into a third path parallel to the second path, the handling in the first, second, and third paths occurring while a dimension of the article remains parallel to the direction of travel of the first path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1979
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1981
    Assignee: Paper Converting Machine Company
    Inventor: Harvey J. Spencer
  • Patent number: 4270424
    Abstract: A continuous strip (16) of metal with boxed discrete capacitors (10) assembled thereon is cyclically advanced to move a leading section of the strip into a positioned chamber (48) of a multi-chamber magazine (46). After a predetermined number of advancements of the strip, a cutter (76,83) is operated to sever the strip and then an auxiliary feed device (107-118) is rendered effective to advance the trailing extremity of the severed strip into the magazine chamber. Immediately thereafter the magazine is indexed to position another chamber to receive a subsequently advanced section of the strip. Upon loading of a magazine with a strip and assembled capacitors in each chamber, facilities (127-142) are rendered effective to advance a new magazine into position to receive additional sections of the strip with the assembled capacitors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 1979
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1981
    Assignee: Western Electric Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald K. Sandmore
  • Patent number: 4266455
    Abstract: A long-sized wire transfer apparatus for use with a wire cutting machine or the like including a wire feed mechanism and a cutter blade assembly which opens and closes to cut into predetermined lengths a wire intermittently fed in by the wire feed mechanism. The wire transfer apparatus comprises a wire clamping transfer conveyor laterally extending from the downstream side of the cutter blade assembly in a direction at the right angles to the wire withdrawing line, a wire drift conveyor composed of an endless belt extending laterally from the initial end of the transfer conveyor through a slide plate of suitable length along the wire withdrawing line, and a wire collecting device or the like disposed immediately below the terminal end of the wire clamping transfer conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1980
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1981
    Assignee: Shin Meiwa Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hitoshi Ago
  • Patent number: 4238981
    Abstract: Apparatus for measuring out a desired length of electric cable and transporting it to a work station comprises means for supplying the cable along a supply path through a guiding structure which includes a retractable guide element arranged under automatic control to be retracted when the end portion of the cable reaches the downstream end of the supply path so that during further cable supplying, the cable forms a loop which may hang downwardly with the leading end of the cable retained at or adjacent the downstream end of the supply path. When the desired length of cable has been formed into a loop, the cable is severed from the supply, and with gripping means holding the respective ends of the cable, a lateral displacement device is operated to convey the cable to a work station, at the same time bringing further gripping means into position ready for the next cycle of operation. At the work station any desired operation such as insulation stripping may be effected. .
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1979
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1980
    Assignee: Utilux Pty. Limited
    Inventor: Walter Karl
  • Patent number: 4175316
    Abstract: Apparatus for high-speed production of sets of accurately and identically sized insulated wire leads having wire terminals at the lead ends comprises: a feed mechanism including counter-reciprocating wire feed clamps for simultaneously drawing a plurality of separate strands of insulated wire from a plurality of wire reels; a mechanism for simultaneously straightening and arranging the strands drawn therethrough in parallel spaced apart relationship in a common generally horizontal plane; a severing mechanism for simultaneously severing sets of wire segments of predetermined length from the strands; conveyor clamps for releasably gripping and conveying sets of wire segments; and conveyor means for advancing the conveyor clamps and sets of wire segments therein through processing mechanisms and to a collecting station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1978
    Date of Patent: November 27, 1979
    Assignee: Artos Engineering Company
    Inventor: Ragnar Gudmestad
  • Patent number: 4166315
    Abstract: Apparatus for high-speed production of sets of accurately and identically sized insulated wire leads having wire terminals at the lead ends comprises: conveyor clamps for releasably gripping and conveying sets of wire segments arranged in parallel spaced apart relationship in a common generally horizontal plane; conveyor means for advancing the conveyor clamps and sets of wire segments therein through processing mechanisms and to a collecting station; processing mechanisms including wire cutter and stripper mechanisms for accurately trimming both ends of the wire segments in the sets simultaneously and for stripping insulation therefrom simultaneously and terminal attachment mechanisms for simultaneously attaching terminals to both ends of the wire segments in the sets; and a wire gathering mechanism for each processing mechanism for accurately guiding the ends of the sets of wire segments therethrough and for holding the sets against displacement during processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1978
    Date of Patent: September 4, 1979
    Assignee: Artos Engineering Company
    Inventors: Ragnar Gudmestad, Gerald E. Blaha
  • Patent number: 4165768
    Abstract: Apparatus for high-speed production of sets of accurately and identically sized insulated wire leads having wire terminals at the lead ends comprises: a feed mechanism including counter-reciprocating wire feed clamps for simultaneously drawing a plurality of separate strands of insulated wire from a plurality of wire reels; a mechanism for simultaneously straightening and arranging the strands drawn therethrough in parallel spaced apart relationship in a common generally horizontal plane; a severing mechanism for simultaneously severing sets of wire segments of predetermined length from the strands; conveyor clamps for releasably gripping and conveying sets of wire segments; and conveyor means for advancing the conveyor clamps and sets of wire segments therein through processing mechanisms and to a collecting station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1978
    Date of Patent: August 28, 1979
    Assignee: Artos Engineering Company
    Inventor: Ragnar Gudmestad
  • Patent number: 4164808
    Abstract: Apparatus for high-speed production of sets of accurately and identically sized insulated wire leads having wire terminals at the lead ends comprises: a feed mechanism including counter-reciprocating wire feed clamps for repeatedly drawing a plurality of separate strands of insulated wire simultaneously from a plurality of wire reels; a mechanism for simultaneously straightening and arranging the strands as they are drawn therethrough in parallel spaced apart relationship in a common generally horizontal plane; a severing mechanism for repeatedly severing sets of wire segments of predetermined length simultaneously from the strands; conveyor clamps for releasably gripping successive sets of wire segments received from the feed clamps; conveyor means for advancing the conveyor clamps so that the ends of the wire segments in the sets pass through processing mechanisms, and conveyor clamp actuator mechanisms for causing the conveyor clamps to initially grip sets of wire segments for conveyance and to subsequentl
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1978
    Date of Patent: August 21, 1979
    Assignee: Artos Engineering Company
    Inventors: Ragnar Gudmestad, Gerald E. Blaha
  • Patent number: 3996826
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing elongated lengths of material from a supply thereof, such as insulated wire mounted on spools or reels, into lengths, such as into electrical leads of predetermined lengths. The wire is drawn off continuously from the reel and is fed intermittently into the apparatus wherein it is cut off to lengths and gripped in the apparatus with the ends of the cut-off lengths a fixed distance apart and exposed. When the wire is thus cut off and gripped, it is moved at right angles to the length thereof along the apparatus while work operations are performed on at least one end of the lead, the work operations consisting of stripping insulation from the end of the lead and applying a terminal thereto. When the leads have been completely processed, the apparatus straightens the leads out in the direction of the length thereof and delivers them to a receiving station, and wherein the leads are counted and removed from the receiving station in batches of a predetermined number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1975
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1976
    Assignee: Lyall Electric, Inc.
    Inventor: Carl W. McKeever
  • Patent number: 3984030
    Abstract: Single product units are dispensed by a machine previously loaded with a band-shaped package thereof in a feeding station being a container. The first product unit of the band-package is positioned at a stop device, adjustable for a different size of the products, from which a caliper grips and draws the first unit to a cutting station, where a blade, co-operating with a backing blade severs the same from the band-package. The severed product unit passes through an aperture formed in a plate for supporting the blade and falls into a dispensing compartment. If it is the case, an oven is provided along the path of the single articles for heating or baking foodstuffs such as toasts and the like. Known timing devices and relay contacts are provided for the correct operation of the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1975
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1976
    Inventor: Pier Domenico Morini
  • Patent number: RE29838
    Abstract: Apparatus for cutting a continuous .[.elements.]. .Iadd.element .Iaddend.of indeterminate length into predetermined lengths employs a pair of transversely spaced endless chains having a plurality of crossplates connected to and extending between the chains. Clamping means and cutting means are respectively mounted on the crossplates. A clamping cam is provided for actuating the clamping means and a cutting cam is provided for actuating the cutting means. The clamping means has a cam follower associated therewith which is cooperable with the clamping cam, and the cutting means has a cam follower associated therewith which is cooperable with the cutting cam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1977
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1978
    Assignee: Hasbro Development Corp.
    Inventors: William Hackemann, Charles G. Renegar