By Conveying An Item That Has A Position Characteristic And Rotating The Item Until It Is Positioned Patents (Class 198/394)
  • Patent number: 4511242
    Abstract: Electronic alignment of paper feeding components in a machine such as an electrophotographic copier machine is achieved by placing an original master containing vernier calibrations on the document glass and a target master containing vernier calibrations in the copy paper bin. Thereupon, the machine is operated to produce a copy of the original master onto the target master producing a double set of vernier calibrations on the target master, which, when compared, provides information relating to skew angle, side edge relationship and leading edge alignment of the image to the copy paper. The vernier calibrations provide data which are keyed into a microprocessor controlled copy feeding servo mechanism to correct copy paper position and remove misalignment. The operation is repeated for various combinations of paper feed paths with techniques of original document placement and for duplex operation so that the copy paper matches image position for all modes of copier operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1982
    Date of Patent: April 16, 1985
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: William H. Ashbee, Donovan M. Janssen, Ronald J. Martin, William S. Seaward
  • Patent number: 4503966
    Abstract: A device for aligning flat bottomed rolls, in particular hotdog rolls, comprises a plurality of elongated parallel stalls for receiving flat bottomed rolls, a first conveyor movable over at least a portion of the stalls for distributing rolls into the stalls in a random manner, a second conveyor movable in a feed direction parallel to the stalls, under the stalls, for conveying rolls along the stalls, a third conveyor movalbe transversely to the feed direction over the second conveyor and under the stalls for flipping the rolls. The third conveyor has a friction surface which engages the rolls and causes them to roll until a flat bottom of the rolls engage the third conveyor. The friction surface is insufficient to thereafter rotate the rolls further. Drive motors are connected to the first, second and third conveyor. Each of the rolls in the stalls are thus rotated in a properly aligned upright position in which they can be transfered to a packing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1983
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1985
    Inventors: Gregory C. Papalexis, Richard I. Elliott
  • Patent number: 4498574
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus with the aid of which tubular transport containers (10) having a substantially U-shaped hollow cross-section for DIL housings can be aligned prior to their filling or emptying. The apparatus comprises a first storage space (22) for the transport containers to be filled or emptied and a second storage space (65) for filled or emptied transport containers. A transport means (32, 33) is provided with the aid of which the transport containers can be conveyed out of the first storage space into the second storage space. At least one alignment means (50, 51) is provided which is equipped with at least one compressed air nozzle and produces an air flow which is directed from below against a transport container on its way from the first storage space to the second storage space. Under the influence of this air flow the transport container assumes a defined position in which the DIL housings disposed therein can be removed or introduced into said container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1982
    Date of Patent: February 12, 1985
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Georg Fischer
  • Patent number: 4497409
    Abstract: An apparatus to permit inspection of an object. The apparatus has a track with which the object can move. There is a carriage to carry the object along with the track. A clamp holds the object as it moves. An inspection zone is positioned on the track. There is a brake to stop the object moving along with the track at the inspection zone and the object is rapidly rotated in the inspection zone so it may be inspected, for example, by camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1982
    Date of Patent: February 5, 1985
    Inventor: Wun C. Chong
  • Patent number: 4487307
    Abstract: A pear orienting apparatus for receiving, orienting and subsequently feeding oriented pears with the stem-end lowermost to peeling and coring devices in a machine of the type described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,058,502 and 3,797,639 including a canted reciprocable shaker pan feeding singulated pears to at least one channeled lifter that tumbles the singulated pears over spaced divergent guide plates onto an inclined and intermittently gated delivery chute.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1982
    Date of Patent: December 11, 1984
    Assignee: Atlas Pacific Engineering Company
    Inventors: Konrad E. Meissner, Marvin F. Quay
  • Patent number: 4485911
    Abstract: A transfer machine for holding and moving work pieces from station to station for successive machining operations in which the work pieces are clamped to pallets disposed generally vertically. During loading and machining operations the pallets are clamped in a fixed relationship to guide rails but are moved between stations on anti-friction means in the form of rollers. Loading operations are conducted relative to an accurately located reference axis and a work piece is transferred to the pallet so that the location of the reference axis is accurate at each of the loading and machining stations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1982
    Date of Patent: December 4, 1984
    Assignee: The Budd Company
    Inventor: George Cameron
  • Patent number: 4483434
    Abstract: An alignment apparatus for positioning a substrate in a determined position comprises three rotating rollers having outer circumferences contactable with the circumference of the substrate at three different portions thereof. A first roller and at least one of the remaining rollers are driven to rotate the substrate in a predetermined direction. A holder holds the first roller and is displaceably biased toward the remaining rollers. A rotation inhibitor comes into close contact with a flat on the substrate when the substrate comes to a predetermined rotated position in which the flat and the first roller are in opposition to each other. The rotation inhibitor is provided integrally with the holder in such a predetermined positional relation to the first roller that as a result of the close contact with the flat of the substrate, the inhibitor can inhibit the holder from being moved in the direction for contact between the first roller and the flat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1982
    Date of Patent: November 20, 1984
    Assignee: Nippon Kogaku K. K.
    Inventors: Kenji Miwa, Noriyoshi Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 4482044
    Abstract: Apparatus for partially or wholly separating individual coils from batches of interengaged coils comprising supporting structure for receiving the batches of coils standing upright, columnar springs supporting the structure, vibrators fastened to the supporting structure, and controls for controlling the amplitude and frequency of vibration of the vibrators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1982
    Date of Patent: November 13, 1984
    Assignee: Mathewson Corporation
    Inventors: Howard E. Redman, Roger O. Snowman
  • Patent number: 4476997
    Abstract: A device is disclosed for separating, orienting and positioning axes including at least one operational flat. The device includes a static chute equipped with a wide bottom opening closed by a drawer which is moved with a back and forth motion from a withdrawn position in which it unveils a narrow opening which is large enough to enable the fall of a single axis onto rolling blades which are extended by descending ramps bringing each axis onto two bearing-sliding blades. The bearing sliding blades cooperate with two push plates, as well as a trap borne by the drawer, to produce the roll of the axis in the desired direction, followed by the slide of that axis without rotation to a selected position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1982
    Date of Patent: October 16, 1984
    Assignee: Regie Nationale des Usines Renault
    Inventors: Marc Lacroix, Raymond Bienvenu
  • Patent number: 4465111
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an improvement in an apparatus for filling like magnetic containers with a like measured amount of divided material product. The apparatus includes a magnet positioned adjacent to a portion of a path of magnetic containers in cooperation with product measuring devices. The magnet attracts the containers with divided material product contained therein. A vibrator is connected to the magnet for vibrating the magnet and a container attracted to the magnet to compact divided material product in the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1983
    Date of Patent: August 14, 1984
    Assignee: John R. Nalbach Engineering Co., Inc.
    Inventor: John C. Nalbach
  • Patent number: 4457664
    Abstract: An automatic wafer alignment station is disclosed for aligning a wafer having flats about its centroid with the flats oriented in a preselected spatial direction. The wafer is held by a vacuum chuck which is operatively connected to a motor driven carriage for controlled movement about an X axis, to a .theta. actuator carried by the carriage for controlled rotation about the axis of the chuck, and to a Z actuator carried by the carriage for controlled motion about a Z axis. An X capacitive sensor and a Z capacitive sensor are positioned near the wafer. An X processing and Z compensating circuit is responsive to the X and the Z capacitive sensor output signals and provides an electrical signal that has values which exclusively represent the position of the edge of the wafer along the X axis only over a predetermined angular range. Circuit means including an A/D converter and a microprocessor respond to the electrical signal and produce a plurality of corrective signals to the X, Y, and .theta.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1982
    Date of Patent: July 3, 1984
    Assignee: ADE Corporation
    Inventors: Neil H. Judell, Robert C. Abbe, Noel S. Poduje, Roy Mallory
  • Patent number: 4445679
    Abstract: Apparatus for transporting single flexible sheets having different rectangular formats in succession to an automatic device for further processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1981
    Date of Patent: May 1, 1984
    Inventor: Otto Bay
  • Patent number: 4441853
    Abstract: A device for orienting a disc having a flat portion formed on the outer periphery thereof, for example, a wafer for the manufacture of a semiconductor circuit element. The disc is guided and rotated by a rotatable roller and a drive roller which point-contact the outer periphery of the disc. The rotation of the disc is stopped when the disc has come to a predetermined rotational position. By this, rough orientation of the disc is accomplished. Subsequently, the disc is urged toward the rotatable roller and the drive roller. At this time, the drive roller is disconnected from a drive source and becomes a low torque rotating roller. Accordingly, precise orientation is accomplished without hampering the rotation of the disc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1983
    Date of Patent: April 10, 1984
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masao Kosugi
  • Patent number: 4438917
    Abstract: A device for feeding sheets from a supply station aligning the sheets in an X, Y and .theta. coordinates and then gating the sheet into a work station such as the transfer station of a copier. The device includes a pair of independently servo-controlled motors disposed on opposite sides of the sheet. Each motor drives a nip roller which transports the copy sheet. Sensors are disposed to generate signals representative of sheet position in the X, Y and .theta. coordinates. A controller uses the signals to adjust the angular velocity of the motor so that the sheet is squared and is gated onto the work station. The sensors and controller are utilized to measure different parameters associated with the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1981
    Date of Patent: March 27, 1984
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Donovan M. Janssen, John P. Mantey, Donald C. Roller, Lance A. Walker
  • Patent number: 4436479
    Abstract: A device is described for orienting intravenous needles or other similar articles having relatively long shank portions which terminates in bevelled or flat tips. The device has a fixture for supporting the needles at an angle to the horizontal and with the bevelled tip resting on a knife edge. A vibrator is coupled to the needle supporting fixture causing the needle to turn to its most stable position on the knife edge where the flat portion engages the knife edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1982
    Date of Patent: March 13, 1984
    Assignee: Joule' Technical Corporation
    Inventor: Archille Belloli
  • Patent number: 4428474
    Abstract: A rotating radial unit has bottle receiving recesses on its periphery for accepting bottles from a linear conveyor. A pair of elements are mounted on the unit adjacent each receiver for moving towards and away from the receiver. A belt runs around rolls that are on both elements so portions of the belt grip a bottle on each side when the elements are moved toward each other automatically. A motor can drive the belt to rotate the gripped bottle as it is transported on the unit. A sensing device controls the motor to start and rotate the bottle and to stop when a marker on the bottle is rotated to a preferred orientation or alignment so a series of bottles will be aligned identically as they are released. The elements are automatically spread apart to release the grip of the belt on the bottle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1981
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1984
    Assignee: Krones Aktiengesellschaft Hermann Kronseder Maschinenfabrik
    Inventors: George Gau, Erwin Pesold
  • Patent number: 4407627
    Abstract: An automatic wafer orienting apparatus comprising a first orienting device for driving and rotating a wafer thereby orienting the wafer while utilizing a peripheral edge and an orientation cut thereof as the guide, a device for disengaging the thus oriented wafer from the first wafer orienting device, and a second wafer orienting device for re-orienting the wafer by pressing a lateral edge and an orientation cut thereof against orienting members provided on a wafer chuck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1981
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1983
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Sato, Kei Takatsu, Junji Isohata
  • Patent number: 4386692
    Abstract: Apparatus is provided for automatically loading a cylindrical workpiece into a machining system so that the workpiece is presented to the system in a prespecified orientation, the cylindrical surface of the workpiece containing a number of perforations, indentations or like apertures. The apparatus includes a feeding system for placing the workpiece in an initial position upon an upwardly inclined guideway, and further includes a pin, mounted in an advancement system, for alternatively contacting the cylindrical surface of the workpiece and engaging one of the apertures to urge the workpiece up through the guideway. The pin applies a frist frictional force to the workpiece when it is in contact with the cylindrical surface of the workpiece, and structure included in the guideway applies a second frictional force to the workpiece which interacts with the first frictional force to rotate the workpiece until the pin engages one of the apertures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1981
    Date of Patent: June 7, 1983
    Assignee: The Cross Company
    Inventors: Heinz-Dieter Wenzel, Melville Hanson, deceased
  • Patent number: 4383601
    Abstract: A conveying system for bailed containers receives said containers after bail-application and with the bails supported in a substantially vertical manner advances the containers to and through a turning station. The container is first detected as to its presence on a conveyor belt and then by electric eye means a spot on the container is "read". If the spot is on the desired side no turning is performed but if the spot is detected on the opposite side the container is turned by raising a turning rail that engages the bottom rim of a container and causes the container to turn a half revolution. During turning the bail is maintained in an upright position by a magnet bar. The conveyors also may deliver bailed containers to a merge and stop unit having flow control means for delivering these containers in timed array to further processing, such as packaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1982
    Date of Patent: May 17, 1983
    Inventor: Raymond A. Heisler
  • Patent number: 4376482
    Abstract: A wafer orienting apparatus having inwardly biased rollers, spaced about the circumferential edge of a wafer in contact with the edge. Two of the rollers are spaced apart a distance less than the dimension of a primary flat registration edge and are mounted to follow the wafer edge upon rotation of the wafer. When a flat registration edge passes these closely spaced rollers they move inwardly, activating switches associated with a coincidence circuit. When both switches are simultaneously activated, the coincidence circuit produces a signal which stops wafer rotation, thereby orienting the wafer. The rollers are mounted so that they can be moved from the path of wafer travel after wafer orientation, permitting a queue of wafers to be oriented, one after the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1981
    Date of Patent: March 15, 1983
    Assignee: Tencor Instruments
    Inventors: William R. Wheeler, George J. Kren, David D. Clementson
  • Patent number: 4366896
    Abstract: A device for arranging hen's eggs in erect postures keeping their acute-curved ends below, which comprises; a plurality of passages which slope downward and through which the eggs are moved downwardly slantwise while being kept in longitudinal postures respectively; an endless driven member having a number of crossbars disposed in series at regular intervals, the crossbars keeping the eggs one by one and moving them downwardly within the passages respectively; a plurality of holders to prevent rotation of each egg; and a plurality of U-like shape groved members so that the eggs are turned to be directed vertically.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1980
    Date of Patent: January 4, 1983
    Inventor: Hiroshi Tomosue
  • Patent number: 4354588
    Abstract: A device for the correct angular positioning of fasteners such as buttons, rivets or the like in the tool of an attachment machine which has a trough-shaped guide rail for these fasteners arranged in front of the tool, the rail having a curved friction lining over at least part of the length of one side thereof and having, on its opposite side, a side wall which is spring-biased in the direction of the friction lining. A swingable slide is associated with this rail and pushes these fasteners forward which are provided with an indexing stop. A finger on the slide touches the indexing stop of the fastener in one position thereof. The pushing surface of the slide is disposed on the longitudinal center line of the feed trough, and the finger is separable from the slide and is arranged laterally of the longitudinal central line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1979
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1982
    Assignee: Schaeffer-Homberg GmbH
    Inventor: Gunter Wolfertz
  • Patent number: 4353276
    Abstract: An arrangement in sawing machines or like processing machines for the forward feeding and infeeding of work pieces, such as logs in particular, to the machine, comprising a stationary saw table which extends parallel to the desired feed line for the workpiece, at least up to the sawing machine, and at least two, individually drivable, endless feed chains which extend in vertical planes parallel with the feed line beneath the saw table. Each of the feed chains is provided with at least one dogging means which moves in a groove in the saw table. The groove is parallel with the feed line and common to all dogging means. The dogging means projects up out of the groove, above the surface of the saw table, in a manner to enable the dogging means to act on the rear end surface of a work piece resting on the saw table, for feeding said workpiece up to and into the sawing machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1980
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1982
    Inventor: Bo I. Ackerfeldt
  • Patent number: 4280612
    Abstract: A positioning device for setting a bottle at a predetermined angular position, which device is provided with a bottle supporting mechanism to support the upper end portion of the bottle and a mechanism which imparts relative rotary motion to the bottle and an engaging member or members being brought into engagement with the positioning spot of the bottle. When the engaging member is turned, the bottle is rotated to a predetermined angular position together with the engaging member after the spot is brought into engagement with the engaging member. In the case where the bottle is turned, the bottle is not rotated after the spot is brought into engagement with the fixed engaging member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1979
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1981
    Assignee: Shibuya Kogyo Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasuaki Nagano
  • Patent number: 4275980
    Abstract: An apparatus for automatically degassing a five gallon container commonly known in the beverage industry as a FIGAL is described. In order to open the lid of a FIGAL container it is necessary to first depressurize or degas the container since the lids of these containers open inwardly. The apparatus described herein automatically degasses and opens the containers which are moving substantially continuously along a conveyor. The FIGAL containers moving along a conveyor are sequentially transferred onto a ten station turntable. Associated with the ten station turntable is an indexing mechanism which rotates the containers to the proper orientation to achieve alignment between one of a pair of valves on the top of the container and a degassing socket which engages the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1979
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1981
    Assignee: The Coca-Cola Company
    Inventors: James C. Coots, Muir G. Howser
  • Patent number: 4269300
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for separating helical springs with knots at their coil ends, for mattress spring frames, in which the springs are moved upright and entangled in sliding guides by a conveyor belt against a stop. The lower coil end of the springs touching the stop is grasped by a gripping member. The stop is moved to an inactive position and the gripping member pulls the grasped coil end from the sliding guide by an amount equivalent to spring wire thickness. Then the stop returns to its active position and the gripping member pivots the spring by 90.degree. into a lying position where the far end of the coil is grasped by a spring turning member. The gripping member releases the spring and returns to the starting position. Then the spring turning member rotates the spring until the knot touches a stop. After release, the spring is grasped by another gripping member and passed on to the spring frame assembly machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1979
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1981
    Assignee: Spuhl AG
    Inventor: Walter Spuhl
  • Patent number: 4264268
    Abstract: An article (11) which has a body portion (12) and lateral protrusions (14) at fixed angular positions is oriented and centered with respect to predetermined axes. Sloped walls (61) of a plurality of channels (62) located about a central axis (24) engage lateral edges of the protrusions to urge the protrusions laterally toward desirable positions in relationship to the axes. The disclosed methods and apparatus are advantageously applied to a four-leaded electronic chip as a typical example of the article with respect to which orienting and centering offers desirable precision for handling such article during packaging operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1979
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1981
    Assignee: Western Electric Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Jack J. Monahan
  • Patent number: 4257151
    Abstract: An inspection station for FIGAL containers which automatically tightens the container valves during movement along a continuous conveyor is described. The containers are clamped in a rotary indexing mechanism which rotates the containers until a discrete opening molded in a top rubber skirt of the container is indexed on a latch mechanism adjacent the conveyor. A pair of pneumatically driven socket wrenches are then lowered onto the container and are rotated to tighten the valves. After a predetermined period of time, the tightening of the valves is discontinued, the next FIGAL container moves into the indexing mechanism, and the valves of that container are tightened by the pneumatically driven socket wrenches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1979
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1981
    Assignee: The Coca-Cola Company
    Inventors: James C. Coots, Muir G. Howser
  • Patent number: 4240032
    Abstract: In testing electronic devices having leads, difficulties are frequently encountered in transporting the devices to a test position and holding them securely while engaging the leads during testing. These difficulties are overcome in devices having an indentation in the body portion by engaging the indentation with a movable carrier pin. This pin pushes the device against a wall. In this position at least one lead of the device is arranged in a specific orientation with respect to the body portion. When the pin (and thereby the device) moves toward the test station, the lead contracts a ramp in its path. As the device continues to move, the lead travels up the ramp thereby pivoting the device into a position at approximately a right angle to the specific orientation upon the device reaching the top of the ramp. The lead is then engaged by a centering element which insures proper alignment for testing. After this alignment, the leads of the device are pressed by a plunger against the wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1977
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1980
    Assignee: Western Electric Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Everett C. Johnson, Arthur G. Naylor
  • Patent number: 4179032
    Abstract: An article, such as a light-emitting diode, for replacing a slide base switchboard lamp has polar characteristics. The article has a light emitting cap located at one end and a cylindrical slide base with two contacts located diametrically across the base extending from the emitter. Handling the articles for testing their light intensity and hue characteristics involves orienting them. The articles are first oriented longitudinally in a vertical direction and to face the emitter all in the same direction. The articles are then conveyed in sequence to a test station. An eccentric force is applied to the base through friction between the moving articles and a stationary ledge. The applied force rotates the articles into one or the other of two oriented positions in which the contacts on the base become located in a plane perpendicular to the direction of their conveyance. A preliminary test determines which of the two positions have been assumed by each article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1978
    Date of Patent: December 18, 1979
    Assignee: Western Electric Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Walter M. Artz, Charles R. Bauer, Paul W. Moyer
  • Patent number: 4169528
    Abstract: This invention relates to an apple orienting device suited to orient apples particularly those known as the Red Delicious variety and which are generally relatively long as compared to their diameter. The present orientor includes a pair of eccentrically mounted wheels, and represents an improvement over presently known devices. The orienter uses two eccentrically mounted wheels to aid in orienting the apples.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1977
    Date of Patent: October 2, 1979
    Assignee: Atlas Pacific Engineering Company
    Inventor: John H. Amstad
  • Patent number: 4164281
    Abstract: Spotting instrumentalities for turning containers traveling along a predetermined path on a conveyor comprising, at opposite sides of the conveyor, a pair of drive rolls and a pair of idler rolls, said pairs of rolls being movable linearly along said path and, while being so moved, rotatable about axes parallel to the vertical axis of the container, said drive rolls being driven in rotation to rotate the container and said idler rolls being freely rotatable and a positioning dog operable by engagement with the positioning element on the side of the container to stop rotation of the container at a predetermined position of orientation. The drive rolls are provided with traction elements adapted to slip when rotation of the container is stopped by the positioning element and the idler rolls are provided with guide elements adapted to be displaced laterally by out-of-round containers and/or irregularities in the surfaces of the containers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1977
    Date of Patent: August 14, 1979
    Assignee: A-T-O, Inc.
    Inventor: Edward A. Schnier
  • Patent number: 4122766
    Abstract: A machine for detopping fruits and vegetables, specially suited for the decapping of strawberries by severing the top therefrom, comprises an endless upwardly-inclined loop type conveyor mounted on a sub-frame which is in turn mounted on a main frame for horizontal orbital motion relative thereto. The conveyor consists of a receiving station section inclined to the horizontal so that already decapped product discharges against the travel of the conveyor, and a severing station section at a higher level than the receiving station section, a downwardly-extending discharge section and a return section. The conveyor consists of parallel rollers alternate ones of which are positively driven by pinion gears engaging rack members at the side, so that co-operating pairs will grip the tops. Only product that has been so gripped can be conveyed upwards by the conveyor and presented to a transversly moving endless band severing knife at the severing station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1976
    Date of Patent: October 31, 1978
    Assignee: Michigan State University
    Inventors: Richard L. Ledebuhr, Clarence M. Hansen, Richard J. Patterson
  • Patent number: 4110493
    Abstract: A system and method of coating the seam on the inside surface of a container is disclosed. The container is initially spun about an axis generally parallel to the seam. The seam of the container is engaged while the container is rotating to stop the container with the engaging means in registry with the seam. The interior of the container is coated along the seam while the container is stopped to provide a protective coating overlying the seam. If desired, a subsequent protective coating can be applied on the entire inside surface of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1975
    Date of Patent: August 29, 1978
    Assignee: Gerber Products Company
    Inventors: John H. Loveless, Claude T. Phillips
  • Patent number: 4103232
    Abstract: A device to facilitate electrical measurement, including step-and-repeat measurement of minute circuits on a semiconductor wafer by placing the wafer in a specific, angular and cartesian coordinate position with respect to a certain orientation of a disc-like pallet of somewhat larger diameter than the wafer. The apparatus includes a stack of available pallets, each having an indexing portion, arms to engage the pallet in turn and to interfit with the indexing portion, a translational motion device to move the arms and pallet to another specific location to receive the wafer, a controllable section device to hold the wafer and to rotate it about a vertical axis, and a further controlled guide device to move the arms and wafer in specific X and Y directions to a predetermined orientation. The device includes a connection between each pallet and an evacuating apparatus to affix the wafer to the pallet by suction when the wafer is released from the suction device on the orienting structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1975
    Date of Patent: July 25, 1978
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Sugita, Chiyohide Kon
  • Patent number: 4091939
    Abstract: A system for automatically locating barrels at given positions in store-racks with their plugs positioned at the tops of barrels, includes: a pair of rails which may be inclined, and on which barrels are to be placed; a pair of stoppers, each of which may be pivotally movable within a vertical plane and which are adapted to hold a barrel therebetween in their raised portions; a pair of position-adjusting guides positioned externally of the rails; a set of barrel turning discs rotatably mounted on a support which is movable up and down, and by which discs barrels are supported in rotatable relation; a plug-detecting-photoelectric-tube switch; a roller for measuring a maximum circumference of a barrel and the circumference of a barrel at the points of the barrel contacting rails on which the barrel rolls to the given position on racks; and a barrel-position-calculating control circuit. The barrels are of a beer-barrel type and the plugs are sealingly embedded in the shell of a barrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1977
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1978
    Assignee: Suntory Ltd.
    Inventors: Kunitami Shimizu, Yoshiro Kaisaku
  • Patent number: 4091726
    Abstract: Automatic registration apparatus for multi-color silk screening of elongated articles, such as writing implements, includes a carriage for rotatably supporting the articles with respect to the longitudinal axis thereof and magnetic means on the carriage for drawing a magnetically attractable index on the article, for example a pocket clip, so that a surface on the article is oriented in predetermined disposition with a pattern in the silk screen stencil. The carriage is also adapted to lift the articles from a high speed conveyor into contact with the silk screen stencil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1976
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1978
    Assignee: Joseph E. Podgor, Inc.
    Inventor: Howard R. Walker
  • Patent number: 4081072
    Abstract: An automatic conveyor system wherein identical carriers that have coaxial circular and non-circular surfaces and axially oriented pockets to receive articles to be moved from one work station to another, roll along track sections that connect the several work stations and, upon arriving at the successive work stations, are presented thereto in predetermined rotary orientation established by coaction between a surface thereof that is part of their non-circular portion, and an adjacent track section. At certain of the work stations the carriers enter transfer mechanism by which the carriers are tipped from axially horizontal to axially vertical disposition and back to the horizontal orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1976
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1978
    Assignee: Possis Corporation
    Inventor: Arnold P. Le Vasseur
  • Patent number: 4074130
    Abstract: A non-interlaced video camera has twenty four light pipes orthogonally terminated at its field of view, each light pipe having a lens at its distal end focused at a spot on one of a plurality of spinning, labeled bottles. For each of the spinning bottles, the vidicon camera output is quantized, stored, and compared repetitively, over successive cycles, with an 8-bit pattern of four digital "dark" bits followed by four digital "white" bits, a match indicating that a label edge has passed a sensing station several cycles previously so that the bottle may be stopped in a desired position following a settable delay. Video threshold and successive samplings ensure integrity of stored data; processing hardware is time shared; digital timing synchronizes processing with the vidicon camera; and a cursor aids initial alignment. Data which changes modulo 192 is stored in a preloaded memory (RAM) modulo 193, advancing data in each cycle group in a caterpillar fashion, in a last-in/first-out basis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1975
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1978
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Leonard A. Messman, Harold C. Wooding, Jr., Glenn C. Waehner
  • Patent number: 4072117
    Abstract: A machine for inserting a pouring spout at a precise, predetermined position on a canister wall, which machine consists of a first holding means that releasably holds a canister on a carriage that moves in a discontinuous manner through a series of work stations. At one of the work stations, the canister is temporarily released by the first holding means and captured by second holding means associated with a turntable that is rotatably positioned by means responsive to a control signal generated from scanning means at the work station, which sense the position of an indexing mark on the canister. After the turntable and the canister are positioned, the canister is released by the second holding means and carried by an elevator back to the carriage where the canister is held in the indexed position by the first holding means and continues through the remainder of the work stations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1976
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1978
    Assignee: Seal-Spout Corporation
    Inventor: Frederick A. Plaessmann
  • Patent number: 4056187
    Abstract: A machine for orienting generally tapered objects such as ears of corn and lining them up on a moving conveyor with their smaller ends uniformly forward, made up of a vertically reciprocating plate with a vertical face, a pressure plate with an opposed face biased toward the face of said vertically reciprocating plate and held in parallel relation thereto, a feed roller with a downward turning generally cylindrical face which feeds tapered objects between said vertically opposed faces, means to supply tapered objects one by one onto said downward turning face, and a conveyor below said pressure plate and vertically reciprocating plate to carry away oriented tapered objects while maintaining their orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1976
    Date of Patent: November 1, 1977
    Assignee: Carlo S. Ajero
    Inventor: Fortunato S. Ajero
  • Patent number: 4031709
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus to detect misaligned clay tiles in the chute of a tile-laying machine and realign any tiles incorrectly aligned. The apparatus is capable of being retrofitted onto existing tile-laying machinery as well as being incorporated into improved future designs. The apparatus is comprised of alignment sensing switches which in turn control solenoid operated repositioning levers. The levers realign the ceramic tiles such that they are properly positioned to avoid gaps in the tile field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1976
    Date of Patent: June 28, 1977
    Inventor: John D. Blankemeyer
  • Patent number: 4024944
    Abstract: A system for the alignment and orientation of disc-like objects having transport means to move the object gently onto a turntable and against an arcuate resilient stop to a centered position on the turntable; an array of non-contact sensors is advanced toward the rotational axis of the turntable until one of the sensors detects the edge of the object; the turntable is rotated until the sensors detect an indexing flat on the object; the sensor arrays advance and the turntable rotated until the sensors indicate the desired alignment and orientation of the object has been achieved. Logic circuitry controls the sensor and turntable positions automatically in response to signals received from the sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 1975
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1977
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Anthony Lionel Adams, Claude Dedmond Head, III
  • Patent number: 4016968
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for positioning an article to a predetermined position. The article is provided with a temporary orientation tab struck from the article; the tab eventually being cut off in further manufacture of the article. A reciprocating conveyor deposits the article onto a rotating slip-clutch driven mandrel to which the article is pressed by an overhead spring-biased holder. The mandrel rotates with the article until the tab on the article engages a stop on the apparatus whereupon the clutch slips and means on the conveyor clamp the article in oriented position, the conveyor lifting the article off the mandrel and advancing it to the next manufacturing station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 1975
    Date of Patent: April 12, 1977
    Assignee: The Continental Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald B. Stelter
  • Patent number: 4010842
    Abstract: A pear orienting machine which includes an inclined feed chute along which pears are fed. The chute has a plurality of friction strips applied thereto near the inlet end thereof and the friction strips are small in relation to the size of the chute, whereby pears fed to the chute engage the spaced friction strips and those pears which are properly oriented continue along the chute in their proper orientation, but improperly oriented pears are caused to turn and be properly oriented by the frictional engagement thereof with the friction strips. The size and location of the strips is such that the pears are not excessively abraded by the strips and the strips thus remain effective for their intended purpose for extended periods of time, with the result that very few pears are wasted and more efficient operation of the machine is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1975
    Date of Patent: March 8, 1977
    Assignee: Atlas Pacific Engineering Company
    Inventor: Laurence H. Smith
  • Patent number: 4007537
    Abstract: A registration system is adapted to operate with a conventional snap fastener attachment machine and serves to position a fastener having a logo imprinted on a surface in any one of a plurality of desired positions to assure that the fastener, when emplaced on the garment, will be positioned to enable correct orientation of the logo. The fastener is associated with a notch, which notch is coated by one of a plurality of finger members associated with the registration system. The coaction of the notch by the finger member serves to terminate rotation of the fastener and further serves to indicate to the operator that orientation is correct. The finger members can be selected according to the nature or configuration of the garment to permit a single fastening machine to accomplish fastener attachment and automatic orientation of the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1975
    Date of Patent: February 15, 1977
    Assignee: Rau Fastener, a division of U.S. Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Herbert M. Silverbush, Philip B. Jensen
  • Patent number: 3997781
    Abstract: A non-interlaced video camera has 24 light pipes orthogonally terminated at its field of view, each light pipe having a lens at its distal end focused at a spot on one of a plurality of spinning, labeled bottles. For each of the spinning bottles, the vidicon camera output is quantized, stored, and compared repetitively, over successive cycles, with an 8-bit pattern of four digital "dark" bits followed by four digital "white" bits, a match indicating that a label edge has passed a sensing station several cycles previously so that the bottle may be stopped in a desired position following a settable delay. Video threshold and successive samplings ensure integrity of stored data; processing hardware is time shared; digital timing synchronizes processing with the vidicon camera; and a cursor aids initial alignment. Data which changes modulo 192 is stored in a preloaded memory (RAM) modulo 193, advancing data in each cycle group in a caterpillar fashion, in a last-in/first-out basis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1975
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1976
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Leonard A. Messman
  • Patent number: 3997065
    Abstract: A device for positioning substrate wafers with a flat zone on their periphery comprises a support in which a tilting member is tiltably mounted by means of a pinion. The tilting member is provided with two rollers rotatably seated thereon for guiding a belt in the longitudinal direction of said tilting member. At least one of said rollers is driven by a respective drive means. A support track is arranged on the longitudinal side of the tilting member for receiving said substrate wafers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1975
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1976
    Assignee: Jenoptik Jena G.m.b.H.
    Inventor: Erhard Jaksch
  • Patent number: 3997780
    Abstract: A non-interlaced video camera has twenty four light pipes orthogonally terminated at its field of view, each light pipe having a lens at its distal end focused at a spot on one of a plurality of spinning, labeled bottles. For each of the spinning bottles, the vidicon camera output is quantized, stored, and compared repetitively, over successive cycles, with an eight-bit pattern of four digital "dark" bits followed by four digital "white" bits, a match indicating that a label edge has passed a sensing station several cycles previously so that the bottle may be stopped in a desired position following a settable delay. Video threshold and successive samplings ensure integrity of stored data; processing hardware is time shared; digital timing synchronizes processing with the vidicon camera; and a cursor aids initial alignment. Data which changes modulo 192 is stored in a preloaded memory (RAM) modulo 193, advancing data in each cycle group in a caterpillar fashion, in a last-in/first-out basis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1975
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1976
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Glenn C. Waehner
  • Patent number: 3992765
    Abstract: A registration system is adapted to operate with a conventional snap fastener attachment machine and serves to position a fastener having a logo imprinted on a surface in any one of a plurality of desired positions to assure that the fastener, when emplaced on the garment, will be positioned to enable correct orientation of the logo. The fastener is associated with a notch, which notch is coacted by one of a plurality of finger members associated with the registration system. The coaction of the notch by the finger member serves to terminate rotation of the fastener and further serves to indicate to the operator that orientation is correct. The finger members can be selected according to the nature or configuration of the garment to permit a single fastening machine to accomplish fastener attachment and automatic orientation of the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1975
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1976
    Assignee: Rau Fastener, A Division of U.S. Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Herbert M. Silverbush, Philip B. Jensen