Abstract:
A mechanical automatic accumulating transfer machine for conveying work pieces which has a series of work piece supporting stations upon a frame, the latter movably mounting a lift and carry shuttle mounting a pair of parallel opposed longitudinal rows of lifting dogs pivoted automatically to an inoperative nonlifting position and in response to a mechanical sensing arm at each station pivoted to an operative work piece lifting position when said station is empty, and wherein opposed pairs of dogs are interconnected for movement in unison. Cam rollers on said dogs and in one row respond to a cam controlled by said sensing arm at an empty station to mechanically tip said dog to work piece lift position. Trip arms are arranged in pairs of rows on said shuttle, the arms being end to end, each connected to a lifting dog, so that when one dog is automatically pivoted to inoperative position, all dogs forwardly thereof are similarly tipped, and when one dog is tipped to operative position, all dogs rearwardly thereof are similarly tipped.
Abstract:
A declutching mechanism for use in a cycling conveyor-type feed system in which the workpiece being fed may be subjected to reaction forces due to a system blockage. A cam follower on a carrier member reacts against a cam surface on a slide member to resist normal reaction forces. When the reaction forces build up to a predetermined force, such as by a system blockage, a pivotally mounted slide actuator acting against a spring is pivoted so that the cam follower passes over the cam surface and the carrier member falls below the workpiece and is locked into a lowered position by the slide member. The work moving mechanism then continues past the stopped workpiece and continues on to the end of its travel for recycling.