GB1279940A - Device for transferring objects to a container in a leak-tight manner - Google Patents

Abstract

1279940 Glove boxes COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE 8 June 1971 [19 June 1970] 19433/71 Addition to 1230550 Heading B4Q A device for transferring objects from an enclosure to a container in a leak-tight manner through a feed tube the same diameter as the container opening includes a perforated, flexible sealing tape 14 which is fed from the exterior into the enclosure which is liable to be contaminated along a path which causes successive holes 18 of the tape 14 to pass in front of the feed tube 8. The device may be used in an installation for the transfer of nuclear fuel pellets between a glove box 4 which is contaminated or liable to become contaminated and cans 6 which are located within a clean glove box. The end of the feed tube 8 is attached to a guide plate 10 around a tubular passageway 12. The guide plate 10 is provided around the outlet of the passageway 12 with an annular shoulder against which the tape 14 is continuously applied by means of a film gate 16. A motor 24 actuates a drive capstan 26 against which the tape 14 is applied by a pressure roller 28. A bearing roller 30 carried by a rocker-arm 34 is capable of moving between a first position in which it maintains the tape 14 against the guide plate 10 and a second position in which it frees the tape. A programmer 40 when triggered manually starts up the motor 24, thus displacing the tape 14. When a pre-centering perforation 22 (of Figure 2) comes opposite a lamp 44 and a photoelectric cell 46, the cell transmits to the programmer 40 a signal which stops the motor 24 and actuates the mechanism 42 of the rocker arm 34. The roller 30 lifts, releases the tape 14 and inserts two pins 36 through two perforations 20 in the tape 14, one on each side of the corrsponding hole 18. During this action, the perforations 20 are accurately centred by the pins 36, the tape being moved to a slight extent if necessary. Transfer of the pellets can then take place. The programmer 40 is again triggered manually to initiate operation of the mechanism 42 which releases the pins 36 and re-applies the roller 30 against the tape 14, the motor 24 also being started up. When the perforation 22 referred to above comes opposite a second lamp 44<SP>1</SP> and photoelectric cell 46<SP>1</SP>, a signal is delivered to the programmer 40 which stops the motor 24 but does not operate the mechanism 42. The loaded can 6 can then be removed and a fresh can brought into position for a further loading sequence.