GB1313867A - Article transfer apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

1313867 Transferring bottles between endless conveyers BROCKWAY GLASS CO Inc 26 June 1970 31161/70 Heading B8A The invention concerns apparatus for simultaneously transferring a row of articles, e.g. bottles (not shown) between two positions. (1) in which the articles are disposed in a longitudinal row on a conveyer 43, and (2) in which the articles are disposed in a transverse row on a conveyer 44 moving at a slower speed. The apparatus comprises elongated parallel bars 60, 60 movable toward each other to simultaneously grip the row of articles, and movable away from each other to subsequently release the row, spaced pivotal arms 33 mounting the bars 60 for swinging movement in a generally horizontal plane and moving through a position of tangency with respect to the path of movement of the row of articles along the conveyer 43. Also forming part of the invention are variable drive means for moving the arms 33 at the speed of the conveyer 43 at the time of the position of tangency and for moving the arms 33 at a slower speed when the bars are above the conveyer 44, and means for moving the bars 60 toward and away from each other in timed relation with respect to movement of the arms 33 for gripping a row of articles at the conveyer 43 and releasing the same at the conveyer 44. Each arm 33 is carried at the extremities of respective L-shaped lever 25. The latter are pivotally mounted at their other extremities on a shaft 26 and are joined at their apices by a cross member 36. The latter is connected at 37, 38, to a cam follower which bears on a cam 41 carried by the shaft 26. This provides the necessary up-and-down movement of the grippers. Their horizontal movement is provided by the arms 33 which are mounted on vertical shafts on housings 31 at the ends of the L-shaped arms, and are connected by a linkage 46, 47, to a cam follower 49. The grippers 60, 60 (Figs. 4 and 8) are actuated by a pneumatic cylinder 74, the piston of which is connected to a rack member 76. This engages a pair of pinions 77, 77, freely rotatable on respective shafts 56, 56. The latter are in mesh with pinions 78 on shafts 71. Pinions 80, 81, on the latter are in mesh with shafts 63, 63, carrying the grippers 60. The initial spacing of the grippers 60, 60 may be adjusted by means of a series of mechanisms. Each of these comprises nuts 88, 87, which position a threaded member 85 carrying a rack 89 relative to a frame member 86. The racks 89 mesh with respective pinions 89 rigid with the shafts 56. In this way, links 64 and 70 are rotated with the shafts 56 to alter the spacing of the shafts 63, 63.