GB1489180A - Apparatus for handling components - Google Patents

Abstract

1489180 Dispensing articles; rotary conveyers PLESSEY CO Ltd 3 March 1975 [19 Dec 1973] 58937/73 Headings B8S and B8A In apparatus for handling components a disc 32 has holes (40) formed therein in a spiral configuration, Fig. 3 (not shown), into which holes (40) the components may be fed from feeder means (2), Fig. 1 (not shown), and the components may subsequently be removed from those holes (40) by remover means comprising a head 42, the disc 32 being connected by a central shaft 34 to an indexing plate 36 which is rotated in order to rotate the disc 32 relative to the feeder means (2) or to the head 42 by one hole at a time. The indexing plate 36 has holes 41 formed therein in the same configuration as those in the disc 32, and rotational movement of the plate 36 is effected by means of indexing apparatus 62 which comprises a pin 70 (Fig. 5) which is locatable in each of the holes 41, the pin 70 being movable from left to right in a slot 72 and also being vertically movable downwardly against the action of a spring 74. When pin 70 is engaged in a hole 41 compressed air is fed through a passage 64 to move the pin 70 to the right and thus index the plate 32 (and thus disc 32) one position on. Compressed air then forces pin 70 downwardly and compressed air fed through a passage 66 causes pin 70 to return to its initial position where it enters the next hole 41 under the action of spring 74. The head 42 comprises an air passage (46) in a suction tube (44), Fig. 4 (not shown), which sucks the components out of the hole (40) in the disc 32 located therebelow, the head 42 being mounted on an arm 78 for both vertical and rotational movement relative to disc 32. In Fig. 1 (not shown), the disc 32 is represented by the numeral (4) and the indexing means (6) comprises an indexing plate (36).