US2468405A - Pottery ware transferring machine - Google Patents

Description

April 26, 1949- w. J. MILLER POTTERY WARE TRANSFERRING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Jan. 8, 1945 v HLIVENIOR. Vyzizzam d. MAC e1" BY (QWW/ T MJ 44 rTOP/vEYS April 1949- w. J. MILLER POTTERY WARE TRANSFERRING MACHINE Original Filed Jan. 8, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 705 6&5 $55 70 633 I INVENTOA'R. MM/d/W/M/kfi A TT NE Y.

April 26, 1949. w, J, MILLER 2,468,405

POTTERY WARE TRANSFERRING MACHINE Original Filed Jan, 8, 1945 s Sheets-Sheet a b, Mzl

INVENTOR- M'///'0/77//%///e/r BY I 3 W 2i Arro ga Patented Apr. 26, 1949 POTTERY WARE TRANSFERRING MACHINE William J. Miller, Swissvale, Pa., assignor to Miller Pottery Engineering Company, Swissvale, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Original application January 8, 1943, Serial No.

Divided and this application October 11, 1944, Serial No. 558,209

18 Claims.

This is a divisional of my application for patent S. N. 471,704, filed January 8, 1943, now Patent No. 2,407,321, issued September 10, 1946.

This invention relates to Improvements in fiatware transferring machine. It has to do particularly with the manufacture of ware such as jiggered dinnerware, for instance, plates, cups and saucers, bowls and the like.

The mass production of pottery ware by automatic machine and processes has involved a certain amount of manual intervention, particularly in the treatment and preparation of raw materials and in certain phases of clay, ware and mold transportation, manipulation and processing.

One of the objects of this invention is to place the manufacture of pottery ware on as near a fully automatic basis as possible all the way from the raw material stage to that of dried product ready for first firing. By substantially eliminating the human element in this respect, it is possible to remove handicaps which have heretofore interfered with the continuity, quality and rate of production.

Another and perhaps more important object of this invention is to provide for making simultaneously several different kinds of ware, that is to say, ware having differences in shape, size, decorative pattern or material and even composition by means of a single, unitary mechanical organization. This invention comprehends machinery capable of performing many and different steps, and combinations of steps in the manufacture of pottery ware some of which are conventional steps or operations and others of which afford new and improved ways and means of making pottery ware of this class.

The machinery of the present invention is so constructed and arranged that different sequences of operations may be performed at the same time and variations in the sequences and procedural steps may be made at will and in some cases while the machinery is in operation. Thus, insofar as production diversification is concerned, it may be varied from one which is highly diversified to one wherein substantially little or no diversification occurs. Thus, I provide in a single unitary installation the means of meeting the daily requirements .of the average pottery whether it be for large or small amounts of pottery of given shape or design and it is well known that these requirements may vary widely. particularly if the pottery merchandizes a large number of shapes and designs.

Instead of the intermittent fabricating system as illustrated in the patent to Miller No. 2,046,525, I propose to make the present system continuous, somewhat as shown in the application of William J Miller, Serial No. 413,734, now Patent No. 2,409,172, issued October 8, 1946, filed October 6, 1941. That is to say, from the beginning of fabricating operations to the point when the ware is removed from the dryer and therebeyond, the materials will move in continuous fashion whilst the various fabricating operations are performed. This makes for increased production speeds and raises the capacity of the machinery. Furthermore, clay is supplied to the fabricating portion of the present mechanical organization by a system and apparatus disclosed in application Serial No. 454,716, filed August 13, 1942, by William J. Miller, now Patent No. 2,413,330, issued November 31, 1946.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan View of the ware production system with certain unnecessary portions broken away.

Fig. 2 is a central vertical section of a rotary transfer machine of the system.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional detail of one of the transfer devices seen in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a sectional plan view of the machine of Fig. 2, as taken substantially on the irregular section line 4'-4 of said figure.

Fig. 5 is a detail vertical section taken on the section line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a detail plan section taken substantially on the section line B6 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is a motion diagram illustrating movements of certain parts of the machine of Fig. 2.

As illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. 1, the system includes an endless flexible mold conveyor 5! comprising a series of centrally open mold carriers or positionin rings 52 interconnected in equally spaced relation by flexible links or cable sections 53. The conveyor is maintained in a substantially horizontal plane while travelling continuously in a tortuous path about idler sprockets and rotary machines of the system by having outboard supporting rollers 54 riding on rails 55.

The molds for forming four types of ware are carried in the rings 52 in duplicate successive sets which, in the course of the conveyor, are brought into co-operative relation with a series of rotary machines indicated at 60, El, 52 and 64 designed to respectively condition the molds, treat molds for a certain method of ware decoration, treat molds for another method of ware decoration, further condition the treated molds and treat molds for engobing certain ware. These machines are selectively used.

The molds then continue to a series of rotary machines 65, 66 and 6! designed to selectively feed clay charges of similar or of different composition or conditioned clay bodies to the molds and puddle and partially form the charges correlatively with respect to the ware forming surfaces of the molds prior to feeding. The charge feeding machines may be supplied from an enclosed clay preparation organization R, designed to simultaneously and continuously prepare the various clay bodies desired from the various plastic and non-plastic materials required and selectively feed same to the machines.

After receiving the charges, the molds continue to a series of rotary machines indicated at H, 12, 16, 11, 18, 9!, 92 and 93 designed to selectively perform various forming, conditioning and decorating operations to produce the ware as more fully hereinafter described.

The molds then pass through a drier 95 for an optimum period to dry to leather hardness certain ware to be appendaged, such as cups or the like, which are then conveyed out of the drier at a take-off station E to a rotary machine 96 which transfers same from an upright position in the molds to an inverted position in co-operative relation with an appendaging machine 97, the transfer machine also being designed to fettle and smooth the ware prior to being transferred.

The molds are then returned into the drier and are conveyed past take-off stations F and G located along the conveyor course and are brought at predetermined points into co-operative relation, respectively with rotary machines 98 and 99 designed to transfer other types of ware, each requiring a different drying period, to suitable conveying apparatus Hill and I! arranged to convey the ware to suitable locations for further treatment. These machines are also designed to fettle, smooth and reverse or reposition the ware incident to transferring same, if desired.

Upon leaving the drier, the molds are advanced to a rotary machine I02 employed to reform thereon partly dried ware that may have become slightly distorted during drying and being especially of use as located, in an installation or an adaptation of the system wherein no type or ware is completely dried in the dryer. However, if the system is adjusted so that the ware leaving the dryer is too dry for the reforming operation, said machine IE2 or number of same may be disposed along the conveyor course adjacent one or each of the take-off or transfer stations E, G, and F.

From the reforming machine [62, the molds continue to another rotary transfer machine I03 co-operating with a conveying system [03a to transfer the various types of Ware that may remain on the conveyor to any one or a number of selected locations for further treatment, the machine being designed to fettle and smooth the Ware and reverse the position thereof if desired.

Upon leaving the transfer machine I03, the empty molds are advanced to a rotary machine I04 co-operating with a conveying system lMa to remove any one or all the molds of each set and transfer same to a suitable location for storage when changing the system over to the production of a different type or types of ware, or when damaged or worn molds require replacement for repair.

The next machine H35 along the course of the conveyor is also of the rotary type designed to co-operate with a conveying system 105:; for

transferring molds for a certain type or types of ware from one or more storage locations and placing same in the emptied mold carriers in any desired order.

The molds then continue to a rotary conditioning machine H36 designed to remove any foreign matter from the molds, and then continue to another conditioning machine lll'l employed to apply to all the molds, or only those which have just been placed'onthe conveyor, a conditioning medium, such as oil. The molds then pass through a conditioning zone I68 comprising a tunnel within which the air is suitably heated or otherwise conditioned to dry or otherwise put the molds in a proper condition as they return to complete another cycle of operation.

Generally, the machines are of the rotary table type, about the tables of which the conveyor meshes to remain in co-operative relation with each machine during a sufficient portion of its rotation to perform the various operations on the molds or Ware.

As seen in Fig. 1, a power unit its, such as a combination motor and adjustable speed reducer is employed to constantly drive the machines and mold conveyor in synchronism, through a power shaft l09a and suitable gearing I091; co-operating between same and the rotary machines I? and 93 which thus serve as driving connections for the conveyor at spaced intervals therealong and whereby the conveyor in turn serves as a driven connection for the rotary machines with which it meshes between said intervals. It is also contemplated that the conveyor and any number or all of the said rotary machines and idlers defining its course may be independently or collectively driven in timed relation.

Ware pieces may be removed at a take-off station, for instance F or G by machine N23 whose transfer and pick-up chucks will be contoured or adapted to fit the ware to be transferred thereby, as seen in Figure 2, and transfer them to conveyors 10311 which may be of the endless belt type,

The transfer machine we is designed to so cooperate with the conveyor system l03a, whereby any one or all of the various ware pieces may be removed from the mold conveyor 5! and transported in upright or inverted position to one or a number of different locations for further finishing operations preparatory to firing.

Referring to Figures 2 to 6, this machine includes a base or pedestal E338 supporting an upright hollow shaft 63! on which rotates a table 632 having in its periphery four equally spaced pockets 633 and grooves 634 therebetween to respectiveiy support the mold carriers and cable sections of the mold conveyor. On the table, central therewith, is a supporting drum 635 having adjacent each table pocket, a, vertical guideway 636 within which 'is reciprocably mounted upper and lower crossheads 631 and 638.

Each lower crosshead has a bearing 639, extending therethrough rotatably supporting a horizontal shaft 5% on whose outer end is secured a supporting head 6 31. On the head B ll is an offset angular bearing 642 supporting the trunnion 6&3 of a turret E44. Mounted on the turret to extend angularly therefrom about the axis thereof, in cluster-like arrangement, are four stems E5 35 supporting at their ends; respectively, vacuum pick-up chucks 646, 641, 648 and 649 for the cup, saucer, plate and'bowl pieces and which are arranged to be brought into operating position above the adjacent table pocket upon ad-, justment of the turret 644 on the head 64!. For holding the turret in adjusted positions, same may have a series of notches 656 adapted to be engaged by a spring-pressed detent 65! on the bearing 642 (Figure 3).

Each upper crosshead has an outwardly extended bracket 655 having an angular bearing 656 supporting the trunnion 651 of a turret 658. Radiating from the turret, like the stems 645 are stems 659 at the ends of which are transfer chucks 666, 66!, 662 and 663, formed to receive the ware pieces from the chucks 646 to 649 respectively, and which are brought into operating position, for this purpose, in co-axial alignment with the table pocket therebelow, by adjustment of the turret 668. This turret may be held in adjusted position by means similar to that employed for the turret 644.

By means of an idler sheave the mold conveyor is guided to mesh with the table 632 within a very short arch about its axis, as at the station I (Fig. 4), and as the molds are received in the table pockets 633, the pick-up chuck thereabove is caused to pick up the ware from the mold, as the chuck is lowered and raised by its respective lower crosshead. As the chuck continues with the table, and assuming that the were is not to be inverted when transferred, the chuck may be again lowered and raised through the table pocket at any one of four successive stations J, K, L, or M, of the table, and caused to discharge the ware onto any one of a lower series of four conveyors 661 arranged below the table tangentially about the axis thereof and adapted to convey the various types of ware to difierent locations for further treatment. These conveyors may be of the endless belt type mounted on a frame-work 668 and so driven in timed relation with the table, by suitable means, whereby the ware discharged thereon will travel momentarily with the pick-up chucks until they clear same. Thus, the ware so transferred would assume the same position on the conveyors 661 as they assumed on or in the molds, with hollow ware in upright position, and flat ware in inverted position.

The conveyors 661 may be of the endless chain type, if desired, provided with ware supports and so driven in synchronism with the transfer machine to cause the ware to be discharged onto the supports.

If it is desired to reverse the position of the ware when transferred, each lower crosshead would be caused to continue upward after being initially lowered and raised at the station I, whereupon the support head 64! carried thereby would be rotated 180 degrees to reverse the position of the opposite pick-up chuck thereon and then continue upward with the crosshead to its upper limit where the reversed ware carried by the chuck is picked up by the transfer chuck thereabove.

As the transfer chuck then continues around with the table, it may be lowered and raised, through reciprocation of its upper crosshead, at any one of the table stations J, K, L or M, and caused to discharge the ware onto any one of an upper series of four conveyors 669 similar to the conveyors 661 and arranged thereabove on the frame-work 669, whereby the ware would be conveyed thereon to the same location for further treatment, to which the lower conveyors are directed but in a reversed position.

The upper crossheads 631 are reciprocated by cylinder and piston fluid-pressure motors 612 carried on the drum 635 with adjustable stops 613 on their piston rods 614 adapted to engage end bearings of the cylinders to control the limits of movement of the crossheads. Each motor 612 is energized from a main fluid-pressure line 615 by way of a distributor 616, a flexible conduit 611 leading therefrom a four-way valve 618 and flexible conduits 619. The valve 618 for each motor is of the oscillated type provided with a springpressed operating lever 686 (Fig. 4) and secured to the upper end portion of an upright pipe 683 adjustable in bearings 684 and 685 of the drum and table to bring the valve lever into co-operative relation with either one of a set of four stationary cams 686 mounted on the central shaft 63I to respectively actuate the valve in causing reciprocation of the crosshead of its unit at the various table stations-J, K, L, or M.

The lower crossheads 638 are reciprocated by cylinder and piston fluid-pressure motors 699 carried by the table 632 with their piston rods 694 extending upward into connection with the crossheads. When a lower crosshead is operated to transfer ware to one of the upper conveyors 669 upon leaving the table station I, it is held in an intermediate starting position between the limits of its stroke by its respective piston rod having an arm 695 provided at its end with a roller 696 adapted to ride upon the edge of a stationary disc 691 on the central shaft, as seen at the left end of Fig. 2. When the crosshead is lowered at the station I, to pick up the ware, the roller 696 passes through an arcuate notch 698 in the edge of the disc 691 and momentarily rides upon the edge of a disc segment 699 to limit downward movement of the crosshead. As the crosshead continues upward to transfer the ware to its associated transfer chuck, the roller again passes through said slot and the crosshead is stopped at its uppermost limit by engaging an adjustable stop 166 on the inner side of the drum. On the return stroke of the crosshead, it is again stopped at its intermediate starting position by the roller engaging the disc 691, as may be more clearly understood by referring to Fig. '7 which comprises a developed view of the edges of the disc and disc segment with the path of the roller being indicated by the heavy dot-and-dash line N.

Each lower crosshead is confined to a lower zone of action when transferring ware to either one of the lower set of four conveyors 661 by being so reciprocated that its upward movement is limited by the roller 696 thereof engaging the under side of the disc 691, and its downward movement at any one of the table stations J, K, L or M is limited by the roller engaging an adjustable stop 16! carried by the table. To accomplish this, the timing of the lowering and raising of the crosshead at the table station I is advanced and retarded respectively to prevent the roller from passing upward through the arcuate notch 698 in the disc 691, as seen in Figure '7, with the path of the roller being indicated by the light dot-and-dash line 0.

The fluid motors 693 are energized from the main pressure line 615 by elements like those employed for the motors 612 and including a distributor 104 and four-Way valves arranged on the pipes 683 for adjustment therewith into co-operative relation with either one of four cams 166 arranged on the central shaft to respectively actuate the valves in causing reciprocation of the lower crossheads of their units at the station I and either one of the stations J, K, L or M, when transferring ware to the lower conveyors 661.

When the lower valve 105 of a transfer unit is positioned to be operated by one of the cams 106, the lever of its associated upper valve 618 is above the plane of the set of cams 686 and maintained in position to hold the upper crossheads elevated while the unit is transferring ware to one of the lower conveyors 661. When said upper valve of the unit is set to be operated by one of the cams 585, in transferring ware to one of the upper conveyors 669, the lower valve 105 is positioned to be operated by a cam 101 to cause reciprocation of the lower crosshead only at the table station I in transferring the ware from the main mold conveyor to the transfer chuck of the unit.

To enable the employment of a liquid pressure medium for the fluid motors, if desired, the exhaust ports of the valves 618 and 105 may bein constant communication with a waste line 108 by way of the pipes 683 and flexible conduits T09 co-operating between same and a distributor MB on the central shaft 53!.

The active transfer and pick-up chucks of each machine unit are vacuumized during the different periods required to transfer the cups to the various table stations J, K, L, or M by same being connected to a vacuum line H4 by way of a distributor H411 common to both, and three way valves H5 and H6 for the chucks respectively, mounted on the pipe 683 of the unit. The valve H5 is operated in accordance with the adjustment of its associated valve 618 by either one of a series of four cams "5a on the central shaft. The valve H6 is operated in accordance with the adjustment of its associated valve 105 by either one of a series of four cams "6a, when the unit is transferring ware to the lower conveyors, or operated by a cam H 62; when transferring ware to the upper conveyors.

The pipes 583 may be held in vertically adjusted positions by indexing means comprising a series of notches 683a arranged along the side thereof and adapted to be engaged by a set screw 6831; in the bearing 685 supporting the pipe (see Fig. 2).

When a pick-up chuck is in operating position on its turret, the service port of the valve H6 of the unit connects therewith through a flexible conduit H1, interconnected passages H8 and H9 in the crosshead 638 and support head 642 carried thereby and a passage 720 in the turret arranged to be brought into register with the passage H9 When the turret is rotated to bring the chuck into operating position. The passages H8 and H9 are maintained interconnected during rotation of the support head 642 on the crosshead by way of an annular passage 12! formed between the contacting bearing faces of the heads.

The transfer chucks 662 may be likewise connected with their respective valves H5, with the exception that the passage in each crosshead 63! would register directly with any one of the passages in the turret 658 carried thereby.

Each supporting head B ll is rotated 180 degrees during the intermediate portion of the upper range of movement of its respective crosshead 638, by its shaft 640 having a segmental gear 640d arranged to cooperate with a stationary vertical rack 6462) on the inner side of the drum 635. To hold the pick-up chucks in alignment with the molds and transfer chucks during the end portions of the range of movement thereof with their crossheads, on the side of each gear seam is provided a square holding block 6400 arranged to engage spaced guide portions MM along the edge of a vertical guide bar Mlle on the side of the rack 6413b.

In view of the many advantages attained by this transfer machine in transferring the various types of ware to any one or a number of treatment stations in inverted or upright position, in some installations of the system it may be desirable to employ similar machines at the take-on station F and G instead of adaptations of the transfer machine 95.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for transferring dinnerware comprising, a su port for carrying molds with dried ware thereon in a curved path through a were transfer zone, conveying means arranged at different levels for carrying ware away from said zone, ware transferring means at each level, one of which is operable to pick up ware from the molds'and deliver it to the other transfer means or to one of the conveying means, and means for I moving all of said transfer means in a curved path concentric with the axis of curvature of the support in the ware transfer zone.

2. Apparatus for transferring dinnerware comprising, a support for carrying molds with dried ware thereon in a curved path through a ware transfer zone, conveying means arranged at different levels for carrying ware away from said zone, ware transferring means at each level, one of which is operable to pick up ware from the molds and deliver it to the other transfer means in inverted position or to one of the conveying means in uninvertecl position and means for moving all of said transfer members in a path concentric with the axis of curvature of the support in the ware transfer zone.

3. Apparatus for transferring dinnerware and the like comprising, a support for carrying molds with dried ware thereon in a curved path through a ware transfer zone, a transfer member continuously movable in a circular path in said zone, conveying means for carrying ware away from said zone, means operable to lower and raise the transfor member adjacent the support to pick up ware from the molds, and tolower and raise the transfer adjacent the conveying means to deposit ware thereon, a second conveyor for carrying ware away from said zone at another level, a ware transfer member associated therewith arranged to receive ware from the first named transfer and deliver the ware to the second named conveyor and means for moving all of said transfer members in a path concentric with the axis of curvature of the support in the ware transfer zone.

4. Apparatus for transferring dinnerware and the like comprising an endless conveyor having ware supports for carrying molds bearing were into a ware transfer zone, conveying means for carrying the ware away from said zone, a rotatable table in said zone provided with recesses for receiving said ware supports, a transfer member above and in register with each recess and rotatable with said table, means for moving said transfer downwardly to engage ware on said molds and then upwardly to remove ware therefrom and then downwardly through a recess to deposit ware on said conveying means.

5. Apparatus for transferring dinnerware and the like comprising an endless conveyor having supports for carrying molds bearing ware in an arcuate path through a ware transfer zone. ware 9v conveying means for carrying ware away from said zone, a rotatable table in said zone provided with recesses for receiving ware supports, said table being positioned at a level above said conveying means, a transfer member above and in register with each recess and rotatable with said table, means for moving said transfer downwardly to engage ware on said molds and then upwardly to remove ware therefrom and then downwardly through a recess to deposit ware on said conveying means and means for moving said table and said endless conveyor.

6. Apparatus for transferring dinnerware and the like comprising a support for carrying molds with dried ware thereon in an arcuate path through a ware transfer zone, a rotatable table in said zone provided with recesses for receiving mold supports, conveying means for carrying ware away from said zone positioned below said rotatable table, a transfer member above and in register with each recess, means for moving said transfer member in a path concentric with the axis of curvature of the path of travel of the support through the ware transfer zone and means for moving said transfer downwardly to engage ware on said molds and then upwardly to remove ware therefrom and then downwardly through a recess in the table to deposit ware on said conveying means.

7. Apparatus for transferring dinnerware and the like comprising an endless conveyor having mold supports arranged for carrying molds bearing Ware in an arcuate path through a ware transfer zone, a rotatable table in said zone provided with recesses for receiving said ware supports, ware conveying means arranged above and below said rotatable table for carrying ware away from said zone and ware transfer means arranged to move in an arcuate path with the axis of curvature of the path of the endless conveyor in the ware transfer zone for removing ware from the molds and transferring some of the ware up to the level of the upper conveying means and some of the ware down to the level of the lower conveying means.

8. Apparatus for transferring dinnerware and the like comprising an endless conveyor having mold supports for carrying molds bearing ware through a transfer zone, conveying means for carrying ware away from said zone operating at a lower level than the endless conveyor, a rotatable table in said zone operating at the level of the endless conveyor and having recesses therein for receiving said ware supports, an angularly movable transfer member above and in register with each recess and means for vertically moving said transfer members to lift ware from the molds and carry the ware downwardly through a recess and deposit the ware on the conveying means therebelow.

9. Apparatus for transferring dinnerware and the like comprising, an endless flexible conveyor provided with spaced mold carriers for carrying molds to an emptying station, a rotatable member at the emptying station formed with peripheral recesses for receiving the mold carriers and moving with them for several degrees of the full circle of rotation of the member, a ware transfer device above each recess and movable therewith, a ware conveyor positioned at another level relative to tne level of the recesses and overlapping the of travel thereof and means for moving each ware transfer device upwardly to lift were from the molds whilst the mold carriers are in association with the recesses, and downwardly over 10 an empty recess to deposit ware on said ware conveyor.

10. Apparatus for transferring dinnerware and the like comprising, an endless flexible conveyor having spaced mold carriers for carrying molds to an emptying station, a rotatable member having spaced recesses for receiving mold carriers and moving with them for several degrees of the full circle of rotation of the recesses, a ware conveyor positioned at a level above and overlying the circle of rotation of the recesses, ware transferring means above each recess and movable therewith, and means for actuating the ware transferring means to lift ware from a mold when a mold carrier is in association with a recess and elevate and deposit the were on the ware conveyor when the recess is empty.

11. Apparatus for transferring dinnerware and the like comprising an endless flexible conveyor having spaced mold carriers for carrying molds to an emptying station, a rotatable member having spaced recesses for receiving mold carriers and moving with them for several degrees of the full circle of rotation of the recesses, a ware conveyor below the level of the member and in line with the circle of rotation of the recesses, a ware transfer member above each recess and movable therewith and means for raising the transfer member to lift ware from a mold when a mold carrier is in association with a recess and for lowering the transfer member to lower ware through the recess and deposit the same on the ware conveyor when the recess is empty.

12. Apparatus for transferring dinnerware and the like comprising, an endless flexible conveyor having spaced mold carriers for carrying molds to an emptying station, a rotatable member having spaced recesses for receiving mold carriers and moving with them for several degrees of the full circle of rotation of the recesses, a ware conveyor above the level of the member and overlying the path of travel of the recesses, an invertable ware transfer member above each recess and movable therewith, a second ware transfer member above the first ware transfer member and movable therewith for receiving ware from the first transfer member and delivering ware to the ware conveyor and means for actuating said transfer member as they revolve with the rotatable member.

13. Apparatus for automatically transferring potteryware from place to place comprising, a movable ware carrier, a ware pickup member adjacent thereto, rotatable about a vertical axis for removing ware from said carrier, a vertically movable ware pickup member thereabove for receiving ware from said first pickup member and rotatable about said axis, and means for elevating said first pickup member and turning it about another axis, to invert the ware removed from the carrier thereby and present the ware to the second pickup member.

14. Apparatus for automatically transferring potteryware from place to place comprising, a movable ware carrier, a ware pickup member adjacent thereto rotatable about a vertical axis for removing ware from said carrier, a vertically movable ware pickup member thereabove for receiving ware from said first pickup member and rotatable about said axis, and means for turning said first pickup member about another axis to invert ware removed from the carrier thereby and means for vertically moving said second named pickup member to engage and lift ware from the first pickup member.

15, Apparatus for automatically transferring potteryware from place to place comprising, a movable ware carrier, a Ware pickup member adjacent thereto rotatable about a vertical axis, a second ware pickup member above said first pickup member rotatable about said axis, means for rotating said first named. pickup member about another axis to raise and invert vware removed from the carrier thereby and means for moving one of said members relative to the other to efiect a transfer of ware therebetween.

16. Apparatus for automatically transferring potteryware from place to place comprising, a movable ware carrier, a ware pickup member adjacent thereto rotatable about a vertical axis, a second ware pickup member above said first pickup member rotatable about said axis, a gear for rotating said first named pickup member about another axis to invert ware removed from the carrier thereby and means for moving one of said members relative to the other to efiect a transfer of ware therebetween.

17. Apparatus for automatically transferring potteryware from place to place comprising, a movable ware carrier, a ware pickup member adjacent thereto rotatable about a vertical axis, a second ware pickup member above said first pickup member rotatable about said axis, a gear for rotating said first named pickup member about another axis to invert ware removed from the carrier thereby and means for moving one of said members relative to the other to effect a transfer of ware therebetween said pickup members each being formed with plural vacuum pickup devices shaped as between devices to co-operate with various forms of Ware.

18. Apparatus for automatically transferring potteryware from place to place comprising, a. movable ware. carrier, 2. ware pickup member adjacent thereto rotatable about a vertical axis, a second ware pickup member abovesaid first pick up member rotatable about said axis, a gear for rotating said. first named pickup member about another axis to invert ware removed from the carrier thereby and means for moving. one of said members relative to the other to efiect a transfer of ware therebetween. said pickup members each being formed with plural, vacuum pickup devices rotatable about an axis into and out of service position and shaped, as between devices to cooperate with various forms of ware, vacuum connections associated with each device and a source of vacuum common to all or them.

MILLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,461,222 Myers July 10, 1923 1,712,907 Stenhouse May 14, 192.9 1,887,211 Mortimer Nov. 8, 1932 1,906,604 Hutchinson May 2, 1933 1,987,336 Powell -enn mma- Jan. 8, 1935 2,198,068 Wadsworth Apr. 23,. 1940 2,359,432 McNamara "1'; Got. 3, 1944 2,359,433 McNamara Oct. 3, 1944

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