US3690436A

US3690436A - Inserter for putting objects in moving holes

Info

Publication number: US3690436A
Application number: US42014A
Authority: US
Inventors: Dennis E Mead
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1970-06-01
Filing date: 1970-06-01
Publication date: 1972-09-12
Anticipated expiration: 1989-09-12

Abstract

An inserter puts cylindrical rollers into the holes of bushings in a carrier disk that rotates between two grinding wheels for grinding the ends of the rollers. The inserter accomplishes this by feeding the rollers to a fixed inserting station adjacent the disk and thrusting the rollers pneumatically toward the holes in response to a timing device so that an air pressure differential created by a vacuum box on the other side of the disk forces the rollers into the holes. The timer is positioned rotationally ahead of the inserting station where the holes are normally empty and it includes a sender that directs an air stream against the disk along the hole path so that the air stream passes through each of the holes in succession, and a receiver that triggers the thrusting of the pneumatic inserter when the air stream passes through a hole. The timer is adjustable for timing the thrust with registry of one of the holes with the inserting station. The invention also includes many safety and convenience features and is adaptable to many sizes of rollers and disks, and many speeds of operation.

Description

Primary Examiner-Richard E. Aegerter Attorney-Cumpston, Shaw 8!. Stephens [57] ABSTRACT An inserter puts cylindrical rollers into the holes of MASTER REGULA TOR United States Patent [151 3,690,436

Mead 1 Sept. 12, 1972 [54] INSERTER FOR PUTTING OBJECTS IN bushings in a carrier disk that rotates between two MOVING HOLES grinding wheels for grinding the ends of the rollers.

[72] Inventor: Dennis Mead Cazenovia NY The inserter accomplishes this by feeding the rollers to 13035 a fixed inserting station adjacent the disk and thrusting the rollers pneumatically toward the holes in response [22] Fled: June 1970 to a timing device so that an air pressure differential [21] Appl. No; 42,014 created by a vacuum box on the other side of the disk forces the rollers into the holes. The timer is positioned rotationally ahead of the inserting station where the holes are normally p y and it includes a [581 Field 'si cilllllillilllIIIIII'iiiiib'fi'z, 209, 210; that ttttttt ttt tttt tttttttt tttttttt tttt tttt tttttt 51/215 R, 215 AR, 215 HM 215 p 215 H, the hole path so that the air stream passes through 145 each of the holes in succession, and a receiver that Y triggers the thrusting of the pneumatic inserter when [56] References Cited the air stream passes through a hole. The timer is adjustable for timing the thrust with registry of one of v UNITED STATES PATENTS the holes with the inserting station. The invention also 2,878,620 4/1959 Colehuff ..l98/22 includes many safety and convenience features and is adaptable to many sizes of rollers and disks, and many speeds of operation.

52 Claims, 15 Drawing Figures GRINDER PATENTEDSEP 12 m2 SHEET 1 F 5 PUMP H I6 14 GEAR 4O I BOX :2

42 37 47 VACUUM 5 n GRINDER 39 I9 |9 27 769 2 J r/ n 66 L T 44 I Ill m w @W F 36 49 7O 30 l 72 L [I j 'C MASTER REGULATOR BI PILOT VALVE J COMPRESSOR R 48 FIG- I INVENTOR.

DENNIS E. MEAD ATTORNE YS SAFETY ST SWHCHSEN PARTIAL INSERTION EJEC TOR PARTIAL INSERTION SENSOR VACUUM REGION /INS N6 30 s ON SAFETY STOP SWHCH [SENSOR FHWSHED 44 PARTS EJECZOR FIG- 2 HO INVENTOK DENN$ E MEAD ATTORNEYS PATENTEUSEP 12 m2 SHEET 3 OF 5 FIG.

' INVENTOR.

DENNIS E- MEAD BYWI FIG.4

AT TORNE YS PATENTEDSEP '1 2 I972 3.690.436

sum 5 or 5 FIG. l4

INVENTOR. DENNIS E. MEAD BYCUMMZZIIW A TTORNEYS INSERTER FOR PUTTING OBJECTS IN MOVING HOLES THE INVENTIVE IMPROVEMENT Grinders for grinding the ends of roller bearings have been fed by a carrier disk rotating on a horizontal axis and carrying the rollers in bushings or holes evenly spaced around the disk. Many different sizes of bushings can be placed in a carrier to receive different size rollers; different thicknesses of disks can be used; and different numbers of bushings or holes can be spaced around a disk. The rollers must fit closely inside the bushings, and for many applications, the bushings are not evenly flush with the radial surface of the disk.

Such machines work in a fairly hostile environment because the grinder normally uses a cooling liquid that is spattered about and contains considerable water which causes safety problems. The carrier can be driven at many different speeds, but the roller inserting speed has been slower than the potential grinding speed.

It is possible for a roller to be inserted a short way into a bushing where it will incline slightly from the axis of the bushing and extend outward from the side of the carrier. Such a partially inserted and angled roller cannot readily be cammed into proper position, and force applied to such roller either axially or in many radial directions will only jam it more tightly in place. If such a roller reaches the grinder, it can cause considerable damage.

The best solution to these problems has been manual .insertion of rollers into the bushings in the carrier disk. A man occupied with this task is soaked with the grinders cooling liquid, and has his fingers worn raw from the repeated contact with the rollers. He cannot wear protective gloves and achieve the feel necessary for ac curate insertion of the rollers. Generally, he works with both hands, picking up rollers and manually following along the moving holes as he twists and thrusts rollers successively in place. This is a slow and expensive way of inserting the rollers.

At least one device has been developed for eliminat ing such manual roller insertion, and this device is a mechanical simulation of the manual action. Generally, it feeds rollers from a flexible tube filled with rollers that is mechanically moved to follow each successive hole for a short arc of rotation. The different hole spacings and carrier diameters and speeds make such a device very complex and expensive, and it has fallen far short of optimum.

The inventive improvement departs from mechanical simulation of the manual operations and recognizes the possibility of inserting the rollers from a fixed station alongside the carrier. The invention includes an arrangement for pneumatically thrusting the rollers from the inserting station toward each successive hole, and for accurately timing each thrust, so that a pressure differential created by a vacuum box on the other side of the carrier is applied to the rollers to force them into the holes. The invention aims at rapid,'accurate, and consistent insertion, and it includes a readily adjustable structure for adapting the device to any size roller, hole-spacing, bushing-widths or disk size. The invention also seeks simplicity, economy, reliability, convenience, and easy adjustment and maintenance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The inventive inserter puts cylindrical objects successively into evenly spaced, closely fitting holes or bushings in a movable carrier. It includes means for supplying the objects to an inserting station arranged adjacent the carrier on the path of the holes. A sender continuously directs a medium such as air against one side of the carrier on the hole path in a region where the holes are normally empty, and a receiver on the other side of the carrier is aligned with the sender for receiving the medium when it passes through the holes. The sender and receiver are adjustable along the hole path and are spaced from the inserting station so that the medium passes through a timing hole as a receiving hole intersects and approaches registry with the axial peripheral extension of one of the objects ready for insertion from the inserting station. In response to the medium passing through the timing hole, a pneumatic device thrusts the insertable object toward the carrier in registry with the receiving hole to start the insertion; and a vacuum applied to the opposite side of the disk creates a pressure differential that forces the roller into the bushing. The invention also includes many safety and convenience features related to this general operation.

DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a preferred operating system for the inventive inserter;

FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of the placement of the components of FIG. 1 around the carrier disk.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the inventive inserter;

FIGS. 4 and 5 are fragmentary perspective views of a timing mechanism for the inserter of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of an air jet ejector for the inserter of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of the inserting station of the inserter of FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of a reorienting mechanism for the inserter of FIG. 3 for feeding objects to the inserting station;

FIG. 9 is a partially schematic, elevational view of an actuator for the re-orienter of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary perspective view of a partially inserted roller and a safety detector for the inserter of FIG. 3;

FIGS. 11 & I2 are partially schematic, partially cutaway, elevational views of a pneumatic piston for thrusting objects form the inserting station of the inventive inserter toward the carrier;

FIG. 13 is a partially schematic view of an alternative preferred timing mechanism for the inventive inserter;

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary elevational view of a pusher block assembly for the inventive inserter; and

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary plan view of the pusher block assembly of FIG. 14;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The invention illustrated in the drawings is used for inserting roller bearings into a carrier wheel or disk that feeds the rollers through a grinder for grinding the ends of the rollers. The invention is not limited to such a device, however, and those skilled in the art will understand how it can be applied to putting cylindrical objects successively into evenly spaced, closely fitting holes in many movable carriers or holders for various work processes.

As best shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, carrier is a fairly large wheel or disk rotating on a horizontal axis 11 to feed grinder 12. Motor 13 drives belt 14 to turn pulleys 15 for driving carrier 10 through gear box 16. Brake 17 is arranged coaxially with pulley 15 for stopping carrier 10 when necessary.

Carrier 10 has a plurality of relatively large, circular openings 18 evenly spaced around its periphery for receiving bushings 19 having an outside diameter to fit in openings 18 and various diameters of internal holes 20 for receiving objects or rollers 25. Bushings 19 are stocked in many sizes to receive rollers of various diameters, and bushings 19 are sometimes wider and sometimes narrower than carrier 10 for holding different lengths of rollers.

Generally, the inventive inserter pneumatically thrusts rollers successively toward and into holes 20 so they are carried by carrier 10 through grinder 12 to have their ends ground.

Rollers or objects 25 are fed along feed path 26 in axial, end-to-end orientation to a stop wall 27. A pneumatic pusher 28 pushes rollers 25 successively down an incline 29 to an inserting station 30. More details of the feeding and pushing of objects 25 to inserting station 30 are described below.-

A pneumatic thrusting means at loading station 30 pneumatically thrusts objects 25 from the inserting station toward holes 20 in proper timing with carrier 10. A timing device 37 is arranged rotationally ahead of inserting station 30 in a region where holes 20 are normallyempty for timing the thrusting of pneumatic device 35. Timing device 37 is described more fully below in reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, but generally it includes a sender 36 that directs a medium against one side of carrier 10 on the path of holes 20, and a receiver 38 on the other side of carrier 10 aligned with sender 36 for receiving the medium when it passes through holes 20.

Timer 37 is adjustable along the hole path, and is spaced from. inserting station 30 so that the medium passes through one of the holes 20 serving as a timing hole at the same time another one of the holes 20 serving as a receiving hole has intersected and is approaching registry with the axial peripheral extension of one of the objects 25 ready for insertion from inserting station 30. The receiver 38 of timing mechanism 37 is arranged to control the pneumatic thruster 35 so that when the insertable object 25 is thrust toward carrier 10 in response to the medium reaching receiver 38, insertable object 25 registers with a receiving hole 29 and is forced into such hole by an air pressure differential.

A vacuum box closely adjacent carrier 10 opposite inserting station 30 and pneumatic thruster 35 is evacuated by vacuum pump 50 to place a length of the hole path under vacuum to produce the pressure differential that forces insertable objects 25 into holes 20.

More details of vacuum device 40 are best shown in FIG. 3. r

For several reasons, including dirt particles and small variations in sizes and spacing, it is possible for an object 25 to be only partially inserted into hole'20 and to extend outward from carrier 10 for most of the length of the object, usually with the object drooped or inclined relative to the axis of bushing 19. Such a partially inserted object cannot readily be cammed or forced into its hole 20, and it would cause much damage if it reached grinder 12 in such condition. Hence, such a partially inserted object 25 is preferably sensed and ejected according to the invention.

A sensor 41 is arranged rotationally beyond vacuum box 40 along the same side of carrier 10 as inserting station 30. for sensing the presence of a partially inserted object 25. An air jet ejector 42 opposite sensor 41 is responsive to sensor 41 for blowing a forceful blast of air into the hole 20 containing the partially inserted object 25 for blowing such object out of its hole and into a reject container 43. More details of sensor 41 and ejector 42 are shown in FIGS. 3, 6 and 10.

A finished part ejector 47 powered by compressor 48 is arranged rotationally beyond grinder 12 for blowing ground objects 25 out of their holes 20 and into a finished part container 49.

Safety stop switches 44 and 45 are preferably arranged in association with power supply 46 for stopping motor 13 and applying brake 17 to stop carrier 10 quickly upon detecting a malfunction. Safety switch 44 is rotationally beyond ejector 47 and rotationally ahead of timing device 37 to detect any object 25 partially ejected and extending from a hole 20 where no object should normally be. Switch 44 will stop carrier 10 before such partially ejected object 25 reaches the inserter mechanism. Switch 45 is rotationally beyond ejector 42 and rotationally ahead of grinder 12 to detect any partially inserted object 25 that escapes past ejector 42 and to stop carrier 10 before such partially inserted object can reach grinder 12. I

' Except for

safety switches

44 and 45, the components of the inventive inserter are all preferably pneumatic for simplicity, effectiveness, and reliable operation in the environment of grinder 12. A preferred embodiment of a pneumatic power system for such components is schematically illustrated in FIG.

A vacuum pump 50 evacuates vacuum box 40 through line 130, and compressor 48 provides high pressure air in line 51 supplying the control system and line 52 powering'the finished parts ejector 47. This relatively high pressure air is directed through line 53 to pilot valve 54 and through line 51 to master regulator 55 that reduces and regulates the pressure for the control system fed by line 57.

A needle valve 56 controls the flow of air from line 57 for sender 36 of timer device 37, so that sender 36 directs a relatively small air stream against the side of carrier 10 along the path of holes 20. When this air stream passes through a hole 20 it causes receiver 38 to open a normally closed interface valve 58 in line 57 to let higher pressure air pass through line 59 to pneumatic thruster 35 for thrusting an object 25 toward a receiving hole 20.

Opening of valve 58 admits regulated air to several other downstream components. An alternative pneumatic thruster 60 is powered through valve 58 and line 61 by air controlled by secondary regulator 62, and thruster 60 includes a pneumatically operated piston for thrusting objects 25 toward carrier 10. Thruster 60 is preferably used for relatively larger objects 25, and thruster 35, formed as an air jet, is preferred for relatively smaller objects 25.

Lines

59 and 61 are preferably flexible to allow easy interchanging between

thrusters

35 and 60.

Pusher 28 is also powered by opening of valve 58 to admit air through line 63 to a quick-exhaust, checkvalve 64 and through line 65 to a pneumatic piston 66. A needle valve 67 controls the air flow in line 63 to pusher 28, and a normally closed interface valve 68 is held open by pneumatic sensor 39. Valve 68 shuts off the air in line 63 if the air stream from pneumatic sender 69 of sensor 39 is interrupted by a collection of objects 25 on incline 29 so that receiver 70 does not sense the air stream and cannot hold valve 68 open. Pneumatic air jet sender 69 is powered from air line 57 through needle valve 72 and line 71.

Another needle valve 74 controls air flow from line 57 and admits it to line 73 to power pneumatic sensor 41 having a sender jet 75 and a receiver 76 coupled through line 77 to a normally open interface valve 78. Valve 78 is held closed as long as the air jet between sender 75 and receiver 76 is unbroken, but when a partially inserted object 25 interrupts this air stream, valve 78 opens to admit air through line 79 to the trigger 80 of pilot valve 54. This opens pilot valve 54 to admit a very high pressure blast of air into line 8l so ejector 42 can blow the partially inserted object out of its hole and into reject container 43.

The pneumatic system schematically illustrated in FIG. 1 can be partially manifolded and can have adjustable and regulated components as generally known. Also, those skilled in the art will appreciate that electric or electronic sensing and control components can be substituted for some of the pneumatic components. For example, pneumatic sensors can be replaced by micro-switches or photo-responsive devices, and the pneumatic interface valves can be replaced by electrically controlled valves or fluid switching means.

FIG. 13 shows a fragment of such a substitution in the general system of FIG. 1. A source of electric power 121 energizes lamp 122 to direct a light beam medium against the side of carrier 10, and the receiver of the light medium is a photo-responsive element 123 arranged opposite lamp 122. Photo-responsive element 123 is arranged to open valve 124 electrically to admit air from line 57 to line 59. Electrically operated valve 124 is thus a substitute for pneumatic interface valve 58 of FIG. 1. Similar substitutions can be made at other points in the inventive system.

Some'of the preferred details for feeding and pushing objects 25 to inserting station 30 are best shown in FIGS. 3, 7, 8 and 9. Available equipment can feed objects 25 in axial, end-to-end orientation along feed path 26 as illustrated. Feed path 26 has sides or guide rails 82 that are adjustable in width by bolts 83 in slots 84 and in length by set screws 85 in slots 86. Objects 25 slide along groove 87 on feed path 26, and side rails 82 are preferably spaced close to the sides of advancing rollers 25 which are preferably under a mild pressure or head from the feeding mechanism (not shown).

At the end of feed path 26, the leading ends of rollers 25 engage a stop wall 27 and come to rest. Pressure from the rollers behind the lead roller is sufficient to hold each successive roller 25 against stop wall 27 until it is pushed down incline 29 by pusher 28.

Pusher 28 includes a pneumatic piston 66 powered by air in line 65 as previously described, each time valve 58 is opened by the timing mechanism. Hence, each time pneumatic thruster 35 operates, piston 66 pushes one roller 25 down incline 29 to inserting station 30.

The invention includes the discovery of the importance of accurate feeding and pushing of rollers 25 down incline 29 to inserting station 30. Also, since the inventive inserter is preferably capable of handling many different sizes of rollers, pusher 28 is preferably readily adjustable. Pneumatic piston 66 is preferably coupled to rocking arm 88 that is pivoted on axis 89. A set screw coupler 90 is movable up and down the lower curved end of rocking arm 88 to couple piston 66 to various points along arm 88 to vary the stroke of pusher 28. The stroke of pusher 28 is preferably set to the approximate diameter of the rollers being fed.

A slide 91 is moved back and forth by the upper end of rocking arm 88, and slider 91 carries a coupling lip under which pusher blocks 93 are removably arranged. As best shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, one or more pusher blocks 93 are selected to equal the total axial length of the particular rollers 25 being fed, and such pusher blocks 93 are arranged next to each other under coupling lip 92. A small collection of pusher blocks 93 of different widths then allows easy assembly of one integrated pusher made up of several blocks 93 and having almost precisely axial length of the rollers being fed. This allows even and accurate pushing throughout the length of each roller to direct each roller straight and clean down incline 29.

For further accuracy, sidewall 94 of incline 29 is ad'- justable by set screw 95 in slot 96 as best shown in FIG. 8, to set the width of incline 29 to the axial length of rollers 25. Also, the guide rail 82 next to pusher blocks 93 terminates in a foot 97 set in free sliding contact with pusher blocks 93 by set screw 85, and a movable wall 98 is set by screw 99 to close any gap between the other guide rail 82 and adjustable side wall 94 of incline 29.

Pneumatic air jet sender 69 and receiver 70 of sensor 39 are directed across incline 29 to shut off the air to pusher 28 if rollers collect and build up on incline 29 as previously described. Other sensing devices can be substituted for sensor 39.

Some of the details of inserting station 30 and thrusting

devices

35 and 60 are best shown in FIGS. 3, 7 and 8. A groove 100 is formed in the bottom of inserting station 30 in axial alignment with bushings l9, and spaced from the sloping ends of the sidewalls of incline 29. A stop wall 101 is adjustably positioned by set screw 102 in slot 103 relative to groove 100 for different diameter rollers so that each size roller resting in groove 100 just touches stop wall 101. The bed of inserting station 30 is also preferably adjustable relative to carrier 10 so that the edge of inserting station 30 can be set at an optimum position relative to the bushings 19 of different diameters and widths of carriers 10.

Pneumatic thruster 35 is a simple air jet clamped in holder 104 in alignment with groove 100 and preferably adjustable to direct an air blast against the through a flexible line 61 and is interchangeable with thruster 35 in holder 104.

A simple, preferred way of constructing thruster 60 is shown in FIGS. 11 and 12. Air tube 106 receives air pressure through line 61 when air valve 58 opens as previously described, and such air pressure pushes piston 107 against object 25 as illustrated. A bar 109 rides in a slot in tube 106 to limit the forward thrust of piston 107. Piston 107 is tapered as illustrated so that in a thrust-forward position, it leaves an air opening around the end of tube 106 that allows aire to escape from tube 106 and flow around piston 107 and object 25 to help urge objects 25 toward carrier 10.This is especially advantageous with larger rollers 25 that are heavier and harder to move toward holes 20.

Vacuum box 40 is best illustrated in FIG. 3. It includes a housing 110 adjustably positioned on base plate 135 to be close to the side of carrier and supported in a slightly spaced relation from carrier 10 by wheel 111 mounted on housing 110 to ride on the surface of'carrier 10. An opening 112 in the face of housing 110 follows the path of holes 20 in carrier 10 to subject such path to a vacuum tending to draw objects 25 into holes 20. A stop bar 113 is arranged in opening 112 to follow the path of holes 20 for stopping the movement of objects 25 toward housing 110. This prevents drawing of objects 25 into or against housing 110 any further than stop bar 113. An object 25 successfully started into an opening 20'by the inventive inserter is normally forced fully into hole 20 by the pressure differential between the ends of the roller, created by the low pressure produced by vacuum box 40.

Sensor 41 and ejector 42 are best shown in FIGS. 3, 6, and 10. An air jet 75 and receiver 76 are arranged on the inserting side of carrier 10 to operate valve 78 which triggers pilot valve 54 to produce an air. blast from ejector 42 for any partially inserted object passing by vacuum box 40, all as previously described. Sender 75 and receiver 76 are preferably set at an angle relative to the path of holes 20 as illustrated, so that any partially inserted object 25 passes obliquely through the air stream and affords ample opportunity for interrupting such stream to produce a blast from ejector 42. Ejector 42 is adjustably clamped in holder 114 on top of vacuum box 40 so that ejector 42 can be accurately aligned with holes 20. Reject container 43 preferably guides rejected objects 25 to a place where they can be refed to the inserter.

Timing device 37 is best shown in FIGS. 4 5. Timing device 37 includes air jet sender 36 and receiver 38 aligned with each other on opposite sides of carrier 10 as previously described.- The lateral space between sender 36 and receiver 38 is adjustable by wing nut 115 in slot 1 16 in plate 125 carrying 'sender 36, and the vertical position of plate 117 carrying both sender 36 and receiver 38 is adjustable by wing nut 118 in slot 119 in plate 120 fixed to the base of vacuum box 40. Sender jet 36 is generally arranged below vacuum box 40. Vertical adjustment of plate 117 allows precise timing of the pneumatic thrusting of objects 25 into holes 20 by adjusting the distance between inserting station and timer 37, and horizontal adjustment of plate 125 accommodates different widths of carriers 10 and bushings 19. Previously described safety switch 44 is carried on plate 125 as illustrated.

In operation, all the adjustable parts of the inventive inserter are set for the diameter and length of the objects to be inserted, and the components of the inserter are properly spaced from carrier 10 and aligned with holes 20. A head of objects 25 is fed to pusher 28, carrier 10 is rotated, and grinder 12 is turned on. Then, with the pneumatic system in operation, timer 37 detects an empty hole 20 and causes a pneumatic thruster or 60 to operate at inserting station 30 lf adjustmentsand alignments have been properly made, rollers 25 will be thrust successively toward holes 20, and consistently forced into holes 20 by the pressure differential created by the vacuum. The occasional roller 25 that is only partially inserted into a bushing 19 is detected by sensor 41 and ejected by a blast from ejector 42 into reject container 43. Any partially inserted roller escaping ejector 42 is detected by switch which stops carrier 10. Meanwhile, grinder 12 grinds the ends of rollers 25, and finished parts ejector 47 ejects the ground rollers from carrier 10. If ejector 47 fails to fully eject a roller, this is detected by switch 44 which stops carrier 10.

Those skilled in the art will understand how the inventive device can beapplied to other loading situations in which cylindrical objects are to be inserted successively into evenly spaced holes. Also, those experienced in the art will appreciate that different sensors and control devices can be substituted for the preferred pneumatic system illustrated.

Persons wishing to practice the invention should remember that other embodiments and variations can be adapted to particular circumstances. Even though one point of view is necessarily chosen in describing and defining the invention, this should not inhibit broader or related embodiments going beyond the semantic orientation of this application but falling within the spirit of the invention. For example, the inventive device can be used to feed different cylindrical objects into different holders or carriers and can be adapted to fit many object-inserting circumstances as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art.

Iclaim:

1. An inserter comprising:

a. a movable carrier having evenly spaced holes;

b. an inserting station arranged adjacent said carrier on the path of said holes;

c. means for successively supplying to said inserting station cylindrical objects closely fitting said holes for insertion into said holes in said carrier;

(1. a sender for continuously directing a medium against one side of said carrier on said hole path in a region where said holes are normally empty;

e. a receiver on the other side of said carrier aligned with said sender for receiving said medium when it passes through said holes;

f. means for adjusting the position of said sender and receiver along said hole path;

g. said sender and receiver being spaced from said inserting station so that said medium passes through a timing one of said holes as a receiving one of said holes intersects and approaches registry with the axial peripheral extension of one of said objects ready for insertion from said inserting station; and

h. pneumatic means responsive to said medium passing through said timing hole for thrusting said insertable object toward said carrier in registry with said receiving hole to eflect said insertion.

2. The inserter of claim 1 including a vacuum box arranged closely adjacent said carrier on the side opposite said pneumatic means, said vacuum box being arranged for creating a pressure differential along a length of said hole path to force said insertable object into said receiving hole.

3. The inserter of claim 2 wherein said vacuum box includes a stop means limiting the travel of said insertable object toward said vacuum box.

4. The inserter of claim 2 wherein a wheel is mounted on said vacuum box to roll against said carrier for maintaining a predetermined spacing between said carrier and said vacuum box.

5. The inserter of claim l wherein said pneumatic means comprises a nozzle for directing air against said insertable object.

6. The inserter of claim 1 wherein said pneumatic means includes a pneumatically driven piston for thrusting said insertable objects toward said receiving hole.

7. The inserter of claim 6 wherein said pneumatic means includes an air tube and said piston is loosely restrained in the end of said air tube so that air pressure in said tube pushes said piston against said insertable object, and air flows out of said tube around said piston and said insertable object.

8. The inserter of claim 1 wherein said sender is a jet, said medium is an air stream, and said receiver controls said pneumatic thrusting.

9. The inserter of claim 8 wherein said receiver comprises an air tube extending from said air stream to said inserting station and arranged so the force of said air stream in said tube is directed against said insertable object at said inserting station to accomplish said thrusting.

10. The inserter of claim 8 wherein said receiver comprises an air tube extending from said stream to said inserting station, and a pneumatically driven piston is arranged in said tube for thrusting said insertable objects toward said receiving hole.

11. The inserter of claim 10 wherein said piston is loosely restrained in the end of said air tube so that air pressure in said tube pushes said piston against said insertable object, and air flows out of said tube around said piston and said insertable object.

12. The inserter of claim 8 including a vacuum box arranged closely adjacent said carrier on the side opposite said pneumatic means, said vacuum box being arranged for creating a pressure differential along a length of said hole path to force said insertable object into said receiving hole.

13. The inserter of claim 12 wherein said vacuum box includes a stop means limiting the travel of said insertable object toward said vacuum box.

14. The inserter of claim 12 wherein a wheel is mounted on said vacuum box to roll against said carrier for maintaining a predetermined spacing between said carrier and said vacuum box.

15. The inserter of claim 12 wherein said receiver comprises an air tube extending from said air stream to said inserting station to accomplish said thrusting.

16. The inserter of claim 12 wherein said receiver comprises an air tube extending from said air stream to said inserting station, and a pneumatically driven piston is arranged in said'tube for thrusting said insertable objects toward said receiving hole.

17. The inserter of claim 16 wherein said piston is loosely restrained in the end of said air tube so that air pressure in said tube pushes said piston against said insertable'object, and air flows out of said tube around said piston and said insertable object.

18. The inserter of claim 1 wherein said sender is a light source, said medium is light, and said receiver is a photo-responsive device arranged to control said pneumatic thrusting.

19. The inserter of claim 1 wherein said pneumatic means includes an air line leading to said inserting station, and a valve is arranged in said air line to be operated by said receiver.

20. The inserter of claim 19 wherein said sender is a light source, said medium is light, and said receiver is a photo-responsive device arranged to control said valve electrically.

21. The inserter of claim 19 wherein said sender is a jet, said medium is an air stream, and said valve is a pneumatic interface valve controlled by said receiver.

22. The inserter of claim 21 wherein said pneumatic means comprises a nozzle for directing air from said air line against said insertable object.

23. The inserter of claim 21 wherein said pneumatic means includes a pneumatically driven piston for thrusting said insertable objects into said receiving hole.

24. The inserter of claim 23 wherein said pneumatic means includes an air tube, and said piston is loosely restrained in the end of said air tube so that air pressure in said tube pushes said piston against said insertable object, and air flows out of said tube around said piston and said insertable object.

25. The inserter of claim 21 including a vacuum box arranged closely adjacent said carrier on the side opposite said pneumatic means, said vacuum box being arranged for creating a pressure differential along a length of said hole path to force said insertable object into said receiving hole.

26. The inserter of claim 25 wherein said vacuum box includes a stop means limiting the travel of said insertable object toward said vacuum box.

27. The inserter of claim 25 wherein a wheel is mounted on said vacuum box to roll against said carrier for maintaining a predetermined spacing between said carrier and said vacuum box.

28. The inserter of claim 1 wherein said carrier is a rotating disk, and said holes are formed by bushings arranged in said disk.

29. The inserter of claim 28 including a motor for rotating said disk, a brake for stopping said disk, and means rotationally ahead of said inserting station for ejecting said objects from said disk after processing.

30. The inserter of claim 29 including a sensor arranged rotationally beyond said ejector and rotationally ahead of said sender and receiver for detecting an object in one of said holes, and means responsive to said sensor for stopping said motor and applying said brake.

31. The inserter of claim 29 including a sensor arranged rotationally beyond said inserting station for detecting an object partially inserted into one of said holes, and means responsive to said sensor for stopping said motor and applying said brake.

32. The inserter of claim 1 including means for sensing a partially inserted one of said objects in said carrier, and an air jet ejector arranged for blowing said partially inserted object out of said hole in response to said sensing.

33. The inserter of claim 32 wherein said ejector is on the side of said carrier opposite said inserting station, and said sensor is arranged on the same side of said carrier as said inserting station.

34. The inserter of claim 32 wherein said sensor comprises a pneumatic air stream sensor.

35. The inserter of claim 34 including a relatively low pressure air line having a pneumatic interface valve operated by said sensor, and a relatively high pressure air line leading to said ejector and having a pilot valve operated by said interface valve.

36. The inserter of claim 1 including means for feeding said objects along a feed path in axial, end-to-end orientation to a stop wall, an incline leading to a right angle to said feed path from said stop wall down to said inserting station, and means for pushing said objects successively down said incline.

37. The inserter of claim 36 wherein said pushing means includes a pneumatically operated piston responsive to said medium passing through said timing hole for pushing one of said objects down said incline.

38. The inserter of claim 37 including a rocking arm operated by said pneumatic piston, and a pusher block carried on said rocking arm to engage said objects.

39. The inserter of claim 38 wherein said pneumatic piston is adjustably coupled to said rocking arm to vary the stroke of said pusher block.

40. The inserter of claim 38 wherein said rocking arm includes a coupling lip, and said pusher block is removably positioned by said coupling lip.

41. The inserter of claim 40 including a plurality of said pusher blocks removably arranged together by said coupling lip.

42. The inserter of claim 36 including adjustable walls along said feed path, an adjustable wall along one ranged in the region of said incline for stopping said pushing means whenever a predetermined number of said objects collects on said incline.

44. The inserter of claim 43 wherein said sensor comprises a pneumatic air stream sensor, and an air line leading to said pneumatic pushing means includes a pneumatic interface valve that is closed when said sensor detects said collection of said objects.

45. The inserter of claim 1 including an air pressure supply, a line leading saifl air to said pneumatic thrusting means, a first, norma y closed, pneumatic interface valve in said line, said sender being a jet, said medium being an air stream, a first needle valve for controlling air flow to said sender, and said receiver being coupled to said first interface valve for opening said first interface valve when said air stream passes through said timing hole.

46. The inserter of claim 45 including a pneumatic air stream sensor arranged for sensing a partially inserted one of said objects in said carrier beyond said inserting station, and an air jet ejector arranged for blowing said partially inserted object out of said hole in response to said sensing.

47. The inserter of claim 46 including a second needle valve for controlling air flow to said sensor.

48. The inserter of claim 47 including a master re gulator for adjusting said air pressure, a pilot valve supplied by air from upstream of said regulator, a line from said regulated supply to the trigger of said pilot valve, a normally open interface valve in said trigger line, said normally open interface valve being controlled by said sensor for operating said trigger, and a line from said pilot valve to said ejector.

49. The inserter of claim 45 including means for feeding objects along a feed path in axial, end-to-end orientation to a stop wall, an incline leading at a right angle to said feed path from said stop wall down to said inserting station, a pneumatically operated piston for pushing said objects successively down said incline, and means for directing air downstream from said first interface valve to said pneumatic piston.

50. The inserter of claim 49 including a second, normally closed interface valve in the line supplying said pneumatic piston, a pneumatic air stream sensor arranged in the region of said incline, a third needle valve for controlling air flow to said sensor, said sensor controlling said' third interface valve for stopping said pneumatic piston whenever a predetermined number of said objects collect on said incline.

51. The inserter of claim 1 wherein said carrier is moved continuously.

52. The inserter of claim 1 wherein said carrier is moved in an index motion that stops said holes in registry with said inserting station.

Claims

1. An inserter comprising: a. a movable carrier having evenly spaced holes; b. an inserting station arranged adjacent said carrier on the path of said holes; c. means for successively supplying to said inserting station cylindrical objects closely fitting said holes for insertion into said holes in said carrier; d. a sender for continuously directing a medium against one side of said carrier on said hole path in a region where said holes are normally empty; e. a receiver on the other side of said carrier aligned with said sender for receiving said medium when it passes through said holes; f. means for adjusting the position of said sender and receiver along said hole path; g. said sender and receiver being spaced from said inserting station so that said medium passes Through a timing one of said holes as a receiving one of said holes intersects and approaches registry with the axial peripheral extension of one of said objects ready for insertion from said inserting station; and h. pneumatic means responsive to said medium passing through said timing hole for thrusting said insertable object toward said carrier in registry with said receiving hole to effect said insertion.

5. The inserter of claim 1 wherein said pneumatic means comprises a nozzle for directing air against said insertable object.

16. The inserter of claim 12 wherein said receiver comprises an air tube extending from said air stream to said inserting station, and a pneumatically driven piston is arranged in said tube for thrusting said insertable objects toward said receiving hole.

17. The inserter of claim 16 wherein said piston is loosely restrained in the end of said air tube so that air pressure in said tube pushes said piston against said insertable object, and air flows out of said tube around said piston and said insertable object.

42. The inserter of claim 36 including adjustable walls along said feed path, an adjustable wall along one side of said incline, and an adjustable stop wall arranged at said inserting station at the bottom of said incline.

43. The inserter of claim 36 including a sensor arranged in the region of said incline for stopping said pushing means whenever a predetermined number of said objects collects on said incline.

45. The inserter of claim 1 including an air pressure supply, a line leading said air to said pneumatic thrusting means, a first, normally closed, pneumatic interface valve in said line, said sender being a jet, said medium being an air stream, a first needle valve for controlling air flow to said sender, and said receiver being coupled to said first interface valve for opening said first interface valve when said air stream passes through said timing hole.

48. The inserter of claim 47 including a master regulator for adjusting said air pressure, a pilot valve supplied by air from upstream of said regulator, a line from said regulated supply to the trigger of said pilot valve, a normally open interface valve in said trigger line, said normally open interface valve being controlled by said sensor for operating said trigger, and a line from said pilot valve to said ejector.

50. The inserter of claim 49 including a second, normally closed interface valve in the line supplying said pneumatic piston, a pneumatic air stream sensor arranged in the region of said incline, a third needle valve for controlling air flow to said sensor, said sensor controlling said third interface valve for stopping said pneumatic piston whenever a predetermined number of said objects collect on said incline.

51. The inserter of claim 1 wherein said carrier is moved continuously.