Patent ID: 6640660
Filing Date: 2003-11-04
Classification: B23P,B65G,Y10T

Abstract:
A pick-up and placement apparatus including an arm (18) that executes pick-up and placement motions and a drive mechanism (1, 11a) that drives said arm,said drive mechanism comprising: a rotating member (12) driven in clockwise and counter-clockwise directions in a designated range (L) less than 360Â° with said range (L) defining a path having opposite ends, an elongated connecting member (13) attached to said rotating member for rotational movement therewith and slidable radially inwardly and outwardly relative to said rotating member, said elongated connecting member having a radially located outer end (13a) mounting a pivotal connection, (17, 25) to said arm, means (14) biasing said elongated connecting member radially relative to said rotating member, stop means (12b, 15a) rotatable with said elongated connecting member to limit radial movement of said elongated connecting member, and guide members (24) positioned on opposite diametric sides of said defined path and adjacent said opposite ends of said path to engage said pivotal connection of said elongated connecting member and to guide said pivotal connection in linear movement when said pivotal connection approaches said opposite ends of said defined path and to disengage from contact with said pivotal connection of said elongated connecting member when said pivotal connection is moved away from said opposite ends of said defined path with only said biasing means and said stop means determining the radial position of said pivotal connection when said pivotal connection is moving in said defined path and disengaged from said guide members, said arm moving substantially in correspondence with said motion of said pivotal connection of said elongated connecting member.