Patent ID: 6302309
Filing Date: 2001-10-16
Classification: B29C

Abstract:
Apparatus for forwarding a pliable rod comprising:a housing;a channel through the housing including an inlet portion for receiving the pliable rod and an outlet portion for ejecting the pliable rod under longitudinal force;at least the outlet portion forming a tubular closed surface surrounding the rod and dimensioned to closely surround the rod to prevent buckling of the rod when forwarded under longitudinal force into the outlet portion;a drive disk rotatable about an axis of the disk for forwarding the rod from the inlet portion into the outlet portion, the disk having an outer cylindrical surface surrounding the axis for engaging one side of the rod and for feeding the rod in a forwarding direction as the disk continues to rotate in a feed direction about the axis;the disk and the channel being arranged such that the channel lies in a radial plane of the axis of the disk;the disk and the channel being arranged such that a contact portion of the outer cylindrical surface extends along and defines one side of the channel;and a counteracting surface portion in the channel in opposition to the contacting portion of the disk arranged such that the rod in the channel is pinched between the contacting portion of the disk and the counteracting surface portion whereby angular movement of the disk around the disk axis acts to forward the rod along its length along the channel;wherein the counteracting surface portion of the channel is a fixed arcuate surface portion arranged to lie on a circle surrounding the disk axis so that the rod is pinched by the surface of the disk and the fixed arcuate surface portion as it is carried around the fixed arcuate surface portion by movement of the disk.