Patent ID: 8091602
Filing Date: 2012-01-10
Classification: B29D

Abstract:
1. A transfer ring comprising first and second circular frame members disposed in fixed side by side registered and spaced apart relationship to one another, a plurality rigid hinge pin connectors extending between said first and second circular frame members, each hinge pin connector having a longitudinal centerline, first and second opposite ends and being of a length adapted to rigidly maintain said side by side registered and spaced apart relationship of said first and second circular frame members, and first end of each of said hinge pin connectors being mounted in said first circular frame member at respective spaced apart locations about the outer perimeteral margin of said first circular frame member, and said second end of each of said hinge pin connectors being mounted in said second circular frame member at selected spaced apart locations about the outer perimeteral margin of said second frame member, said space apart locations on said first circular frame member being in register with said spaced apart locations on said second circular frame member thereby defining a substantially rigid circular skeletal cage having a central axis and an annular substantially open space defined therebetween, a circular drive member disposed within said annular substantially open space and in side by side relationship to said first circular frame member, said circular drive member having a central rotational axis which is disposed coincident with said central axis of said cage, said circular drive member including a plurality of equally spaced apart cam followers fixedly mounted thereon and projecting therefrom in a direction inwardly of said circular skeletal cage, a plurality of driven links disposed within said substantially open space of said circular skeletal cage, each driven link being of an elongated geometry, and having a longitudinal center line and an outboard end thereof hingedly mounted on a respective hinge pin connector which extends between said first and second frame members, and a second opposite free-floating inboard end adapted to move generally radially in and out of the annular open space defined between said first and second frames members when said driven links within said skeletal cage are swung about their respective hinge pin connector, each of said driven links including at least a first outer surface facing inwardly of said circular skeletal cage in a direction away from said second frame member and terminating proximate said circular drive member, each of said driven links including an elongated camming groove defined along at least a portion of the length of said first side surface of each of said driven links, said camming groove being adapted to operatively receive therein at least one of said cam followers disposed on said circular drive member, a plurality of shoes, each having an outer surface facing substantially radially inwardly of said skeletal cage, one of each such shoes being articulatingly mounted on said inboard end of a respective one of said elongated driven links by a corresponding pivot pin, each said shoe being carried substantially radially inwardly or outwardly upon hinged rotation of said driven links about the longitudinal centerline of its respective pivot pin, a power source associated with said transfer ring, said power source being operatively connected to said circular drive member for at least limited oscillating rotation of said circular drive member relative to said cage upon actuation of said drive member, whereby rotational movement of said circular drive member moves said cam followers about a circular path within said skeletal cage, said circular path having a rotational axis which coincident with said central axis of said cage, and further moves respective inboard ends of associated ones of said driven links radially inwardly or outwardly of said skeletal cage and resultant decrease or increase of the diameter of a substantially circular grasping surface collectively defined by said shoes, as a function of the extent and direction of rotational movement of said central drive member, and whereby said rotational movement of said circular drive member, acting through said cam followers and their associated camming grooves in said driven links effects rotation of each of said driven links about the longitudinal axis of its respective hinge pin connector and resultant movement of said shoes radially inwardly and outwardly of said skeletal cage as a function of the extent and direction of rotational movement of said circular drive member.