Patent ID: 6419092
Filing Date: 2002-07-16
Classification: B07C,B21G

Abstract:
For use in an index machine for forming drilled taper point needles, the machine of the type having a plurality of chucks mounted on a rotating platform adapted to selectively engage and release a needle to be formed, a rotary drive for indexing the platform and the chucks through a plurality of radial positions, and a plurality of work stations circumferentially disposed adjacent the radial positions occupied by the chucks, an improved needle inspection station adapted to occupy one of the work stations for inspecting the point of a needle oriented inwardly of a chuck occupying a position adjacent the inspection station, comprising:a base plate; an upwardly extending support member connected to the base plate; a slide member slidably received with the support member and reciprocally movable radially of a chuck occupying a position adjacent the inspection station; gripping means for gripping a needle to be inspected, the gripping means capable of rotation relative to the slide member to permit the gripping means to rotate a needle approximately 180 degrees to reverse the orientation of the point relative to the chuck; the slide member movable radially of a chuck between a first radial position wherein the gripping means engages a needle in the chuck and a second radial position located distally of the chuck wherein the needle may be rotated approximately 180 degrees to reverse the orientation of the point relative to the chuck; a platform slidably mounted on said baseplate reciprocally movable radially of a chuck occupying a position adjacent the inspection station for reciprocal movement between a first radial position located distally of the chuck and a second radially position proximate of the chuck; a stop containing a resilient conductive material mounted to at the leading edge of the platform; a strip of nonconductive material retained on the platform and disposed radially inwardly of the stop and a outwardly of a chuck occupying a position adjacent the inspection station such that when the strip is moved into contact with a needle extending from a chuck, a properly formed point will penetrate the strip, making electrical contact with the stop; current detection means connected to the stop for detecting electrical contact between the needle and the stop; and control means, connected to current detection means and responsive to the detection of electrical contact between the needle and the stop, for controlling the unloading of properly formed needles at a subsequent work station.