Patent ID: 6722488
Filing Date: 2004-04-20
Classification: B65G,C03B

Abstract:
Apparatus for transferring a spaced-apart plurality of like articles from a first location to a second location, said apparatus comprising:an oscillatable arm, said arm being oscillatable through an arc of substantially 180Â° between a first location and a second location; a spaced-plurality of tong assemblies carried by the oscillatable arm and oscillatable therewith, each of the tong assemblies being adapted to grasp an article at the first location, to transfer the article to the second location without changing the axial orientation of the article and to release the article at the second location; a linearly extending rack, said rack having a toothed side and an opposed side and being reciprocable along an axis; an externally-toothed, oscillatable gear, said oscillatable gear being oscillatable about an axis, being drivingly engaged by said rack, and oscillatingly driving said arm; a single reversible electrical motor for powering the reciprocation of the rack; and means for resiliently biasing said rack into engagement with said oscillatable gear.