Patent GB-1278743-A (GB)
Title: Orientating and stacking-dish-like articles
IPC: B65G47/244
Filed: 1970-02-23
Abstract: 1278743 Transferring and orientating lenses CORNING GLASS WORKS 23 Feb 1970 [24 Feb 1969] 8515/70 Heading B8A An apparatus for similarly rotatively orienting each of a plurality of similar flat or relatively shallow dish-like articles 226 having generally circular rims with at least one relatively flat side, comprises an article supporting member 52 (Figs. 1 and 23) embodying an opentop shallow cavity having a horizontal-planar configuration of a major segment of a circle whose diameter substantially corresponds to the largest diameter of the rims of said articles. The perimeter of the cavity is defined by an arcuate inner surface of a wall having a gap 56 therein, and means is provided for depositing the articles successively in the cavity for a period of dwell therein. The deposition of each article 226 in the cavity is performed with at least a portion of the rim of the respective article positioned adjacent the inner surface of the wall and with the article in a random rotative orientation with respect to the cavity. A rotating wheel 59 having an outer perimeter, a portion of which during at least a part of each dwell period, extends into the gap 56 in the wall frictionally to contact the circular portion of the rim of each respective article deposited in the cavity with the circular portion of the rim positioned adjacent the gap. By this means each article is similarly rotatively oriented in the cavity by the wheel; and means 133 (Figs. 1 and 5) is actuated, following each dwell period, for removing each respective article from the cavity. Orientation.-As described, the articles 226 are lenses and are delivered by a shoot 211 and spaced endless belts 212, 213, to a recess 214a at a transfer station 214. As each lens is positioned in the recess 214a it obturates a jet of air from a nozzle (AJN) (Figs. 19, 26, not shown). This affects an air-jet receiver (AJR) (Fig. 18, not shown), which operates a limit switch (ALS). This initiates the operation of a transfer mechanism TM (Figs. 1 and 5). A gear segment 121 is actuated by a cam actuated rod (182) (Fig. 10, not shown). The segment 121 meshes with a gear 122 on a shaft 123 which is in driving engagement with an arm 126 having a suction pick up head 132. Gears 136-138 provide for the head 132 to remain vertical during 180 degrees of movement of the arm 126. The lens in the transfer recess 214a is thus picked up and deposited in one of the cavities 52. The latter are formed in a rotating head 37. There is a rotating wheel 59 respective to each cavity 52. Each wheel 59 is carried by a respective arm 57 (Fig. 4) and is rotated by a chain-drive 68 to orientate the lens by rotating the latter until its flat side or a predetermined flat side (in the case of rectangular lenses), comes into engagement with the wheel (Fig. 23). Stacking.-When the head 37 has rotated anticlockwise (as seen in the plan view of Fig. 1) until the lens arrives at a delivery station B, a vacuum pick-up head 133 (Fig. 5) engages the lens. The head 133 is carried by an arm 127 which is in driving connection with the shaft 123. A cam groove 141 rotating with the latter, acts through linkage 142, 147, 148 so as to rotate the head 133 while it is being translated by the arm 127. This brings the lenses into a vertical position in a receiving trough 176 (Fig. 17). It is discharged from the latter by the action of a cam-actuated pusher 174, in conjunction with the periodically-operated lifting-action of a cam-actuated stop 173. This results in the formation of a stack of lenses in a trough-like carrier 157 of an endless conveyer MCB having step-by-step movement. A diagram of pneumatic conduits and valves, and electrical circuitry (Fig. 26, not shown) is described.