Abstract:
An electronically actuated turning device for transport apparatus, which apparatus use endless belts for transport, which detects the presence of products being transported such as paper folders, activates a solenoid to cause an upper swivel ball to contact the product and engage a lower swivel ball, which grips and stops the product, and allows the product to rotate 90 degrees, and then releases the product, which product is then transported in the original direction by the apparatus for further operations as required.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to an electronically actuated turning device for transport apparatus, which apparatus uses endless belts for transport, and is of the type which detects the presence of products, grips and changes the orientation of the products by 90 degrees during their travel, and releases them to continue travel in the original direction. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Various folded paper products such as folded paper jackets often require that the product be turned 90 degrees for processing, such as performing pocket folds, or stacking. 
     Folded paper products are usually transported on endless belts, which deposit them on intersecting belts that are perpendicular to the original direction of travel, and from which they are further processed. The common prior art transport for turning products is expensive, requires additional belts and equipment, and takes up additional space. 
     In my prior U.S. Pat. No. 5,568,920, a mechanical turning device for transport apparatus is disclosed, that includes a bump housing attached to a support bar, with a rotatable bump ball above a metal plate, which ball intercepts products that are carried on an endless belt, stops the product by gripping it between it and the plate, with further belt motion rotating the product  90  degrees until it strikes a guide bar, and which then transports the product for further processing. 
     While my prior device is suitable for its intended purpose, it requires precise height adjustment to accommodate different thicknesses of product, and relies on friction between it and a metal plate to stop and turn the product. 
     In my prior U.S. Pat. No. 5,788,228 is disclosed an electronically actuated turning device for transport apparatus, which includes apparatus to detect a product, actuates a solenoid to cause a ball to contact a product and grip it between it and a metal plate, the product is rotated 90 degrees, the solenoid actuated to retract the ball, and the product continues to be transported. 
     While this device is satisfactory for its intended purpose, the product may become damaged due to the uncertainties of the frictional characteristics of this ball and plate combination. 
     The device of the invention does not suffer from the shortcomings of the prior art, and provides many positive advantages. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It has now been found that an electronically actuated device is available, that is used with a transport apparatus, that has endless transport belts, which device grips and stops products, changes their orientation by 90 degrees, and then releases them to continue being transported in the original direction. 
     The principal object of the invention is to provide an electronically actuated turning device for transport apparatus that changes the products&#39; orientation by 90 degrees, while being transported. 
     A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the character aforesaid that is fast and positive in its operation. 
     A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the character aforesaid that is easily adjustable to accommodate products of different width and thickness. 
     A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the character aforesaid that is durable and long lasting in operation. 
     Other objects and advantageous features of the invention will be apparent from the description and the claims. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The nature and characteristic features of the invention will be more readily understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part hereof in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view, partially broken away, of the electronically actuated turning device of the invention, installed on a transport apparatus; 
     FIG. 2 is a left side view of the turning device of the invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 1 illustrating the turning action of a product; 
     FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 2 of the product during its turning; and 
     FIG. 5 is a left side, fragmentary view of the device of the invention, in partial vertical section. 
    
    
     It should of course be understood that the description and drawings herein are merely illustrative, and that various modifications and changes can be made in the structure disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention. 
     Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     When referring to the preferred embodiment, certain terminology will be utilized for the sake of clarity. Use of such terminology is intended to encompass not only the described embodiment, but also technical equivalents which operate and function in substantially the same way to bring about the same result. 
     Referring now more particularly to FIGS. 1-5 of the drawings, one embodiment of the turning device  10 , which includes an upper component  10 A and a lower component  10 B, is illustrated in operation on a transport apparatus  11 . The transport apparatus  11  is typical of such apparatus, which transport or convey various products, such as folded paper jackets  12 . The apparatus  11  includes a frame (not shown), having a bed (not shown), and at least one side rail  14 . The bed (not shown) includes a support pan  15 , which is smooth and preferably of metal, with a rotatable roller  16  extending from the rail  14  across the front of the apparatus. 
     A plurality of endless belts  18  of well known type are provided, engaged with roller  16  and extending along the bed (not shown) for transporting or conveying jackets  12 . The side rail  14  has a longitudinal bar  19  engaged therewith by blocks  20  and extends therealong. A bracket  21  is attached to bar  19  and carries one end of a support bar  24 , which extends transversely across the bed, and is attached to a bar (not shown) on the other side of the bed. 
     The support bar  24  has a bracket  25  attached thereto and movable therealong, with a thumbscrew  26  to secure it at selected locations on bar  24 . The bracket  25  has a top drive bar  29  attached thereto, with a thumbscrew  26  therein to restrain drive bar  29  at desired locations. The top drive bar  29  has brackets  30  engaged therewith, with rods  31  attached thereto and to marble holders  34  of well known type, which have marbles (not shown) which engage the folders  12  and restrain them from vertical movement but permit passage underneath the marble holders  34 . The bar  19  has a bracket  35  engaged therewith, with a thumbscrew  35 A to restrain its movement. The bracket  35  has a guide support bar  36  engaged therewith, which is restrained thereon by thumbscrew  37 , and which extends across the bed. An additional bracket  38  is engaged with bar  36 , with a thumbscrew  38 A therein for adjustment, with a rod  39  engaged therewith, with a thumbscrew  39 A for adjustment, and with a guide bar  40  which extends in the direction of travel of belts  18 . The guide bar  40  guides folders  12  after rotation to be described. 
     The support bar  24  also carries a mounting clamp  45  engaged with the upper component  10 A of turning device  10 , which has a thumbscrew  46  for positioning of clamp  45  on bar  24 . 
     As shown in detail in FIGS. 2,  4 , and  5 , the clamp  45  has a solenoid  50  mounted thereto, with a housing  51  secured in clamp  45  by a lock screw  52 . The solenoid  50  has a vertically movable stem  53  extending therefrom, with a ball bearing  54  secured thereon in well known manner, with a swivel ball  55  engaged with the ball bearing  54  and freely rotatable about stem  53 . The ball  55  can be formed of any suitable material with neoprene plastic being the preferred material. 
     The solenoid  50  has a cable  56  connected thereto and to a controller  60  of well known type, such as the Glue Bind Quadra Plex controller available from Dick Moll &amp; Sons, Inc., Warminster, Pa. The controller  60  has a cable  61  connected thereto, and to an electric eye  62 , which is mounted by a clamp  63  to a bar  64 , and restrained from movement by a thumbscrew  65 , which bar  64  is mounted to bar  19  by a clamp  66 , and has a thumbscrew  67  therein. 
     The electric eye  62  is of well known type and detects the presence of a folder  12 , signals the controller  60 , which has a programmable delay time to enable the folder to come under ball  55 , at which time the solenoid  50  is activated and ball  55  is moved down to contact folder  12  to be described. 
     The controller also has a linear motion sensor (not shown), which signals the controller of the speed of belts  18 , which permits the controller to determine the position of the folder  12 . 
     As shown in the Figs., the upper component  10 A is located so that the ball  55  is positioned between the pan  15  and an endless belt  18 . 
     A lower support bar  70  is provided, connected to side rail  14 , and which extends transversely across the bed, and has a mounting clamp  71  thereon, with a thumbscrew  72  to secure it at selected locations on bar  70 . The clamp  71  has a shaft  73  therein, which is part of lower component  10 B of turning device  10 , and clamp  71  has a thumbscrew  75  therein for vertical movement for adjustment of component  10 B, as required for contact with folders  12  to be described. 
     The shaft  73  has a mounting stem  76  therein, which has a ball bearing  77 , retained thereon in well known manner. The ball bearing  77  has a swivel ball  78  thereon, which is free to rotate about stem  76 . The stem  76  also has a plastic shield  79  thereon, around the edge of ball  78  and over stem  76 . 
     The ball  78  can be formed of any suitable material with neoprene plastic being the preferred material. 
     The mode of operation will now be pointed out. 
     Folders  12  are fed onto belts  18  to be transported and turned  90  degrees during transport. The upper and lower turning device components  10 A and  10 B are adjusted for the thickness of the folders  12 . 
     As a folder  12  is transported it is detected by the electric eye  62 , which signals controller  60 , which controller starts the delay time running, and when a folder is between the swivel balls  55  and  78  actuates the solenoid  50  to cause stem  53  to move downwardly and ball  55  to contact folder  12  which is engaged by ball  78 . The controller has a programmable hold time to enable the folder  12  to be swung about turning device  10 . The belts  18  continue to move and the folder  12  is swung about the device  10  under marble holders  34 , which belts supply the drive to rotate folder  12  until it strikes guide bar  40 , at which time solenoid  50  is released and ball  55  moves upwardly releasing folder  12 , which has been turned 90 degrees and is transported on belts  18  for further processing. The operation continues with subsequent folders  12 . 
     It will thus be seen that a device has been provided with which the objects of the invention are achieved.