Pellet transfer apparatus and method
US5076997A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 12, 1990 |
| Grant date | Dec 31, 1991 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 12, 2010 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E30/30
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An inspection system has a pellet diameter inspecting station and an apparatus for transferring pellets past the station. The apparatus includes a stationary support track for aligning and guiding pellets in a row along a linear path, and a transfer mechanism operable through forward and reverse strokes. The transfer mechanism has first and second grippers actuatable between pellet gripping and releasing positions and operable to grip respective rearmost pellets in a first row of pellets to be advanced past the inspecting station and in a second row of pellets previously advanced past the inspecting station. The transfer mechanism is operable to move from an initial position through the forward stroke to advance the pellets at a constant velocity along the linear path. The transfer mechanism actuates the second gripper from its releasing to gripping position before actuating the first gripper from its releasing to gripping position and starts movement from the initial position along the forward stroke before the first gripper is so actuated such that a gap is formed between the previously advanced row of pellets and the row of pellets to be advanced so as to prevent buckling of pel…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.