High speed revolving lug loader with retracting heel and hook

US5921376A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• CAE Newnes Ltd. · CA

Inventors

• Steven W. Michell · Burns Lake, CA
• Emeric Johnson · Salmon Arm, CA

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 17, 1996
• Grant date: Jul 13, 1999
• Expiry date: Sep 17, 2016

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B65G47/29
• WIPO field: Handling
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A lug loader singulates elongate workpieces from a lugged infeed transfer onto a lugged outfeed transfer. A disc is rotatable mounted between the infeed and outfeed transfers. Pivotable heels are mounted around the periphery of the disc. The heels are elongate and mounted so that they may be pivoted to extend outwardly from the periphery of the disc. When so extended the heels lift workpieces waiting on the infeed transfer and carry the workpieces over the disc as the disc rotates so as to release the workpieces onto the outfeed transfer. Each heel has a cam follower which travels along the lower cam surface of a selectively pivotable stop arm. When the stop arm is pivoted inwardly relative to the disc, the lower cam surface forces rotation of the heels into their outwardly extended position. Flow of workpieces is stopped when the stop arm is pivoted outwardly relative to the disc so as to remove the cam surface from the path of the cam followers. The heels are thus not rotated into their outwardly extended position and therefore do not pick up workpieces waiting on the infeed transfer.