PUSH/PULL CLIP FEED CONFIGURATION FOR SELECTIVELY DELIVERING OR WITHDRAWING A CLIP TO ALLOW OUTPUT OF ONE CLIP ALONE OR TWO CLIPS CONCURRENTLY AND ASSOCIATED DEVICES, METHODS, SYSTEMS AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCTS
US6920738B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 12, 2004 |
| Grant date | Jul 26, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 12, 2024 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T29/53783
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for supplying a clip to a clip window associated with a closure attachment mechanism having a closure punch path for attaching a single clip or two clips to a target tubular work piece in a closure zone include: (a) forcing a plurality of clips to travel in a first predetermined clip travel path having a forward direction toward a first punch path in a closure zone at a first point in time; (b) selectively retracting the plurality of clips so that the clips travel in a reverse direction along the first predetermined clip travel path; and then (c) forcing the plurality of clips to again travel in the forward direction along the first predetermined clip travel path at a second point in time.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.