Eastman-kodak Company

Gerald N Walter

Timothy Floyd Spencer

Brian J Cashimere

An orientating apparatus and associated method includes an agitator, one or more channels adjacent the agitator, and a lower component delivery portion. The agitator is powered by a drive assembly, which induces a motions in relation to the channels. The channels are designed such that a component for orienting can only pass through the channels in a preferred orientation, and the agitator provides opportunities for the components to achieve proper orientation to enter the channels. This allows the components to pass through the channels to the staging portion in an orientated manner. This orientating apparatus, intended for the automatic positioning of wicks, will work on manufacturing lines with any number of apparatus or parts, as long as it is generally adjacent the utilization point.

Orientating apparatus

Apparatus for aligning and orienting an object has cooperating first and second rotatable arm members each having object holders, respectively. Object holders, each comprises a vacuum recess and alignment features for aligning the object in a fixed position in its respective vacuum recess. Rotation of first and second rotatable arm members about their respective pivot points from a fully extended configuration into abutting contact forms a partially closed vacuum chamber for securing an object. Partially closed vacuum chamber has a closed end for positioning the object, a first wall defined by the first vacuum recess, an opposing spaced apart second wall defined by the second vacuum recess and an open end between the first and second walls for receiving the object in the partially closed vacuum chamber.

Apparatus for aligning and orienting an object

A method for grasping, aligning and orienting an object uses first and second rotatable arm members each having object holders, respectively. An object holder each comprises a vacuum recess and alignment features to align the object in a fixed position in its respective vacuum recess. Rotation of first rotatable arm member into abutting contact with second rotatable arm member forms a formable vacuum chamber. Partially closed vacuum chamber has a closed end for positioning the object, a first wall defined by the first vacuum recess, an opposing spaced apart second wall defined by the second vacuum recess and an open end between the first and second walls for receiving the object in the partially closed vacuum chamber.

Method of grasping, aligning and orienting an object

A vacuum assisted assemblage for handling an object has a formable vacuum chamber. Formable vacuum chamber, when formed, has first and second rotatable suction chambers each operably connected to an actuator for cooperative rotational movements. Rotational movements of first and second suction chambers include a first position in which the first suction chamber is positioned generally in abutting contact with the second suction chamber. Further, first and second suction chambers may rotate such that peripheral surfaces of the first and second suction chamber snugly abut to form the formable vacuum chamber for handling an object.

Vacuum assisted assemblage for handling an object

A robotic turret tool for use with an industrial robot is mountable onto the spindle of the robot and capable of having multiple tools mounted thereto. The turret tool includes a mounting bracket adapted to be affixed to the spindle of the industrial robot, the mounting bracket including a locking element support. A turret shaft affixed to said mounting bracket. A turret head is rotatably supported on the turret shaft with multiple tools attached to the turret head allowing the robot to select which tool to use through rotation of the turret head. A locking element is slidably mounted in the locking element support. The locking element including an upper electrical supply connector and an upper pneumatic supply conduit path. The locking element is movable from a locked position engaging said turret head to an unlocked position away from said turret head. There are at least two lower electrical supply connectors mounted to said turret head with each of the lower electrical supply connectors being dedicated to one of tools. There are also at least two lower pneumatic supply conduit paths with each of the lower pneumatic supply conduit paths being dedicated to one of tools. The upper pneumatic supply conduit path aligns with a selected one of the at least two lower pneumatic supply conduit paths when the locking element is moved to the locked position and the upper electrical supply connector aligns with a selected one of the at least two lower electrical supply connectors when said locking element is moved to said locked position. In such manner, electrical and pneumatic services are supplied only to the selected tool.

Robotic turret tool

A method and apparatus for degating plastic parts from a runner system wherein the parts are automatically and precisely positioned for accurate reproducible degating and pick-up.

Method and apparatus for precision degating mechanism

A card ejecting apparatus for a thermal printer includes a rotatable drum having a clamp which holds a card when the drum is rotated in a first printing direction and releases the card when the drum is rotated in the opposite ejecting direction, a spring having a hooked free end, a transport mechanism which receives a card as it is being ejected from the drum and drives it into the hooked free end of the spring to cock such spring, and such cocked spring propelling such card onto a stack of cards.

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Rochester, NY, United States of America

Gerald N Walter