Bergen Cable Technologies, Inc.

Quantum Conveyor Systems, Inc.

William E Koehler

Robert H Koehler

Michel L Plasse

Hans J Lem

Richard J Bowman

Gerald R Grispart

Thomas E Carr

Robert J Koehler

Featured is a sorting/diverting apparatus that diverts articles from a plurality of moving belts, the sorting/diverting apparatus including a plurality of rollers that are rotatably mounted to a support frame and a moving mechanism that moves the support frame back and forth between two positions. The controller controls the moving of the support frame and the operation of the drive motor so as to divert/sort the articles. Each controller includes bi-directional communications ports, a processor that processes information and provides outputs, and an applications program for execution within the processor that includes instructions and criteria for processing the information and providing the processor outputs to control the apparatus.

High speed sorting/diverting apparatus, an apparatus controller and systems using same

Featured is a sorting/diverting apparatus that diverts articles from a plurality of moving belts that are at a nominal base height. The apparatus includes a support frame, a plurality of rollers that are rotatably mounted to the support frame, a moving mechanism that moves the support frame back and forth between first and second position. The rollers also are mounted so as to be parallel to the moving belts. In the first position the rollers are disposed below the nominal base height and in the second position at least a portion of the rollers is disposed above the base height. The apparatus further includes a drive motor and a drive mechanism that mechanically interconnects the drive motor and each of the rollers. Also featured is an apparatus controller that controls the moving of the support frame and the operation of the drive motor. Preferably, the controller is operated so the rollers are simultaneously rotated in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction when in the second position. Each controller includes bi-directional communications ports, a processor that processes information and provides outputs, and an applications program for execution within the processor that includes instructions and criteria for processing the information and providing the processor outputs. Also featured is a system using the above described controller and apparatus and a tick signal generator that provides a periodic signal input to the controller for inter alia article position tracking.

High speed sorting/diverting apparatus, an apparatus controller and

A hand tool for applying a ferrule to a safety cable is disclosed having a ferrule positioning device to position the ferrule while a safety cable is placed through the ferrule and through the tool, a mechanism for applying a tension to the cable and a mechanism to crimp the ferrule so as to attach the ferrule to the safety cable. A ferrule holding device, which may contain several ferrules is removably attachable to an elongated body of the hand tool such that one of the ferrules in the holding device is aligned with an opening defined by the elongated body. After threading the safety cable through the ferrule in the ferrule holding device and the opening in the elongated body, it is attached to a tensioning device which applies a predetermined tension to the safety cable. The tensioning device incorporates a clutch which disengages the tensioning device once the predetermined tension has been achieved. A pair of handles are pivotally attached to each other and are associated with the elongated body and a crimping punch such that when the handles are squeezed toward each other, the crimping punch deforms the ferrule to attach it to the safety cable. The hand tool according to this invention incorporates a locking device to prevent the handles from being moved toward each other until the predetermined tension has been placed in the safety cable.

Hand tool for applying a motion stop ferrule to a safety cable

A hand tool for applying a ferrule to a safety cable is disclosed having a ferrule positioning device to position the ferrule while a safety cable is placed through the ferrule and through the tool, a mechanism for applying a tension to the cable and a mechanism to crimp the ferrule so as to attach the ferrule to the safety cable. A ferrule holding device, which may contain several ferrules is removably attachable to an elongated body of the hand tool such that one of the ferrules in the holding device is aligned with an opening defined by the elongated body. After threading the safety cable through the ferrule in the ferrule holding device and the opening in the elongated body, it is attached to a tensioning device which applies a predetermined tension to the safety cable. The tensioning device incorporates a clutch which disengages the tensioning device once the predetermined tension has been achieved. A pair of handles are pivotally attached to each other and are associated with the elongated body and a crimping punch such that when the handles are squeezed toward each other, the crimping punch deforms the ferrule to attach it to the safety cable. The hand tool according to this invention incorporates a locking device to prevent the handles from being moved toward each other until the predetermined tension has been placed in the safety cable. The clutch mechanism which disengages the tensioning device may also disengage the locking mechanism to enable the handles to be moved toward each other once the predetermined tension has been achieved. The device also incorporates a ratchet device associated with the handles to prevent the handles from returning to their initial, spaced apart positions until the ferrule has been properly crimped onto the safety cable. This positively ensures that the ferrule is properly affixed to the safety cable by preventing the return of the handles to their initial positions and the removal of the device from the ferrule.

Hand tool for applying a ferrule to a safety cable

The invention relates to a process for applying a ferrule to a lock wire and crimping the ferrule onto the lock wire. The process utilizes a lock wire having a ferrule applied to one end and which is placed through a plurality of threaded fasteners with a free end of a lock wire extending beyond the last of the threaded fasteners. The free end of the lock wire is inserted through a ferrule held in the apparatus and through a tensioning rod. Movement of the tensioning rod exerts a predetermined tension on the lock wire at which time the device crimps the ferrule onto the lock wire to retain it in place at the desired tension.

Lock wire securing method

A device is disclosed for automatically inserting a ferrule over a safety cable, tensioning the cable and crimping the ferrule onto the safety cable, and cutting off excess cable. The apparatus is used with a safety cable having a ferrule applied to one end and which is placed through a plurality of threaded fasteners in a pattern. A free end is inserted through a ferrule held in the device and gripped by a tension cylinder. Movement of the tension cylinder exerts a predetermined tension on the safety cable. The device then crimps the ferrule onto the safety cable to retain the safety cable in place at the desired tension. The end of the safety cable extending beyond the attached ferrule is automatically cut off to complete the process.

Self-contained lock wire securing tool

A device and method for connecting together elements such as fasteners using a tension element such as wire or cable extending through the elements includes an installation tool having an elongated handle portion having at its distal end a retaining socket for a ferrule to be permanently crimped to a tensioning element that has been threaded through a series of elements or fasteners to be interconnected by the wire or cable. A tension element movable longitudinally along the tool axis grips the tension wire or cable and withdraws it generally along the axis of the tool handle after the tension element has been threaded through the objects to be connected together until a predetermined tension is applied to the wire or cable. Thereafter, the ferrule is permanently deformed by a punch element so that it is permanently secured to the tension wire or cable, following which the wire or cable outboard of the ferrule is cut to leave the tensioned wire in place with the elements fastened together. An hydraulic system is disclosed for applying the predetermined tension to the tension wire and for actuating a fluid operated piston to drive the punch for crimping the ferrule permanently to the tension element used to lock the objects together. The system has particular application for applying lock wires to threaded fasteners. A magazine holder for the ferrule elements is also described.

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North Bergen, NJ, United States of America

William E Koehler