The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 26, 1982
Filed:
Aug. 21, 1979
Larry D Greene, Centralia, IL (US);
Acco Industries Inc., Bridgeport, CT (US);
Abstract
A loader-unloader system for loading and unloading work pieces, particularly work pieces having thin portions, in a machine tool wherein each work piece is held in position for rotation about a longitudinal axis during which various machine operations may be performed by the tool comprising a loading conveyor adapted to deliver articles in succession to a loading position, an unloading conveyor adapted to receive work pieces, and a loader-unloader assembly. The loader-unloader assembly comprises a track extending along an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the machine, a trolley movable along the track and means for moving said trolley back and forth along the said track. A load-vacuum clamping head assembly is mounted on the trolley, and an unload-vacuum head assembly is mounted on the trolley. Each assembly includes a vacuum head for gripping a work piece, means on the trolley for mounting said vacuum head for swinging movement into and out of position adjacent the machine and for reciprocating movement toward and away from the axis of said machine, and means for swinging the vacuum head from a position wherein the work piece has its axis extending parallel to the axis of the machine to a position wherein the axis of the work piece is at an acute angle to the axis of the machine.