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:
Aug. 23, 2005
Filed:
Apr. 06, 2004
Michael Mcmahon, Palatine, IL (US);
Stanley Piotrowski, Addison, IL (US);
Donald L. Crevier, Essex, IL (US);
Michael McMahon, Palatine, IL (US);
Stanley Piotrowski, Addison, IL (US);
Donald L. Crevier, Essex, IL (US);
Illinois Tool Works Inc., Glenview, IL (US);
Abstract
An apparatus () for feeding sliders () from a source of sliders to the slider insertion area () of at least two slider insertion devices (). A sensor () on a sender track () detects a lack of sliders () in the sender track. A signal is sent from the sensor () to actuate a vibratory bowl () of sliders () and a plunger () to open a passage, thereby releasing the sliders () to a sender track (). When a sensor () detects a lack of sliders () in a loading rack () or a slider insertion area (), the sensor () signals a plunger () and a pneumatic valve () to open a passage to provide an air blast, thereby launching the sliders () onto the slider insertion area () of each slider insertion device (). A directional gate () sends the sliders () to either sender track () prior to launching to either slider insertion device (), or a directional gate () sends the sliders () to either slider insertion device () after launching of the sliders ().