Claims
- 1. An apparatus for intermittently feeding a series of like articles along a path so as to present them in succession to a plurality of operation stations where operations are performed upon said articles in sequence, of the type having at least one pair of spaced drums mounted respectively on parallel axes of rotation, each of said drums having a respective peripheral surface, one of said drums being a driven drum, a substantially non-stretchable belt passing around said drums, said belt having an inner surface, said inner surface being at least partially in direct contact with at least part of said peripheral surface of said driven drum, said peripheral surface of said driven drum being substantially non-deformable when subjected to the normal operating tension of said belt, and means for intermittently driving said driven drum whereby to move said belt intermittently a predetermined distance, the improvement, in combination therewith, wherein said driven drum has a plurality of ribs disposed axially about said peripheral surface of said driven drum, each of said ribs having a form notably long in comparison to its width, said ribs extending radially outward from said peripheral surface of said driven drum.
- 2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said inner surface of said belt is formed of a material which has a low durometer hardness.
- 3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a plurality of longitudinal ribs formed in said inner surface of said belt.
- 4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3 further comprising a plurality of equally spaced article receiving apertures defined by said belt, said apertures being of a shape to fit said articles, and a plurality of equally spaced plugs disposed about said peripheral surface of said driven drum, each of said plugs extending radially outward from said peripheral surface, each of said plugs configured to fit snugly into a corresponding aperture when said belt is in contact with said driven drum.
- 5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein said peripheral surface of said driven drum is textured, said textured peripheral surface configured to cooperate with said inner surface of said belt, whereby slippage between said belt and said driven drum is prevented.
- 6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 5 further comprising a plurality of equally spaced article receiving apertures defined by said belt, said apertures being of a shape to fit said articles, and a plurality of equally spaced plugs disposed about said peripheral surface of said driven drum, each of said plugs extending radially outward from said peripheral surface, each of said plugs configured to fit snugly into a corresponding aperture when said belt is in contact with said driven drum.
- 7. An apparatus for intermittently feeding a series of like articles along a path so as to present them in succession to a plurality of operation stations where operations are performed upon said articles in sequence, of the type having at least one pair of spaced drums mounted respectively on parallel axes of rotation, each of said drums having a respective peripheral surface, one of said drums being a driven drum, a substantially non-stretchable belt passing around said drums, said belt having an inner surface, said inner surface being at least partially in direct contact with at least part of said peripheral surface of said driven drum, said peripheral surface of said driven drum being substantially non-deformable when subjected to the normal operating tension of said belt, and means for intermittently driving said driven drum whereby to move said belt intermittently a predetermined distance, said belt being driven by said driven drum at an operating pitch diameter, said operating pitch diameter being substantially equal to the diameter of said driven drum, said driven drum having a plurality of ribs disposed axially about said peripheral surface of said driven drum, each of said ribs having a form notably long in comparison to its width, said ribs extending radially outward from said peripheral surface of said driven drum.
- 8. An apparatus for intermittently feeding a series of like articles along a path so as to present them in succession to a plurality of operation stations where operations are performed upon said articles in sequence, of the type having at least one pair of spaced drums mounted respectively on parallel axes of rotation, each of said drums having a respective peripheral surface, one of said drums being a driven drum, a substantially non-stretchable belt passing around said drums, said belt having an inner surface, said inner surface being at least partially in direct contact with at least part of said peripheral surface of said driven drum, said peripheral surface of said driven drum being substantially non-deformable when subjected to the normal operating tension of said belt, and means for intermittently driving said driven drum whereby to move said belt intermittently a predetermined distance, said belt being driven by said driven drum at an operating pitch diameter, said driven drum having a plurality of ribs disposed axially about said peripheral surface of said driven drum, each of said ribs having a form notably long in comparison to its width, said ribs extending radially outward from said peripheral surface of said driven drum and elastically deforming portions of said inner surface of said belt when said portions are adjacent said rib without affecting said operating pitch diameter.
- 9. An apparatus for intermittently feeding a series of like articles along a path so as to present them in succession to a plurality of operation stations where operations are performed upon said articles in sequence, of the type having at least one pair of spaced drums mounted respectively on parallel axes of rotation, each of said drums having a respective peripheral surface, one of said drums being a driven drum, a substantially non-stretchable belt passing around said drums, said belt having an inner surface, said inner surface being at least partially in direct contact with at least part of said peripheral surface of said driven drum, said peripheral surface of said driven drum being substantially non-deformable when subjected to the normal operating tension of said belt, and means for intermittently driving said driven drum whereby to move said belt intermittently a predetermined distance, said belt being driven by said driven drum at an operating pitch diameter, said driven drum including means for substantially preventing slippage between said driven drum and said belt without affecting said operating pitch diameter said means including a plurality of ribs disposed axially about said peripheral surface of said driven drum, each of said ribs having a form notably long in comparison to its width, said ribs extending radially outward from said peripheral surface of said driven drum.
- 10. An apparatus for intermittently feeding a series of like articles along a path so as to present them in succession to a plurality of operation stations where operations are performed upon said articles in sequence, of the type having at least one pair of spaced drums mounted respectively on parallel axes of rotation, each of said drums having a respective peripheral surface, one of said drums being a driven drum, a substantially non-stretchable belt passing around said drums, said belt having an inner surface, said inner surface being disposed adjacent at least a part of said peripheral surface of said driven drum, said inner surface being in direct contact with at least a major portion of said peripheral surface of said driven drum, said peripheral surface of said driven drum being substantially non-deformable when subjected to the normal operating tension of said belt, and means for intermittently driving said driven drum whereby to move said belt intermittently a predetermined distance, said driven drum having a plurality of ribs disposed axially about said peripheral surface of said driven drum, each of said ribs having a form notably long in comparison to its width, said ribs extending radially outward from said peripheral surface of said driven drum.
Parent Case Info
This is a division, of application Ser. No. 07,262,526, filed Oct. 25, 1988, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,025,916.
US Referenced Citations (10)
Foreign Referenced Citations (5)
Number |
Date |
Country |
B4416485 |
Jan 1986 |
AUX |
2057334 |
Jun 1972 |
DEX |
3234724A1 |
Mar 1984 |
DEX |
2042949 |
Oct 1980 |
GBX |
2111414 |
Jul 1983 |
GBX |
Divisions (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
262526 |
Oct 1988 |
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