Claims
- 1. In assembly apparatus for multiple piece container closures and the like, a plurality of individual vertically oriented workpiece holders, each having an upper workpiece receiving surface, means mounting said holders for movement thereof through a plurality of separate assembly stations, a pressurized air distribution assembly associated with said holders, said air distribution assembly comprising a horizontally oriented distributor plate including a horizontal surface and a peripheral edge, said distributor plate incorporating a vacuum passage and a positive pressure passage for each holder, said vacuum and positive pressure passages each having a first inlet end opening through the horizontal surface of the distributor plate and a second outlet end opening through the peripheral edge of the distributor plate, positive pressure lines extending from the positive pressure passage outlet ends to the associated holders, vacuum pressure lines extending from the vacuum pressure passage outlet ends to the associated holders, each holder including a positive pressure passage therethrough communicated with the associated positive pressure line and opening upwardly generally centrally through said holder for an upward discharge of positive pressure, and a vacuum passage communicated with the associated vacuum line and opening upward through a peripheral groove defined in the upper surface of the holder for the development of a vacuum effect peripherally about the holder, said distributor plate moving with said holders, and a fixed position valve plate overlying said horizontal surface of said distributor plate for a selective closing of the inlet ends of the distributor plate passages remote from the associated lines, said valve plate including an elongated vertically opening vacuum chamber oriented to selectively communicate with the vacuum passage inlet ends in the distributor plate to communicate with these passages as the corresponding holders travel along a predetermined section of the path of travel thereof, and a vertically opening positive pressure chamber in said valve plate oriented to selectively communicate with the positive pressure passage inlet ends in the distributor plate as the corresponding holders move along another selected portion of the path of travel thereof, the vertically opening vacuum chamber within the valve plate being of an elongated arcuate configuration, the inlet ends of the vacuum passages in said distributor plate being arranged about a circular path for sequential alignment with the arcuate vacuum chamber of the valve plate, said vertically opening positive pressure chamber being of an arcuate configuration and substantially shorter than the vacuum chamber and both circumferentially and radially offset from the elongated arcuate vacuum chamber, the inlet ends of the positive pressure passages in the distributor plate being arranged about a circular path radially spaced from the circular path of the inlet ends of the vacuum passages from selective alignment with the positive pressure chamber, the orientation of the positive pressure chamber and vacuum chamber being such whereby the positive pressure passage associated with each holder is communicated with the positive pressure chamber subsequent to movement of the vacuum passage, associated with the same holder, out of communication with the vacuum chamber.
- 2. The assembly apparatus of claim 1 including radially outwardly directed grooves communicating with the peripheral groove in the upper surface of the holder and projecting outwardly therefrom at spaced points about the upper surface of the holder.
- 3. The assembly apparatus of claim 2 wherein selected ones of said radial grooves are positioned closely adjacent each other at at least one point about the peripheral groove.
- 4. The assembly apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means mounting said holders for movement thereof through a plurality of assembly stations comprises a horizontal rotating table with the holders fixed thereto in a generally circular arrangement thereabout, said distributor plate being fixed to said table centrally within the holders for rotation therewith, said vacuum plate overlying said distributor plate, means fixing said vacuum plate against movement whereby said distributor plate will rotate therebeneath, and means resiliently biasing said vacuum plate into engagement with the upper surface of the distributor plate to provide a sealing effect therebetween.
- 5. The assembly apparatus of claim 1 wherein said valve plate includes a second elongated arcuate vertically opening vacuum chamber and a second relatively shorter vertically opening arcuate positive pressure chamber respectively duplicating and being orientated substantially diametrically opposed from the first mentioned vacuum chamber and positive pressure chamber.
Parent Case Info
This is a division of application Ser. No. 586,011, filed June 11, 1975 now U.S. Pat. No. 4,047,473.
US Referenced Citations (6)
Divisions (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
586011 |
Jun 1975 |
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