Transverse displacement mechanism for compact disc packaging machine

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6381922
  • Patent Number
    6,381,922
  • Date Filed
    Tuesday, July 25, 2000
    24 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, May 7, 2002
    22 years ago
Abstract
The present invention mainly relates to a transverse displacement mechanism for a compact disc packaging machine includes a working table, an intermittent driving member, a motor, a rocking lever set, and a plurality of transverse displacement frames. The rocking lever set includes two parallel front curved rocking levers, two parallel rear curved rocking levers, two triangular first rotary blocks, two L-shaped second rotary blocks, and two parallel inner curved rocking levers. In operation, the front curved rocking levers, the rear curved rocking levers, and the inner curved rocking levers co-operate with each other to form an eddy state during operation. In such a manner, most of the components of the rocking lever set are hidden in the working table so that the operation of the rocking lever set can be mainly performed in the working table mainly, thereby greatly saving the space of the transverse displacement mechanism for a compact disc packaging machine.
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




1. Field of the Invention




The present invention primarily relates to a transverse displacement mechanism, and more particularly to a transverse displacement mechanism for a compact disc packaging machine.




2. Description of the Related Art




The closest prior art of which the applicant is aware is disclosed in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,816,028 to Zaniboni, filed on Jun. 13, 1996, entitled by “COMPACT DISC PACKAGING MACHINE”.




However, the parallel rocking supports


89


, the T-shaped bell cranks


79


and


87


, and the links


91


of the driving device of the compact disc packaging machine are all exposed on the working table to co-operate with each other for processing the operation of the compact disc packaging machine so that the driving device occupies a large space of the factory and easily interfere with the view of the operator due to its large volume. In addition, the motor


43


works in conjunction with a transmission


73


so as to transmit the power to a plurality of T-shaped bell cranks


79


and


87


and links


91


, and the T-shaped bell cranks


79


and


87


and the links


91


then drive the rocking supports


89


to move. Therefore, the operation of the rocking supports


89


are effected by at least two driving members, thereby greatly decreasing the stability of the operation of the rocking supports


89


. Further, the conventional compact disc packaging machine has a complex construction consists of many components, thereby increasing the cost of fabrication.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the disadvantage of the conventional compact disc packaging machine.




In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a transverse displacement mechanism for a compact disc packaging machine comprising:




a working table;




an intermittent driving member mounted on the working table and having two sides each provided with an upper power output shaft and a lower output shaft, and having one end provided with a power input shaft for rotating the upper power output shaft and the lower output shaft;




a motor mounted on the intermittent driving member for rotating the power input shaft;




a rocking lever set mounted on the working table and symmetrically mounted on the two sides of the intermittent driving member, the rocking lever set including:




two upper rotary arms each secured on the upper power output shaft to rotate therewith;




two lower rotary arms each secured on the lower power output shaft to rotate therewith;




two parallel front curved rocking levers each having a first end pivotally mounted on a front end of each of the two upper rotary arms;




two parallel rear curved rocking levers each having an upper end pivotally mounted on a second end of each of the two front curved rocking levers by a first pivot axle and each having a lower end extending into the working table;




two triangular first rotary blocks each having a central portion pivotally mounted in the working table and each having a first end pivotally mounted on the lower end of each of the two rear curved rocking levers;




two first linking levers each located in the working table and each having a first end pivotally mounted on a second end of each of the two first rotary blocks;




two L-shaped second rotary blocks each having a central portion pivotally mounted in the working table and each having a first end and a mediate portion located between the first end and the central portion and pivotally connected with a second end of each of the two first linking levers;




two second linking levers each located in the working table and each having a first end pivotally mounted on the first end of each of the two second rotary blocks and a second end pivotally mounted on a front end of each of the two lower rotary arms; and




two parallel inner curved rocking levers each having an upper end pivotally mounted on a second pivot axle and each having a lower end extending into the working table and pivotally mounted on a second end of each of the two second rotary blocks; and




a plurality of transverse displacement frames each having a first end secured on the first pivot axle and a second end secured on the second pivot axle, and each including at least one vacuum sucker;




wherein, the front curved rocking levers, the rear curved rocking levers, and the inner curved rocking levers co-operate with each other to form an eddy state during operation, and




wherein, the first pivot axle and the second pivot axle are in parallel with each other.




Further benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after a careful reading of the detailed description with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS





FIG. 1

is a perspective view of a transverse displacement mechanism for a compact disc packaging machine in accordance with the present invention;





FIG. 2

is an enlarged view of the transverse displacement mechanism as shown in

FIG. 1

;





FIG. 3

is an exploded view of the transverse displacement mechanism as shown in

FIG. 2

;





FIG. 4

is a side plan view of the transverse displacement mechanism as shown in

FIG. 2

;





FIG. 5

is an operational view of the transverse displacement mechanism as shown in

FIG. 4

;





FIG. 6

is an operational view of the transverse displacement mechanism as shown in

FIG. 5

;





FIG. 7

is an operational view of the transverse displacement mechanism as shown in

FIG. 6

;





FIG. 8

is an operational view of the transverse displacement mechanism as shown in

FIG. 7

; and





FIG. 9

is an operational view of the transverse displacement mechanism as shown in FIG.


8


.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION




Referring to the drawings and initially to

FIGS. 1-4

, a transverse displacement mechanism for a compact disc packaging machine in accordance with the present invention comprises a working table


20


, an intermittent driving member


30


, a motor


40


, a rocking lever set


50


, and a plurality of transverse displacement frames


60


.




The working table


20


is provided with a set of automatic feeding equipment.




The intermittent driving member


30


is mounted on the working table


20


and has two sides each provided with an upper power output shaft


31


and a lower output shaft


32


, and has a top end provided with a power input shaft


33


for rotating the upper power output shaft


31


and the lower output shaft


32


.




The motor


40


is mounted on the intermittent driving member


30


for rotating the power input shaft


33


.




The rocking lever set


50


is mounted on the working table


20


and symmetrically mounted on the two sides of the intermittent driving member


30


. The rocking lever set


50


includes: two upper rotary arms


511


each secured on the upper power output shaft


31


to rotate therewith; two lower rotary arms


512


each secured on the lower power output shaft


32


to rotate therewith; two parallel front curved rocking levers


53


each having a first end pivotally mounted on a front end of each of the two upper rotary arms


511


; two parallel rear curved rocking levers


55


each having an upper end pivotally mounted on a second end of each of the two front curved rocking levers


53


by a first pivot axle


541


and each having a lower end extending into the working table


20


; two triangular first rotary blocks


57


each having a central portion pivotally mounted in the working table


20


and each having a first end


570


pivotally mounted on the lower end of each of the two rear curved rocking levers


55


; two first linking levers


581


each located in the working table


20


and each having a first end pivotally mounted on a second end


572


of each of the two first rotary blocks


57


; two L-shaped second rotary blocks


59


each having a central portion pivotally mounted in the working table


20


and each having a first end


591


and a mediate portion


590


located between the first end


591


and the central portion and pivotally connected with a second end of each of the two first linking levers


581


; two second linking levers


582


each located in the working table


20


and each having a first end pivotally mounted on the first end


591


of each of the two second rotary blocks


59


and a second end pivotally mounted on a front end of each of the two lower rotary arms


512


; and two parallel inner curved rocking levers


52


each having an upper end pivotally mounted on a second pivot axle


542


and each having a lower end extending into the working table


20


and pivotally mounted on a second end


592


of each of the two second rotary blocks


59


.




Each of the transverse displacement frames


60


is provided with a plurality of one vacuum suckers


61


, and has a first end secured on the first pivot axle


541


and a second end secured on the second pivot axle


542


.




It is appreciated that, the front curved rocking levers


53


, the rear curved rocking levers


54


, and the inner curved rocking levers


52


co-operate with each other to form an eddy state during operation, and the first pivot axle


541


and the second pivot axle


542


are in parallel with each other.




The first end


570


of each of the two first rotary blocks


57


is pivotally mounted on the lower end of each of the two rear curved rocking levers


55


by a pivot rod


56


. The pivot rod


56


is also in parallel with the first pivot axle


541


and the second pivot axle


542


.




In operation, referring to

FIG. 4

with reference to

FIGS. 1-3

, before operation of the transverse displacement mechanism of the present invention, the upper rotary arm


511


is retained at the position of 90 degrees while the lower rotary arm


512


is retained at the position of 370 degrees. It is to be noted that, when the upper rotary arm


511


is vertically directed downward, the upper rotary arm


511


is retained at the position of 0 degrees, and when the lower rotary arm


512


is vertically directed downward, the lower rotary arm


512


is retained at the position of 0 degrees.




As shown in

FIG. 4

, the parallel front curved rocking levers


53


are moved rightward by the upper rotary arms


5




11


to the rightmost position while the pivot axle


541


and the parallel rear curved rocking levers


55


are also moved rightward by front curved rocking levers


53


to the rightmost position. At the same time, the linking levers


582


are moved by the lower rotary arms


512


to retain the first end


591


of each of the L-shaped rotary blocks


59


at a vertical state while the parallel inner curved rocking levers


52


are lifted by the second end


592


of each of the L-shaped rotary blocks


59


. At the same time, the linking levers


581


co-operate with the parallel rear curved rocking levers


55


to rotate the triangular rotary blocks


57


to slightly incline leftward whereby the parallel rear curved rocking levers


55


and the pivot axle


541


are also lifted.




In such a manner, when the upper rotary arm


511


is retained at the position of 90 degrees, and the lower rotary arm


512


is retained at the position of 370 degrees, the transverse displacement frames


60


are retained at an upper position of its rightmost state. In such a situation, the vacuum suckers


61


of the transverse displacement frames


60


are not in contact with the parts of the compact disc packaging machine.




Referring now to

FIG. 5

with reference to

FIGS. 1-3

, the transverse displacement mechanism of the present invention starts operating. The upper rotary arm


511


is still retained at the position of 90 degrees while the lower rotary arm


512


is rotated to the position of 10 degrees. The upper rotary arms


511


are not moved so that the parallel front curved rocking levers


53


, the pivot axle


541


, and the parallel rear curved rocking levers


55


are retained at the rightmost position. The linking levers


582


are moved rightward by the lower rotary arms


512


to push the first end


591


of each of the L-shaped rotary blocks


59


to incline rightward while the parallel inner curved rocking levers


52


are lowered by the second end


592


of each of the L-shaped rotary blocks


59


. At the same time, the linking levers


581


co-operate with the parallel rear curved rocking levers


55


to rotate the triangular rotary blocks


57


which is then disposed at a horizontal state whereby the parallel rear curved rocking levers


55


and the pivot axle


541


are also lowered.




In such a manner, when the upper rotary arm


511


is retained at the position of 90 degrees, and the lower rotary arm


512


is retained at the position of 10 degrees, the transverse displacement frames


60


are retained at a lower position of its rightmost state. In such a situation, the vacuum suckers


61


of the transverse displacement frames


60


are moved downward to suck the parts of the compact disc packaging machine.




Referring now to

FIG. 6

with reference to

FIGS. 1-3

, the upper rotary arm


511


is rotated to the position of 180 degrees while the lower rotary arm


512


is rotated to the position of 370 degrees. The parallel front curved rocking levers


53


and the pivot axle


541


are moved leftward by the upper rotary arms


511


. At the same time, the linking levers


582


are moved leftward by the lower rotary arms


512


to again retain the first end


591


of each of the L-shaped rotary blocks


59


at a vertical state while the parallel inner curved rocking levers


52


are lifted by the second end


592


of each of the L-shaped rotary blocks


59


. At the same time, the linking levers


581


co-operate with the parallel rear curved rocking levers


55


to rotate the triangular rotary blocks


57


to slightly incline leftward whereby the parallel rear curved rocking levers


55


and the pivot axle


541


are also lifted.




In such a manner, when the upper rotary arm


511


is retained at the position of 180 degrees, and the lower rotary arm


512


is retained at the position of 370 degrees, the transverse displacement frames


60


are moved from right to left and are retained at an upper position. In such a situation, the vacuum suckers


61


of the transverse displacement frames


60


will carry the parts of the compact disc packaging machine from right to left.




Referring now to

FIG. 7

with reference to

FIGS. 1-3

, the upper rotary arm


511


is rotated to the position of 270 degrees while the lower rotary arm


512


is rotated to the position of 10 degrees. The parallel front curved rocking levers


53


and the pivot axle


541


are then moved by the upper rotary arms


511


to the leftmost position. The linking levers


582


are moved rightward by the lower rotary arms


512


to push the first end


591


of each of the L-shaped rotary blocks


59


to incline rightward while the parallel inner curved rocking levers


52


are lowered by the second end


592


of each of the L-shaped rotary blocks


59


. At the same time, the linking levers


581


co-operate with the parallel rear curved rocking levers


55


to rotate the triangular rotary blocks


57


which is then disposed at a horizontal state whereby the parallel rear curved rocking levers


55


and the pivot axle


541


are also lowered.




In such a manner, when the upper rotary arm


511


is retained at the position of 270 degrees, and the lower rotary arm


512


is retained at the position of 10 degrees, the transverse displacement frames


60


are retained at a lower position of its leftmost state. In such a situation, the vacuum suckers


61


of the transverse displacement frames


60


are moved downward to release the parts of the compact disc packaging machine.




Referring now to

FIG. 8

with reference to

FIGS. 1-3

, the upper rotary arm


511


is retained the position of 270 degrees while the lower rotary arm


512


is rotated to the position of 370 degrees. The parallel front curved rocking levers


53


and the pivot axle


541


are retained at the leftmost position. At the same time, the linking levers


582


are moved leftward by the lower rotary arms


512


to again retain the first end


591


of each of the L-shaped rotary blocks


59


at a vertical state while the parallel inner curved rocking levers


52


are lifted by the second end


592


of each of the L-shaped rotary blocks


59


. At the same time, the linking levers


581


co-operate with the parallel rear curved rocking levers


55


to rotate the triangular rotary blocks


57


to slightly incline leftward whereby the parallel rear curved rocking levers


55


and the pivot axle


541


are also lifted.




In such a manner, when the upper rotary arm


511


is retained at the position of 270 degrees, and the lower rotary arm


512


is retained at the position of 370 degrees, the transverse displacement frames


60


are retained at an upper position of the leftmost state. In such a situation, the vacuum suckers


61


of the transverse displacement frames


60


are lifted after the parts of the compact disc packaging machine are released.




Referring now to

FIG. 9

with reference to

FIGS. 1-3

, the upper rotary arm


511


is rotated to the position of 0 degrees while the lower rotary arm


512


is retained at the position of 370 degrees. The parallel front curved rocking levers


53


and the pivot axle


541


are moved rightward. At the same time, the linking levers


582


are used to retain the first end


591


of each of the L-shaped rotary blocks


59


at a vertical state while the parallel inner curved rocking levers


52


are lifted by the second end


592


of each of the L-shaped rotary blocks


59


. At the same time, the linking levers


581


co-operate with the parallel rear curved rocking levers


55


to rotate the triangular rotary blocks


57


to slightly incline leftward whereby the parallel rear curved rocking levers


55


and the pivot axle


541


are also lifted.




In such a manner, when the upper rotary arm


511


is retained at the position of 0 degrees, and the lower rotary arm


512


is retained at the position of 370 degrees, the transverse displacement frames


60


are moved from left to right, and is retained at an upper position. In such a situation, the vacuum suckers


61


of the transverse displacement frames


60


are moved from left to right.




Finally, returning now to

FIG. 4

, the upper rotary arm


511


is retained at the position of 90 degrees while the lower rotary arm


512


is retained at the position of 370 degrees. In such a manner, the transverse displacement frames


60


are retained at an upper position of its rightmost state. In such a situation, the vacuum suckers


61


of the transverse displacement frames


60


are not in contact with the parts of the compact disc packaging machine.




Accordingly, according to the transverse displacement mechanism of the present invention, the front curved rocking levers


53


, the rear curved rocking levers


54


, and the inner curved rocking levers


52


of the rocking lever set


30


co-operate with each other to form an eddy state during operation so that most of the components of the rocking lever set


50


are hidden in the working table


20


as shown in

FIG. 1

whereby the operation of the rocking lever set


50


is mainly performed in the working table


20


, so as to save the space of the transverse displacement mechanism for a compact disc packaging machine, thereby reducing the volume on the working surface of the working table


20


, and thereby increasing the space of the factory without interfering with the view of the operator.




In addition, the power is supplied by the motor


40


in conjunction with the intermittent driving member


30


without having to provide multiple sets of actuating devices co-operating with each other as are disclosed in the prior art of U.S. Pat. No. 5,816,028 so as to directly reduce the members, thereby simplifying the structure of the transverse displacement mechanism of the present invention, and saving the cost of fabrication. Further, the operation of the rocking lever set


50


of the present invention is stable by the motor


40


in conjunction with the intermittent driving member


30


.




It should be clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.



Claims
  • 1. A transverse displacement mechanism for a compact disc packaging machine comprising:a working table (20); an intermittent driving member (30) mounted on said working table (20) and having two sides each provided with an upper power output shaft (31) and a lower output shaft (32), and having one end provided with a power input shaft (33) for rotating said upper power output shaft (31) and said lower output shaft (32); a motor (40) mounted on said intermittent driving member (30) for rotating said power input shaft (33); a rocking lever set (50) mounted on said working table (20) and symmetrically mounted on said two sides of said intermittent driving member (30), said rocking lever set (50) including: two upper rotary arms (511) each secured on said upper power output shaft (31) to rotate therewith; two lower rotary arms (512) each secured on said lower power output shaft (32) to rotate therewith; two parallel front curved rocking levers (53) each having a first end pivotally mounted on a front end of each of said two upper rotary arms (511); two parallel rear curved rocking levers (55) each having an upper end pivotally mounted on a second end of each of said two front curved rocking levers (53) by a first pivot axle (541) and each having a lower end extending into said working table (20); two triangular first rotary blocks (57) each having a central portion pivotally mounted in said working table (20) and each having a first end (570) pivotally mounted on said lower end of each of said two rear curved rocking levers (55); two first linking levers (581) each located in said working table (20) and each having a first end pivotally mounted on a second end (572) of each of said two first rotary blocks (57); two L-shaped second rotary blocks (59) each having a central portion pivotally mounted in said working table (20) and each having a first end (591) and a mediate portion (590) located between said first end (591) and said central portion and pivotally connected with a second end of each of said two first linking levers (581); two second linking levers (582) each located in said working table (20) and each having a first end pivotally mounted on said first end (591) of each of said two second rotary blocks (59) and a second end pivotally mounted on a front end of each of said two lower rotary arms (512); and two parallel inner curved rocking levers (52) each having an upper end pivotally mounted on a second pivot axle (542) and each having a lower end extending into said working table (20) and pivotally mounted on a second end (592) of each of said two second rotary blocks (59); and a plurality of transverse displacement frames (60) each having a first end secured on said first pivot axle (541) and a second end secured on said second pivot axle (542), and each including at least one vacuum sucker (61); wherein, said front curved rocking levers (53), said rear curved rocking levers (54), and said inner curved rocking levers (52) co-operate with each other to form an eddy state during operation, and wherein, said first pivot axle (541) and said second pivot axle (542) are in parallel with each other.
  • 2. The transverse displacement mechanism in accordance with claim 1, wherein said first end (570) of each of said two first rotary blocks (57) is pivotally mounted on said lower end of each of said two rear curved rocking levers (55) by a pivot rod (56).
  • 3. The transverse displacement mechanism in accordance with claim 2, wherein said pivot rod (56) is in parallel with said first pivot axle (541) and said second pivot axle (542).
US Referenced Citations (5)
Number Name Date Kind
5163271 Pan et al. Nov 1992 A
5207050 Fulkerson May 1993 A
5285620 Kaye Feb 1994 A
5341624 Kaye Aug 1994 A
5816028 Zaniboni Oct 1998 A