IE83381B1 - Modular pneumatic pop-up units for conveyor system - Google Patents
Modular pneumatic pop-up units for conveyor systemInfo
- Publication number
- IE83381B1 IE83381B1 IE1999/0864A IE990864A IE83381B1 IE 83381 B1 IE83381 B1 IE 83381B1 IE 1999/0864 A IE1999/0864 A IE 1999/0864A IE 990864 A IE990864 A IE 990864A IE 83381 B1 IE83381 B1 IE 83381B1
- Authority
- IE
- Ireland
- Prior art keywords
- piston
- unit
- seal
- pop
- side wall
- Prior art date
Links
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims description 7
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 claims description 7
- 238000007906 compression Methods 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000004891 communication Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 230000000717 retained Effects 0.000 claims description 2
- 210000002445 Nipples Anatomy 0.000 description 4
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 3
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 3
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 3
- 229910001369 Brass Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 241000719190 Chloroscombrus Species 0.000 description 2
- 235000016639 Syzygium aromaticum Nutrition 0.000 description 2
- 240000005147 Syzygium aromaticum Species 0.000 description 2
- 239000010951 brass Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000003028 elevating Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000000465 moulding Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000005096 rolling process Methods 0.000 description 2
- 229910000975 Carbon steel Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 241000083551 Ena Species 0.000 description 1
- 206010022114 Injury Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 241000272168 Laridae Species 0.000 description 1
- 239000000853 adhesive Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000001070 adhesive Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000010962 carbon steel Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000003247 decreasing Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000001747 exhibiting Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000005484 gravity Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000002347 injection Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000007924 injection Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000001746 injection moulding Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000007689 inspection Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000003754 machining Methods 0.000 description 1
- VNWKTOKETHGBQD-UHFFFAOYSA-N methane Chemical compound C VNWKTOKETHGBQD-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000002991 molded plastic Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000004033 plastic Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000000750 progressive Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000284 resting Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000007789 sealing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000009987 spinning Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000010935 stainless steel Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910001220 stainless steel Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 238000003860 storage Methods 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
- B65G13/00—Roller-ways
- B65G13/11—Roller frames
- B65G13/12—Roller frames adjustable
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
- B65G39/00—Rollers, e.g. drive rollers, or arrangements thereof incorporated in roller-ways or other types of mechanical conveyors
- B65G39/02—Adaptations of individual rollers and supports therefor
- B65G39/025—Adaptations of individual rollers and supports therefor having spherical roller elements
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F15—FLUID-PRESSURE ACTUATORS; HYDRAULICS OR PNEUMATICS IN GENERAL
- F15B—SYSTEMS ACTING BY MEANS OF FLUIDS IN GENERAL; FLUID-PRESSURE ACTUATORS, e.g. SERVOMOTORS; DETAILS OF FLUID-PRESSURE SYSTEMS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F15B15/00—Fluid-actuated devices for displacing a member from one position to another; Gearing associated therewith
- F15B15/08—Characterised by the construction of the motor unit
- F15B15/14—Characterised by the construction of the motor unit of the straight-cylinder type
- F15B15/1423—Component parts; Constructional details
- F15B15/1433—End caps
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F15—FLUID-PRESSURE ACTUATORS; HYDRAULICS OR PNEUMATICS IN GENERAL
- F15B—SYSTEMS ACTING BY MEANS OF FLUIDS IN GENERAL; FLUID-PRESSURE ACTUATORS, e.g. SERVOMOTORS; DETAILS OF FLUID-PRESSURE SYSTEMS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F15B15/00—Fluid-actuated devices for displacing a member from one position to another; Gearing associated therewith
- F15B15/08—Characterised by the construction of the motor unit
- F15B15/14—Characterised by the construction of the motor unit of the straight-cylinder type
- F15B15/1423—Component parts; Constructional details
- F15B15/1447—Pistons; Piston to piston rod assemblies
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16C—SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS
- F16C13/00—Rolls, drums, discs, or the like; Bearings or mountings therefor
- F16C13/02—Bearings
- F16C13/04—Bearings with only partial enclosure of the member to be borne; Bearings with local support at two or more points
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16C—SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS
- F16C23/00—Bearings for exclusively rotary movement adjustable for aligning or positioning
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16C—SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS
- F16C29/00—Bearings for parts moving only linearly
- F16C29/04—Ball or roller bearings
- F16C29/045—Ball or roller bearings having rolling elements journaled in one of the moving parts
- F16C29/046—Ball or roller bearings having rolling elements journaled in one of the moving parts with balls journaled in pockets
Description
MODULAR PNEUMATIC POP—UP UNITS FOR CONVEYOR SYSTEM
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to material handling in general, and specifically to
conveyor systems, and still more specifically to pneumatically operated anti-friction
pop-up ball transfers and anti-skid plunger pads. I
.. Background
Rollentype and belt conveyors are based on a design where the load conveyed
tzavels in an essentially linear manner. Conventional conveyors ufilize rollers or skate
wheels, where the direction of nansit on the conveyor is perpendicular to the axes of
rotation of the rollers. Other conveyors utilize belts, which are driven by rollers at
either end. Roller conveyors may be powered, gravity feed, or passive, where a person
can manually move the load to be conveyed. Belt conveyors are usually powered.
Conventional conveyors are adequate in most cases from a material—handling
standpoint, for example when the conveyed load is being simply transferred from one
point to another, or where the load does not need to be reoriented, repositioned or
transferred firom the conveyor.
Roller-type and belt conveyors, due to their linear—transit design, have
shortcomings where a load needs to be reoriented, held stationary, or taken out of the
conveyance stream. An example is where the conveyor connects multiple stations of
an assembly area. A single rol1er—type or belt conveyor can be used to bring work-in-
prooess to multiple workbenches, each bench responsible for similar or different
processing. Another example is where the worl<—in-process needs td be worked on
while situated on a roller—type conveyor, Where it is di.fi'1cult to hold the worlc—in—
process stationary on the rollers- In such cases, ball transfers and / or anti-skid
plungers have been successfully used to provide a means for easily , manoeuvring
loads, Of h01ding them steady for processing. Ball transfers and plunger pads have
been used to converta simple conveyor into a progressive assembly line.
The operation of the ball transfer is relatively simple. The transfers are
essentially a series of primary ball bearings that are individually supported by a
manifold that is positioned along a conveyor path. When integrated with a conveyor
' track, the ball transfer units are typically arranged in a strip or a supporting plate
which is secured across the side rails of a conveyor track. In a roller-type conveyor,
the primary ball of the transfers can be in a retracted position within their housings,
such that the balls do not extend above the rollers of the conveyor. When extended,
the balls rise to a plane above the rollers, such that any load located over the ban
transfer is now resting on the balls, above the conveyor rollers. The load may then be
freely moved about in two dimensions, allowing it to be reoriented, aligned, or diverted
to a track, bench or cart branching off the main conveyor, etc. Ball transfers are also
used with belt conveyors, for example where plural belts driven by a single end roller
are joined at their endpoint by pop-up transfers. Plungers are employed in a similar
manner, for use in stably elevating a load.
Pop—up ball transfers and anti-skid plungers are not limited to use within a
conveyor path or track. The transfers may be recess—mounted into a flush work
surface, such as a table or bench top, such that a load may be manoeuvring into a
desired position when the balls are extendcxi. Lowering the balls into the recesses
‘ then brings the load into stable contact with the table or bench top for processing,
inspection, storage, and the like. Anti—sk:id pop-up plungers can also be used to stably
hold the work while processing is performed, for example as a companion to fixed balls
and / or rollers mounted on a work surface, or in a roller or skate—whccl style or belt
type Conveyor.
Pop-up ball transfers in particular have also been mounted on or recessed into
the surfaces of mobile or stationary scissor—lifts, transfer carts, utility carts, etc. With
the balls extended, a load may maneuvered onto the cart from an adjoining
conveyor or ball transfer module. When the balls are retracted into the surface_ the
load may be safely and stably transported. Similarly, anti-skid pop—up plungers can
also be used to stably hold the work while processing is performed, or for elevating a
load in a stable fashion above fixed balls or skate wheels mounted in the surface of the
cart. Pop-up plungers can also be used as a companion to pop—up ball transfers.
The potential uses for pop-up ball transfers and anti-skid plungcrs are, as can
be seen, very numerous. Because the number of possible arrangements of material
handling and conveyor systems is virtually infinite, the possible uses for ball
transfer and arrti—sl
impossible to catalog here.
A single prior art ball transfer unit 100, as described in U.S. Patent 4,732,490,
the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference, is depicted in FIG. 1. In
use, this unit would be "ganged" with other ball transfer units arranged in a strip or
array. The anti—friction element comprises a main body 101, having a tubular portion
1 13 with a small first bore 102 entering from a top surface 103. The main body
consists of a tubular porfion 114 with a second bore 104 extending through it. This
tubular portion is closed at one end by the top wall 11 1 and closed at the other end by
a bottom wall 112. The top wall has the first bore 102 extending through it and
opening on its outer surface 103. The top wall has an integral tubular portion 1 13
extending from its inner surface having a bore whichis an extension of the small bore
102. A piston 105 is slidable in the large bore 104 and has a cylindrical stem 106 p
which is slidable in the small bore 102. A primary ball 107 ‘is rotatably mounted in the
stem 106 concentrically of the small bore and resides in a cavity 108 formed in the
stem. A coil spring 1 10 extends between the end of the tubular portion 1 13 of the top
wall and a facing surface of the piston 105. A connector 109 is provided for
introducing pressure air into the main body between the bottom wall 1 12 and the
piston 105 to move the piston, so that the ball protrudes out of the small bore.
The piston 105 and the stem 106 are integral and the stern and the piston have
the same cylindrical outer surface. The piston has two spaced radial flanges 119 and
between which lies a U—t:ype seal 12] whose flexible clement engages the surfac
e
of the second bore 104.
One disadvantage with the prior art design is that the tubular portion 113, afler
many cycles of pressurization of the transfer, may become loosened from the main
body 101. Under pressure or a gas admitted through the connector 109 or under
force from the Spring 1 10, the piston and / or the tubular portion 1 13 may be forcefuuy
ejected from the main body 101, causing injury or damage to inventory.
A further disadvantage with the prior art design is that the machining of the
piston 105 with flanges 119 and 120 to receive the Seal 121 is labor intensive and
thércforc C°$dy- A3 the Piston i5 machined on a screw machine excessive tolerances
may be introduced into the dimensions of the parts.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides for a safe and rugged pop—up pncujnatjc unit
which is simple to manufacture, and less costly than the type described by the prior
art. Tighter tolerances are also realized, resulting in a more precision apparatus.
The present invention provides a pneumatic pop—up unit comprising:
a cylinder housing having a bottom wall and a side wall defining an internal
volume having an open top, the side wall extending upwards from the bottom wall and
extending outwards away from the internal volume to form a cylinder housing top wall;
a piston slidably received in said housing, said piston having a bottom wall and
a side wall defining an internal volume and having an open top;
a Contact clement held within the internal volume of the piston and at least
partially extending above the open top of the piston;
a seal attached to the outside surface of the side wall of the piston about the
circumference thereof, configured and arranged to form a substantially air-tight barrier with
the inside surface of the side wall of the cylinder housing, wherein the bottom wall of the
piston, and the seal form a substantially air-tight volume with the bottom wall and side wall of
the cylinder housing;
a cap, the cap having a flange and a central opening having a descending guide
channel sized to slidably receive the outside surface of the side wall of the piston, wherein the
cap is secured about its circumference to the top wall of the housing by a single-seam crimped,
rolled, coined, spun or swaged joint; and
a compression spring for biasing the piston toward the bottom of the cylinder
housing; wherein
in use, the sealed volume is adapted to receive gas under pressure to elevate and
suspend the piston against the bias of the spring such that the contact element is partially
extended above the cap.
Preferred features of the invention described herein include a pneumatic pop-up unit ‘
liaving a piston composed-of a multi-part construction of stamped, extruded or drawn metal,
leading to more ‘economic manufacture at closer tolerances resulting in a precision jiroducti
Another ' feature of the invention is a cap that is joined to the cylinder housing by
BRIEF DESCRIPTION or THE DRAWINGS
The foregoing and other features and advantages of the present invention will
be more fully understood from the following detailed description of an fllustrative '
embodiment, taken in conjunction with the accompanying in which:
FIG 1 is a cutaway View of a prior art ball transfer.
FIG 2 is a cutaway View of an exemplary embodiment of the ball transfer
according to the instant invention-
FIG 3 is a cutaway view of an exemplary embodiment of a popvup plunger or
pad according to the instant invention.
FIG 4 is a partial cutaway View showing another configuration of the joint
between the housing and the cap of an exemplary embodiment of the pneumatic pop-
up unit according to the invention.
FIG 5 is a partialcutaway View showing still another configuradon of the joint
between the housing the cap of an exemplary embodiment of the pneumatic pop-
up unit according to the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPHON OFA PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
' The present invention will be described herein with reference to an illustrative
embodiment of a pop~up pneumatic unit. As Will be described below, the invention is
applicable to pop«up ball transfers, plunger pads or stops, which use balls or plugs as
Contact elements.
A single ball transfer unit 210 according to an illustrative embodiment of the
instant invention is depicted in FIG. 2. In use thisunit would be "ganged" with other-
ball transfer units arranged in an array. The ball transfer 210 is shown mounted in a
. bore drilled into a surface 212, such as a Work surface or a strip, in the conventional
manner. The flange of the transfer is shown mounted recessed with respect to the
work surface 212, but it can also be mounted flush. A cylinder housing in the form of
a cup 214 hasa bottom wall and a side wall defining an interior volume 216. The
cylinder housing 214 is formed with an open top. The volume 2 16 is in fluid
communication with a brass nipple 218, which is connected to a controlled fluid
supply via a line (not shown). The nipple advantageously is dimensioned to aid in the
metering of gas therethrough, so as to provide smooth operation of the pop—up unit.
A piston 220, preferably formed of drawn or stamped metal, molded plastic, or the like is slidably
received in the volume 216. The piston 220 has a bottom wall and a side wall defining an open top
internal volume. A bearing ring 221 is preferably mounted to the outside of the side wall of the piston. It
may be fixedly attached to the piston by press fitting. However other known means such as
-v bonding, adhesives, and. the like can also be used. A U—cup or block~V seal 222 is
snugly fit over the piston 220 and abuts the bearing ring 221. The bearing ring ’
supports the seal 222 and prevents it from sliding up the piston 220. The seal is
preferably of the split design, which provides an annular channel 222a which when
subjected to pressure in the volume 2 16, acts to urge the outer leg of the against
the inner wall of the cylinder housing 214 and the inner leg of the seal against the
outer wall of the piston 220, creating a more effective seal. The U—cup or block-V seal
advantageous1y_provides.for smoother operation and less "breakaway" during
operation than with other seals such as O—rings.
The wall 224 of the piston 220 defines a receiving space for a bowl-shaped race
, which holds a plurality of secondary ball bearings 228. The race has a
circumference extending substantially about the drcumference of the internal volume
of the piston. The concavity of the race faces the open end of the piston as shown_
The secondary ball bearings in the race 226 support the primary ball 230, such that
the primary ball 230 is freely rotatable. The top of the wall 224 is constructed and arranged (in
the Figures coined or roller over at 224a) to retain the primary ball 230 in the piston 220.
A cap 234, preferably made of drawn metal, is lit into the top of the cylinder
214, with a central opening and an inside surface 242 providing a descending gtiidc
channel for the wall 224 of the piston 220. The cap 234 is fixed to the top of the
housing 214 by a sing1e—seam crimped, rolled, coined, spun or swaged joint at 236
around the entire peximeter- A flange 240 of the cap 234 provides a smooth transition
to the work surface 212,
A compression spring 232 is retained at an upper end thereof by the flange 240
and the descending wall 242, and at a lower end thereof by the stop 221a of the
bearing ring 221 as depicted. The stop 22 la of the bearing ring is preferably formed
by extruding, but other known manufacturing processes can also be used. The Spring
biases the piston downwardly, such that the ball is in a retracted position. The
bearing ring 22 1 helps to maintain the spring away from the piston 220 and the
housing wall 232. The spring may also advantageously have a top turn of the coil
—- inwardly or outwardly radially disposed to axially maintain the spring at the upper end
engaging the flange 240.
In operation, air or other gas under pressure is introduced into the volume 216
via the nipple 218. A sealed volume is defined by the piston 220, the seal 222, and
the cylinder housing 214. The pressure urges the piston 220 upward against the bias
of spring 232, and extends into the annular groove 222a of the seal 222, increasing
the efficiency of the seal. The primary ball 230 is thusly deployed above the cap 234.
The piston 220 is limited in its upward travel when stop 221a abuts surface 244 of the
cap 234. The pressure Within the volume 216 suspends the piston 220 and the
primary ball 230, as well as any load supported by the primary ball 230. The annular
groove 222a of the seal 222 receives the full pressure of the volume 216, allowing the
seal to more efliciently maintain the pressure in the volume 216, because the walls of
fhgscal 222 are urged into sealing relationship the wall of the cylinder housing
.
as a plug of any matexial, but the prefcmzd matctial is an clastomcric material such as methane or
rubber, exhibiting-desirable anti-skid The bumper, or pad, may advantageous]; in fanned
gzggxeaxtsstazicaihsipating nxateiiétl, forusewith static-scnsitiveloadsfiuchas '
dodronics components. ; Such bumpers, when clevatcd with a toadmop 331,,’ am
uscru1rorshppmfing1oadsmanaha.snamanhcr.1hchumpcmmajhcrmncaas
molded plugs, and inserted into the piston 220, followed by the coining of the piston at
2242:. A1tunatiVdy,fl1e1iston220maybep1e—ooinedat224a,andfl1e1flugsmo1d¢d
into the piston £0 by injection« or other molding processes, sud: as pom~ing_
To facilitate injection molding. alholc may be in_to the bottom of the! Piston.
which will be suljsequently scaled by the bumpct matc}iaL
flxesinge-seam crimped, rolled, coined. spun orswagedjoint 236ofthe.
instant invention advantageously provides _a joint that cannot be separated by "the
prcsslucs of oxdinaxy operation, even aftenmany cycles. Because the joint extends
around the entire circumference of the housing and the cap, there is virtually no
chanoeofseparaiion Compared to the p1i0raIt,WhC1‘cd1c cap was ctimpod in a
discrete number of places, the increase in safety of opemtiop is greatly enhanced.» --
'I\1miJ_ug now to FIG 4, another configuration of the joint 236 is depicted. ’lhe
joint 236 results from the cximpiug, rolling, coining, -spinning or svmginég the cap 234
irver the ena'241a of thehousing 214. In this example, both the housing wall and
and the cap 234 are deformed to form the joint. The flange 240 is defined on its
upper surface by the cap 234.
FIG 5 depicts still another configuration of the joint 236. In this example the
caps234 is shaped to comprise a vertically offset annulus 234a. The housing Wall 2 14
T is then crimped, rolled, coined, spun or swaged about the annulus 2 14a to form the
joint 236. The flange 24:) is formed by the surface defined by the cap 234
transitioning to the portion of the housing wall 214a above the surface 212.
The instant invention also makes use of drawn metal components, which are
less expensive per unit, and far easier to machine and more precise than the prior art
unit, further contributing to cost savings. For example, the peaning or swedging of the
top of the ball piston to retain the ball is relatively easy because of the thin wags of the
drawn metal cup construction. Another major advantage is that the assembled
product weighs far less than the prior art construction, reducing the cost of materials,
shipping, and decreasing the added cost of structural support needed to suspend an
array of the pop-up units, all the while increasing structural integrity.
In a preferred embodin1ent,mthe housing is a circular cylindrical cup having a diameter of about
3.8crn (11/2”), and a height of about 3.2cm (1%”). The cap, after being joined to the housing, has
a flange diameter of about 4.7cm (1 55/64”) and the bearing channel descends about 1.1cm
(7/16”) into the housing. The preferred ball in the ball transfer is a 25cm (1”) diameter ball
bearing. The ball bearing may be any suitable material, such as carbon steel, stainless steel,
brass, plastic, etc. The piston in the preferred embodiment is a circular cylindrical cup having a
diameter of about 2.9cm (11/8”) and a height of about 2.5cm (1”), which accommodates a race
therein. The preferred nipple has an orifice of about 0.102cm (0.040”). The unit can, of course,
be configured to virtually any size according to the intended use of the pop-up pneumatic unit.
Although the invention has been shown and described with respect to
exemplary embodiments thereof, various other changes, additions and omissions in
the form and detail thereof may be made therein without departing from the spirit and
scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims;
Further, although the cylinder, piston and cap of the unit
have been described as being fabricated of metal, other materials exhibiting ductility
or castability enabling rolling, stamping or drawing, cximping, coining, aud/ or molding
i may be employed. While a U-cup or bIocl;:~V seal has been described herein, other
seals known in the art, such as O-rings, may also be used. Further, while the U~c-up
or block-V seal as described herein utilizes a single bearing ring 221, a second bearing
ring undemeath the seal may be used-
Claims (14)
1. A pneumatic pop-up unit comprising: a cylinder housing having a bottom wall and a side wall defining an internal volume having an open top, the side wall extending upwards from the bottom wall and extending outwards away from the internal volume to form a cylinder housing top wall; a piston slidably received in said housing, said piston having a bottom wall and a side wall defining an internal volume and having an open top; a contact element held within the internal volume of the piston and at least partially extending above the open top of the piston; a seal attached to the outside surface of the side wall of the piston about the circumference thereof, configured and arranged to form a substantially air—tight barrier with the inside surface of the side wall of the cylinder housing, wherein the bottom wall of the piston, and the seal form a substantially air-tight volume with the bottom wall and side wall of the cylinder housing; a cap, the cap having a flange and a central opening having a descending guide channel sized to slidably receive the outside surface of the side wall of the piston, wherein the cap is secured about its circumference to the top wall of the housing by a single-seam crimped, rolled, coined, spun or swaged joint; and a compression spring for biasing the piston toward the bottom of the cylinder housing; wherein in use, the sealed volume is adapted to receive gas under pressure to elevate and suspend the piston against the bias of the spring such that the Contact element is partially extended above the cap.
2. The pneumatic pop-up unit of claim 1, wherein the contact element is a ball.
3. The pneumatic pop—up unit of claim 2, wherein: the internal volume of the piston accommodates a bowl—shaped race with a circuniference extending substantially about the circumference of the internal volume of the piston, the race having a_ concavity facing toward the open top of the piston; a plurality of secondaiy ball beaiings held Within the concavity of the bow1~shaped race; a primary ball abutting the ball bearings, such that the primary ball extends above the open top of the piston and wherein the piston is constructed and arranged to hold the primary ball within the internal volume of the piston.
4. The pneumatic pop-up unit of claim 3, wherein the side wall of the piston is coined or rolled at the open end of the piston to retain the ball in the internal volume of the piston.
S. The pneumatic pop—up unit of claim 1, wherein the contact element is a friction element.
6. The pneumatic pop—up unit of claim 5, wherein the friction element is formed of an elastomerie material.
7. The pneumatic pop-up unit of claim 1, further comprising a bearing ring mounted to the outside of the side Wall of the piston, forming a bearing surface for the seal.
8. The pneumatic pop-unit of claim 7, wherein the spring is retained at an upper end by the descending guide channel and the flange and at a lower end by the bearing ring.
9. The pneumatic pop-up unit of claim 7, wherein the bearing ring . cooperates with the bottom of the descending guide channel to limit the upward navel of the piston.
10. The pneumatic pop-up unit of claim 1, wherein the seal is a split elastomeric seal, having an annular groove in communication with the sealed volume.
1 1. Thepneumatic pop-up unit (ii claim 10, wherein the seal is a U- cup or block-V seal.
12. The pneumatic pop-up unit of claim 10, wherein the seal is an O- ring seal
13- The pneumatic pop-up unit of claim 1, wherein the housing and the piston are formed of drawn metal.
14. A pneumatic pop-up unit substantially as described herein with reference to
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
USUNITEDSTATESOFAMERICA14/10/19980 | |||
US09/174,390 US6164429A (en) | 1998-10-14 | 1998-10-14 | Modular pneumatic pop-up units for conveyor system |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
IE990864A1 IE990864A1 (en) | 2001-01-24 |
IE83381B1 true IE83381B1 (en) | 2004-04-07 |
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