Importance

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Abstract

An automatic accumulating lift and carry transfer mechanism is provided comprising an elongated frame having a plurality of work support members secured to and spaced longitudinally along the frame. Each lateral pair of work support members forms a work station adapted to receive and support a workpiece thereon. A carriage assembly is longitudinally slidably mounted to the frame and, in addition, is vertically slidable between an upper and lower position. A drive mechanism is mechanically coupled to the carriage assembly for longitudinally reciprocally moving the carriage assembly in a forward direction with the carriage assembly in its upper position for a distance equal to the interval between adjacent work stations and for subsequently retracting the carriage assembly in its lowered position. Lifting members are pivotal between an upper workpiece engaging position and a lower workpiece clearing position so that in their upper position, the lifting members will lift and carry a workpiece from one work station and to the next forward work station during the forward travel of the carriage assembly. A knockdown cam moves all of the lifting members to their lower position at or near the forwardmost travel of the carriage assembly and during the retraction of the carriage assembly. A detector lever is further associated with each work station and, in the absence of the workpiece at the work station, pivots upwardly to pivot the lifting member to its upper workpiece engaging position at or near the rearwardmost travel of the carriage assembly and to pivot all of the rearward lifting members to their upper work engaging position via link bars secured between adjacent lifting members.

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First Claim