Importance

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Abstract

An automatic accumulating transfer mechanism is provided comprising a frame having a pair of spaced and substantially parallel support rails secured near the top of the frame and upon which a series of workpieces are slidably mounted. Each workpiece is positioned at a work station defined along the support rails at evenly spaced intervals from each other. A plurality of pusher dogs are longitudinally slidably mounted to the frame at spaced intervals from each other and so that one pusher dog is associated with each work station. Moreover, each pusher dog is pivotal between an upper workpiece engaging position and a lower workpiece clearing position. A reciprocal drive device longitudinally moves the pusher dogs in unison with each other from its associated work station and to the next forward work station while a knockdown bar moves all of the pusher dogs to their lower position at or near the forwardmost travel of the pusher dogs. A detector lever is associated with each work station and, in the absence of a workpiece at the work station, pivots upwardly so that a cam surface on the lever engages a cam pin on the pusher dog and pivots the pusher dog to its upper workpiece engaging position at or near the rearwardmost travel of the pusher dogs. This upward pivotal action of the pusher dog at the vacant work station in turn pivots all of the rearward pusher dogs to their upper position via link bars secured between adjacent pusher dogs.

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First Claim