Automatic box loader

Patent · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1976

OSTI ID:862644

Eldridge, Harry H ^[1]; Jones, Robert A ^[2]; Lindner, Gordon M ^[3]; Hight, Paul H ^[4]

---

1. Monterey, TN
2. Oak Ridge, TN
3. Norris, TN
4. Lebanon, TN

This invention relates to a system for repetitively forming an assembly consisting of a single layer of tubes and a row of ferromagnetic armatures underlying the same, electromagnetically conveying the resulting assembly to a position overlying a storage box, and depositing the assembly in the box. The system includes means for simultaneously depositing a row of the armatures on the inclined surface of a tube retainer. Tubes then are rolled down the surface to form a single tube layer bridging the armatures. A magnet assembly carrying electromagnets respectively aligned with the armatures is advanced close to the tube layer, and in the course of this advance is angularly displaced to bring the pole pieces of the electromagnets into parallelism with the tube layer. The magnets then are energized to pick up the assembly. The loaded magnet assembly is retracted to a position overlying the box, and during this retraction is again displaced to bring the pole pieces of the electromagnets into a horizontal plane. Means are provided for inserting the loaded electromagnets in the box and then de-energizing the electromagnets to deposit the assembly therein. The system accomplishes the boxing of fragile tubes at relatively high rates. Because the tubes are boxed as separated uniform layers, subsequent unloading operations are facilitated.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-26
• Assignee: United States of America as represented by United States Energy (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 3981406
• OSTI ID: 862644
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

/414/
accomplishes
advance
advanced
aligned
angularly
armatures
assembly
assembly consisting
automatic
box
boxed
boxing
bridging
bring
carrying
close
consisting
conveying
course
de-energizing
deposit
depositing
displaced
electromagnetically
electromagnets
energized
facilitated
ferromagnetic
form
form layers
forming
fragile
horizontal
horizontal plane
inclined
inclined surface
inserting
layer
layers
loaded
loader
magnet
magnet assembly
magnets
means
operations
overlying
parallelism
pick
pieces
plane
pole
pole piece
pole pieces
position
provided
rates
relates
relatively
repetitively
respectively
resulting
retainer
retracted
retraction
rolled
row
separated
simultaneously
single
single layer
storage
subsequent
surface
therein
tube
tubes
underlying
uniform
uniform layer
uniform layers
unloading