Harry Eldridge

US Patent:

39814068, Sep 21, 1976

Filed:

Oct 31, 1975

Appl. No.:

5/627624

Inventors:

Harry H. Eldridge - Monterey TN
Robert A. Jones - Oak Ridge TN
Gordon M. Lindner - Norris TN
Paul H. Hight - Lebanon TN

Assignee:

The United States of America as represented by the United States Energy
Research and Development Administration - Washington DC

International Classification:

B65G 5704

US Classification:

214 6FS

Abstract:

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.