Apparatus for loading prophylactic devices on test apparatus

Abstract

A machine for automatically handling thin tubular rubber articles such as prophylactic devices or the like including a vacuum pickup to retrieve randomly oriented articles and deliver such articles to a pneumatic conveyor. The pneumatic conveyor includes a tube with air blowing therethrough to transfer the articles to a delivery position. An orienter is provided in the conveyor tube so that the article is delivered closed end first at the delivery position. At the delivery position a mandrel is provided which includes a support adapted to loosely support the article in position to receive a mandrel. Grippers grip the open end of the article on the support and hold it against movement with the mandrel while the mandrel is inserted into the article.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A machine for placing thin tubular rubber-like articles on a mandrel comprising conveyor means operable to receive randomly oriented articles in a collapsed condition and deliver such articles individually to a discharge location in a predetermined orientation with the article extended, and article receiving means including a mandrel operable to receive articles at said discharge location in said predetermined orientation and position said articles on said mandrel. 
     
     
       2. A machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein there are a plurality of article receiving means, said conveyor means and article receiving means moving relative to each other to sequentially position said conveyor means relative to each article receiving means in a receiving position in which said article receiving means receives articles from said conveyor means, the operation of said conveyor means being initiated in response to relative movement of an article receiving means said conveyor means to said receiving position. 
     
     
       3. A machine as set forth in claim 2 wherein said article receiving means are continuously movable, and means are provided to maintain said receiving position of said conveyor means and each article receiving means during a portion of the movement of the latter. 
     
     
       4. A machine for placing flexible tubular articles on a mandrel wherein said articles are closed at one end and open at the other end comprising an elongated mandrel, support means operable to loosely support an article with its open end adjacent to the end of said mandrel, gripper means operable to grip the open end of an article on said support means, and power means operable to produce relative movement between said mandrel and gripper means while said gripper means grips said article open end to pull said article over said mandrel. 
     
     
       5. A machine as set forth in claim 4 wherein said support means includes an elongated rod member telescoping from the end of said mandrel operable to loosely support an article in alignment with said mandrel. 
     
     
       6. A machine as set forth in claim 4 wherein said gripper means are operable from a release position to a gripping position, said gripper means when in said gripping position spreading the article open end to permit entry of the mandrel into the article open end. 
     
     
       7. A machine as set forth in claim 6 wherein said gripper means is moved to said gripping position in response to relative movement between said gripper means and mandrel. 
     
     
       8. A machine for handling thin tubular rubber articles which are closed at one end and open at the other end comprising an elongated support, means for retrieving randomly oriented collapsed articles and automatically positioning said articles over said support with the article closed end against one end of said support, gripper means operable to grip the open end of an article positioned on said support, a mandrel connected to said support, and power means connected to produce relative longitudinal movement between said support and mandrel while said gripper means hold said article until said article is stretched over said mandrel. 
     
     
       9. A machine as set forth in claim 8 wherein said mandrel and support telescope relative to each other from a retracted position wherein said mandrel is spaced from said one end of said support and a second position in which said article is stretched over said mandrel and the end of said mandrel is adjacent to said end of said support. 
     
     
       10. A machine as set forth in claim 9 wherein said gripper means operate to grip said open end of said article in response to movement of said mandrel from said retracted position. 
     
     
       11. A machine as set forth in claim 10 wherein said mandrel and said support move together relative to said gripper means beyond said second position to an extended position, and said gripper means release in response to movement beyond said second position. 
     
     
       12. .[.A.]. .Iadd.In combination, a .Iaddend.conveyor system for thin, flexible, tubular articles closed at one end, open at the other end and having a thickened rim around said open end comprising conveyor tube means having a passage therethrough, and means producing .Iadd.a .Iaddend.flow of air through said passage, said conveyor tube means including orienting means .[.operating.]. .Iadd.disposed therein and acting on the articles passing therethrough one after another .Iaddend.to extend and orient .Iadd.the .Iaddend.articles .[.passing therethrough.]. in a predetermined orientation with the closed end forward and the open end trailing .Iadd.; receiving and positioning means operative to engage and coact with the articles in said predetermined orientation as they are discharged from said conveyor system to position the articles for performing a subsequent operation thereon.Iaddend.. 
     
     
       13. .[.A conveyor system as set forth in.]. .Iadd.The combination of .Iaddend.claim 12 wherein said orienting means produces a plurality of abrupt changes in the direction of movement of an article passing therethrough. 
     
     
       14. .[.A conveyor system as set forth in.]. .Iadd.The combination of .Iaddend.claim 12 wherein said orienting means provide a plurality of longitudinally spaced restricted passage sections resisting the passage of said rim to assist in producing said predetermined orientation as said articles pass therethrough. 
     
     
       15. .[.A conveyor system as set forth in.]. .Iadd.The combination of .Iaddend.claim 14 wherein said restrictions are provided by longitudinally spaced laterally extending walls projecting into said passage from opposite sides thereof. 
     
     
       16. .[.A conveyor system as set forth in.]. .Iadd.The combination of .Iaddend.claim 15 wherein said walls are inclined with respect to the longitudinal length of said passage. 
     
     
       17. .[.A conveyor system as set forth in.]. .Iadd.The combination of .Iaddend.claim 16 wherein said walls are substantially parallel to each other. 
     
     
       18. .[.A conveyor system as set forth in.]. .Iadd.The combination of .Iaddend.claim 12 wherein said system includes transfer means operable to remove randomly oriented single articles from a container and separately deliver said single articles to the inlet of said conveyor tube means. 
     
     
       19. .[.A conveyor system as set forth in.]. .Iadd.The combination of .Iaddend.claim 18 wherein said transfer means includes a hollow arm having an end movable from said container to said inlet, vacuum means supplying a vacuum to said open end, and means operable when said end is adjacent to said inlet to release said vacuum. 
     
     
       20. .[.A conveyor system as set forth in.]. .Iadd.The combination of .Iaddend.claim 19 wherein said means producing flow includes a nozzle spaced from and aligned with said inlet operable to produce a jet of air blowing said articles from the end of said arm into said conveyor tube means. 
     
     
       21. .[.A conveyor system as set forth in.]. .Iadd.The combination of .Iaddend.claim 18 wherein .Iadd.said receiving and positioning means includes .Iaddend.a plurality of article receiving .Iadd.and positioning .Iaddend.means .Iadd.which .Iaddend.are sequentially movable into a position to receive articles from said conveyor tube means, and the operation of said transfer means is initiated in response to movement of said article receiving means into said position. 
     
     
       22. .[.A conveyor system as set forth in.]. .Iadd.The combination of .Iaddend.claim 12 .[.including.]. .Iadd.wherein said receiving and positioning means includes .Iaddend.an elongated support arranged so that an article leaving said conveyor tube is loosely positioned thereon with the article closed end against one end of said support, gripper means operable to grip the open end of an article positioned on said support, a mandrel connected to said support, and power means connected to produce relative longitudinal movement between said support and mandrel while said gripper means holds said article until said article is stretched over said mandrel. .Iadd. 23. A conveyor system for thin, flexible, tubular articles closed at one end, open at the other end and having a thickened rim around said open end, said system comprising a container for holding a supply of said articles in randomly oriented positions; transfer means for picking up articles from said container, one at a time, and positioning and releasing them for travel into and through a conveyor tube; an open ended conveyor tube having an inlet end disposed for receiving articles one at a time from said transfer means; and means producing a flow of air through the conveyor tube from said inlet end thereof; said conveyor tube including orienting means therein operating to extend and open the articles passing therethrough while orienting them in a predetermined orientation with their closed end forward and their open end trailing and to discharge the articles one at a time in said predetermined orientation to an article receiving and positioning means adapted to engage and coact with the articles in their open condition and in said predetermined orientation to position the articles for performing a subsequent operation thereon; and control means synchronizing the operation of said article receiving and positioning means with passage of the articles one by one through the conveyor means. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 24. A conveyor system as set forth in claim 23 wherein said transfer means includes a hollow arm having an open end movable from said container to said conveyor tube inlet, vacuum means supplying a vacuum to said open end of said hollow arm, and means operable when said open end is adjacent said conveyor tube inlet to release said vacuum. .Iaddend..Iadd. 25. A conveyor system as set forth in claim 24 wherein said means producing said flow of air through said conveyor tube includes a nozzle spaced from and aligned with said inlet end of said conveyor tube and operable to produce a jet of air blowing said articles from the open end of said hollow arm into said conveyor tube. .Iaddend.