Inventors:
Robert F. Blundy - Columbia SC
Assignee:
American Telephone and Telegraph Company - New York NY
International Classification:
B22D 502
Abstract:
An apparatus (20) is provided for transferring articles (40--40) from a pickup position to a pickoff position and then to a dropoff position. The apparatus includes a pair of pickup arms (60--60) which are spaced apart to engage lugs (42--42) oppositely extending from an article to be transferred. As the transfer arms are caused to be moved rotatably, the article is transferred to the pickoff position whereat the lugs are adjacent to stepped end portions (88--88) of a pair of pickoff arms (80--80). Further movement of the transfer arms causes the article to engage surfaces (92--92) of the stepped free ends of the pickoff arms and to be supported by engagement of the lugs with surfaces (94--94) of the stepped end portions of the pickoff arms. Afterwards, the pickoff arms are turned to allow the article to descend until, at a predetermined position, the lugs of the article become engaged with a conveyor (100) and become disengaged from the pickoff arms. Successive ones of the articles are supported by engagement of the lugs with the conveyor such that main body portions of the articles are submerged in a treating bath beneath the conveyor.