Method and apparatus for transferring objects

U.S. Cl. 53-53

18 Claims

US 6,499,270 B2 Method and apparatus for transferring objects Günther Peroni, Bolzano (Italy); and Giuseppina Martelli, Merano (Italy) Assigned to Pyxis Corporation, San Diego, Calif. (US) Filed on Jan. 05, 2001, as Appl. No. 9/755,631. Application 09/031584 is a division of application No. 09/087607, filed on May 29, 1998, granted, now 6217273. Application 09/755631 is a continuation in part of application No. 09/031584, filed on Feb. 27, 1998, granted, now 5967730. Claims priority of application No. BO97A0489 (IT), filed on Aug. 04, 1997; application No. BO97A0490 (IT), filed on Aug. 04, 1997; and application No. 97203185 (EP), filed on Oct. 14, 1997. Prior Publication US 2002/0124535 A1, Sep. 12, 2002 Int. Cl.7B65B 57/00 U.S. Cl. 538212;53 18 Claims 1. A system for transferring items comprising: a) a packaging machine adapted to package at least one item in a package having a hole therethrough, said packaging machine adapted to transfer said package to a first position; and b) a first transfer device having a loading screw adapted to rotate in a first direction in order to receive said package when said package is in said first position and in a second direction opposite said first direction in order to transfer said package, said transfer device being adapted to retrieve said package from said packaging machine when said package is in said first position by engaging said package through the hole in said package such that said package hangs from a position between threads of the loading screw, and to transfer said package to a predetermined location by rotating the loading screw to thereby move said hanging package along an axis of the loading screw, and said transfer device further being adapted to move said loading screw such that said loading screw is abutted against and coupled with a desired storage screw, said first transfer device adapted to transfer said package from said loading screw to said desired storage screw by jointly rotating said loading screw and desired storage screw; and c) a storage device having at least one storage screw and being adapted for receiving said package from said first transfer device when said package is in a predetermined location, said storage device also having at least one level comprised of at least one said storage screw and being adapted to rotate said desired storage screw to a transfer position to enable said first transfer device to couple said loading screw with said desired storage screw; wherein said packaging machine, said first transfer device and said storage device are adapted to operate automatically.