1. A pet toy comprising:
a body member having an outer surface, a side wall defining a thickness of the body member, and an inner surface defining a substantially hollow core;
an internal holding pocket extending into said hollow core, said internal holding pocket having an internal sidewall defining a shape of the internal holding pocket;
a squeaker assembly inserted within said internal holding pocket, said squeaker assembly frictionally engaging said internal sidewalls thereby holding said squeaker assembly within said internal holding pocket;
said squeaker assembly including a housing, a control screw threadably received in one end the housing, and a squeaker device inserted in the other end of said housing, wherein said control screw is selectively positionable to activate the squeaker assembly enabling air to flow through the squeaker assembly, and to deactivate the squeaker assembly to prevent air flow through the squeaker assembly.
2. A pet toy as claimed in claim 1, wherein:
said squeaker assembly includes a plurality of ribs formed on an exterior surface of said housing.
3. A pet toy as claimed in claim 1, wherein:
said control screw further includes first removed portions formed on threads of said control screw, and said control screw further includes a head with a second removed portion formed thereon, said first and second removed portions being aligned with one another forming a passageway through said squeaker assembly.
4. A pet toy, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:
said squeaker assembly further includes a ball formed on a distal end of said control screw and said ball selectively seals or unseals a seat within said squeaker assembly based upon positioning of the control screw.
5. A pet toy as claimed in claim 1, wherein:
said squeaker assembly has an upper surface that is recessed within an opening of said internal holding pocket thereby making access to said squeaker assembly more difficult for an animal.
6. A method of activating and deactivating a noise making instrument within a pet toy, said method comprising:
(i) providing:
(a) a body member having an outer surface, a side wall defining a thickness of the body member, and an inner surface defining a substantially hollow core;
(b) an internal holding pocket extending into said hollow core, said internal holding pocket having an internal sidewall defining a shape of the internal holding pocket;
(c) a squeaker assembly inserted within said internal holding pocket, said squeaker assembly frictionally engaging said internal sidewalls thereby holding said squeaker assembly within said internal holding pocket, said squeaker assembly including a housing, a control screw threadably received in one end the housing, and a squeaker device inserted in the other end of said housing, wherein said control screw is selectively positionable to activate the squeaker assembly enabling air to flow through the squeaker assembly, and to deactivate the squeaker assembly to prevent air flow through the squeaker assembly; and
(ii) selectively moving the control screw between activated and deactivated positions to enable air to flow through said squeaker assembly, or to prevent air from flowing through said squeaker assembly, respectively.
7. A method, as claimed in claim 6, wherein:
selectively providing a plurality of ribs formed on an exterior surface of said housing.
8. A method, as claimed in claim 6, wherein:
selectively providing said control screw with first removed portions formed on threads of said control screw, and selectively providing said control screw with a head with a second removed portion formed thereon, wherein said first and second removed portions are aligned with one another forming a passageway through said squeaker assembly.
9. A method, as claimed in claim 6, wherein:
selectively providing said squeaker assembly with a ball formed on a distal end of said control screw, and said ball seals or unseals a seat within said squeaker assembly based upon positioning of the control screw.
10. A method, as claimed in claim 6, wherein:
locating said squeaker assembly so that an upper surface thereof is recessed within an opening of said internal holding pocket thereby making access to said squeaker assembly more difficult for an animal.
11. A pet toy comprising:
a body member having an outer surface, a side wall defining a thickness of the body member, and an inner surface defining a substantially hollow core;
an internal holding pocket extending into said hollow core, said internal holding pocket having an internal sidewall defining a shape of the internal holding pocket;
a squeaker assembly inserted within said internal holding pocket, said squeaker assembly frictionally engaging said internal sidewalls thereby holding said squeaker assembly within said internal holding pocket;
said squeaker assembly including a housing, a control element received in a bore the housing, and a squeaker device also received in said housing, wherein said control element is selectively positionable to activate the squeaker assembly enabling air to flow through the squeaker assembly, and to deactivate the squeaker assembly to prevent air flow through the squeaker assembly.
12. A method of activating and deactivating a noise making instrument within a pet toy, said method comprising:
(i) providing:
(a) a body member having an outer surface, a side wall defining a thickness of the body member, and an inner surface defining a substantially hollow core;
(b) an internal holding pocket extending into said hollow core, said internal holding pocket having an internal sidewall defining a shape of the internal holding pocket;
(c) a squeaker assembly inserted within said internal holding pocket, said squeaker assembly frictionally engaging said internal sidewalls thereby holding said squeaker assembly within said internal holding pocket;
(d) said squeaker assembly including a housing, a control element received in a bore the housing, and a squeaker device also received in said housing, wherein said control element is selectively positionable to activate the squeaker assembly enabling air to flow through the squeaker assembly, and to deactivate the squeaker assembly to prevent air flow through the squeaker assembly; and
(ii) selectively moving the control element between activated and deactivated positions to enable air to flow through said squeaker assembly, or to prevent air from flowing through said squeaker assembly, respectively.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. An air-powered vacuum tool for handling a plurality of workpieces, comprising:
a baseplate;
a vacuum manifold body mounted to an underside of said baseplate, with said manifold body having a plurality of vacuum parts formed therein;
a plurality of air-powered vacuum generators mounted to an upper surface of said baseplate, with said vacuum generators being operatively connected with said vacuum manifold body, such that each of said vacuum ports is provided with vacuum generated by at least one dedicated vacuum generator;
a plurality of pickup orifices adapted for engaging workpieces, with said pickup orifices being formed in a removable workpiece interface plate attached to an underside of said vacuum manifold body, with each of said pickup orifices being operatively connected with at least one of said vacuum ports; and
a blowoff system adapted to conduct high pressure air to each of said vacuum ports, so as to separate workpieces from said pickup orifices.
2. An air-powered vacuum tool for handling multiple workpieces according to claim 1, wherein said workpiece interface plate comprises an elastomeric plate having said plurality of pickup orifices formed therein.
3. An air-powered vacuum tool according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of air-powered outboard workpiece stabilizers adapted to engage stray workpieces following a blowoff.
4. An air-powered vacuum tool according to claim 1, wherein said at least one of said plurality of air-powered vacuum generators comprises a venture vacuum generator.
5. An air-powered vacuum tool according to claim 1, wherein at least some of said vacuum ports are isolated from the remaining ones of said vacuum ports.
6. An air-powered vacuum tool according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of vacuum ports is divided into a plurality of vacuum port groupings.
7. An air-powered vacuum tool according to claim 1, further comprising a robot arm attached to said baseplate for positioning said vacuum tool.
8. An air-powered vacuum tool according to claim 1, further comprising a transfer machine attached to said baseplate, for positioning said vacuum tool.
9. An air-powered vacuum tool according to claim 1, wherein said blowoff system is adapted to conduct high pressure air to each of said vacuum ports simultaneously.
10. An air-powered vacuum tool according to claim 1, wherein said workpieces comprise liquid tight containers.
11. An air-powered vacuum tool according to claim 1, wherein said workpieces comprise cartons continuing a plurality of items.
12. An air-powered vacuum tool for handling a plurality of workpieces, comprising:
a baseplate;
a vacuum manifold body mounted to an underside of said baseplate, with said manifold body having a plurality of vacuum ports formed therein;
a plurality of air-powered vacuum generators mounted to an upper surface of said baseplate, with said vacuum generators being operatively connected with said vacuum manifold body, such that each of said vacuum ports is provided with vacuum generated by at least one dedicated vacuum generator, wherein said plurality of vacuum generators is supplied with high pressure air by a plurality of air supply manifolds mounted to said baseplate, with said air supply manifolds being isolated such that at least some of said vacuum generators may be powered selectively;
a plurality of pickup orifices adapted for engaging workpieces, with said pickup orifices being formed in a removable workpiece interface plate attached to an underside of said vacuum manifold body, with each of said pickup orifices being operatively connected with at least one of said vacuum ports; and
a blowoff system adapted to conduct high pressure air to each of said vacuum ports, so as to separate workpieces from said pickup orifices.
13. An air-powered vacuum tool in accordance with claim 12, wherein said plurality of air supply manifolds is provided with high pressure air controlled by a plurality of air valves mounted upon said baseplate.
14. An air-powered vacuum tool for handling a plurality of workpieces, comprising:
a baseplate;
a vacuum manifold body mounted to an underside of said baseplate, with said manifold body having a plurality of vacuum ports formed therein;
a plurality of air-powered vacuum generators mounted to an upper surface of said baseplate, with said vacuum generators being operatively connected with said vacuum manifold body, such that each of said vacuum ports is provided with vacuum generated by at least one of said plurality of vacuum generators;
a plurality of pickup orifices adapted for engaging workpieces, with said pickup orifices being formed in a removable workpiece interface plate attached to an underside of said vacuum manifold body, with each of said pickup orifices being operatively connected with at least one of said vacuum ports.
15. An air-powered vacuum tool according to claim 14, further comprising a blowoff system adapted to conduct high pressure air to each of said vacuum ports, so as to separate workpieces from said pickup orifices.
16. An air-powered vacuum tool according to claim 14 wherein at least one of said vacuum ports is formed such that it is not in fluid communication with any other of said ports.
17. An air-powered vacuum tool according to claim 14 wherein at least one of said vacuum ports is provided with vacuum by a dedicated one of said vacuum generators providing vacuum to only said at least one vacuum port.