CA2219313A1 - Shuttle conveyor - Google Patents
Shuttle conveyor Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2219313A1 CA2219313A1 CA 2219313 CA2219313A CA2219313A1 CA 2219313 A1 CA2219313 A1 CA 2219313A1 CA 2219313 CA2219313 CA 2219313 CA 2219313 A CA2219313 A CA 2219313A CA 2219313 A1 CA2219313 A1 CA 2219313A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- work
- shuttle
- station
- work piece
- conveyor
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
- B65G35/00—Mechanical conveyors not otherwise provided for
- B65G35/06—Mechanical conveyors not otherwise provided for comprising a load-carrier moving along a path, e.g. a closed path, and adapted to be engaged by any one of a series of traction elements spaced along the path
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B23Q—DETAILS, COMPONENTS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR MACHINE TOOLS, e.g. ARRANGEMENTS FOR COPYING OR CONTROLLING; MACHINE TOOLS IN GENERAL CHARACTERISED BY THE CONSTRUCTION OF PARTICULAR DETAILS OR COMPONENTS; COMBINATIONS OR ASSOCIATIONS OF METAL-WORKING MACHINES, NOT DIRECTED TO A PARTICULAR RESULT
- B23Q7/00—Arrangements for handling work specially combined with or arranged in, or specially adapted for use in connection with, machine tools, e.g. for conveying, loading, positioning, discharging, sorting
- B23Q7/14—Arrangements for handling work specially combined with or arranged in, or specially adapted for use in connection with, machine tools, e.g. for conveying, loading, positioning, discharging, sorting co-ordinated in production lines
- B23Q7/1426—Arrangements for handling work specially combined with or arranged in, or specially adapted for use in connection with, machine tools, e.g. for conveying, loading, positioning, discharging, sorting co-ordinated in production lines with work holders not rigidly fixed to the transport devices
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Intermediate Stations On Conveyors (AREA)
- Automatic Assembly (AREA)
Abstract
A shuttle conveyor for a work station disposed between two conveyor sections is provided with a pair of shuttles which overlap the centerline of the work station to receive a work piece from an input conveyor and deposit it to a work station during the period of time when a second conveyor is unloading the work station and depositing the work piece on a continuing conveyor section. The dual shuttle arrangement eliminates the need for a single shuttle to perform all of the loading and unloading steps and further eliminates the need for empty return adding to cycle time.
Description
Docket No. 2728-IR-CS
SHUTTLE CONVEYOR
BACKGROUND OF THE INV~:N1~10N
This invention relates generally to conveyors and more particularly to cross-over or transfer conveyors which convey a work piece to an operating station. In the past, work pieces were transferred from conveyor systems to a work station where the intended work functions were accomplished on the work piece. If the work piece remained on the conveyor it blocked conveyance of other work pieces past the work station. This led to the development of offline work stations which utilized a shuttle conveyor to remove the work piece from the mainline conveyor and shuttle it to the work station for performance of the intended function and thereafter the shuttle would return the work piece to the mainline conveyor.
A further development of the bypass shuttle conveyor occurred wherein a shuttle conveyor removed the work piece from the mainline conveyor, shuttled it to the work station where the work was performed and thereafter shuttled it to a downstream mainline conveyor. This permitted paralleling of work stations without the need for work pieces to pass the numerous work stations. In the previous art, the shuttle required time to pick up the work piece, shuttle it to the work station, deposit it at the work station, pick the piece up again at the work station or wait for it and return transfer it to the initial pickup point. In the case of the bypass Docket No. 2728-IR-CS
shuttle, the return transfer was to the downstream mainline conveyor where the shuttle deposited the work piece on the conveyor and needed then to make a return trip to pick up the next work piece. In this case the time for transfer included the time for pickup and deposit at the work station and pick up at the work station and deposit on the downstream conveyor, as well as the time for the shuttle to make the return trip. The time for the deposit on the downstream conveyor, as well as the return trip, reduced the amount of time available to perform work at the work station.
The foregoing illustrates limitations known to exist in present devices and methods. Thus it is apparent that it would be advantageous to provide an alternative directed to overcoming one or more of the limitations set forth above.
Accordingly, a suitable alternative is provided including features more fully disclosed hereinafter.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one aspect of the present invention this is accomplished by providing a shuttle conveyor for transfer of a work piece from a first conveyor location to a work station and from the work station to a second conveyor location comprising:
a first work piece loading station; a first shuttle carrier for receiving a work piece from the first work loading station and transporting the work piece to a work station; a work station for receiving and unloading the work piece from the first Docket No. 2728-IR-CS
shuttle carrier to permit empty return of the first shuttle carrier to the first work loading station; a second shuttle carrier for receiving the work piece from the work station and transporting the work piece to a work unloading station; and each of the first shuttle carrier and the second shuttle carrier overlap a centerline of the work station to permit work piece support beyond the centerline of the work station during loading and unloading of the work station. By providing an overlapping upstream and downstream shuttle according to the lo present invention the amount of work station time can be significantly increased.
The foregoing and other aspects will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawing figures.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES
Fig. 1 is a side elevation view of a shuttle conveyor system according to the present invention;
Fig. 2 is a plan view of a shuttle conveyor system according to the present invention;
Fig. 3 is an end elevation view of a shuttle conveyor system according to the present invention;
Fig. 4 is a slightly enlarged version of Fig. 3 showing the work piece raised position at the work station pop-up support which permits the shuttle to return for loading; and Fig. 5 is a plan view of the upstream shuttle positioned Docket No. 2728-IR-CS
about the work station pop-up.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring to Figs. 1,2, and 3, a work station shuttle conveyor system according to the present invention is shown and is generally comprised of a first delivery conveyor, generally designated by the reference numeral 1, and a continuing receiving conveyor generally, designated by the reference numeral 2. Associated with the delivery conveyor 1 is a.
loading station 3 and associated with the continuing conveyor 2 is an unloading station, generally designated by the reference numeral 4.
A first shuttle carrier 5 translates between the loading station 3 and a work station area generally designated by the reference numeral 20. A second shuttle carrier 6 translates between the unloading station 4 and the work station area 20.
Both the first shuttle carrier and the second shuttle carrier translate along a track 7 and are driven thereon by means of independent ball screws 8 and 8' driving the first shuttle carrier 5 and the second shuttle carrier 6, respectively.
Each of the ball screws are in turn driven by ball screw drive motors 9 and 9' through a ball screw carrier connection 10 and 10'. Each of the carrier bases are in the form of an open "U" shaped carrier. The carrier support roller 12 and the carrier guide roller 13 guide the carrier base 11 along the Docket No. 2728-IR-CS
track 7 which is in turn supported on a track base 14. Each of the shuttle carriers 5, 6, are designed to embrace within the "U" shaped base a pop-up work station lift 15. The pop-up work station is powered to lift a work piece, for example, engine block 16 off of the shuttle carriers and to support the work piece 16 at the work station during performance of the intended function at the work station and while the carriers are permitted to exchange position, as will be later explained.
The carriers are provided with carrier vertical support members 18 which provide sufficient height to the work piece support level 19.
In operation, a work piece, such as an engine block 16, is delivered from the delivery conveyor 1 to the loading station 3, and deposited on the work piece support level 19 on the carrier vertical supports 18 which are in turn supported on the carrier base 11 and through the carrier support rollers 12 to the guide track 7. The ball screw drive motor 9 is energized in a forward direction to translate the first shuttle carrier from the loading station 3 to the pop-up work station lift 15.
The forward facing open "U" shape of the first shuttle carrier permits it to carry the work piece to a centerline support position above the pop-up work station lift 15. Once the work piece 16 has been lifted clear of the work piece support level 19 by the pop-up work station lift 15, the first shuttle carrier is free then to return to the loading station as powered by reverse operation of the ball screw drive motor 9 and ball screw 8.
Docket No. 2728-IR-CS
During this period of time, the second shuttle carrier 6 at the unloading station 4 is unloaded of a previous work piece 16' and once the first shuttle carrier 5 is removed from the work station area 20 the second shuttle carrier may be translated along track 7 by means of ball screw drive motor 9', driving ball screw 8', through a connection to the second shuttle carrier 10'.
The second shuttle carrier is also provided with an open rear facing "U" shaped construction to embrace the pop-up work station lift. Once the second shuttle carrier is positioned for centerline receipt of the work piece or engine block 16 the work piece may be lowered onto the second shuttle carrier by means of the collapsingm of the pop-up work station lift cylinder 17. Once the work piece is resting on the work piece support level 19' of the second shuttle carrier, the second shuttle carrier may be translated by reverse operation of the ball screw drive motor 9' from the work station area to the unloading station.
The system described permits loading and unloading to be accomplished simultaneously and independently and eliminates the need for the shuttle to traverse the entire length of the shuttle conveyor as well as the need for an empty return traverse. The transfer time is thereby effectively reduced to approximately one-half the time required of conventional conveyors. Further, the unique "U" shape design of the Docket No. 2728-IR-CS
carriers permits centerline delivery and pickup of the work piece thereby also permitting the use of accurate centerline stops in each independent direction. This further improves the centerline indexing accuracy of the shuttle system at the proposed work ~tation.
While we have utilized a ball screw to power the shuttles, it should be understood that any means of powering the shuttle in translation along the track may be used, for example a continuous chain drive or power driven rollers or the like.
Having described my invention in terms of a preferred embodiment, I do not wish to be limited in the scope of my invention except as claimed.
SHUTTLE CONVEYOR
BACKGROUND OF THE INV~:N1~10N
This invention relates generally to conveyors and more particularly to cross-over or transfer conveyors which convey a work piece to an operating station. In the past, work pieces were transferred from conveyor systems to a work station where the intended work functions were accomplished on the work piece. If the work piece remained on the conveyor it blocked conveyance of other work pieces past the work station. This led to the development of offline work stations which utilized a shuttle conveyor to remove the work piece from the mainline conveyor and shuttle it to the work station for performance of the intended function and thereafter the shuttle would return the work piece to the mainline conveyor.
A further development of the bypass shuttle conveyor occurred wherein a shuttle conveyor removed the work piece from the mainline conveyor, shuttled it to the work station where the work was performed and thereafter shuttled it to a downstream mainline conveyor. This permitted paralleling of work stations without the need for work pieces to pass the numerous work stations. In the previous art, the shuttle required time to pick up the work piece, shuttle it to the work station, deposit it at the work station, pick the piece up again at the work station or wait for it and return transfer it to the initial pickup point. In the case of the bypass Docket No. 2728-IR-CS
shuttle, the return transfer was to the downstream mainline conveyor where the shuttle deposited the work piece on the conveyor and needed then to make a return trip to pick up the next work piece. In this case the time for transfer included the time for pickup and deposit at the work station and pick up at the work station and deposit on the downstream conveyor, as well as the time for the shuttle to make the return trip. The time for the deposit on the downstream conveyor, as well as the return trip, reduced the amount of time available to perform work at the work station.
The foregoing illustrates limitations known to exist in present devices and methods. Thus it is apparent that it would be advantageous to provide an alternative directed to overcoming one or more of the limitations set forth above.
Accordingly, a suitable alternative is provided including features more fully disclosed hereinafter.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one aspect of the present invention this is accomplished by providing a shuttle conveyor for transfer of a work piece from a first conveyor location to a work station and from the work station to a second conveyor location comprising:
a first work piece loading station; a first shuttle carrier for receiving a work piece from the first work loading station and transporting the work piece to a work station; a work station for receiving and unloading the work piece from the first Docket No. 2728-IR-CS
shuttle carrier to permit empty return of the first shuttle carrier to the first work loading station; a second shuttle carrier for receiving the work piece from the work station and transporting the work piece to a work unloading station; and each of the first shuttle carrier and the second shuttle carrier overlap a centerline of the work station to permit work piece support beyond the centerline of the work station during loading and unloading of the work station. By providing an overlapping upstream and downstream shuttle according to the lo present invention the amount of work station time can be significantly increased.
The foregoing and other aspects will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawing figures.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES
Fig. 1 is a side elevation view of a shuttle conveyor system according to the present invention;
Fig. 2 is a plan view of a shuttle conveyor system according to the present invention;
Fig. 3 is an end elevation view of a shuttle conveyor system according to the present invention;
Fig. 4 is a slightly enlarged version of Fig. 3 showing the work piece raised position at the work station pop-up support which permits the shuttle to return for loading; and Fig. 5 is a plan view of the upstream shuttle positioned Docket No. 2728-IR-CS
about the work station pop-up.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring to Figs. 1,2, and 3, a work station shuttle conveyor system according to the present invention is shown and is generally comprised of a first delivery conveyor, generally designated by the reference numeral 1, and a continuing receiving conveyor generally, designated by the reference numeral 2. Associated with the delivery conveyor 1 is a.
loading station 3 and associated with the continuing conveyor 2 is an unloading station, generally designated by the reference numeral 4.
A first shuttle carrier 5 translates between the loading station 3 and a work station area generally designated by the reference numeral 20. A second shuttle carrier 6 translates between the unloading station 4 and the work station area 20.
Both the first shuttle carrier and the second shuttle carrier translate along a track 7 and are driven thereon by means of independent ball screws 8 and 8' driving the first shuttle carrier 5 and the second shuttle carrier 6, respectively.
Each of the ball screws are in turn driven by ball screw drive motors 9 and 9' through a ball screw carrier connection 10 and 10'. Each of the carrier bases are in the form of an open "U" shaped carrier. The carrier support roller 12 and the carrier guide roller 13 guide the carrier base 11 along the Docket No. 2728-IR-CS
track 7 which is in turn supported on a track base 14. Each of the shuttle carriers 5, 6, are designed to embrace within the "U" shaped base a pop-up work station lift 15. The pop-up work station is powered to lift a work piece, for example, engine block 16 off of the shuttle carriers and to support the work piece 16 at the work station during performance of the intended function at the work station and while the carriers are permitted to exchange position, as will be later explained.
The carriers are provided with carrier vertical support members 18 which provide sufficient height to the work piece support level 19.
In operation, a work piece, such as an engine block 16, is delivered from the delivery conveyor 1 to the loading station 3, and deposited on the work piece support level 19 on the carrier vertical supports 18 which are in turn supported on the carrier base 11 and through the carrier support rollers 12 to the guide track 7. The ball screw drive motor 9 is energized in a forward direction to translate the first shuttle carrier from the loading station 3 to the pop-up work station lift 15.
The forward facing open "U" shape of the first shuttle carrier permits it to carry the work piece to a centerline support position above the pop-up work station lift 15. Once the work piece 16 has been lifted clear of the work piece support level 19 by the pop-up work station lift 15, the first shuttle carrier is free then to return to the loading station as powered by reverse operation of the ball screw drive motor 9 and ball screw 8.
Docket No. 2728-IR-CS
During this period of time, the second shuttle carrier 6 at the unloading station 4 is unloaded of a previous work piece 16' and once the first shuttle carrier 5 is removed from the work station area 20 the second shuttle carrier may be translated along track 7 by means of ball screw drive motor 9', driving ball screw 8', through a connection to the second shuttle carrier 10'.
The second shuttle carrier is also provided with an open rear facing "U" shaped construction to embrace the pop-up work station lift. Once the second shuttle carrier is positioned for centerline receipt of the work piece or engine block 16 the work piece may be lowered onto the second shuttle carrier by means of the collapsingm of the pop-up work station lift cylinder 17. Once the work piece is resting on the work piece support level 19' of the second shuttle carrier, the second shuttle carrier may be translated by reverse operation of the ball screw drive motor 9' from the work station area to the unloading station.
The system described permits loading and unloading to be accomplished simultaneously and independently and eliminates the need for the shuttle to traverse the entire length of the shuttle conveyor as well as the need for an empty return traverse. The transfer time is thereby effectively reduced to approximately one-half the time required of conventional conveyors. Further, the unique "U" shape design of the Docket No. 2728-IR-CS
carriers permits centerline delivery and pickup of the work piece thereby also permitting the use of accurate centerline stops in each independent direction. This further improves the centerline indexing accuracy of the shuttle system at the proposed work ~tation.
While we have utilized a ball screw to power the shuttles, it should be understood that any means of powering the shuttle in translation along the track may be used, for example a continuous chain drive or power driven rollers or the like.
Having described my invention in terms of a preferred embodiment, I do not wish to be limited in the scope of my invention except as claimed.
Claims (7)
1. A shuttle conveyor for transfer of a work piece from a first conveyor location to a work station and from the work station to a second conveyor location comprising:
a first work piece loading station;
a first shuttle carrier for receiving a work piece from said first work loading station and transporting said work piece to a work station;
a work station for receiving and unloading said work piece from said first shuttle carrier to permit empty return of said first shuttle carrier to said first work loading station;
a second shuttle carrier for receiving said work piece from said work station and transporting said work piece to a work unloading station; and each of said first shuttle carrier and said second shuttle carrier overlap a centerline of said work station to permit work piece support beyond said centerline of said work station during loading and unloading of said work station.
a first work piece loading station;
a first shuttle carrier for receiving a work piece from said first work loading station and transporting said work piece to a work station;
a work station for receiving and unloading said work piece from said first shuttle carrier to permit empty return of said first shuttle carrier to said first work loading station;
a second shuttle carrier for receiving said work piece from said work station and transporting said work piece to a work unloading station; and each of said first shuttle carrier and said second shuttle carrier overlap a centerline of said work station to permit work piece support beyond said centerline of said work station during loading and unloading of said work station.
2. A shuttle conveyor according to claim 1 wherein:
said work station is provided with a lifting means for unloading said first shuttle carrier of said work piece and redepositing said work piece on said second shuttle carrier.
said work station is provided with a lifting means for unloading said first shuttle carrier of said work piece and redepositing said work piece on said second shuttle carrier.
3. A shuttle conveyor according to claim 2 wherein:
said first and said second shuttle carrier are formed in a "U" shape to permit surrounding of said work station lifting means.
said first and said second shuttle carrier are formed in a "U" shape to permit surrounding of said work station lifting means.
4. A shuttle conveyor according to claim 1 wherein:
each of first and second shuttle carriers are powered shuttles.
each of first and second shuttle carriers are powered shuttles.
5. A shuttle conveyor according to claim 1 wherein:
said first and said second carriers are transported by a power driven ball screw.
said first and said second carriers are transported by a power driven ball screw.
6. A shuttle conveyor according to claim 1 wherein:
said work piece is an engine block.
said work piece is an engine block.
7. A shuttle conveyor according to claim 1 wherein:
said work station is an inspection and repair station for automotive components.
said work station is an inspection and repair station for automotive components.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US74132296A | 1996-10-29 | 1996-10-29 | |
| US08/741,322 | 1996-10-29 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2219313A1 true CA2219313A1 (en) | 1998-04-29 |
Family
ID=24980256
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2219313 Abandoned CA2219313A1 (en) | 1996-10-29 | 1997-10-27 | Shuttle conveyor |
Country Status (3)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2219313A1 (en) |
| FR (1) | FR2755113A1 (en) |
| GB (1) | GB9722764D0 (en) |
Families Citing this family (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US11345626B1 (en) * | 2018-07-23 | 2022-05-31 | Gerresheimer Glass Inc. | Glass manufacturing apparatus and method |
-
1997
- 1997-10-27 CA CA 2219313 patent/CA2219313A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 1997-10-28 GB GBGB9722764.9A patent/GB9722764D0/en active Pending
- 1997-10-29 FR FR9713554A patent/FR2755113A1/en not_active Withdrawn
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| FR2755113A1 (en) | 1998-04-30 |
| GB9722764D0 (en) | 1997-12-24 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| FZDE | Dead |