GB1042055A - Device for positioning and/or conveying work pieces - Google Patents

Abstract

1,042,055. Blanks transferring. G. STOLL, [trading as FESTO MASCHINENFABRIK GOTTLIEB STOLL]. June 13, 1963, No. 23574/63. Heading B3H. A positioning and conveying device for transferring workpieces to and from a work station without special stationary guide faces comprises feeding, adjusting and gripping and chucking mechanisms 1, 2, 3. The feeding mechanism comprises a pneumatic cylinder assembly 5 having a piston rod 6 to the outer end of which is attached, via an adjustable and lockable ball-and-socket joint 23, the adjusting mechanism 2 which comprises a pneumatically operated rotating cylinder 8 coaxial with the cylinder 5, to which is attached a working cylinder unit 10 the axis of which is perpendicular to that of the cylinder 5. The cylinder 8 is rotated by impeller wheels 15a, 15b, Fig. 3a (not shown), or by a pinion 17, Fig. 3b (not shown), engaging a rack-type piston rod 19 to the ends of which are attached pistons 20, 21 reciprocable by pneumatic means within a cylinder 22. Alternatively a radially extending pin fitted to one end of the piston rod of the cylinder 8 engages a helical groove within a bushing there around to effect rotary movement during axial movement of the rod. The gripping mechanism 3 is attached via an adjustable and lockable ball and socket joint to the end of the adjusting cylinder piston rock and comprises a pneumatic cylinder assembly 26, a frame 37, Fig. 4 (not shown), attached to the cylinder, a pair of bell crank levers 38, 39 pivotally connected thereon, the inner ends of which are pivotally coupled to the end of the piston rod 28 and to the outer ends of which are attached detachable-shaped finger members 60, 61. Reversing valves 50, 70, 80, Fig. 1, carrying rods which abut with limiting stops, are fitted adjacent to each of the operating cylinders. The feeding assembly may be arranged in a casing and attached as a unit to a machine, e.g. an automatic assembling machine, or arranged for feeding a press. The operating sequence of the cylinder assemblies for gripping rotating, lowering and advancing an article to and fro along a straight line is automatically programme-controlled, e.g. by punched card programmes. In an embodiment the adjusting mechanism is arranged within a housing 42, Fig. 5 (not shown), and the piston thereof is coupled to a bridge-like closing wall 43, reciprocable along guideways 44, Fig. 7 (not shown), on which is mounted the gripping mechanism 48 having gripper members 56. An adjusting mechanism may be interposed between the feeding and gripping units for movement transversely of the feeding direction. In a further embodiment the gripping unit is pivotable about a horizontal axis extending transversely of the feeding movement and in a vertical plane.