GB1116174A - A device for checking the presence of parts and tools in automatic assembling machines - Google Patents

Abstract

For checking the presence of components and tools for carrying out a manufacturing process, especially one in which individual components are assembled in a mould and finally formed into a single unit by casting into e.g. glass, a machine is provided having a rotary table to receive the components and tools, sensing means rotatable with the table and movable along one or more axes at right angles to the rotary movement, positioning means for moving the sensing means into position to engage one component or tool and means for preventing the process from taking place unless such engagement occurs. The machine shown comprises a rotor <PICT:1116174/C1/1> 1 having a guide 3 on which is slidably mounted a support 4 drawn towards the centre of the rotor by a spring 5, and carrying a sensing gauge 18. The support 4 also carries a support 6 on which is a mould 7, the support being drawn downwards by a spring (not shown). A probe 20 for checking the presence of a contact member 33 carrying a tube 22, a die 19 for shaping the mass in the mould and a carrier are mounted on the rotor. A number of lifting cams 10, 11, 12 and shifting cams 13, 14, 15 are provided for moving the carrier 6 at each stage of checking. In operation, as the rotor moves round, the presence of the die 19 is checked by the sensing gauge which permits the support 4 to move towards the centre of the rotor if the die is absent and so put an end to operations on this set of parts. If the die is present, the further movement of the rotor enables similar checking of the other parts, the set being displaced from the operative track at any time when a part or tool is missing.