MXPA00009589A - Method and apparatus for assembling a pair of members - Google Patents

Abstract

Assembling and adhering two component parts of a lost form pattern (47, 48) comprises placing each of the two components on separate supports (15, 32) which initially face in the same direction, following which one of the supports and the component supported thereby are rotated through substantially 180°to a position in which the two components confront and face one another. Each component has an exposed surface (49) which confronts the other (50). An adhesive is applied to the exposed surface of one of the components (49), following which the supports are moved toward one another a distance sufficient to enable the confronting surfaces to engage and bond to one another. Thereafter the bonded components are separated from their respective supports and removed. The separate components are placed on their respective supports and the bonded components removed from such supports at a level which is ergonomically appropriate for the machine operator.

Description

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING A COUPLE OF MEMBERS This invention relates to a method and apparatus for assembling and adhering together a pair of members and more particularly to the assembly of foam components which, when assembled, form a pattern for use in the foaming of lost foam products. metal such as blocks and cylinder heads.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the emptying of metal products it is conventional to form from a plurality of components a lost foam pattern of the product to be formed in the emptying operation. The components of the pattern are initially separated from each other as a consequence of which such components must be assembled and joined with one another to provide the desired pattern. The components are conventionally delivered to an assembly machine at which a machine operator loads the two components into separate supports or plates which are then adjusted relative to each other in such a manner to allow an adhesive to be applied to one of the components. components next to which the two components move in limiting relationship and join one another One of the undesirable characteristics of known apparatuses for assembling components of foam patterns lost between them is that the operator of the machine needs to lift, and possibly rock , at least one of the components up to an elevated position to secure such component to that part of the machine to which it must be secured prior to the assembly and adhesion operation. The need to lift components repeatedly during the operator's work period is fatiguing. In the use of hitherto available machines it is not common for at least one of the parts of the machine to be movable in such directions as to present the possibility that such a machine part or a component supported thereby may be a threat to the machine. operator of the machine in the case of a failure of the part of the machine or the inadvertent release of a component. An object of the invention is to provide a method and apparatus that overcomes the aforementioned disadvantages.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION An apparatus for assembling and adhering together component parts of a lost foam pattern comprising a frame adjacent to one end of which are first and second supports on which first and second components, respectively, can be supported. pattern to lost foam. The first support occupies an initial position to receive a first pattern component, whereupon such support is rotated to a set position in which the component supported on the first support overlaps and confronts a second support on which a second support is supported. pattern component. The first support and the supported component by this they then move to an intermediate position in which a coating of adhesive is applied to the first component, whereupon the first component and the component supported thereby are returned to a position which overlaps the second component. The first and second components then move relative to each other in such a direction as to cause the two components to engage with each other so that the adhesive binds the components together. Then, the bonded components are removed and the process is repeated using two additional components. When the first and second components move towards their respective first and second supports, the latter are held in a position that is ergonomically appropriate for minimizing operator fatigue. The apparatus includes a frame on which two supports are mounted to support two components respectively to be subsequently joined. The first support has a support surface on which one of the components can be secured and the second support has a support surface on which the second component can be secured. Initially, the support surfaces of the two supports face up. However, following the securing of a first component to the first support the latter is rotated to an elevated position in which the component supported by it overlaps and confronts the support surface of the second support. The direction and extent of rotation of the first support are such that the potential damage to the operator of the machine is minimized.

Following the rotation of the first support moves to a position that overlaps a tank in which an adhesive is maintained. In that position an adhesive coating is applied to the exposed surface face down from the component secured to the first support. The first support is then returned to a position in which it overlaps the second support. During the movement of the first support to the adhesive application station the second support can move upwards to a loading position in which the second component is secured to the upper part of the second support. The level of such loading position is again ergonomically appropriate. Following the loading of the second component in the second support, the second support moves up a distance to allow the upper surface of the second component to face the downward facing surface of the first component so that the adhesive carried by the First component paste the two components one with another. Following the gluing of the two components the component secured to the first support is released, whereby the joined components are allowed to be lowered to a discharge position where the second component is released from the second support. The first support, now free of its component, is rotated to its loading position where a fresh component is secured to the first support and the process is repeated.

THE DRAWINGS A preferred embodiment of the invention is described in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a fragmentary, side elevational view showing the parts in a relative position of adjustment; Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, but showing some of the parts in adjusted positions; Figure 3 is a view similar to Figures 1 and 2, but showing some of the parts of the apparatus in another adjustment position; Figure 4 is a view similar to Figures 1 and 2, but showing some of the parts of the apparatus in yet another adjustment position; Figure 5 is an end elevation view of the apparatus showing the parts in the positions illustrated in Figure 2 and as viewed from the left end of the last figure; Figures 6 and 7 are fragmentary views, amplified, partially in elevation and partially in detail section of a rotating support forming part of the invention; and Figure 8 is an isometric view, on an amplified scale, of the mechanism for effecting rotation of the rotating support shown in Figures 6 and 7.

THE PREFERRED MODALITY The apparatus for use in the assembly and adhesion of two parts, such as lost foam pattern components, with each other generally designated by the reference character 1 and comprises a main frame 2 having separate spaced uprights 3 joined to corresponding adjacent ends by means of cross members 4, the uprights 3 having supports 5 (Figure 5) for coupling with a floor or another base 6. Details of the frame are well known and may vary from the ones illustrated. Mounted on the frame 2 is a carriage 7 comprising end and side frame members 8 and 9, respectively, and suspended by links 10 having rollers slidable on rails 1 1 carried by parallel frame members 12, which extend longitudinally. The carriage includes, on each of its opposite sides, frame members 13 and 14 that diverge downwards which are joined at their lower ends. A pattern component support member 15 has separate, parallel, substantially triangular walls 16 joined together by a horizontal, transverse core 17. Each of the side walls 16 has a journal 18 wedged in bearings 19 carried by the carriage at the junction of the respective members 13 and 14. As best shown in Figures 6 and 7, the core 17 has on one side a flat support surface 20 and on the other side a reinforcement rib structure 21 which can also constitute a manifold having passages for air (no. shown) in communication with the surface 20 for the purpose of allowing suction to be applied in a known manner to an article supported on the surface 20. The support member 15 can rotate about an axishorizontal A (Figures 6 and 7) in each of two opposite directions as indicated by the arrow B. A known rotating actuator mechanism designated generally by the reference character 21 (Figure 8) is provided for rotating the support member 15 and it comprises a pinion arrow 22 formed as an extension of 1 of the journals 18, such a pinion arrow having gear teeth 23 engaged with teeth 24 in a horizontal rack which is reciprocal by means of hydraulic or pneumatic jack assemblies 26. The apparatus 21 may correspond to that manufactured by Flo-Tork, Inc., of Orrville, Ohio. The movement of the rack 25 in one direction causes rotation of the support member 15 in one direction and vice versa. The support surface 20 of the core 17 can be adjusted to a selected level above the floor 7 by means of the vertical adjustment apparatus generally designated by the reference character 29. The adjustment apparatus can be of any suitable and conventional type and, As shown, it has hydraulic cylinder or pneumatic cylinder assemblies 30 and 31 which can be operated to place the surface 20 of the core 17 at an ergonomically appropriate level for an operator of the machine. The apparatus also includes a second support member 32 comprising a plate 33 having a flat article support surface 34 and which is mounted for vertical movements in the directions of the double arrow C The plate 33 moves by means of an assembly 35 cylinder with fluid and guided by rods 36 joaeaáji-j of vertical guides. The plate 33 is adapted to accommodate an article on the face support surface 34 and the latter has openings (not shown) therein in communication with a vacuum source (not shown) to allow the article to be secured in the iron by suction. The apparatus also includes a tank 37 supported in a subframe 38 and having a reservoir 39 therein for accommodating a liquid adhesive. Suspended in the tank 39 by means of hanger arms 40 is a support 41 on which an adhesive applicator 42 is fixed. The support 41 is movable vertically in the direction of the double arrow D by means of cylinder assemblies 43 with fluid. The height of the support 41 relative to the reservoir 39 can be adjusted by means of the known adjustment apparatus 44. The construction of the apparatus is such that it allows the carriage 7 and its associated parts to be accommodated between the cylinder assemblies 43 in a position in which the support 15 overlaps directly with the applicator 42. The carriage 7 can be reciprocated between the positions shown in Figures 1 and 3 and in the directions of the double arrow E by means of fluid cylinder assemblies 45. The apparatus is especially useful for adhering two components together from a lost foam pattern. For purposes of illustration, one of the components of the pattern is shown at 47 in Figure 5 and the other component is shown at 48. The component 47 is secured to the surface 17 of the support 15 by suction, or in any other suitable manner, and has an irregular surface 49, exposed The component 48 is secured to the surface 34 of the plate 33 by suction or any other suitable manner and has an exposed surface 50 that is complementary to the surface 49.

The two components are intended to be joined together on their surfaces 49 and 50. To condition the apparatus for use the carriage 7 of the plate 33 will initially occupy the vertically spaced positions shown in Figure 1. In the described position of the support member 15 The support surface 17 is horizontal, face up, and is at an ergonomically appropriate level for the operator of the machine to allow the operator to simply slide the component 47 horizontally onto the support surface 17 where it can be secured. Placing the support surface 17 initially at an ergonomically appropriate level and in a horizontal position, the operator of the machine is released from the need to lift, rotate, or otherwise manipulate the component in such a way as to induce fatigue. When the component 47 is secured to the upper part of the support surface 17 of the member 15, the surface 49 of the component will face upwards, but does not confront the plate 33. It is therefore necessary to turn the component over so that its surface 49 faces downwards. This is achieved by operating the mechanism 21 in such a manner to rotate counter-clockwise the support member 15 and the component 49 secured thereto, as shown in Figure 1, to the position shown in Figure 2. These two positions are angularly spaced apart from each other at substantially 180 °, as a consequence of which the support member 15, in the position of Figure 2, overlaps the plate 33 with the surfaces 17 and 34 of support, respectively, of face, but separated from each other. Suitable anchoring means, such as an ammunition pin (not shown) can be provided to secure the member 15 in its adjusted position in a known manner following the rotation of the support member 15 and the component 47 to the adjusted position shown in FIG. Figure 2, the carriage 7 can be moved to the intermediate position shown in Figure 3 in which the support member 15 overlaps the tank 37, from which the support 41 can be lifted from the tank 39 to allow the surface of the applicator 42 (which complements the surface 49 of the component 47) mating with the surface 49 and coating the latter with liquid adhesive. After the component 47 has been coated with adhesive, the support 41 can be lowered into the reservoir 39 and the carriage can be returned to its original position as shown in Figure 2. While the carriage 7 is being moved to and from the intermediate position in which adhesive is applied to the surface 49 of the member 47, the plate 33 is raised from the position shown in Figure 1 to a loaded position shown in Figure 2 in which the second component 48 can be placed by the operator of the machine in the upper part of the support surface 34 of the plate and be insured to it. Again, the level of the support surface 34 when the plate is in its loaded position is one that is ergonomically appropriate for the operator of the machine, thereby facilitating the loading of the component 48 by simply sliding it horizontally onto the plate 33. When the carriage 7 returns from the intermediate or adhesive application station to its initial position, the surfaces 49 and 50 of the components 47 and 48, respectively, will overlap directly with each other and the components will occupy positions in which their surfaces of confrontation are in register. Following the return of the carriage to its initial position, the plate 33 moves upward a sufficient distance to allow the confronting surfaces 49 and 50 of the two components to engage with each other, and the plate is held in such an elevated position for a period of time. of sufficient predetermined time to allow the two components to merge with one another. Following the passage of the predetermined time interval, the suction application to the upper component 47 is terminated, whereby such a component of the support member 15 is released. The adhered components 47 and 48 will then be supported entirely by the plate 33. Following the release of the component 47 of the support 15 the plate 33 is lowered to the loading position alluded to above, wherein the suction application to the component 48 is finished, so that the attached components 47 and 48 are allowed to be removed from the plate. Then, the means for anchoring the member 15 in its The adjusted position are released, and the member is rotated about the axis A to its loaded position. During this movement of the member 15 the plate 33 is lowered to its original position. The apparatus is then in condition to perform another operation cycle. As shown in Figure 1, the left end of the frame 2 of the machine rests in a vertical plane P. This plane also defines a work station in which the operator of the machine stops. The rotational movements of the member 15 (in the directions of the arrow B) are such that at no time is any part of the member 15 or the component supporting therein extending beyond the plane P. Consequently, the possibility is minimized of damage to the operator of the machine by the member 15 or anything supported thereon. The described embodiment is representative of a currently preferred form of the invention, but is intended to be illustrative rather than definitive thereof. The invention is defined in the claims.

Claims (17)

1. CLAIMS 1. An apparatus for use in the assembly of a pair of members separated from one another, said apparatus comprising a first support having a surface for removably supporting one of said members; a second support having a surface to removably support the other of said members, each of said first and second supports occupying a first position in which said surfaces face facing the same direction and in which said first support it is at an appropriately ergonomically predetermined level above that of said second support; means for rotating one of said supports to an adjusted position in which said surface confronts said surface of the other of said supports; and means for relatively moving said supports towards each other while said one said support is in said adjusted position a distance sufficient to allow the members supported by their respective supports to engage with each other, wherein said first support when rotated toward said position adjusted is at a level above that occupied by said first support when the latter is in said first position.
2. 2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein in said first position said surfaces face upwards.
3. 3. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said first and adjusted positions are displaced approximately 180 ° from each other.
4. 4. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means for relatively moving said supports effect movement of said second support towards said first support.
5. An apparatus according to claim 1 including means for moving said one of said supports to an intermediate position from said adjusted position and back to said adjusted position before the relative movement of said supports toward each other.
6. An apparatus according to claim 5 including means for applying an adhesive coating to a member supported by said one of said supports while said one of said supports is in said intermediate position.
7. 7. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said first position of said one of said supports is one wherein said surface thereof is substantially horizontal.
8. 8. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the adjusted position of said one of said supports is one wherein said surface thereof is substantially horizontal.
9. 9. An apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said first position of said one of said supports is one wherein said surface thereof is substantially horizontal.
10. 10. An apparatus for use in the assembly of a pair of members separated from one another, said apparatus comprising a frame having at one end thereof a loading and unloading station; a first support mounted on said frame adjacent to said one end thereof at an ergonomically predetermined appropriate level and that has a first support surface for the removable accommodation of one of said members; a second support mounted on said frame adjacent to said one end thereof for vertical movements from a low position to an elevated position, and return of said support having a supporting surface; means for rotating said first support from a first position in which said support surfaces face upwards to a second position in which said first support surface faces downwards and overlaps with the support surface of said second support; and means for effecting relative movement of said first and second supports toward each other while said first support is in said second position a distance sufficient to allow the members supported on the respective supports to engage with each other.
11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the support surface of said first support is substantially horizontal in each of said first and second positions.
12. 12. The apparatus according to claim 10 including means for moving said first support while in said second position to an intermediate position away from said one end of said frame, and back; and means for applying adhesive to a member supported on said first support in said intermediate position.
13. The apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said one end of said frame rests in a vertical plane, and wherein the direction and extent of rotation of said first support are such that no part of said first support extends beyond of said plane in the direction of said station.
14. A method for assembling first and second members having complementary surfaces, comprising: securing the first of said members above a first support in a position in which said surface of said first member is exposed and face up; maintaining said first support at a selected ergonomic level as said first member is secured to said first support; co-rotating said first support and said first member through rotation of 180 ° substantially so that said exposed surface is upside down; securing the second member to a second support in a position in which said surface of said second member is exposed and above and underlies said surface of said first member wherein the exposed surfaces of said first and second members directly face one with other; applying an adhesive to the exposed surface of one of said members; and relatively moving said supports towards each other a distance sufficient to allow said surfaces of said members to engage with each other.
15. The method according to claim 14 including releasing said first member of said first support following the engagement of said members with another member, whereby both of said members are allowed to be supported by said second support.
16. 16. The method according to claim 14 which includes raising said second support according to said first support and said first member are turned.
17. 17. The method according to claim 14 which includes holding said second support at substantially the same ergonomic level as said second member is secured to said second support.