US3648346A - Transverse cam operated station for an automatic nonsynchronous multistation assembly machine - Google Patents

Transverse cam operated station for an automatic nonsynchronous multistation assembly machine Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US3648346A
US3648346A US62228A US3648346DA US3648346A US 3648346 A US3648346 A US 3648346A US 62228 A US62228 A US 62228A US 3648346D A US3648346D A US 3648346DA US 3648346 A US3648346 A US 3648346A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
movement
assembly machine
assembly
machine
cam
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.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US62228A
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
James T Graham
Fred W Hackstock
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Cross Co
Original Assignee
Bendix Corp
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Bendix Corp filed Critical Bendix Corp
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3648346A publication Critical patent/US3648346A/en
Assigned to CROSS COMPANY, THE reassignment CROSS COMPANY, THE ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST. Assignors: BENDIX MACHINE TOOL CORPORATION
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

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
    • B65G17/00—Conveyors having an endless traction element, e.g. a chain, transmitting movement to a continuous or substantially-continuous load-carrying surface or to a series of individual load-carriers; Endless-chain conveyors in which the chains form the load-carrying surface
    • B65G17/002—Conveyors having an endless traction element, e.g. a chain, transmitting movement to a continuous or substantially-continuous load-carrying surface or to a series of individual load-carriers; Endless-chain conveyors in which the chains form the load-carrying surface comprising load carriers resting on the traction element
    • 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
    • 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
    • B65G2201/00—Indexing codes relating to handling devices, e.g. conveyors, characterised by the type of product or load being conveyed or handled
    • B65G2201/02—Articles
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T29/00—Metal working
    • Y10T29/53—Means to assemble or disassemble
    • Y10T29/53026—Means to assemble or disassemble with randomly actuated stopping or disabling means
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T29/00—Metal working
    • Y10T29/53—Means to assemble or disassemble
    • Y10T29/53313—Means to interrelatedly feed plural work parts from plural sources without manual intervention
    • Y10T29/53365—Multiple station assembly apparatus
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T29/00—Metal working
    • Y10T29/53—Means to assemble or disassemble
    • Y10T29/534—Multiple station assembly or disassembly apparatus

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT A station for an automatic nonsynchronous multistation assembly machine operated by a cam shaft extending transversely to the line of movement of the parts in the transport system, and featuring grooved drum-type segmented cams.
  • this type of machine has in the past been arranged with a multiplicity of air or hydraulic cylinders, valves, and limit switches providing endpoint sequential type control or by having each station operated with a parallel extending cam shaft either aligned with the line of movement of the parts or along side thereof.
  • a cam system is more desirable, however, this arrangement has been limited as to the number of cam operated motion possible in a single station because the length of the cam shafts are limited by the space available between adjacent stations. Additionally, complex linkages are required for motions on the opposite side of the station from the cam.
  • FIG. 11 is a plan view of a multiple station nonsynchronous automatic assembly machine.
  • FIG. 2 is a view taken along the section 2-2 in FIG. 1.
  • FIG. 3 is a view of the section taken along line 3-3 in FIG. ll.
  • FIG. 4 is a view of the section taken along line 4-4 in FIG. 3.
  • FIG. 5 is a view in partial section of the overtravel link shown in FIG. 4.
  • FIG. 6 is a view of the section taken along the line 6-6 in FIG. 5.
  • FIG. I a multistation automatic assembly machine according to the present invention is depicted.
  • the machine It includes a plurality of assembly stations 12 interconnected by sections of power and free transport conveyor 14 and may also include manual stations (not shown) for various operations which are better suited for manual performance.
  • the conveyor system includes an inner and an outer roller chain l6, 18 which are continuously advanced by means of sprockets 20 and 22 at some point in the system (FIG. I).
  • the roller chains 16 and I8 are supported on bars 24, 26 and carry fixed thereto on their upper surface portion, plates 28, 30 which serve to support and frictionally engage a pallet 32 upon which the workpiece 34 is located.
  • base members such as housings of the workpiece 34 to be assembled are placed on a pallet 32, which advances successively to each station 12, each of which may add parts from a supply and feed mechanism 36, to the assembly or may merely manipulate elements previously mded thereto.
  • a station 12 with an operating mechanism according to the present invention is shown in some detail.
  • This station is adapted to receive pallets 32 which are carried into the station by the roller chains 16, 18.
  • the station 12 includes a locating fixture 38.
  • the pallet 32 is adapted to be stopped andlocated with respect to the fixture 38 immediately after it comes into approximate registry with the station 12, by means of a rough stop mechanism (not shown).
  • the cam assembly 40 includes a drum member 48 which is supported by means of bearings 50, 52 mounted on partitions 54, 56, respectively, supported in the station base 58. Secured to the drum 48 are a plurality of cam groove sections 60, 62, 64, 66, and 68 which may be constructed of standardized segments individually bolted or otherwise: secured to the drum member 48. Associated with each respective segment 60, 62, 64%, 66, 68 is a linkage assembly 70, 72, 74, 76, and 78 for per forming a specific motion with regard to the workpiece or in locating or providing auxiliary support for the pallet 32. Each linkage assembly 70, 72, 7A, 78 is supported by a crossmember 80 which is in turn supported by partitions 5d, 56 as well as partition 82, while linkage assembly 76 is supported by a plate 841 in turn supported by appropriate bracketry.
  • Each linkage assembly 70, 72, 74, 76 and 78 includes an associated link 86, 88, 90, 92 and 94 rotatably supported by pivots 96, 98, 100, 102, 104.
  • Each link 86, 88, 9t), 92, 94 has an associated cam follower I05, I07, I09, III, 1113 disposed in its respective cam groove so as to constrain it to move in conformity with the particular contours thereof.
  • Each link 86, 88, 90, 92, 94 is drivingly associated with a mechanism designed to perform some motion function which is associated with the specific operation to be performed at the particular station 12.
  • link 88 is adapted to operate a wepge pin device 114 which serves to locate the pallet and workpiece with respect to the registry fixture 38,.
  • link 92 is adapted to drive an auxiliary support clamp mechanism H6
  • link 88 is adapted to operate a bearing or seal feed mechanism 118
  • link 86 operates a bearing positioning mechanism 119
  • link 94 drives a press mechanism 120, arranged to press a bearing or seal into the workpiece 34.
  • each of these mechanisms are operated in a sequence and in a manner determined by the particular contour of its associated cam groove to accomplish the intended station operation, after which time the cam drive is discontinued via a control arrangement (not shown) cooperating with the clutch unit and brake unit 46 to await the next cycle.
  • the cam may be located so that motions on either side of the line may be easily and directly taken therefrom.
  • pivot 74 which is typical, includes a socket 122 secured to crossmember and aligned with a corresponding bore 125 therein, and containing a ball 124 urged to the right as viewed in FIG. 4 by means of a compression spring 126.
  • a bushing 127 may be included to lessen wear and maintain an accurate fit with the ball 124.
  • a pivot post 128 Disposed juxtaposed to the ball 124 is a pivot post 128 having a base portion 130 formed with a generally dished depression 132, normally disposed with the ball 124 centered therein.
  • the pivot post 128 is maintained against the crossmember 80 by means of a slotted bracket 136 secured to the crossmember 80 and formed with an opening 138 so as to allow limited movement of the pivot post in the plane of its abutment with the crossmember 80, while preventing movement out of this plane.
  • the link 90 is rotatably supported on a reduced end portion 140 of the pivot post 128, and retained thereon by means of a thrust washer 142 and a pneumatic fitting 144 threadedly engaging the end portion 140.
  • a source of pneumatic pressure 146 connected thereto via line 148, which communicates via the fitting 144 with a central passage 150 formed in the pivot post member 128, leading into the center of the dished depression 132.
  • the source 146 is also connected via the fitting 144 and a line with a pressure switch 152 which is arranged to control the clutch unit 45 and brake unit 46 by means of a solenoid valve 154 which is operatively connected thereto and serves to control communications of the pneumatic source 156 which in turn controls the application of the clutch 45 and brake 46 to discontinue drum movement.
  • the solenoid valve 154 also may serve as the primary cycle control during normal operations.
  • An indicator 158 may also be operated by the pressure switch 152.
  • the indicator 158 is also activated thereby so that an operator may be apprised of the shutdown.
  • this arrangement is sensitive to overload conditions in the individual link mechanisms and acts to immediately relieve the excessive forces as well as to shut down all further activity at the station, and hence, providing a solution to the problem of detecting the individual jams. Furthermore, since the pivots are the locations where the excessive force levels are detected, the shifting mechanical advantage of the cam groove sections and the cam follower does affect its function, and hence this arrangement also eliminates this source of error.
  • each link mechanism 70, 72, 74, 76, and 78 also may be individually tailored by controlling the bias force applied to the ball by the compression spring and/or the ramp angle of the associated dished depression.
  • a problem has existed in accurately locating a member by means of cam and linkage mechanisms due to the play involved therein and the efiects of wear.
  • An example of this type of situation is the positioning mechanism 119 referred to operated by the linkage 70.
  • This mechanism serves to receive a part 160, such as a seal or bearing from the feed mechanism 118, into a holding member 162, and transport it into a proper position with respect to the workpiece 34 for emplacement by the press mechanism 120.
  • the holding member 162 must accurately be brought into registry in these positions with respect to the feed mechanism 118, the press mechanism 120 and the workpiece 34.
  • the arrangement provided for accomplishing this includes a stationary block 164 fixed to the housing 58 and a pair of rods 166, 168 slidably disposed in bores formed in the block 164.
  • the rods 166, 168 are connected at one end to an end plate 170 in turn connected to the holding member 162, and at the other end to end plate 172.
  • the end plate is adapted to be driven by the link 86 by means of an overtravel link 174 pinned at 176 to the link 86 and at 178 to the end plate 172.
  • An adjustable positive stop 188 is threaded into the end plate 170, while a cooperating adjustable positive stop 190 is similarly threaded into the block 164.
  • An adjustable stop 192 is threaded into end plate 172 and a cooperating stop 194 is threaded into the block 164.
  • the overtravel link 174 is adapted to provide a resilient limited lost motion connection between the link 86 and the end plate 172, and includes a pair of end rods 196 and 198 adapted to be pinned to the link 86 and end plate 172, respectively.
  • End rod 196 is threadedly connected to a rod 200, extending into a housing 202 and received into an opening 204 formed in a cup member 204.
  • the cup member 204 is threaded to the end rod 198.
  • a compression spring 206 Surrounding rod 200 and disposed in the housing 202 is a compression spring 206, bearing at one end against a shoulder 208 in the housing 202 and at the other end on a compression washer 210.
  • Compression washer 210 is forced thereby against the end 212 of the cup member 204, which in turn is abutting an internal shoulder 216 of a cap 218 threaded on the end of the housing 202.
  • Movement of the rod 200 in the housing 202 is limited by means of a compression washer 220 abutting the housing end 222 and adjusting lock nut 224.
  • the compression spring 206 also acts on the rod 200 via a pair of protuberances 226 and 228 slidably received in a pair of slots 230, 232, in the cup member 204, with the compression washer 210 extending inwardly to engage the protuberances 226 and 228.
  • a lost motion clearance I is provided between the rod 200 and the cup member 204, which allows relative movement between the end rods 196, 198 until the rod 200 abuts the bottom of the opening 203.
  • the rod 200 is free to move relative to the cup member 204, if the contact of the stops 192, 194 does not precisely coincide with this stoppage or reversal of counterclockwise pivotal movement the rod 200 is free to continue moving to the left as viewed in FIG. 5 until the spring 206 reaches its fully com pressed length, and hence the registry of the holding member may be precisely adjusted independently of the linkage motion within the limits of this overtravel.
  • Additional thrust washers 210 or washers of differing thickness thereof may be utilized, as well as springs of varying rates in order to control the relative stiffness of the overtravel link 174 to provide the proper response for the particular velocities, masses, etc., involved in the particular motion.
  • a multistation assembly machine for assembly of workpieces comprising:
  • transport means moving workpieces through said machine
  • a plurality of workstations disposed along said transport means each including operating means for performing operations on a workpiece, and at least one of said operating means including cam means having a plurality of camming surfaces arranged relative each other to extend transversely to the line of movement of said workpieces through said workstation, whereby the number of operations performable by said camming surfaces at said station is not limited by the available length along said transport means between said stations.
  • cam surfaces comprise a plurality of grooves formed in said drum and wherein said operating means includes linkage means and associated cam followers inserted in said grooves.
  • At least one of said linkage means includes a link member and a pivotal support for said link member, and further includes overload release means allowing displacement of said link member relative said pivotal support in response to a pivot reaction force level corresponding to an overload condition in said linkage means, whereby overloads in said individual linkage means may be prevented.
  • said operating means further includes drive means for driving said drum member and control means intermittently activating said drive means, and wherein said overload means also includes deactivating means deactivating said drive means in response to displacement of said link member relative said pivotal support.
  • overload release means includes a ball member resiliently biased into engagement with said link member and wherein said link member includes a dished depression engaging said ball member.
  • overload means further includes bracket means limiting the displacement of said link member from said pivotal support.
  • said operating means further includes drive means :for driving said drum member and control means intermittently activating said drive means, and wherein said overload means also includes deactivating means deactivating said drive means in response to displacement of said link member from said pivotal support, said deactivating means including fluid pressure means communicating with said dished depression, and means responsive to the movement of said ball member out of said depression to vent said fluid pressure means.
  • bracket means also includes means limiting movement of said link member relative said ball member to movement in a single plane.
  • cam shaft means including a plurality of camming surfaces arranged relative to each other to extend transversely to the line of movement of the workpieces, whereby the number of operations drivable by said cam shaft means is not limited by the spacing of said stations along said transport system.
  • cam shaft means includes a drum member having said camming surfaces formed thereon extending transversely to the line of movement of said workpieces.
  • cam shaft means camming surfaces comprise a plurality of grooved segments on said drum member and wherein said stations include linkage and cam follower means cooperating with respective groove segments to perform the assembly operations.
  • a housing slidably receiving said first and second end rods
  • a first abutment means limiting relative movement between said housing and said first end rod; a second abutment means limiting relative movement between said second end rod and said housing;
  • resilient means drivingly connected to said housing and one of said end rods, whereby resilient. overtravel of both said end rods is provided.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Automatic Assembly (AREA)
US62228A 1970-08-03 1970-08-03 Transverse cam operated station for an automatic nonsynchronous multistation assembly machine Expired - Lifetime US3648346A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US6222870A 1970-08-03 1970-08-03

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3648346A true US3648346A (en) 1972-03-14

Family

ID=22041046

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US62228A Expired - Lifetime US3648346A (en) 1970-08-03 1970-08-03 Transverse cam operated station for an automatic nonsynchronous multistation assembly machine

Country Status (6)

Country Link
US (1) US3648346A (enExample)
AU (1) AU3182871A (enExample)
CA (1) CA957136A (enExample)
DE (1) DE2138548A1 (enExample)
FR (1) FR2101190A1 (enExample)
GB (1) GB1362387A (enExample)

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3747185A (en) * 1970-12-28 1973-07-24 Citizen Watch Co Ltd Apparatus for assembling or working a workpiece
US3778880A (en) * 1972-09-25 1973-12-18 Bendix Corp Tooling positioning drive system for automatic gaging and assembly machines
US3791010A (en) * 1971-12-03 1974-02-12 Bendix Corp Overload mechanism for cam operated linkages in a multistation assembly machine
US5152050A (en) * 1988-10-18 1992-10-06 Kaczmarek James S Non-synchronous assembly system
US5901650A (en) * 1997-10-14 1999-05-11 Honda Of America Mfg., Inc. Dynamic buffer for conveyor modules
US20030021792A1 (en) * 2001-06-08 2003-01-30 Roben Paul W. Tissue-specific endothelial membrane proteins

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2516500A1 (de) * 1975-04-15 1976-10-28 Rudi Hutt Automat zum handhaben und zusammenbauen von gegenstaenden
DE2836998A1 (de) * 1978-08-24 1980-03-06 Rau Swf Autozubehoer Scheibenwischeranlage, insbesondere fuer kraftfahrzeuge
GB2137302A (en) * 1983-03-25 1984-10-03 Vending Machines Overload mechanism

Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US25886A (en) * 1859-10-25 Drilling-machine

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US25886A (en) * 1859-10-25 Drilling-machine

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3747185A (en) * 1970-12-28 1973-07-24 Citizen Watch Co Ltd Apparatus for assembling or working a workpiece
US3791010A (en) * 1971-12-03 1974-02-12 Bendix Corp Overload mechanism for cam operated linkages in a multistation assembly machine
US3778880A (en) * 1972-09-25 1973-12-18 Bendix Corp Tooling positioning drive system for automatic gaging and assembly machines
US5152050A (en) * 1988-10-18 1992-10-06 Kaczmarek James S Non-synchronous assembly system
US5901650A (en) * 1997-10-14 1999-05-11 Honda Of America Mfg., Inc. Dynamic buffer for conveyor modules
US20030021792A1 (en) * 2001-06-08 2003-01-30 Roben Paul W. Tissue-specific endothelial membrane proteins

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU3182871A (en) 1973-02-01
DE2138548A1 (de) 1972-05-25
FR2101190A1 (enExample) 1972-03-31
CA957136A (en) 1974-11-05
GB1362387A (en) 1974-08-07

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US3648346A (en) Transverse cam operated station for an automatic nonsynchronous multistation assembly machine
US4201284A (en) Pallet registry system
US6141861A (en) Apparatus and method for control of roller chain assembly
KR101612128B1 (ko) 공작기계의 툴 매거진
US2974811A (en) Work handling mechanism
US3155217A (en) Transfer machine
JPS6225325Y2 (enExample)
US5970763A (en) Transfer press
US3685070A (en) Forging machine transfer
JP2562461B2 (ja) 型鍛造プレス又は類似のものの工作実搬送装置
US4811834A (en) Mechanical transfer feeder
US4819554A (en) Transfer and quick change system
US4149620A (en) Work transfer apparatus
US3724052A (en) Over travel linkage for assembly machine station
US3294256A (en) Article handling apparatus
US3442410A (en) Turntable apparatus
KR20180131746A (ko) 자동화기기의 소재 이송장치
US3791010A (en) Overload mechanism for cam operated linkages in a multistation assembly machine
US3995399A (en) Wide belt grinding machine includng means to relieve tension on the belt in case of power failure
US3410161A (en) Stock feeding apparatus for punch presses and the like
US3871206A (en) Continuous rotary press
US3774740A (en) Interlocking device for presses and transferfeeders
US4084278A (en) High speed transfer
US2910767A (en) Method of assembling laminated stators
US3940839A (en) High accuracy positive positioning mechanism for an assembly machine

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: CROSS COMPANY, THR, 17801 FOURTEEN MILE ROAD, FRAS

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST. EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1, 1984;ASSIGNOR:BENDIX MACHINE TOOL CORPORATION;REEL/FRAME:004348/0603

Effective date: 19841001