WO1999008839A1

WO1999008839A1 - Mechanical coding system for tool mounting

Info

Publication number: WO1999008839A1
Application number: PCT/US1998/016951
Authority: WO
Inventors: Alfred F. Herbermann
Original assignee: Syron Engineering & Manufacturing, Llc.
Priority date: 1997-08-14
Filing date: 1998-08-14
Publication date: 1999-02-25

Abstract

A simple method of identifying a tool with an appropriate mount structure includes a mechanical coding system. The mechanical coding system includes a plurality of pins (40) and sockets (38), which are provided on the mount structure and the tool. By providing a plurality of pin and socket elements, the system provides a number of distinct configurations. The assembler can only mount a tool in an appropriate mount station.

Description

FOR THE PURPOSES OF INFORMATION ONLY

Codes used to identify States party to the PCT on the front pages 3f pamphlets publishing international applications under the PCT.

AL Albania ES Spain LS Lesotho SI Slovenia

AM Armenia FI Finland LT Lithuania SK Slovakia

AT Austria FR France LU Luxembourg SN Senegal

AU Australia GA Gabon LV Latvia SZ Swaziland

AZ Azerbaijan GB United Kingdom MC Monaco TD Chad

BA Bosnia and Herzegovina GE Georgia MD Republic of Moldova TG Togo

BB Barbados GH Ghana MG Madagascar TJ Tajikistan

BE Belgium GN Guinea MK The former Yugoslav TM Turkmenistan

BF Burkina Faso GR Greece Republic of Macedonia TR Turkey

BG Bulgaria HU Hungary ML Mali TT Trinidad and Tobago

BJ Benin IE Ireland MN Mongolia UA Ukraine

BR Brazil IL Israel MR Mauritania UG Uganda

BY Belarus IS Iceland M Malawi US United States of America

CA Canada IT Italy MX Mexico uz Uzbekistan

CF Central African Republic JP Japan NE Niger VN Viet Nam

CG Congo KE Kenya NL Netherlands YU Yugoslavia

CH Switzerland KG Kyrgyzstan NO Norway zw Zimbabwe

CI Cote d'lvoire KP Democratic People's NZ New Zealand

CM Cameroon Republic of Korea PL Poland

CN China KR Republic of Korea PT Portugal

CU Cuba KZ Kazakstan RO Romania

CZ Czech Republic LC Saint Lucia RU Russian Federation

DE Germany LI Liechtenstein SD Sudan

DK Denmark LK Sri Lanka SE Sweden

EE Estonia LR Liberia SG Singapore MECHANICAL CODING SYSTEM FOR TOOL MOUNTING

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a coding structure for ensuring that a particular tool is mounted in an appropriate mount structure.

It is known in the prior art to have tool mounts in a work area that mount particular tool arrangement. With the advent of automated equipment, more and more tools are utilized to perform tasks that had previously been performed manually. Each tool is typically mounted within some type of tool mount. As a simple example, a number of tools may be mounted on a moving press for lifting a part and moving it to a work station. The moving press may have a plurality of different tool mounts mounted at different locations on the press. Each tool mount may mount different tools such as suction cups, grippers, shovels, etc.

It becomes important to associate the appropriate tool to the appropriate mount structure. The tools may be reassembled and reconfigured with different work assignments. Thus, an assembler may have to remove a tool and replace it with a different tool as the parts which are being machined change. In the past, some visual coding (numeric or color coding) has been placed on the tools in an attempt to assist the assembler in putting each tool in the appropriate location. However, there have still been instances where the tools have been mounted in incorrect locations. Moreover, known coding systems are somewhat complex, and do require close attention from assembly personnel.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a disclosed embodiment of this invention, coding structure is associated with both the mount and the tool to be mounted. The coding structures are provided with mechanical elements such that the tool may only -2-

be mounted in the appropriate mount. If the assembler attempts to mount the tool in the incorrect mount, the mechanical structures interfere, and the tool may not be mounted.

Thus, with the present invention, the assembler is provided with immediate feedback of an incorrect mount, and in fact cannot complete an incorrect mount.

In a preferred embodiment of this invention, the mechanical coding structure includes socket and pin arrangements such that the pin arrangements move into the sockets to allow the tool and tool mount to move to a mounted position. Preferably there are a plurality of sockets and pins, and each tool is provided with a particular code, or arrangement of sockets and pins. In a sense the pins and sockets could be visualized as a binary code. The associated mount is provided with a mirror image code, such that the mount will be able to receive the appropriate tool, and only that tool. In one preferred embodiment there are four elements arranged in a planar array. Each of the elements can be a pin or socket, such that there are sixteen possible arrangements. Of course, by providing other shapes or sizes an even greater number of possible arrangements can be achieved. Further, by providing more than four elements a greater number of embodiments can be achieved.

In a most preferred embodiment, the pin and socket elements are each provided with a enlarged cylindrical base, and the coding pin or socket extends from the base. The base is preferably mounted in a mount base, with a cylindrical structure providing a relatively large surface area for mounting. The mount structure, or the tool, are provided with a locking structure separate from the coding structure. The locking structure can only be locked to secure the tool within the tool mount when the coding structure has been properly aligned.

These and other features of the present invention can be best understood from the following specification and drawings, the following of which is a brief description. BRIEF DESCRD7TION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a simplified view of a work transfer press including two tools. Figure 2 is a top view of a tool and a tool mount.

Figure 3 is a side view of the assembled coding member.

Figure 4 is a top view of a properly secured tool and mount structure.

Figure 5 shows the occurrence of an improper alignment.

Figure 6 shows a second embodiment coding member for an arm. Figure 7 shows a second embodiment coding member for a tool mount.

Figure 8 shows a second embodiment coding element.

Figure 9 shows another feature.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Figure 1 shows a work transfer station 20 incorporating a moving transfer die 21 including tool mount members 22 and 24. Mount 22 mounts arm 26 and mount 24 mounts arm 28. As shown, arm 26 has a single suction cup while arm 28 has a pair of suction cups. This arrangement is shown simply to illustrate the invention. In practice, the transfer die 21 may include a large number of tools extending to each side, and may carry different types of tools on its associated arms. The concept of this invention will be explained with regard to the two arms 26 and 28, however, it should be understood that the invention becomes particularly valuable when there are greater number of arms associated with the transfer die 21. Moreover, it should be understood that static mount arrangements, or any other type of tool mount structures were to benefit from this invention.

The arms 26 and 28 are latched as shown schematically at 30 to the mount structures 22 and 24. One type of latch and mount which benefits from this invention is that shown in U.S. Patent No. 5,071 ,309. A coding mount -4-

32 is associated with the arm 26 and a separate coding mount 34 is associated with the arm 28.

As shown in Figure 2, coding mount 32 incorporates a base 35 mounted on the arm 26 and a base 36 associated with the tool mount 22. A plurality of pin and socket elements, such as socket elements 38 and pin elements 40 are associated with the base 36, and base 35. As shown, the base 35 will have pin elements aligned with sockets on the base 36, and vice versa. As also shown, the pin and socket elements preferably have an enlarged cylindrical portion 41 mounted in the bases 35 and 36 to provide a secure mount.

A forward face 42 of the base 36 should abut a forward face 43 of the base 35 if the two coding portions 35 and 36 are properly aligned and secured. Figure 3 shows the base 35 and 36 secured together. As shown, a cylindrical opening 44 receives portion 41, and has a forward extending portion 46 for the pins and sockets. Bolt openings 48, Figure 2, allow the bases 35 and 36 to be bolted to the tool mounts and arms by bolts. A holder 50 is bolted above the connected pins and sockets.

As shown in Figure 4, when the proper arm 26 is moved to the proper mount 22, the pins and sockets will be properly aligned and can move into each other. As shown schematically, the latch 30 may then be latched. If the end face 42 were not able to abut the end face 43, the latch 30 could not be closed.

As shown in Figure 5, an assembler has attempted to move arm 28 to the tool mount 22. As shown, one of the sockets 38 for the tool 26 is a pin 40 in the arrangement for arm 28. That pin now faces an associated pin 40 on the tool mount 22. Thus, the two cannot move into each other such that the face 42 abuts the face 43. Thus, latch 30 cannot be closed.

As shown in Figure 6, the shape of the mount base can have shapes other than planar shapes. Mount base 50 includes as many as eight spaces 52 to mount mount elements. A bolt hole 54 will facilitate the mount of this structure to the arm.

Claims

As shown in Figure 7, these spaces 52 are associated with a coding element 56 for the tool mount having openings 58. Openings 60 facilitate passage of air as electrical elements.Figure 8 also shows coding elements 62 having an enlarged cylindrical portion 63. However, element 62 has both the socket portion 64 and the pin portion 66. Thus, the single element 62 may be utilized for providing either the socket or pin by either turning the element.Figure 9 shows another feature within an element 70 wherein a push button switch 72 is actuated to send an electrical signal to confirm the receipt of a pin in a socket. The signal is sent to a control to confirm the proper alignment.It should be understood the tools, tool mounts and locks shown in this application are only exemplary. The invention extends to any tools, mounts and locks. The present invention thus provides a very simple method of ensuring proper alignment between tools and mount structure. A worker of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that several modifications would come within the scope of this invention. For that reason the following claims should be studied to determine the true scope and content of this invention. -6-CLAIMSWHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A tool and tool mount system comprising: a tool mounting element comprising a plurality of tool mount stations, each of said tool mount stations including a mount coding structure; a plurality of tools to be mounted in said tool mount station, at least some of said plurality of tools being distinct, and being intended to be mounted into individual ones of said tool mount stations, and each of said plurality of tools being provided with a mechanical coding structure; and said mechanical coding structure of said tools being associated with said respective one of said tool mount stations and being distinct from said mechanical coating structure of others of said plurality of said tools.

2. A system as recited in Claim 1 , wherein said mechanical coding structure comprise a pin or socket arranged in a predetermined code.

3. A system as recited in Claim 2, wherein there are more than one of pin or socket elements.

4. A system as recited in Claim 3, wherein a mount base for mounting said elements includes an enlarged portion spaced away from the opposed coding member, and smaller pin or socket structure extending from said portion, said portion being mounted in said mount base.

5. A system as recited in Claim 1 , wherein both said pin and said socket are provided by a single element by turning said single element.

6. A system as recited in Claim 1 , wherein said coding element on said tool and said tool mount can be moved together to an engaged position, and a latch for latching said tool within said tool mount, only being engageable when said tool and said tool mount have moved to said engaged position.

7. A system as recited in Claim 6, wherein said tool and said tool mount coding elements each are received in respective bases, said bases having abutting faces which are in contact in said engaged position.

8. A system as recited in Claim 1 , wherein an electric signal is sent when the coding structures are properly aligned.

9. A method of associating a particular tool with a particular mount station comprising the steps of:

(1) providing a plurality of tool mount stations, and providing a plurality of distinct tools to be mounted in respective ones of said tool mount stations;

(2) providing a unique mechanical coding structure on each of said tool mount stations and said tools, said coding structure on each of said tool mount stations being designed to only receive associated tool coding structure; and (3) mounting said tools to associated ones of said tool mount stations, and identifying improperly matched tools by identifying tools which cannot be moved into an associated tool mount station.

10. A tool and tool mount system comprising: a tool mounting element comprising a plurality of tool mounting stations, each of said tool mounting stations ^' including a mount coding structure; a plurality of tools with respective ones of said tools mounted into each of said plurality of tool mount stations, each of said plurality of tools being provided with a mechanical coding structure; and