Metal working – Plural diverse manufacturing apparatus including means for... – Common reciprocating support for spaced tools
Patent
1988-06-17
1990-05-22
Bishop, Steven C.
Metal working
Plural diverse manufacturing apparatus including means for...
Common reciprocating support for spaced tools
29700, 29791, B23Q 3155
Patent
active
049265393
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a device for processing workpieces wherein a lower tool, which receives the workpiece, can be moved up against an upper tool by a lifting frame such that the workpiece can be processed in this position. More particularly it relates to such a device having an improved lifting frame which permits the upper and lower tools to be changed easily. The present invention is particularly useful for devices which do multispot-welding.
Congeneric devices are usually used as multispot-welding equipment. The presently used devices have a frame which usually has four perpendicular columns. The lower section of the frame accommodates a lifting device between the columns. The lifting table of this lifting device carries the lower tools. When the lifting table is lowered, the workpieces can be placed onto the lifting table and among the lower tools. When the lifting table is lifted, the workpiece is presented to the upper tools for processing.
Typically, the upper tools hang on a head plate which rests on the columns, while the lower tools are connected to the upper tools (for example, by assembly columns) such that when the tools are to be exchanged, the complete tool set (both upper and lower tools) is lifted out of the frame by means of a crane. The tool changes in these devices are very time-consuming, since many parts have to be released, fastened again and also set up for a different workpiece or process. Also, a large amount of head room above the device is required since the columns of the frame extend from the floor up to the head plate and during changing the tool set has to be moved such that its lower edge passes over the top of the columns. Thus, it would be desirable to have a device which overcomes these problems by improving the tool-changing efficiency while maintaining or improving the quality of the work.
The present invention provides a device which is horizontally subdivided into a tool frame and a lifting frame. The tool frame comprises a plurality of perpendicular columns, a head plate connected to the columns and a base plate detachably fastened to the columns. The tool frame can be mounted on the lifting frame in an easily releasable manner. In the mounted state, the connection between the base plate and the columns can be released and a connection can be made between the base plate and the lifting table of the lifting frame. This creates two constructional groups, namely, the lifting frame and the tool frame which can be quickly connected to one another and also separated again and which can optimally fulfill their different tasks.
In particular, the present invention enables a different tool frame to easily be made available for the different workpieces to be processed. It is possible with the present invention to make an external adjustment to the tools or the tool frame which does not impede the production process. Additionally, the present invention provides a quick-changing means which, compared with that used in known tool-changing devices, only requires a fraction of the resetting time, thereby making it possible not only to convert the device upon completion of a production series but also to meet other stated requirements during the course of production, such as continuous or batch production.
Another advantage of the present invention is that the tool frame, upon completion of a series of steps on a workpiece, can be easily used for other tasks, such as for spare-parts production. The tool frame, with both the upper and lower tools, can also be stored for use at a later time or it can be conveyed to another production site where it is mounted onto an identical lifting frame for immediate use. If the tool frame is not to be stored for use at a later time, it can continue to be used for another purpose by converting or exchanging the tools secured on the tool frame. Also, the lifting frame can be fully reutilized for constructing a new installation.
The device according to the present invention uses a system of mo
REFERENCES:
patent: 4448341 (1984-05-01), Fujikawa et al.
patent: 4479576 (1984-10-01), Di Rosa
"Widerstands-Schweissen", Vortrage Der 4. Stuttgarter Sondertagung, Widerstands-Schweisstechnik 1960, pp. 13-19.
W. Stanley, "Resistance Welding, Designing, Tooling, and Applications", McGraw-Hill Book Company, Inc., New York, 1950, pp. 110-113.
Arbesmeier Bernhard
Muller Karl H.
Riedl Volker
Audi AG
Bishop Steven C.
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