Material or article handling – Vertically swinging load support – Shovel or fork type
Reexamination Certificate
1999-02-22
2001-02-13
Underwood, Donald W. (Department: 3652)
Material or article handling
Vertically swinging load support
Shovel or fork type
C029S466000, C029SDIG004, C037S264000, C037S398000, C037S411000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06186735
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a bucket construction for a bucket of a front end loader, which is made in a manner that permits automated or robot assembly and final welding of the parts and subassemblies.
Prior art buckets for front end loaders are generally welded assemblies, which require a large amount of hand welding and assembly, and thus the cost is increased. In many instances the bucket parts and subassemblies are assembled in a manner so that a robot controlled welding head cannot access the desired weld line.
The prior art buckets also are made of many individual pieces that require welds for assembly. Thus reducing the number of parts is desirable.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a bucket for a front end loader that is simplified in construction so that the parts can be handled with robots and tack welded in place. The robots used can hold the critical dimensions of brackets used for the attachment of the bucket to a loader through a quick attach adapter.
The number of parts and subassemblies used in the final assembly and welding of the bucket is reduced in part by forming a bucket panel that forms the bottom wall and the rear wall in one piece joined by a curved junction portion. The reinforcing and attachment top rail at the top of the rear wall is formed as a single folded box cross section. After folding or forming the rail requires only an external weld that can be made with a robot welding head. The top rail is made so that it tapers down in a forward direction to increase the visibility of a load to an operator in the cab of a skid steer loader having a bucket made according to the present invention.
The bucket walls and parts have locating tabs formed to provide reference edges that are engaged by edges on the part to be located. Outer edges of the parts are used, as well as edges of slots formed for the express purpose of alignment. The parts that need to be manipulated are provided with robot grip attachment holes so the same robot can be used for many different types of buckets.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3093917 (1963-06-01), Schroeder
patent: 3831690 (1974-08-01), Yamaoka et al.
patent: 4123861 (1978-11-01), Hemphill
patent: 4523397 (1985-06-01), Lucas
patent: 4799852 (1989-01-01), Ramun
patent: 5901480 (1999-05-01), Shamblin
patent: 295 16 969 (1995-12-01), None
patent: 2 593 204 (1987-07-01), None
patent: WO 86/04625 (1986-08-01), None
“Specialized Buckets For Specialized Jobs” brochure No. Kn-20M-1291-#5022-F, by Melroe Company, published Dec., 1991.
Drawings showing buckets in public use at least as early as 1991. Exhibits 1, 2 and 3.
Antrim Daniel T.
Deyo Charles E.
Hollingsworth Jonathan C.
Kuhn Patrick K.
Walock Deborah N.
Clark Equipment Company
Underwood Donald W.
Westman Champlin & Kelly P.A.
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