Material or article handling – Article reorienting device – Article inverting means
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-24
2001-10-09
Fischetti, Joseph A. (Department: 2167)
Material or article handling
Article reorienting device
Article inverting means
C414S762000, C414S773000, C198S403000, C198S404000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06299405
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the field of material handling devices and in particular to a system, apparatus, and method for transferring and inverting generally planar panels.
The assembly and manufacture of planar panels often require systems to convey panels between assembly stations while facilitating access to the panel's front and rear surfaces. In high volume assembly lines, the movement of panels from one area to another further requires areas to store in process inventory separate but accessible to the assembly stations.
A variety of conventional material handling devices use active retaining structures or enclosed cradles. These active structures or cradles often limit assembly line capacity as these devices are capable of receiving articles of limited dimensions. Conventional manufacturing environments frequently require flexibility. Accordingly, planar panel assembly lines must generally accommodate panels of varying dimensions.
Some planar panel material handling devices transfer and invert panels using multiple frame members to retain and invert panels. In these devices, large assembly areas are often required to execute functions and generally these functions require additional power to manipulate frame members.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a material handling system, apparatus, and method for transferring and inverting a generally planar panel. The system, apparatus, and method include a panel-engaging member and a panel-engaging member rotator. The panel-engaging member has a generally rectangular slot to receive only a portion of a panel. The panel-engaging member rotator is adapted to rotate the panel-engaging member about an axis generally parallel to the width of the slot between a position where the slot is generally horizontal and facing one direction to another position where the slot is generally horizontal and facing a generally opposite direction. The height, depth, and width of the slot are selected so that when a portion of the panel is inserted into the slot, the portion of the panel is kept from falling out of the slot by gravity and friction when the holding member is moved.
In another aspect of the invention, the material handling system, apparatus, and method are comprised of a panel-engaging member and a rotating assembly. The panel engaging member is adapted to receive less than two thirds of a panel as the panel is subjected to a rotation from a position where the panel-engaging member is in proximate alignment with the direction of engagement of the panel to a position where the panel-engaging member is in proximate alignment with the direction of disengagement of the panel. The rotating assembly imparts an angular rotation about the assembly's longitudinal axis onto the panel-engaging member.
It should be understood that the system's longitudinal axis, as used herein, refers to the system's axis of rotation which may also be the panel-engaging member's line of symmetry. A generally horizontal position as used herein, refers to an alignment that is within thirty degrees of a level surface. A generally opposite direction as used herein, refers to a position that is more than one-hundred and twenty degrees from another position.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2386925 (1945-10-01), Beck et al.
patent: 4160507 (1979-07-01), Mullins
patent: 4760671 (1988-08-01), Ward
patent: 5115904 (1992-05-01), Folk et al.
patent: 5125495 (1992-06-01), Ganzberger et al.
patent: 1279633 (1968-10-01), None
patent: 2628504 (1976-06-01), None
Berridge Philip L.
Sterken Tim R.
Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione
Fischetti Joseph A.
Herman Miller Inc.
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