Joints and connections – Interfitted members
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-10
2001-11-20
Browne, Lynne H. (Department: 3629)
Joints and connections
Interfitted members
C403S359600
Reexamination Certificate
active
06318926
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to a pivot bearing provided on support structures formed of shaped bars, which, in particular, is secured to and moved by robot arms, and which is used for attaching tools, such as clamping, suction, gripping equipment and/or the like tools.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Shaped bars of the afore-described type are used for assembling support structures which, in turn, are especially intended for attachment to robot arms and for securing tools such as clamping, suction and gripping equipment and/or other working equipment.
The shaped bars intended for the afore-described purposes that are interconnected by corresponding clamping elements correspondingly conforming in profile, as a rule, are profiles of octagonal configuration which, in turn, are normally provided with not less than two radially opposite notches. Bars of octagonal profiles are preferably used for the afore-mentioned purposes to enable the clamping elements of conforming profiles to be mounted in eight different orientations to the shaped bars, depending on the orientation in which the tools referred to in the afore-going by way of example, are to be seated on the support structure, and, furthermore, depending on the orientation intended for crossing shaped bars held by the same clamping element. No direct and stepless adjustment of orientation of tools of the afore-described type relative to shaped bars of polygonal configuration of the afore-mentioned type, through a clamping element, hitherto, has been possible so that a special configuration of the clamping elements has been required to the effect that they had to be combined with a pair of turntables in the event that a stepless displacement was desired, with such a procedure involving substantial efforts.
For further details regarding special clamping elements adapted to be mounted to shaped bars, reference is made to U.S. Pat. No. 4,032,245.
However, UK Patent Application GB 2 275 737 A also teaches support structures of this type wherein the support bars are made of cylindrical sectional tubes. As the shaped bars irrespective of whether they are of a cylindrical or polygonal configuration, are of drawn material, inevitable inaccuracies will occur which are likely to result in inaccuracies of adjustment of attached tools of the afore-mentioned type. Moreover, it is not possible to safeguard a torque-resistant seat in all radial orientations by clamping alone.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is, therefore, a primary object of the present invention to provide a new and improved pivot bearing on shaped bars of this type that can be precisely centered relative to the longitudinal axis of the shaped bars in an easy way and by simple means.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a pivot bearing which can be mounted in a torque-resistant way on the respective sectional bar.
An additional object of the present invention is to provide a pivot bearing that can be mounted to the sectional bar concerned.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide a pivot bearing which is so dimensioned that an item to be attached thereto also in the axial direction can be adjusted and fixed.
The afore-going and other objects are attained in accordance with one aspect of the present invention through the provision of a pivot bearing which comprises a sleeve at least externally of a cylindrical configuration which on the inner circumferential face thereof is provided with two diametrically opposed notches and at least two notches arranged diametrically opposite the outer circumferential face of the sectional bar concerned which are in alignment with the notches of the sleeve, with cylindrical pins in abutment with the faces of the notches being arranged in the pairs of notches.
The term “pivot bearing” in the present context, obviously, does, not refer to an element about which another element is to permanently rotate; it rather means an internal stationary bearing for an element to be mounted thereon which can be fixed to the said “pivot bearing” in any desired radial position.
Accordingly, with the sleeve at least externally of a cylindrical configuration, a torque-resistant pivot bearing is associated to the respective sectional bar, at the desired point of attachment, to which is then directly pushed a corresponding inner cylindrical adapter which can be steplessly fixed in any desired radial orientation to the sleeve or to the pivot bearing of the present invention yet to be explained in greater detail hereinafter.
The tool desired to be attached at this point can be suitably fixed to such an adapter.
As such support clamps carried by robot arms and being movable in all directions require the best possible accuracy of position for the tools attached thereto, also the sleeve must be precisely centered relative to the longitudinal axis of the sectional bar; this centering requirement is complied with, in a simple way, by the notches of the invention and the cylindrical pins. The said pins not only insure torque-resistance of the sleeve but especially also an accurate centering of the sleeve relative to the axis of the sectional bar. As, in addition, sectional bars of this type for the afore-described purpose of providing robot-supported and robot-moved supports, as a rule, and, in particular, in polygonal cross-sections, are also provided, as mentioned before, with not less than two groves of the type suggested by the present invention, an advantageous embodiment of the pivot bearing resides in that the sleeve is provided with two radially inward bridges arranged radially opposite and fitting in grooves of the sectional bars and being in engagement therewith, with the grooves and bridges being arranged in staggered relationship to the pairs of notches. Accordingly, in this form of embodiment, it is especially the bridges of the sleeve that contribute, with advantgage, to the torque resistance.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3147829 (1964-09-01), Johnson et al.
patent: 3645569 (1972-02-01), Reilly
patent: 4032245 (1977-06-01), Woodruff
patent: 5667332 (1997-09-01), Lindholm
patent: 5797696 (1998-08-01), Baynes et al.
patent: 2 275 737 (1994-09-01), None
Beall Daniel
Schulze Richard
Silvas David
Browne Lynne H.
Collard & Roe P.C.
EOA Systems Incorporated
Walsh John B
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