Material or article handling – Load carried along a horizontal linear path
Reexamination Certificate
1998-10-21
2001-04-24
Underwood, Donald W. (Department: 3652)
Material or article handling
Load carried along a horizontal linear path
C074S490040, C198S468600, C901S021000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06220813
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to automated transfer systems and apparatus for precisely and automatically moving desired objects such as workpieces from one station to another, for progressive manufacturing operations such as the step-by-step metal-forming procedure known as “transfer die” sets or stations, by which raw material such as sheet metal stock is progressively shaped into a desired configuration by passing through a number of stamping or pressing stations that each impart a change of shape leading from the original unworked stock to the final desired configuration. In a broader sense, the invention relates to a program-controlled computer-directed transfer system for the automated transfer of essentially any given workpiece or other article from one station to another along a predetermined sequence thereof, by picking up each such article, moving it to the next successive station, depositing it at that station and leaving it there for a predetermined length of time, followed by a desired number of successive such steps leading progressively from a first to a last such station.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
More particularly, the present invention relates to an automated transfer system of the general type noted above which utilizes carrier assemblies mounted in spaced relation along at least a pair of, and preferably three, elongated, parallel control shafts which are separately rotatably drivable in a precise and programmatically controllable manner to simultaneously move each such carrier assembly, or a component portion thereof, in any of three different axes of motion, or in any combination of such axial movements. These include one axis parallel to that of the control shafts, and two other axes which are perpendicular to the control shafts and perpendicular to one another, whose conjoint effect is to impart movement to a pickup arm or the like in any direction with respect to the control shafts, at least within a 90° sector (i.e., a quadrant).
In a preferred embodiment, two or more of the carrier assemblies are disposed along a common set of control shafts and physically connected together in a manner which mutually stabilizes their relative positions and which also unifies their operational movements. Further, in a typical such embodiment (particularly as used in a transfer die system), a pair of such control shaft-and-carrier assembly installations are disposed in mutually spaced, parallel relation to one another, so that their programmatically controlled operational members may move toward and away from one another, or in some other such coordinated sequence, and thereby engage, move and disengage from workpieces disposed therebetween, to cooperatively move them from one station to another.
These and other advantages of the invention will be further understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art by reference to the following written specification, claims, and appended drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4988261 (1991-01-01), Blatt
patent: 5092449 (1992-03-01), Bolin et al.
patent: 5355744 (1994-10-01), Yanagisawa
patent: 5476358 (1995-12-01), Costa
patent: 5611248 (1997-03-01), Peltier
patent: 5971254 (1999-10-01), Naud et al.
Price Heneveld Cooper DeWitt & Litton
Underwood Donald W.
LandOfFree
Workpiece transfer apparatus and method for transfer die... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Workpiece transfer apparatus and method for transfer die..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Workpiece transfer apparatus and method for transfer die... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2501643