Work holders – Work-underlying support – Support mounting means
Reexamination Certificate
2000-11-01
2002-08-06
Hail, III, Joseph J. (Department: 3723)
Work holders
Work-underlying support
Support mounting means
C269S329000, C269S900000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06427996
ABSTRACT:
This invention relates to workpiece transfer support apparatus of the kind especially adapted for use in supporting a workpiece during transfer through successive stations at each of which the workpiece is subjected to a cutting or forming operation.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In automated workpiece forming operations it is conventional to transfer a workpiece from one end of a press or a line of presses, for example, to successive stations at each of which a different operation is performed on the workpiece. Transfer of a workpiece conventionally is achieved by lifting the workpiece, advancing the workpiece from one station to another, and lowering the workpiece following its transfer to the next successive station. During these operations the workpiece is engaged by movable tooling or fingers which support the workpiece during its transfer from one station to another.
Workpieces of the kind referred to vary in size and shape from one production run to another. Accordingly, the workpiece supporting tooling must be capable of assuming a wide variety of different positions so as to be able to support workpieces of greatly differing sizes and shapes.
When it becomes necessary to condition the press line to accommodate workpieces different from those involved in an earlier production run, it not only is necessary to change the cutting or forming dies, but also the workpiece supporting tooling to accommodate the different workpieces. In tooling supports in use heretofore it has been necessary to make the necessary adjustments while the tooling supports remain mounted on the transfer apparatus. This has resulted in time consuming, laborious adjustments having to be made and frequently required the person making the adjustments to assume awkward, uncomfortable positions. The tediousness of the changeover operation in many instances caused imperfect adjustments to be made, thereby resulting in the necessity of having to cycle the transfer apparatus repeatedly so that proper adjustments could be made.
A principal object of the invention is to provide tooling transfer support apparatus which overcomes the disadvantages of that previously in use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Apparatus constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention has a mounting base or housing adapted to be mounted on a transfer rail of machinery for transferring a workpiece from one station to another. The base or housing has walls defining a chamber having at one end an opening through which a body portion of a tooling support may pass freely. One end of the support body is provided with means for coupling the body to a tooling support arm assembly, whereas that end of the body, when in the chamber, occupies a position in which it seats securely on that end of the chamber opposite the open end and on a seating surface which spans the distance between the open end and the closed end of the chamber.
A locking bolt bears against that part of the tooling support body which occupies the chamber and is operable to seat the body on the seating surface within the chamber and on that wall of the housing which is opposite the open end of the latter. The locking bolt urges the tool support in the direction of its seating surfaces within the chamber so that the locked position of the tool support within the chamber always is the same in all three axes of possible motion.
A spring latch is provided as a safeguard to ensure fail-safe retention of the tooling support within the chamber. The spring latch also ensures that the tooling support body is properly positioned within the chamber prior to tightening the locking bolt.
The provision of a tooling support which is separable from its mounting base or housing makes possible the preassembly of the several parts of the tooling support arm following which the assembled parts can be fitted into the housing, thereby greatly facilitating the changeover from one set of tooling to another.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1062448 (1913-05-01), Fish
patent: 1407668 (1922-02-01), McCallum
patent: 1596708 (1926-08-01), Bellows
patent: 1940455 (1933-12-01), Kilpela
patent: 1958817 (1934-05-01), Gase
patent: 2128116 (1938-08-01), Boone
patent: 2812962 (1957-11-01), Parkes
patent: 3156418 (1964-11-01), Jablonski et al.
patent: 3406990 (1968-10-01), Brennan
patent: 3557419 (1971-01-01), Flannery
patent: 3664677 (1972-05-01), Sunderman et al.
patent: 3848388 (1974-11-01), Brétché
patent: 5171003 (1992-12-01), Kull
patent: 5314273 (1994-05-01), Nakayama et al.
patent: 5346328 (1994-09-01), Vaders
patent: 5529385 (1996-06-01), Tsao
patent: 5662317 (1997-09-01), Beakes et al.
patent: 6065744 (2000-05-01), Lawrence
patent: 6276047 (2001-08-01), Webster et al.
Atlas Technologies Inc.
Hail III Joseph J.
Reising Ethington, Barnes, Kisselle, Learman & McCulloch, P.C.
Wilson Lee
LandOfFree
Workpiece transfer support apparatus 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 support apparatus, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Workpiece transfer support apparatus will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2962517