APPARATUS WITH VARIABLE FIXTURING ARMS FOR ABRASIVE ENVIRONMENT

• US 20120156966A1
• Filed: 11/30/2011
• Published: 06/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Progressive Surface, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Progressive Surface, Inc.
• Inventors: Mulder, Gary E., Vander Stel, Gary L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,911,282 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 451/28
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 13/0228 the movement of the objects being rotative B05B13/0242 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 13/0285 Stands for supporting individual articles to be sprayed, e.g. doors, vehicle body parts

Abstract

An apparatus includes a base, a table rotatable on the base, and a plurality of arms extending above the table'"'"'s top surface and extending laterally for supporting differently sized cylindrical objects above the top surface. An adjustment mechanism simultaneously adjusts the arms rotationally, such that the ends of the arms can be automatically adjusted to support any one of the differently sized objects without further change. A controller is programmed to automatically control the adjustment mechanism. The adjustment mechanism includes a center gear connected to planetary gears on each of the arms, and a center shaft that extends upwardly through a tubular drive shaft, the center shaft being movable between a lowered position where the arms are locked to the table and a raised position where the center gear is fixed to the base such that the arms adjust position when the table is rotated by its drive mechanism.

Claims

1. An apparatus for supporting differently sized objects while treating or inspecting a surface of a selected one of the objects, comprising:

a base;

a table rotatable on the base and having a top surface;

a plurality of arm assemblies extending above the top surface and extending laterally, the arm assemblies each having a holder adapted to support any one of the differently sized objects above the top surface; and

an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the arm assemblies rotationally to change relative positions of the holders equal amounts relative to a center area on the table, such that the arm assemblies can be automatically adjusted to support any one of the differently sized objects without further change.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, including a controller programmed to automatically control actuation of the adjustment mechanism.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, including a drive for rotating the table, and wherein the adjustment mechanism selectively engages and disengages the drive to cause adjustment of the arm assemblies to different locations on the table.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the adjustment mechanism includes a central gear and each arm assembly includes a planetary gear engaging the central gear, the adjustment mechanism further including a power-driven device for rotating at least one of the planetary gears and the central gear to cause adjustment of the arm assemblies to adjust locations of the arm assemblies.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, including at least one friction pad that holds the arm assemblies in their final adjusted positions.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, including a lift mechanism to release engagement with at least one friction pad so that the arm assemblies can be adjusted.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, including an additional friction pad that engages when the lift mechanism is operated so that the rotation of the table causes the arm assemblies to adjust.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the lift mechanism includes a pancake cylinder.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the adjustment mechanism simultaneously adjusts the arm assemblies.

10. An apparatus for supporting differently sized objects while treating or inspecting a surface of a selected one of the objects, comprising:

a base;

a table rotatable on the base and having a top surface;

a tubular drive shaft for rotating the table;

a plurality of arm assemblies pivotally supported by hubs and extending above the top surface and extending laterally, the arm assemblies each having an end spaced horizontally from the associated hub and adapted to support any one of the differently sized objects above the top surface; and

an adjustment mechanism for automatically rotatably adjusting the arm assemblies to change relative positions of the ends relative to a center area on the table, the adjustment mechanism including an internal shaft extending through the tubular drive shaft that, when operated, selectively causes rotational adjustment of the hubs and hence adjustment of the ends of the arm assemblies.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the ends are configured to secure the objects but not clampingly engage the objects.

12. An apparatus for supporting differently sized cylindrical objects while treating or inspecting a surface of a selected one of the objects, comprising:

an enclosure and a processing gun in the enclosure for one of treating or inspecting a surface of a selected one of the cylindrical objects;

a rotatable table;

a plurality of adjustable arm assemblies attached to the table and adapted to support any one of the differently sized objects above the top surface; and

an adjustment mechanism including a programmed controller for automatically adjusting the arm assemblies on the table, such that the arm assemblies are automatically adjusted to support a next one of the differently sized objects.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, including a lift mechanism to release a brake component permitting adjustment of the arm assemblies.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, including friction pads to retain the arm assemblies to the table during rotation of the table.

15. An apparatus for treating or inspecting parts, comprising:

a fixture having a rotatable table and at least two adjustable arms on the table;

a single drive mechanism; and

an adjustment mechanism having a first position where the single drive mechanism is engaged to rotate the table and having a second position where the single drive mechanism adjusts the arms.

16. The apparatus defined in claim 15, wherein the adjustment mechanism includes a lift mechanism that lowers a part of the drive mechanism when in the first position and that raises the part when in the second position.

17. An apparatus for treating or inspecting parts, comprising:

a fixture having a movable table and at least two adjustable arms on the table, the arms having part-holding surfaces configured to securely hold a part while the part is one of treated or inspected;

a drive mechanism for moving the table; and

an adjustment mechanism including a lift mechanism for releasing the arm assemblies for adjustment and a brake mechanism for holding the table while the arm assemblies are adjusted.

18. A method for supporting differently sized objects while treating or inspecting a surface of a selected one of the objects, the differently sized objects including a first part with first diameter and a second part with a different second diameter, comprising:

providing a base, a table rotatable on the base and having a top surface, and a drive for rotating the table;

providing on the table a plurality of arm assemblies extending above the top surface and extending laterally, the arm assemblies each being adapted to support any one of the differently sized objects above the top surface;

conducting an operation including one of treating or inspecting a surface of a first part and after the operation, removing the first part from the arm assemblies;

automatically simultaneously adjusting the arm assemblies rotationally to change positions relative to a center area on the table for supporting a second part; and

conducting the operation on a surface of the second part and after the operation, removing the second part from the arm assemblies.