Overhead transfer clamp actuator and linkage
First Claim
1. An article handling apparatus for transferring articles of relatively large panel-like form to and from a work station, said apparatus comprising:
- support frame means for releasibly supporting a panel at one side thereof;
locating means, mounted on said frame means, for engaging and locating said panel in a predetermined position on one side of said frame means;
releasible retainer means, mounted on said frame means, for moving between a clamping position, wherein said retainer means engages said panel to cooperatively retain said panel engaged with said locating means, and a release position clear of said panel to accommodate movement of said panel into and out of engagement with said locating means;
coupling means, mounted on said frame means, for moving relative to said frame means between a first position and a second position;
linkage means for connecting said coupling means to said retainer means to locate said retainer means in said clamping position when said coupling means is in said first position and to locate said retainer means in said release position when said coupling means is in said second position;
drive means selectively operable when said frame means is at said work station for engaging and driving said coupling means in movement relative to said frame means to shift said coupling means from one of said first and second positions to the other; and
manipulating means operable when said frame means is at said work station for shifting said frame means from an elevated position to a lowered position, wherein said coupling means is locked in one of said first and second positions until said frame means is shifted into said lowered position, said coupling means located adjacent said axis of said lift means.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for conveying panels, such as vehicle body side panels to and from work stations located at spaced locations along a conveyor includes a panel support frame mounted on the conveyor for movement along the conveying path with the support frame in an elevated generally horizontal conveying position. The support frame carries a plurality of mechanically actuable releasable clamps adapted to retain a panel engaged against a group of locator pads fixedly mounted on one side of the support frame. A second group of locator pads movably mounted on the frame are normally biased into engagement with the panel at spaced locations around its periphery to hold the panel in a predetermined position laterally of the support frame. The support frame mounts an actuator member coupled to all of the clamps to position all clamps in a panel clamping position when the actuator member is in a first position and to position all clamps in a panel release position when the actuator is in a second position. A coupling member on the support frame normally locks the actuator member against movement from either of its positions. The conveyor includes a manipulator operable when the support frame is at a work station to pivot the support frame downwardly from its conveying position to a downwardly inclined transfer position. Actuating devices located on the fixed frame at the work station are operable when the support frame is in its transfer position to release the coupling member, disengage the movable locator pads and shift the clamp actuator member between its first and second positions.
27 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An article handling apparatus for transferring articles of relatively large panel-like form to and from a work station, said apparatus comprising:
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support frame means for releasibly supporting a panel at one side thereof; locating means, mounted on said frame means, for engaging and locating said panel in a predetermined position on one side of said frame means; releasible retainer means, mounted on said frame means, for moving between a clamping position, wherein said retainer means engages said panel to cooperatively retain said panel engaged with said locating means, and a release position clear of said panel to accommodate movement of said panel into and out of engagement with said locating means; coupling means, mounted on said frame means, for moving relative to said frame means between a first position and a second position; linkage means for connecting said coupling means to said retainer means to locate said retainer means in said clamping position when said coupling means is in said first position and to locate said retainer means in said release position when said coupling means is in said second position; drive means selectively operable when said frame means is at said work station for engaging and driving said coupling means in movement relative to said frame means to shift said coupling means from one of said first and second positions to the other; and manipulating means operable when said frame means is at said work station for shifting said frame means from an elevated position to a lowered position, wherein said coupling means is locked in one of said first and second positions until said frame means is shifted into said lowered position, said coupling means located adjacent said axis of said lift means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. An article handling apparatus for transferring articles of relatively large panel-like form to and from a work station, said apparatus comprising:
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lift means for engaging said article to deliver said article to said work station and to remove said article from said work station, said lift means rotatable about an axis between a raised position and a lowered position for delivering and removing said article to and from said work station; retainer means for holding said article with respect to said lift means, said retainer means moveable between a clamped position and a released position; and lock means for locking said retainer means selectively in one of said clamped position and said released position, said lock means moveable between a locked position and an unlocked position in response to rotational movement of said lift means between said raised position and said lowered position, said lock means located adjacent said axis of said lift means. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An article handling apparatus for transferring articles of relatively large panel-like form to and from a work station apparatus comprising:
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lift means for engaging said article to deliver said article to said work station and to remove said article from said work station, said lift means rotatable about an axis between a raised position and a lowered position for delivering and removing said article to and from said work station; retainer means for holding said article with respect to said lift means, said retainer means moveable between a clamped position and a released position; and lock means for locking said retainer means selectively in one of said clamped position and said released position, said lock means moveable between a locked position and an unlocked position in response to rotational movement of said lift means between said raised position and said lowered position, said lock means having a rotatable member carried on said lift means, said rotatable member having a cam follower connected thereto and selectively engageable with a first cam surface and a second cam surface stationary with respect to rotation of said lift means, and drive means for moving said rotatable member to selectively engage said cam follower with one of said first cam surface and said second cam surface, said drive means operable only when said lift means is in said lowered position, said first and second cam surfaces corresponding to said retainer means locked in said clamped position and locked in said released position respectively. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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14. An article handling apparatus for transferring articles of relatively large panel-like form to and from a work station, said apparatus comprising:
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lift means for engaging said article to deliver said article to said work station and to remove said article from said work station, said lift means rotatable about an axis between a raised position and a lowered position for delivering and removing said article to and from said work station; retainer means for holding said article with respect to said lift means, said retainer means moveable between a clamped position and a released position; lock means for locking said retainer means selectively in one of said clamped position and said released position, said lock means moveable between a locked position and an unlocked position in response to rotational movement of said lift means between said raised position and said lowered position, said lock means located adjacent said axis of said lift means; and rail means extending between work stations for supporting said lift means, said lift means moveable between work stations on said rail means. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. An article handling apparatus for transferring articles of relatively large panel-like form to and from a work station, said apparatus comprising:
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lift means for engaging said article to deliver said article to said work station and to remove said article from said work station, said lift means rotatable about an axis between a raised position and a lowered position for delivering and removing said article to and from said work station; retainer means for holding said article with respect to said lift means, said retainer means moveable between a clamped position and a released position; lock means for locking said retainer means selectively in one of said clamped position and said released position, said lock means moveable between a locked position and an unlocked position in response to rotational movement of said lift means between said raised position and said lowered position, said lock means having a rotatable member carried on said lift means, said rotatable member having a cam follower connected thereto and selectively engageable with a first cam surface and a second cam surface stationary with respect to rotation of said lift means, and drive means located at each work station for moving said rotatable member to selectively engage said cam follower with one of said first cam surface and said second cam surface, said drive means operable only when said lift means is in said lowered position, said first and second cam surfaces corresponding to said retainer means locked in said clamped position and locked in said released position respectively; and rail means extending between work stations for supporting said lift means, said lift means moveable between work stations on said rail means. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification