Modular base for industrial tools

• US 7,490,559 B2
• Filed: 03/24/2004
• Issued: 02/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Labor Aiding Systems, Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Labor Aiding Systems, Incorporated
• Inventors: Bentschneider, Stephen E.
• Primary Examiner(s): CHEN, JOSE V
• Application Number:
  US10/808,053
• Publication Number:
  US 20050109251A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,791 Days
• Field of Search: 108/147, 108/50.01, 108/23, 248/637, 248/644, 248/651, 248/654, 248/669, 248/678, 248/125.8, 248/404, 248/188.2
• US Class Current: 108/50.01
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 9/00 Tables with tops of variable height lecterns with variable height A47B19/06; school forms or desks with variable height A47B39/02, A47B41/02; seats with variable height A47C3/20
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 21/00 Machines for assembling a multiplicity of different parts to compose units, with or without preceding or subsequent working of such parts, e.g. with programme control

Abstract

A modular base for industrial machinery that allows fixturing and tooling of an industrial machine to be replaced without having to realize the cost of having to rebuild and/or replace the surrounding equipment. The present invention provides a mounting table adaptable to be releasably connected to the industrial machine. A plurality of telescopically adjustable legs are connected to the mounting table to provide a height adjustment to the mounting table. The legs have a plurality of rollers connected thereto for rollably supporting the mounting table. A plurality of mounting platforms are also connected to the legs and adaptable to be releasably fixtured to a foundation. A light fixture is connected to and extends from the mounting table and is adaptable to cast light on the industrial machine. A programmable controller is coupled to the mounting table and is adaptable to be releasably coupled to and in communication with the industrial machine. A pneumatic controller is coupled to the mounting table and is adaptable to communicate with the industrial machine. A control panel is coupled to and in communication with the programmable controller and is adaptable to manipulate the industrial machine.

Claims

1. A modular base for an industrial machine having various types of fixturing and tooling configured to perform a specific manufacturing operation, comprising:

a mounting table adapted to support the industrial machine, said mounting table fabricated from hardened steel and having a substantially plate-like configuration;

a plurality of apertures extending through said mounting table, each said aperture configured to receive a fastener adapted to releasably secure the industrial machine to said mounting table;

a plurality of telescopically adjustable legs each connected to said mounting table;

a plurality of mounting plates that are connected to said telescopically adjustable legs and are releasably secured to a foundation, wherein telescopic adjustment of said telescopically adjustable legs changes the spacing between said mounting plates and said mounting table; and

a control panel electrically connected to the industrial machine for electronic communication with the industrial machine, wherein operation of the control panel causes the industrial machine to perform the specific manufacturing operation.

2. The modular base stated in claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of electric drives, each said electric drive connected to a respective telescopically adjustable leg of said plurality of telescopically adjustable legs, wherein each electric drive of the plurality of electric drives is independently operable to provide an independent height adjustment of each telescopically adjustable leg to adjustably position said mounting table at a desired height.

3. The modular base stated in claim 1, further comprising:

a pair of vertical supports connected to the mounting table;

a pair of horizontal supports connected to the vertical supports and extending over the mounting table;

a cross-member extending between the horizontal supports; and

a light fixture connected to and extending between said horizontal supports and adaptable to cast light onto the industrial machine.

4. The modular base stated in claim 1, further comprising:

a pneumatic controller coupled to said mounting table and pneumatically connected to the industrial machine for pneumatic communication with the industrial machine.

5. The modular base stated in claim 2, further comprising:

a plurality of rollers connected to said plurality of telescopically adjustable legs for rollably moving said mounting table to a desired location, wherein adjustment of said plurality of telescopically adjustable legs changes the spacing between said plurality of rollers and the foundation to selectively engage and disengage said plurality of rollers with the foundation.

6. A modular base for an industrial machine having various types of fixturing and tooling configured to perform a specific manufacturing operation, comprising:

a mounting table adapted to support the industrial machine, said mounting table fabricated from hardened steel and having a substantially plate-like configuration;

a plurality of apertures extending through said mounting table, each said aperture configured to receive a fastener adapted to releasably secure the industrial machine to said mounting table;

a plurality of telescopically adjustable legs each connected to said mounting table, each said telescopically adjustable leg having a first support with a roller connected thereto, and a second support having an independently operable electric drive to independently adjust the height of each leg and to change the spacing between said roller and a foundation to selectively engage and disengage said roller with the foundation; and

a plurality of mounting plates that are connected to said telescopically adjustable legs and are releasably secured to the foundation, wherein telescopic adjustment of said telescopically adjustable legs changes the spacing between said mounting plates and said mounting table.

7. The modular base stated in claim 6, wherein said mounting table further comprises:

a substantially horizontal U-shaped plate , wherein an open end of said U-shaped plate is accessible to a user.

8. The modular base stated in claim 6, further comprising:

a pair of vertical supports connected to the mounting table;

a pair of horizontal supports connected to the vertical supports and extending over the mounting table;

a cross-member extending between the horizontal supports; and

a light fixture connected to and extending between said horizontal supports and adaptable to cast light onto the industrial machine.

9. The modular base stated in claim 6, further comprising:

a programmable controller coupled to said mounting table, in electrical communication with the industrial machine, and configured to provide programming capability to the industrial machine.

10. The modular base stated in claim 9, further comprising:

a control panel coupled to said mounting table and in electrical communication with said programmable controller, wherein operation of the control panel causes the industrial machine to perform the specific manufacturing operation.

11. The modular base stated in claim 6, further comprising:

a pneumatic controller coupled to said mounting table and pneumatically connected to the industrial machine for pneumatic communication with the industrial machine.

12. The modular base stated in claim 6, wherein said rollers are vertically adjustable with respect to said second supports and adjustment of said rollers and telescopic adjustment of said telescopically adjustable legs occur along parallel axes.

13. The modular base stated in claim 6, wherein said first and second supports are substantially vertical.

14. A modular base for an automotive stuffer fixture or closure fixture configured to perform a specific manufacturing operation, comprising:

a mounting table adapted to support the industrial machine, said mounting table fabricated from hardened steel and having a substantially plate-like configuration;

a plurality of apertures extending through said mounting table, each said aperture configured to receive a fastener adapted to releasably secure the fixture to said mounting table;

a plurality of telescopically adjustable legs each connected to said mounting table, each said telescopically adjustable leg having a first support with a roller connected thereto and a second support having an independently operable electric drive to independently adjust the height of each leg, and to change the spacing between said roller and a foundation to selectively engage and disengage said roller with the foundation;

a plurality of mounting plates that are connected to said telescopically adjustable legs and are releasably secured to the foundation, wherein telescopic adjustment of said telescopically adjustable legs changes the spacing between said mounting plates and said mounting table;

a programmable controller coupled to said mounting table, in electrical communication with the fixture, and configured to provide programming capability to the fixture; and

a control panel coupled to said mounting table and in communication with said programmable controller, wherein operation of the control panel causes the fixture to perform the specific manufacturing operation.

15. The modular base stated in claim 14, further comprising:

a pair of vertical supports connected to the mounting table;

a pair of horizontal supports connected to the vertical supports and extending over the mounting table;

a cross-member extending between the horizontal supports; and

a light fixture connected to and extending between said horizontal supports and adaptable to cast light onto the fixture.

16. The modular base stated in claim 14, further comprising:

a pneumatic controller coupled to said mounting table and pneumatically connectable to the industrial machine for pneumatic communication with the fixture.

17. The modular base stated in claim 14, wherein said first and second supports are substantially vertical and adjustment of the rollers and telescopic adjustment of the telescopically adjustable legs occur along vertical axes.

18. The modular base stated in claim 14, further comprising:

a plurality of apertures formed on each first support; and

a plurality of L-shaped brackets each connected to a respective roller, wherein each L-shaped bracket is configured to engage the apertures formed on a respective first support to adjust the vertical position of each roller with respect to the respective first support.