Abstract: A system for temporarily storing and subsequently reintroducing parts into an industrial assembly line is disclosed having a first and second side-by-side conveyor, each having a first end. A robot manipulator is positioned adjacent both the assembly line and the first ends of the conveyors and the manipulator is configured to selectively engage and release the parts. The system includes a plurality of containers wherein each container is adapted to receive a plurality of parts within the container. A first alignment rail is positioned adjacent one corner of the first conveyor while a second alignment rail is positioned a corner of the second conveyor. An actuator is associated with each alignment rail so that, upon activation of the actuator to its extended position, the actuator engages a container at the first end of its associated conveyor and moves the container against the alignment rail thus positioning the container at a predetermined position relative to the conveyor.

Abstract: A tool which facilitates the alignment of a closure striker with a latch on an automotive panel in which the automotive panel includes at least one alignment opening. The tool includes a plate having an outwardly projecting alignment pin(s) which is positioned within the alignment opening(s) on the automotive panel. A pair of spaced supports are secured to and extend outwardly from the other side of the plate and thus away from the automotive panel. An elongated guide rod is secured to and extends between the supports so that the guide rod is substantially parallel to the side of the plate abutting the automotive panel. A slide is longitudinally movably mounted on the guide rod and carries a striker to be secured to the automotive panel. A centering pin aligned with the striker is mounted to the slide. The latch on the automotive panel abuts against the centering pin when the panel is moved to a preset partially closed position.

Abstract: A force multiplying device is provided for use in conjunction with a balancing system for moving a load from an elevated position and to a predetermined lower position. The balancing system includes an extendable cable with a free end adapted to be secured to and exert an upward force on the load. The device includes a base which is secured to the load and a first lever pivotally secured at an intermediate point to the base about a generally horizontal axis. A fixed length flexible member has one end secured to a first end of the lever and a second end fixedly secured to a support position above the load. The length of the flexible member is such that the flexible member is in a fully extended position when the load is in the predetermined lower position. An elongated rocker arm has a first end in abutment with the base while the cable from the balancing system is secured to a second end of the rocker arm.

Abstract: A holding brake control circuit is provided for use in conjunction with a servo-motor having an electrically operated holding brake. The holding brake has a pair of electric brake terminals and the brake is retained in a released condition as long as at least a preset brake voltage is maintained to the brake terminals. The holding brake control circuit includes a pair of output terminals connected to the electric brake terminals as well as a pair of power input terminals electrically connected to an electric power source. The electric power source, furthermore, has a higher voltage than the preset brake voltage. At least one capacitor is electrically connected in parallel with the input terminals so that the capacitor charges when power is applied to the input terminals. A voltage regulator has power inputs connected in parallel with the capacitor and a regulated voltage output connected in parallel with the output terminals for the control circuit.

Abstract: A conveyor system having an infeed conveyor section, an outfeed conveyor section, and a working conveyor section positioned in between and in line with the infeed and outfeed conveyor sections. The working conveyor section includes a base and a frame which is movably mounted relative to the base between a lower position and a raised position. In order to move the frame between its lower and raised position, a driver is rotatably mounted about a substantially horizontal axis to the base while an elongated drive link has one end pivotally connected to the frame and its other end pivotally connected to the driver at a position radially spaced from its axis. A drive mechanism selectively pivots the driver between first and second rotational positions which are spaced substantially 180 degrees from each other. In doing so, the coaction between the driver and the drive link moves the frame between its raised and lowered position.

Abstract: An industrial part washer is disclosed having a washer housing with an upper chamber, a lower chamber, and a fluid passageway connecting the chambers together. A fluid drain is connected to a lower chamber for draining fluid from it while a pump pumps a cleaning fluid into the upper chamber. A flood valve is positioned in the fluid passageway between the upper and lower chambers and this valve is movable between an open and a closed position. Parts are sequentially moved into a position adjacent the washer housing and are selectively loaded into the lower chamber, washed and, following completion of a wash cycle, subsequently unloaded from the lower chamber. A valve control closes the flood valve during the loading and unloading operations of the part into the lower chamber so that, during the loading and unloading portions of the wash cycle, the upper chamber at least partially and preferably completely fills with the cleaning fluid.

Abstract: A melt tank is disclosed having a plurality of cartridges wherein each cartridge is adapted to hold at least one molded part. An annular tank is provided having an open top while a substantially circular plate is coaxially rotatably mounted to the top of the annular tank. The circular plate includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced openings formed around its outer periphery wherein each opening is adapted to slidably receive and support one cartridge. The annular tank is filled with a heated liquid while a motor rotatably drives the plate with the molded parts immersed in the heated liquid. A robotic gantry selectively lifts the cartridges from the circular plate to enable the removal of finished melted out parts as well as the insertion of new molded over parts into the cartridges.

Abstract: An automotive framing system for positioning a lower body component and at least two upper body components together at precise positions relative to each other prior to fixedly securing the body components together. The framing system includes a conveyor for sequentially moving body preassemblies to a predetermined assembly station. A frame of integral construction is positioned around the body at the assembly station. A lifter at the assembly station lifts the lower body component and upper body components from the conveyor together with the frame to a predetermined elevated position in which the lower body component abuts against the upper body components. With the body preassembly positioned within the assembly station, clamps on the frame engage predetermined location points on the upper and lower body components to hold the upper and lower body components together at preset positions relative to each other whereupon the body components are fixedly secured together.

Abstract: An automotive framing system for positioning a lower body component and at least two upper body components together at precise positions relative to each other prior to fixedly securing the body components together. The framing system includes a conveyor for sequentially moving body preassemblies to a predetermined assembly station. A lifter at the assembly station lifts the lower body component and upper body components from the conveyor to a predetermined elevated position in which the lower body component abuts against the upper body components. At least two turret assemblies are movably mounted to a ground support surface in a direction transverse to the conveyor. The turret assemblies are positioned at opposite ends of the assembly station and movable between an operative position in which the turret assemblies are aligned with the conveyor, and a standby position in which the turret assemblies are laterally spaced from the conveyor.

Abstract: A lift and carry accumulating conveyor is disclosed having a frame and a pair of elongated stationary rails attached to the frame such that the stationary rails are spaced apart and parallel to each other. A transfer rail assembly having a pair of elongated transfer rails is positioned in between the stationary rails and are movable relative to the stationary rails between both a raised and a lower position as well as between a forward and a retracted position. A pair of longitudinally spaced drive arm assemblies are pivotally disposed between the frame and a lower end of the transfer rail assembly. The upper end of each drive arm assembly abuts against the lower end of the transfer rail assembly so that, as the driver arm assembly is pivoted between a lower and an upper position, the drive arm assemblies simultaneously move the transfer rail assembly between its lower and raised positions.

Abstract: A shuttle transfer assembly is provided for transferring parts between at least two conveyor lines. The shuttle assembly includes a base and a transfer table which is mounted to the base via a carriage assembly. A conveyor section is in turn mounted to the transfer table. The transfer table under program control is both rotated about a vertical axis and linearly displaced by the carriage assembly so that the conveyor section on the transfer table is aligned with a first selected conveyor line. A loader assembly on the transfer table selectively moves a number of parts from the first conveyor line onto the conveyor section. The transfer table is then moved so that its conveyor section is aligned with a second conveyor line. A unloader assembly then pushes the parts on the conveyor section from the transfer table and onto the second conveyor line.

Abstract: An accumulating lift and carry conveyor system is disclosed which is particularly suitable tier conveying piston connecting rods. The conveyor includes a frame defining an arcuate conveyor section having a receiving end and a discharging end. A pair of arcuate, spaced apart and parallel stationary rails are secured to an upper end of the frame and the stationary rails are adapted to engage and support opposite sides of a workpiece. A pair of arcuate, spaced apart and parallel transfer rails are contained in between the stationary rails and are movable both between an upper and lower position as well as between a forward and a retracted position. An arcuate lift beam is disposed beneath the transfer rails while a slide assembly is disposed between the top of the lift beam and the transfer rails for enabling movement of the rails between their forward and retracted position. The lift beam is also movable between an upper and a lower position.

Abstract: A conveyor system is disclosed for transporting workpieces. The conveyor system includes an elongated frame having an inlet end and an outlet end. A pair of sprockets are rotatably mounted to both the inlet end and outlet end while a pair of closed loop chains are mounted around the sprockets so that the chains are spaced apart and parallel to each other along the frame. A motor rotatably drives the sprockets and thus the chains along the frame. A plurality of pallets, each adapted to support a workpiece, are slidably mounted to the chains by rollers so that the pallets can move longitudinally with respect to the chains. A cam is secured to the sprockets at both the inlet and outlet ends of the conveyor frame. These cams engage a cam follower on the pallet to raise the pallets from a lower section of the chain to an upper section at the inlet end of the conveyor frame and vice versa at the outlet end of the conveyor frame. The frame is formed from F-shaped extensions which support and guide the chain.

Abstract: An improved conveyor system and for a lift and carry type conveyor includes a pair of extruded stationary rails and a pair of extruded movable rails. The extruded stationary and movable rails are provided with T slots for modular installation. The improved stationary rail includes an elongated one piece body which is generally L shaped cross section having an upper and generally horizontal leg and a lower generally vertical leg. The improved movable rails include an upper end having a finger formed of thermo plastic wear material and a protection strip of the same material to protect against galling.

Abstract: A conveyor system having a frame with a first and second elongated rail which are spaced apart and parallel to each other. A plurality of first power and free rollers are rotatably mounted to the first rail while, similarly, a plurality of power and free rollers are rotatably mounted to the second rail so that the first rollers define a first conveyor line while the second rollers define a second conveyor line. At least one pallet which supports a work piece has a lower surface which is adapted to be supported and propelled by even the first or second rollers along the first or second conveyor line. A turn table is provided at one end of the first and second conveyor lines for transferring the pallet from the first conveyor line to the second conveyor line.

Abstract: An improved conveyor radii is provided for us with a conveyor system of the type in which two rails are spaced apart and parallel with each other and define a conveyor line therebetween. The rails are adapted to rotatably support a plurality of longitudinally spaced axles which extend between the rails and so that a portion of at least one of the axles protrudes laterally outwardly from one of the rails. The improved rail comprises an elongated one piece body which is preferably an extrusion. The body is generally L-shaped in cross sectional shape and thus has a lower and generally horizontal leg and an inner and generally vertical leg. A shield is removably secured between the upper and outer free ends of the vertical leg and horizontal leg, respectively, which encloses the outwardly protruding portion of the axles. The shield, however, is removable when required in order to provide access to the protruding ends of the axles for maintenance purposes.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for washing and then drying industrial parts. The apparatus includes a housing having an inlet for receiving the parts to be washed and an outlet for discharging the parts after drying. A first conveyor has one end positioned adjacent the housing inlet for receiving the incoming parts to be washed, and a second conveyor having one end adjacent the housing outlet. The conveyors are preferably positioned in a side by side relationship and are constructed from an endless chain. A motor drives the first and second conveyors. A liquid sprayer has a plurality of outlet nozzles positioned above the first conveyor so that liquid washing fluid is directed against parts on the first conveyor. A transfer rail transfers the parts from the first conveyor to the second conveyor after washing and an air blower having a plurality of air outlet nozzles are directed towards the parts on the second conveyor to thereby dry the parts prior to their discharge from the housing outlet.

Abstract: A conveyor system is disclosed for transporting workpieces. The conveyor system includes an elongated frame having an inlet end and an outlet end. A pair of sprockets are rotatably mounted to both the inlet end and outlet end while a pair of closed loop chains are mounted around the sprockets so that the chains are spaced apart and parallel to each other along the frame. A motor rotatably drives the sprockets and thus the chains along the frame. A plurality of pallets, each adapted to support a workpiece, are slidably mounted to the chains by rollers so that the pallets can move longitudinally with respect to the chains. A cam is secured to the sprockets at both the inlet and outlet ends of the conveyor frame. These cams engage a cam follower on the pallet to raise the pallets from a lower section of the chain to an upper section at the inlet end of the conveyor frame and vice versa at the outlet end of the conveyor frame.

Abstract: A device is disclosed for separating hydrocarbon products such as cutting oil from water. The device includes a receiving tank defining a reservoir which receives a mixture of water and oil. The oil floats above the water and thus forms an upper layer in the receiving tank. A skimmer skims the upper layer from the receiving tank and channels the skimmed portion to a pumping chamber. A venturi jet pump then pumps the skimmed portion from the pumping chamber to a settling tank which then separates the oil and water. The skimmer includes floats which vary the depth of the skimmer as a function of the liquid level in the receiving tank.