Studding layout

Abstract

An anchoring system for a support structure with respect to a floor of a manufacturing facility can include at least one floor anchor plate roughly positioned along a path of travel. A template can be engaged with the floor anchor plate for accurately locating the position of studs to be attached to the floor anchor plate. In the case of two floor anchor plates, the plates are preferably positioned equidistantly along a transversely extending line on opposite sides of the path of travel. The template can define one or more apertures adjacent each of the floor anchor plates for receiving a stud to be attached thereto. A stud can be inserted and guided into position within each aperture to attached to the adjacent floor anchor plate. The elevation of the support structure can be adjusted by turning lower nuts threadingly engaged with the studs.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of the priority date of co-pending Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/483,498, filed Jun. 27, 2003, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The invention relates to a method for accurately positioning an apparatus, such as an entire assembly line, a workstation, and/or a particular item of equipment, with respect to a floor anchor plate fixed to the floor of a manufacturing facility.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] An entire assembly line, a workstation, and/or a particular item of equipment, each require accurate positioning in order to operate as intended. By way of example and not limitation, the support structure of an assembly line, workstation and/or particular item of equipment can include one or more members for positioning the support structure in a desired location relative to the floor of a manufacturing facility.

[0004] By way of example, adjustable support legs for equipment can be raised or lowered to ensure that the equipment is level. The equipment can be fastened with respect to the floor of the manufacturing facility to prevent movement from a desired location. The fastening can be accomplished directly with concrete anchor bolts and/or accomplished using a combination of a foot assembly with a base plate having preassembled studs. When using the combination, the base plate and preassembled studs can be fixed with respect to the floor using concrete anchor bolts or any other suitable means. The foot assembly is then typically connected to the base plate through apertures for receiving the bolts. Nuts can be threadingly received on the studs or bolts extending through the apertures of the base plates for anchoring the equipment. In many applications, the apertures through the base plates can be elongated or enlarged to provide a limited amount of adjustment of the equipment with respect to the base plate. The known systems for anchoring do not provide an accurate, low cost, positioning system for equipment, workstations, and/or assembly lines. The known systems require high cost, can be extremely labor intensive, and can result in tolerance buildup while positioning each concrete anchor bolt to the detriment of the equipment to be accurately positioned. It would be desirable to provide a low cost, inexpensive, accurate positioning system for equipment, workstations, and/or assembly lines.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The present invention permits the assembly line, workstation, and/or a particular item of equipment, to be laid out along a centerline of an assembly line structure. Assembly line structures typically can be approximately eight feet wide and approximately eighty feet or ninety feet in length. Assembly line structures can be mounted on parallel legs or risers, and these legs can be spaced approximately eight feet apart laterally, and spaced approximately every twenty-four feet longitudinally along the length of the assembly line structure. The legs or risers can carry a framing structure on top and can be quite large. The present invention advantageously allows positioning of the individual components along the longitudinal length of the assembly line structure and centered transversely with respect to a longitudinal centerline. By way of example and not limitation, the feet of the assembly line structure can laterally straddle the centerline, so that the each foot can be located at a position, for example four feet, spaced from the centerline and can be spaced longitudinally from one another every twenty-four feet.

[0006] The bottom of the feet of these legs can have three apertures. The feet can be located on the floor, and three corresponding studs extend upwardly from the floor through the three apertures in the feet in the legs of the support structure. Then, corresponding nuts can be positioned on the studs to lock the studs into place. The present invention enables an installer to precisely locate the three studs on each side of the centerline, so that when the feet can, in turn, be attached to the studs, the entire structure can be centered along the centerline.

[0007] The present invention includes placing a centerline, literally or figuratively, drawn along the floor for the entire length of the structure to be installed. Then the installer can measure four feet on either side of the centerline while positioned at locations spaced approximately twenty-four feet apart, where the floor anchor plates can be roughly positioned and secured. The floor anchor plates can be any desired size and shape. By way of example and not limitation, floor anchor plates can be between approximately six inches by six inches square and approximately eight inches by eight inches square. By way of example and not limitation, the floor anchor plates can be located approximately four feet out from the centerline and space longitudinally from one another every twenty-four feet. According to the present invention, the floor anchor plates can be positioned along transversely extending lines perpendicular to the centerline, where floor anchor plates on each side of the centerline form parallel lines with respect to the centerline and with respect to one another. The floor anchor plates can be roughly located, since the degree of accuracy does not have to be precise according to the present invention. Then, the floor anchor plates can be fastened to the floor through appropriate mounting studs. A stud-locating template fixture can be placed on top of the floor anchor plates. By using an optical tracking device, by way of example and not limitation, such as a laser, the installer can accurately locate each stud-locating template fixture with respect to the centerline, and if more than one template fixture is being used with respect to one another. By way of example and not limitation, the template fixture can be nothing more than a rectangular bar positioned extending transversely between two floor anchor plates, i.e. the bar can be approximately eight feet long and approximately six inches wide, and can be mounted between two floor anchor plates located on opposite sides of the centerline previously established. Using the laser tracker the installer can locate each template fixture, so that predetermined points on the template fixture can be positioned perpendicular to the centerline and located at exactly equal distances on opposite sides of the centerline, while the template fixture is positioned with respect to the two floor anchor plates on opposite sides of the centerline. The stud-locating template fixture can include three apertures on either end, and studs can be driven into or passed through these apertures into the floor anchor plate below. This process locates the three mounting studs at precise locations with respect to the floor anchor plates enabling the installer to mount the legs of the support structure for the assembly line onto the floor anchor plates, and therefore accurately locate the assembly line with respect to a horizontal x-axis and a horizontal y-axis of a Cartesian coordinate system having a vertically extending z-axis. The equipment and/or workstations spaced along the longitudinal length of the assembly line can be installed parallel to one another and to the centerline in order to precisely locate the equipment and/or workstations with respect to the centerline marked on the floor of the manufacturing facility corresponding to the y-axis, and the x-axis being marked perpendicular to the y-axis while also being located perpendicular to the centerline. The installer can fix one floor anchor plate using this process, and then locate the floor anchor plates further longitudinally along the assembly line in either direction. The installer again can mount the floor anchor plates to the floor, and can place the template fixture on the transversely opposite floor anchor plates to locate the apertures for the mounting studs. The mounting studs can then be attached to the floor anchor plates. This process is repeated progressively along the longitudinal length of the assembly line until the installer has all of the mounting studs fixed in position with respect to the corresponding floor anchor plates. Then the installer can install the workstation legs on top of each of the mounting studs associated with each floor anchor plate. Of course the workstation legs can be manufactured as precision pieces, so when the installer mounts the workstation legs on the studs, a precisely located position with respect to the x-axis and y-axis can be achieved. The position with respect to the z-axis can be accomplished in a simple manner as described in detail below.

[0008] The present invention also provides a method or process for positioning at least one support member, such as a workstation leg, in an accurately located position with respect to the floor of a manufacturing facility. As previously described, the method or process includes the step of fixedly positioning at least first and second floor anchor plates with respect to a centerline or path of travel through the assembly line, where the centerline can be accurately located and marked, either actually or figuratively, on a floor of a manufacturing facility. Each of the first and second floor anchor plates can be individually located on opposite sides of the centerline or path with respect to one another. The centerline or path can define a general line or trajectory of travel for parts to be processed passing through the assembly line. The method or process according to the present invention can also include the step of locating a first stud with respect to the first floor anchor plate after the positioning step of the floor anchor plate with respect to the floor of the manufacturing facility. The first stud can be fixedly attached with respect to the first floor anchor plate after being properly located according to the present invention in an appropriate manner, such as the process described in greater detail above. By way of example and not limitation, the first stud can be welded in the desired position after being located during the locating step to the first floor anchor plate with a weld gun. The method can include the step of positioning a template with respect to the first and second floor anchor plates. The template fixture can define at least one first aperture for guiding a mounting stud to be fixedly attached to the corresponding floor anchor plate. The template fixture can include at least one first aperture positioned adjacent the first plate and at least one second aperture positionable adjacent the second plate. A weld gun, or other fastening device, can be operably engaged with respect to each stud position defined by a corresponding aperture in the template to fasten the stud in the desired position with respect to the respective floor anchor plate. The template functions to selectively locate each stud in a precise location with a floor anchor plate in reference, at least in part, to a position of at least one other floor anchor plate and/or to a position of the centerline or path through the assembly line in the manufacturing facility. The method can also include the step of assembling the at least one member or leg of the support structure with respect to each corresponding stud. The method can also include the steps of threadably engaging at least one nut with respect to each stud, and supporting the at least one member or leg of the support structure with the nut. The method can also include the step of adjustably turning the nut with respect to a threaded portion of the corresponding stud to move the at least one member or leg of the support structure with respect to the first floor anchor plate to selectively position the member or leg in a desired vertical position with respect to the floor of the manufacturing facility.

[0009] Other applications of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art when the following description of the best mode contemplated for practicing the invention is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] The description herein makes reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a manufacturing assembly line;

[0012] FIG. 2 is a simplified perspective view of a portion of a centerline marked on the floor extending through an assembly line of a manufacturing facility;

[0013] FIG. 3 is a simplified perspective view of a plurality of floor anchor plates connected to the floor at various locations along the centerline marked on the floor extending through the assembly line of the manufacturing facility;

[0014] FIG. 4 is a simplified detailed perspective view of an anchor plate illustrated in FIG. 3 according to the present invention;

[0015] FIG. 5 is a simplified perspective view of a plurality of floor anchor plates connected to the floor at various locations along the centerline marked on the floor extending through the assembly line of the manufacturing facility with a template fixture operably engaging two anchor plates located transversely on opposite sides of the centerline and with studs attached to various anchor plates after being accurately located with the template fixture according to the present invention;

[0016] FIG. 6 is a simplified detailed perspective view of the stud-locating template fixture illustrated in FIG. 5 according to the present invention;

[0017] FIG. 7 is a simplified detailed perspective view of a floor anchor plate with in situ accurately located, and attached studs illustrated in FIG. 5 according to the present invention;

[0018] FIG. 8 is a simplified perspective view of a leg or riser positioned with respect to the path according to the present invention;

[0019] FIG. 9 is a simplified detailed perspective view of a foot assembly including a foot plate attached to studs extending from a floor anchor plate illustrated in FIG. 8 according to the present invention;

[0020] FIG. 10A is a plan view of a floor anchor plate according to the present invention;

[0021] FIG. 10B is a side elevational view of the floor anchor plate of FIG. 10A;

[0022] FIG. 11A is a plan view of a floor anchor plate with attached studs according to the present invention;

[0023] FIG. 11B is a side elevational view of the floor anchor plate with attached studs of FIG. 11A;

[0024] FIG. 12A is a plan view of a floor anchor plate with attached studs and connected foot assembly according to the present invention;

[0025] FIG. 12B is a side elevational view of the floor anchor plate with attached studs and connected foot assembly of FIG. 12A; and

[0026] FIG. 13 is a simplified flow chart illustrating steps for accurately positioning a particular item of equipment, workstation, and/or entire assembly line with respect to a centerline or path of travel for the parts or articles to be processed according to the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0027] The present invention can include a process or method for positioning at least one support member, by way of example and not limitation, such as a leg or riser, with respect to a centerline or path of travel for articles to be manufactured while moving along the path of travel. The method can include the steps of roughly positioning at least first and second floor anchor plates in fixed locations on opposite sides with respect to the path and generally at equal distances from the path or centerline with respect to one another. The method can also include the step of engaging a template fixture for locating a first stud with respect to the first floor anchor plate after the positioning step.

[0028] Referring now to FIG. 1, at least a portion of a manufacturing assembly line 10 is illustrated having a path or centerline 12 extending therethrough. A support structure 14, by way of example and not limitation, such as support legs or riser members, can be located in a spaced relationship with respect to the centerline 12, actually or figuratively, marked on a floor 18 of a manufacturing facility, and can include transversely extending lines 12a, actually or figuratively, marked on the floor 18 of the manufacturing facility. The centerline and transverse line configuration for the floor 18 can best be seen in FIG. 2. The portion of the assembly line 10 can include a support structure 14 operable to accommodate the movement of workpieces along the path of travel 12 during processing of the articles or workpieces by the assembly line. The support structure 14 can be supported with respect to the floor 18 with one or more legs or risers 16. Each leg or riser 16 can include a foot assembly 20 having a foot plate 22. Each foot assembly 20 can engage a corresponding floor anchor plate 24 attached to the floor 18 of the manufacturing facility to connect the support structure 14 with respect to the floor 18. The connection between the foot plate 22 and the floor anchor plate 24 can provide for vertical adjustment or Z-axis adjustment, while providing accurate X-axis and Y-axis locations as a result of the accurate positioning and attachment of each stud with respect to the floor anchor plate 24 using a template fixture 32 as described in greater detail below.

[0029] Prior to positioning the assembly line 10 with respect to the centerline or path 12, a plurality of floor anchor plates 24 can be roughly positioned along opposite sides of the path 12 as illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3, 10A, and 10B. The floor anchor plates can support one or more legs or risers 16 associated with the support structure 14. First and second floor anchor plates 24a and 24b can be fixedly positioned with respect to the floor 18. The floor anchor plates 24a and 24b can be individually roughly positioned at equal distances from the centerline or path 12, on opposite sides of the path 12a along one of the transversely extending lines 12a. The floor anchor plates 24 can be roughly positioned, since accurate positioning of each anchor plate with respect to the floor 18 is not required according to the present invention.

[0030] According to the present invention, a template fixture 32 can then be positioned over the roughly positioned first and second floor anchor plates 24a, 24b as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6. By way of example and not limitation, the template fixture 32 can define triangulated apertures 34a, 34b and 34c positionable adjacent the first floor anchor plate 24a and triangulated apertures 36a, 36b and 36c positionable adjacent the second floor anchor plate 24b. The shape of the template 32 can correspond to the combined foot print of the floor anchor plate 24a and the floor anchor plate 24b when the floor anchor plates are positioned on opposite sides of the path 12a so that a desired position of the apertures 34a-34c and 36a-36c can be realized when the template 32 simultaneously engages the floor anchor plates 24a and 24b and is accurately located with an appropriate instrument, by way of example and not limitation, such as a laser tracker device. By way of example and not limitation, the apertures 34a-34c and 36a-36c can be roughly positioned adjacent the floor anchor plates 24a and 24b when the side edge surface 38 of the template 32 is aligned with the side edge surface 40 of the floor anchor plate 24a, and the side edge surface 42 of the template 32 is aligned with the side edge surface 44 of the floor anchor plate 24b. The final position of the template fixture 32 can be determined with the appropriate instrumentation, such as the laser tracker device. Template fixture 32 can also define a central aperture 46 to roughly position the template 32 prior to accurate positioning with the laser tracker device. In particular, the template fixture can be roughly aligned with the path 12a, when an actually marked centerline or path of travel can be viewed through the aperture 46.

[0031] The process for adjustably fastening at least one leg or riser of the support structure with respect to the floor of a manufacturing facility is shown in the flow diagram of FIG. 13. The process can start at step 100. At step 102, a centerline or path of travel 12 best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, is defined along the floor 18 of a manufacturing facility. At step 104, first and second floor anchor plates 24a, 24b, best seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, are positioned along the path 12a on opposite sides of the path 12. At step 106, a template fixture 32 best seen in FIGS. 5 and 6 is simultaneously positioned over the first and second floor anchor plates 24a, 24b.

[0032] At step 108, an appropriate attachment device, by way of example and not limitation, such as a weld gun, can be operably engaged with the template fixture to attach the studs 52a, 52b, 52c engaged and guided within apertures 34a, 34b and 34c to the first floor anchor plate 24a in the triangulated pattern defined by the apertures 34a, 34b and 34c. The apertures 34a-34c can be sized to correspond to the outer diameter of the studs 52a, 52b and 52c to hold the studs in position during attachment to the corresponding floor anchor plates. The appropriate attachment device can then be operably engaged with the template fixture to attach the studs 52d, 52e, 52f engaged and guided within apertures 36a, 36b and 36c to the second floor anchor plate 24b in the triangulated pattern defined by apertures 36a, 36b and 36c.

[0033] At step 112, the template fixture 32 can be removed from the first and second floor anchor plates 24a, 24b. At step 114, nuts 56 can be individually threadably engaged with the threaded studs. At step 116, first and second legs or risers 16a, 16b of the support structure can be positioned with respect to the first and second floor anchor plates 24a, 24b. Specifically, riser or leg 16a can be positioned over floor anchor plate 24a by engaging triangulated apertures 58a, 58b, 58c in the footplate 22 over the triangulated studs extending outwardly from floor anchor plate 24a to seat the footplate on top of the nuts 56, while riser or leg 16b of the support structure can be positioned over floor anchor plate 24b by engaging triangulated apertures 58d, 58e, 58f in the footplate 22 over the triangulated studs extending outwardly from floor anchor plate 24b to seat the footplate on top of the lower nuts 56. Finally, the legs or risers can be anchored to the floor anchor plates using upper nuts 60 threaded onto corresponding studs 52a-52f and engaging an upper face of footplates 22. It can be seen that selective turning of the lower nuts 56 with respect to the studs can selectively adjust the elevation along the Z-axis of the legs or risers with respect to the floor surface 18, while the precisely located apertures 58a-58f accurately define the location of the support structure along the X-axis and the Y-axis.

[0034] While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims, which scope is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures as is permitted under the law.

Claims

1. A process for anchoring support structure with respect to a floor of a manufacturing facility comprising the steps of:

roughly positioning at least one floor anchor plate with respect to a path of travel of workpieces;

fixedly anchoring the at least one floor anchor plate to the floor of the manufacturing facility;

accurately positioning at least one stud with respect to the at least one floor anchor plate with a position locating device; and

fixedly attaching the at least one stud with respect to the at least one floor anchor plate after the positioning step.

2. The process of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

positioning a template with respect to the at least one floor anchor plates, the template defining at least one aperture positionable with respect to the at least one floor anchor plate.

3. The process of claim 2 further comprising the step of:

individually attaching a plurality of studs with respect to the at least one floor anchor plate, while the at least one stud is held in a located position by the at least one aperture with respect to the at least one floor anchor plate.

4. The process of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

slidably engaging the support structure with respect to the first stud after the engaging step.

5. The process of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

threadingly engaging a lower nut with respect to the at least one stud; and

supporting the support structure with the lower nut.

6. The process of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

turning the nut with respect to the at least one stud to adjust an elevation of the support structure with respect to the at least one floor anchor plate.

7. A process for anchoring support structure with respect to a floor of a manufacturing facility comprising the steps of:

fixedly anchoring at least one first floor anchor plate and at least one second floor anchor plates with respect to a path of travel of workpieces along the floor of the manufacturing facility, wherein each of the at least one first floor anchor plate and at least one second floor anchor plate are individually roughly positioned along a transversely extending line to the path of travel and are roughly located equidistantly on opposite sides of the path of travel with respect to one another;

positioning a template with respect to the at least one first floor anchor plate and at least one second floor anchor plate, the template defining at least one first aperture positionable adjacent the first floor anchor plate and at least one second aperture positionable adjacent the second floor anchor plate;

locating at least one first stud and at least one second stud within the at least one first aperture and at least one second aperture within the template with respect to the first floor anchor plate and the second floor anchor plate respectively; and

fixedly connecting the at least one first stud and the at least one second stud to the corresponding first and second floor anchor plates respectively while being accurately located with the template.

8. The process of claim 7 further comprising the steps of:

threadingly engaging a lower nut with respect to the first stud;

operably engaging the first stud within a footplate of the support structure; and

supporting the support structure in a desired elevation with the lower nut engaged on the threaded stud of the first floor anchor plate.

9. The process of claim 8 further comprising the step of:

turning the lower nut with respect to the first stud to selectively change a desired elevation of the support structure with respect to the first floor anchor plate.

10. An anchoring system for a support structure with respect to a floor of a manufacturing facility comprising:

means roughly positioning at least one floor anchor plate with respect to a path of travel of workpieces;

means for fixedly anchoring the at least one floor anchor plate to the floor of the manufacturing facility;

means for accurately positioning at least one stud with respect to the at least one floor anchor plate with a position locating device; and

means for fixedly attaching the at least one stud with respect to the at least one floor anchor plate after the positioning step.

11. The anchoring system of claim 10 further comprising:

means for positioning a template with respect to the at least one floor anchor plates, the template defining at least one aperture positionable with respect to the at least one floor anchor plate.

12. The anchoring system of claim 11 further comprising:

means for individually attaching a plurality of studs with respect to the at least one floor anchor plate, while the at least one stud is held in a located position by the at least one aperture with respect to the at least one floor anchor plate.

13. The anchoring system of claim 10 further comprising:

means for slidably engaging the support structure with respect to the first stud after the engaging step.

14. The anchoring system of claim 10 further comprising:

means for threadingly engaging a lower nut with respect to the at least one stud; and

means for supporting the support structure with the lower nut.

15. The anchoring system of claim 10 further comprising:

means for turning the nut with respect to the at least one stud to adjust an elevation of the support structure with respect to the at least one floor anchor plate.

16. An anchoring system for a support structure with respect to a floor of a manufacturing facility comprising:

means for fixedly anchoring at least one first floor anchor plate and at least one second floor anchor plates with respect to a path of travel of workpieces along the floor of the manufacturing facility, wherein each of the at least one first floor anchor plate and at least one second floor anchor plate are individually roughly positioned along a transversely extending line to the path of travel and are roughly located equidistantly on opposite sides of the path of travel with respect to one another;

means for positioning a template with respect to the at least one first floor anchor plate and at least one second floor anchor plate, the template defining at least one first aperture positionable adjacent the first floor anchor plate and at least one second aperture positionable adjacent the second floor anchor plate;

means for locating at least one first stud and at least one second stud within the at least one first aperture and at least one second aperture within the template with respect to the first floor anchor plate and the second floor anchor plate respectively; and

means for fixedly connecting the at least one first stud and the at least one second stud to the corresponding first and second floor anchor plates respectively while being accurately located with the template.

17. The anchoring system of claim 16 further comprising:

means for threadingly engaging a lower nut with respect to the first stud;

means for operably engaging the first stud within a footplate of the support structure; and

means for supporting the support structure in a desired elevation with the lower nut engaged on the threaded stud of the first floor anchor plate.

18. The anchoring system of claim 17 further comprising:

means for turning the lower nut with respect to the first stud to selectively change a desired elevation of the support structure with respect to the first floor anchor plate.