Assembly Patents (Class 29/33K)
  • Patent number: 5226228
    Abstract: A part feeding apparatus is adapted to hold a part (10) on a holding portion (12) at the front end of a feed rod (11) and feed it to an intended place. A locking portion (14) at the end of a feed tube (7) is disposed in opposed relation to the holding portion (12). The apparatus includes an operating rod (20) adapted to move into the locking portion (14) to transfer a part (10) from the locking portion (14) to the holding portion (12), and the part once positioned at the locking portion (14) is moved to the holding portion (12). Further, a magnet (23) for attracting the part is retractably installed adjacent the holding portion (12) at the front end of the feed rod (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1993
    Inventor: Yoshitaka Aoyama
  • Patent number: 5208954
    Abstract: Machine for the automated fitting of insulative foam inserts into the cores of masonry building blocks includes a frame for straddling, in superposed relation, a masonry block conveyor. The machine has a magazine section for sequentially feeding pairs of laterally compressible inserts linked together in juxtaposed relation by a frangible web of the foam material. The machine includes a vertically reciprocal tamping mechanism for moving each of the linked-pairs of inserts sequentially from the magazine section into the cavities of building blocks being carried on the block conveyor disposed below the machine. The machine further includes adjacent throat channels vertically aligned with the tamping mechanism and with the cores of each building block positioned to receive the inserts therein. The channels are each defined, in part, by a central wedge having its apex disposed upwardly to sever the web and separate the linked-pair of inserts as each is moved through the channels past the wedge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1993
    Assignee: Insulated Concrete Corporation
    Inventors: David L. Nickerson, Jeffrey A. Nickerson
  • Patent number: 5182843
    Abstract: An attitude reversing method for reversing up and down an attitude of an assembly consisting of a plurality of objects in the course of an assembling operation includes a setting step for setting first and second mounting surfaces of a jig for reversing operation, having at least the first and second mounting surfaces to a mounting position and a reversed position, respectively, a mounting step for mounting the assembly on the first mounting surface set at the mounting position, a superposing step for superposing the second mounting surface on the first mounting surface, and a reversing step for reversing the jig for reversing operation while maintaining the state in which the assembly is mounted on the first mounting surface and for setting the second mounting surface at the reversed position in a state in which the assembly is placed on the second mounting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1993
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Sachio Umetsu, Toshihiko Miura
  • Patent number: 5146666
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for cutting a disk of material from a continuously advancing strip of material, forming the disk into a cup, and inserting the cup into the end of a tube. The apparatus comprises a first rotating member having a plurality of workstations positioned around its periphery, a second rotating member into which tubes without cups are loaded and from which tubes containing cups are unloaded, and a set of stationary cams which control the operation of the workstations. The strip of material passes around a section of the periphery of the first member, advances at the same rate as the circumferential velocity of the first member, and comes into relative stationary contact with a number of the workstations. The rotation of the first member relative to the stationary cams provides motion to a cutting mandrel, a forming mandrel, a cutting and forming die, and an insertion mandrel associated with each workstation to perform the tasks of cutting, forming, and inserting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1992
    Assignee: Philip Morris Incorporated
    Inventors: Terry Babbitt, Michael S. Braunshteyn, Andrew J. Gillespie, Donald H. Jones, Billy J. Keen, Jr., Robert H. Raynor, Renzer R. Ritt, Robert E. Talley
  • Patent number: 5123161
    Abstract: An apparatus for use in a motorcar body assembling line for setting car body components including a floor panel, a roof panel, and side panels on a set carrier in a predetermined positional relationship in a setting station at a starting end of the assembling line. The apparatus has a floor panel setting device for transporting a floor panel to, and setting it on, the set carrier; a pair of right and left side-panel setting devices for receiving a pair of right and left side panels which are transported to an upper position of the setting station by a hanger and for setting them on the set carrier; and a roof panel setting device for setting a roof panel between roof side rails of the right and left side panels which have been set on the set carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1992
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Kubo, Shigeru Okazaki, Tetsuro Yamanobe, Ken Kushizaki
  • Patent number: 5072495
    Abstract: The invention discloses an installation for the automatic assembly of the lower socket-bracket of opening leaves, i.e. the part of the fitting intended to be fixed to the lower corner of an opening leaf preferably of oscillating leaf type, in line with its vertical axis of rotation and transferring the weight of the leaf to a bearing embedded in the frame.The automatic installation is essentially formed of an installation 100 for equipping the socket, formed of workstations disposed about a rotary bed-plate and an installation 200 for the automatic assembly of the bracket on the socket formed of work stations disposed in a reference plane P--P. These two installations 100 and 200 are associated together via an automatic transfer mechanism 30.The invention makes possible the equipping and assembling of socket-brackets, completely automatically, all the operations following each other in a continuous flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1991
    Assignee: Ferco International Usine de Ferrures de Batiment
    Inventor: M. J. Kautt
  • Patent number: 5063648
    Abstract: In an apparatus and a method for replacing a working-object of a processing machine, there are provided a working-object replacing support (6), a working-object moving passage (12) and a push/pull drive means (18) for the working-objects (5a)(5b).The push/pull drive means (18) is provided with a push/pull drive device (19), a push/pull engaging member pedestal (20), a push/pull transmission member (21), a guide rail (22) and a push/pull engaging member (23).An engaging portion (59) of the engaging member (23) is adapted to be shifted to a position lower than height positions of lower surfaces of engaged portions (25)(26) of the working-objects (5a)(5b) under the changed over condition to the disengagement position (Y) and at least to face upward so as to be engaged with the engaged portions (25)(26) from below under the changed over condition to the engagement position (X).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1991
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Kosmek
    Inventors: Keitaro Yonezawa, Ichiro Miyata, Tsutomu Shirakawa
  • Patent number: 5058252
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for opening the bolt of a fastener, inserting an end cap D-ring, or quality tag. The method and apparatus comprises using a first clamp configured to receive therein a fasteners, a second clamp being configured to engage a latch or bolt of the fasteners, a robot gripper and control means to effect the opening of the fastener, the insertion of an end of a chain into the fastener and the closing of the fastener. The movement of the latch or bolt knob is coordinated with the movement of the fastener such that the forces acting on the bolt knob are substantially parallel to the direction of travel of the bolt in the fastener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1991
    Inventors: Albert F. Wiesner, III, Philip Datseris
  • Patent number: 5042124
    Abstract: A machine in which butterfly clips are prebent and then punched out of steel strip and simultaneously finally bent, such that they fasten together a spring and the frame of a spring core. Thus, both the punching out of the clip and the final bending process, i.e. the connecting process between the frame and spring parts, are carried out in a single tool. The machine therefore operates particularly cost-effectively, because, in comparison with the prior art, the separately punched butterfly clips do not have to be inserted into a separate bending machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1991
    Assignee: Spuhl AG
    Inventor: Hans Knopfel
  • Patent number: 5042125
    Abstract: Apparatus and process are provided for assembling an exhaust system which includes a stamp formed muffler and pipes connected thereto. The muffler is assembled on an indexable fixturing apparatus having a plurality of stations for receiving the formed components of the muffler. Robotic gripping apparatus are provided in proximity to the indexable fixturing apparatus for moving aligned components of the muffler to welders for securely connecting the aligned components to one another. Simultaneously the pipes for the exhaust system are bent into their required configuration by programmable pipe benders. The assembled muffler and the bent pipes are then delivered to a second indexable fixturing apparatus. The loosely assembled components of the exhaust system are indexed into proximity to programmable welders which securely connect the exhaust system components together. The completed exhaust system is indexed into a position for unloading and subsequent shipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1991
    Assignee: AP Parts Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Jon W. Harwood, Wayne A. Karlgaard, Michael W. Clegg
  • Patent number: 5036569
    Abstract: An apparatus for automatically assembling immunotesting filter funnels. At a first station, a slotted indexing carousel receives correctly oriented funnel retaining rings. At a second station a disk of filter material is placed in the retaining ring. At a third station a funnel body is placed in the retaining ring. At a fourth station, the funnel body is forced into the retaining ring forming a completed funnel. At a fifth station the completed funnels are removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1991
    Assignee: V-Tech, Inc.
    Inventor: Carl Linnecke
  • Patent number: 5033174
    Abstract: A C-shaped yoke (42) extends over the top of a fixture (10) containing a part to be assembled. A first support frame (70) is supported on the fixture (10) and moves longitudinally therealong. A second support frame (94) is secured to the yoke (42) and is mounted on the first support frame (70) for vertical movement relative thereto. One linear actuator (128) connects one portion (122) of the second support frame (94) to the remainder thereof so as to provide a capability of yaw movement for the yoke (42), while another linear actuator (200) connects the second support frame (94) with the yoke (42) in such a manner as to provide a capability of roll movement for the yoke (42). A pair of actuator systems (54,56) are mounted on the lower ends of the yoke (42) for movement toward and away from each other. The actuator systems (54,56) contain the automated tools such as drill, riveting assemblies, etc., for performing the desired mechanical operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1991
    Inventor: Peter B. Zieve
  • Patent number: 5031295
    Abstract: A self contained exchangeable turret assembly includes a turret module having a first turret wheel with a plurality of openings disposed around an outlet circumferential surface thereof for positioning a first work piece and a second turret wheel having a plurality of openings disposed around an outer circumferential surface thereof for positioning a second work piece in a predetermined position relative to a first work piece. A turret drive shaft and a plurality of tool stations are operatively mounted on said turret module. The first and second turret wheels are concentrically position on the turret drive shaft in a predetermined relationship to permit selective alignment of the plurality of openings disposed around the outer circumferential surfaces of the first and second turret wheels. A support structure includes a drive member operatively mounted relative to the support housing for imparting rotation to the turret drive shaft and the first and second turret wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1991
    Assignee: Hoppmann Corporation
    Inventor: Werner H. Schmitt
  • Patent number: 5022421
    Abstract: A fluid connection is made to a conduit with a fluid connector by piercing a wall of the conduit. The connector includes a hollow nose portion. The connector is mounted on a tool having a punch pin extending through and beyond the nose portion. The wall is pierced by a point on the punch pin, and the hole is enlarged by forcing the nose portion through the wall while the punch pin supports the wall of the nose portion. A fluid tight seal is formed between the nose portion and a collar of deformed wall material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1991
    Inventor: Dwight N. Johnson
  • Patent number: 4912837
    Abstract: Successive hollow polygonal bodies which are made of a ductile material and each of which has three corners and two straight open-ended terminal portions are converted into rectangular spacer frames for use between the panes of multiple pane windows by orienting the polygonal bodies in such a way that the terminal portions extend downwardly from their open ends, by admitting metered quantities of a flowable desiccant into selected parts of the two terminal portions, by converting one of the terminal portions into an L-shaped frame member with a section which is in register with the other terminal portion, and by inserting sealing plugs into the open ends of the two terminal portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 3, 1990
    Assignee: Franz Xaver Bayer Isolierglasfabrik KG
    Inventor: Franz Bayer
  • Patent number: 4897904
    Abstract: The present invention pertains to a method which provides for the placement of a bit point of a bit at a predetermined position with respect to a rotatable member. The method includes the steps of burning into a holder a surface which corresponds to a portion of the surface of the member; and fixing the holder on the member such that the surface burned into the holder is adjacent the portion of the surface of the member, and the bit point of the bit is capable of being held by the holder at the predetermined position. The present invention also pertains to an apparatus which provides for the placement of a bit point of a bit at a predetermined position with respect to a rotatable member. The apparatus includes a holder for holding a bit, and a device for burning into the holder a surface which corresponds to a portion of the surface of the member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 6, 1990
    Assignee: Joy Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Dennis Cowles
  • Patent number: 4897911
    Abstract: In the method for placing a plastic tube having a predetermined inherent stiffness into existing openings or through-passages a hardenable material, usually a hardenable synthetic resin, is applied onto the wall of the tube before placing the latter into the opening or through-passage. This hardenable material hardens completely only after a certain time period, i.e. after the tube has been brought into its desired position, to thereby increase the original inherent stiffness of the plastic tube. The device for carrying out the method includes apparatus for applying the stiffening material onto the wall surface of the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 6, 1990
    Inventors: Rachid Keldany, Keith J. Shaw
  • Patent number: 4864713
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for positioning tooling and riveting the apparatus including a frame provided with opposed riveting rams (96, 86) and clamps (34, 36). The first clamp (34) is extended above the work plane established by the outer surface of one workpiece (10) with the lower ram retracted. Next, the frame (26) is moved downwardly until the first clamp touches the workpiece. An encoder (140) measured the amount of first clamp collapse during overtravel of the frame after the first touch is sensed. The frame is now backed off this distance to establish a work line coextensive with the work plane. The lower clamp (36) is then raised to clamp the workpieces (10, 12) and drill carried by a sub-frame (66) will now drill aligned apertures through the workpieces. The subframe is indexed to another position to place rams (96, 86) is alignment with the apertures. The upper riveting ram (96) is then advanced to its full down position to set an upper cavity and is locked under high pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 12, 1989
    Assignee: Gemcor Engineering Corp.
    Inventors: Bradley M. Roberts, Robert J. Kellner
  • Patent number: 4854022
    Abstract: A device for the formation of a corner of a flexible spacer (2) attached to a glass plate (1) exhibits a clamp (11) pivotable by 90.degree., one of the two clamping jaws (12), with the clamp (11) having been pivoted, urging the section (7) of the spacer (2) held by the clamp (11) against an abutment (17). Additionally, a pressure ram (20) is provided which can be advanced transversely with respect to the glass plate (1), this pressure ram pressing the bent end (7) of the spacer (2) against the glass plate (1). It is furthermore possible to provide in the device a perforating tool (30, 32, 38), mounted, for example, to a clamp (11 or 35), especially the outer clamping jaw (12, 37) thereof, this tool perforating the spacer (2) while the latter is being held by the clamp (11 or 35).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 8, 1989
    Inventor: Peter Lisec
  • Patent number: 4850102
    Abstract: A parts installing system installs a plurality of parts on a workpiece substantially simultaneously. The system includes a parts stocker for stocking a cluster of substantially closely arranged parts thereon, and a parts transfer device for transferring the parts from the parts stocker to a prescribed position over the workpiece and setting the transferred parts over the workpiece. The parts transfer device includes a parts spreading mechanism unit which picks up the clustered parts from the parts stocker and spreads them into respective relative positions corresponding respectively to relative positions which will be taken by the parts set on the workpiece. The system also includes a pressing device for pressing the parts set over the workpiece onto the workpiece, and a bolt fastening device for fastening the pressed parts to the workpiece with bolts. The parts installing system is suitable for use on various automated production lines to achieve a high rate of production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 25, 1989
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masakazu Hironaka, Takeo Yoshiji, Daizo Kaneko, Mizuo Shibazaki, Sumio Kurata
  • Patent number: 4835825
    Abstract: A modified metal roof vent, selected from several available types, however, not having a base, but having a cylindrical body, having in turn an open top end and an open bottom end, an inside entry circular recess structure, positioned above this open bottom, and a weather cover secured at a spaced distance above the open top end, is fitted with a lead base, which has portions of this lead base inserted upwardly inside the cylindrical body and then moved radially outwardly to complementary fit the inside entry circular recess structure of the modified metal roof vent, completing the roof vent having a lead base, and a machine for manufacturing this vent, and methods for making this vent, and optionally including a weather sealant material placed between the cylindrical body and the complementary formed portions of the lead base at the locale of the inside entry circular recess structure of this vent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1989
    Inventor: Kenneth M. Warner
  • Patent number: 4831721
    Abstract: A mounting head exchange apparatus for a part mounting machine includes a moving unit as a part mounting portion for mounting parts onto a circuit board and the like, head holding portions, and a plurality of mounting heads provided at the head holding portions. Each of the mounting heads has a suction nozzle for attracting parts, and sets of position regulating claws for effecting positioning of the attracted parts. The mounting heads provided at the holding portions are so arranged that a predetermined mounting head is selected from them and detachably mounted to the moving unit. Thus, the mounting heads each provided with the position regulating claws and the suction nozzle may be exchanged as one unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 23, 1989
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Wataru Hirai, Koji Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 4825519
    Abstract: A machine for assembling awning slats having a front longitudinal side edge portion curled downwardly and rearwardly along the length of the slat, and having a rear longitudinal side edge portion curled upwardly and forwardly along the length of the slat in the complementing configuration, has a pair of aligned anvils for receiving two side-by-side slats which are interfitted by their front and rear curled side edge portions. Punching units form locking tabs and registering cutouts in the interfitting side edge portions of the slats on the anvils and then the slats are advanced laterally a slat width by slat shifting units to receive another interfitting slat fed longitudinally onto the anvils. Slat hold-down units cooperate with the anvils during the slat punching and feeding operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 2, 1989
    Assignee: Supreme Aluminum Products
    Inventors: Robert M. Henderson, William Aspinall
  • Patent number: 4823449
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to an automatic and continuous mechanism for processing and assembling blind slats, which includes a first stage slats feeding unit, a second stage length setting and perforating unit, and a third stage of cord fixing unit. All three of the units are arranged consecutively, one after the other, so that slats can be transferred one by one and processed and automatically assembled onto a number of stair-like ropes and fixed thereon in the end without human intervention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1989
    Inventor: A-Shen Chang
  • Patent number: 4813125
    Abstract: A device for locating a datum reference on a partially assembled structural object, such as an automobile body frame. The device has a base structure for rigid mounting to a floor member, a transfer platform is attached to the base structure so that the transfer platform has freedom of movement in a first horizontal direction, a support structure is attached to the transfer platform so that it has freedom of movement therewith in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the first horizontal direction, a vertical slide support mechanism attached to the support structure and movable therewith in a vertical direction, fluid activated stop members for locking the horizontal and vertical movements of the device when a certain location in space, as dictated by the automobile body, has been attained. A work performing tool attached to the vertical slide support mechanism so that the tool can move into and out of engagement with the automobile body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 21, 1989
    Assignee: Utica Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Ernest A. Dacey, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4803764
    Abstract: A process is disclosed in which a rectangular spacer frame (16) for insulating glass is automatically manufactured in that a tubular bar is repeatedly bent in a common bending plane (5) and its free ends (19, 20) are joined. One or both end portions of the tubular bar are deflected out of the bending plane (5) during the final bending operation so that the free ends (19, 20) are moved to such positions that said extremities are laterally spaced apart and extend alongside each other. The end portions (17, 18) of the tubular bar are then gripped and moved to positions in which they are axially aligned and spaced apart. The free ends of said end portions are subsequently joined to each other to form the spacer frame (16), which is subsequently transferred to an overhead conveyor (69) in an automatic operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1989
    Assignee: Lenhardt Maschinenbau GmbH
    Inventors: Karl Lenhardt, Uwe Bogner
  • Patent number: 4800829
    Abstract: A sewing machine having a presser foot for positioning a fabric to be sewn and a device for holding the presser foot. This device comprises a pair of hook arms, the ends of which releasably engage a presser foot and a scissor arm actuating device for actuating or releasing the hook arms. The actuating device and the hook arms form a unit which is movable together towards and away from the presser foot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1989
    Assignee: Satoh Seiki Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masatoshi Ichimura
  • Patent number: 4773156
    Abstract: In an apparatus for securing parts to an assembly body, a part conveyor means receives a plurality of parts arranged on a lot basis from a part storage. The part conveyor means is moved by the arm of the apparatus for driving parts up to the proximity of the assembly body. Since the arm of the apparatus for securing parts is equipped with a part securing means, the part securing means receives the parts from the part conveyor means individually a plurality of times and secures the parts to the assembly body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1988
    Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshinori Kurita
  • Patent number: 4769884
    Abstract: A robotic chain assembly which uses two clamps, a robot gripper and a computer with auxiliary stations. The assembly both measures and cuts the chain, secures fasteners to the ends of the chain and secures the fasteners one to the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1988
    Inventors: Philip Datseris, Albert F. Wiesner, III
  • Patent number: 4766656
    Abstract: A table supports a cardboard file unit body as it is manually slid edgewise forwardly, engaged against a fixed but adjustable side edge guide, into engagement with a fore-and-aft movable front edge guide and an air microswitch thereon that actuates a punch mechanism. After punch operation, the front edge guide moves forward, bringing the punched portion of the body between the wings of a metal tab waiting at a peening station. Arrival of the front edge guide at its forward position trips another air microswitch to actuate a tab peening mechanism. The tabbed body is then manually withdrawn rearwardly and a new tab is automatically fed rearward to the peening station from a stack of tabs in front of that station. The punching and peening mechanisms, front edge guide and tab feed slider are actuated pneumatically.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 30, 1988
    Inventor: Richard W. Gutowski
  • Patent number: 4765050
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for disassembling a magnetic tape cassette of the type having at least two housing members assembled by a fastener extending through one housing member and attaching internally to the other housing member. The apparatus includes a template for identifying the internal attachment location of the fastener on the other housing member and means for penetrating the other housing member for opening access to the fastener to permit the fastener to be expelled from the housing members for disassembly of the cassette.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1988
    Inventor: Mario W. Espin
  • Patent number: 4764179
    Abstract: An automatic tension spring mounting device used for spreading a pad receive member onto a seat frame in a seat for a vehicle such as an automobile is disclosed. In the device, there are provided a plurality of guide means respectively located so as to correspond to engagement portions in the seat frame and adapted to be able to restrict tension springs each having end hooks in the two ends thereof in the peripheral and longitudinal directions thereof. When mounting the tension springs, the end hooks of the tension springs can be guided into the seat frame engagement portions by the guide means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1988
    Assignee: Tachi-S Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yutaka Yajima
  • Patent number: 4757608
    Abstract: A vehicle body assembling line includes a door installing station where vehicle side doors are installed on the body. In the installing station, there is an installing robot which is planned to operate in a predetermined sequence to install the doors on the vehicle body. For supplying appropriate doors to the installing robot from the door storing sections, a door pick up mechanism is provided to pick up an appropriate door from the storing section and a door transferring carriage is provided to receive the door from the pick up mechanism and transfer to the robot. The arrangement can afford an effective door installing operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1988
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventor: Tadashi Ochi
  • Patent number: 4756066
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for inserting the gerotor oil pump assembly into the housing of an engine. The present invention provides a first jaw and a second jaw which allow the gear assembly to be picked up by the robot or the like while at the same time decreasing the possibility of lock up between the primary outer and secondary inner gears of the gerotor assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1988
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: John W. Scharlacken, Samuel Bergamo
  • Patent number: 4754541
    Abstract: An apparatus for joining and folding container sections to form a hinged container. Two container sections are transported in end-to-end relation on a conveyor and the downstream section is engaged with a stop while a pusher member is pivoted into engagement with the trailing edge of the upstream section to force the sections together and engage snap fitted hinge elements on the two sections. The hinged container is then discharged from the first conveyor onto a second conveyor located at a level beneath the first conveyor and operating at a slower speed than the first conveyor. As the leading section of the hinged container falls from the upper conveyor onto the lower conveyor the increased speed of the upper conveyor will fold the trailing section over the leading section to provide a closed hinged container. The closed container then passes under a spring loaded pressure member which ensures that locking elements on the two container sections are fully engaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1988
    Assignee: Dorner Mfg. Corp.
    Inventors: Wolfgang C. Dorner, Mark C. Wedell, Michael C. Allen
  • Patent number: 4749116
    Abstract: An apparatus for forming a pipe frame for use in a vehicle seat is disclosed in which spring clamps are welded to a rectilinear pipe material of a predetermined length at the predetermined positions thereof, the pipe material is then bent into a required configuration, one of two ends of the pipe material is then compressed to form such a smaller diameter portion as to be insertable into the inside diameter portion of the other end, and the compressed smaller diameter portion of the one end is forcibly inserted into the other end so that the inserted portion of the pipe material is welded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1987
    Date of Patent: June 7, 1988
    Assignee: Tachikawa Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yutaka Yajima
  • Patent number: 4746259
    Abstract: Process for removing the wrapper from a fibre bundle, characterized thereby that it mainly consits in successively gripping the fibre bundle (1) at the wrapper (2), freeing the embraced bundle of fibres (4) over a determined length from said wrapper (2), gripping said bundle of fibres (4) at the freed part and removing it from said wrapper (2), and carrying it away to a suitable arrangement, while the empty wrapper (2) is carried away as waste.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1988
    Assignee: Firma G.B. Boucherie, naamloze venoot-schap
    Inventor: Leonel Boucherie
  • Patent number: 4738013
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for attaching a ring-like part to the outer periphery of a columnar material, as, for example, in the assembling of a catalytic converter. The columnar material is positioned and supported with its axis oriented horizontally. A guide member is supported from the side to position it adjacent to the columnar material on the same axis as the columnar material. The guide member has an outer inclined surface enlarged towards the columnar material. The guide member is then supported in the axial direction and at the same time, has the side support thereof released. The ring-like part is then pushed while guiding it on the outer inclined surface of the guide member to fit it over a portion of the columnar material. The pushing of the ring-like part is released and then the guide member is again supported from the sides, while at the same time, the support thereof from the axial direction is released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 19, 1988
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Sachihiro Yamashita, Masayuki Enomoto, Ichiro Ishibashi, Kiyohiro Ichinose, Mitsuki Nakamura
  • Patent number: 4724606
    Abstract: A method for assembling terminal cup-shaped end caps over the ends of cartridge-type electrical subminiature fuses during the assembly thereof has for its novel feature the provision of a centered axially extending handling wire attached to the outer face of each end cap prior to the assembly process. By configuring the lengths of the handling wires substantially longer than the dimensions of the cap itself, the use of an alignment fixture employing the wires for handling and alignment purposes allows for precise orientation of the end caps during the press-on assembly process over the ends of the fuse body. After assembly the wires are removed from their respective end caps. A shearing station suitable for mass production lead removal has upwardly extending sheraing blades with the fuses passed sequentially past the blades with their leads extending slightly over the top of the blade cutting edges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1988
    Assignee: Littelfuse, Inc.
    Inventor: William F. Sexton, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4723357
    Abstract: A marking light, or an attaching-position indicator, for a buttoning apparatus to indicate the position where each button member is to be attached in place, comprises a slender optical pointer member, engaging means secured to the rear end of the optical pointer member for selective engagement with a part of a pusher of the buttoning apparatus, a fixing member for the indicator including a support having means to support the front end portion of the pointer member so as to be movable back and forth with respect to a position immediately below an upper attaching die of the apparatus, release means connected to the engaging means for disengaging the engaging means from a part of the pusher, and means for biasing the pointer member in the direction of withdrawal clear of the upper attaching die. The support is equipped with a resilient engaging means fixed at one end to the fixing member and so disposed as to engage resiliently a part of the support at the other end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1988
    Assignee: Scovill Japan Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Noriyoshi Suyama, Koji Omori
  • Patent number: 4723356
    Abstract: A weighty object mounting system comprises tact-transporting means for transporting a transportable object so as to have the same stop temporarily at each working stations, position detecting means for detecting a stop position of the transportable object stopped at one of the stations, a lifter provided in a mounting station and including a mounting portion provided for supporting a weighty object placed thereon and arranged to be movable forward and backward, right and left, and up and down in relation to the transportable object in the mounting station and a driving portion for moving the mounting portion so as to cause the weighty object to engage with the transportable object and to be automatically mounted to the same, and control means operative to supply the driving portion with control commands which direct the driving portion to cause the mounting portion to have each of predetermined movements at a predetermined timing, and operative also to calculate a misalignment between the transportable object
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1988
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Shunji Sakamoto, Tuyoshi Watanabe, Shigeo Okamizu
  • Patent number: 4720898
    Abstract: The guide tube is disconnected and removed from the upper internals of the reactor to a work station in a pool of borated water. The work station includes a clamp-and-index tool, a metal-disintegration-machining (MDM) tool, pick-and-put tool, a brush tool, a nut hopper, a pin-insertion/torque tool, and a crimping tool. These tools are hydraulically operable. The clamp-and-index tool positions and, by repeated centering maintains the guide tube in precise position for removal and replacement of its split pins, the MDM burns through an old pin-and-nut assembly severing it into readily removeable fragments. This pin fragment is removed by an expeller on the clamp-and-index tool. This pick-and-put tool removes the burned nut fragment and replaces it with the new nut. The pin-insertion/torque tool inserts the new pin and torques the new nut onto the new pin. The crimping tool crimps a locking cap secured to the nut onto the pin. The tools are controlled from a command center external to the pool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1984
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1988
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: Raymond M. Calfo, Raymond P. Castner, George F. Dailey
  • Patent number: 4719684
    Abstract: The apparatus is for manually inserting an O-ring in a selected annular groove of a bored valve body. A valve body is placed with one end of the body's bore over a plug. A thin walled tube is placed in the other end of the bore so a gap exists between the plug and tube, adjacent the selected annular groove. Two ends of a probe are then used to urge the O-ring through the tube, passing other blocked annular grooves or air passages in the valve body, toward and into the selected annular groove. Plugs and tubes of different lengths are used to insert O-rings in annular grooves at different positions in the bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1988
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Harry P. Mutter
  • Patent number: 4719694
    Abstract: A production facility is provided for automatic assembly and testing of electronic card modules. Heretofore it has only been possible to manufacture card modules in batches without a quick conversion to another type of production, as required, being economically possible. This disadvantage is avoided by the present invention in that all required operating elements (component parts, tools, automatic assembly and testing units) are controlled in direct access with set-up time approaching zero for the production line via an extensive computer hierarchy in which the assembly and test line are available. A master computer administers the cell computers assigned to the individual processing stations which, in turn, control the machine computers. The conveying system has its own control available.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1988
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Wolfgang Herberich, Walter Degle, Heiner Bahnsen, Olaf-Ragnar Bolzmann
  • Patent number: 4716650
    Abstract: A magnetic recording disk cartridge comprises a magnetic disk unit rotatably accommodated in a casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1988
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaaki Utsui, Makoto Shimizu, Noriyuki Hoshina, Nobuyuki Adachi, Takashi Kurihara, Tatsuo Shiino
  • Patent number: 4715113
    Abstract: A machine component installer for installing bearings, pins, bushings, and the like into a machine casting or similar component includes a reloadable carousel for accepting plural component stacks, a pivotally mounted claw-arm for grasping a bearing presented by the carousel and for swinging the grasped bearing into a pre-installation position, and a press for determining that all components are properly positioned and for pressing the bearing into a bore. The carousel includes a rotatably mounted turntable with guides for accepting plural stacks of bearings. The bearings drop, on a one-by-one basis, through an opening in the turntable plate to a presentation position. The claw-arm includes opposed spring biased fingers for grasping each bearing presented by the carousel and for swinging the bearing into position above a ram. The claw-arm is designed to self-tighten about the grasped bearing as the arm is rotated to present the bearing to the ram.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1987
    Assignee: The J. L. Wickham Company, Inc.
    Inventor: John L. Wickham
  • Patent number: 4713866
    Abstract: An apparatus for attaching a cable to a messenger wire utilizing clip elements characterized by a frame having an arrangement for supporting the apparatus for movement along the wire, a feed arrangement for feeding individual clips which are interconnected in a tape form to a severing shearing arrangement and then applying the clips onto the cable and wire positioned below the cable and wire, a double-belt drive arrangement for engaging the free ends of the outside of the clips and moving the free ends in contact with the messenger wire, a folding arrangement for clamping the free ends of the wire together and folding them into a folded connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1987
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Horst Goldmann, Guenter Einsle, Rudolf Brugger, Josef Wacker
  • Patent number: 4708276
    Abstract: This invention relates to automatic lattice fabrication apparatus for automatically forming sections of lattice from strips of wood of a predetermined length and width. The apparatus includes an elongated horizontal conveyor that conveys lattice strips from a lay-up section through an automatic adhesive dispenser, under an automatic stapling bridge where the lattice is stapled, through rip saws that trim the sides of the lattice and, when desired, cut the lattice in half, and through an automatic cross-cut saw mechanism that periodically stops the conveyor, lowers a saw and cuts off a section of lattice when it reaches a predetermined length, and then lifts the saw out of the way and resumes conveyor movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1987
    Assignee: Universal Forest Products
    Inventors: Wayne M. Knoth, Dennis O. Corbin
  • Patent number: 4706353
    Abstract: A method for and an apparatus for assembly of rotating ring rotary compressors is disclosed. A cylinder, shaft, roller and supports are initially assembled together, fixing means being kept in a slackened position. A preliminary centering operation is then carried out for bringing the axis of the shaft into a diametral plane of the cylinder constituting a predetermined reference plane. This operation is carried out by orientation of the shaft into two angular positions spaced from each other by 180.degree.. The shaft is then oriented relative to the cylinder, the region of maximum eccentricity of the core being brought into the said reference plane. The support and the cylinder (this latter with the interposition of the roller) are then pressed onto the shaft by a thrust exerted in the said predetermined plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1987
    Assignee: Aspera S.r.l.
    Inventors: Marek Zgliczynski, Giancarlo Sesona
  • Patent number: 4700449
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for assembling speed lacers on sheets, such as the lacing strips of boots, wherein the speed lacers are of generally U-shaped configuration and each comprises an arch-shaped end portion and a pair of spaced legs which extend therefrom terminating in apertures clamping discs. The apparatus comprises an assembly unit comprising a movable die assembly, a stationery die assembly, a punch assembly, a feed finger, a feed block, and a positioning pin. During operation of the apparatus in accordance with the method, a speed lacer is advanced through a channel in the feed block with the feed finger and received on the positioning pin adjacent the forward end of the channel, and the clamping discs of the speed lacer are engaged by dies of the die assemblies to deform the speed lacer to a clamping position wherein the clamping discs thereof clampingly engage the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1986
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1987
    Assignee: Rau Fasteners Inc.
    Inventor: Wayne M. Chapman