EP0166558A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of moving a workpiece into a working station and apparatus for use in the method
Assignee: Milacron Inc
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Filing: 1985-06-14
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2005-06-14
Abstract
Abstract A wire-guided cart system used in a flexible manufacturing system has a movable top deck (30) and a pallet transport (34) interposed between the top deck and a pallet. Upon arrival of the cart at a docking station, the transport is lowered onto locating means, downward movement releasing the transport from the top deck and releasing the pallet from the transport.
Inventors
- 👤 Clarence Francis Whitingham
- 👤 Michael James Myatt
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 16:54
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G47/00; B65G47/02; B65G47/04; B65G47/06; B23; B23Q; B23Q7/00; B23Q7/14; B23Q7/1426; B23Q7/1442
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
105 words
l. A palletised part handling apparatus comprising a plurality of pallets (13) as common tool bases, movable guided carts (27) for transferring said pallets from one station to another, pallet transport means (34) on each cart for suporting and locking a pallet during transfer movements, holding means for supporting and locking said pallet transport means on said cart during transfer movements, a stationery docking station (69) for receiving a transferred cart and pallet, means (113) for releasing said pallet transport means from said holding means to said docking station and means (147) for releasing said pallet from said pallet transport means at said docking station.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus according to Claim I wherein said means (147) for releasing said pallet is arranged to be actuated in response to actuation of said means for releasing said pallet transport means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
102 words
A pallet transport apparatus for transferring pallets from one station to another, comprising: (a) A transport housing (35); (b) A pallet guideway (40,41) on said housing; (c) A movable pallet locking pin (42) in said housing, proximal said guideway; (d) A stationary docking station (69) having a rail (78) for supporting said transport housing; (e) Locating means (72,73) for locating said transport housing relative to said rail in horizontal and vertical directions; (f) Means (30) for reversibly moving said transport housing in vertical directions; and (g) Means (46,169) for moving said pallet locking pin in response to vertical movement of said housing.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
Transport apparatus according to Claim 3 further comprising a movable transport locking rod (44) in said housing and means (113) for moving said transport locking rod in response to vertical movement of said housing.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
Transport apparatus according to Claim 4 wherein said means for moving the pallet locking pin and said means for moving the transport locking rod include a common crank (46) and crankshaft (45) and wherein said crank is engageable with said stationary docking station.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
Transport apparatus according to Claim 5 wherein said crank and crankshaft are normally urged in one rotary direction by a biasing spring (169).
Claim 7
Independent Claim
155 words
A method of moving a workpiece into a working station, wherein the workpiece is secured in a fixed position on a pallet, the pallet is supported on a pallet transport means, the pallet transport means is supported on a cart, the cart, bearing the pallet transport means, the pallet and the workpiece, is moved to a docking station, during movement of the cart to the docking station, movement of the pallet relative to the pallet transport means and movement of the pallet transport means relative to the cart is restrained, the pallet transport means, bearing the pallet and the workpiece, is transferred from the cart to a support at the docking station and is set in a predetermined position on the support and wherein the pallet and the workpiece borne thereby are moved from the pallet transport means into the working station, whilst the pallet transport means remains on the support in the docking station.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
Any novel feature or novel combination of features disclosed herein or in the accompanying drawing.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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