Methods of telescopically assembling and interference securing production parts

Abstract

Abstract SETS OF PRODUCTION PARTS TO BE ASSEMBLED ARE PROGRESSIVELY MOVED PREFERABLY BY USE OF AN INDEXING TABLE BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND AND THIRD ASSEMBLY STATIONS AND A FOURTH PICK-OFF STATION SO THAT THE PART SETS, SUCH AS SETS OF THREE PARTS OF A BALL COCK LOWER UNIT, MAY BE RECEIVED AT THE FIRST ASSEMBLY STATION IN AN INITIALLY TELESCOPED CONDITION, FORMED INTO AN INTERMEDIATE TELESCOPED CONDITION AT THE SECOND ASSEMBLY STATION BY AN INTERMEDIATE ASSEMBLY OPERATION, FORMED INTO A FINAL TELESCOPED AND INTERENGAGED CONDITION AT THE THIRD ASSEMBLY STATION BY FINAL ASSEMBLY AND REFORMING OPERATIONS, AND AUTOMATICALLY REMOVED FROM THE INDEXING TABLE AT THE FOURTH PICKOFF STATION BY A TRANSFER OPERATION. THE PART SETS ARE RE- TAINED AT THE VARIOUS STATIONS BY FIXTURES MAINTAINING PROPER PART ALIGNMENT AND PERMITTING THE VARIOUS TELESCOPING, REFORMING AND TRANSFER OPERATIONS, WHILE THE INTERMEDIATE ASSEMBLY AND FINAL ASSEMBLY AND REFORMING OPERATIONS ARE PREFERABLY CARRIED OUT AT THE SAME TIME ON SUCCESSIVE PART SETS. THE PART PICK-OFF OPERATION INCLUDES THE ENGAGING AND RETAINING OF EACH SUCCESSIVE OF THE FINALLY ASSEMBLED PART SETS AT THE FOURTH PICK-OFF STATION AND THE REMOVING OR TRANSFER OF THE PART SETS ONE AT A TIME TO A LOCATION REMOTE FROM THE INDEXING TABLE.

Inventors

• 👤 Adolf Schoepe
• 👤 Fredric E Schmuck

Bibliographic Details