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US 11,377,333 B2Granted
End effectors and methods of raising and lowering vehicle components using end effectors
AssigneeToyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
InventorMary C. Hollowell
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An end effector includes an elongated body that is non-circular in cross section. A guide rail is mounted on a top surface of the elongated body. A hook carriage includes a linear motion guide that moves linearly along the guide rail to position a hook member. A locking mechanism locks the hook carriage at a preselected position along a length of the guide rail.
Claims18
An end effector comprising:
- an elongated body that is non-circular in cross section;
- a guide rail mounted over an outer facing top surface of the elongated body, the guide rail being shorter in length than the elongated body and comprising a recessed track extending along opposite sides of the guide rail;
- a hook carriage comprising a linear motion guide that moves linearly along the track of the guide rail to position a hook member, the hook carriage comprising a housing that completely surrounds the guide rail and elongated body, the housing is formed by a pair of separate housing portions that are connected together forming a divide;
- and
- a locking mechanism that locks the hook carriage at a preselected position along the length of the guide rail.
2 more elements
A method of lifting a transmission using an end effector, the method comprising:
- inserting a pin assembly into a bolt opening at a front portion of a transmission housing;
- adjusting a position of a hook carriage along a length of a guide rail that is mounted over an outer facing top surface of an elongated body, the guide rail being shorter in length than the elongated body and comprising a recessed track extending along opposite sides of the guide rail, the hook carriage comprising a housing that completely surrounds the guide rail and elongated body the housing is formed by a pair of separate housing portions that are connected together forming a divide;
- locking the position of the hook carriage;
- and
- engaging a rear portion of the transmission housing with a hook member that is pivotally connected to the hook carriage.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.