US 12,179,293 B2 · Fixture assembly for supporting blanks during shearing and welding operations

Abstract

A fixture assembly for supporting a plurality of blanks during a shearing and welding operation. The fixture assembly includes a base frame. A rotating frame is rotatably connected to the base frame. A fixed block is fixed to the rotating frame for supporting a first blank. A moveable block is moveably connected to the rotating frame for supporting a second blank. A first clamp is provided for coupling the first blank to the fixed block. A second clamp is provided for coupling the second blank to the moveable block. A vertical actuator is coupled with the rotating frame and configured to move the moveable block in a vertical direction being perpendicular to a plane of the rotating frame for moving the second blank. A horizontal actuator is coupled with the rotating frame and configured to move the moveable block in a horizontal direction.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A fixture assembly for supporting a plurality of blanks during a shearing and welding operation, the fixture assembly comprising:

a base frame;
a rotating frame rotatably connected to the base frame;
a fixed block fixed to the rotating frame for supporting a first blank of the plurality of blanks;
a moveable block moveably connected to the rotating frame for supporting a second blank of the plurality of blanks;
at least one first clamp for coupling the first blank to the fixed block;
at least one second clamp for coupling the second blank to the moveable block;
a vertical actuator coupled with the rotating frame and configured to move the moveable block in a vertical direction being perpendicular to a plane of the rotating frame for moving the second blank into a desired vertical position;
and
a horizontal actuator coupled with the rotating frame and configured to move the moveable block in a horizontal direction being perpendicular to the vertical direction for moving the second blank into a desired horizontal position.

6 more elements

A method for supporting and locating a plurality of blanks during a shearing and welding operation with a fixture assembly, the method comprising:

coupling a first blank of the plurality of blanks to a fixed block of the fixture assembly;
coupling a second blank of the plurality of blanks to a moveable block of the fixture assembly;
moving the moveable block with a vertical actuator such that the second blank is in a first vertical position in which the second blank is vertically above the first blank;
moving the moveable block with a horizontal actuator such that the second blank is in a first horizontal position in which the first blank horizontally overlies the second blank along an overlying region;
shearing the first and second blanks along the overlying region such that an edge of the first blank is horizontally aligned with an edge of the second blank;
vertically moving the moveable block with the vertical actuator such that the first blank is at least partially vertically aligned with the second blank at an intersection region;
and
welding the first blank to the second blank at the intersection region.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Fixture assembly for supporting blanks during shearing and welding operations

Life of this patent

Fixture assembly for supporting blanks during shearing and welding operations

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20