Mechanical Workstation Skillet Lift
AssigneeGM Global Technology Operations LLC
InventorsJohn D. Milner, Thomas E. Heinemeier
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A mechanical skillet lift and conveyor system including a workstation having a lift element securely positioned at a first location and a skillet including a lift device and a vertically translatable table drivenly coupled to the device, wherein the skillet device is configured to automatically cause a predetermined change in table elevation, when the skillet is translated through the workstation such that the device engages the element.
Claims20
An autonomous skillet lift adapted for use with a workstation, and with a skillet having a frame and a vertically translatable table relative to the frame, wherein the skillet is translatable through the workstation so as to define a translation, said lift comprising:
- at least one elevation adjustment element securely positioned at a first location within the workstation;
- an elevation adjustment device fixedly connected to the skillet, drivenly coupled to the table, and configured to engage the element for an engagement period during the translation,
- said element and device being cooperatively configured to mechanically convert the translation of the skillet into a predetermined change in table elevation during the engagement period.
An autonomous skillet lift adapted for use with a workstation and a skillet having a frame and a vertically translatable table relative to the frame, wherein the skillet is translatable through the workstation so as to define a through-station translation, said lift comprising:
- first and second elevation adjustment elements securely positioned at first and second respective locations within the workstation;
- an elevation adjustment device fixedly connected to the skillet, drivenly coupled to the table, and configured to asynchronously engage each element during the translation,
- said elements and device being cooperatively configured to mechanically convert the translation of the skillet into predetermined first and second changes in table elevation during engagement.
A multi-elevation conveyor assembly system comprising:
- a plurality of workstations each presenting a desired work elevations, at least a portion of said plurality of workstations including at least one elevation adjustment element securely positioned at a first location within the workstation;
- a plurality of skillets each including a frame, a portion of said skillets further including a vertically translatable table relative to the frame, wherein said table is translatable between each of the work elevations and a fully recessed position, and a device configured to engage the element of the respective station for an engagement period, during the translation;
- and
- a translation drive operable to cause a translation of each skillet through a respective workstation,
- said pluralities of workstations and skillets being cooperatively configured such that said each of at least a portion of the skillets concurrently engage the respective stations,
- each of said element and device being cooperatively configured to mechanically convert the translation of the skillet into a predetermined change in table elevation equal to the desired work elevation, during the engagement period.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.