Automatic centering system and method for using same with post-inflator apparatus
AssigneeHarold S. Rocco
InventorsHarold S. Rocco, Joseph C. Smith
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An automatic centering system is disclosed for use in connection with any two work stations in an automated assembly line, where the workpiece must be transferred, centered, and manipulated at the second work station. The workpiece is transferred along rollers to a staging area where it is restrained and then moved by items of machinery on the outer circumference and the inner circumference, respectively, of the workpiece. A tire released from the tire press may be restrained and then moved over a post-cure inflator apparatus and accurately centered for inflating. After inflating, the tire is directed from the automatic centering system to the next operation.
Claims14
An automatic workpiece centering device on a frame between two work statons, the workpiece being of annular shape and having an inner circumferential surface and an outer circumferential surface, comprising:
- (a) a plurality of conveyor rollers rotatably mounted on the frame at inward angles;
- (b) a movable workpiece positioning apparatus mounted on the frame and having a curvilinear contact surface to contact the outer circumferential surface of the workpiece;
- (c) a slidable interior control apparatus slidably mounted on the frame and having a pivotable interior control finger pivotally extending therefrom capable of communication with the inner circumferential surface of the workpiece;
- (d) a plurality of stationary contact items mounted on the frame at the second work station, said workpiece positioning apparatus restraining the workpiece on said conveyor rollers, said pivotable interior control finger controlling the annular workpiece in a forward direction to the second work station, and said stationary contact items maintaining the workpiece at the work station in an accurately centered position, wherein said slidable interior control apparatus comprises an interior control motor means for powering said apparatus, a ball screw, at least one threaded bracket, at least one roller bracket, a plurality of rollers, at least one rail, and an interior finger activation means for pivoting said interior control finger about a pivot point between horizontal and vertical positions;
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- said roller brackets interconnected with said threaded brackets, said motor means connected to said ball screw rotatable within said threaded brackets interconnected with said roller brackets and said rollers on said roller brackets rotatable on said rails, such that said interior activation means and said interior control finger may travel along the frame in both directions of said rails between its home position and at the second work station.
A method for centering an annular workpiece on a work station, comprising:
- (a) sliding the annular workpiece along a plurality of inwardly angled conveyor rollers;
- (b) contacting the outer circumferential surface of the annular workpiece with a curvilinear contact surface of a workpiece positioning apparatus;
- (c) contacting the inner circumferential surface of the annular workpiece with a pivotable control finger of an interior control apparatus;
- (d) disengaging said outer circumferential surface of the annular workpiece from said curvilinear contact surface of said workpiece positioning apparatus, wherein said disengaging said outer circumferential surface comprises sliding a slidable workpiece positioning apparatus in a forward direction past the work station and retracting said slidable positioning apparatus to its home position while the workpiece is elevated at the work station;
- (e) sliding said interior control apparatus in a forward direction to push the annular workpiece to an accurately centered position on the work station;
- (f) disengaging said interior control finger from said inner circumferential surface of said annular workpiece;
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- (g) retracting said interior control apparatus to its home position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.