US 4,784,256 A · Apparatus for assembling blower wheel blades

Abstract

Automatic apparatus for assembling elongated, transversely curved blades in a fixture for holding the blades in a predetermined spaced relationship corresponding to the blade spacing in a centrifugal blower wheel. A first transfer assembly transfers individual blades from a die press to a conveyor and a second transfer assembly transfers individual blades from the conveyor to the fixture. Each blade is held in a fixed position on the first transfer assembly by suction and/or magnetic force, on the conveyor by magnetic force, on the second transfer assembly by magnetic and/or suction force, and in the fixture by a resilient clamping mechanism. A pushing device moves alternate blades axially relative to the remaining blades on the conveyor so that blades are loaded in the fixture with flanges at opposite ends of adjacent blades in a staggered relationship. The fixture includes a pair of coaxial pressure discs cooperating with resilient means on a pair of coaxial holding discs so as to clamp multiple blades in slots within the fixture. Provision is made for different numbers and sizes of blades and different fixture diameters.

A blade assembly apparatus for engaging individual elongated blades provided by a forming means and assembling a plurality of said blades in a predetermined spaced relationship for securing the blades together to form a blower wheel, said apparatus comprising:

blade fixture means for receiving and holding said blades in a predetermined spaced relationship corresponding to the blade spacing in a blower wheel, said fixture means including holding means for exerting a retaining force on each individual blade received in said fixture means;
conveyor means for conveying said blade from said forming means to said fixture means, said conveyor means including cradle means for receiving and holding said blades in a predetermined spaced relationship for insertion in said fixture means;
first transfer means for transferring each of said blades from said forming means to said conveyor means, said first transfer means including a first transfer head for carrying an individual blade, first retaining means for providing a first attraction force for positively retaining said individual blade in a fixed position on said first transfer head during said transfer from said forming means to said conveyor means, second retaining means providing a second attraction force for positively retaining each of said blades in a fixed position in said cradle means along a loading run of said conveyor means, and means for reciprocating said first transfer head between one position for picking up said individual blade as provided by said forming means and another position at which said individual blade is engaged by said cradle means and retained therein by said second attraction force;
first releasing means for providing such relative movement between said first transfer head and said cradle means after said individual blade is engaged by said cradle means as to overcome said first attraction force and release said individual blade from said first retaining means to said second retaining means, said individual blade being maintained in a fixed axial position by both said first and said second attraction forces during said release from said first retaining means to said second retaining means;
second transfer means for transferring each of said blades from said conveyor means to said fixture means, said second transfer means including third retaining means providing a third attraction force for positively retaining each of said blades in a fixed position in said cradle means along an unloading run of said conveyor means, a second transfer head for carrying an individual blade, fourth retaining means providing a fourth attraction force for positively retaining said individual blade in a fixed position on said second transfer head during said transfer from said conveyor means to said fixture means, and means for reciprocating said second transfer head between one position for engaging said individual blade while retained in said cradle means by said third attraction force and another position at which said individual blade is received in said fixture means;
second releasing means for providing such relative movement between said second transfer head and said cradle means after said individual blade is engaged by said second transfer head as to overcome said third attraction force and release said individual blade from said third retaining means to said fourth retaining means, said individual blade being maintained in a fixed axial position by both said third and said fourth attraction forces during said release from said third retaining means to said fourth retaining means;
drive means for positioning said cradle means so as to receive each of said blades from said first transfer means and for positioning said fixture means so as to receive each of said blades from said second transfer means;
and,
third releasing means for providing such relative movement between said second transfer head and said fixture means after said individual blade is received in said fixture means as to overcome said fourth attraction force and release said individual blade from said fourth retaining means to said fixture means when said second transfer head reciprocates from said another position to said one position such that said individual blade is transferred to and retained in said fixture means, said individual blade being maintained in a fixed axial position by both said fourth attraction force and said retaining force during said release from said fourth retaining means to said fixture means, and said conveyor means including fifth retaining means providing a fifth attraction force for positively retaining each of said blades in a fixed position in said cradle means along a conveying run of said conveyor means extending between said loading run and said unloading run such that each of said blades is individually maintained in a fixed axial position by at least one of said forces from the time it is picked up from said forming means to the time it is retained in said fixture means.

6 more elements

Apparatus for assembling blower wheel blades

Life of this patent

Apparatus for assembling blower wheel blades

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims36