Robotic system for inserting cylinder liners into internal combustion engine cylinder blocks
AssigneeFord Motor Company
InventorsJimmy R. Burcham, John C. Handelman, Thomas E. Pearson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A robotic system for inserting cylinder liners into the cylinder block from an internal combustion engine includes an articulated robot arm for cycling an end effector between a dunnage unloading position and a cylinder insertion position. The end effector, which is attached to the robot arm, picks liners from dunnage and places the liners in the cylinder bores of the cylinder block. The end effector includes remotely deployable combination teeth for gripping the liners to permit removal from their dunnage and for aligning the end effector and liner into the cylinder bores to permit insertion of the liners.
Claims5
A robotic system for inserting cylinder liners into the cylinder block of an internal combustion engine, comprising:
- an articulated robot arm for cycling an end effector between a dunnage unloading position and a liner insertion position;
- and
- an end effector, attached to said robot arm, for picking liners from dunnage at the dunnage unloading position and for placing the liners into the cylinder bores of the cylinder block at the liner insertion position, with said end effector comprising remotely deployable combination teeth for gripping the interior of the liners to permit removal from their dunnage and for contacting the cylinder bores, so as to pilot the end effector and liners into the cylinder bores to permit insertion of the liners.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.