Apparatus and method for insepcting threaded members
AssigneeAjax Metal Processing, Inc.
InventorsLloyd Goodrich, James F. Carpenter, Gregory J. Wronkowicz
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An inspection device for inspecting production threaded members wherein the threaded members are routed to a test station to functionally inspect the thread profile of each threaded member to ensure that when the threaded member is matched with a corresponding threaded hole in an engine block or, in the alternative, a threaded nut, the threaded member will mate properly to serve its intended purpose.
Claims9
An apparatus for functionally testing and sorting a plurality of threaded members, each threaded member having a threaded shank portion and a head portion, said apparatus comprising:
- a base member;
- a frame support means mounted to said base member, said frame support means having first rotatable transfer means attached thereto;
- means for conveying said plurality of threaded members to said first rotatable transfer means, said conveying means being attached to said frame support means and having one end juxtaposed said first rotatable transfer means such that said first rotatable transfer means receives each threaded member of said plurality of threaded members one at a time from said one end of said conveying means at a predetermined pick-up area and rotatably transfers each said threaded member to a predetermined drop-off area;
- second rotatable transfer means attached to said frame support means and spaced a predetermined distance from said first rotatable transfer means, said second rotatable transfer means having means for receiving each said threaded member from said first rotatable transfer means at said predetermined drop-off area, said second rotatable transfer means transferring each said threaded member from said predetermined drop-off area to a testing station;
- means for functionally testing said threaded portion of said threaded member, said functional testing means being positioned to partially surround said threaded member located at said testing station, such that said functional testing means and said second rotatable transfer means communicate to position said threaded member at said testing station and functionally test said threaded portion of said threaded member;
- and means for selectively sorting each said threaded member tested by said functional testing means, said sorting means being attached to said frame support means and located in spaced relationship to said second rotatable transfer means such that rejects identified by said functional testing means are selectively separated from said plurality of threaded members that pass through said testing station.
A method for automatically and serially functionally testing and sorting a plurality of threaded members, each threaded member having a threaded portion, said method comprising the steps of:
- serially placing said plurality of threaded members one at a time at a predetermined pick-up area on a first rotatable transfer means carried by a frame support mounted to a base member;
- transferring each of said threaded members of said plurality of threaded members from said predetermined pick-up area to a second rotatable transfer means mounted to said frame support for serially moving each said threaded member to at least one test station;
- functionally testing the threaded profile of each said threaded member by rotating each said threaded member of said plurality of threaded members while located in said test station in complementary engagement with a master thread gage;
- monitoring said master thread gage for movement while engaged with said threaded portion of said threaded member to generate a control signal indicative of the accuracy of the thread of each said threaded member as compared to said master thread gage;
- discharging said threaded member from said second rotatable transfer means into a discharge chute at a predetermined discharge area;
- and
- sorting each defective threaded member discharged on said discharge chute from said nondefective threaded members upon receiving said control signal .
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.