Workpiece transfer apparatus with overhead actuator

A workpiece transfer device, comprising:

• a shuttle having a support rail and an indexing rail carried by the support rail and movable relative to the support rail between a retracted position and an advanced position, the shuttle constructed to be disposed beneath at least one workpiece and being movable between a lowered position spaced from the workpiece and a raised position engaged with the workpiece and lifting the workpiece from a workstation;
• at least one lift mechanism disposed above the shuttle and the workpiece, operably connected to the shuttle and movable between a first position and a second position to move the shuttle between its raised and lowered positions;
• a first drive mechanism operably connected to the lift mechanism to move the lift mechanism between its first and second positions;
• a second drive mechanism operably connected to the indexing rail to move the indexing rail between its retracted and advanced positions whereby, to transfer a workpiece from a first workstation to a subsequent workstation, the lift mechanism is actuated to move the shuttle from its lowered position to its raised position to lift the workpiece from said first workstation, the second drive mechanism is actuated to move the indexing rail from its retracted position to its advanced position to move the workpiece over said subsequent workstation, and the shuttle is moved to its lowered position to deposit the workpiece in said subsequent workstation;
• a guide to which the shuttle is connected to control the path of travel of the shuttle as it is moved between its lowered and raised positions;
• and
• the shuttle also has at least one cross rail extending generally perpendicular to and underlying the support rail with the at least one cross rail operably connected to the guide.

A workpiece transfer device, comprising:

• a shuttle having a support rail and an indexing rail carried by the support rail and movable relative to the support rail between a retracted position and an advanced position, the shuttle constructed to be disposed beneath at least one workpiece and being movable between a lowered position spaced below a workpiece in a workstation and a raised position engaged with the workpiece and lifting the workpiece from the workstation;
• at least one lift mechanism disposed above the shuttle and the workpiece, operably connected to the shuttle and movable between a first position and a second position to move the shuttle between its raised and lowered positions;
• a first drive mechanism operably connected to the lift mechanism to move the lift mechanism between its first and second positions;
• a second drive mechanism operably connected to the indexing rail to move the indexing rail between its retracted and advanced positions;
• at least one cross rail extending generally perpendicular to and underlying the support rail with each lift mechanism operably connected to a cross rail;
• and
• a guide having a linear track extending vertically transversely to the support rail from below the workpiece, a follower engageable with the track, one of the follower and track connected to the shuttle, and the follower and track configured to constrain the shuttle support rail to vertical movement between its retracted and advanced positions;
• whereby, to transfer a workpiece from a first workstation to a subsequent workstation, the lift mechanism is actuated to move the shuttle from its lowered position to its raised position to lift the workpiece from said first workstation, the second drive mechanism is actuated to move the indexing rail from its retracted position to its advanced position to move the workpiece over said subsequent workstation, and the shuttle is moved to its lowered position to deposit the workpiece in said subsequent workstation.