Transfer and tilt apparatus
AssigneeHonda of Canada Mfg., a division of Honda Canada Inc.
InventorsTom Gattrell, Steven Eric Taylor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A transfer device has an undercarriage with two or more carriage portions which are movable along a travel path between a first location and a second location. The carriage portions carrying at least one work piece support. A linkage extending between the carriage portions, where the linkage is operable to change the position of the work piece support when one carriage portion moves relative to another along the travel path.
Claims74
A transfer device comprising an undercarriage with two or more carriage portions which are movable along a travel path between a first location and a second location, the carriage portions carrying at least one work piece support, a linkage extending between the carriage portions, where the linkage is operable to change the position of the work piece support when one carriage portion moves relative to another along the travel path, wherein the linkage includes two pairs of arms, each arm being pivotally connected to a corresponding carriage portion.
A transfer device comprising an undercarriage with two or more carriage portions which are movable along a travel path between a first location and a second location, the carriage portions carrying at least one work piece support, a linkage extending between the carriage portions, where the linkage is operable to change the position of the work piece support when one carriage portion moves relative to another along the travel path, wherein the work piece support is generally horizontal at one of said locations and is inclined at the other of said locations.
A transfer device comprising an undercarriage carrying a work piece support between a first location and a second location, the undercarriage including two or more carriage units which are movable along a travel path, the carriage units being operable in a first phase to move along the travel path with substantially no relative movement between the carnage units and a second phase during which one of the carriage units moves relative to another of the carriage units along the travel path, a linkage joining the carriage units, the linkage being operable to change the orientation of the work piece support according to the relative movement between the carriage units in the second phase.
A method of transferring work pieces between a loading and a work piece processing station, comprising:
- providing an undercarriage to carry a work piece support between a first location and a second location, the undercarriage having two or more carriage units which are movable along a travel path;
- displacing the carriage units between the first and second locations in a first phase with substantially no relative movement between the carriage units and in a second phase during which one of the carriage units moves relative to another of the carriage units along the travel path;
- joining the carriage units with a linkage which is operable to change the orientation of the work piece support according to the relative movement between the carriage units in the second phase.
A method as defined in 15 wherein the work piece support is generally horizontal at one of said locations and is inclined at the other of said locations.
A method of transferring work pieces between a loading station and a work piece processing station, comprising:
- a. a step for providing a work piece support;
- b. a step for supporting the work piece support on a carriage to carry the work piece support between a first location and a second location;
- c. a step for equipping the carriage with two or more carriage units which are movable along a travel path;
- d. step for displacing the carnage units between the first and second locations in a first phase with substantially no relative movement between the carriage units and in a second phase during which one of the carriage units moves relative to another of the carriage units along the travel path;
- and
- e. a step for providing a linkage between the work piece support and the carriage portions which is operable to change the orientation of the work piece support according to the relative movement between the carriage units in the second phase.
A method as defined in 29 wherein the work piece support is generally horizontal at one of said locations and is inclined at the other of said locations.
A welding installation comprising a welding station, a loading station and a transfer device for transferring a work piece between the stations, the transfer device having a work piece support and an undercarriage with two or more carriage portions, the carriage portions being movable by a drive unit along a travel path between the loading station and the welding station, the carriage portions being interconnected by a linkage which is operable to change the orientation of the work piece support together with a corresponding change in the position of one carriage portion relative to the other along the travel path.
A transfer device for transferring a work piece between a loading station and a welding station, comprising:
- a. undercarriage means having at least two carriage means, the carriage means movable independently of one another along a travel path between the loading station and the welding station;
- b. work piece support means supported by the undercarriage means;
- c. drive means to transfer at least one of said carriage means between the loading and welding stations;
- and
- d. linkage means joining each of the carriage means for orienting the work piece support means between a transfer portion and a loading position;
- wherein the linkage means is actuated in response to one carriage means moving relative to the other carnage means along the travel path.
A transfer device comprising an undercarriage carrying a work piece support between a first location and a second location along a travel path, the undercarriage including two or more carriage units which are movable along the travel path, the carnage units being operable in a first phase to move along the travel path with substantially no relative movement between the carriage units and a second phase during which one of the carriage units moves relative to another of the carriage units along the travel path, a linkage joining the carriage units, the linkage being operable to change the orientation of the work piece support according to the relative movement between the carriage units in the second phase.
A welding installation comprising a welding station, a loading station and a transfer device for transferring a work piece between the stations, the transfer device having a work piece support and an undercarriage with two or more carriage portions, the carriage portions being movable by a drive unit along a travel path between the loading station and the welding station, the carriage portions being interconnected by a linkage which is operable to change the orientation of the work piece support together with a corresponding change in the position of one carriage portion relative to the other along the travel path.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.