Interlocking transfer system
OwnerJerral Richardsoninventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An interlocking transfer system includes a workstation having four or more sides, each of which is positioned at 90° angles from the next adjacent side. A cam lift assembly is provided on each of the sides and a means for moving the pallets horizontally. The cam lift assembly is actuated by a reciprocating cylinder which operates to lift and lower the pallets. While pallets are lifted, they are also advanced horizontally using either an external reciprocating cylinder, a motor or by hand. The interlocking transfer system of the present invention provides high efficiency and low transfer rate. It also eliminates the need for lift and locate devices, transfer space due to traffic control, and end-to-end cross transfers. The interlocking transfer system of the present invention also provides for interchangeable fixtures.
Claims24
An interlocking transfer system for moving a plurality of fixtures along a continuous closed path comprising
- a horizontal frame having a plurality of adjacent sides wherein each side is perpendicular to the previous side and wherein the junction of two ends of each side forms a corner,
- means for supporting said plurality of fixtures;
- means fix moving said plurality fixtures horizontally along said closed path,
- means for moving said plurality of fixtures vertically, and means for coordinating said horizontal and vertical movement means.
An interlocking transfer system having a plurality of mutually perpendicular sides, said mutually perpendicular sides combining at a plurality of corners, said interlocking transfer system comprised of
- a plurality of fixtures,
- a frame,
- a plurality of transfer rails attached to said frame,
- a plurality of lift beams,
- a plurality of carriages that slide along said transfer rails,
- a plurality of lift cylinders attached to said plurality of carriages,
- a plurality of cam assemblies attached to said plurality of lift cylinders whereby the horizontal motion of the cam assemblies is converted to vertical motion and raises said liftbeams,
- a plurality of pulleys, one of said plurality of pulley being located at each corner,
- a plurality of belts that encircle said plurality of pulleys
- and that connects each of said carriages together so that they move generally uniformly, and
- an external rodless cylinder attached to one of said carriages that provides horizontal motion to each of said plurality of carriages as they are connected by said belt.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.