Patent ID: 6122821
Filing Date: 2000-09-26
Classification: B23P,B23Q,Y10T

Abstract:
An assembly apparatus comprising:a frame defining a plurality of stationary work stations spaced apart in a transport direction extending downstream from a holding station;a plurality of holders each adapted to carry a respective workpiece and each formed with a laterally open seat and with at least one downwardly directed entrainment tooth;an upstream conveyor on the frame for feeding the holders in a row to the holding station;a downstream conveyor extending downstream in the direction on the frame from the holding station past the work stations and including a belt formed with external teeth meshable with the teeth of the holders and a pair of parallel guide rails closely fitting with sides of the holders as same move through the work stations;a blocking element at the holding station displaceable on the frame between a blocking position preventing downstream movement of the holders past the holding station and a freeing position permitting such downstream movement;an intermediate conveyor at the holding station on the frame having another belt formed with external teeth meshable with the teeth of the holders and displaceable between a lower position with its belt out of engagement with the workpieces at the holding station and an upper position with its teeth engaging the tooth of the farthest downstream holder in the station;means for advancing the belts in the direction and for conveying downstream and through the stations any holder whose tooth is engaged with the belt teeth;a respective tool at each of the stations engageable with the workpieces as same pass through the stations;drive means having a rotary output cam and a push-pull actuator operated thereby and connected to the tools for periodically acting on the workpieces in the stations by the respective tools;respective retaining elements at the work stations engageable transversely of the direction in the seats of the holders for securing the holders in the stations against movement in the direction;drive means connected to the intermediate conveyor and to the blocking element for simultaneously moving the blocking element into the freeing position and raising the intermediate conveyor into the upper position to pick at least the farthest downstream holder off the row and advance it onto the downstream conveyor; andlink means connected between the retaining elements and the push-pull actuator for operating the retaining elements synchronously with the blocking element and the intermediate conveyor.