Abstract:
An adapter assembly ( 28 ) for use in an automated handling equipment system includes a first component and a second component that is selectively mountable to the first component. At least one first code member ( 82 ) is associated with the first component and at least one second code member ( 84 ) is associated with a second component. The at least one first code member and the at least one second code member have a variable orientation relative to each other that controls whether the second component can be mounted to the first component.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/833,765 which was filed Jul. 27, 2006. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to adapter assemblies and, more particularly, to adapter assemblies that provide relatively easy assembly and disassembly in combination with foolproof attachment for various different types of tooling in automated handling equipment. 
     Multifunction adapter assemblies are widely known and used in transfer press equipment and the like to move objects in an industrial setting. Typically, the adapter assembly is mounted within the equipment to support tooling used to move the objects. 
     Presently, some adapter assemblies include a stem portion that is received into an opening in a mounting receiver. The stem portion and the opening include mating surfaces that limit relative rotation between the adapter and the mounting receiver. The adapter is then secured to the mounting receiver using a latch. 
     One drawback of such adapter assemblies is that the mating surfaces allow rotational play between the mounting receiver and the adapter, which creates looseness in the connection. Furthermore, the adapter can be received into the mounting receiver in any of various different orientations, only one of which may be desirable. Thus, an adapter assembly that prevents relative movement between the mounting receiver and the adapter and that provides a foolproof connection between the mounting receiver and the adapter is needed. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An example adapter assembly for use in an automated handling equipment system includes a first component and a second component that is selectively mountable to the first component. At least one first code member is associated with the first component and at least one second code member is associated with a second component. The at least one first code member and the at least one second code member have variable orientations relative to each other that controls whether the second component can be mounted to the first component. 
     In another aspect, an example method of assembling an adapter for use in an automated handling equipment system includes the steps of establishing at least one first code member in one of a plurality of possible orientations with a first component and establishing at least one second code member in one of a plurality of possible orientations with a second component. A relative orientation between the at least one first code member and the at least one second code member is established to control whether the second component can be mounted to the first component. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates selected portions of an example automated handling equipment system having an adapter assembly. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates an exploded view of an example adapter receiver of an adapter assembly. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates the adapter receiver of  FIG. 2  in an assembled condition. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a rear view of the adapter receiver. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates an assembled view of an example adapter of an adapter assembly. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a rear view of the example adapter. 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a transparent view of the example adapter receiver. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       FIG. 1  schematically illustrates selected portions of an example automated handling equipment system  20 . Although a particular configuration is shown, it is to be understood that the illustration is one example of any of a variety of configurations of automated handling equipment and the like. In this example, the automated handling equipment system  20  includes an automated machine  22  for moving one or more tools  24  mounted thereto. For example, the tools  24  may include grippers, shovels, suction cups, or the like for supporting objects as the objects are moved from one location to another. In the disclosed example, the tools  24  are mounted on a support rod  26 , which is in turn mounted on an adapter assembly  28 . In this example, the adapter assembly  28  is mounted to a common rail  30  that is movable by the automated machine  22 . 
     In the disclosed example, the adapter assembly  28  includes a variety of different components.  FIGS. 2-7  will now be explained to illustrate one example of the adapter assembly  28 . Although a particular configuration and shape is shown, it is to be understood that, in other examples, alternative configurations and shapes are contemplated. As can be appreciated from the figures, the adapter assembly  28  includes an adapter receiver  40  for receiving and securing an adapter  42  thereto. In the disclosed example, the adapter  42  includes three distinct components that are secured together. As shown in  FIG. 5 , the adapter  42  includes a guide plate  44 , an adapter end  46 , and a mounting plate  48  secured between the guide plate  44  and the adapter end  46 . In this example, the adapter end  46  includes an opening  49  there through for receiving and supporting the support rod  26  in a known manner. The guide plate  44  includes a stem  50  having a circumferential groove  52  for securing the adapter  42  to the adapter receiver  40 , as will be explained below. 
     As can be appreciated from the exploded view shown in  FIG. 2 , the adapter receiver  40  includes a body  62  having a stem  63  for securing the adapter receiver  40  to the common rail  30 . Optionally, the body  62  includes a different type of known mounting stem or is secured directly to the common rail  30  using fasteners or the like. The body  62  includes a latch bore  64  that extends at least partially there through. The latch bore  64  receives a latch pin  66  having a first end  68   a  and a second end  68   b . The second end  68   b  extends through the latch bore  64  and into a recessed portion  70  of the body  62 . A handle  71  is received onto the first end  68   a  to facilitate movement of the latch pin  66 . 
     Opposite from the latch bore  64 , the body  62  includes a threaded bore  72  ( FIG. 3 ) for receiving a set screw  74 . A spring  76  is received within the threaded bore  72  such that the set screw  74  holds the spring  76  in contact with a latch lever  78  within the recessed portion  70 . The spring  76  exerts a force on an end  80  of the latch lever  78  to pivotally bias the latch lever  78  in the x-direction about a pivot pin  81 . 
     In the disclosed example, each of the body  62  and the guide plate  44  (of the adapter  42 ) also includes code pin bores  82  that extend at least partially through the thicknesses thereof. In this example, the body  62  and guide plate  44  each include six code pin bores  82  for receiving corresponding code pins  84  (code members). In this example, the code pins  84  have a male end  86   a  and a female end  86   b  and can be secured within the bores  82  in two different orientations. In one orientation, the male end  86   a  faces outwards, and in the second orientation, the female end  86   b  faces outwards, as will be explained below. The code pins  84  are held within the code pin bores  82  using screws  88 . 
     The plate  90  is received into another recessed portion  92  of the body  62  to secure the latch lever  78  within the recessed portion  70 . The plate  90  is secured in place using fasteners  94 . The plate  90  includes an opening  96  that aligns with an opening  98  within the body  62 . The openings  96 ,  98  receive the stem  50  of the adapter  42 . 
     When the stem  50  is inserted through the openings  96 ,  98 , the stem  50  encounters the latch lever  78 . As best seen in  FIG. 6 , the stem  50  includes an angled end, such as a cone-shaped tip  99 , that engages a cutout  100  within the edge of the latch lever  78 . This allows the stem  50  to move the latch lever  78  against the biasing force of the spring  76  to allow the stem  50  to extend through the opening  98 . As the stem  50  extends into the opening  98 , the biasing force of the spring  76  moves the latch lever  78  into the circumferential groove  52  of the stem  50  to lock the adapter  42  and the adapter receiver  40  together. To release the stem  50 , one moves the latch pin  66  against the end  80  of the latch lever  78  to rotate the end  80  of the latch lever  78  against the biasing force of the spring  76 . The latch lever  78  retracts out of the circumferential groove  52  to thereby allow the stem  50  and adapter  42  to be separated from the adapter receiver  40 . 
     In the disclosed example, the adapter receiver  40  also includes locating pins  102  that are received within locating bores  104  within the guide plate  44  of the adapter  42 . In this example, two locating pins  102  are used to provide a three-point connection (the two locating pins  102  and the stem  50 ) between the adapter  42  and the adapter receiver  40 . This provides the benefit of resisting relative rotational movement between the adapter  42  and the adapter receiver  40 , as well as resisting out-of-plane bending of the adapter  42 . 
     As can be appreciated from the figures, the code pins  84  can be inserted and secured within the code pin bores  82  in either of the two different orientations (i.e., with the male end  86   a  or the female end  86   b  facing outwards). Thus, for a given number N of code pins  84  and a given number X of possible orientations, there are X N  possible code pin arrangements on each of the adapter receiver  40  and the adapter  42 . Given this description, one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that code pins having more than two orientations could be used instead of the disclosed code pins  84  and that more or fewer than six code pins  84  can be used to meet their particular needs. 
     When the adapter  42  is received onto the adapter receiver  40 , the code pins  84  within the adapter receiver  40  and the code pins  84  within the adapter  42  must have corresponding code pin arrangements in order for the adapter  42  to mount to the adapter receiver  40 . That is, a particular code pin  84  in the adapter  42  that aligns with a corresponding code pin  84  within the adapter receiver  40  must have a male-female correspondence in order for the adapter  42  to be received completely onto the adapter receiver  40 . If both male ends  86   a  of corresponding code pins  84  on the adapter receiver  40  and the adapter  42  face outwards, the adapter  42  cannot mount to the adapter receiver  40 . Thus, by rearranging the code pins  84  into different code pin arrangements, one may configure 2 6  different combinations of code pins  84  in this example. This provides the benefit of coding the adapter receiver  40  for particular types of adapters  42 . Furthermore, a particular arrangement of code pins  84  ensures that an adapter is received onto the adapter receiver in a desired orientation rather than in any of multiple different orientations as in previously known adapter assemblies. This provides foolproof assembly between the adapter  42  and the adapter receiver  40 . 
     In the disclosed example, the adapter receiver  40  also includes a valve port  110  having a check valve  112  therein for controlling pressurized air or vacuum that is supplied to the adapter assembly  42 . In this example, the valve port  110   a  includes a spacer  114  that presses against the check valve  112  when the adapter  42  is assembled to the adapter receiver  40 . The spacer  114  compresses the check valve  112 , thereby opening the check valve  112  to allow fluid to pass there through (e.g., for a vacuum or pressurized air supply). Although the particular adapter  42  shown in the disclosed example does not utilize pressurized air or vacuum, the adapter receiver  40  may include the port  110  and check valve  112  such that other types of adapters  42  that utilize pressurized air or vacuum can be connected easily to a pressurized air or vacuum source. 
     Although a preferred embodiment of this invention has been disclosed, a worker of ordinary skill in this art would recognize that certain modifications would come within the scope of this invention.