Abstract:
An apparatus for automatically and simultaneously removing connector clips of a workpiece from a gauge. The present invention includes at least one gauging fixture having at least one aperture extending therethrough in a predetermined position. The at least one aperture is adaptable to receive a connector clip connected to the workpiece wherein the connector clip is engageable with the aperture between a non-engaging position, wherein the connector clip does not engage the aperture, and an engaging position, wherein the connector clip engages the aperture for securing the workpiece against the gauging fixture to gauge the position of the connector clip. At least one linear actuator is connected to the gauging fixture adjacent the aperture to move between a retracted position, wherein the connector clip remains engaged with the gauging fixture, and an extended position, wherein the linear actuator disengages the connector clip from the gauging fixture.

Description:
The following patent application claims priority of provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/601,870 filed Aug. 16, 2004. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to gauging fixtures, and more particularly, an apparatus for automatically and simultaneously removing connector clips on a workpiece from a gauging fixture. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Automobile parts are commonly assembled with the aid of one-way connector clips. Such connector clips are typically connected to an inside portion of an automobile part or workpiece and inserted through an aperture provided in a wall of an automobile body or a connecting portion. These connector clips typically work in a fashion whereby the connector clip flexes inwardly while being inserted through an aperture and then expands outwardly once the connector clip extends through the aperture such that the connector clip is prevented from being pulled back through the aperture. Thus, the connector clips provide for easy assembly of an automobile part to an automobile body while ensuring that the automobile part is not easily disconnected from the automobile body. 
     Larger automobile parts, such as sheet metal parts, i.e., body panels, typically utilize a plurality of connector clips. The position of the connector clips relative to the sheet metal part is critical to the assembly of the sheet metal part to the automobile body since the sheet metal part will not properly assemble to the automobile body if all of the connector clips do not properly attach to the automobile body. Therefore, the position of the connector clips is continuously monitored and gauged during the assembly of the connector clips to the sheet metal part. To ensure proper positioning of the connector clips relative to the sheet metal part, gauges have been developed to ensure that the connector clips are properly positioned. Such gauges include gauging fixtures which each provide an aperture for receiving an individual connector clip. The position of the apertures on the gauging fixtures of the gauge replicates the assembly of the sheet metal part to the automobile body. If all of the connector clips fit into the apertures of the gauging fixtures, then the connector clips are considered to be properly positioned on the sheet metal part. 
     However, once the connector clips are inserted through the apertures in the gauging fixtures, it is difficult to remove the connector clips from the gauging fixtures without damaging the connector clips and the sheet metal part. Thus, it is known to design a gauging fixture with two similar halves such that the gauging fixture may separate along the aperture thereby allowing the connector clip to be removed from the gauging fixture. The two halves of the gauging fixture are connected through the use of a threaded bolt which extends through a threaded aperture of the gauging fixture. When the connector clip is to be removed from the gauging fixture, the threaded bolt is manually threaded outward so as to separate the two halves of the gauging fixture. Un-threading the bolt to separate the two halves of the gauging fixture is a laborious task that requires a fair amount of time to complete. The time it takes to loosen the gauging fixture and remove the connector clips is multiplied by the number of connector clips that are attached to the sheet metal part. Considering that there may be fifteen to twenty connector clips on one sheet metal part, the time required to remove the connector clips is rather lengthy. The time associated with removing the connector clips from the gauge is undesirable and inefficient in an industrial environment. 
     It would be desirable to provide an apparatus for automatically and simultaneously removing a plurality of connector clips of a workpiece from a gauge. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides an apparatus for automatically and simultaneously removing at least one connector clip of a workpiece from a gauging fixture of a gauge wherein the gauge determines the proper position of the connector clips relative to the workpiece. The present invention provides at least one gauging fixture having at least one aperture extending therethrough in a predetermined location. The aperture in the gauging fixture is adaptable to receive a connector clip on the workpiece wherein the connector clip is engageable with the aperture of the gauging fixture between a non-engaged position, wherein the connector clip is not engaged with the aperture of the gauging fixture, and an engaged position, wherein the connector clip engages the aperture in the gauging fixture for securing the workpiece to the gauge. At least one linear actuator is connected to the gauging fixture adjacent the aperture. The linear actuator may be actuated between a retracted position, wherein the connector clip remains engaged in the aperture of the gauging fixture, and an extended position, wherein the linear actuator disengages the connector clip from the gauging fixture. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The description herein makes reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like referenced numerals refer to like parts throughout several views and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the apparatus of the present invention for automatically and simultaneously removing connector clips of a workpiece from a gauging fixture; 
         FIG. 2  is a top plan view of the apparatus of the present invention for automatically and simultaneously removing connector clips of a workpiece from a gauging fixture; 
         FIG. 3  is a side plan view of the apparatus of the present invention for automatically and simultaneously removing connector clips of a workpiece from a gauging fixture; 
         FIG. 4  is a front plan view of the apparatus of the present invention for automatically and simultaneously removing connector clips of a workpiece from a gauging fixture; 
         FIG. 5  is a sectional view showing the apparatus of the present invention being utilized to remove a connector clip of a workpiece from a gauging fixture; and 
         FIG. 6  is a top plan view showing a plurality of apparatuses of the present invention being utilized on a gauge. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to the drawings, the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the disclosed embodiment. 
       FIGS. 1-6  illustrate an apparatus  10  of the present invention for automatically and simultaneously removing a plurality of connector clips  12  of a workpiece  18  from a gauge  16 . The gauge  16  of the present invention provides a plurality of gauging fixtures  14  which receive the connector clips  12  of the workpiece  18  and determine whether the connector clips  12  are properly positioned on the workpiece  18 . Each gauging fixture  14  corresponds to one connector clip  12  on the workpiece  18 , and each gauging fixture  14  provides an aperture  20  for receiving a connector clip  12 . A linear actuator  22  is connected to the gauging fixture  14  for engaging and removing the connector clip  12  from the gauging fixture  14 . The apparatus  10  of the present invention may be commonly utilized in the automotive industry wherein the workpiece  18  may comprise a sheet metal part, such as an automobile body panel, having a plurality of the connector clips  12  attached thereto. The workpiece  18  may be attached to an automotive body or frame by inserting the connector clip  12  into corresponding apertures in the automotive body or frame. The gauge  16  determines the proper position of the connector clips  12  relative to the workpiece  18 . Although the present invention is ideally suited for automobile body panels, the present invention is not limited to automobile body panels, but rather, the present invention may be utilized wherever connector clips  12  are being utilized and must be removed. 
     To support the gauging fixtures  14  and the workpiece  18 , the gauge  16  provides a substantially rigid structure that supports the weight and size of the gauging fixtures  14  and the workpiece  18 . The gauge  16  supports the gauging fixtures  14  in predetermined positions that correspond to the predetermined positions of the connector clips  12  provided on the workpiece  18 . The connector clips  12  are typically connected to the back side of the workpiece  18  through conventional means such that the connector clips  12  may be received by a plurality of corresponding apertures provided on the frame or body of an automobile (not shown). Thus, the gauge  16  duplicates the pattern of apertures provided on the automobile body or frame so as to determine whether the connector clips  12  are properly positioned relative to the workpiece  18 . 
     Besides the gauge  16  having gauging fixtures  14  connected thereto, the gauge  16  may also include hole locators  24 . As seen in  FIG. 5 , the hole locators  24  may include a manual clamping fixture  26  having a base  28  and a handle  30  pivotally connected thereto. The handle  30  has a locating pin  32  extending therefrom wherein the locating pin  32  is received by an aperture provided in the base  28  of the manual clamping fixture  26 . The workpiece  18  has various locating holes therethrough which are used as datum points to gauge the proper position of the workpiece  18  relative to the gauge  16 . Thus, the workpiece  18  extends over the base  28  of the manual clamping fixture  26 , and the locating pin  32  is inserted through the locating hole of the workpiece  18  and into the aperture of the base  28  thereby securing the workpiece  18  to the gauge  16 . The present invention is not limited to a manual clamping fixture  26  for securing the position of the workpiece  18  to the gauge  16 , but rather, the present invention anticipates the use of a linear actuator  22 , as will later be described in the subject specification, to activate the locating pin  32  into the locating hole of the workpiece  18  and into the base of the clamping fixture  26 . The use of the linear actuator  22  will secure the workpiece  18  to the gauge  16  by automatically and simultaneously engaging all locating holes of the workpiece  18 . 
     To check the position of the connector clips  12  relative to the workpiece  18 , the gauging fixtures  14  are mounted at predetermined locations on the gauge  16  and correspond to the location of the apertures on the automobile body or frame. Each gauging fixture  14  includes an L-shaped bracket  34  that is connected to the gauge  16  through conventional means, such as welding. The L-shaped bracket  34  is substantially rigid and may be fabricated from various high-strength materials, such as steel. The short end  36  of the L-shaped bracket  34  extends out from the gauge  16  and provides an aperture  20  extending therethrough for receiving the connector clip  12 . The connector clips  12  are connected to the workpiece  18  through conventional means, and the connector clip  12  may include what is commonly referred to as a “W” clip  40 . The “W” clip  40  has a substantially circular head  42  which may be connected to the workpiece  18  or may be prevented from extending through a small aperture provided in the workpiece  18 . The “W” clip  40  also has a substantially cylindrical stem  44  that extends from the head  42  to a body  46 . The body  46  of the “W” clip  40  has a substantially W-shaped planar configuration wherein the sides of the body  46  compress when inserted through the aperture  20  of the L-shaped bracket  34 . Once the body  46  of the “W” clip  40  extends through the aperture  20  of the L-shaped bracket  34 , the body  46  of the “W” clip  40  flexes outwardly to its normal, relaxed position thereby allowing the body  46  of the “W” clip  40  to extend beyond the boundaries of the aperture  20 . Since the body  46  of the “W” clip  40  is larger in its relaxed position than the aperture  20 , the body  46  of the “W” clip  40  is prevented from being pulled back through the aperture  20  of the L-shaped bracket  34  of the gauging fixture  14 . Thus, the workpiece  18  is secured to the gauge  16 . 
     To automatically remove the connector clip  12  from the gauging fixture  14 , the gauging fixture  14  provides a mounting bracket  48  that is secured to the L-shaped bracket  34  through the use of two fasteners  50 . The threaded fasteners  50  thread into corresponding threaded apertures provided in the L-shaped bracket  34 . The mounting bracket  48  is substantially bent at a right angle such that it is substantially similar to the configuration of the L-shaped bracket  34 . A threaded aperture  51  is provided in a portion  52  of the mounting bracket  48  extending away from the L-shaped bracket  34  for receiving the linear actuator  22 . The linear actuator  22  provides an air cylinder  54  which is connected to a supply of pressurized air (not shown). The air cylinder  54  has a threaded body portion that threads into the threaded aperture  51  in the mounting bracket  48  and is secured to the mounting bracket  48  through the use of a jam nut  56 . The jam nut  56  threads on to the threaded body portion of the air cylinder  54 . The linear actuator  22  has a piston head (not shown) housed within the air cylinder  54 , and a piston rod  58  that is connected to the piston head and extends outwardly from the air cylinder  54 . A tooling head  60  is threaded onto the piston rod  58  and secured to the piston rod  58  through the use of a jam nut  62 . The tooling head  60  includes a blind bore  64  for receiving the body  46  of the “W” clip  40 . The blind bore  64  of the tooling head  60  has a chamfered edge  66  such that the body  46  of the “W” clip  40  is compressed when the tooling head  60  engages the body  46  of the “W” clip  40 . When the linear actuator  22  is actuated, the piston rod  58  and the tooling head  60  may move between an engaged position, wherein the piston rod  58  and the tooling head  60  are withdrawn from the “W” clip  40  thereby allowing the body  46  of the “W” clip  40  to be captured by the aperture  38  in the gauging fixture  14 , and a disengaged position, wherein the piston rod  58  and the tooling head  60  extend outwardly to engage the body  46  of the “W” clip  40  thereby compressing the body  46  of the “W” clip  40  and allowing the body  46  of the “W” clip  40  to be pushed back through the aperture  38  provided in the L-shaped bracket  34  of the gauging fixture  14 . 
     In operation, the workpiece  18  is brought to the gauge  16  for confirmation as to the proper location of the connector clips  12  relative to the workpiece  18 . The workpiece  18  is placed over the gauge  16 , and the locating holes on the workpiece  18  are located on the manual clamping fixtures  26 . The handles  30  on the manual clamping fixtures  26  are pivoted to move the locating pins  32  through the locating holes on the workpiece  18  and into the bases  28  of the manual clamping fixtures  26 . Once the workpiece  18  is secured to the manual clamping fixtures  26 , the connector clips  12  are inserted through the holes of the L-shaped brackets  34  of the gauging fixtures  14 . When the connector clips  12  are inserted through the gauging fixtures  14 , confirmation as to the location of the connector clips  12  is made. After gauging the workpiece  18 , actuation of all of the linear actuators  22  is simultaneously made by a common switch (not shown). Pressurized air is supplied to the air cylinders  54 , and the piston rods  58  drive the tooling heads  60  into engagement with the bodies  46  of the “W” clips  40 . The tooling heads compress the bodies  46  of the “W” clips  40  and push the bodies  46  back through the aperture  38  provided in the L-shaped bracket  34 . Thus, removal of all of the connector clips  12  from the gauging fixtures  14  occurs automatically and simultaneously thereby dramatically reducing the time associated with manually removing the connector clips  12  from the gauging fixture  14 . The workpiece  18  is then removed from the gauge  16 , and another workpiece  18  may be placed on the gauge  16 . 
     While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments, but to the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications or equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. The scope is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures as is provided under the law.