Patent CA-3215291-A1 (CA)
Title: System and method for locating a workpiece supporting frame in position in a processing or assembling station of a production plant
Inventor: TOMASI DANIELE
IPC: B23P21/00
Filed: 2022-03-30
Abstract: A system for locating a workpiece-holder frame (2) in position in a processing or assembling station of a production plant comprises stationary support structures (9) arranged on the two sides of the working area (A) of the processing or assembling station, and a carriage (8) that transports the workpiece-holder frame (2) along a conveying line (L) inside the working area (A). The stationary support structures (9), arranged on the two sides of the working area, carry vertically-movable support members (10), positioned and configured to engage and lift the workpiece- holder frame (2) carried by the carriage (8) when the carriage is stopped in the working area, so as to move the workpiece-holder frame (2) away from the carriage (8) and vertically position the workpiece-holder frame (2) at a predetermined vertical height (Z). The vertically-movable support members (10) include at least three ball supports (10), spaced apart from each other, each including a ball (12), which is freely rotatable in any direction around its center. The workpiece-holder frame (2) has a plurality of flat lower engagement surfaces (7), which are respectively engaged by the ball supports (10), in such a way that when the workpiece-holder frame (2) is raised to said predetermined vertical height (Z), the workpiece-holder frame (2) can float in any horizontal direction above the freely rotatable balls (12) of the ball supports (10). With at least two of the stationary support structures (9) there are also associated respective auxiliary centering members (22) which are vertically movable and spaced apart from each other, said auxiliary centering members cooperating with engagement elements (6) projecting downwardly from the workpiece- holder frame (2), in such a way as to locate in position the workpiece- A system for locating a workpiece-holder frame (2) in position in a processing or assembling station of a production plant comprises stationary support structures (9) arranged on the two sides of the working area (A) of the processing or assembling station, and a carriage (8) that transports the workpiece-holder frame (2) along a conveying line (L) inside the working area (A). The stationary support structures (9), arranged on the two sides of the working area, carry vertically-movable support members (10), positioned and configured to engage and lift the workpiece- holder frame (2) carried by the carriage (8) when the carriage is stopped in the working area, so as to move the workpiece-holder frame (2) away from the carriage (8) and vertically position the workpiece-holder frame (2) at a predetermined vertical height (Z). The vertically-movable support members (10) include at least three ball supports (10), spaced apart from each other, each including a ball (12), which is freely rotatable in any direction around its center. The workpiece-holder frame (2) has a plurality of flat lower engagement surfaces (7), which are respectively engaged by the ball supports (10), in such a way that when the workpiece-holder frame (2) is raised to said predetermined vertical height (Z), the workpiece-holder frame (2) can float in any horizontal direction above the freely rotatable balls (12) of the ball supports (10). With at least two of the stationary support structures (9) there are also associated respective auxiliary centering members (22) which are vertically movable and spaced apart from each other, said auxiliary centering members cooperating with engagement elements (6) projecting downwardly from the workpiece- holder frame (2), in such a way as to locate in position the workpiece- holder frame (2) along two horizontal directions (X, Y) orthogonal to each other and with respect to rotations of the workpiece-holder frame in the horizontal plane. holder frame (2) along two horizontal directions (X, Y) orthogonal to each other and with respect to rotations of the workpiece-holder frame in the horizontal plane.