Patent GB-1136553-A (GB)
Title: Apparatus for programming processing machines
IPC: B23Q41/02
Filed: 1965-12-29
Abstract: 1,136,553. Walking beam conveyers; grippers for engaging articles. AJEM LABORATORIES Inc. 29 Dec., 1965 [8 March, 1965], No. 55125/65. Headings B8A and B8H. A programming device for apparatus in which a walking beam conveyer automatically feeds articles to successive stations adjacent which are machines for processing the articles, comprises a disc 200, Fig. 8, having pins 201-218 representing articles on the conveyer, the disc being driven in synchronism with the conveyer and having adjacent thereto actuators 504, 508, 512 and limit switches 408, 411 at the simulated positions of the machines, the actuators operating to move the pins longitudinally if the articles represented thereby are processed by one of the machines and the moved pins then operating the succeeding limit switches to prevent the associated machines from reprocessing the processed articles. Each pin is maintained in either of its positions by an adjustable spring-loaded detent 607, Fig. 10, and the disc 200 is mounted on a shaft 222 which also carries a disc 260 having studs 241-248, the latter being engaged by a spring-loaded ratchet 244 to rotate the shaft 222 in synchronism with conveyer movements. A spring-loaded roller (240), Figs. 11, 11a (not shown), engages between the studs to ensure correct indexing thereof by the ratchet. The actuators 504, 508, 512 and the limit switches 408, 411 are mounted on a stationary disc 232. A further limit switch 414 ensures that no unprocessed article is passed from the conveyer, and a diagonal cam bar 234, see also Fig. 9 (not shown), resets the pins 201-218. A manipulator 20, Fig. 1, provided at each machine for moving articles between the conveyer and the machine, comprises a frame 26 which is movable vertically by a hydraulic ram 28, and limit switches 32, 34 sense this movement. A releasable safety catch (not shown) is provided for holding the frame in its upper position in case of hydraulic failure. Pivoted on the frame 26 are arms 40 the angular positions of which are controlled by a hydraulic ram 38, Fig. 2, the latter Fig. also showing the machine 46 and the conveyer 90. The arms 40 carry a rotatably mounted clamp assembly 70, Figs. 3, 4, 17 and 18, comprising sets of clamps 70a, 70b at 180 degrees from each other and operated by hydraulic rams 73, 74 and 79, 80, one set of clamps being used to pick up an article to be processed from the conveyer and the other set being used to set down a processed article on the conveyer. The clamp assembly is rotated by an hydraulic ram 81. A support 50 for the arms 40 carries actuators 52-56 for operating limit switches 51 and 59-62, and cams 57, 58 for operating deceleration valves 63, 64. Limit switches 66, 68 are tripped by actuators 67, 69 at the rotation limits of the clamp assembly 70. Movement of the rams 73, 74 and 79, 80 operates air valves which determine the position of pressure control switches. A control circuit is described with reference to Fig. 16 (not shown). The walking beam conveyer 90, Figs. 12 to 14, comprises a beam 82 carrying article supports 83 and co-operating with stationary rails 84. Stationary guide rails 85 are provided. The beam 82 is raised and lowered by operation of an hydraulic ram (103), Fig. 15 (not shown), and is moved laterally by operation of an hydraulic ram 105. Limit switches 86-89 and 106 are provided to control the operation of the conveyer. Fig. 15 shows the control circuit for the latter. In operation, the beam 82 of the conveyer 90 moves articles along the rails 84 to the processing machines, the disc 200 of the programming device being indexed accordingly. When an article reaches the station opposite a machine the associated manipulator 20 is operated as follows. The frame 26 is lowered and the article is grasped by the clamps 70a. The frame 26 is then lifted, the clamp assembly 70 is rotated, the frame 26 is again lowered and the clamps 70b opened to leave a processed article on the conveyer 90. The frame 26 is again raised and the arms 40 swung to the mid-position. The raising of the frame 26 allows the conveyer 90 to continue operating. The frame 26 is again lowered and the arms 40 swung to the extreme position adjacent the machine 46. The clamps 70b grasp a processed article disposed on the machine 46, a holding clamp on the latter being then released. The frame 26 is again raised, the clamp assembly 70 is rotated and the frame 26 lowered. The holding clamp on the machine 46 is operated to clamp the unprocessed article thereto and the clamps 70a opened. The arms 40 are returned to the mid-position and the machine 46 is activated. The frame 26 is again raised and the arms 40 are swung to the extreme position adjacent the conveyer 90. The manipulator 20 is now in its initial position. When the processed article has been left on the conveyer 90 the associated actuator of the programming device is energized to move the pin representing the article.