Patent Publication Number: US-2012046115-A1

Title: Bolt Thread Damage Prevention Assembly

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Field of the Disclosure 
     The disclosure relates to bolt producers and more particularly pertains to a new bolt producer for minimizing thread damage to produced and packaged bolts. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a bolt production assembly, threaded bolts produced by the bolt production assembly, and a bolt tray for receiving the threaded bolts. A drop pan holds the bolt tray while the bolt tray receives the threaded bolts. Oil is positioned in the drop pan and a plurality of air jets creates turbulence in the oil in the drop pan. The bolt tray is perforated for permitting the oil to enter the bolt tray in a turbulent state. A distribution conveyor belt is positioned to drop the threaded bolts into the bolt tray while the bolt tray is positioned in the drop pan while the oil is in the turbulent state. A collection pan is provided for collecting threaded bolts from the bolt tray. A bolt tray transport assembly moves the bolt tray from the drop pan to the collection pan. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a front top side perspective view of a bolt thread damage prevention assembly according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a top view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is a front view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the disclosure taken along line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 6  is a front top side view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 7  is a front view of a computer control system of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to  FIGS. 1 through 7  thereof, a new bolt producer embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
     As best illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 7 , the bolt thread damage prevention assembly  10  generally comprises a bolt production assembly  12 , threaded bolts  14  produced by the bolt production assembly  12 , and a bolt tray  16  for receiving the threaded bolts  14 . A drop pan  18  is provided for holding the bolt tray  16  while the bolt tray  16  receives the threaded bolts  14 . Oil  20  is positioned in the drop pan  18 . A plurality of air jets  22  are coupled to and arranged around the drop pan  18  for creating turbulence in the oil  20  in the drop pan  18 . The bolt tray  16  is perforated for permitting the oil  20  to enter the bolt tray  16  in a turbulent state. A distribution conveyor belt  24  is positioned to transport the threaded bolts  14  from the bolt production assembly  12  and drop the threaded bolts  14  into the bolt tray  16  while the bolt tray  16  is positioned in the drop pan  18 . Thus, the threaded bolts  14  are dropped into the oil  20  while the oil  20  is in the turbulent state to reduce damage to the threads of the threaded bolts  14 . A plurality of spaced vanes  52  is positioned on the distribution conveyor belt  24  for facilitating spacing of the threaded bolts  14  while on the distribution conveyor belt  24 . 
     A collection pan  26  collects the threaded bolts  14  from the bolt tray  16 . A bolt tray transport assembly  28  is provided to move the bolt tray  16  from the drop pan  18  to the collection pan  26 . A second bolt tray  16 A may also be operationally coupled to the bolt tray transport assembly  28  to facilitate collection and packaging of the threaded bolts  14  with greater efficiency. 
     A bolt thread testing assembly  32  is provided to insure quality control for the threaded bolts  14 . A collection conveyor belt  34  is positioned adjacent to the distribution conveyor belt  24  for periodically extending and collecting a sample threaded bolt  14 A and transporting the sample threaded bolt  14 A to the bolt thread testing assembly  32 . A computer management system  88  utilizing a computer  36  and monitor  38  is operationally coupled to the bolt thread testing assembly  32  and the collection conveyor belt  34 . The bolt thread testing assembly  32  utilizes an optical inspection mechanism  40  for inspecting each sample threaded bolt  14 A for defective threading. 
     The bolt tray transport assembly  28  has a bolt collection track portion  42  for moving the bolt tray  16  relative to the distribution conveyor belt  24  to facilitate even distribution of threaded bolts  14  in the bolt tray  16 . Casters  44  are positioned on the drop pan  18  such that the drop pan  18  moves with the bolt tray  16  when the bolt tray  16  is moved on the bolt collection track portion  42 . 
     A drip pan  46  collects residual oil dripping from the threaded bolts  14  when the bolt tray  16  is removed from the drop pan  18 . An oil collection tube  48  extends between the drip pan  46  and the drop pan  18  such that oil collected in the drip pan  46  circulates back into the drop pan  18 . An oil pump  50  is operationally coupled to the oil collection tube  48  for pumping collected oil from the drip pan  46  to the drop pan  18 . 
     The bolt tray transport assembly  28  includes an extendable connection  54  to the bolt tray  16  for selectively elevating the bolt tray  16  out of the drop pan  18 . The bolt tray transport assembly  28  further includes a bolt distribution track portion  56  for moving the bolt tray  16  from the drop pan  18  to above the drip pan  46  to above the collection pan  26 . A drip tray  58  extends between the drop pan  18  and the drip pan  46 . The drip tray  58  is sloped to divert oil falling from the bolt tray  16  into the drip pan  46 . 
     The bolt tray  16  and the second bolt tray  16 A have similar structure including a pair of side walls  60 , 62  and a pair of end walls  64 , 66  extending between the side walls  60 , 62 . A door panel  68  is hingedly coupled to one of the side walls  60  to form a bottom  70  of the bolt tray  16  for supporting threaded bolts  14  collected in the bolt tray  16 . A door actuator  72  is coupled to the door panel  68  for selectively pivoting the door panel  68  to release the threaded bolts  14  collected in the bolt tray  16 . 
     In an embodiment of the invention, a pair of door panels  68 , 74  is provided. Each door panel  68 , 74  has a top portion  76 , 78  and a main portion  80 , 82  extending from the respective top portion  76 , 78  at an obtuse angle. The top portion  76 , 78  of each door panel  68 , 74  is hingedly coupled to an associated one of the side walls  60 , 62 . Door actuators  72 , 84  are coupled to the top portions  76 , 78  of the door panels  68 , 74  for selectively pivoting the door panels  68 , 74  apart to release the threaded bolts  14  collected in the bolt tray  16 . 
     In use, threaded bolts  14  are produced and transported to the bolt tray  16  by distribution conveyor belt  24 . Sample threaded bolts  14 A are intercepted for testing for quality assurance. The threaded bolts  14  are dropped into the bolt tray  16  while the bolt tray  16  is positioned in the drop pan  18  so that oil  20  injected with air by air jets  22  partially cushions the falling threaded bolts  14  to prevent damage to the threaded bolts  14 . The bolt tray transport assembly  28  elevates the bolt tray  16  out of the drop pan  18  and moves the bolt tray  16  over the drip pan  46 . Oil  20  is circulated back into the drop pan  18  by the oil pump  50 . The bolt tray  16  is then moved over the collection pan  26  and the door panels  68 , 74  are pivoted to release the threaded bolts  14  into the collection pan  26 . The bolt tray  16  is then circulated back to the drop pan  18  and the process continues from the beginning. A second drop tray  16 A or more may be incorporated to increase efficiency in filling collection pans  26 . 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure.