Patent Publication Number: US-11638991-B2

Title: Tilting assembly table

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The embodiments disclosed herein relate to an ergonomic assembly table in a manufacturing environment 
     BACKGROUND 
     There is an identified need for a tilting table that puts a work component into the correct position for a manufacturing associate to assemble or repair without any need for part manipulation with a goal to improve efficiency and ergonomics in the process. 
     APPLICATION SUMMARY 
     The features and advantages described in the specification are not all inclusive and, in particular, many additional features and advantages will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art in view of the drawings, specification, and claims. Moreover, it should be noted that the language used in the specification has been principally selected for readability and instructional purposes, and may not have been selected to delineate or circumscribe the inventive subject matter. 
     According to one aspect, an assembly table located on a surface includes a frame, the frame having a first horizontal member located at a first elevation above the surface, a second horizontal member parallel to the first horizontal member and located at a second elevation above the surface, the second elevation being less than the first elevation, and a third horizontal member parallel to the first and second horizontal members and located at a third elevation above the surface, the third elevation being less than the first elevation. The assembly further includes a base plate rotatably mounted to the first horizontal member, the base plate having a first end and a second end, the base plate being rotatable from a first position wherein the first end of the base plate contacts the second horizontal member to a second position wherein the second end of the base plate contacts the third horizontal member, a first channel mounted to a bottom side of the base plate, and a first ball bearing movable between a first end of the first channel when the base plate is in the first position and a second end of the first channel when the base plate is in the second position. 
     According to another aspect, an assembly table located on a surface includes a frame having a first horizontal member located at a first elevation above the surface, a second horizontal member parallel to the first horizontal member and located at a second elevation above the surface, the second elevation being less than the first elevation, and a third horizontal member parallel to the first and second horizontal members and located at a third elevation above the surface, the third elevation being less than the first elevation. The assembly table further includes a base plate rotatably mounted to the first horizontal member, the base plate having a first end and a second end, the base plate being rotatable from a first position wherein the first end of the base plate contacts the second horizontal member to a second position wherein the second end of the base plate contacts the third horizontal member, a channel mounted to a bottom side of the base plate, a ball bearing movable between a first end of the channel when the base plate is in the first position and a second end of the channel when the base plate is in the second position, a first damper at a first end of each of the channel, the first damper damping the ball bearing when the base plate moves to the first position, and a second damper at a second end of the channel, the second damper damping the ball bearing when the base plate moves to the second position. 
     According to yet another aspect, a method of assembling a component on an assembly table, wherein the assembly table includes a frame, and base plate rotatable between a first position and as second position mounted to the frame, and a channel mounted to the base plate having a ball bearing that is movable between a first end of the channel when the base plate is in the first position and a second end of the channel when the base plate is in the second position, includes the steps of moving the component to the assembly table when the base plate is in the first position, rotating the base plate to the second position to complete assembly of the component, rotating the base plate to the first position when assembly of the component is completed, and removing the component from the assembly table. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a perspective view of a tilting assembly table. 
         FIG.  2    is a bottom perspective view of the bottom side of a base plate of the assembly table of  FIG.  1    with channels removed to reveal the inside of the channels. 
         FIG.  3    is a bottom perspective view of the bottom side of the base plate of the assembly of  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  4    is a top perspective view of the tilting assembly table of  FIG.  1    in a first position. 
         FIG.  5    is a top perspective view of the tilting assembly table of  FIG.  1    in a second position. 
     
    
    
     The figures depict various embodiments for purposes of illustration only. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from the following discussion that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the embodiments described herein. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG.  1    illustrates an embodiment of an assembly table  10  that uses the concept of shifting balance and weight to create a more efficient and ergonomic assembly table  10  in a manufacturing environment. The assembly table  10  includes a frame  12  and a base plate  14 , which holds a component  16  to be assembled, such as, but not limited to, an HVAC unit or any other vehicle component. The base plate  14  may be mounted to the frame on a center first horizontal member  18  that acts as center axis ac about which the base plate  14  may rotate or pivot. 
     In the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS.  2 - 3   , four (4) channels  20  are mounted, such as by welding, fasteners, adhesives, or any other method, to the bottom side  22  of the base plate  14 . Each of these channels  20  may house one (1) of four (4) ball bearings  24 , illustrated in  FIG.  2    where two of the channels  20  are removed, each of which are capable of rolling back and forth and shifting the balance of the base plate  14  to either a first position  26 , illustrated in  FIGS.  1 - 4    or a second position  28 , illustrated in  FIG.  5   . 
     Each of the four (4) channels  20  and base plate  14  are built so that the weight is balanced perfectly along the center axis ac unless disrupted by an external force. In a first position  26 , as illustrated in  FIGS.  1 - 4   , the assembly table  10  lies in a down position at the first end  30  of the base plate  14  with each of the four (4) ball bearings  24  shifted to a first side  32  the assembly table  14 . This first position  26  is where a work piece  16  would be placed onto the assembly table  10   
     As illustrated in  FIGS.  1 - 5   , and a first extension  34  may extend generally perpendicular and downward from the first end  30  of the base plate  14 . As further illustrated, a second extension  36  may extend generally perpendicular and upward from a second end  38  of the base plate  14  on the second side  40  of the assembly table  10 . The second extension  36  prevents the component  16  from sliding off the base plate  14  while in the second position  28 . The first and second extensions  34 ,  36  further ensure that the first and second ends  30 ,  38  of the base plate  14  do not contain sharp or pointed edged surfaces. 
     Once the component  16  is placed on the assembly table  14  and pushed towards a second side  40  of the assembly table  10 , the base plate  14  shifts into a second position  28  as illustrated in  FIG.  5   . 
     This second position  28  may be placed at an ergonomic height for the user to complete the assembly, repairs, or other work on the component  16 . To remove the component  16  towards the first side  32  of the assembly table  10 . This action will again shift the weight towards the first side  32 , putting the assembly table  10  back into the first position  26  and ready for the next component  16  to be assembled, completed, or on which work is to be done. 
       FIGS.  2 - 3    illustrate the weight mechanism underneath the base plate  14 .  FIG.  2    in particular illustrates the weight mechanism with two of the channels  20  not shown to further illustrate what is located inside of the channels  20 . One (1) ball bearing  24 , made of steel or any other suitably weighty material, is housed within each of the four (4) channels  20 . Both the first end  44  and second end  46  of each the four (4) channels  20  includes a damper  48 . The damper  48  may be made of a 75 durometer soft urethane or any other suitable material to dampen and absorb the energy of the ball bearing  24  when the mass is shifted between the first and second sides  32 ,  40  of the channels  20  and assembly table  10 . Each of the dampers  48  is mounted to an end cap  50  for the channels  20  made of aluminum  6061  or any other suitable material, which prevents each of the ball bearings  24  from escaping the respective channel  20 . 
       FIG.  1 - 5    illustrate shock absorbers  52  that may be installed directly to the frame  12  on either side  32 ,  40  of the assembly table  10  using brackets  54 . The shock absorbers  52  are used to absorb the kinetic energy when the base plate  14  is shifting its weight between the first and second positions  26 ,  28 . The shock absorbers  52  are mounted to the brackets  54  that allow the user to adjust the height and angle at which the base plate  14  is stopped at in each of the first and second positions  26 ,  28 . This feature allows the angle of the assembly table  10  and position to be customizable to best fit the height of the user. In the illustrated embodiment, two (2) brackets  54  and two (2) shock absorbers  52  are mounted to each of two (2) horizontal members  56 , for a total of four (4) brackets  54  and four (4) shock absorbers  52  to be applied, that are parallel to the center horizontal member  18 , but lower in height from the floor in comparison to the center horizontal member  18 , which allows the base plate  14  to rotate between the first and second positions  26 ,  28 . 
     The assembly table  10  may be fixed to a surface, such as the floor of a manufacturing facility. Alternatively, the assembly table  10  may additionally include four locking caster wheels  58  that allow the assembly table  10  to be move and to position the assembly table as desired on the surface, as illustrated in  FIG.  1   . 
     Additionally, each of the ball bearings  24  may be wrapped in a thin layer of rubber and epoxied. This allow the ball bearings to activate, but reduces the sound of the ball bearings  24  travelling within the respective channels  20 . 
     Reference in the specification to “one embodiment” or to “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiments is included in at least one embodiment. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” or “an embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. 
     In addition, the language used in the specification has been principally selected for readability and instructional purposes, and may not have been selected to delineate or circumscribe the inventive subject matter. Accordingly, the disclosure of the embodiments is intended to be illustrative, but not limiting, of the scope of the embodiments, which is set forth in the claims. 
     While particular embodiments and applications have been illustrated and described herein, it is to be understood that the embodiments are not limited to the precise construction and components disclosed herein and that various modifications, changes, and variations may be made in the arrangement, operation, and details of the methods and apparatuses of the embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the embodiments as defined in the appended claims.