DESC:FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a device for temporary overhead storage of in-process manufacturing equipment. In particular, the invention relates to a device for intermittent temporary parking of manufacturing equipment, when not in use. More particularly, the invention relates to a device for intermittent overhead temporary parking of in-process equipment, when not in use.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In any production facility, e.g. in an automobile or machinery manufacturing plant or any other such assembly line, a number of automatic or hand-held equipment, tools and/or devices are used intermittently for various machining or other manufacturing-related operations. Since these are required for specific operations as and when required on the assembly line, these tools/devices need to be stored or parked from time to time, when not in use. Therefore, an overhead parking system is frequently used for storing such equipment, tool/s, devices, when not in use.

For example, several spot-welding guns are used in any automotive assembly-line, which need to be intermittently parked/stored overhead, when not in use and similarly to be collected back/un-parked from the overhead storage or parking bin, as and when required again for carrying out the next welding operation by using the same.

DISADVANTAGES WITH THE PRIOR ART

At present, the overhead parking system for in-process equipment, tool/s and devices predominantly involve non-value-adding activities, which are unproductive and which substantially increase the operational costs.

For example, when any of the overhead parked equipment, tools and/or devices is required again for further processing/operations, the operator must invariably move a little to retrieve the same for further operation.
This operator movement for retrieve an overhead parked unit is a non-productive activity, which increases the operation time of that particular activity. Presently available overhead parking/un-parking systems use dead weights and so, the operator has to pull a wire rope for pulling the spot-welding gun for un-parking it from its parking location. These dead weights are unsafe, because they are located overhead and there is continuous friction of wire rope on the rollers, which leads to wear and tear of the wire, making the presently available parking systems quite unsafe to the shop-floor personnel.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention proposes an automatic overhead spot-welding-gun parking system for eliminating the non-value adding activities involved in parking and un-parking of spot welding guns, as discussed above.
The overhead spot-welding-gun parking mechanism configured in accordance with the present invention is such that operator can easily park or store spot welding gun without actually going to the parking location thereof. Moreover, the operator does not require any extra movement to un-park the spot-welding gun from parking. Because of this novel configuration, the non-productive operator movements required for parking and un-parking of any spot-welding guns can be eliminated completely. The system is very simple and involves just a pair of springs for ensuring operator’s safety by positively locking spot-welding gun on the overhead spot-welding-gun parking system.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

Some of the objects of the present invention - satisfied by at least one embodiment of the present invention - are as follows:

An object of the present invention is to provide an efficient overhead automatic parking system for production related equipment.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an overhead automatic parking system which eliminates non-productive operator movements for parking and un-parking the production related equipment.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide an overhead automatic parking system which is simple and cost-effective to implement.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an overhead automatic parking system which substantially improves the operator safety.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an overhead automatic parking system which substantially reduces the space requirement in the assembly-line of any manufacturing facility.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description when read with the accompanying figures of drawing, which are, however, not intended to limit the scope of the present invention in any way.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a simple and easy means for the intermittent or temporary parking/un-parking of in-process equipment, tools and devices after/for various operations during any production process in a manufacturing facility, for example, overhead parking/un-parking of spot-welding guns.

The overhead automatic equipment parking system is very user friendly and thereby encourages the operator to use it frequently. It involves no additional movements (motions) for parking and un-parking of the in-process equipment. The system can be easily mounted on overhead rails.

It can be used to temporarily store/park the in-process equipment after intermittent use thereof and to retrieve the same for further operations, as and when required again. This system eliminates the non-value adding activities completely and thus substantially reduces the production cycle time. The system can be mounted on all types of overhead rails.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an automatic overhead parking/un-parking system for an object, the system comprises:

• a mounting frame provided with at least two mounting bars;

• a latch plate with a bearing on either face thereof for pivoting the same at a point disposed substantially at the center of the bearings;

• a threaded shaft for pivoting the latch plate, the threaded shaft configured with a collar on one side thereof;

• at least a pair of tension springs;

• at least a pair of hook bolts joined to the mounting frame and having a respective washer and nut for adjusting the spring tension;

• at least a pair of mounting bolts; and

• at least a pair of mounting brackets welded on the mounting frame and disposed at 900 with respect to each other;

wherein the said system is suspended by means of a spring balancer via a cable for parking/un-parking of any object.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the mounting frame is mounted on the rail by means of two mounting bolts inserted through the mounting bars via a respective hole provided therein and the bolts passing through the rail.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the mounting bars are configured from a solid square section.

In still another embodiment of the present invention, the mounting frame is configured as twin-channeled profiled section having one ends thereof resting on the overhead rail for suspending the said system and a profiled plate fixed on the other ends thereof for mounting the latch plate assembly.

In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the channeled profiled section is formed of C-section bent in S-shape.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, the mounting brackets for mounting the hook bolts are welded on the profiled plate of the mounting frame and disposed at about 900 from each other.

In a still further embodiment of the present invention, one end of each tension spring is mounted on the hooked end of a respective hook bolt and the other end thereof is mounted on another bolt disposed substantially at the middle of the latch plate and provided for common mounting of the tension springs.

In a yet further n embodiment of the present invention, the straight ends of the hook bolts are fixed on the mounting bracket by respective nuts and washers.

In an additional embodiment of the present invention, the bearings for oscillating the latch plate are press-fitted on either face of the latch plate and disposed substantially at the center of the mounting frame.

In another additional embodiment of the present invention, the shape of the latch plate at the moving end, which is in contact with the spot welding gun is configured in “V” shape to allows the spot welding gun suspended from the rail to easily slide over the latch plate and to move to the other side of the latch plate, whereby by applying the force for parking the gun, the latch plate rotates about the fulcrum thereof to facilitate the sliding of the plate over the rail.

In accordance with the present invention, there is also provided a method for parking/un-parking a spot welding gun on an automatic overhead parking/un-parking system suspended on an overhead rail provided in a fabrication shop, wherein the method comprises the steps of:

• pulling the overhead parking/un-parking system for the spot-welding gun sliding in a defined rail track for performing the welding operation, whereby the sliding spot-welding gun contacts the latch plate and the spring tension is overcome by the pulling force of the spot welding gun acting on the latch plate; thereby moving the latch plate from its mean position to un-park the spot welding gun for carrying it to the desired position the desired welding operations; and

• pushing the overhead parking/un-parking system towards the parking are after completion of the welding operation, whereby the spot-welding gun again contacts the latch plate to move by the pushing force overcoming the spring tension and once the spot welding gun has crossed the latch plate, the latch plate retains the mean position thereof again to park the spot welding gun;

wherein the spring tension is adjusted to ensure a minimum force required for parking and un-parking the spot welding gun.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

The present invention will be briefly described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which include:

Figure 1 shows an overhead automatic parking system configured in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 shows another view of the overhead automatic parking system configured in accordance with the present invention shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 shows a perspective view of the overhead automatic parking system shown in Figures 1 and 2, when attached to rail for parking an object thereon.

Figure 4 shows a view of the overhead automatic parking system configured in accordance with the present invention attached to an overhead rail for parking an object seen from below and disposed on the shop floor.

Figure 5 shows the detailed view of the overhead automatic parking system parked on the overhead rail as shown in Figure 4.

Figure 6 shows the overhead automatic parking system configured in accordance with the present invention showing the bolting mechanism thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

In the following, different embodiments of the present invention will be described in more details with reference to the accompanying drawings without limiting the scope and ambit of the present invention in any way.

Figure 1 shows an overhead automatic parking system 100 configured in accordance with the present invention. The overhead device parking/un-parking unit comprises a mounting frame 102, at least two mounting plates/bars 104, a latch plate 106 pivoted at a point by means of a threaded shaft 108, two tension springs 110, at least one pair of hook bolts 112 with required numbers of washers and nuts 114 for adjusting the spring tension. The mounting frame 102 is mounted on the rail 150 (Figure 2) by means of two mounting bolts (not shown) inserted through the mounting bars 102 via respective holes 116 provided therein and passing through the rail 150. For example, the mounting bars 104 are of solid square section, e.g. 20 mm x 200 mm section and bolts are M8 x 75 mm bolts. The tension springs 110, latch plate 106 (5 mm thick) and metallic mounting frame 102 are used for mounting the springs 110 and latch plate 106. There are two bearings 120 for oscillating the latch plate 106. The threaded shaft 108 has a collar 122 at one end 108 thereof for secure mounting of the latch plate 106 and the other end thereof is threaded for tightening a nut 124, which can be locked in position by means of a cotter pin 126 (not shown). The hook bolts 112 are provided for mounting the tension springs 110 and a bolt 128 for common mounting of the tension springs 110. The hook bolts 112 along with nuts 114 are provided for mounting the springs 110 and also for setting a tension in these springs. The mounting frame 102 also has at least two mounting brackets 130 disposed at about 900 from each other for mounting the hook bolts 112. The mounting brackets 130 are welded on the mounting frame 102.

Figure 2 shows a view from below the overhead automatic parking system of Figure 1, shown in its parked condition. The bearings 120 for mounting the latch plate 106 are press fitted at the center of the mounting frame 102. A threaded shaft 108 is inserted from the lower side of the mounting frame 102. The shaft 108 has a collar 122 at one end and the other end is threaded to receive a nut 124 and washer. The latch plate 106 is placed on the shaft 108 before mounting it on the bearing 120 and the other end is locked with a nut 124 after placing a washer 126. A cotter pin 126 (not visible here) is inserted into the shaft 108 after the nut 124 is tightened through a hole (not visible here) in the latch plate 106, so that the shaft 108 does not slide down from the bearing 120 during operation. A common bolt 128 is threaded into the latch plate 106 for attaching the springs 110 at that point. The two hook bolts 112 are mounted on the respective hook bolt mounting brackets 130 welded at the ends of the mounting frame 102. Each hook bolt 112 carries a nut 114 on its other straight side to lock its position after setting the tension on the spring 110. The hook bolts 112 allow setting tension in the tension springs 110 for maintaining the center position of the latch plate 106 by adjusting the tension in both the tension springs 110. One end of both the springs 110 is attached to the common bolt 128 mounted on the latch plate 106 and the other end is hooked on the respective hook bolts 112. The bearing 120 facilitates the oscillating movement of the latch plate 106 during operation. The same tension is maintained in both the springs 110, when the latch plate 106 is at its mean (center) position. The system can be un-parked by moving the latch plate 106 towards right side (in the direction of arrow ‘A’) in this figure.

Figure 3 shows a perspective view of the overhead automatic parking system 100 shown in Figures 1 and 2, when attached to rail 150 for parking by using a spring balancer 200 suspended therefrom. It clearly shows the mounting frame 102, mounting bars 104, a latch plate 106 pivoted at a point by means of a threaded shaft 108, two tension springs 110 and a pair of hook bolts 112 with washers and nuts. The mounting frame 102 is mounted on the rail 150. The mounting frame 102 also has two mounting brackets 130 disposed at about 900 from each other for mounting the hook bolts 112. The mounting brackets 130 are welded on the mounting frame 102.

Figure 4 shows a view of the overhead automatic parking system 100 of Figure 1 attached to rail 150 for parking an object 300. The device, e.g. a spot-welding gun 100 is suspended from a spring balancer 200 via a cable 210.

Figure 5 shows the detailed view of the overhead automatic parking system 100 parked on the rail 150 as shown in Figure 4 and depicts the mounting location of thereof.

Figure 6 shows another enlarged perspective view of the overhead automatic parking system 100 configured in accordance with the present invention.

WORKING OF THE INVENTION:

The overhead parking/un-parking system configured in accordance with the present invention is useful for parking (holding) the objects, e.g. spot-welding guns sliding in a defined track, unless its movement is intended for that position (as shown in Fig. 3). When an operator pulls the object (machine/tool) for the operation, the sliding object contacts the latch plate 106. When the pulling force of the object on the latch exceeds the spring tension; the latch moves from its mean position and the object is un-parked for carrying it to the desired position the further operations.

Similarly, when the operator has completed the operation, the operator must just push the object towards the parking area. When the object contacts the latch plate, the latch plate moves, as the pushing force of the object exceeds the spring tension. When the object has passed from the latch area, the latch plate again retains its mean position and the object is parked. The spring tension is adjusted such that a minimum force is required for parking and un-parking the object, e.g. spot-welding gun.

The shape of the latch plate at the moving end (portion in contact with the object) is “V” shaped (as shown in Fig. 2). The plate 106 forms a V shape at its lower end), so that it allows the object mounted in the rail to easily slide over the latch plate and move on the other side of the latch plate. As the force is applied for parking the gun, the plate 106 rotates around the fulcrum (i.e. bearing 120 and its collar 122) thereby making the easy sliding of the plate over the rail.

TECHNICAL ADVANTAGES AND ECONOMIC SIGNIFICANCE

The automatic overhead object parking/un-parking system in accordance with the present invention has the following advantages:

• Automatic overhead gun parking eliminates all the non-value adding activities involved in parking & un-parking of the spot welding gun.

• Space required for the parking on the floor is saved.

• Safety of the operator is ensured as dead weight is eliminated.

• No dead weights, rollers, wire rope are used in our mechanism.

• Facilitates an easy parking and un-parking of the equipment with minimum effort and least movement.

• Scope for adjustment for the effort required for parking and un-parking of the equipment, thus making the activity very simple.

• The system components are easy and cost-effective to manufacture.

Throughout this specification, the word “comprise”, or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising”, shall be understood to implies including a described element, integer or method step, or group of elements, integers or method steps, however, does not imply excluding any other element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or method steps.

The use of the expression “a”, “at least” or “at least one” shall imply using one or more elements or ingredients or quantities, as used in the embodiment of the disclosure in order to achieve one or more of the intended objects or results of the present invention.
The exemplary embodiments described in this specification are intended merely to provide an understanding of various manners in which this embodiment may be used and to further enable the skilled person in the relevant art to practice this invention. Although, only the preferred embodiments have been described herein, the skilled person in the art would readily recognize to apply these embodiments with any modification possible within the spirit and scope of the present invention as described in this specification.

Therefore, innumerable changes, variations, modifications, alterations may be made and/or integrations in terms of materials and method used may be devised to configure, manufacture and assemble various constituents, components, subassemblies and assemblies according to their size, shapes, orientations and interrelationships.

The description provided herein is purely by way of example and illustration. The various features and advantageous details are explained with reference to this non-limiting embodiment in the above description in accordance with the present invention.

The descriptions of well-known components and manufacturing and processing techniques are consciously omitted in this specification, so as not to unnecessarily obscure the specification. In the previously detailed description, different features have been summarized for improving the conclusiveness of the representation in one or more examples.

However, it should be understood that the above description is merely illustrative, but not limiting under any circumstances. It helps in covering all alternatives, modifications and equivalents of the different features and exemplary embodiments. Many other examples are directly and immediately clear to the skilled person because of his/her professional knowledge in view of the above description.

The exemplary embodiments were selected and described in order to be able to best represent the principles and their possible practical application underlying the invention. Thereby, the experts can optimally modify and use the invention and its different exemplary embodiments with reference to the intended use. In the claims and the description, the terms “containing” and “having” are used as linguistically neutral terminologies for the corresponding terms “comprising”. Furthermore, the use of the term “one” shall not exclude the plurality of such features and components described. ,CLAIMS:We claim:

1. An automatic overhead parking/un-parking system for an object, the system comprises:

• a mounting frame provided with at least two mounting bars;

• a latch plate with a bearing on either face thereof for pivoting the same at a point disposed substantially at the center of the bearings;

• a threaded shaft for pivoting the latch plate, the threaded shaft configured with a collar on one side thereof;

• at least a pair of tension springs;

• at least a pair of hook bolts joined to the mounting frame and having a respective washer and nut for adjusting the spring tension;

• at least a pair of mounting bolts; and

• at least a pair of mounting brackets welded on the mounting frame and disposed at 900 with respect to each other;

wherein the said system is suspended by means of a spring balancer via a cable for parking/un-parking of any object.

2. System as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mounting frame is mounted on the rail by means of two mounting bolts inserted through the mounting bars via a respective hole provided therein and the bolts passing through the rail.

3. System as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mounting bars are configured from a solid square section.

4. System as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mounting frame is configured as twin-channeled profiled section having one ends thereof resting on the overhead rail for suspending the said system and a profiled plate fixed on the other ends thereof for mounting the latch plate assembly.

5. System as claimed in claim 4, wherein the channeled profiled section is formed of C-section bent in S-shape.

6. System as claimed in claims 1 to 5, wherein the mounting brackets for mounting the hook bolts are welded on the profiled plate of the mounting frame and disposed at about 900 from each other.

7. System as claimed in claims 1 to 6, wherein one end of each tension spring is mounted on the hooked end of a respective hook bolt and the other end thereof is mounted on another bolt disposed substantially at the middle of the latch plate and provided for common mounting of the tension springs.

8. System as claimed in claims 1 to 7, wherein the straight ends of the hook bolts are fixed on the mounting bracket by respective nuts and washers.

9. System as claimed in claims 1 to 8, wherein the bearings for oscillating the latch plate are press-fitted on either face of the latch plate and disposed substantially at the center of the mounting frame.

10. System as claimed in claims 1 to 9, wherein the shape of the latch plate at the moving end, which is in contact with the spot welding gun is configured in “V” shape to allows the spot welding gun suspended from the rail to easily slide over the latch plate and to move to the other side of the latch plate, whereby by applying the force for parking the gun, the latch plate rotates about the fulcrum thereof to facilitate the sliding of the plate over the rail.

11. A method for parking/un-parking a spot welding gun on an automatic overhead parking/un-parking system suspended on an overhead rail provided in a fabrication shop, wherein the method comprises the steps of:

• pulling the overhead parking/un-parking system for the spot-welding gun sliding in a defined rail track for performing the welding operation, whereby the sliding spot-welding gun contacts the latch plate and the spring tension is overcome by the pulling force of the spot welding gun acting on the latch plate; thereby moving the latch plate from its mean position to un-park the spot welding gun for carrying it to the desired position the desired welding operations; and

• pushing the overhead parking/un-parking system towards the parking are after completion of the welding operation, whereby the spot-welding gun again contacts the latch plate to move by the pushing force overcoming the spring tension and once the spot welding gun has crossed the latch plate, the latch plate retains the mean position thereof again to park the spot welding gun;

wherein the spring tension is adjusted to ensure a minimum force required for parking and un-parking the spot welding gun.

Dated: this day of 29th December, 2015. SANJAY KESHARWANI
APPLICANT’S PATENT AGENT