DESC:SELF SKID SYSTEM FOR TRANSFER OF ARTICLE
Field of the invention:
The present invention relates to a self skid system for carrying an article from one place to another place without using any external energy and more particularly, to a system for carrying an article from end stage to a starting stage of a static conveyor automatically, without any external energy.
Background of the invention:
Earlier, a skid (110) is used for placing transaxle thereon and performing operations at respective stages on a static conveyor (150) as shown in figure 1 in accordance with the prior art. Conventionally, once last stage operation completed on the static conveyor, an operator (120) has to pick the skid (110) manually and place at starting stage (X) of the static conveyor for continuing next operations on another transaxle. In this conventional method, the operator (120) has to lift the skid (110) manually from the end stage (Y) of the static conveyor (150) and move to the starting stage (X)of the static conveyor (150) as shown in the Figure 1 (Prior Art)
However, due to weight of the skid while manual lifting and carrying the skid from the end stage to the starting stage, there are following disadvantages:
1. Dedicatedly one operator required for transferring the skid.
2. High fatigue to the operator due to manual lifting of the weighted skid.
3. Ergonomically stage is RED at the shop floor.
4. Lead to get an accident while carrying the skid, if skid slip on the foot.
Accordingly, there exists need to provide a mechanism for transfer of an article from one place to another place that overcomes the above mentioned drawbacks in the prior art.
Objects of the invention:
An object of the present invention is to carry an article from an end stage to a starting stage on a static conveyor automatically, without any external energy.
Another object of the present invention is to eliminate unsafe working act during the operation on the static conveyor.
Still another object of the present invention is to eliminate fatigue of an operator while lifting the article manually from the static conveyor and carrying it from the end stage to the starting stage.
Summary of the invention
Accordingly in an aspect, the present invention provides a self skid system for automatic transfer of an article from the first end to the second end without any external power. The system of present invention is specially designed for a static conveyor, where an article (skid) is manually carried from its end stage to start stage. The self skid system is installed under a static conveyor, and comprises of an upper rail, a lower rail and a carrier unit. The upper rail is installed under the static conveyor and it is inclined downwardly from its first end to the second end at an angle A1. The lower rail is installed under the upper rail and is inclined downwardly from static conveyor’s second end to the first end at an angle A2. The carrier unit is arranged between the upper rail and the lower rail. The carrier unit is a telescopic arrangement of at least two pipes, an inner pipe and an outer pipe, with an upper block and a lower block connected to the free ends of each pipe. Upper block and lower block are provided with wheels, wherein the upper block is arranged to slide on the upper rail and the lower block is arranged to slide over the lower rail. The upper block is connected to the inner pipe in an inclined way matching with the inclination angle of the upper rail, while the lower block is connected to the outer pipe in an inclined way matching with the inclination angle of the lower rail. Weight of the lower block is more than the weight of empty upper block, but less than the upper block carrying article. When an operator at the end stage of static conveyor places an article on the carrier unit, it starts moving towards the start stage, with the upper block sliding on the upper rail and inner pipe telescopically moving inside the outer pipe, and reaches to the start end. When another operator removes the article, the carrier unit again starts moving back towards the end stage with the lower block sliding on the lower rail and inner pipe telescopically moving out of the outer pipe. The system is specially designed for the static conveyor where the assembly of transaxle takes place.
Brief description of the drawings:
The objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent when the disclosure is read in conjunction with the following figures, wherein
Figure 1 shows a schematic diagram of a static conveyor, in accordance with a prior art;
Figure 2 shows a schematic diagram of working of the self skid system for transfer of an article, in accordance with the present invention;
Figure 3 shows another schematic diagram of the working of the self skid system for transfer of an article, in accordance with the present invention;
Figure 4 shows a perspective view of a carrier unit of the self skid system for transfer of an article, in accordance with the present invention;
Figure 5 shows front view of the carrier unit of the figure 2;
Figure 6 shows right side view of the carrier unit of the figure 2;
Figure 7 shows left side view of the carrier unit of the figure 2;
Figure 8 shows top view of the carrier unit of the figure 2; and
Figure 9 shows bottom view of the carrier unit of the figure 2.
Detailed description of the embodiments:
The foregoing objects of the present invention are accomplished and the problems and shortcomings associated with the prior art, techniques and approaches are overcome by the present invention as described below in the preferred embodiments.
The present invention provides a self skid system for automatic transfer of an article carrier unit from end stage of a static conveyor to its start stage and vice versa. The self skid system of the present invention is installed under the static conveyor. An upper rail and a lower rail, respectively on which a wheeled upper block and a wheeled lower block of a carrier unit slide, are fixed in inclined manner under the static conveyor. The upper block and the lower block are connected at the free ends of telescopically connected inner and outer pipes. Weight of the upper block is less than the lower block, but weight of the upper block carrying the article to be transferred is more than the lower block. When the article is placed on the carrier unit, it automatically slides from first end to second end with the telescopic inner pipe moving in; and on removing the article at second end, it again slides back to the first end automatically with the telescopic inner pipe moving out.
The present invention is illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings, throughout which reference numbers indicate corresponding parts in the various figures. These reference numbers are shown in bracket in the following description. Table 1 below enlists all the reference numerals along with respective component names:
Table 1
Ref No Component Ref No. Component
10 Inner pipe 80 Lower rail
20 Outer pipe 90 Carrier unit
30 Upper block 100 Self skid system
40 Lower block 110 Article
50 Upper bock wheels 150 Static conveyor
60 Lower block wheels X End stage of static conveyor (First end)
70 Upper rail Y Start stage of static conveyor (Second end)

Referring to figures 2 to 9, a self skid system (100) (hereinafter, “the system (100)”), in accordance with the present invention is shown. The system (100) is installed under a static conveyor (150) having an end stage at first end (X) and a start stage at second end (Y), for transferring an article (110) from the first end (X) to the second end (Y) without any external power. The self skid system (100) comprises of an upper rail (70), a lower rail (80) and a carrier unit (90).
The upper rail (70) is installed under the static conveyor (150), with downward inclination at an angle A1, from the first end (X) to the second end, while the lower rail (80) is installed under the upper rail (70) with downward inclination at an angle A2, from the second end (Y) to the first end (X). The carrier unit (90) is arranged between the upper rail (70) and the lower rail (80) for transferring the article (110) from the first end (X) to the second end (Y).
Referring to figures 4 to 9, the carrier unit (90) comprises of a telescopic arrangement of an inner pipe (10) and an outer pipe (20), with an upper block (30) and a lower block (40) attached thereto. The lower block (40) fitted with wheels is slidable on the lower rail (80). The lower block (40) is attached to the free end of outer pipe (10) and it is having downward inclination towards the first end (X) with angle A2. The upper block (30) fitted with wheels, is slidable on the upper rail (70) and is configured for carrying the article (110) thereon. The upper block (30) is attached to the free end of inner pipe (10) and having downward inclination towards the second end (Y) with angle A1. In an embodiment, the weight of the upper block (30) is less than weight of the lower block (40) while the weight of upper block (30) carrying the article (110) is more than weight of the lower block (40).
Referring to figures 2 and 3, working operation of the system (100) is shown. On receiving the article (110) on upper block (70) at the end stage of the static conveyor (150), the carrier unit (90) automatically moves from the first end (X) to the second end (Y). During the movement, the inner tube (10) telescopically moves inside the outer tube (20). On removing the article (110) from the upper block (70) at the second end (80), the carrier unit (90) automatically moves from first end (X) to the second end (Y), while the inner tube (10) telescopically moves out of the outer tube (20). This can be explained as below:
• W1 is the weight of the upper block (30),
• W2 is the weight of the lower block (40), and
• A is the weight of article (110) to be placed on the upper block (30).
As explained above,
W1 < W2 and
W1 + A > W2
As shown in fig. 3, as W1 + A > W2, the carrier unit (90) rolls through the angle A2 from the first end (X) to the second end (Y), and
As shown in fig. 4, as W1 < W2, then the carrier unit (90) rolls through the angle A1 from the starting stage (Y) to the end stage (X)
This can also be explained with the example of assembly of transaxle on the static conveyor (150). Here, the article (110) is a skid used for placing transaxle thereon. Once the last stage operator completes the assembly of transaxle on the static conveyor (150), the operator lifts the transaxle (not shown) from the skid with manipulator and places on a trolley (not shown). Then, the empty skid of the end stage (X) on the static conveyor (150) is lifted by the operator and placed on the upper block (30). The skid moves automatically without any external energy from the first end (X) to the second end (Y). A starting stage operator lifts the skid from the upper block (30) and the empty (without skid) carrier unit (90) moves automatically from the second end (Y) to the first end (X) of the static conveyor (150) without any manual intervention.
Thus, carrier unit (90) moves from the end stage to the starting stage with article (110) and from the starting stage to the end stage without article. Once it reaches the end stage of static conveyor (150), it is again ready to receive the article (110) and move to the start stage. The entire process is carried out with smooth handling and without manual intervention. The system (100) is used for automotive applications as well as for any other object transfer in any industry applications.
Advantages of the invention:
1. Manpower of one person is eliminated.
2. Ergonomically stage of the shop floor is converted from RED to GREEN stage.
3. Operator fatigue is eliminated.
4. Unsafe condition is eliminated.
5. Energy saving and sustainability focus is achieved.
6. Cost saving is achieved as given below:
• Capital Expenditure (Capex) saving ~14 lakhs (by in-house made with zero investment and by avoiding automated conveyor system)
• Manpower saving ~ 1.8 lakhs
• Hence, total saving ~ 15.8 lakhs
7. The mechanism (100) is simple, no operator dependency for carrying the skid (110) and operator friendly.
The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the present invention and its practical application, and to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the present invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omissions and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient, but such omissions and substitutions are intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the scope of the claims of the present invention.
,CLAIMS:CLAIMS
We claim:
1. A self skid system (100), installed under a static conveyor (150) having an end stage at first end (X) and a start stage at second end (Y), for transferring an article (110) from the first end (X) to the second end (Y) without any external power, the self skid system (100) comprising:
an upper rail (70) installed under the static conveyor (150) and inclined downwardly from the first end (X) to the second end (Y) at an angle A1;
a lower rail (80) ) installed under the upper rail (70) and inclined downwardly from the second end (Y) to the first end (X) at an angle A2; and
a carrier unit (90) arranged between the upper rail (70) and the lower rail (80), the carrier unit (90) having:
a telescopic arrangement of at least two pipes, with an inner pipe (10) slidable in an outer pipe (20);
a lower block (40) fitted with wheels and slidable on the lower rail (80); the lower block (40) attached to the free end of outer pipe (10) and having downward inclination towards the first end (X) with angle A2; and
an upper block (30) fitted with wheels, slidable on the upper rail (70) and configured for carrying the article (110), the upper block (30) attached to the free end of inner pipe (10) and having downward inclination towards the second end (Y) with angle A1, wherein weight of the upper block (30) is less than weight of the lower block (40) and weight of upper block (30) carrying the article (110) is more than weight of the lower block (40);
wherein on receiving the article (110) on upper block (70) at the end stage of the static conveyor (150), the carrier unit (90) automatically moves from the first end (X) to the second end (Y), with the inner tube (10) telescopically moving inside the outer tube (20); and
on removing the article (110) from the upper block (70) at the second end (80), the carrier unit (90) automatically moves from first end (X) to the second end (Y) with the inner tube (10) telescopically moving out of the outer tube (20).
Dated this 4th day of August, 2017

Ashwini Kelkar
(Agent for Applicant)
IN-PA/2461