Pallet shuttle system
US4278381A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 8, 1976 |
| Grant date | Jul 14, 1981 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 8, 1996 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T29/5196
- WIPO fieldMachine tools
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A shuttle rail assembly, capable of carrying a pair of pallets to which workpieces are fixtured, is mounted on a wheeled vehcile movable along a pair of tracks extending adjacent machine tools and set-up stations. The vehicle is positively driven by a DC motor and pinion, mounted on a adjustable eccentric, which meshes with a toothed rack secured to one of the pair of tracks. A vertical standard extending upward from the vehicle is slidable along power and control electrical buses contained within an enclosed overhead trolley. The shuttle rail assembly includes a pair of rails, extendable to either side of the vehicle by a hydraulic rail motor, mounted on a platform rotatable by a hydraulic index motor to 180.degree. positions when pallets are to be interchanged, and having a 90.degree. latched position during vehicle travel. The vehicle chassis includes a pair of tubular frames having sealed sections defining a fluid reservoir for containing hydraulic fluid pumped to a hydraulic circuit for the hydraulic motors and controls. The machine tools and set-up stations each include cams which mechanically unlatch the rails for extension, and hydraulic cylinders for lifting the pallets of…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.