System for loading or unloading of parts onto or from trays
US5882174A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 13, 1996 |
| Grant date | Mar 16, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 13, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB65G65/00
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
The system is for loading or unloading parts onto or from trays. The same system may be used for either function. A stack of trays loaded on a cart is wheeled into a first cart docking bay. A second cart is positioned in a second cart docking bay beside the first bay, to receive processed trays. A first tray elevator lifts the first cart and trays, or just the trays, to align the uppermost tray with a tray singulator and clamping mechanism. The tray is singulated, i.e. first supported at a lip by retractable opposing support rails and then separated from the stack by operation of the elevator to lower the tray stack, and is then clamped in a precise position. It is subsequently unclamped and shuttled laterally into alignment above the second cart, onto identical retractable support rails, where it is similarly clamped in a precise position. The next tray is then raised by the first elevator and singulated and clamped in position, so that there are then two precisely positioned trays, one above each cart and tray stack. A robot loads or unloads parts onto or from trays at either location, transferring the parts from or to a target location, such as a pallet on a conveyor passing thr…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.