Syncing apparatuses, process dollies, and conveyor assemblies

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10894313-B2
Application number	US-201815988486-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 24, 2018
Priority date	May 24, 2018
Publication date	Jan 19, 2021
Grant date	Jan 19, 2021

Abstract

A syncing apparatus for synchronizing a process dolly to a conveyor includes a mounting frame and a sync arm. The mounting frame is configured to be mounted to a frame of the process dolly. The sync arm is coupled to the mounting frame and includes a wheel and a biasing member coupled to the wheel and configured to bias the wheel to an extended position. The wheel is configured to contact a contact feature of the conveyor to synchronize the process dolly to a movement of the conveyor when biased to the extended position. Compression of the biasing member moves the wheel to a retracted position wherein the wheel is configured to traverse the contact feature of the conveyor and the process dolly is unsynchronized from the movement of the conveyor.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A syncing apparatus for synchronizing a process dolly to a conveyor, the syncing apparatus comprising:
a mounting frame configured to be mounted to a frame of the process dolly; and
a sync arm coupled to the mounting frame, the sync arm comprising:
a wheel; and
a spring coupled to the wheel and configured to bias the wheel to an extended position, wherein:
the wheel is configured to contact a contact feature of the conveyor to synchronize the process dolly to a movement of the conveyor when biased to the extended position; and
compression of the spring moves the wheel to a retracted position wherein the wheel is configured to traverse the contact feature of the conveyor and the process dolly is unsynchronized from the movement of the conveyor.

2. The syncing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the sync arm is adjustably coupled to the mounting frame.

3. The syncing apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a support bracket coupling the sync arm to the mounting frame, wherein the support bracket is adjustably coupled to the mounting frame.

4. The syncing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the spring is a helical spring.

5. The syncing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein
the wheel comprises a wheel support frame; and
the sync arm further comprises:
a linear bearing configured to be fixed relative to the mounting frame; and
an alignment rod coupled to the wheel support frame and extending through the linear bearing, wherein the alignment rod is translatable relative to the linear bearing, wherein the spring is a helical spring circumscribing the alignment rod between the wheel support frame and the linear bearing to bias the wheel to the extended position.

6. The syncing apparatus of claim 5 , further comprising a support bracket coupling the sync arm to the mounting frame, wherein the support bracket comprises:
a bracket support arm configured to be coupled to the mounting frame; and
a sync support arm comprising an aperture formed therein, wherein the alignment rod passes through the aperture and is translatable relative to the aperture.

7. The syncing apparatus of claim 6 , further comprising a stopper coupled to a free end of the alignment rod and having a dimension greater than a diameter of the aperture, wherein the stopper limits a linear motion of the alignment rod through the aperture.

8. The syncing apparatus of claim 6 , further comprising a rotation stop configured to prevent axial rotation of the wheel about an axis defined by the alignment rod.

9. A process dolly, comprising:
a frame, and
a syncing apparatus coupled to the frame and configured to synchronize the process dolly to a movement of a conveyor, wherein the syncing apparatus comprises a sync arm comprising:
a wheel; and
a spring coupled to the wheel, the spring biasing the wheel to an extended position, wherein:
the wheel is configured to contact a contact feature of the conveyor to synchronize the process dolly to the movement of the conveyor; and
compression of the spring moves the wheel to a retracted position wherein the wheel traverses the contact feature of the conveyor and the process dolly is unsynchronized from the movement of the conveyor.

10. The process dolly of claim 9 , wherein the syncing apparatus is adjustably coupled to the frame.

11. The process dolly of claim 9 , further comprising a mounting frame mounted to the frame and coupling the syncing apparatus to the frame.

12. The process dolly of claim 11 , wherein:
the wheel of the syncing apparatus comprises a wheel support frame; and
the sync arm of the syncing apparatus further comprises:
a linear bearing configured to be fixed relative to the mounting frame;
an alignment rod coupled to the wheel support frame and extending through the linear bearing, wherein the alignment rod is translatable relative to the linear bearing, wherein the spring is a helical spring circumscribing the alignment rod between the wheel support frame and the linear bearing to bias the wheel to the extended position.

13. The process dolly of claim 12 , wherein the syncing apparatus further comprises a support bracket coupling the sync arm to the mounting frame, wherein the support bracket comprises:
a bracket support arm configured to be coupled to the mounting frame; and
a sync support arm comprising an aperture formed therein, wherein the alignment rod passes through the aperture and is translatable relative to the aperture.

14. The process dolly of claim 13 , wherein the syncing apparatus further comprises a stopper coupled to a free end of the alignment rod and having a dimension greater than a diameter of the aperture, wherein the stopper limits a linear motion of the alignment rod through the aperture.

15. The process dolly of claim 12 , wherein the syncing apparatus further comprises a rotation stop configured to prevent rotation of the about an axis defined by the alignment rod.

16. A conveyor assembly comprising:
a conveyor having a contact feature; and
a process dolly configured to be synchronized to a movement of the conveyor, the process dolly comprising:
a frame, and
a syncing apparatus coupled to the frame and configured to synchronize the process dolly to the movement of the conveyor, the syncing apparatus comprises a sync arm comprising:
a wheel; and
a spring coupled to the wheel, the spring biasing the wheel to an extended position, wherein:
the wheel is configured to contact the contact feature of the conveyor to synchronize the process dolly to the movement of the conveyor; and
compression of the biasing member spring moves the wheel to a retracted position wherein the wheel traverses the contact feature of the conveyor and the process dolly is unsynchronized from the movement of the conveyor.

17. The conveyor assembly of claim 16 , further comprising a mounting frame mounted to the frame of the process dolly and coupling the syncing apparatus to the frame of the process dolly wherein:
the wheel of the syncing apparatus comprises a wheel support frame; and
the sync arm of the syncing apparatus comprises:
a linear bearing configured to be fixed relative to the mounting frame;
an alignment rod coupled to the wheel support frame and extending through the linear bearing, wherein the alignment rod is translatable relative to the linear bearing, and wherein the spring is a helical spring circumscribing the alignment rod between the wheel support frame and the linear bearing to bias the wheel to the extended position.

18. The conveyor assembly of claim 17 , wherein the syncing apparatus further comprises a support bracket coupling the sync arm to the mounting frame, wherein the support bracket comprises:
a bracket support arm configured to be coupled to the mounting frame; and
a sync support arm comprising an aperture formed therein, wherein the alignment rod passes through the aperture and is translatable relative to the aperture.

19. The conveyor assembly of claim 18 , wherein the syncing apparatus further comprises a stopper coupled to a free end of the alignment rod and having a dimension greater than a diameter of the aperture, wherein the stopper limits a linear motion of the alignment rod through the aperture.

20. The conveyor assembly of claim 17 , wherein the syncing apparatus further comprises a rotation stop configured to prevent rotation of the about an axis defined by the alignment rod.

Assignees

• Toyota Eng & Mfg North America

Inventors

• Meyer Michael P

Classifications

• B25H1/0007 Primary

  for engines, motor-vehicles or bicycles · CPC title

• B25H1/10 Primary

  with provision for adjusting holders for tool or work · CPC title

• B25H1/08

  with provision for attachment of work holders · CPC title