Apparatuses, systems, and methods for process dolly synchronization with assembly line conveyors

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12227366-B2
Application number	US-202318206575-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 6, 2023
Priority date	Jun 6, 2023
Publication date	Feb 18, 2025
Grant date	Feb 18, 2025

Abstract

Methods, systems, and apparatus for a conveyor assembly. The conveyor assembly includes a conveyor, at least one stationary track positioned parallel to the conveyor, a process dolly configured to operatively couple to the at least one stationary track, and a syncing apparatus configured to couple to the process dolly and operatively couple to the conveyor. The syncing apparatus is configured to lock the process dolly in place along the conveyor such that the process dolly moves together with the conveyor with respect to the at least one stationary track.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A conveyor assembly comprising:
a conveyor including a work part conveyor portion and a person conveyor portion configured to move parallel to one another at the same rate;
at least one stationary track positioned parallel to the conveyor;
a process dolly configured to operatively couple to the at least one stationary track; and
a syncing apparatus configured to couple to the process dolly and operatively couple to the conveyor, the syncing apparatus includes a first wheel and a first biasing member configured to bias the first wheel in contact with the person conveyor portion to lock the process dolly in place along the conveyor.

2. The conveyor assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one stationary track includes a first stationary track positioned between the work part conveyor portion and the person conveyor portion, and a second stationary track positioned at an outside edge of the person conveyor portion.

3. The conveyor assembly of claim 1 , where the process dolly comprises:
a frame; and
at least one wheel rotatably coupled to the frame, the at least one wheel of the process dolly configured to operate within the at least one stationary track such that the process dolly is isolated from movement of the conveyor until the process dolly is synchronized.

4. The conveyor assembly of claim 1 , wherein the syncing apparatus comprises:
a main rail having a first end and a second end opposite the first end;
a first arm configured to extend from the main rail at the first end; and
a second arm configured to extend from the main rail at the second end.

5. The conveyor assembly of claim 4 , wherein the syncing apparatus further comprises:
the first biasing member configured to be disposed around the first arm; and
a second biasing member configured to be disposed around the second arm.

6. The conveyor assembly of claim 5 , wherein the syncing apparatus further comprises:
the first wheel configured to couple to the first end of the main rail, the first biasing member operatively coupled to the first wheel and configured to bias the first wheel to a locked position; and
a second wheel configured to couple to the second end of the main rail, the second biasing member operatively coupled to the second wheel and configured to bias the second wheel to the locked position, such that the first wheel and the second wheel are configured to contact the conveyor to synchronize the process dolly to a movement of the conveyor when the first wheel and the second wheel are biased in the locked position.

7. The conveyor assembly of claim 5 , wherein the syncing apparatus further comprises:
a first slide bearing configured to slidingly couple to the first arm;
a second slide bearing configured to slidingly couple to the first arm adjacent the first biasing member; and
a first stopper flange configured to couple to the first arm between the first slide bearing and the first biasing member.

8. The conveyor assembly of claim 7 , wherein the syncing apparatus further comprises:
a third slide bearing configured to slidingly couple to the second arm;
a fourth slide bearing configured to slidingly couple to the second arm adjacent the second biasing member; and
a second stopper flange configured to couple to the second arm between the third slide bearing and the second biasing member.

9. The conveyor assembly of claim 7 , wherein the first stopper flange is configured to move together with the first arm with respect to the first slide bearing and the second slide bearing against a bias of the first biasing member.

10. The conveyor assembly of claim 4 , wherein the first arm and the second arm are configured to extend at least substantially perpendicular to the main rail.

11. A syncing apparatus configured to sync a process dolly with a conveyor, the syncing apparatus comprising:
a main rail having a first end and a second end opposite the first end;
a first arm configured to extend from the main rail at the first end;
a first biasing member configured to be disposed around the first arm; and
a first wheel configured to couple to the first end of the main rail, the first biasing member operatively coupled to the first wheel and configured to bias the first wheel to a locked position in contact with a person conveyor portion of the conveyor.

12. The syncing apparatus of claim 11 , further comprising:
a second arm configured to extend from the main rail at the second end;
a second biasing member configured to be disposed around the second arm; and
a second wheel configured to couple to the second end of the main rail, the second biasing member operatively coupled to the second wheel and configured to bias the second wheel to the locked position, such that the first wheel and the second wheel are configured to contact the conveyor to synchronize the process dolly to a movement of the conveyor when the first wheel and the second wheel are biased in the locked position.

13. The syncing apparatus of claim 12 , further comprising:
a first slide bearing configured to slidingly couple to the first arm;
a second slide bearing configured to slidingly couple to the first arm adjacent the first biasing member; and
a first stopper flange configured to couple to the first arm between the first slide bearing and the first biasing member.

14. The syncing apparatus of claim 13 , further comprising:
a third slide bearing configured to slidingly couple to the second arm;
a fourth slide bearing configured to slidingly couple to the second arm adjacent the second biasing member; and
a second stopper flange configured to couple to the second arm between the third slide bearing and the second biasing member.

15. The syncing apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the syncing apparatus is configured to be operatively coupled to the conveyor such that the syncing apparatus is configured to sync the process dolly in place along the conveyor.

16. The syncing apparatus of claim 15 , where the process dolly comprises:
a frame; and
at least one wheel rotatably coupled to the frame, the at least one wheel of the process dolly configured to operate within at least one stationary track such that the process dolly is isolated from movement of the conveyor until the process dolly is synchronized.

17. A method of operating a conveyor assembly, the method comprising:
providing a process dolly;
providing a syncing assembly configured to couple to the process dolly; and
applying a biasing force via at least one biasing member of the syncing assembly to at least one wheel of the syncing assembly such that the syncing assembly is in a locked position with the at least one wheel in contact with a person conveyor portion of a conveyor of the conveyor assembly and the process dolly is synced with the conveyor of the conveyor assembly.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising applying an external force to at least one of the process dolly or the syncing assembly to release the syncing assembly from the locked position.

19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising:
positioning the process dolly at a desired position along the conveyor; and
reapplying the biasing force to the at least one wheel with the syncing assembly such that the syncing assembly is placed in the locked position and the process dolly is synced to the conveyor.

Assignees

• Toyota Eng & Mfg North America
• Toyota Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Holland Lloyd R
• Foster Scottie L
• Garcia Bradley J
• Greenlee Michael C
• James Jeffrey L
• Allen Annetta L
• Kiser Jr Ronnie G
• Novian Andrew B

Classifications

• B66B21/10 Primary

  Moving walkways · CPC title

• B65G35/06 Primary

  comprising a load-carrier moving along a path, e.g. a closed path, and adapted to be engaged by any one of a series of traction elements spaced along the path (effecting drive at two or more points spaced along the length of an endless conveyor B65G23/32) · CPC title