Base plate assembly transfer mechanism and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016199979-A1
Application number	US-201614995007-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 13, 2016
Priority date	Jan 14, 2015
Publication date	Jul 14, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

This invention relates to an apparatus for processing a baseplate assembly and more specifically to a transfer mechanism and a parts washer for processing baseplate assemblies. The transfer mechanism has a pivot arm that is mounted to a transfer and/or lift mechanism. The pivot arm holds a carrier unit having an abutment plate and a finger. The finger having an extended state and a retracted state relative to the abutment plate. The finger engaging and securing the baseplate assemblies to the carrier unit during the transport of the baseplate assemblies from a welder or tapper to a parts washer. The transfer mechanism picks the baseplate assemblies from the welder or tapper in a horizontally extending alignment and deposits the baseplate assembly in the parts washer in a vertically extending alignment. The parts washer then washes the baseplate assemblies, while the baseplate assemblies remain in a vertically extending alignment.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An apparatus for processing a filter element baseplate assembly, comprising:
a transfer mechanism comprising a carrier unit rotatable between a horizontally extending alignment and a vertically extending alignment; a finger projecting from an abutment plate in an extended state relative to the abutment plate and holding the filter element baseplate assembly to the carrier unit in each of the horizontally and vertically extending alignments, the finger having a retracted state relative to the abutment plate that releases the filter element baseplate assembly from the carrier unit.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the transfer mechanism picks the filter element baseplate assembly from a welder or tapper in the horizontal position and deposits the filter element base plate assembly in a parts washer.

3 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the parts washer includes a lane defined by a first and a second sidewall;
wherein the first and second sidewall define a slot; the slot having a horizontal width therebetween that is greater than the axial thickness of the filter element baseplate assembly such that the filter element baseplate assembly is maintained in the slot in a vertically extending alignment; wherein the diameter of the filter element baseplate assembly is vertically extending.

4 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the parts washer has a conveyor extending longitudinally from an inlet to an outlet of the parts washer;
wherein the parts washer has a lane extending longitudinally along the parts washer; wherein the lane comprises a slot and a first and a second sidewall; wherein the conveyor has a catch; wherein the catch extends vertically from the conveyor; wherein the catch engages and drives the filter element baseplate assemblies along the lane of the parts washer, while the filter element baseplate assemblies remain in a vertically extending alignment.

5 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the filter element baseplate assembly includes a plurality of apertures to provide for an inlet port and an outlet port through the filter element baseplate assembly, including a thread opening and a plurality of apertures surrounding the thread opening;
wherein the finger projects through the thread opening when the filter element baseplate assembly is in the vertically extending alignment or the horizontally extending alignment.

6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the transfer mechanism has a pivot arm carrying the carrier unit;
wherein the pivot arm is mounted to a work transfer and/or lift mechanism.

7 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a first linear drive unit;
wherein the first linear drive unit is coupled to a pushrod; wherein the pushrod is coupled to a rocker; wherein the rocker is coupled to a shaft; wherein the shaft is coupled to the carrier unit; wherein movement of the first linear drive unit is operative to rotate the carrier unit.

8 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus further comprising a second linear drive unit mounted to the abutment plate;
wherein the second linear drive unit drives the finger between an extended state and a retracted state relative to the abutment plate.

9 . An apparatus for processing a filter element baseplate assembly comprising a parts washer having an inlet area and an outlet are;
the parts washer further comprising a longitudinally extending conveyor between the inlet area and the outlet area; the conveyor having a catch extending vertically from the conveyor; the parts washer further comprising a lane to receive and guide the filter element baseplate assembly; wherein the lane comprises a ramp for receiving the filter element baseplate assembly in a vertically extending alignment; the lane further comprising a slot longitudinally extending from the ramp of the inlet area of the parts washer to the outlet area of the parts washer; the lane further comprising a first and a second sidewall defining the slot; the slot having a horizontal width therebetween that is greater than the axial thickness of the filter element baseplate assembly, such that the filter element baseplate assembly is maintained in the slot in the vertically extending alignment.

10 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the first and the second sidewall are moveable relative to each other to adjust the horizontal width of the slot to facilitate the movement of the filter element baseplate assembly in the vertically extending alignment.

11 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein a multitude of catches are extending vertically from the conveyor to engage and drive the filter element baseplate assemblies along the conveyor in the vertically extending alignment.

12 . A method of transferring a filter element baseplate assembly from a welder or tapper to a parts washer, comprising:
receiving a filter element baseplate assembly on a carrier unit in a horizontally extending alignment; extending a finger to an extended state relative to an abutment plate; the finger engaging and securing the filter element baseplate to the carrier unit; and transferring the filter element baseplate assembly on the carrier unit from the welder or tapper to the parts washer, wherein the finger in the extended state secures the filter element baseplate assembly

13 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
rotating the carrier unit and the filter element baseplate assembly between the horizontally extending alignment and a vertically extending alignment.

14 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
retaining the filter element baseplate assembly on the carrier unit in the vertically extending alignment with the finger.

15 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
retracting the finger to a retracted state relative to the abutment plate to release the filter element baseplate assembly from the carrier unit where the filter element baseplate assembly drops into a lane of the parts washer.

16 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
guiding the filter element baseplate assembly down a ramp of the lane into a slot of the lane where the filter element baseplate assembly is kept in the vertically extending alignment by a first and second sidewall defining the lane and the slot having a horizontal width therebetween that is greater than the axial thickness of the filter element baseplate assembly such that the filter element baseplate assembly is maintained in the lane in the vertically extending alignment wherein the diameter of the filter element baseplate assembly is vertically extending.

17 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
powering a conveyor drive unit to drive a conveyor on the parts washer, wherein a catch extending vertical from the conveyor engages and drives the filter element baseplate assembly in a linear direction along the lane, wherein the first and second sidewall of the lane guide the filter element baseplate assembly along the conveyor in the vertically extending alignment.

18 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
washing the filter element baseplate assembly as the filter element baseplate assembly is driven along the lane of a conveyor while the filter element baseplate is in a vertically extending alignment.

19 . A method of use for the apparatus of claim 1 , comprising:
receiving a filter element baseplate assembly on a carrier unit in a horizontally extending alignment; extending a finger through an aperture of the carrier plate and through a thread

Assignees

• Weitzel Thomas
• Baldwin Filters Inc

Inventors

• Weitzel Thomas

Classifications

• B01D27/005

  Making filter elements not provided for elsewhere · CPC title

• B08B3/041 Primary

  Cleaning travelling work · CPC title

• B25J9/0093 Primary

  co-operating with conveyor means · CPC title