Apparatus, system, and method for manipulation of nested stamped parts

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018201451-A1
Application number	US-201715408050-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 17, 2017
Priority date	Jan 17, 2017
Publication date	Jul 19, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

An apparatus for rotating an inner stamped part with respect to an outer stamped part is provided. The inner stamped part is nested within an aperture formed within the outer stamped part. The apparatus includes a plurality of grippers that include at least a first gripper positioned at a first edge of the inner stamped part and a second gripper positioned at a second edge of the inner stamped part opposite to the first edge. The plurality of grippers is configured to grip the inner stamped part at the first edge and the second edge, respectively. The plurality of grippers is further configured to rotate the gripped inner stamped part about an axis of rotation. The axis of rotation intersects the first gripper and the second gripper. The plurality of grippers is also configured to open to release the inner stamped part.

First claim

1 . An apparatus for rotating an inner stamped part with respect to an outer stamped part, the inner stamped part nested within an aperture formed within the outer stamped part such that a gap is defined between the inner stamped part and the outer stamped part, said apparatus comprising:
a plurality of grippers comprising at least a first gripper positioned at a first edge of the inner stamped part, and a second gripper positioned at a second edge of the inner stamped part opposite to the first edge; and a lifter configured to raise the inner stamped part to be received at said plurality of grippers, wherein said plurality of grippers are configured to:
grip the inner stamped part at the first edge and the second edge, respectively;
rotate the gripped inner stamped part about an axis of rotation, wherein the axis of rotation intersects said first gripper and said second gripper; and
open to release the inner stamped part.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said plurality of grippers are positioned within the aperture of the outer stamped part and above the inner stamped part.

3 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the axis of rotation intersects a center of gravity of the inner stamped part.

4 . The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein said lifter is further configured to
lower the inner stamped part from said plurality of grippers after release of the inner stamped part.

5 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the axis of rotation intersects a dimensional center of the inner stamped part.

6 . The apparatus of claim 5 , further comprising:
a first lifter configured to raise the inner stamped part to said plurality of grippers to receive and grip the inner stamped part; and a second lifter configured to lower the inner stamped part from said plurality of grippers after release of the inner stamped part.

7 . The apparatus of claim 5 , further comprising a base affixed to said plurality of grippers and affixed to a station of a press line.

8 . A system for rotating an inner stamped part with respect to an outer stamped part, the inner stamped part nested within an aperture formed within the outer stamped part such that a gap is defined between the inner stamped part and the outer stamped part, the system comprising:
a plurality of grippers comprising at least a first gripper positioned at a first edge of the inner stamped part, and a second gripper positioned at a second edge of the inner stamped part opposite to the first edge; a base affixed to said plurality of grippers and further affixed to a station of a press line; and a lifter configured to raise the inner stamped part to be received at said plurality of grippers.

9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein said plurality of grippers is configured to:
grip the inner stamped part at the first edge and second edge, respectively; rotate the gripped inner stamped part about an axis of rotation, wherein the axis of rotation intersects the first gripper and the second gripper; and open to release the inner stamped part.

10 . The system of claim 8 , wherein said plurality of grippers is positioned within the aperture of the outer stamped part and above the inner stamped part.

11 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the axis of rotation intersects a center of gravity of the inner stamped part.

12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein said lifter is further configured to
lower the inner stamped part from said plurality of grippers after release of the inner stamped part.

13 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the axis of rotation intersects a dimensional center of the inner stamped part.

14 . The system of claim 13 , further comprising:
a first lifter configured to raise the inner stamped part to said plurality of grippers to receive and grip the inner stamped part; and a second lifter configured to lower the inner stamped part from said plurality of grippers after release of the inner stamped part.

15 . A method for rotating an inner stamped part with respect to an outer stamped part, the inner stamped part nested within an aperture formed within the outer stamped part, the method comprising:
receiving the inner stamped part onto a lifter, and the inner stamped part positioned for gripping by at least a first gripper in an opened position, and a second gripper in the opened position; raising the inner stamped part with the lifter to a raised position such that the inner stamped part is received at the first gripper and the second gripper; closing the first and second grippers to grip the inner stamped part; lowering the lifter away from the gripped inner stamped part; rotating the inner stamped part about an axis of rotation intersecting the first gripper and the second gripper; raising the lifter up to the rotated inner stamped part; and opening the first and second grippers to release the rotated inner stamped part.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein receiving the inner stamped part further comprises receiving the inner stamped part from a preceding station of a press line.

17 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the method further comprises transferring the outer stamped part and the rotated inner stamped part to a subsequent station of a press line.

18 . The method of claim 15 , wherein rotating the inner stamped part about an axis of rotation further comprises rotating the inner stamped part about an axis of rotation that intersects a center of gravity of the inner stamped part.

19 . The method of claim 15 , wherein rotating the inner stamped part about an axis of rotation further comprises rotating the inner stamped part about an axis of rotation that intersects a dimensional center of the inner stamped part.

20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein:
receiving the inner stamped part further comprises receiving the inner stamped part onto the lifter in the raised position so that the lifter is positioned directly below the inner stamped part; and the method further comprises raising a second lifter up to the rotated inner stamped part prior to opening the first and second grippers, wherein the second lifter is positioned directly below the rotated inner stamped part.

Assignees

• Honda Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Moore William R
• Germann Emily
• Thompson Paul Adams
• Mcqueen John Scott
• Teubl Jeffrey Frank

Classifications

• B21D43/105 Primary

  Manipulators, i.e. mechanical arms carrying a gripper element having several degrees of freedom · CPC title

• B21D43/10

  by grippers {(B21D43/055, B21D43/057, B21D43/145 take precedence)} · CPC title

• B21D43/145

  Turnover devices, i.e. by turning about a substantially horizontal axis · CPC title

• B21D22/02 Primary

  Stamping using rigid devices or tools · CPC title

• B25J15/0052

  multiple gripper units or multiple end effectors · CPC title