Multipurpose rack for processing parts through multiple manufacturing processes

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9709333-B2
Application number	US-201414266903-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 1, 2014
Priority date	May 1, 2014
Publication date	Jul 18, 2017
Grant date	Jul 18, 2017

Abstract

A rack for simultaneously processing a plurality of parts includes a frame, a plurality of defined locations on the frame for receiving and holding individual parts for processing and a latching assembly for locking the parts to the frame in the defined locations. The rack further includes a security feature for indicating if the latching assembly is opened after the parts have been loaded and locked into the defined locations on the frame.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A rack for simultaneously processing a plurality of parts, comprising:
a frame;
a plurality of defined locations on said frame for receiving and holding individual parts for processing;
a latching assembly for locking said parts to said frame in said defined locations; and
a security feature for indicating if said latching assembly is opened after said parts have been loaded and locked into said defined locations on said frame,
wherein said frame including a first post, a first upright, a second post, a second upright, a first support arm and a second support arm wherein said first support arm extends between said first post and said first upright and said second support arm extends between said second post and said second upright, wherein said first support arm includes a first plurality of part locating elements and said second support arm includes a second plurality of part locating elements, wherein said first and second plurality of part locating elements comprise a plurality of spaced retaining grooves provided in said first and second support arms, wherein said frame further includes a first plate having a third plurality of part locating elements and wherein said third plurality of part locating elements comprise tabs received within open ends of said plurality of parts whereby said first, second and third locating elements locate a first group of parts in said defined locations on said frame so that no one part touches another part.

2. The rack of claim 1 , wherein said frame includes a first retaining arm carried on said first post and displaceable between a part loading position and a part securing position.

3. The rack of claim 2 , wherein said frame includes a second retaining arm carried on said second post and displaceable between a part loading position and a part securing position.

4. The rack of claim 3 , wherein said first group of parts are captured in said defined locations (a) between said first retaining arm and said first support arm and (b) between said second retaining arm and said second support arm when said first and second retaining arms are in said part securing positions.

5. The rack of claim 4 , wherein said first retaining arm includes a fourth plurality of locating elements and said second retaining arm includes a fifth plurality of locating elements.

6. The rack of claim 5 , wherein said frame includes a second plate having a sixth plurality of locating elements whereby said fourth, fifth and sixth locating elements locate a second group of parts in said defined locations on said frame so that no one part touches another part.

7. The rack of claim 6 , wherein said frame includes (a) a third retaining arm connected to said first post, (b) a fourth retaining arm connected to said second post, said third and fourth retaining arms both being displaceable between part loading and part securing positions and (c) a third plate.

8. The rack of claim 7 , wherein said second group of parts are captured in said defined locations (a) between said third retaining arm and said first retaining arm and (b) between said fourth retaining arm and said second retaining arm when said third and fourth retaining arms are in said part securing positions.

9. The rack of claim 8 , wherein said frame includes (a) a fifth retaining arm connected to said first post, (b) a sixth retaining arm connected to said second post, said fifth and sixth retaining arms both being displaceable between part loading and part securing positions, and (c) a fourth plate.

10. The rack of claim 9 , wherein a third group of parts are captured between (a) said third and fifth retaining arms and (b) said fourth and sixth retaining arms when said fifth and sixth retaining arms are in said part securing positions.

11. The rack of claim 10 , wherein said frame includes (a) a seventh retaining arm connected to said first post and (b) an eight retaining arm connected to said second post, said seventh and eighth retaining arms both being displaceable between part loading and part securing positions.

12. The rack of claim 11 , wherein a fourth group of parts are captured between (a) said fifth and seventh retaining arms and (b) said sixth and eighth retaining arms when said seventh and eighth retaining arms are in said part securing positions.

13. The rack of claim 8 , wherein said latching assembly includes a first latching bar and a second latching bar, said first latching bar engages and closes openings between said first support arm, said first retaining arm and said third retaining arm and said second latching bar engages and closes openings between said second support arm, said second retaining arm and said fourth retaining arm when said first and second latching bars are in said locking positions.

14. The rack of claim 13 , wherein said latching assembly includes (a) a first clevis pin for securing a distal end of said first latching bar to said frame and (b) a second clevis pin for securing a distal end of said second latching bar to said frame.

15. The rack of claim 14 , wherein said security feature includes (a) a first security tab connected to said first clevis pin so that said first clevis pin is captured in said frame by said first security tab and (b) a second security tab connected to said second clevis pin so that said second clevis pin is captured in said frame by said second security tab.

16. The rack of claim 15 , wherein said first and second security tabs are frangible and must be broken to pull said first and second clevis pins from said frame and allow displacement of said first and second latching bars and first, second, third and fourth retaining arms and removal of any parts from said rack.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc
• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Hill David John
• Sparkes Steve

Classifications

• B65D2519/00333

  contact surface having a stringer-like shape · CPC title

• B65D2519/00273

  made of more than one piece · CPC title

• B65D2519/00059

  Metal · CPC title

• B65D2519/00293

  made of more than one piece · CPC title

• B65D2519/00373

  whereby at least one spacer is made of one piece · CPC title