David C Armenoff

US Patent:

6029342, Feb 29, 2000

Filed:

Sep 8, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/925556

Inventors:

David C. Armenoff - Greenwood IN
David J. Frey - Indianapolis IN

Assignee:

AMSTED Industries Incorporated - Chicago IL

International Classification:

B21L 900

US Classification:

29791

Abstract:

An assembly apparatus, kit and method of making roller chain of different pitch are disclosed. The apparatus and kit include a main drive mechanism rotatable about its central longitudinal axis and a plurality of assembly stations. Each assembly station has a movable assembly mechanism to act on a workpiece and a drive train to move the assembly mechanism in response to rotation of the main drive mechanism. Each assembly station has a drive shaft substantially perpendicular to the main drive mechanism axis. One of the assembly stations is movable in a direction parallel to the main drive mechanism axis between a plurality of positions to vary the distance between the assembly stations without disconnecting the connection between the drive train and the main drive mechanism. Each assembly station has a locator unit for moving a workpiece. The locator units have workpiece supports to provide a continuous path between assembly stations.

US Patent:

61418617, Nov 7, 2000

Filed:

Sep 8, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/925217

Inventors:

David C. Armenoff - Greenwood IN
David J. Frey - Indianapolis IN

Assignee:

AMSTED Industries Incorporated - Chicago IL

International Classification:

B23P 1500

US Classification:

29712

Abstract:

An improved assembly apparatus and method of assembling workpieces together. The apparatus includes a drive linkage with a linearly movable ram for pushing one workpiece toward the other. The drive linkage also includes a rotatable drive train. In the improved assembly apparatus, a transducer is provided to determine the load existing in the drive linkage, and a resolver is provided to determine the stage of the assembly cycle. A programmable controller is used to correlate this information, and a device is provided for communicating a message related to the correlated information. The transducer may be a strain measuring device or a pressure transducer measuring the pressure in an hydraulic cylinder in the drive linkage. The communications device may be a visual monitor, alarm, recording device, or similar communicator. The system may include a data storage device to receive information on the preferred load or range of loads so that the programmable controller may retrieve this data and compare it to the existing load and warn of or record any undesirable deviation.