A latching mechanism, a locking mechanism, and a connecting mechanism of a guide rail system

Abstract

A latching mechanism for releasably latching a tool base (3) of a automation system to a mover (2) of the automation system, the latching mechanism comprising: a latch (4) having a body (40) extending in a direction of a Z-axis from a bottom (41) end to a top end (42); wherein the latch comprises a fastener (42a) located at the top end of the body of the latch; wherein the body of the latch is configured to be operably attached to the mover of the automation system; a holder (9) having a body (90) extending in the direction of the Z-axis from a bottom end (90a) to a top end (90b); wherein the body of the holder is operably attached to the tool base of the automation system; wherein the holder comprises a counter fastener (92) located at the bottom end of the body; wherein the body of the latch is movable relative to the holder in the direction transverse to the Z-axis between a lock position where the fastener is engaged with the counter fastener such that the holder is immovable relative to the latch at least in one direction transverse to the Z-axis and an unlock position where the fastener is disengaged from the counter fastener such that the holder can be removed from the latch.

Description

[0001] A LATCHING MECHANISM, A LOCKING MECHANISM, AND A CONNECTING MECHANISM OF A GUIDE RAIL SYSTEM

[0002] TECHNICAL FIELD

[0003] The present disclosure generally relates to a latch mechanism, a locking mechanism, and a connecting mechanism of a guide rail system, and especially to a latch mechanism, a locking mechanism, and a connecting mechanism for connecting between a tool base of the guide rail system and a bearing attached onto the guide rail.

[0004] BACKGROUND

[0005] Automation systems are commonly used in production lines, e.g. a guide rail system for manufacturing or assembling, especially a production line with automation equipment, such as manufacturing robots. Such automation systems commonly comprise a plurality of movers and a guide rail; the plurality of movers can be controlled and / or moved independently of one another on a transfer path. The plurality of movers is arranged on and linearly travels along the guide rail, such as known from prior art U.S. Pat. No. 6,876,896; U.S. Pat. No. 9,555,720; and U.S. Pat. No. 10,196,073.

[0006] The mover of the guide rail system is configured to be attached to a tool base. The tool base is configured to be immovably attached with a tool set or components of products that need to be moved in the guide rail system. In a production line, the manufacturing robots may be arranged near the guide rail and configured to interact with the tool set of the tool base, components that are gripped by the tool set or the components that are carried by the tool base. The movers linearly travel along the guide rail and pass by each one of the manufacturing robots. When each mover passes by each of the manufacturing robots, the manufacturing robots may take a component from the tool base, or put another component on the tool base, or attach a component to a component on the tool base.

[0007] For manufacturing different products, the tool sets need to be changed. As the movers usually are attached to the guide rail in the manner that the movers can only move along the guide rail, it is more difficult to change the mover together with the tool base for changing the tool set. Thus, the most common way of doing so is detaching the tool base with one tool set / no tool set from the mover and attaching another tool base with different tool set to the same mover. However, there is still a demand of shorten the time required to change the tool set.

[0008] SUMMARY

[0009] The invention is defined by the appended claims, to which reference should now be made.

[0010] A first aspect of the invention provides a latching mechanism for releasably latching a tool base of a automation system to a mover of the automation system, the latching mechanism comprising: a latch having a body extending in a direction of a Z-axis transverse to a guide rail of the automation system from a rail end to a top end; wherein the rail end is configured to point towards the guide rail, and the top end is configured to point away from the guide rail; wherein the latch comprises a fastener located at the top end of the body of the latch; wherein the body of the latch is configured to be operably attached to the mover of the automation system; a holder having a body extending in the direction of the Z-axis from a bottom end to a top end; wherein the body of the holder is operably attached to the tool base of the automation system; wherein the holder comprises a counter fastener located at the bottom end of the body; wherein the body of the latch is movable relative to the holder in the direction transverse to the Z-axis between a lock position where the fastener is engaged with the counter fastener such that the holder is immovable relative to the latch at least in one direction transverse to the Z-axis and an unlock position where the fastener is disengaged from the counter fastener such that the holder can be removed from the latch.

[0011] One of the latch and the holder is immovably attached to the tool base of the automation system, and the other one of the latch and the holder is immovably attached to the mover of the automation system. As a result, the tool base can be quickly attached to / detached from the mover of the automation system.

[0012] According to one embodiment, one of the fastener and the counter fastener is a pin and the other fastener and the counter fastener is a recess / cut-out.

[0013] According to one embodiment, the body of the latch is configured to pivot from the lock position to the unlock position. According to one embodiment, the latching mechanism comprises a biasing member connected between the body of the latch and the mover; and wherein the body of the latch is biased to the lock position by the biasing member.

[0014] According to one embodiment, the latching mechanism comprises a user-accessible handle operably connected to the body of the latch; and wherein the body of the latch is configured to be moved to the unlock position by the handle.

[0015] A second aspect of the invention provides a locking mechanism for releasably locking a tool base of a automation system to a mover of the automation system, the locking mechanism comprising: a mover body configured to be attached with a bearing engaged with the guide rail; wherein the mover body comprises a cavity; a connector configured to be attached to the tool base of the automation system; wherein the connector is shaped to be at least partially received within the cavity of the mover body; wherein the mover body comprises a fixture extending from a surface of the cavity; and wherein the connector comprises a counter fixture removably engaged with the fixture of the mover body such that the mover body and the connector are immovable to one another in the direction of a Z-axis transverse to the guide rail.

[0016] According to one embodiment, the fixture is a pin; and wherein the counter fixture is a guide track formed by two opposite facing surfaces facing in the direction of the Z- axis.

[0017] According to one embodiment, the fixture is a pin; and wherein the counter fixture is a guide track formed by a surface facing towards the guide rail and a surface facing away from the guide rail; and wherein the pin is positioned within the guide track.

[0018] According to one embodiment, the connector comprises a protruding section protruding from the cavity of the mover body in the direction of the Z-axis; and wherein the protruding section is shaped such that the connector is attached to the tool base via a form-fit between protruding section and a counter receiving section of the tool base.

[0019] A third aspect of the invention provides a connecting mechanism for releasably connecting a tool base of a automation system to a mover of the automation system, the connecting mechanism comprising the latching mechanism according to any one of above-mentioned embodiments, and the locking mechanism according to any one of above-mentioned embodiments; wherein the latch is movably attached to the mover body; and wherein the holder is immovably attached to the connector.

[0020] According to one embodiment, the body of the latch is positioned within the cavity of the mover body.

[0021] According to one embodiment, the handle comprises a user-accessible section protruding out from the cavity.

[0022] According to one embodiment, the biasing member extends from a first end to a second end; wherein the first end of the biasing member is attached to the body of the latch; and wherein the second end of the biasing member is attached to the mover body.

[0023] According to one embodiment, the first end of the biasing member is attached to the rail end of the body of the latch.

[0024] Generally, all terms used in the claims are to be interpreted according to their ordinary meaning in the technical field, unless explicitly defined otherwise herein. All references to "a / an / the element, apparatus, component, means, etc.” are to be interpreted openly as referring to at least one instance of the element, apparatus, component, means, etc., unless explicitly stated otherwise.

[0025] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] Embodiments of the inventive concept will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0027] Fig. 1 A schematically show a perspective view of a automation system with a mover carrying a tool base and a guide rail in a production line.

[0028] Figs 1 B-1C schematically show perspective views of a partial mover body section of the mover of Fig. 1A attached to the guide rail of Fig. 1A by one or more bearings.

[0029] Fig. 2 schematically show a perspective view of components of a mover of the invention.

[0030] Fig. 3 schematically show a perspective view of components of a tool base of the invention. Fig. 4 schematically show a perspective view of a latch of the mover of Fig. 2.

[0031] Fig. 5 schematically show a perspective view of the latching mechanism of the invention with the latch of Fig. 4 and the mover of Fig. 2.

[0032] Figs 6-7 schematically show a perspective view of the locking mechanism of the invention.

[0033] DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0034] Embodiments of the invention provide a latching mechanism, a locking mechanism, and a connecting mechanism for being used in an automation system. In the demonstrated example, the automation system is a guide rail system. The guide rail system is commonly used in a production line, as shown in Fig. 1A. The guide rail system commonly comprises a guide rail 1, a mover 2, and a tool basetool tool base 3. The mover 2 commonly comprises a mover body 21 configured to be movably attached to the guide rail 1 via a bearing 20, as shown in Figs 1 B-1C. Once the mover 2 is attached to the guide rail 1, the mover 2 can be moved along the guide rail 1. The mover 2 may be driven by a motor, electromagnetic arrangement, or any other suitable way so that the mover 2 can be moved along the guide rail 1. The mover 2 is configured to carrier a tool base 3. The tool base 3 is configured to be attached with a tool set and / or a component of a product. The guide rail system usually comprises a plurality of movers and a plurality of tool bases. In the guide rail system, it is common that all movers, or most of the movers are identical, as shown in Fig. 1B; on the other hand, it is common that different tool bases are included in the guide rail system. It is common that the tool base is integral with one or more tool sets or being fixed to one or more tool sets. In other words, tool bases are usually served as conjunctive elements between the movers and tool sets. Thus, as the tool sets are varied dependent on products to be manufactured by the guide rail system, the tool bases are usually shaped differently or have different structures according to the tool sets.

[0035] Figs 2-7 illustrate a latching mechanism for releasably latching the tool base of the guide rail system to the mover of the guide rail system, a locking mechanism for releasably locking the tool base of the guide rail system to the mover of the guide rail system, and a connecting mechanism for releasably connecting the tool base of the guide rail system to the mover of the guide rail system. The first aspect of the disclosure provides the latching mechanism. The latching mechanism comprises a latch 4 having a body 40 extending in a direction of a Z- axis. In the example where the latching mechanism is used in the guide rail system, the Z-axis is transverse to the guide rail (as shown in Fig. 1C) of the guide rail system. The body 40 extending in a direction of the Z-axis from a bottom end 41 to a top end 42; or in other words, from a rail end 41 to a top end 42, as shown in Fig. 2. In the example where the latching mechanism is used in the guide rail system, the rail end 41 is configured to point towards the guide rail 1, and the top end 42 is configured to point away from the guide rail 1. The latch 4 comprises a fastener 42a located at the top end 42 of the body 40 of the latch 4. The body 40 of the latch 4 is configured to be operably attached to the mover 2 of the guide rail system. The latching mechanism further comprises a holder 9 having a body 90 extending in the direction of the Z-axis from a bottom end 90a to a top end 90b. The body 90 of the holder 9 is operably attached to the tool base 3 of the guide rail system. The holder 9 comprises a counter fastener 92 located at the bottom end 90a of the body 90. The body 40 of the latch 4 is movable relative to the holder 9 in the direction transverse to the Z-axis between a lock position where the fastener 42a is engaged with the counter fastener 92, as shown in Fig. 5, such that the holder 9 is immovable relative to the latch 4 at least in one direction transverse to the Z-axis and an unlock position where the fastener 42a is disengaged from the counter fastener 92 such that the holder 9 can be removed from the latch 4.

[0036] In one example, one of the fastener and the counter fastener is a pin and the other fastener and the counter fastener is a recess / cut-out; alternatively, one of the fastener 42a and the counter fastener 92 is a pin and the other fastener and the counter fastener is another pin, as shown in Fig. 5.

[0037] In one example where one of the fastener and the counter fastener is a recess / cut- out, when the latch 4 is in the lock position, the holder 9 is immovable relative to the latch 4 in at least two direction (one direction transverse to the Z-axis and away from the latch, and its linearly opposite direction); preferably, the holder 9 is immovable relative to the latch 4 in multiple direction on a plane transverse to the Z-axis. In the latter example, the pin is shaped to snuggly fit to the recess / cut-out. This example can enable the latch to be used with different shapes of movers. Alternatively, in one example where the one of the fastener 42a and the counter fastener 92 is a pin and the other fastener and the counter fastener is another pin, as shown in Fig. 5, when the latch 4 is in the lock position, the holder 9 is immovable relative to the latch 4 in at least one direction transverse to the Z-axis and away from the latch (shown with arrow Y in Fig. 5). This example can simplify the structure of the latch 4 and the holder 9.

[0038] In one example, the fastener 42 of the latch comprises a chamfered surface and the counter fastener 92 of the holder 9 comprises a counter chamfered surface such that the holder 9 can be pushed towards the latch 4; as a result, the counter chamfered surface 92a of the counter fastener 92 moves along the chamfered surface of the fastener 42a until the counter fastener 92 snap fits to the fastener 42a; thus, the body 40 of the latch 4 is in the lock position.

[0039] In one example, the body 40 of the latch 4 is configured to pivot from the lock position to the unlock position. For example, the body 40 of the latch 4 is configured to pivot around the rail end 41 of the latch 4 (as shown with an arrow X in Fig. 5), thus, fastener 42a is disengaged from the counter fastener 92 (by moving in the direction as shown with an arrow Y in Fig. 5). Alternatively, the latch can be moved in the direction as shown with the arrow Y to disengaged from the counter fastener 92.

[0040] Furthermore, in another example, the latching mechanism comprises a biasing member 5 connected between the body 40 of the latch 4 and the mover 2. The body 40 of the latch 4 is biased to the lock position by the biasing member 5. In one example, the biasing member 5 is a tension spring configured to pull the fastener 42a of the latch 4 to the lock position.

[0041] Furthermore, in a preferred example, the latching mechanism comprises a user- accessible handle 6 operably connected to the body 40 of the latch 4. The body 40 of the latch 4 is configured to be moved to the unlock position by the handle 6.

[0042] With the latch mechanism, the tool base can be easily attached to / detached from the mover by moving the latch between the lock position and the unlock position.

[0043] The second aspect of the disclosure provides the locking mechanism for releasably locking the tool base 3 of the guide rail system to the mover 2 of the guide rail system. The locking mechanism comprises a mover body 2T configured to be attached with a bearing 20 engaged with the guide rail 1. The mover body 21’comprises a cavity 23’. The locking mechanism comprises a connector 8 configured to be attached to the tool base 3 of the guide rail system. The connector 8 is shaped to be at least partially received within the cavity 23’ of the mover body 2T. The mover body 2T comprises a fixture 26 extending from a surface of the cavity 23’. The connector 8 comprises a counter fixture 81 removably engaged with the fixture 26 of the mover body 2T such that the mover body 2T and the connector 8 are immovable to one another in the direction of the Z-axis when the fixture 26 is engaged with the counter fixture 81.

[0044] In one example, the fixture 26 is a pin; and the counter fixture 81 is a guide track formed by two opposite facing surfaces facing in the direction of the Z-axis, e.g., a surface 81a facing towards the guide rail and a surface 81b facing away from the guide rail 1. The pin 26 is positioned within the guide track 81. In another example, the connector 8 comprises a protruding section 80 protruding from the cavity 23’ of the mover body 2T in the direction of the Z-axis. The protruding section 80 is shaped such that the connector 8 is attached to the tool base 3 via a form-fit between protruding section 80 and a counter receiving section of the tool base 3. For example, the protruding section can be a cubed shape and a counter receiving section is recess matching to the cubed shape counter receiving section.

[0045] The third aspect of the disclosure provides the connecting mechanism for releasably connecting a tool base of a guide rail system to a mover of the guide rail system, the connecting mechanism comprising the latching mechanism according to any one of examples above, and the locking mechanism according to any one of examples above. The latch 4 is movably attached to the mover body 2T; and the holder 9 is immovably attached to the connector 8. In one example, the body 40 of the latch 4 is positioned within the cavity 23’ of the mover body 2T. In a preferred example, the handle 6 comprises the user-accessible section 60 protruding out from the cavity 23’. In a preferred example, the user-accessible section 60 is connected to the latch 4 via a rod 61. In a preferred example, the rod 61 is rotationally immovable relative to the body 40 of the latch 4 and the user-accessible section 60 of the handle 6; thus, when the user rotates the user-accessible section 60 of the handle 6 around the rail end 41 of the body 40 of the latch 4, the latch 4 pivots between the lock position and the unlock position. In another example, the biasing member 5 extends from a first end to a second end. The first end of the biasing member 5 is attached to the body 40 of the latch 4; and the second end of the biasing member 5 is attached to the mover body 2T. Furthermore, in another example, the first end of the biasing member 5 is attached to the rail end 41 of the body 40 of the latch 4.

[0046] Thus, with the connecting mechanism, the tool base 3 can be quickly removed or attached to the mover 2. For example, a user can rotate the handle 6 (shown with an arrow 9 in Fig. 5) and pull the tool base in the direction transverse to the Z-axis and away from the mover body 2T. The rotation of the handle 6 causes the latch 4 to pivot; thus, the latch body 40 moves into the unlock position. As a result, the fastener 42a of the latch 4 disengaged from the counter fastener 92 of the holder 9. As the holder 9 is attached to the connector 8, once the counter fastener 92 of the holder 9 is disengaged with the fastener 42a of the latch, the connector 8 and the holder 9 can be pulled in the direction transverse to the Z-axis and away from the mover body 2T. The pulling causes the fixture 26 of the mover body 2T disengaged from the counter fixture 81 of the connector 8 such that the connector 8 can be completely moved away from the mover body 2T. As the connector 8 is attached to the tool base 3, the tool base 3 can be moved away from the mover 2.

[0047] When the user plans to attach the tool base 3 to the mover 2, the user can line up the connector 8 to the cavity 23’ of the mover body 2T and push the tool base 3, the connector 8, and the holder 9 towards the latch 4. The connector 8 is then fixed to the fixture 26 of the mover body 2T so that the relative position between the tool base 3 and the mover 2 can be fixed. When the user pushes the tool base 3 further towards the latch 4, the counter fastener 92 of the holder 9 snaps over the fastener 42a of the latch 4. As a result, the tool base 3 is attached to the mover 2.

[0048] The disclosure further discloses some optional components herein for strengthening the connection between above-mentioned components and / or controlling the movement of the mover 2. For example, multiple connecting pins 71, 72, 73, 76, 79 and screws 74, 75, 78 are provided to strengthen the connection between the mover body 2T, the bearing 20, and the latch 4. A latch tool base 77 can be provided to support the position of the latch 4 relative to the mover body 2T. Furthermore, the latch 4 can be linearly immovably fixed to the latch tool base 77 by a pin 43. A control circuit 25 with a magnetic fastener 24 can be attached to mover body 2T to control the movement of the mover 2. A label 70 can be attached to the mover body 21’. Furthermore, the multiple pins 91 can be provided to attached to the holder 9 to the connector 8. Furthermore, in a preferred example, the tool base 3 comprises a connecting wheel 31 configured to facilitate the movement of the tool base 3 in the guide rail system. It should be noted that tool base 3 may comprises one or more connecting ports 32 configured be connected with tool sets, e.g., via screws, the numbers of connecting ports, the shapes of the connecting ports and the layout of the connecting ports on the tool base 3 might be different in different tool base 3 dependents on the targeted tool sets. Furthermore, the mover 2 is configured to carry at least one tool base 3 and is configured to move along the guide rail. As mentioned above, multiple movers are used in one guide rail system. Preferably, there is no connection between movers, thus, each mover is configured to be controlled and moved independently.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A latching mechanism for releasably latching a tool base of a automation system to a mover of the automation system, the latching mechanism comprising: a latch having a body extending in a direction of a Z-axis from a bottom end to a top end; wherein the latch comprises a fastener located at the top end of the body of the latch; wherein the body of the latch is configured to be operably attached to the mover of the automation system; a holder having a body extending in the direction of the Z-axis from a bottom end to a top end; wherein the body of the holder is operably attached to the tool base of the automation system; wherein the holder comprises a counter fastener located at the bottom end of the body; wherein the body of the latch is movable relative to the holder in the direction transverse to the Z-axis between a lock position where the fastener is engaged with the counter fastener such that the holder is immovable relative to the latch at least in one direction transverse to the Z-axis and an unlock position where the fastener is disengaged from the counter fastener such that the holder can be removed from the latch.

2. The latching mechanism according to claim 1, wherein one of the fastener and the counter fastener is a pin and the other fastener and the counter fastener is a recess / cut-out.

3. The latching mechanism according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the body of the latch is configured to pivot from the lock position to the unlock position.

4. The latching mechanism according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the latching mechanism comprises a biasing member connected between the body of the latch and the mover; and wherein the body of the latch is biased to the lock position by the biasing member.

5. The latching mechanism according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the latching mechanism comprises a user-accessible handle operably connected to the body of the latch; and wherein the body of the latch is configured to be moved to the unlock position by the handle.

6. A locking mechanism for releasably locking a tool base of an automation system to a mover of the automation system, the locking mechanism comprising: a mover body configured to be attached to a bearing of the automation system; wherein the mover body comprises a cavity; a connector configured to be attached to the tool base of the automation system; wherein the connector is shaped to be at least partially received within the cavity of the mover body; wherein the mover body comprises a fixture extending from a surface of the cavity; and wherein the connector comprises a counter fixture removably engaged with the fixture of the mover body such that the mover body and the connector are immovable to one another in the direction of a Z-axis when the fixture is engaged with the counter fixture.

7. The locking mechanism according to claim 6, wherein the fixture is a pin; and wherein the counter fixture is a guide track formed by two opposite facing surface facing in the direction of the Z-axis; and wherein the pin is positioned within the guide track.

8. The locking mechanism according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the connector comprises a protruding section protruding from the cavity of the mover body in the direction of the Z-axis; and wherein the protruding section is shaped such that the connector is attached to the tool base via a form-fit between protruding section and a counter receiving section of the tool base.

9. A connecting mechanism for releasably connecting a tool base of a automation system to a mover of the automation system, the connecting mechanism comprising the latching mechanism according to any one of claim 1-5, and the locking mechanism according to any one of claim 6-8; wherein the latch is movably attached to the mover body; and wherein the holder is immovably attached to the connector.

10. The connecting mechanism according to claim 9, wherein the body of the latch is positioned within the cavity of the mover body.11 . The connecting mechanism according to claim 10 when dependent on claim 5, wherein the handle comprises a user-accessible section protruding out from the cavity.

12. The connecting mechanism according to any one of claims 9-11 when dependent on claim 4, wherein the biasing member extends from a first end to a second end; wherein the first end of the biasing member is attached to the body of the latch; and wherein the second end of the biasing member is attached to the mover body.

13. The connecting mechanism according to claim 12 when dependent on claim 3, wherein the first end of the biasing member is attached to the rail end of the body of the latch.

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