Electrical connector alignment system for a pallet changer

{
  "publication_number": "US11489287B1",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B1",
  "title": "Electrical connector alignment system for a pallet changer",
  "abstract": "A dampening system combined between a mounting bracket and a block oriented along an x-axis. An electrical connector of a pair of electrical connectors combined to the block for relative movement about a y-axis and a z-axis to combine with the other electrical connector on the magnetic chuck of a pallet changing system.",
  "claims": [
    "1. An alignment system for a pair of electrical connectors on a pallet changing system comprising a support station for supporting a pallet and a magnetic chuck that moves to and from a machining center, the alignment system comprising: a mounting bracket combined to the support station; a z-alignment block combined to the mounting bracket for movement with respect to the mounting bracket about a z-axis; a y-alignment block combined to the mounting bracket for movement with respect to the mounting bracket about a y-axis; one electrical connector of the pair of electrical connectors combined to one of the z-alignment block or the y-alignment block; and a guide combined to one of the z-alignment block or the y-alignment block to guide the one electrical connector of the pair of electrical connectors to the other electrical connector electrically connected to the magnetic chuck.",
    "2. The alignment system of claim 1, and further comprising a guide block comprising a chamfered surface around a perimeter combined to the other electrical connector that is connected to the magnetic chuck.",
    "3. The alignment system of claim 1, wherein the guide further comprises a pair of wheel bars extending about an x-axis outward from the electrical connector combined to one of the z-alignment block or the y-alignment block.",
    "4. The alignment system of claim 3, wherein the pair of wheel bars each further comprise a y-axis roller and a z-axis roller.",
    "5. The alignment system of claim 4, wherein the y-axis roller and a z-axis roller on each of the pair of wheel bars is oriented in the opposite direction of each other.",
    "6. The alignment system of claim 1, wherein the z-alignment block is directly combined to the y-alignment block by a linear bearing on a shaft so that the y-alignment block moves about the y-axis with respect to the z-alignment block.",
    "7. The alignment system of claim 1, and further comprising a block combined to the mounting bracket by a guide shaft and a spring oriented on an x-axis.",
    "8. The alignment system of claim 7, wherein the z-alignment block is directly combined to the block by a first linear bearing on a first shaft so that the z-alignment block moves about the z-axis with respect to the block.",
    "9. The alignment system of claim 7, wherein the block further comprises a first hole extending in the z-axis there through and further comprising a first rod and a first spring combining the block and the z-alignment block to align the z-alignment block relative to the block.",
    "10. The alignment system of claim 9, and further comprising a second hole extending into a top of the block oriented on the z-axis and a second rod, a second spring, and a set screw to adjust a distance of travel of the z-alignment block relative to the block.",
    "11. The alignment system of claim 8, wherein the y-alignment block is directly combined to the z-alignment block by a second linear bearing on a second shaft so that y-alignment block moves about the y-axis with respect to the z-alignment block.",
    "12. The alignment system of claim 1, and further comprising a connection block combined between the one electrical connector of the pair of electrical connectors and the one of the z-alignment block or the y-alignment block, wherein the connection block comprises of a through hole in which to receive electrical wiring to the one electrical connector.",
    "13. The alignment system of claim 12, wherein the connection block further comprises of a drain hole to drain coolant that seeps into the one electrical connector.",
    "14. An alignment system for a pair of electrical connectors on a pallet changing system comprising a support station for supporting a pallet and a magnetic chuck that moves to and from a machining center, the alignment system comprising: a mounting bracket combined to the support station; a block; a dampening system combined between the mounting bracket and the block oriented along an x-axis; a z-alignment block and a y-alignment block with one of the z-alignment block and the y-alignment block being combined to the block for movement with respect to the block; and an electrical connector of the pair of electrical connectors combined to the block for relative movement about a y-axis and a z-axis.",
    "15. The alignment system of claim 14, wherein the z-alignment block is combined to the block and the y-alignment block is combined to the z-alignment block.",
    "16. The alignment system of claim 15, and further comprising a guide combined to y-alignment block to guide the one electrical connector of the pair of electrical connectors to the other electrical connector electrically connected to the magnetic chuck.",
    "17. The alignment system of claim 16, wherein the guide further comprises a pair of wheel bars extending about an x-axis outward from the electrical connector, wherein the pair of wheel bars each further comprise a y-axis roller and a z-axis roller oriented in the opposite direction of each other surrounding a space in which to receive the other electrical connector that is electrically connected to the magnetic chuck."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "This disclosure relates to a pallet changer for performing pallet loading and unloading operations between a table of a machine tool and a pallet support, and, more specifically, this disclosure relates to an alignment system for the electrical connectors that magnetize and demagnetize an electropermanent magnetic chuck.\n\nIn modern industry, the high cost of complex machine tools and the expense of labor require that the machine tools and the labor force be utilized as efficiently as possible. One known way to provide this efficiency is to secure workpieces to movable pallets, and to then transfer the pallet and workpiece combination to and from a work-performing station at the machine tool. By quickly and accurately locating the pallet with respect to the machine tool work-performing station, the workpiece is correspondingly located. The machine tool can then quickly and accurately perform its cycle of operations on the workpiece. Meanwhile, another pallet and workpiece can be set up and readied for movement to the machine tool work-performing station. In this way, the machine tool can perform machining operations during most of its operating time, Machine operations are not interrupted or delayed by workpiece set-up and transfer tasks being performed directly at the machine tool workstation. Magnetic chucks for pallet changers have been developed to increase the speed and efficiency in which workpieces can be setup and machined.",
  "cpc": [
    "H01R 13/631",
    "B23Q 1/0009",
    "B23Q 3/15",
    "B23Q 3/186",
    "B23Q 7/1431",
    "B25B 11/002",
    "H01F 7/0226",
    "H01F 7/0252",
    "H01R 13/5227"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B25B 11/00",
    "H01F 7/02",
    "H01R 13/52",
    "H01R 13/62",
    "H01R 13/631"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "TECHNIKS LLC"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "WORTHINGTON SCOTT"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2022-05-31",
  "publication_date": "2022-11-01",
  "grant_date": "2022-11-01",
  "priority_date": "2022-05-31",
  "application_number": "US-202217828661-A",
  "family_id": "83809418",
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  ]
}