Matthew Sosnowski

US Patent:

20170320669, Nov 9, 2017

Filed:

May 5, 2017

Appl. No.:

15/588326

Inventors:

- Southfield MI, US
William Maybee - Southfield MI, US
Michael R. Dugas - Brighton MI, US
Michael L. Gentile - Macomb MI, US
Matthew P. Sosnowski - Brighton MI, US
Lei Zhou - Bloomfield Hills MI, US
Freddie Tappo - Sterling Heights MI, US
Jeffrey W. Mason - Lake Orion MI, US
Neil G. Greig - Auburn Hills MI, US

International Classification:

B65G 13/02
B65G 1/14
B65G 1/04
B65G 1/02
B65G 1/16
B65G 1/12
B62D 65/18

Abstract:

An inverted carrier lift and method is disclosed. The inverted carrier lift includes a trolley movable along an overhead conveyor and a carrier for supporting a workpiece to undergo an assembly or manufacturing process. The carrier is movable relative to the trolley from a raised position to a lowered position by a motor mounted engaged with a lifting mechanism onboard the trolley. On rotation of the motor, the carrier and supported workpiece is lowered or raised to position the workpiece in the workstation for processing. The workpiece may be disengaged by the carrier for support of the workpiece by one of many different fixtures depending on the processing. Following processing, the workpiece is re-engaged by the carrier, moved to a raised position and the trolley is transferred to a subsequent workstation.