The Boeing Company

Mark C Maier

Robert L Fuller, Jr

Paul E Faville

Dennis M Cordy

Richard R Trujillo

Charles E Lee

A measuring instrument for measuring the distance from a hole, drilled at the intersection of a rib and a stringer, to the adjacent flange of the rib includes two arms projecting laterally out from the side of the instrument and forward to engage the flange. The arms are geared together at their inner ends within the body of the instrument to insure that the angles of both arms relative to the longitudinal axis of the body are equal to each other so that the longitudinal axis of the instrument in use remains perpendicular to the face of the flange. A spring loaded conical hole-centering probe protruding from the bottom face of the instrument fits into and centers itself in the hole and establishes a reference from which the flange is measured. A stylus, slidably mounted in the instrument and protruding from the front end thereof, contacts the face of the flange. A linear measuring gauge measures the position of the stylus in the instrument to provide an accurate measure of the distance of the flange to the hole in a direction perpendicular to the flange.

Instrument for measuring the distance of a flange to a hole

A first rotatable conveyor section (16) is positioned axially between upper and lower fixed sections (14,18) of a gravity conveyor. Rotatable conveyor section (16) rotates about an axis extending perpendicular to the conveyor section. A gate (42,44) is provided at each end of the rotatable conveyor section (16). An identification device (84) is positioned upstream of the rotatable conveyor section (16). It identifies the end-to-end orientation of an article (10) which is travelling along the gravity conveyor (12). A computer controls the gates (42,44) and a mechanism (104) for rotating the rotatable conveyor section (16). When an article (10) having an improper end-to-end orientation is encountered, the rotatable conveyor section (16) is rotated 180.degree. for the purpose of reversing the article's orientation. A second rotatable conveyor section (120) is mounted for sideways rotation about an axis which extends longitudinally of the slide conveyor (12). When the identification device (84) identifies the presence of an article (10) which is either too small or too big or for some other reason is not to be further processed in the system, or if a plurality of articles are detected to be travelling together, the conveyor section (120) is rotated sideways to dump the article or articles into a collection pan (140,142) which directs the article or articles into a collection receptacle (144,146).

Reject station in a gravity conveyor

Article orientation system and method

Elongated articles (16) to be singulated are conveyed in bulk into a conveyor (30) which by a shaking motion conveys the articles (16). The bed (80) of the conveyor (30) includes longitudinal channels (100) causing the articles (16) to be aligned lengthwise in the direction of article movement. The conveyor (30) delivers the aligned articles (16) into an alignment receptacle (34) which places a measured amount of the aligned articles (16) into valley regions of a singulator (26). The singulator (36) is composed of alternate and intermediate slat members (108,110), presenting upwardly directed peaks and valleys which are initially in alignment. The alternative slat members (108) are fixesd in position. The intermediate slat members (110) are movable lengthwise relative to the fixed slat members (108). The intermediate slat members (110) are retracted and then extended repeatedly and this motion separates the articles (116) and further advances them to the discharge end of the singulator (36). The singulated articles ( 16) are delivered onto the upper run of a belt conveyor which carries them, in a spaced apart manner, forwardly for additional processing.

Article singulating system and method

Drill bits (16) are delivered in a mixed, bulk form, in a random orientation, into an alignment unit (30). Aligned drill bits (16) move from the alignment conveyor (30) into the upper end of a singulator (36). Singulated drill bits (16) are delivered by the singulator (36) into a singulated drill bit conveyor (38, 49). Identifying means (202,236,240) identify each drill bit (16) as it travels and in conjunction with computers 'A' and 'B', cause a reversal of end-to-end orientation, if necessary, and movement of a deposit conveyor (52), and placement of each identified drill bit (16) into a dedicated receiving receptacle (54). The components of the system are arranged to take a small amount of floor space and provide good utilization of floor space.

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Renton, WA, United States of America

Mark C Maier