This invention relates to locating apparatus. More particularly, but not exclusively, the invention relates to locating apparatus for use in forming components from sheet metal.

In order to form components from sheet metal, the sheet metal often has to undergo bending and deforming. If the sheet metal is not positioned accurately, the bends or other deformations can be formed in the wrong place. This results in the component being scrapped or reworked.

According to one aspect of this invention, there is provided a locating apparatus for locating a workpiece in a desired position, the locating apparatus comprising a pair of locating members movable between first and second conditions, a guide arrangement controlling movement of the locating members between the first and second conditions and effecting corresponding movement in each of said locating members, and an urging arrangement for urging the locating members towards the first condition.

Preferably, the urging arrangement connects the locating members to each other.

The urging arrangement may transfer motion between one locating member and the other over a continuous range of motion between the first and second conditions.

Preferably, the aforesaid corresponding movement comprises substantially identical but opposite movement of the second locating member when the first locating member is moved towards or away from the second locating member.

The locating arrangement may comprise no more than two moving parts. In one embodiment, the locating arrangement may comprise no more than one moving part.

The guide arrangement may comprise a plurality of motion transfer interfaces at which the locating members can move relative to the guide arrangement, preferably by sliding relative to each other.

In one embodiment, the locating members may comprise a motion transfer interface at which the locating members can move relative to one another, preferably by sliding relative to each other.

The urging arrangement may comprise a resilient urging arrangement,, which may comprise a spring arrangement. In one embodiment, the urging arrangement may comprise a pair of springs each being provided on a respective locating member. Each spring may comprise a leaf spring or a beam spring. The springs may extend from each other to urge the locating members towards the first condition. The springs may be in contact with each other. Alternatively the springs may be integrally connected to one another.

The guide arrangement may comprise a first cooperating formation associated with a first of the locating members, and a second cooperating formation associated with a second of the locating members. In one embodiment, the cooperating formations are provided on the respective springs on the first and second locating members. The first and second co¬ operating formations may constitute the, or one of the, motion transfer interfaces.

The cooperating formations may comprise a first formation, which may have a socket, and a second formation which may comprise a projection to be received in the socket. In one embodiment the socket may have a circular region defining at least a part of a circle. In this embodiment, the projection

may be circular or comprise a circular portion comprising at least a part of a circle.

In one embodiment, the guide arrangement may include a recess portion in which the co-operating formation member can be received.

Preferably the co-operating formations can move reciprocally within said recess portion. The interface between the co-operating formation and the recess may constitute the, or one of the, motion transfer interfaces.

In a further embodiment, the springs are integrally connected to one another at their ends remote from the respective locating member. The springs may comprise a connecting end member to connect said ends of the springs together. The end connector may be slidably receivable in the recess portion. The interface between the connecting end member and the recess portion may constitute the, or one of the, motion transfer interfaces.

In another embodiment, the cooperating formations comprise a plurality of peg formations on each of the locating members. The peg formations on each respective locating member are preferably spaced from one another to define a gap between adjacent peg formations to receive corresponding peg formations from the other of the locating members. Preferably, the peg formations are provided on the locating formations. In a further embodiment, the cooperating formations comprise a peg on one of the locating members, and a slot on the other of the locating members. The slot may be configured to receive the peg. The peg formations and the gap therebetween on the respective locating members may constitute the, or one of the, motion transfer interfaces.

Preferably the locating members are pivotally movable between the first and second conditions. Each locating member may comprise a pivot member. The pivot member may comprise a substantially circular member

extending from the respective locating members. Each circular member may have a substantially circular outwardly facing pivot interface.

Each locating member may comprise a base portion and a lever portion. Preferably the base portion includes the pivot member about which the respective locating members can pivot. The lever portion conveniently extends from the base portion.

In one embodiment the urging arrangement may be associated with the respective lever portions.

Preferably, the locating members comprise an engagement region. The engagement region is preferably spaced from the base portion to engage the work piece. The engagement region may comprise a lug to engage the work piece.

Preferably, the leaf spring or beam spring extends inwardly towards each other from the respective engagement member. Preferably, the leaf springs or beam springs engage each other to urge the locating members away from each other.

The locating apparatus may further comprise a support, and may define opposed recesses to receive the corresponding pivot formations on the locating members. The recesses may be substantially circular i n configuration. The support may have substantially circular inwardly facing interfaces to define the recesses. Preferably, the inwardly facing recesses o>n the support co-operate with the outwardly facing recesses on the pivot members. The interfaces may generally remain in contact with one another during movement of the locating members.

The locating members may be formed of a sheet material. The support may be formed of a sheet material. The sheet material is preferably a metal,

such as titanium, although the sheet material could be a plastics material. In the preferred embodiment, the use of titanium provides an advantage that it has a low Young's Modulus and a high yield strength. The combination, in the preferred embodiment of these two properties provides good spring characteristics. This means that little, or no, heat treatment is required and there is little, or no, distortion.

The preferred embodiments may comprise a locating apparatus constructed so that direct movement of one of the locating members produces an immediate, equal and opposite response from the other of the locating members.

The preferred embodiments may comprise a locating apparatus having motion transfer interfaces arranged symmetrically about a central mirror line. The locating members are preferably mirror images of each other, and are preferably arranged symmetrically about the central mirror line.

In the preferred embodiment, the surfaces providing the motion transfer interfaces remain in continuous close contact during movement of the locating members. In the preferred embodiments, the continuous close contact of the surfaces of the motion transfer interfaces and the symmetric arrangement thereof substantially nullifies the effects of time induced wear and maintains backlash free symmetrical and instantaneous synchronicity between the locating members and, hence, between the lugs on the respective locating members.

According to another aspect of this invention, there is provided a locating assembly comprising a plurality of locating apparatus as described above arranged in alignment with one another.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Fig. 1 is a front view of a locating apparatus showing the locating members in a first position;

Fig. 2 is a front view of the apparatus of Fig. 1 showing the locating members in a second position;

Fig. 3 is a front view of another embodiment of a locating apparatus showing locating members in a first position;

Fig. 4 is a front view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 3 showing the locating members in the second position;

Fig. 5 is a front view of a further embodiment of a locating apparatus showing the locating members in a first position;

Fig. 6 is a front view of another embodiment of a locating apparatus showing the locating members in a first position;

Fig. 7 is a front view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 6 showing the locating members in a second position.

Referring to Fig. 1 , there is shown locating apparatus 10 for locating a work piece 12 (see Fig. 2) comprising a main part 12A and oppositely arranged flange members 12B and 12C. The apparatus 10 is formed of a sheet material, such as titanium, and comprises first and second locating members 14, 16. The locating members 14, 16 are pivotally movable between an open condition shown in Fig. 1 , and a closed condition shown in Fig. 2. Each of the locating members comprises a base portion 17 and an elongate lever portion 19.

The apparatus 10 further includes an urging arrangement 18 in the form of a first leaf spring 20 provided on the first locating member 14 and a

second leaf spring 22 provided on the second locating member 16. The urging arrangement 18 connects the locating members 14, 13 to each other and urges the locating members 14, 16 in continuously equal amounts towards their open condition. Each leaf spring 20, 22 comprises a first end 24 at which the leaf spring 20, 22 is connected to the respective locating member 14, 16, and a second end 26 at which is provided respective cooperating formations 28, 30, which cooperate with each other, as explained below.

The apparatus 10 also includes a support 32 defining a pair of opposed substantially circular recesses 34, 36, having respective inwardly facing pivot interfaces 34A, 36A. A lug portion, or probe end, 38 is provided at the free end of the lever portions 19 of each locating member 14, 16. The leaf springs, 20, 22 are attached to the respective lug portions 38.

The locating members 14, 16 further comprise outwardly extending substantially circular pivot members 42 which extend outwardly from the base portions 37. The pivot members 42 have respective outwardly facing pivot interfaces 42A, which correspond to the inwardly facing pivot interfaces 34A, 36A on the support 32. The pivot interfaces between the recesses 34, 36 and the pivot members 42 constitute motion transfer interfaces between the locating members 14, 16 and the support 32.

The pivot members 42 are received in the respective recesses, 34, 36 in the support 32 as shown in Fig. 1 , such that the outwardly facing pivot interfaces 42A of the pivot members 42 engage the inwardly facing pivot interfaces 34A, 36A respectively.

The apparatus 10 further includes a guide arrangement 44 which comprises the aforesaid cooperating formations 28, 30, and a guide member 46 defining a guide recess 48 into which the cooperating formations 28, 30 can move reciprocally. The guide recess 48 and the co-operating formations

28, 30 together constitute a further motion transfer interface between the locating members 14, 16 and the support 37.

In Fig. 1 , the cooperating formations 28, 30 are shown at the open end of the recess 48, and in Figs. 2, the cooperating formations 28, 30 are shown at the closed end of the recess 48.

The cooperating formations 28, 30 comprise a socket 28 for receiving a generally circular projection 30.

In order to mount the work piece 12 on the locating apparatus 10, either one of the locating members 14, 16 is pivotally moved inwardlly, one towards the other, to the position shown in Fig. 2. When this happens, the cooperating formations 28, 30 slide along the guide recess 48. The locating members 14, 16 are generally identical to each other and are mirror images of each other about a mirror plane P, (Fig. 1) (with the exception of the cooperating formations 28, 30). The guide recess 48 is arranged precisely midway between the first and second locating members 14, 16. Thus, pivotal movement of one of the locating members 14 or 16 causes corresponding substantially identical movement, but in the opposite direction, of the other locating member 16 or 14. Since the locating members 14, 16 are arranged such that they are mirror images of each other, the work piece 12 is centrally arranged on the locating apparatus 10. As the locating members 14, 1 € move relative to each other, the outwardly facing pivot interfaces 42A on the pivot members 42 remain in contact with the inwardly facing pivot interfaces 34A, 36A respectively.

It will be appreciated that the locating apparatus 10 can work with any size of work piece 12 so as to fit over the lugs 40 as shown in Fig. 2 wihen the locating members 14, 16 are at any position between the first and second conditions shown respectively in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2.

Another embodiment is shown in Fig. 3 and 4, this embodiment is provided with many of the same features as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and these have been designated with the same reference numeral. The embodiment shown in Figs. 3 and 4 differs from the embodiments shown in Figs. 1 and 2 in that the guide arrangement 44 is provided on the base portion 17 of the locating members 14, 16 adjacent to the pivot members 42. In the embodiments shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the guide arrangement 44 comprises a plurality of pegs 50 on each base portion 17 of one of the locating members 14, 16, extending towards the base portion 17 of the other locating member 14, 16, and vice versa. The pegs 50 define gaps 52 therebetween. In order to allow the pivoting motion of the locating members 14, 16 between the first and second conditions shown respectively in Figs. 3 and 4, the pegs 50 of the first locating member 14 are received in the gaps 52 in between the pegs 50 of the second locating member 16, and vice versa. Also, the pegs 50 are made radially compliant at their pitch circle so that intermeshing of the pegs 50 can be achieved with zero clearance or backlash. As the locating members 14, 16 move between the first and second conditions shown respectively in Figs 3 and 4, the pegs 50 are received sequentially into the gaps 52. As the spring action of the pegs 50 eliminates any backlash, continuous contact and synchronous movement of the locating members 14, 16 is preserved. The interface between the corresponding pegs 50 and gaps 52 of the two locating members 14, 16 constitute further motion transfer interfaces.

Each of the leaf springs 20, 22 is provided at its end 26 with an engagement member 53 which engage each other so that φe leaf springs 20, 22 urge the locating members 14, 16 to the first condition shown in Fig. 3.

A further embodiment is shown in Fig. 5, which is generally the same as the embodiment shown in Figs. 3 and 4, and the same features have been identified with the same reference numeral. The embodiment shown in Fig. 5 differs from the embodiment shown in Figs. 3 and 4 in that the guide

arrangement 44 comprises a single peg 54 extending from the locating member 14 and a socket 56 in which the peg 54 is received. The peg 54 and socket 56 are of a suitable configuration to allow the peg 54 to rotate within the socket 50 during pivoting motion of the locating members 14 and 16. The peg 54 comprises first and second peg members 54A, 54B spaced from each other to allow resilience between the peg members 54A, 54B, so that the peg 54 can be inserted into the socket 50. By virtue of the resilience of the peg members 54A, 54B, they allow the pivoting motion of the first and second locating members 14, 16. The interface between the socket 56 and the peg 54 constitutes a further motion transfer interface.

The embodiments shown in Figs 1 to 5 comprise no more than two moving parts, namely the first and second locating members 14, 16. The embodiment shown in Fig 6 comprises only one moving part, as described below.

Figs 6 and 7 show a further embodiment which is generally the same as the embodiment shown in Figs 1 and 2. Features in Figs 6 and 7 which are the same as features in Figs 1 and 2 have been designated with the same reference numerals.

The embodiment of the locating apparatus 10 shown in Figs 6 and 7 differs from the embodiment shown in Figs 1 and 2 in that the cooperating formations comprising the socket 28 and the projection 30 are replaced by a connecting end member 128, which connects together the first and second leaf springs 20, 22 at their respective second ends 26.

The connecting end member 128 is formed of a suitable shape to be sliding fit in the guide recess 48. The interface between the connecting end member 128 and the guide recess 48 constitutes a further motion transfer interface.

Thus, in the embodiment shown in Figs 6 and 7 the locating apparatus 10 is substantially entirely symmetrical about the mirror plane P.

Thus, the embodiment shown in Figs 6 and 7 comprises no more than one moving part, namely the connected locating members 14, 16.

In each of the above described embodiments, the locating apparatus

10 is designed so that direct movement of only one of the two probe ends 38, to move only one of the locating members 14, 16, causes an equal and opposite substantially instantaneous movement of the other of the locating members 14, 16.

The preferred embodiments as described above are provided with: (a) symmetric pairs of interfaces at which corresponding parts move relative to one another; and (b) opposed spring elements. The provision of these pairs of interfaces and opposed spring elements means that backlash is substantially eliminated. Moreover any time induced wear on the locating apparatus 10 will be symmetrical and will, hence, maintain the synchronicity of movement of the probe ends 38.

The preferred embodiments of the locating apparatus described above have the advantage that they allow pivoting motion of one of the locating members 12, 14 to be exactly reflected in the other of the locating members, 14, 16. This means that a work piece arranged on the locating members 14, 16 is located in a precisely known position for it to be worked upon by suitable tooling, for example to deform the work piece into desired shapes.

The embodiments of the locating apparatus 10 described above can be manufactured by laser cutting the locating members 14, 16 including the leaf springs 20, 22 from a sheet of titanium. The support 32 can also be laser cut from the same sheet of titanium.

Various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the urging arrangement can be arranged to urge the first and second locating members to their closed conditions. In this way, a positioning mechanism is provided that contracts onto the work piece as opposed to expanding into the work piece.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.