Field of the Invention The present invention relates to storage assemblies and particularly to a storage assembly for storing workpieces that may be loaded into and removed from the storage assembly by a robotic device for storage and transport.

Background of the Invention Components of large products such as motor vehicles are often manufactured at a first manufacturing site and then transported to a second site for assembly with other manufactured components. Manufactured components must often be transported, therefore, from a manufacturing site to an assembly site in a storage assembly. Manufactured components are frequently large, cumbersome and heavy, which makes loading and unloading the components onto the storage assembly difficult and costly. Storage assemblies are often loaded and unloaded by one or more workers operating mechanized equipment. Each storage assembly typically holds several components disposed in a series of storage positions. After a first storage position is filled with a workpiece, a worker is often required to condition (that is, physically manipulate) the assembly to receive a workpiece in a second storage position. Such conditioning operations are time-consuming and thus increase delivery times and costs. Such conditioning operations also preclude the use of fully automated loading and unloading of storage assemblies by, for example, a computer- controlled robotic device.

There is a need for a workpiece storage assembly in which a plurality of workpieces can be loaded or removed from several storage positions without the need for conditioning the assembly in a separate conditioning operation.

Summary of the Invention The above-identified need is met by providing a workpiece storage assembly comprising a frame and a holding assembly. The holding assembly includes a plurality of loading assemblies mounted in series on the frame including a first loading assembly and a plurality of succeeding loading assemblies extending in a downstream direction from the first loading assembly. Each loading assembly is movable into a closed position, a pre-loaded position and a loaded position. Each loading assembly is constructed and arranged to be moved from the pre-loaded position to the loaded position thereof by a workpiece associated therewith moving in an upstream direction opposite the downstream direction and to hold the associated workpiece in a respective storage position in the frame in the loaded position thereof.

Each loading assembly is constructed and arranged to be moved from the loaded position to the pre-loaded position thereof by a workpiece associated therewith moving in the downstream direction to release the associated workpiece from the respective storage position in the frame. Each loading assembly is operatively engaged with each adjacent loading assembly such that movement of a loading assembly from its pre-loaded position into its loaded position moves the loading assembly immediately downstream therefrom from its closed position into its pre- loaded position and movement of a loading assembly from its loaded position into its pre-loaded position moves the loading assembly immediately downstream therefrom from its pre-loaded position into the closed position thereof.

The present invention further provides a workpiece storage assembly that includes a frame and a holding assembly mounted on the frame. The holding assembly includes a plurality of holding members mounted in series on the frame.

The plurality of holding members include a first holding member and a plurality of holding members extending in a downstream direction from the first holding member.

Each holding member is movable into a closed position, a pre-loaded position and a loaded position. Each holding member is operatively engaged with each adjacent holding member such that movement of a holding member from its pre-loaded position into its loaded position moves the holding member immediately downstream therefrom from its closed position into its pre-loaded position and such that movement of a holding member from its loaded position into its pre-loaded position moves the

holding member immediately downstream therefrom from its pre-loaded position into the closed position thereof.

The workpiece storage assembly further includes a plurality of holding structures, each holding structure being operatively engaged with a respective holding member such that when a holding member moves from its pre-loaded position into its loaded position, the associated holding structure moves into a workpiece holding position with respect to the associated holding member, each holding member in the loaded position thereof and the associated holding structure in the holding position thereof being constructed and arranged to hold an associated workpiece in a respective storage position in the frame, and when a holding member moves from its loaded position into its pre-loaded position, the associated holding structure moves from its workpiece holding position into a workpiece releasing position with respect to the associated holding member to allow an associated workpiece to move out of the associated storage position.

The workpiece storage assembly includes a plurality of locking assemblies, each locking assembly being operatively engaged with a respective holding member and with the associated holding structure. Each is locking assembly is constructed and arranged to releasably lock the respective holding member in the loaded position thereof and the associated holding structure in the workpiece holding position thereof.

The holding assembly is constructed and arranged to allow a first workpiece and a second workpiece to be stored in and removed from the frame. The first workpiece is stored in the frame by moving the first workpiece against a selected holding member in the pre-loaded position thereof to move the selected holding member into the loaded position thereof, to move the associated holding structure into the workpiece holding position thereof and to lock the holding member and the holding structure in their respective loading and holding positions with the associated locking assembly to thereby hold the first workpiece in an associated first storage position in the frame.

The second workpiece is stored in the frame by moving the second workpiece against a next holding member immediately downstream of the selected holding member to move'the next holding member from the pre-loaded position thereof into the loaded position thereof, to move the associated holding structure into the workpiece holding position thereof and to lock the next holding member and the holding structure

associated therewith into their respective loading and holding positions with the associated locking assembly to hold the second workpiece in an associated second storage position in the frame immediately downstream of the first storage position.

The second workpiece is removed from the frame by moving the second workpiece against the holding structure associated therewith to move the next holding member from the loaded to the pre-loaded position thereof and to move the associated holding structure into the workpiece holding releasing thereof. The first workpiece is removed from the frame by moving the first workpiece against the holding structure associated therewith to move the selected holding member from the loaded to the pre- loaded position thereof and to move the associated holding structure into the workpiece holding releasing thereof.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims.

Brief Description of the Drawings FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a workpiece storage assembly constructed according to the principles of the invention showing a workpiece in dashed lines in a storage position of the storage assembly and showing a robotic device in dashed lines engaged with the workpiece; FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the workpiece storage assembly of FIG. 1 showing a workpiece in dashed lines in a storage position of the storage assembly; FIG. 3 is an fragmentary view of a holding assembly of the workpiece storage assembly in isolation; FIG. 4 shows a loading assembly of a holding assembly in exploded relation to a fragmentary of a housing of the holding assembly; FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional of a fragmentary portion of the holding assembly view taken through the line 5-5 of FIG. 3, FIG. 5 showing a plurality of the loading assemblies of the holding assembly including a first loading assembly and two loading assemblies in series therewith and extending in a downstream direction therefrom, the first loading assembly being in a pre-loaded position and the two loading assemblies downstream of the first loading assembly being in closed positions

thereof, and showing a first workpiece in dashed lines spaced from the first loading assembly; FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 except showing the first loading assembly in a loaded position thereof engaged with the first workpiece, a second loading assembly immediately downstream of the first loading assembly in a pre-loaded position and a second workpiece in dashed lines spaced from the second loading assembly; FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 5 except showing the second loading assembly in a loaded position thereof engaged with the second workpiece, a third loading assembly immediately downstream of the second loading assembly in a pre-loaded position and a third workpiece in dashed lines spaced from the third loading assembly; FIG. 8 is a view of fragmentary of the holding assembly taken generally along the line of sight 8-8 as indicated in FIG. 3 showing the first loading assembly in the pre-loaded position thereof and showing a fragmentary of the loading assembly immediately downstream of the first loading assembly in the closed position thereof ; and FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 8 except showing the first loading assembly in its loaded position and showing the loading assembly immediately downstream thereof in its pre-loaded position.

Detailed Description of the Invention FIG. 1 shows an example of a storage assembly 10 constructed according to the principles of the present invention for storing and transporting workpieces such as workpiece 12 (shown in dashed lines). The storage assembly 10 includes a frame 14 and a pair of first and second workpiece holding assemblies 16,18 mounted on opposite sides of the frame 14. The holding assemblies 16,18 are of mirror image construction. The structure and operation of the storage assembly 10 will be described with reference to holding assembly 16 only, but the discussion applies equally to holding assembly 18. Corresponding portions and components of the holding assemblies 16,18 are labeled with identical reference numbers to facilitate discussion of the invention. As noted above, the holding assemblies 16, 18 are mounted on opposite sides of the frame 14. The frame 14 made be constructed of a

plurality of tubular metallic structures of various sizes that are connected to one another by welding or other appropriate method. A lower portion of the frame 14 is constructed of pairs of lower side rails 20,22 and pairs of tubular cross members 24, 26 that are connected between respective pairs of lower side rails. Spaced openings 28,30 are provided in the side rails members 20,22, respectively, to receive the tines of a forklift (not shown). The tines may extend into the tubular interiors of the cross members 24,26. Elongated reinforcing structures 32,34, which may also be of tubular metallic construction, are rigidly secured at various locations between the members 20,22,24,26 as shown in FIG. 1.

A grill-like structure 36 (shown in fragmentary view in FIG. 1) is secured to the lower portion of the frame 14 and forms a floor structure of the frame 14. The grill-like structure 36 may be a metallic structure (such as, for example, a hardware cloth) and maybe secured to the lower portion of the frame 14 by welding or other appropriate method. Vertical rails 38 extend upwardly from corners of the lower portion of the frame 14. Rear rails 40,42, and 44 and side rails 46,48 and 50 are secured between respective pairs of vertical rails 38. An upwardly extending retaining structure 52 is secured to the upper end of each vertical rail 38. The structures 52 are constructed and arranged to fit within the lower tubular ends of the vertically extending rails of another frame (not shown) to allow two or more frames to be stacked for storage and transport. The frame 14 generally has an open front end 54 and an open top 56. Inner supports 58 are mounted between the vertical rails 38 and the lower rail 20 that define the front end opening 54.

Each holding assembly 16,18 is mounted within respective housings 60 mounted between the vertical rails 38 on opposite sides of the frame 14 and generally between the side rails 48,50. The holding assembly 16 includes a plurality of loading assemblies 62 mounted in series on the frame 14. The loading assemblies 62 include a first loading assembly 64 (only partially visible in FIG. 1, but better seen in FIG. 3, for example, which shows the holding assembly 16 in isolation) and a plurality of succeeding loading assemblies extending in a downstream direction (where "downstream"refers to the direction from the rear 65 of the frame 14 toward the open front end 54 of the frame 14) from the first loading assembly 64. The series of loading assemblies extending from the first loading assembly 64 include an outermost

(or"last") loading assembly 68 and a series of intermediate loading assemblies 70 between the first and last loading assemblies 64,68, respectively.

A pair of upper and lower guide rails 72,74, respectively, are mounted on each side of the frame 14. A rear portion of each upper guide rail 72 is secured to rail 42 and forward portions of each upper guide rail 72 are secured to the frame and spaced inwardly (i. e., toward the interior of the frame 14) therefrom by supports 76.

A rear portion of each lower guide rail 74 is secured to rail 42 and forward portions of each lower guide rail 74 are secured to the frame 14 and spaced inwardly therefrom by supports 78.

As considered in detail below, a mechanical device may be used to load a series of workpieces into and remove the workpieces from the storage assembly 10.

The mechanical device may be manually operated or may be computer controlled. An example of a computer controlled device for loading workpieces into and removing workpieces from the assembly 10 is a robotic device 80 which is shown in fragmentary schematic view in FIG. 1 engaged with the workpiece 12.

A plurality of workpiece retaining structures 82 are mounted on the frame 14 to hold and support a lower portion of each workpiece mounted in the frame 14. Each retaining structure 82 includes a series of retaining members 84 mounted on a base 86. Each retaining member 84 is a metallic structure having a trapezoidal cross- section. The retaining members 84 are secured to the base 86 by welding or other suitable method adjacent one another to form a series of grooves 88 therebetween sized to receive a lower edge portion of a workpiece (in a manner best seen in FIG. 2).

The base 86 of each retaining structure 82 is mounted to the frame 14. In the example storage assembly 10, a rearward portion of the base 86 of each retaining structure 82 is secured to a rearward portion of the frame 14 and forward portions of each base 86 are secured to the frame 14 and spaced upwardly therefrom by a series of support structures 90 of various vertical heights. This provides each retaining structure with a downward slope (a direction from the open forward end 54 of the frame 14 toward the rear 65 of the frame).

Each holding assembly 16,18 is mounted on the respective side of the frame 14 by welding opposite ends of the housings 60 thereof to the vertical rails 38 on each side of the frame 14. Each holding assembly 16,18 may be mounted so that each

slopes downwardly (in a direction from the open forward and 54 of the frame 14 toward the rear thereof). The retaining structures 82 and the holding assemblies 16, 18 are generally parallel to one another and are sloped in the example storage assembly 10 to provide more compact storage of a series of workpieces in the assembly 10. Thus, it can be understood that this sloped configuration is optional and depends on the shape of the workpiece to be stored in the assembly 10. For example, if each workpiece were flat (i. e., planar), the sloped configuration would not increase storage efficiency. The holding assemblies 16,18 and the retaining structures 82 may be sloped so that a top edge of each workpiece can be easily gripped by a robotic or other mechanical device.

The details of the construction and operation of the holding assembly 16 can be best understood from FIGS. 3-9. FIG. 3 shows a fragmentary view of the holding assembly 16 in isolation. A portion of the housing 60 has been broken away to more clearly show the loading assemblies 62. The loading assemblies 62 on the holding assembly 16 are identical to one another. Therefore the construction of only one loading assembly 62 will be considered in detail, but the discussion applies to each loading assembly 62 on the holding assembly 16. The loading assembly 68 will be considered in detail and is shown in exploded view in FIG. 4. It can be understood from the remarks above that the loading assemblies 62 mounted on the holding assembly 18 are of mirror image construction and to of loading assemblies of holding assembly 16.

To facilitate discussion and understanding of the structure of the holding assembly 16 and of the loading assemblies 62, the operation of the holding assembly 16 will be briefly considered first. FIGS. 5-7 show a portion of the holding assembly 16 that includes the first loading assembly 64 and two of the intermediate loading assemblies 70 extending in a downstream direction from the first loading assembly 64. The two intermediate loading assemblies 70 are labeled 70A and 70B for purposes of discussion. Each loading assembly 64,70A, 70B is movable into a closed position (see loading assemblies 70A and 70B in FIG. 5, for example), a pre-loaded position (see loading assembly 64 in FIG. 5, for example) and a loaded position (see loading assemblies 64 and 70A in FIG. 7, for example). Each loading assembly is constructed and arranged to be moved from the pre-loaded position to the loaded

position thereof by a workpiece associated therewith moving in an upstream direction.

The upstream direction opposite the downstream direction, that is, the direction from the open front end 54 of the frame 14 toward the rear 65 of the frame 14. The upstream direction is indicated in FIGS. 5-7 by directional arrows associated with a plurality of workpieces shown in fragmentary view in dashed lines.

Each loading assembly in the loaded position thereof holds the associated workpiece in a respective storage position (see the loading assembly 64 in FIGS. 1 and 6, for example) in the frame 14 in the loaded position thereof. Each loading assembly is constructed and arranged to be moved from its loaded position to its pre- loaded position by a workpiece associated therewith moving in the downstream direction to release the associated workpiece from its respective storage position in the frame 14.

Each loading assembly (such as loading assembly 64, for example) is operatively engaged with each adjacent loading assembly such that movement of a loading assembly 64 from its pre-loaded position (see FIG. 5) into its loaded position (see FIG. 6) moves the loading assembly (70A in this example) immediately downstream therefrom from its closed position (FIG. 5) into its pre-loaded position (FIG. 6) and movement of a loading assembly 64, for example, from its loaded position (FIG. 6) into its pre-loaded position (FIG. 5) moves the loading assembly 70A immediately downstream therefrom from its pre-loaded position (FIG. 6) into the closed position thereof (FIG. 5).

Each loading assembly includes a holding member 92 and a holding structure 94 operatively engaged with the holding member. Each holding member is movable into closed, pre-loaded, and loaded positions which correspond to those described above for the entire assembly. The holding structure 94 of each loading assembly is operatively engaged with the holding member 92 thereof such that when a holding member 92 moves from its pre-loaded position (see the holding member of the loading assembly 64 in FIG. 5, for example) into its loaded position (see holding member 92 of loading assembly 64 in FIG. 6, for example), the associated holding structure 94 moves into a workpiece holding position (see the holding structure 94 of the loading assembly 64 in FIG. 6, for example) with respect to the associated holding member. Each holding member 92 in the loaded position thereof and the associated

holding structure 94 in the holding position thereof are constructed and arranged to hold an associated workpiece in a respective storage position in the frame 14 (see, for example, the loading assembly 64 in FIG. 6). When a holding member 92 moves from its loaded position into its pre-loaded position, the associated holding structure 94 moves from its workpiece holding position into a workpiece releasing position (see, for example, the loading assembly 64 in FIG. 5) with respect to the associated holding member to allow an associated workpiece to move out of the associated storage position.

A locking assembly 96 is operatively engaged with a respective holding member 92 and with the associated holding structure 96. Each locking assembly 96 is constructed and arranged to releasably lock the respective holding member 92 in the loaded position thereof and the associated holding structure 94 in the workpiece holding position thereof.

FIG. 4 shows the loading assembly 68 in exploded relation to a pair of support members 98,100 (shown in fragmentary view) of the holding assembly 16. The holding member 92 is comprised of a pair of holding elements 102,104. The elements 102,104 can be constructed of a wide range of material but are preferably made of a molded plastic of suitable strength and are assembled to one another by threaded fasteners 106. The holding structure 94 and the locking assembly 96 are generally disposed within a hollow interior portion of the assembled holding member 92. The holding structure 94 may also be a molded plastic structure. A cylindrical post 108 (partially visible in FIG. 4, for example) integrally formed on the holding element 102 extends through a throughgoing bore 110 formed in the holding structure 94 to pivotally mount the holding structure 94 for movement with respect to the holding member 92. A workpiece engaging arm portion 112 of the holding structure 94 extends through an opening 114 formed in the assembled holding member 92 and pivots between holding and releasing positions. In the holding position, a workpiece is held between opposing surfaces 116,118 on the holding member 92 and the holding structure 94, respectively.

The holding members 92 are movably mounted between the support members 98,100. The support members 98, 100 may be made of a molded plastic material of suitable strength and may be secured in spaced relation to one another by a series of

rigid members which are shown in the example embodiment in the form of a plurality of tubular support members 120. The tubular support members 120 are preferably constructed of a metallic material of suitable strength and are secured between the support members 98, 100 by fasteners such as bolts 122, nuts 124, and washers 126.

An end of each tubular support member 120 is received within a respective recess 128, each recess being defined by an integral annular wall portion 130 extending outwardly of an associated support member 98,100. A support member 120A extends through a throughgoing bore 132 in the associated holding member 92 and provides a pivots axis for the holding member 92 for movement between its loaded and closed positions with respect to the support members 98, 100. A support member 120B extends through slots 136,138 formed in the holding member 92 and the slots 140 formed in the holding structure 94.

The locking assembly 96 includes a central biasing member in the form of the coil spring 142 and includes a pair of locking elements 144,146 engaged with respective opposite ends of the coil spring 142. Outer cylindrical end portions 148, 150 of the locking elements 144,146, respectively, are biased into engagement with recesses 152 formed on both support members 98, 100. Only the recess 152 formed in the support member 100 is visible in FIG. 4, but the recess formed in support member 98 has identical construction.

A biasing mechanism is operatively associated with each holding member 92 in the assembled holding assembly 16. Each biasing mechanism biases each holding member 92 toward and into the closed position thereof. The example biasing mechanism is in the form of a spring 154. The body of the spring 154 is mounted around a cylindrical spring support 156 (see FIG. 8, for example) integrally formed on the holding member 92. The legs 158,160 of the spring 154 are biasingly engaged with structure on the support member 100 and the holding member 92, respectively.

The leg 158 is engaged with a leg support structure 162 integrally formed on the support member 100 and the leg 160 is received within an opening 163 (see FIG. 5, for example) formed in the associated holding member 92.

The plurality of loading assemblies 62 those mounted between the support members 98,100 are then mounted generally between opposing upper and lower wall portions of the housing 60 with suitable fasteners such as bolts 164. The housing 60

is preferably constructed of a metallic material and has a generally C-shaped cross- section that defines an open side 166 of the housing 60 that opens toward the interior of the frame 14 when the holding assembly 16 is mounted on the frame 14.

Operation The first and second holding assemblies 16,18 are mounted on opposite sides of the frame 14. The first holding assembly 16 has a first plurality of loading assemblies 62 and the second holding assembly 18 has a second plurality of loading assemblies 62 (given the same reference number for convenience and because of the mirror image construction as mentioned above). Each loading assembly on the second holding assembly 18 corresponds to a loading assembly of the first holding assembly such that each workpiece loaded in the frame 14 is held in a storage position by a pair of corresponding loading assemblies of the first and second holding assembly 16,18. The holding assemblies 16,18 are constructed and arranged such that when the corresponding pairs of first loading assemblies 64 are in their pre- loaded positions, each loading assembly downstream thereof (i. e., loading assemblies 70 and 68 on each holding assembly 16,18) is in its closed position to allow a workpiece to move in the upstream direction into engagement with the first loading assemblies 64 on the respective holding assemblies 16,18.

Thus, to store a series of workpieces in an the storage assembly 10, assuming it is initially empty, a first workpiece is moved through the open front end 54 of the frame in an upstream direction toward the first loading assemblies 64 on the first and second holding assemblies 16,18, respectively. The first workpiece 12 is stored in the frame 14 by moving the first workpiece 12 against the engaging surface 116 of each respective first holding member 64 (on each side of the frame 14) in their pre- loaded positions (a) to move the first holding members 64 into their loaded positions, (b) to move the associated holding structures 92 into their workpiece holding positions, (c) to lock each holding member 92 and each associated holding structure 94 in their respective loading and holding positions with the associated locking assembly 96 to thereby hold the first workpiece in an associated first storage position in said frame and (d) to move the loading assemblies 70A immediately downstream therefrom from their closed positions into their pre-loaded positions.

FIGS. 5-7 show the relative positions of the first three loading assemblies 64, 70A, 70B of the holding assembly 16 to one another when a first, the second and the third workpiece is loaded in the storage assembly 10. The operation of the corresponding loading assemblies of the holding assembly 18 is essentially identical because of their mirror image construction to the loading assemblies of the holding assembly 16 and will therefore not be separately discussed.

FIGS. 5-7 show the loading assemblies 64,70A, 70B to show the internal structure and operation of each loading assembly when workpieces are stored in and removed from the storage assembly 10. With specific reference to FIG. 5, a first workpiece 12 is moved in the upstream direction (indicated by the directional arrow in FIG. 5) past the loading assemblies 70A, 70B in their closed positions to the first loading assembly 64. (It can be appreciated that although only three of the loading assemblies are illustrated in FIGS. 5-7, these loading assemblies illustrate the sequential operation of all of the loading assemblies because all of the loading assemblies 62 are of identical construction. Thus, for example, it can be understood that when the first workpiece 12 is loaded in the storage assembly, initially all of the . loading assemblies are in their closed positions except the first loading assembly of each holding assembly 16,18, each of which is in its pre-loaded position.) The upper and lower guide rail structures are positioned relative to the associated holding assembly to prevent contact between. each moving workpiece and the loading assemblies in their closed positions and to allow contact between the workpiece and the holding-member of each loading assembly in the pre-loaded position thereof.

Thus, when a loading assembly is in its pre-loaded position, the engaging surface 116 thereof is positioned outwardly from the guide rails and faces in a generally downstream direction so that a workpiece moving in the upstream direction will contact the surface 116 of the associated loading assembly.

Movement of the workpiece 12 traveling downstream against the holding member 92 of the first loading assemblies 64 causes the holding member 92 to pivot about the tubular support member 120A (in the clockwise direction from the point of view of FIGS. 5-7) from its pre-loaded position (FIG. 5) to its loaded position (FIG.

6). This pivotal movement of the holding member 92 of the loading assembly 64 moves the associated holding structure 94 in a clockwise direction about the tubular

support member 120A. As the holding member 92 of the loading assembly 64 pivots from its pre-loaded position to its loaded position, the holding member 92 and the associated holding structure 94 move relative to the fixed tubular support member 120B (which extends through the slots 136, 138, 140 (as indicated in FIG. 4).

The arcuate slot of element 104 (and the arcuate slot 136 of element 102 which is not shown in FIGS. 5-7) guides the pivotal movement of the holding member 92 and limits its range of pivotal movement to movement between the closed and loaded positions.

The slot 140 in the holding structure 94 has an arcuate first portion 170 and an arcuate second portion 172. It can be understood from a comparison of the positions of the loading assemblies 70B, 70A and 64 in FIG. 6, for example, that during movement of the loading assembly, the arcuate first portion 170 of the slot 140 is constructed and arranged to retain the associated holding structure 94 in its releasing position as the associated holding member 92 moves between its closed position (see the loading assembly 70B in FIG. 6) and its pre-loaded position (see the loading assembly 70A in FIG. 6). When a holding member is in its pre-loaded position, however, the tubular support member 120B is positioned at the transition between the arcuate first and second portions 170,172 of the slot 140 in each holding structure 94 (see the holding structure 94 of the loading assembly 70A in FIG. 6, for example) so that movement of the associated holding member 92 from its pre-loaded position (see the loading assembly 70A of FIG. 6, for example) into its loaded position (see the loading assembly 64 in FIG. 6, for example) cams the support member 120B against the edge portions of the second arcuate portion 172 of the slot 140 to move the holding structure 94 from its releasing position (see the loading assembly 70A in FIG.

6, for example) to its holding position (see the loading assembly 64 in FIG. 6, for example) to clamp the associated workpiece between the surfaces 116,118 on the holding member 92 and the holding structure 94, respectively, on the associated loading assembly.

A comparison of the loading assemblies 64 and 70A in FIGS. 5 and 6 also illustrates that when the workpieces 12 moves the first loading assembly 64 from its pre-loaded position (FIG. 5) to its loaded position (FIG. 6, for example), this movement of the loading assembly 64 causes the loading assembly immediately

downstream therefrom (the loading assembly 70A) to move from its closed position (FIG. 5) to its pre-loaded position (FIG. 6). Specifically pivotal movement of the holding member 92 of the loading assembly 64 causes an upper surface portion 180 thereof to cam against a lower surface 182 of the loading assembly 70A immediately downstream therefrom such that pivotal movement of the loading assembly 64 from its pre-loaded position to its loaded position moves the loading assembly 70A from its closed position to its pre-loaded position.

It can also be appreciated that each loading assembly is constructed and arranged such that movement of a loading assembly from its closed position to its pre- loaded position has no effect on the loading assembly immediately downstream therefrom. Thus, movement of the loading assembly 70A from its closed position (see FIG. 5) to its pre-loaded position (FIG. 6) does not move the loading assembly 70B.

It can also be understood that the force exerted by the moving workpiece 12 on the holding member 92 of the loading assembly 64 is sufficient to move the loading assembly 64 from its pre-loaded position to its loaded position against the spring bias exerted thereon by the associated spring 154, move the loading assembly 70A from its closed position to its pre-loaded position against the spring bias exerted thereon by the associated spring 154 and to releasably lock the loading assembly 64 in its loaded position with the locking assembly 96 associated therewith. Specifically, the movement of the loading assembly 64 into its loaded position causes the locking assembly 96 associated therewith to lockingly engage the associated slots 52 in the respective adjacent support member's 98,100. This lock engaging movement can be understood from a comparison of FIGS. 8 and 9. FIG. 8 shows the loading assembly 64 in its pre-loaded position and FIG. 9 shows the loading assembly 64 in its loaded position. Movement of the loading assembly 64 into its loaded position cams the respective ends 148,150 of the spring biased locking members 144,146, respectively against associated camming surfaces 184,186 causing the locking members 144 and 146 to move inwardly toward the center of the associated holding member 92 against the spring bias of the spring 142 (not shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 a shown in FIG. 4).

Movement of the holding member 92 into its loaded position aligns the locking members 144,146 with respective adjacent slots 152 in the support members 98, 100.

The locking members 144,146 move axially outwardly into releasable locking engagement with adjacent slots to releasably lock the associated loading assembly 64 in its loaded position. Locking of the loading assembly 64 in its loaded position also locks the loading assembly 70A in its pre-loaded position. Specifically, the corner 188 portion 188 of the holding member 92 of the loading assembly 64 engages a holding surface 190 on the loading assembly 70A to hold the loading assembly 70A in its pre-loaded position against the spring bias of the spring 154 associated therewith.

It can be understood from a comparison of FIGS. 6 and 7 that a second workpiece 194 can be loaded in the loading assembly 70A in the same manner that the workpiece 12 was loaded into the loading assembly 64. Thus, a series of workpieces can be loaded into the storage assembly 10 starting with the first loading assembly 64 (i. e., the loading assembly farthest upstream) and then stored in each loading assembly in sequence in the downstream direction starting with the loading assembly 70A immediately downstream from the first loading assembly 64.

The series of workpieces stored in the storage assembly 10 are removed from the assembly 10 in essentially the reverse manner in which they were stored in the assembly 10. Removal of the workpieces therefore begins with the removal of the workpiece farthest downstream. For example, if the storage assembly is completely loaded with workpieces, the workpiece stored in the last or outermost loading assemblies 68 is removed first. To remove a workpiece from the outermost pair of corresponding loading assemblies 68 of the holding assemblies 16,18, the associated workpiece is moved in the downstream direction towards the opening 54 in the frame 14. The force of the associated workpiece against the associated holding structure 94 causes the holding member 92 of each corresponding loading assembly 68 to pivot from its loaded position to its pre-loaded position. The force exerted on the holding member by the holding structure causes the locking members 144,146 to move axially inwardly to release the holding member from locked engagement with the slots 152. This movement of each loading assembly 68 from its loaded position to its preloaded position also causes the associated holding structure to move from its workpiece holding position to its workpiece releasing position which allows the workpiece to be removed from the frame 14.

The next workpiece in the upstream direction is then removed from the storage assembly 10 by moving the workpiece in the downstream direction towards the opening 54 in the frame 14. This movement of the next workpiece out of the frame 14 causes loading assembly immediately upstream of each outermost loading assembly 68 to move from its loaded position to its pre-loaded positions. Movement of a loading assembly from its loaded position to its pre-loaded position moves the corner portion 188 out of engagement with the stop surface 190 of the adjacent outermost loading assembly 68 which allows each outermost loading assembly 68 to move from its pre-loaded position to its closed position under the spring bias of the associated spring 154. Movement of each loading assembly immediately downstream of the loading assembly from which a workpiece is being removed moves the holding member of the immediately downstream loading assembly out of the travel path of the workpiece moving in the downstream direction out of the storage assembly 10. This workpiece removal process is continued until the last workpiece stored in the assembly 10 is removed from the loading assemblies 64 farthest upstream. When the workpiece is removed from the loading assemblies 64, the first assemblies 64 are move from their loaded positions to their pre-loaded positions, but are prevented from moving into their closed positions by a respective positioning structure 200 (see FIGS. 5-7) in the associated holding assemblies 16,18. Each positioning structure 200 is a rigid member mounted to the associated housing 60 the restricts the movement of the first loading assembly 64 between its pre-loaded position and its loaded position. This structure 200 may be a bolt or similar rigid member and prevents the first loading assembly 64 from moving to its closed position so that when each loading assembly is not holding a workpiece, it is in position (i. e., in its pre- loaded position) to engage a workpiece.

It can be appreciated that the storage assembly 10 is particularly well suited to being loaded and unloaded robotically because movement of a workpiece into a storage position conditions the loading assemblies immediate downstream thereof to receive a next workpiece in a next storage position. Similarly, removing a workpiece from a storage position conditions in the loading assembly immediately downstream therefrom to allow removal of the workpiece from the storage assembly.

Thus, the storage assembly is particularly well suited for use with a robotic device

because a human operator is not needed to perform any conditioning steps to configure the storage assembly 10 during either workpiece storage or workpiece removal.

FIG. 2 shows an exemplary robotic device 80 in schematic view engage with a second workpiece 194 being loaded into the storage assembly 10. The storage assembly 10 includes the sloped retaining structures 82 to more efficiently store the particular illustrated workpieces. The retaining structures 82 provide a series of grooves 88 to sized and positioned to receive a lower edge portion of each workpiece stored in the storage assembly 10. As shown in FIG. 2, the robotic device 80 can load each workpiece into the storage assembly by first placing a bottom edge portion of each workpiece into a groove and then pivoting the upper portion of the workpiece into engagement with the associated pair of loading assemblies. Each workpiece can be removed by the robotic device with essentially the reverse motion. It can be understood that the upper portion of each workpiece is moving in essentially an upstream direction when it engages a pair of loading assemblies for storage and is moving in an essentially downstream direction when the workpiece is removed from the storage assembly.

After the storage assembly 10 is loaded with workpieces, the workpieces can be releasably latched in the assembly 10 by manipulating a latching assembly 204 operatively associated with each respective holding assembly 16,18. In the embodiment shown, this latching may be done manually. To latched the workpieces into the assembly 10, an operator moves a spring by latching member 206 into an opening (not shown) in the holding member 92 of the associated outermost loading assembly 68. This prevents movement of the associated loading assembly 68 from its loaded position to its pre-loaded position until the latching member 206 is removed from the associated opening. The latching member 206 is preferably spring biased into latching engagement with the associated opening on the holding member. When the outermost loading assembly 68 is in its loaded position, it is constructed and arranged to prevent movement of each loading assembly upstream therefrom from moving from its loaded position into its pre-loaded position.

This locking relation of the loading assembly can be understood, for example, from FIG. 7 which shows the loading assembly 64 and the loading assembly 70A in

their loaded positions : An outwardly extending portion 208 of the holding member 92 of the loading assembly 70A releasably lockingly engages a recessed portion 210 formed in the loading assembly 64 immediately upstream therefrom. This engagement between the portions 208,210 prevents movement of the loading assembly 64 from its loaded position towards its pre-loaded position until the loading assembly 70A immediately downstream therefrom is moved out of its loaded position.

Thus, it can be understood that latching the outermost loading assembly 68 on each holding assembly 16,18, in its loaded position prevents movement on any of the loading assemblies upstream therefrom from moving out of their loaded positions. It is also contemplated to latch the holding assemblies robotically without human intervention.

The loaded and latched storage assembly 10 may be carried by, for example, a forklift to a transportation vehicle for delivery to an assembly site.

It can be understood that although the holding assemblies are shown in the example storage assembly mounted on opposite sides of the frame, it is contemplated to use only a single holding assembly to store a plurality of workpieces. It is also contemplated to use more than two holding assemblies to mount workpieces in the frame. Furthermore, when a pair of assemblies are used, they may be arranged in a different manner from the manner in which they are mounted in the frame 14. For example, although the assemblies 16,18 are shown extending essentially horizontally (or more specifically at a slight angle from horizontal), it is also contemplated to mount the holding assemblies 16,18 such that the series of loading assemblies extend in an essentially vertical direction. It is also contemplated to mount a pair of holding assemblies on adjacent sides of the frame 14. The holding assemblies 16,18 are of mirror image construction in the example storage assembly 10, but this is not intended to be limiting. Two (or more) holding assemblies providing corresponding pairs (or sets in the instance of more than two holding assemblies) of loading assemblies may be constructed for attachment to the specific portions of a workpiece that are shaped differently from one another, for example. Thus, the two (or more) assemblies may have different (and non-mirror image) construction from one another.

It can be understood that the embodiment of the storage assembly shown and described herein is an example only and not intended to limit the scope of intention.

It is contemplated, for example, to provide storage assemblies for storing and transporting on a wide range of type of components in a wide range of manufacturing and other environments. Thus, while the invention has been disclosed and described with reference with a single exemplary embodiment, it will be apparent that variations and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, the following claims are intended to cover all such modifications, variations, and equivalents thereof in accordance with the principles and advantages noted herein.