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US 12,017,333 B2Granted
System and method for handling a composite workpiece in a work cell
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsMatthew B. Moore, Patrick B. Stone
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system for handling a composite workpiece includes a work cell and a plurality of workpiece holders to hold a composite workpiece in the work cell. Each one of the plurality of workpiece holders is selectively controlled to index the composite workpiece in the work cell and to conform the composite workpiece to an as-built shape of the composite workpiece.
Claims20
A system for handling a composite workpiece one of a plurality of work cells, wherein the system comprises:
- a plurality of workpiece holders to hold the composite workpiece in the one of the plurality of work cells;
- and
- a first metrology system that generates as-built measurement data for the composite workpiece,
- wherein:
- the as-built measurement data is used to generate an as-built model of the composite workpiece that is representative of the composite workpiece having an as-built shape;
- each one of the plurality of workpiece holders is selectively controlled to index the composite workpiece in the one of the plurality of work cells;
- and
- at least one of the plurality of workpiece holders comprises a clamp that is selectively controlled to conform the composite workpiece to the as-built shape of the composite workpiece.
5 more elements
A workpiece holder for handling a composite workpiece, wherein the workpiece holder comprises:
- a base;
- a clamp coupled to the base, wherein the clamp comprises:
- a first jaw;
- a support member coupled to the first jaw;
- and
- a second jaw coupled to the support member;
- a plurality of numerical control contacts located along the first jaw;
- a plurality of force control contact located along the second jaw,
- wherein:
- each one of the plurality of numerical control contacts is selectively extendable and retractable to a numerical control location based on an as-built shape of the composite workpiece;
- the second jaw is movable along the support member relative to the first jaw to clamp the composite workpiece between at least one of the numerical control contacts and at least one of the force control contacts;
- each one the plurality of force control contacts is selectively extendable and retractable relative to the second jaw to apply a shaping force to the composite workpiece so that the composite workpiece conforms to the as-built shape of the composite workpiece;
- and
- with the composite workpiece clamped between the plurality of numerical control contacts and the plurality of force control contacts, the clamp is movable relative to the base to index the composite workpiece in a work cell.
11 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.