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AssigneeHexagon Metrology, Inc.
InventorsJonathan J. O'Hare, Jonathan Dove
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Illustrative embodiments improve holding of a workpiece in an industrial process by placing the workpiece on or in a workpiece interface of a workholder and, prior to securing the workpiece on or in the workholder, vibrating the workpiece interface to settle the workpiece onto or into the workpiece interface. The act of vibrating the workpiece interface is separate and distinct from an act of securing the workpiece to the workpiece interface, and the vibration from the act of vibrating the workpiece interface is separate and distinct from vibration that may occur incidental to the act of securing the workpiece to the workpiece interface. Some embodiments of a workholder include a vibration actuator distinct from a workpiece interface actuator that opens and closes the workpiece interface. Some embodiments of workpiece interface include a set of one or more tapered guides to guide a workpiece onto the workpiece interface.
A method of operating a workholder having a workpiece interface configured to controllably clamp a workpiece, the method comprising:
A workholder to receive and securely hold a workpiece, the workholder comprising:
A workholder to receive and securely hold a workpiece, the workholder comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.