Positioning system for blast hole drilling operations

A method of capturing and positioning a drill pipe of a surface drill, comprising:

• positioning a first arm assembly and a second arm assembly on a mast about the drill pipe;
• actuating the first arm assembly and the second arm assembly upward and inward;
• engaging the drill pipe with a first elongate finger of a first end effector of the first arm assembly and a second elongate finger of a second end effector of the second arm assembly;
• guiding the drill pipe along at least a first ramp feature of the first end effector positioned inward of the first elongate finger, wherein a first curved member of the first ramp feature is adjacent to and extends above and below the first elongate finger;
• guiding the drill pipe along at least a second ramp feature of the second end effector positioned inward of the second elongate finger;
• and
• capturing the drill pipe in a receptacle formed by the first end effector and the second end effector.

An assembly for capturing and positioning a drill pipe of a surface drill, comprising:

• a base;
• an actuation mechanism pivotally coupled to the base;
• a first arm assembly comprising:
• a linkage pivotally coupled to the actuation mechanism,
• a position adjustment mechanism coupled to the linkage and configured to receive a plurality of shims, and
• an end effector coupled to the position adjustment mechanism and positioned relative to the drill pipe thereby, wherein the end effector includes at least a first curved member and a second curved member configured to act as ramps upon engagement with the drill pipe, wherein the end effector includes an elongate finger which the first curved member is adjacent to, wherein the first curved member extends above and below the finger, wherein the end effector forms an inner edge that has an arcuate curvature and extends between and spaces apart the first curved member and the second curved member, and wherein the first and second curved members are configured to guide the drill pipe into a receptable formed by the finger and a second finger of a second end effector of a second arm assembly.