Position Control Apparatus and Methods
AssigneeAdvanced Manufacturing Technology for Bottles, Inc.
InventorJoseph W. Pawelski
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Particular embodiments of the inventive technology may be described as a position control apparatus that comprises a fluidic drive system configured to drive, with a single fluidic displacement, each of a plurality of positioners in a first relative direction; and a bias system that includes a plurality of biasers that bias the positioners in a direction that is opposite the first relative direction. In particular embodiments, and as but a few of the many possible design features, positioner actuators may be fluidicly linked in parallel and with the fluid compressor, the positioner actuators may each include a piston; and a plurality of positioners may each be responsive to at least one of the pistons.
Claims51
A position control apparatus, comprising:
- a fluidic drive system configured to drive, with a single fluidic displacement, each of a plurality of positioners in a first relative direction;
- and
- a bias system that includes a plurality of biasers that bias said positioners in a direction that is opposite said first relative direction.
A position control apparatus as described in claim wherein said biasers comprise contained compressible fluid.
40-84. (canceled)
A position control method comprising the steps of:
- fluidicly linking a plurality of positioner actuators in parallel and with a fluid compressor to establish a fluidic drive system;
- establishing a piston in each of said positioner actuators;
- establishing a plurality of positioners so that each of said positioners is responsive to at least one of said pistons;
- configuring said fluidic drive system to drive, with a single fluidic displacement, each of said pistons in a first relative direction;
- and
- configuring each of a plurality of biasers to bias at least one of said positioners in a direction opposite said first relative direction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.