US 2012/0111948 A1 · PRECISED TRANSPORT POSITIONING APPARATUS USING A CLOSED LOOP CONTROLLED, NON-DIRECT OR FRICTION DRIVE SYSTEM WITH ABSOLUTE POSITIONING ENCODER

Abstract

An apparatus for positioning a workpiece carrier with respect to a workstation can include a workpiece carrier movable relative to the workstation and having an encoder strip, at least one encoder reader located at the workstation for generating a signal in response to interaction with at least one encoder strip, and a drive engaging the workpiece carrier for moving the carrier relative to the workstation, the drive responsive to the signal from the encoder reader. A closed loop feedback control system can be provided for receiving the signal from the encoder reader, and for generating an output signal in response to the signal from the encoder reader in accordance with a program stored in memory.

Claims19

Dependent claims

An apparatus for positioning a workpiece carrier with respect to a workstation comprising:

a workpiece carrier for transporting a workpiece along a path of travel relative to a workstation;
a drive for selectively moving the workpiece carrier along the path of travel;
a code reader positioned along the path of travel;
a coded strip positioned along the path of travel wherein one of the code reader and the coded strip is selectively movable relative to one another, the coded strip having a first end and a second end defining a code strip length and including:
(a) a first identification information segment of at least one of the workpiece carrier type or the workpiece type for positive identification of the carrier type or the workpiece type;
and
(b) a logistical positioning information segment for positive positioning of code strip relative to the code reader;
and
a controller in electronic communication with the code reader and the drive to selectively position the carrier in a desired location along the path of travel.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Precised transport positioning apparatus using a closed loop controlled, non-direct or friction drive system with absolute positioning encoder

Life of this patent

Precised transport positioning apparatus using a closed loop controlled, non-direct or friction drive system with absolute positioning encoder

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19