Automatic tool head placement and assembly apparatus for a boring machine
AssigneeSchlumberger Technology Corporation
InventorsChristopher Fitzgerald, E-Kiang Soh, Jiawei Dong, Chintankumar Bharatkumar Shah
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Abstract
A method for machining a workpiece includes using a multi-axis robot to lift a tool head from a magazine. The robot attaches the tool head to an end of a drill tube. The drill tube is then rotated and longitudinally translated to machine the workpiece. The tool head is withdrawn from the machined workpiece longitudinally by moving the drill tube. The robot is used to disconnect the tool head, replace the disconnected tool head into a magazine and withdraw a different tool head from the magazine for attachment to the drill tube.
Claims15
An automated system for changing a tool head on a borer machine comprising:
- a multi-axis robot having a tool head end effector on an end of an operating arm of the multi-axis robot;
- a tool head magazine disposed proximate the multi-axis robot and storing therein a plurality of tool heads;
- and
- a drill tube disposed in a drill tube support, rotation and translation fixture proximate the robot and arranged to align the drill tube with the workpiece disposed at a selected longitudinal distance from the drill tube.
A method for replacing a tool head on a machine, comprising:
- using a multi-axis robot to lift a tool head from a magazine;
- using the robot to attach the tool head to an end of a drill tube;
- rotating and longitudinally translating the drill tube to machine a workpiece;
- withdrawing the tool head from the workpiece longitudinally by moving the drill tube;
- and
- using the robot to disconnect the tool head, replacing the disconnected tool head into a magazine and withdrawing a different tool head from the magazine for attachment to the drill tube.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.