Apparatus, System and Method for Adhesive Fixturing of a Work Piece
AssigneeAdvanced Simulation Technology, Incorporated
InventorsMatthew T. Jarvis, Mark A. Rogers, Steven B. Lelinski, Alvin Andrew Potter
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Abstract
An apparatus, system and method for adhesive fixturing include UV light sources that are connectable to a fixture when the fixture is not attached to the stage of a workcell. A support structure holds the UV light sources in alignment with gripper pins communicating through the fixture. A bus connector operably connects the UV light sources to a control box of the workcell. Attaching the UV light sources to the fixtures outside of the workcell increases the throughput of the workcell and reduces the cost of the fixtured work pieces.
Claims20
An apparatus for adhesive fixturing of a work piece to a fixture on a workcell stage in a workcell where the fixture includes a gripper pin configured to transmit UV light to a UV adhesive disposed between the fixture and the work piece and where the workcell includes a control box to control the emission of UV light, the apparatus comprising:
- a. a UV light source, the UV light source having a configuration for selectably connection to the fixture so that the UV light source is aligned with the gripper pin,
- b. a bus connector, the UV light source being operably connected to the bus connector, the bus connector being selectably connectable to the control box for control of the emission of UV light from the UV light source, whereby the UV light source may be connected to the fixture at a location separate from the workcell stage when the bus connector is not connected to the control box and subsequently the bus connector may be connected to the control box for control of the UV light source when the fixture is attached to the workcell stage for adhesive fixturing of the work piece.
A method for adhesive fixturing of a work piece to a fixture on a workcell stage in a workcell where the fixture includes a plurality of gripper pins configured to transmit UV light to a UV adhesive disposed between the fixture and the work piece and where the workcell includes a control box to control the emission of UV light, the method comprising:
- a. attaching a UV delivery assembly to the fixture outside of the workcell, wherein the UV delivery assembly includes a plurality of UV light sources operably attached to a bus connector, each of the UV light sources being aligned with a corresponding gripper pin in the fixture when the UV light deliver assembly is attached to the fixture;
- b. attaching the UV delivery assembly and the fixture to the stage of a workcell so that the bus connector is operably attached to the control box;
- c. placing by the workcell of a work piece in contact with the fixture;
- d. commanding by the control box that the UV light sources illuminate;
- e. projecting UV light by the UV light sources through the gripper pins to the UV adhesive disposed between the fixture and the work piece, thereby curing the UV adhesive and attaching the work piece to the fixture;
- f. removing the fixture with the attached work piece and attached UV delivery assembly from the workcell stage;
- g. removing the UV light delivery system from the fixture.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.