System for automatically positioning multiple tool-holding carriages

Abstract

A system for automatically positioning a plurality of tool-holding carriages along an elongate guide member utilizes a single drive member to move all of the carriages simultaneously. The carriages each have clutches for selectively engaging or disengaging the drive member so that the carriages can be moved relative to each other by the drive member, and can be moved simultaneously in opposite directions along the guide member if desired. The drive member is capable of moving each carriage throughout its respective maximum range of movement with a continuous motion, without any reversal of the drive member or any disengagement of the respective carriage from the drive member. Each carriage has an electrically-powered position sensor capable of transmitting different discrete signals for different positions of the carriage so that it provides absolute indications of position rather than indications which are relative to some reference position. A sealing enclosure surrounds both the drive member and the carriages, so as to prevent the entry into the enclosure of airborne particles, and likewise surrounds all fluid and electrical power conduits to the carriages. Automatic positioning of the various carriages is simplified by precisely positioning them sequentially, in an order corresponding to progressively larger distances of movement required for each carriage to reach its desired position.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.