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US 5,271,953 AGranted
System for performing work on workpieces
AssigneeDelco Electronics Corporation
InventorMary O. Litteral
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Work is performed on workpieces, e.g., coating circuit boards, of different types in random order in assembly line fashion on a rotary table of an apparatus under programmed control. The table is rotated stepwise to move successive sections thereof from a load-unload station at which the respective workpieces are loaded and unloaded in random order, to a sensing station at which the type and orientation of the workpiece is sensed, next to a work station at which work is performed on the workpiece in dependence upon its type and orientation previously sensed at the sensing station, and in turn back to the load-unload station to complete a cycle. The workpiece is either changed in orientation on the table section for a repeat cycle to perform further work thereon or is replaced by another workpiece in random order.
Claims43
Apparatus for performing work on workpieces of different types in random order in assembly line fashion, the apparatus comprising:
- a rotary table comprising circumferentially spaced apart table sections, and having a rotator for rotating the table stepwise to move each table section in cycles at intervals from a load-unload station to a sensing station, then to a work station and in turn back to the load-unload station;
- a plurality of at least two different types of carriers receivable in random order respectively on the table sections, each type carrier being distinctive for carrying an associated type of workpiece different from that of each of the other types of carriers, and having a receiver for holding such an associated type workpiece in at least two different alternative orientations for performing work on respectively portions thereof in each orientation;
- a sensor for sensing the type and orientation of a workpiece held on a carrier on a respective table section at the sensing station;
- a device for performing work on said portions of a workpiece held in a said orientation on a respective table section at the work station, the device being operated in dependence upon the workpiece type and orientation previously sensed at the sensing station;
- and
- a controller for controlling the rotator, sensor and the device for interval stepwise operation, to permit loading and unloading of the carriers in random order respectively onto and from the table sections at the load-unload station, workpiece type and orientation sensing at the sensing station, and portion workpiece work performing at the work station, between stepwise movements of the table sections.
3 more elements
Apparatus for coating workpieces of different types in random order in assembly line fashion, the apparatus comprising:
- a rotary table comprising circumferentially spaced apart table sections, and having rotating means for rotating the table stepwise to move each table section in cycles at intervals from a load-unload station to a sensing station, then to a coating station and in turn back to the load-unload station;
- a plurality of at least two different types of carriers receivable in random order respectively on the table sections, each type carrier being distinctive for carrying an associated type of workpiece different from that of each of the other types of carriers, and having holder means for holding such an associated type workpiece in a first orientation for coating first portions thereof, and alternatively in a second orientation for coating second portions thereof;
- receiving means on each table section for receiving a respective carrier thereon;
- sensing means for sensing the type and orientation of a workpiece held on a carrier on a respective table section at the sensing station;
- dispensing means comprising a movable nozzle for dispensing a flow of coating material;
- moving means for moving the nozzle along a first coating path for coating the dispensed coating material onto said first portions of a workpiece in said first orientation on an associated carrier on a respective table section at the coating station, and alternatively along a second coating path for coating the dispensed coating material onto said second portions of the workpiece in said second orientation thereon at the coating station, in dependence upon the workpiece type and orientation previously sensed at the sensing station;
- and
- control means for controlling the rotating means, sensing means, dispensing means and moving means for interval stepwise automatic operation, to permit loading and unloading of the carriers in random order respectively onto and from the table sections at the load-unload station, automatic workpiece type and orientation sensing at the sensing station, and automatic portion workpiece coating at the coating station, between automatic stepwise movements of the table sections.
5 more elements
Apparatus for coating circuit boards of different types in random order in assembly line fashion, the apparatus comprising:
- a rotary table comprising at least three circumferentially spaced apart table sections, and having a rotator for rotating the table stepwise to move each table section in cycles at intervals from a load-unload station to a sensing station, then to a coating station and in turn back to the load-unload station;
- a plurality of at least two different types of pallets receivable in random order respectively on the table sections, each type pallet being distinctive for carrying an associated type of circuit board different from that of each of the other types of pallets;
- a receiver on each table section for releasably stationarily receiving a respective pallet thereon;
- a first holder on each pallet for releasably stationarily holding an associated type circuit board in a first orientation such that a first side of the circuit board is exposed for coating first portions thereof, and a second holder on each pallet for alternatively releasably stationarily holding an associated type circuit board in a second orientation such that a second side of the circuit board is exposed for coating second portions thereof;
- a sensor for sensing the type and orientation of a circuit board held on a pallet on a respective table section at the sensing station;
- a workpiece type indicator associated with each pallet for indicating the associated type circuit board and arranged for sensing by the sensor when the pallet is on a table section at the sensing station;
- a dispenser comprising a movable nozzle for dispensing a flow of coating material;
- a driver for moving the nozzle along a first coating path for coating the dispensed coating material onto said first portions of a circuit board in said first orientation on an associated pallet on a respective table section at the coating station, and alternatively along a second coating path for coating the dispensed coating material onto said second portions of the circuit board in said second orientation thereon at the coating station, in dependence upon the circuit board type and orientation previously sensed at the sensing station;
- and
- a controller for controlling the rotator, sensor, dispenser and driver for interval stepwise automatic operation, to permit loading and unloading of the different type pallets individually in random order respectively onto and from the table sections at the load-unload station, automatic circuit board type and orientation sensing at the sensing station, and automatic portion circuit board coating at the coating station, between automatic stepwise movements of the table sections.
7 more elements
A method for performing work on workpieces of different types in random order in assembly line fashion, the method comprising:
- rotating stepwise at intervals a rotary table comprising circumferentially spaced apart table sections to move each table section stepwise in cycles from a load-unload station to a sensing station, then to a work station and in turn back to the load-unload station;
- providing a plurality of at least two different types of carriers receivable in random order respectively on the table sections, each type carrier being distinctive for carrying an associated type of workpiece different from that of each of the other types of carriers, and being capable of holding the associated type workpiece in at least two different alternative orientations for performing work on respectively portions thereof in each orientation;
- providing an associated type workpiece on each carrier in a said orientation;
- and
- carrying out therewith the following steps:
- (1) loading in random order a carrier holding an associated type workpiece in a said orientation onto each table section, on stepwise movement of the respective table section to the load-unload station;
- (2) sensing the type and orientation of the workpiece, on stepwise movement of the respective table section to the sensing station;
- (3) performing work on said portions of the workpiece in the said orientation, on stepwise movement of the respective table section to the work station, the work being performed in dependence upon the type and orientation of the workpiece previously sensed at the sensing station;
- (4) changing the workpiece from the said orientation to another orientation on the associated carrier, or alternatively unloading such carrier and loading in random order another carrier holding an associated type workpiece in a said orientation, on stepwise movement of the respective table section to the load-unload station to complete a cycle;
- and
- (5) repeating said steps sufficiently to complete at least one further cycle.
8 more elements
A method for coating circuit boards of different types in random order in assembly line fashion, the method comprising:
- rotating stepwise at intervals a rotary table comprising circumferentially spaced apart table sections to move each table section stepwise in cycles successively from a load-unload station to a sensing station, then to a coating station and in turn back to the load-unload station;
- providing a plurality of at least two different types of carriers receivable in random order respectively on the table sections, each type carrier being distinctive for carrying an associated type of circuit board different from that of each of the other types of carriers, and being capable of holding the associated type circuit board in a first orientation for coating first portions thereof, and alternatively in a second orientation for coating second portions thereof;
- providing an associated type circuit board on each carrier in a corresponding one of said orientations;
- and
- carrying out therewith the following steps:
- (1) loading in random order a carrier holding an associated type circuit board in a corresponding one of said orientations onto each table section, on stepwise movement of the respective table section to the load-unload station;
- (2) sensing the type and orientation of the circuit board, on stepwise movement of the respective table section to the sensing station;
- (3) coating a coating material onto said portions of the circuit board in the corresponding one of said orientations, on stepwise movement of the respective table section to the coating station, the coating being performed in dependence upon the type and orientation of the circuit board previously sensed at the sensing station;
- (4) changing the circuit board from the corresponding one of said orientations to the corresponding other of said orientations on the associated carrier, or alternatively unlaoding such carrier and loading in random order another carrier holding an associated type circuit board in a corresponding one of said orientations, on stepwise movement of the respective table section to the load-unload station to complete a cycle;
- and
- (5) repeating said steps sufficiently to complete at least one further cycle;
- the steps being effected such that at least one of the cycles includes the step of changing a circuit board from the corresponding one of said orientations to the corresponding other of said orientations on an associated carrier, and the repeating of the steps sufficiently to complete at least one further cycle.
9 more elements
A method for performing work on workpieces of different types in random order in assembly line fashion, which comprises:
- rotating stepwise at intervals a rotary table comprising circumferentially spaced apart table sections to move each table section stepwise in cycles successively from a load-unload station to a sensing station, then to a work station and in turn back to the load-unload station;
- providing a plurality of at least two different types of carriers receivable in random order respectively on the table sections, each type carrier being distinctive for carrying an associated type of workpiece different from that of each of the other types of carriers, and being capable of holding the associated type workpiece in at least two different alternative orientations for performing work on respectively portions thereof in each orientation;
- providing a plurality of associated type workpieces for each carrier;
- and
- carrying out therewith the following steps:
- (1) providing in random order a carrier holding an associated type workpiece in a said orientation on each table section, on stepwise movement of the respective table section to the load-unload station;
- (2) sensing the type and orientation of the workpiece;
- (3) performing work on said portions of the workpiece in the said orientation, on stepwise movement of the respective table section to the work station, the work being performed in dependence upon the type and orientation of the workpiece previously sensed at the sensing station;
- (4) changing the workpiece from the said orientation to another orientation on the same carrier, or alternatively unloading such workpiece and loading on the same carrier another associated type workpiece in a said orientation thereon, on stepwise movement of the respective table section to the load-unload station to complete a cycle;
- and
- (5) repeating said steps sufficiently to complete at least one further cycle.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.