System and method for positioning workpieces on CNC machines

A system for positioning a pattern of a workpiece on a worktable of a computer controlled machine in a predetermined position, for performing a work function on said workpiece, comprising:

• means disposed on said worktable defining first and second reference lines having a predetermined spatial relationship to said pattern in said predetermined position;
• a template having first and second reference lines registrable with said first and second reference lines disposed on said worktable, and at least two locator points registrable with corresponding points on said workpiece pattern, disposed on said template in said predetermined spatial relationship relative to said first and second reference lines of-said template;
• means for detachably securing said workpiece to said template when said locator points on said template are registered with said corresponding points on said workpiece pattern;
• means for detachably securing said workpiece to said template when said locator points of said template are disposed in registry with said corresponding points of said workpiece pattern;
• and
• means for detachably securing said workpiece to said worktable when said workpiece pattern is disposed in said predetermined position;
• whereby upon registering said locator points of said template with said corresponding points of said workpiece pattern and operating said first mentioned securing means to detachably secure said workpiece to said template, transferring said template with the attached workpiece onto said worktable with said workpiece positioned on said table and said first and second reference lines of said template disposed in registry with said first and second reference lines of said means disposed on said worktable, operating said second mentioned means to detachably secure said workpiece to said worktable, operating said first mentioned securing means to detach said workpiece from said template and removing said template, said workpiece will be positioned on said worktable with said pattern disposed in said predetermined position, ready for a work function to be performed thereon.

A system for positioning a pattern on a workpiece on a worktable of a computer controlled machine in a predetermined position for performing a work function on said workpiece, comprising;

• means disposed on said worktable defining first and second abutment surfaces lying in planes disposed in predetermined spatial relationship to said pattern disposed in said predetermined position;
• a template having first and second reference edges engagable with said first and second abutment surfaces, respectively, and at least two locator points of an imaginary replica of said workpiece pattern superimposed on said template, registrable with corresponding points of said workpiece pattern;
• means for detachably securing said workpiece to said template with said locator points of said template registering with said corresponding points of said workpiece pattern;
• and
• means for detachably securing said workpiece to said worktable when said workpiece is disposed on said worktable and said pattern thereon is disposed in said predetermined position;
• whereby when said template is positioned on said workpiece with said locator points of said template registering with corresponding points of said workpiece pattern and said first mentioned securing means is operated to detachably secure said workpiece to said template, said template and attached workpiece are moved onto said worktable with said workpiece positioned on said worktable and said reference edges of said template engaging said abutment surfaces to position said workpiece pattern in said predetermined position, said first and second mentioned securing means are operated to detachably secure said workpiece to said worktable and release said template from said workpiece, and said template is removed, said workpiece will be positioned on said worktable with said pattern thereof in said predetermined position, ready for a work function to be performed thereon.

A method of positioning a pattern on a workpiece on a worktable of a computer controlled machine, in a predetermined position, for performing a work function on said workpiece, comprising:

• positioning a transfer means relative to said workpiece whereby said pattern on said workpiece is disposed in a predetermined spatial relationship to a reference means of said transfer means;
• detachably securing said workpiece to said transfer means with said pattern on said workpiece disposed in said predetermined spatial relationship;
• transferring said transfer means with the attached workpiece into a position on said worktable whereby said workpiece is positioned on said worktable and said reference means of said transfer means registers with a reference means on said worktable disposed in said predetermined spatial relationship to said predetermined position of said pattern on said worktable;
• detachably securing said workpiece to said worktable with said pattern of said workpiece disposed in said predetermined position;
• detaching said transfer means from said workpiece;
• and
• removing said transfer means to permit said work function to be performed on said workpiece.

A method of positioning a pattern on a workpiece on a worktable of a computer controlled machine, in a predetermined position, for performing a work function on said workpiece, comprising:

• positioning a template, having first and second reference lines, relative to said pattern on said workpiece whereby said pattern is disposed in a predetermined spatial relationship relative to said reference lines;
• securing said workpiece to said template with said pattern disposed in said predetermined spatial relationship to said reference lines;
• transferring said template with said workpiece detachably secured thereto onto said worktable with said workpiece disposed on said worktable and said reference lines of said template registering with first and second reference lines on said machine disposed in said predetermined spatial relationship to said pattern on said workpiece disposed in said predetermined position;
• detachably securing said workpiece to said worktable;
• detaching said template from said workpiece;
• and
• removing said template to permit said work function to be performed on said workpiece.

A method of positioning a pattern on a workpiece on a worktable of a computer controlled machine in a predetermined position, for performing a work function on said workpiece, comprising:

• positioning a template having first and second reference edges, relative to said pattern on said workpiece whereby said pattern is disposed in a predetermined spatial relationship to said reference edges;
• detachably securing said workpiece to said template with said pattern disposed in said predetermined spatial relationship to said reference edges;
• transferring said template with said workpiece detachably secured thereto onto said worktable with said workpiece disposed on said worktable and said reference edges engaging abutment surfaces disposed on said machine disposed in said predetermined spatial relationship to said pattern disposed in said predetermined position;
• detachably securing said workpiece to said worktable;
• detaching said template from said workpiece;
• and
• removing said template to permit said work function to be performed on said workpiece.

A system for positioning a pattern on a workpiece on the worktable of a CNC machine for performing a work function on said workpiece, comprising:

• first reference means disposed on said machine having a predetermined spatial relationship to a machine pattern defined by a programmed motion path of a working tool of said machine, corresponding to said workpiece pattern;
• transfer means including a locator pattern corresponding to and registrable with said workpiece pattern, and second reference means registrable with said first reference means, having said predetermined spatial relationship to said locator pattern;
• means for detachably securing said workpiece to said transfer means when said locator pattern is registered with said workpiece pattern;
• and
• means for detachably securing said workpiece to said machine when said workpiece is secured to said transfer means with said locator pattern disposed in registry with said workpiece pattern and said second reference means of said transfer means is registered with said first reference means of said machine,
• whereby upon registering said locator means of said transfer means with said workpiece pattern, detachably securing said workpiece to said transfer means with said locator and workpiece patterns disposed in registry, transferring said transfer means to said machine and positioning said attached workpiece on said worktable and positioning said second reference means in registry with said first reference means, detachably securing said workpiece to said worktable and detaching said transfer means from said workpiece, said workpiece pattern will be positioned on said worktable in a position coinciding with said machine pattern.

A system for positioning a pattern on a workpiece on the worktable of a CNC machine with said workpiece pattern being registered with a corresponding machine pattern defined by a programmed motion path of a working tool of said machine, comprising:

• first reference means disposed on said machine, having a predetermined spatial relationship to said machine pattern;
• transfer means having a locator pattern corresponding to and registrable with said workpiece pattern, and second reference means registrable with said first reference means, having said predetermined spatial relationship to said locator pattern;
• and
• means for detachably securing said workpiece to said worktable,
• whereby upon placing said workpiece on said worktable, positioning said second reference means of said transfer means in registry with said first reference means of said machine, moving said workpiece so that said workpiece pattern will be disposed in registry with said locator pattern of said transfer means, detachably securing said workpiece to said worktable while said workpiece pattern is disposed in registry with said locator pattern and removing said transfer means, said workpiece pattern will be positioned in registry with said machine pattern for performing said work function on said workpiece.