Reconfigurable gantry tool
AssigneeNorthrop Grumman Corporation
InventorGeorge Nicholas Bullen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention is embodied in a reconfigurable gantry tool and a reconfigurable tool system. The reconfigurable tool includes a platform, a reconfigurable holding mechanism, a gantry frame, a multi-axis numerically controlled robotic tool, a multi-movement control device coupled to the mobile multi-axis tool, and a rotatable and translatable sine plate. The reconfigurable gantry tool system comprises a plurality of reconfigurable gantry tools strategically coupled to one another to form a non-matrix assembly line. Other tooling systems can be coupled to and/or within the reconfigurable gantry tool system for performing additional operations.
Claims21
A reconfigurable gantry tool for performing tooling operations on a workpiece, comprising:
- a movable platform;
- a sine plate rotatably and slidably coupled to said platform;
- a numerical controlled gantry slidably coupled to said platform to allow multi-axis movement of a toc supported by, said gantry for performing tooling operations on said workpiece;
- and
- a multi-movement control device coupled to said platform, sine plate, and gantry for controlling movement of said coupled devices.
A reconfigurable gantry tool, comprising:
- a movable platform;
- a sine plate rotatably and slidably coupled to said platform;
- a reconfigurable holding device coupled to said sine plate for securing a workpiece;
- a gantry frame slidably coupled to said platform;
- a robotic arm slidably coupled to said gantry frame, said robotic arm having a multi-axis numerical controlled tool for performing tooling operations on said workpiece;
- and
- a multi-movement control device coupled to said platform, sine plate, gantry frame, and robotic arm for controlling movement of said coupled devices.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.