Reconfigurable gantry tool and system
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 method of performing tooling operations, comprising the steps of:
- (a) placing a first workpiece within a work envelope of a first reconfigurable gantry tool;
- (b) performing at least one tooling operation on said first workpiece;
- (c) engaging, in a detachable manner, said first reconfigurable gantry tool with a second reconfigurable gantry tool by moving one of said first and second reconfigurable gantry tools toward the other of said first and second reconfigurable gantry tools;
- (d) transferring said first workpiece to a work envelope of said second reconfigurable gantry tool;
- and
- (e) repeating steps (a)-(d) for other reconfigurable gantry tools as necessary.
An assembly line for assembling a structure comprised of workpieces, said assembly line comprising:
- a plurality of interconnected reconfigurable gantry tools for processing said workpieces, each reconfigurable gantry tool comprising;
- a movable platform for interconnecting corresponding reconfigurable gantry tools;
- 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 tool 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;
- and
- a controller for controlling interaction between said reconfigurable gantry tools of said assembly line.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.