US 6,430,796 B1Granted

Apparatus for performing automated manufacturing operations on panel-shaped workpieces

AssigneeThe Boeing Company

InventorsDarrell Darwin Jones, James N. Buttrick, Jr.

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Abstract

An apparatus for assembling panel-shaped workpieces such as aircraft wing panels includes a traveling gantry that supports a tool-holding frame on which are supported a plurality of tools such as drills, riveters, rivet shavers, inspection tools, and the like. The frame is movable along a plurality of axes and is rotatable about at least one axis for positioning the tools in relation to the workpiece. The apparatus also includes a fixture for holding a workpiece, the fixture comprising a plurality of slidable holders that can be extended or retracted along a horizontal direction generally perpendicular to the surfaces of a wing panel or the like. The holders have clamps and/or vacuum cups for engaging the workpiece to hold the workpiece in a desired position. The holders are retractable to create a clearance between the workpiece and the holders to allow the frame to be passed through the clearance. The gantry can be rotated about a vertical axis by differentially driving one wheel assembly along one of the rails relative to the other wheel assembly on the other rail. The tool-holding frame can comprise a U-shaped yoke that passes beneath a workpiece, or a four-sided frame that is open in the middle for receiving a workpiece therethrough. The tools can be slidably mounted on the frame for vertical movement therealong.

Claims10

Dependent claims

An apparatus for performing manufacturing operations upon a workpiece, comprising:

a gantry;
a frame mounted on the gantry, the frame having a middle portion and opposed leg portions joined to the middle portion in spaced relation for receiving the workpiece therebetween;
at least one tool mounted on one of the leg portions of the frame and operable to perform an operation upon the workpiece;
and
a fixture for holding the workpiece such that a length dimension of the workpiece extends generally parallel to a generally horizontal first axis and the workpiece is disposed between the leg portions of the frame, the fixture including a plurality of holders spaced apart in a first horizontal direction parallel to said first axis, each holder being operable to extend generally horizontally along a direction generally perpendicular to said first horizontal direction so as to engage a side of the workpiece and to support the workpiece;
wherein one of the gantry and the fixture is operable to travel relative to the other along the first horizontal direction so as to move the workpiece relatively through the frame, and wherein the holders of the fixture are operable to retract away from the side of the workpiece engaged by the holder so as to provide a clearance between the workpiece and said holder for passage of the frame through said clearance while the other holders remain engaged with the workpiece.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.