Re-configurable pallet for use in automated manufacturing or material handling

A flexible manufacturing pallet comprising:

• at least two substantially parallel guide plates having a matrix of guide holes,
• a plurality of actuator plates that are substantially parallel to said guide plates and having a matrix of holes substantially aligned with and complementary to the guide holes of the guide plates,
• a matrix of unbiased pins extending through and displaceable within the matrix of holes of the guide and actuator plates,
• an actuator that applies a shear force to the plurality of actuator plates, said plurality of actuator plates transferring said shear force to the unbiased pins to lock the unbiased pins in a fixed vertical position relative to said guide plates whereby to form cradle for holding an object in place,
• wherein said actuator is released to apply a spring-loaded shear force against said plurality of actuator plates to lock the unbiased pins, and
• a latch to latch said plurality of actuator plates in alignment with said guide plates.

A method of re-configuring a flexible manufacturing pallet to conform to a shape of a work piece or part comprising:

• providing a matrix of unbiased pins that are displaceable within a frame,
• providing a plurality of actuator plates supported by said frame with a plurality of slots within the frame,
• extending the a plurality of actuator plates through the plurality of slots,
• placing the matrix of pins over the work piece or object thereby to form a cradle that conforms to the shape of the object,
• providing a force to the plurality of actuator plates,
• locking the unbiased pins in a fixed position relative to each other after the placing step, and using the cradle formed in the locking step as a pallet in a parts carrying operation during manufacturing.

A method providing an adaptive manufacturing pallet that conforms to the shape of an object, said method comprising:

• providing within a frame a matrix of displaceably unbiased object contact points,
• providing a plurality of actuator plates, supported by said frame by a plurality of slots within the frame,
• extending the plurality of actuator plates through the plurality of slots,
• placing the matrix over the object thereby to form a cradle that conforms to the shape of the object,
• providing a force to the plurality of actuator plates,
• locking the displaceably unbiased object contact points in a fixed position relative to each other after the placing step, and
• using the cradle formed in the locking step as a pallet for holding the object in position during an object handling operation.