Multiple robotic workstation with multiple fixtures
AssigneeProgressive Tool & Industries Co.
InventorJeffrey R. Angel
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A workstation having multiple robots and multiple fixtures for processing multiple workpieces along two processing paths. A first fixture can be positioned on the first processing path and a second fixture can be positioned on the second processing path. The multiple robots are positioned between the two paths and are moveable to process workpieces moving along both the first and second paths. The robots can be welding robots. The robots can be independently moveable with respect to each other to enhance the efficiency of the workstation. The robots can have overlapping ranges of movement so that every portion of the workpiece can be processed by at least two of the robots.
Claims20
A workstation for processing a plurality of workpieces comprising:
- a first fixture positionable along a first processing path for supporting a first workpiece moveable along the first processing path;
- a second fixture positionable along a second processing path for supporting a second workpiece moveable along the second processing path;
- and
- a plurality of robots positionable between the first and second fixtures, each robot moveable to selectively engage each of the first and second workpieces, wherein at least one robot can process the first workpiece while at least one other robot can process the second workpiece.
A workstation for processing a plurality of workpieces comprising:
- a first fixture positionable along a first processing path for supporting a first workpiece moveable along the first processing path;
- a second fixture positionable along a second processing path for supporting a second workpiece moveable alone the second processing path;
- a plurality of robots positionable between the first and second fixtures, each robot moveable to selectively engage each of the first and second workpieces;
- a third fixture adjacent the first fixture along the first processing path;
- a fourth fixture adjacent the second fixture alone the second processing path, each of the third and fourth fixtures for supporting at least one workpiece during a processing operation with respect to the workpiece;
- a transfer robot for moving workpieces between the fixtures positioned along at least one of the first and second processing paths;
- and
- a processing robot for processing a workpiece while the workpiece is engaged by the transfer robot.
A method for processing a plurality of workpieces moveable along first and second processing paths comprising the steps of:
- selectively supporting at least two workpieces with first and second fixtures, the first fixture positionable along the first processing path and the second fixture positionable along the second processing path;
- and
- engaging each workpiece with a plurality of robots positionable between the first and second processing paths, each robot operable to selectively engage each workpiece supported by the first and second fixtures, wherein at least one robot can process the first workpiece while at least one other robot can process the second workpiece.
An apparatus for processing a plurality of workpieces comprising:
- a first fixture positionable along a first processing path for supporting a first workpiece;
- a second fixture positionable along a first processing path for supporting a second workpiece;
- and
- a plurality of robots positionable between the first and second processing paths, each robot independently moveable with respect to each other to selectively engage each of the first and second workpieces, wherein at least one robot can process the first workpiece while at least one other robot can process the second workpiece.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.