Multi-station machining center
OwnerWilhelm Volkinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A machining center comprising at least two workstations. A first workstation is adapted to receive a first workpiece, and a second workstation is adapted to receive a second workpiece. The first workstation may be a vacuum table, and the second workstation may be comprised of a plurality of hold-down bars. A carriage is adapted to travel between the two workstations in one machine cycle. The carriage may have a single tool or a plurality of tools. During the machine cycle, the carriage is adapted to perform a machining operation (e.g., routing, drilling, sawing, and/or sanding) on the workpiece at each workstation.
Claims20
A machine comprising:
- a first stationary workstation adapted to receive a first workpiece;
- a second stationary workstation adapted to receive a second workpiece, said second workstation having a different type of workpiece holder than said first workstation;
- a guide system adapted to facilitate movement between said first workstation and said second workstation;
- and
- a carriage having a plurality of tools, said carriage connected to said guide system such that said carriage is adapted to move between said first workstation and said second workstation;
- wherein said carriage, in one machine cycle, is automated and adapted to perform an operation on said first workpiece at said first workstation using a first one of said tools and then move to said second workstation to perform an operation on said second workpiece using a second one of said tools.
A machine comprising:
- a first stationary workstation comprising a vacuum table adapted to receive a first workpiece;
- a second stationary workstation remote from said first workstation, said second workstation comprising a plurality of hold-down bars adapted to receive a second workpiece, said hold-down bars including at least one suction cup or at least one clamp;
- a guide system adapted to facilitate movement between said first workstation and said second workstation;
- and
- a carriage connected to said guide system such that said carriage is adapted to move between said first workstation and said second workstation;
- wherein said carriage, in one machine cycle, is automated and adapted to perform an operation on said first workpiece at said first workstation and then move to said second workstation to perform an operation on said second workpiece.
A machine comprising:
- a first stationary workstation comprising a vacuum table adapted to receive a first workpiece;
- a second stationary workstation remote from said first workstation, said second workstation comprising a plurality of hold-down bars adapted to receive a second workpiece, said hold-down bars including at least one suction cup or at least one clamp;
- a guide system adapted to facilitate movement between said first workstation and said second workstation;
- a carriage having a plurality of tools, said carriage connected to said guide system such that said carriage is adapted to move between said first workstation and said second workstation;
- wherein said carriage, in one machine cycle, is automated and adapted to perform an operation on said first workpiece at said first workstation using a first one of said tools and then move to said second workstation to perform an operation on said second workpiece using a second one of said tools.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.