Precised transport positioning apparatus using a closed loop controlled, non-direct or friction drive system with absolute positioning encoder
AssigneeComau S.p.A.
InventorVelibor Kilibarda
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for positioning a workpiece carrier with respect to a workstation can include a workpiece carrier movable relative to the workstation and having an encoder strip, at least one encoder reader located at the workstation for generating a signal in response to interaction with at least one encoder strip, and a drive engaging the workpiece carrier for moving the carrier relative to the workstation, the drive responsive to the signal from the encoder reader. A closed loop feedback control system can be provided for receiving the signal from the encoder reader, and for generating an output signal in response to the signal from the encoder reader in accordance with a program stored in memory.
Claims19
An apparatus for positioning a workpiece carrier with respect to an assembly line workstation comprising:
- a workpiece carrier for transporting a workpiece along an assembly line path of travel relative to a workstation;
- a drive for selectively moving the workpiece carrier along the path of travel;
- a code reader positioned at the workstation along the path of travel;
- a coded strip positioned along the path of travel wherein one of the code reader and the coded strip is selectively movable relative to one another, the coded strip having a first end and a second end defining a code strip length and including:
- (a) a first identification information segment of at least one of the workpiece carrier type or the workpiece type for positive identification of the carrier type or the workpiece type;
- and
- (b) a logistical positioning information segment for positive positioning of code strip relative to the code reader;
- and
- a controller in electronic communication with the code reader and the drive defining a closed-loop feedback control system to selectively position the carrier in a desired location.
A method for transporting and selectively positioning a partially completed vehicle along a path of travel, the method comprising the steps of:
- moving at least one workpiece carrier supporting the vehicle along a path of travel;
- reading an coded strip having a first identification segment and a positioning segment by a code reader on relative movement between the code strip and the code reader as the workpiece carrier moves along the path of travel;
- identifying a desired position for the workpiece carrier along the path of travel based on a reading of the first identification segment;
- and
- selectively activating a drive for selectively moving the workpiece carrier to the desired position based on the relative position of coded strip positioning segment to the code reader.
An apparatus for transporting and selectively positioning a partially completed vehicle along a path of travel, the apparatus comprising:
- means for moving at least one workpiece carrier supporting the vehicle along a path of travel;
- means for reading an coded strip having a first identification segment and a positioning segment by a code reader on relative movement between the code strip and the code reader as the workpiece carrier moves along the path of travel;
- means for identifying a desired position for the workpiece carrier along the path of travel based on a reading of the first identification segment;
- and
- means for selectively activating a drive for selectively moving the workpiece carrier to the desired position based on the relative position of coded strip positioning segment to the code reader.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.