Flexible tooling system
US11022953B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 4, 2020 |
| Grant date | Jun 1, 2021 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 4, 2040 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG05B2219/45207
- WIPO fieldMachine tools
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
The low profile of the flexible tooling system disclosed allows for flexible tooling to be added to nearly all CNC machines with an accommodating z-axis height and allows easier relocation of the system from one CNC machine to another. The system includes one or more pods, each of the pods of the system replacing the function of four independent actuators of earlier systems but operating with a shared mechanical frame. Arranging the mechanism into groups of four allows for greater density of part support spacing, minimizes cable requirements, and allows for air, vacuum, and vacuum sensor requirements be localized on each pod. The pods allow for part supports to be spaced as close as 6″ in the x and y axis. An increased variable position assembly density allows for greater flexibility to hold complicated parts.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.