Pick-and-place system and method for transferring and installing a contoured composite structure
US12318926B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 24, 2022 |
| Grant date | Jun 3, 2025 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 31, 2043 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB29L2031/3085
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
There is provided a pick-and-place system for transferring and installing a contoured composite structure onto a mandrel, in a composite manufacturing system. The pick-and-place system includes a tray station having a tray assembly to hold the contoured composite structure, prior to transfer and installation onto the mandrel. The pick-and-place system further includes an installation station having the mandrel and a pick-and-place assembly. The mandrel is designed to receive the contoured composite structure, and designed to move along a moving manufacturing line, via a conveyor assembly. The pick-and-place assembly includes a gantry assembly, a main beam suspended from the gantry assembly, the main beam having a plurality of end effector assemblies and a plurality of indexing assemblies, a vacuum system coupled to the main beam, a load balancer assembly coupling the main beam to the gantry assembly, and a control system coupled to the pick-and-place assembly, to operably control the pick-and-place-assembly.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.