Method for changing the tooling in a robot-based system and system utilizing same
US4679297A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 15, 1986 |
| Grant date | Jul 14, 1987 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 15, 2006 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T483/16
- WIPO fieldMachine tools
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A method for changing the tooling in a robot-based material transfer system is disclosed as well as a system utilizing the method. The tooling is changed to accommodate the transfer of material such as automotive parts having different configurations within the system. Initially, end effectors of gantry robots and/or transfer beds of the system are placed in at least one container which is indexed through the work envelopes of the robots. Then, at least one specially designed container containing new tooling is indexed into the work envelopes. The robots are controlled to remove the new tooling from the containers and to place the new tooling in operative positions in the system. In the disclosed embodiment, one of the robots utilizes a special transfer bed gripper to replace the old transfer beds with new transfer beds. Preferably, an automatic guided vehicle system (AGVS) moves containers to and from loading and unloading stations in the material handling system.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.