Patent · US Expired

Part positioning apparatus and method

US4712974A · kind A · utility

11Cited by
12References
17Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJun 24, 1985
Grant dateDec 15, 1987
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 24, 2005

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T29/49902
  • WIPO fieldHandling
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A part positioning apparatus is provided for accurately positioning and angularly orienting a variety of different parts or components for pick-up by a robotic part handling device. The apparatus includes a bowl-like part receptacle which is subjected to a vibratory force so that a part placed on a concave interior surface of the receptacle slides thereover, under the influence of gravity, and assumes an equilibrium position in a designated area of a horizontal plane thereby positioning the part with respect to X and Y axes. Thereafter the receptacle is rotated about a vertical axis to angularly orient the part in a desired direction.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.