Combination tool for robot assisted assembly
US6606774B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 25, 2001 |
| Grant date | Aug 19, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 22, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T29/5303
- WIPO fieldMachine tools
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A method of assembling a part to a workpiece with a combination tool supported on a robot, where a mounting surface of the part is assembled on a target surface of the workpiece including the following steps. (a) Indexing to the assembly position. (b) Picking a part with the part gripper on the part delivery arm from a part supply station. (c) Indexing part delivery and workpiece preparation arms to the preparation position. (d) Operating the workpiece target surface scanning module and communicating workpiece target surface position data to the robot. (e) Moving the robot to set the tool operating axis and calculate tool offsets relative to the position and orientation of the scanned target surface. (f) Simultaneously: engaging the part mounting surface with the part surface preparation module; and engaging the workpiece target surface preparation module with the target surface. (g) Indexing to the assembly position. (h) Using the previously set tool operating axis and calculated tool offsets, engaging the prepared part mounting surface with the prepared workpiece target surface. (i) Releasing the part gripper and withdrawing the tool from the part/workpiece assembly.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.