Patent · US Expired

Apparatus and method for situating a tool with respect to a work site on a workpiece

US7259535B1 · kind B1 · utility

8Cited by
14References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 8, 2006
Grant dateAug 21, 2007
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 8, 2026

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T74/20317
  • WIPO fieldControl
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An apparatus coupled with a mechanism and cooperating with the mechanism to locate an end-effector within a predetermined distance of a work site for situating the end-effector with respect to the work site includes: (a) a positioning unit coupled with the end-effector for moving the end-effector an adjustment distance with respect to the workpiece; (b) a sensing unit coupled with the apparatus for sensing extant locus of the end-effector with respect to at least one reference locus; and (c) an error determining device coupled with the sensing unit and the positioning unit; the error determining device determining a difference between the extant locus and the work locus. The positioning unit moves the end-effector in response to the difference indicating signal to reduce the difference.

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