Rotary Machine with Separately Controllable Stations
First Claim
1. A rotary machine comprising:
- a table having a center axis and being configured to rotate about said center axis, said table comprising a plurality of stations disposed about said center axis;
a first motor connected to drive said table to rotate about said center axis;
a position sensor for said table, said position sensor capable of resolving a rotational position of said table;
a cam;
each of said stations comprising;
a non-rotating guide attached to said table;
a rotating element configured to rotate within said non-rotating guide, said rotating element revolving about a station axis;
a station motor configured to cause said rotating element to rotate with respect to said non-rotating guide; and
a linear slide configured to enable said non-rotating guide to linearly move along a linear axis with respect to said table; and
a controller configured to cause said first motor to rotate said table at a first speed and cause said station motors to rotate according to a motion profile.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A rotary machine may have multiple stations that have a linear motion operated by a cam and a rotational motion operated by individual motors mounted on each station. Each station may perform a motion profile that is proportional to the machine'"'"'s central axis rotation or, in some cases, independent of the central axis rotation. In some embodiments, each station may rotate to orient a part prior to processing. In one embodiment, the cam driven linear motion may enable a station to lower for loading and unloading, then raise for processing. The rotary machine may have various mechanisms at each station for processing a part. One such embodiment is a rotary machine that may be outfitted with compound dispensing mechanisms at each station.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A rotary machine comprising:
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a table having a center axis and being configured to rotate about said center axis, said table comprising a plurality of stations disposed about said center axis; a first motor connected to drive said table to rotate about said center axis; a position sensor for said table, said position sensor capable of resolving a rotational position of said table; a cam; each of said stations comprising; a non-rotating guide attached to said table; a rotating element configured to rotate within said non-rotating guide, said rotating element revolving about a station axis; a station motor configured to cause said rotating element to rotate with respect to said non-rotating guide; and a linear slide configured to enable said non-rotating guide to linearly move along a linear axis with respect to said table; and a controller configured to cause said first motor to rotate said table at a first speed and cause said station motors to rotate according to a motion profile. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method comprising:
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causing a table of a rotary machine to rotate about a center axis at a first speed, said rotary machine having a plurality of stations disposed about said center axis; receiving a part onto a first of said stations; engaging said first of said stations by a linear motion produced from a cam, said linear motion being produced as said table rotates about said center axis; causing a station motor to perform a motion profile as said table rotates; and disengaging said first of said stations. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification