HIGH THROUGHPUT MACHINING PALETTE SYSTEM

• US 20160288284A1
• Filed: 04/03/2015
• Published: 10/06/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eddy Engibarov
• Original Assignee: Eddy Engibarov
• Inventors: Engibarov, Eddy
• Granted Patent: US 10,259,103 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 1/00 Vices specially adapted for tying flies for angling A01K97/28; specially adapted for machine tools B23Q3/00 ; rope or cable splicing vices D07B7/162
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 1/02 with sliding jaws
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 1/2489 Slideways

Abstract

A palette for an automated machining system includes a body, a plurality of fasteners configured to apply a force laterally to body to fasten the body to a receiver in the automated machining system, and a soft jaw mechanism connected to the body. The soft jaw includes one or more locking blocks that are anchors for a floating block and wedge block that apply a force to hold a workpiece at a reproducible location between the one or more locking blocks. The floating block is configured to not engage with the body, workpiece, or wedge block beyond friction and/or compressive forces.

Claims

1. A palette system for an automated machining system, the palette system comprising:

a body, the body having a top surface with a slot;

one or more locking blocks;

a wedge block having an angled wedge face, the wedge block being connected to a wedge block backing member with an adjustable fastener such that adjusting the adjustable fastener moves the wedge block perpendicularly to the top surface of the body; and

a floating block, the floating block having an angled slide face configured to engage the wedge face and the floating block having no mechanical interlocking features thereon.

2. The palette system of claim 1, wherein the body includes a plurality of pockets in substantially opposing sides of the body.

3. The palette system of claim 1, wherein the body includes a beveled portion one or ends thereof.

4. The palette system of claim 1, wherein the wedge block and floating block form an angled interface therebetween, the angled interface forming an angle with the top surface between 40°

and 80°

.

5. The palette system of claim 1, wherein the top surface of the body further comprises a plurality of mechanical interlocking features.

6. The palette system of claim 5, wherein the mechanical interlocking features include a plurality of parallel grooves.

7. The palette system of claim 1, wherein the slot extends into the body and has sidewalls that produce a generally T-shaped lateral cross-section of the slot.

8. The palette system of claim 1, wherein the slot extends into the body and has sidewalls that are angled to taper the slot toward the top surface.

9. The palette system of claim 1, wherein the body further comprises a recess configured to receive a post of a receiver.

10. A palette system for an automated machining system, the palette comprising:

a body, the body having a top surface with a plurality of grooves and at least a first slot that is substantially perpendicular to the plurality of grooves;

a plurality of body fasteners, each of the body fasteners configured to engage an angled surface on the body;

a plurality of locking blocks, a surface of the locking blocks configured to mechanically interlock with the plurality of interlocking features, each locking block being connected to a locking block backing member with an adjustable fastener, wherein the backing member is positioned in the slot;

a wedge block connected to a wedge block backing member with an adjustable fastener, wedge block connected to the wedge block backing member such that adjusting the adjustable fastener moves the wedge block perpendicularly to the top surface of the body;

a floating block adjacent to the wedge block, the floating block configured to not engage with the plurality of mechanical interlocking features and the floating block having an angled slide face configured to interact with an angled wedge face of the wedge block, wherein the slide face is substantially flat and continuous; and

a receiver configured to engage with the body, the receiver and body having an engagement interface comprising a post and a recess.

11. The palette system of claim 10, wherein the locking block backing member is generally T-shaped.

12. The palette system of claim 10, wherein at least one of the locking blocks further comprises a channel extending through at least part of the locking block.

13. The palette system of claim 12, wherein the channel extends through the locking block and is open at both ends of the channel.

14. The palette system of claim 13, further comprising a positioning pin located in at least part of the channel.

15. The palette system of claim 10, wherein at least one locking block is secured to a first locking block backing member in the first slot and a second locking block backing member in a second slot.

16. A palette system for an automated machining system, the palette system comprising:

a body, the body having a top surface with a plurality of grooves and a slot, the plurality of grooves being substantially perpendicular to the slot;

a first locking block and a second locking block, a surface of the locking blocks configured to mechanically interlock with the plurality of interlocking features, each locking block being connected to a locking block backing member with an adjustable fastener, wherein the backing member is positioned in the slot;

a wedge block connected to a wedge block backing member with a wedge adjustable fastener, wedge block connected to the wedge block backing member such that adjusting the wedge adjustable fastener moves the wedge block perpendicularly to the top surface of the body and apply a force to the first locking block;

a floating block adjacent to and configured to receive a force from the wedge block, the floating block configured to not engage with the plurality of mechanical interlocking features and the floating block having an angled slide face configured to interact with an angled wedge face of the wedge block, wherein the slide face is substantially flat and continuous;

a channel located in the second locking block, the channel having an opening substantially facing the floating block; and

a positioning pin located in the channel.

17. The palette system of claim 16, further comprising a receiver configured to engage with the body, the receiver and body having an engagement interface comprising a post and a recess.

18. The palette system of claim 16, wherein the positioning pin has length greater than a length of the channel.

19. The palette system of claim 16, wherein the channel has a tapered channel end and a flared channel end and the positioning pin has a tapered pin end and a flared pin end, the flared pin end having a greater diameter than the tapered channel end.

20. The palette system of claim 16, further comprising an angled channel and a second pin located in the angled channel, wherein the angled channel forms an angle with the channel and the second pin is configured to apply a force to the positioning pin.