Rotatable reconfigurable table for holding and supporting contoured workpieces
First Claim
1. A reconfiguration table for holding and supporting a contoured workpiece while work is performed thereon, the table comprising:
- a frame defining a perimeter and a plane;
a plurality of support elements disposed in spaced array within the frame perimeter, each element having an end and being independently translatable in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane, the ends of the elements cooperating to define a support surface for the workpiece, wherein translation of each support element relative to the plane of the frame is effected solely by gravity;
means, supported by the frame, for selectively locking the elements in position to define the support surface;
means, supported by the frame independently of the support elements, for holding the workpiece on the support surface; and
means for rotating the frame with the workpiece supported thereon about an axis parallel to the plane of the frame.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A reconfiguration table, for holding and supporting a contoured workpiece while work is performed thereon comprising a frame defining a perimeter and a plane; a plurality of support elements disposed in spaced array within the frame perimeter, each element having an end and being independently translatable in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane, the ends of the elements cooperating to define a support surface for the workpiece; clamp members, supported by the frame, for selectively locking the elements in position to define the support surface; attaching members, supported by the frame independently of the support elements, for holding the workpiece on the support surface; and a gear reducer and motor for rotating the frame with the workpiece supported thereon about an axis parallel to the plane of the frame.
36 Citations
17 Claims
-
1. A reconfiguration table for holding and supporting a contoured workpiece while work is performed thereon, the table comprising:
-
a frame defining a perimeter and a plane; a plurality of support elements disposed in spaced array within the frame perimeter, each element having an end and being independently translatable in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane, the ends of the elements cooperating to define a support surface for the workpiece, wherein translation of each support element relative to the plane of the frame is effected solely by gravity; means, supported by the frame, for selectively locking the elements in position to define the support surface; means, supported by the frame independently of the support elements, for holding the workpiece on the support surface; and means for rotating the frame with the workpiece supported thereon about an axis parallel to the plane of the frame. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
2. A reconfiguration table for holding and supporting a contoured workpiece while work is performed thereon, the table comprising:
-
a frame defining a perimeter and a plane; a plurality of support elements disposed in spaced array within the frame perimeter, each element having an end and being independently translatable in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane, the ends of the elements cooperating to define a support surface for the workpiece; means, supported by the frame, for selectively locking the elements in position to define the support surface; means, supported by the frame independently of the support elements, for holding the workpiece on the support surface; means for rotating the frame with the workpiece supported thereon about an axis parallel to the plane of the frame; and detachable members for biasing each support element in a common direction relative to the plane of the frame. - View Dependent Claims (3, 9, 15, 16, 17)
-
-
10. A method for holding and supporting a contoured workpiece having a surface on which work is to be performed and an opposed non-work surface, the method comprising the steps of:
-
disposing the non-work surface of the workpiece in aligned relation with a spaced array of individual support elements releasably fixed within a frame, wherein the workpiece is below the frame, each element having an end and being disposed for independent translation in a direction perpendicular to a plane defined by the frame, the ends of the elements cooperating to define a support surface when released; releasing the support elements for translation by gravity to contact positions wherein the ends thereof contact the other surface of the workpiece and self-adjust to define a support surface conforming to the contour of the non-work surface; attaching the workpiece to the frame while in contact with the support surface; locking the support elements in position to define the support surface; and rotating the frame with the workpiece attached thereto to a desired position for working on a surface thereof. - View Dependent Claims (11)
-
-
12. A method for holding and supporting a contoured workpiece having a surface on which work is to be performed and an opposed non-work surface, the method comprising the steps of:
-
disposing the non-work surface of the workpiece in aligned relation with a spaced array of individual support elements releasably fixed within a frame, each element having an end and being disposed for independent translation in a direction perpendicular to a plane defined by the frame, the ends of the elements cooperating to define a support surface when released and the support elements being biased in a common direction, wherein the disposing step is carried out by placing the non-work surface of the workpiece into contact with the ends; releasing the support elements for translation to contact positions wherein the ends thereof contact the non-work surface of the workpiece and self-adjust to define a support surface conforming to the contour of the non-work surface, and wherein the releasing step permits the weight of the workpiece to translate the elements against the bias to define the support surface; attaching the workpiece to the frame while in contact with the support surface; locking the support elements in position to define the support surface; and rotating the frame with the workpiece attached thereto to a desired position for working on a surface thereof. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
-
Specification