Flexible tooling apparatus
First Claim
1. A dynamic tooling system comprising:
- a support table having a plurality of receiving positions thereon, ones of said receiving positions including a quick-change interface providing a pneumatic supply and an addressable bus interconnection; and
an actuator mechanism adapted to be received in at least one of said plurality of receiving positions and for interfacing with said interface and extending and retracting as powered by said pneumatic supply in response to commands received via said addressable bus interconnection.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A flexible tooling system includes a support table with multiple openings adapted to removably accept a self-contained actuator. Each opening of the support table provides vacuum and air supply lines as well as a bus interface so that each position may be uniquely addressed and commanded separately from any other openings. The self-contained actuator has corresponding connectors for receiving the vacuum and air supply as well as for interfacing with the bus. An actuator may be placed at a particular location by insertion into the receptacle at the opening in the support table aperture. The actuator may be commanded to raise, lower, lock in position and supply vacuum separate from any other actuator.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A dynamic tooling system comprising:
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a support table having a plurality of receiving positions thereon, ones of said receiving positions including a quick-change interface providing a pneumatic supply and an addressable bus interconnection; and an actuator mechanism adapted to be received in at least one of said plurality of receiving positions and for interfacing with said interface and extending and retracting as powered by said pneumatic supply in response to commands received via said addressable bus interconnection. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17)
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11. A dynamic tooling system comprising:
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a support table having a plurality of apertures therein; pneumatic supply for providing pneumatic pressure at a plurality of positions at said support table; vacuum supply for providing vacuum at a plurality of positions at said support table; bus means for providing data and electrical supply at a plurality of positions at said support table; and an actuator mechanism adapted to be removably received within at least one of said plurality of apertures, skid actuator mechanism comprising; a quick-change interface that provides one-step engagement of the actuator with the support table; an extensible member; a collet means for clamping said extensible member in a given position; hydraulic means for effecting clamping and unclamping of said collet means; a hydraulic intensifier driving said hydraulic means; pneumatic means for driving said hydraulic intensifier, and providing clamp/unclamp control to said collet means; and valve means directing application of said pneumatic means in response to data provided by said bus means. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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12. A dynamic tooling system comprising:
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a support table having a plurality of apertures therein; pneumatic supply for providing pneumatic pressure at a plurality of positions at said support table; vacuum supply for providing vacuum at a plurality of positions at said support table; bus means for providing data and electrical supply at a plurality of positions at said support table; and an actuator mechanism adapted to be removably received within at least one of said plurality of apertures, said actuator mechanism comprising; an extensible member; a collet means for clamping said extensible member in a given position; hydraulic means for effecting clamping and unclamping of said collet means; a hydraulic intensifier driving said hydraulic means; pneumatic means for driving said hydraulic intensifier, and providing clamp/unclamp control to said collet means; valve means directing application of said pneumatic means in response to data provided by said bus means; and second valve means operative in response to data provided by said bus means for providing pneumatic pressure to an extend side or a retract side of said extensible member as dictated by said data for causing said extensible member to extend or retract.
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18. A dynamic tooling system comprising:
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a support table having a plurality of receiving positions thereon, ones of said receiving positions including an interface providing a self sealing pneumatic supply and an addressable bus interconnection, said self sealing pneumatic supply self sealing upon removal of an actuator mechanism from said one of said receiving positions; and an actuator mechanism adapted to be received in at least one of said plurality of receiving positions and for interfacing with said interface and extending and retracting as powered by said pneumatic supply in response to commands received via said addressable bus interconnection.
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19. A dynamic tooling system comprising:
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a support table having a plurality of receiving positions thereon, ones of said receiving positions including an interface providing a pneumatic supply and an addressable bus interconnection; and an actuator mechanism adapted to be received in at least one of said plurality of receiving positions and for interfacing with said interface and extending and retracting as powered by said pneumatic supply in response to commands received via said addressable bus interconnection, wherein said actuator mechanism includes a linear transducer.
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Specification