Mobile gantry tool and method
First Claim
1. A mobile tool positioning system, comprising:
- at least one support assembly located adjacent a workpiece, said at least one support assembly including at least one engager;
a mobile multi-axis numerical controlled robotic tool having at least one proximity sensor removably engaged to said at least one engager, wherein said mobile tool is detachably coupled to said at least one support assembly and transportable between at least one support assembly and another support assembly with another workpiece for performing tooling operations on each respective workpiece; and
a multi-movement control device coupled to said mobile tool;
wherein at least one of the support assembly and the mobile tool includes a self leveler.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is a mobile tool positioning system including a support assembly, a mobile multi-axis, numerically controlled robotic tool, and a multi-movement control device coupled to the mobile multi-axis tool. The support assembly is located adjacent a workpiece and has a plurality of engagers. The mobile multi-axis, numerically controlled robotic tool has proximity sensors removably attached to the engagers. The mobile tool can therefore be detachably coupled to the support assembly. The proximity sensors precisely locate and align the mobile tool with the support assembly before being coupled. In addition, the mobile tool can have a self leveling system with a configurable memory. As such, precision tooling operations can be performed on the workpiece.
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Citations
33 Claims
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1. A mobile tool positioning system, comprising:
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at least one support assembly located adjacent a workpiece, said at least one support assembly including at least one engager; a mobile multi-axis numerical controlled robotic tool having at least one proximity sensor removably engaged to said at least one engager, wherein said mobile tool is detachably coupled to said at least one support assembly and transportable between at least one support assembly and another support assembly with another workpiece for performing tooling operations on each respective workpiece; and a multi-movement control device coupled to said mobile tool; wherein at least one of the support assembly and the mobile tool includes a self leveler. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13)
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9. A mobile tool positioning system, comprising:
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at least one support assembly located adjacent a workpiece, said at least one support assembly including at least one engager; a mobile multi-axis numerical controlled robotic tool having at least one proximity sensor removably engaged to said at least one engager, wherein said mobile tool is detachably coupled to said at least one support assembly and transportable between at least one support assembly and another support assembly with another workpiece for performing tooling operations on each respective workpiece; a multi-movement control device coupled to said mobile tool, and a safety curtain located on said mobile tool. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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14. A mobile tool positioning system, comprising:
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at least one support assembly located adjacent a workpiece, said at least one support assembly including at least one engager; a mobile multi-axis numerically controlled tool having a machine tool and at least one proximity sensor detachably engaged to said at least one engager, wherein said mobile tool is detachably coupled to each of said support assemblies and transportable between said support assemblies for performing tooling operations with said machine tool on each respective workpiece, wherein said mobile tool comprises, a plurality of translation modules having longitudinal sliding pads and a longitudinal movement device; a transverse translation module removably mounted to said longitudinal sliding pads in a generally perpendicular orientation to said longitudinal modules and having transverse sliding pads and a transverse movement device; and a vertical translation module affixed to said transverse sliding pads in a generally perpendicular orientation to said longitudinal and transverse translation modules and having vertical sliding pads and a vertical movement device, said vertical translation module comprising a mounting device for said machine tool and a rotator to rotate said machine tool about a rotational axis and a pivotor to pivot said machine tool about any pivot axis orthogonal to said rotational axis; and a multi-movement control device coupled to said portable multi-axis tool. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method of performing tooling operations on a plurality of workpieces located in a plurality of corresponding support assemblies, comprises the steps of:
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a) self leveling said support assemblies with a reference point; b) aligning a mobile multi-axis numerical controlled robotic tool with a first support assembly having a first workpiece; c) engaging, in a detachable manner, said mobile tool with said first support assembly; d) performing at least one tooling operation on said workpiece; e) disengaging said mobile tool from said first supporting assembly; f) transporting said mobile tool from said first support assembly to another support assembly; and g) repeating steps (a)-(f) for the remaining support assemblies. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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Specification