Programmable positioner for the stress-free assembly of components
First Claim
1. An apparatus for positioning an object during an assembly operation comprising:
- a base plate;
a locator plate for mounting an object;
a plurality of linear actuators each having a lower end pivotally attached to said base plate in a first predetermined pattern and an upper end pivotally attached to said locator plate in a second predetermined pattern, said lower and upper ends of each said linear actuator being movable relative to one another along a predetermined linear path to move said locator plate relative to said base plate with six degrees of freedom; and
a control means connected to said linear actuators for selectively actuating said linear actuators to move said locator plate to a predetermined position relative to said base plate for contacting a component to be assembled with an object mounted on said locator plate, said control means being responsive to a force applied to said locator plate during contact between the object and the component for actuating said linear actuators to change the applied force.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for compliant positioning of an object during an assembly operation wherein the apparatus includes a base plate, a locator plate for mounting an object such as a clamp or a tool spaced from the base plate and a plurality of linear actuators connected between the base plate the locator plate by universal joints providing six degrees of freedom of movement. A control is connected to the actuators for selectively moving the locator plate to a predetermined position relative to the base plate for contacting a component to be assembled with an object mounted on the locator plate. Two or more of the actuators can be mechanically coupled to move the locator plate with less than six degrees of freedom. The control is responsive to a force applied to the locator plate through the object during assembly of the component for actuating the linear actuators to change the applied force.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. An apparatus for positioning an object during an assembly operation comprising:
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a base plate; a locator plate for mounting an object; a plurality of linear actuators each having a lower end pivotally attached to said base plate in a first predetermined pattern and an upper end pivotally attached to said locator plate in a second predetermined pattern, said lower and upper ends of each said linear actuator being movable relative to one another along a predetermined linear path to move said locator plate relative to said base plate with six degrees of freedom; and a control means connected to said linear actuators for selectively actuating said linear actuators to move said locator plate to a predetermined position relative to said base plate for contacting a component to be assembled with an object mounted on said locator plate, said control means being responsive to a force applied to said locator plate during contact between the object and the component for actuating said linear actuators to change the applied force. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10)
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- 7. The apparatus according to 6 wherein said first predetermined pattern is generally triangular, said base pivot joints being arranged impairs with a midpoint of each said base pivot joint pair forming a point of said generally triangular first predetermined pattern, and said second predetermined pattern is generally triangular, said locator pivot joints being arranged in pairs with a midpoint of each said locator pivot joint pair forming a point of said generally triangular second pattern predetermined pattern.
Specification