Apparatus and methods for servo-controlled manufacturing operations
First Claim
1. An apparatus for performing a manufacturing operation on a workpiece, the apparatus comprising:
- a base member having a first aperture disposed therethrough;
a drive platform having a second aperture disposed therethrough, the drive platform being spaced apart from the base member by a separation distance and aligned with the base member such that the first and second apertures are approximately aligned along an axis;
a plurality of guide members extending between the drive platform and the base member, at least one of the drive platform and the base member being moveable along the guide members to at least one of increase and decrease the separation distance;
at least one drive member operatively coupled between the drive platform and the base member, wherein the plurality of guide members and the at least one drive member are distributed around a perimeter of the first and second apertures; and
a servo motor operatively coupled to the at least one drive member by a feed unit that includes at least one drive belt operatively coupled between an output shaft of the servo motor and the at least one drive member such that as the servo motor drives the at least one drive member, the separation distance is varied.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus and methods for servo-controlled manufacturing operations are disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a base member, a drive platform spaced apart from the base member by a separation distance, and a plurality of guide members extending between the drive platform and the base member. At least one of the drive platform and the base member are moveable along the guide members to increase or decrease the separation distance. The apparatus also includes a drive member operatively coupled between the drive platform and the base member, and a servo motor operatively coupled to the drive member. As the servo motor drives the drive member, the separation distance is varied. In an alternate embodiment, a manufacturing tool may be coupled to at least one of the drive platform and the base member.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. An apparatus for performing a manufacturing operation on a workpiece, the apparatus comprising:
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a base member having a first aperture disposed therethrough; a drive platform having a second aperture disposed therethrough, the drive platform being spaced apart from the base member by a separation distance and aligned with the base member such that the first and second apertures are approximately aligned along an axis; a plurality of guide members extending between the drive platform and the base member, at least one of the drive platform and the base member being moveable along the guide members to at least one of increase and decrease the separation distance; at least one drive member operatively coupled between the drive platform and the base member, wherein the plurality of guide members and the at least one drive member are distributed around a perimeter of the first and second apertures; and a servo motor operatively coupled to the at least one drive member by a feed unit that includes at least one drive belt operatively coupled between an output shaft of the servo motor and the at least one drive member such that as the servo motor drives the at least one drive member, the separation distance is varied. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An apparatus for performing a manufacturing operation on a workpiece, the apparatus comprising:
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a track assembly configured to be attached to the workpiece; a carriage assembly moveably coupled to the track assembly and moveable relative to the workpiece; and a tool feed unit coupled to the carriage assembly and configured to be coupled to a tool assembly and to controllably engage the tool assembly with the workpiece, the tool feed unit including; a base member having a first aperture disposed therethrough; a drive platform having a second aperture disposed therethrough, the drive platform being spaced apart from the base member by a separation distance and aligned with the base member such that the first and second apertures are approximately aligned along an axis; a plurality of guide members extending between the drive platform and the base member, at least one of the drive platform and the base member being moveable along the guide members to at least one of increase and decrease the separation distance; at least one drive member operatively coupled between the drive platform and the base member, wherein the plurality of guide members and the at least one drive member are distributed around a perimeter of the first and second apertures; and a servo motor operatively coupled to the at least one drive member such that as the servo motor drives the at least one drive member, the separation distance is varied. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method of performing a manufacturing operation on a workpiece, the method comprising:
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providing a tool feed unit having a base member moveably coupled to a drive platform by a plurality of guide members, the base member defining a first aperture and the drive platform defining a second aperture approximately aligned with the first aperture along an axis, at least one of the drive platform and the base member being moveable along the guide members to increase or decrease a separation distance therebetween, the tool feed unit including at least one drive member operatively coupled between the drive platform and the base member, and a servo motor operatively coupled to the at least one drive member, wherein the plurality of guide members and the at least one drive member are distributed around a perimeter of the first and second apertures; operatively coupling a manufacturing tool to the tool feed unit; and controllably rotating the at least one drive member using the servo motor to vary separation distance between the drive platform and the base member and to engage the manufacturing tool with the workpiece, wherein controllably rotating the at least one drive member includes controllably rotating the at least one drive member using a drive belt operatively coupled between an output shaft of the servo motor and the at least one drive member. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification