System and method for machining elongate members
First Claim
1. A machining system for performing a plurality of work operations on an elongate workpiece, the system comprising:
- an infeed system configured to receive the workpiece;
a plurality of workcells positioned along a substantially linear process flow path extending from the infeed system such that a distance between any two consecutive workcells along the path is less than the length of the workpiece, each workcell having clamping members for immobilizing and stabilizing the workpiece and having at least one tool for performing at least one work operation on the immobilized workpiece; and
a transport system configured to advance the workpiece from the infeed system along the process flow path, thereby moving a plurality of lengthwise portions of the workpiece successively through the workcells, the transport system including a plurality of pallets structured to be concurrently engaged to respective portions of a single workpiece such that the single workpiece extends across and is concurrently supported by the plurality of pallets, wherein the transport system is configured to advance both the workpiece and the pallets engaged thereto throughout at least a portion of the machining system with the pallets configured to remain engaged with the respective portions of the workpiece during advancement of the workpiece such that the workpiece and the pallets are advanced uniformly,wherein at least two of the workcells are configured to perform work operations on different lengthwise portions of the workpiece that are engaged by different pallets without having to reposition the workpiece longitudinally in the system, andwherein the transport system includes a plurality of rollers positioned along the process flow path, the rollers structured to support the pallets and the workpiece such that the pallets and workpiece are configured to be advanced along the process flow path while the pallets remain engaged with the respective portions of the workpiece.
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Abstract
A system and method for machining an elongate workpiece in a plurality of work cells are provided. The work cells are positioned along a substantially linear process flow path so that the work operations can be performed on different lengthwise portions of the workpiece simultaneously. A transport system advances the workpiece from an infeed system along the process flow path, thereby moving the lengthwise portions of the workpiece successively through the work cells. The transport system includes a plurality of pallets that can be engaged to the workpiece so that the workpiece is supported by the pallets throughout at least part of the machining system.
22 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A machining system for performing a plurality of work operations on an elongate workpiece, the system comprising:
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an infeed system configured to receive the workpiece; a plurality of workcells positioned along a substantially linear process flow path extending from the infeed system such that a distance between any two consecutive workcells along the path is less than the length of the workpiece, each workcell having clamping members for immobilizing and stabilizing the workpiece and having at least one tool for performing at least one work operation on the immobilized workpiece; and a transport system configured to advance the workpiece from the infeed system along the process flow path, thereby moving a plurality of lengthwise portions of the workpiece successively through the workcells, the transport system including a plurality of pallets structured to be concurrently engaged to respective portions of a single workpiece such that the single workpiece extends across and is concurrently supported by the plurality of pallets, wherein the transport system is configured to advance both the workpiece and the pallets engaged thereto throughout at least a portion of the machining system with the pallets configured to remain engaged with the respective portions of the workpiece during advancement of the workpiece such that the workpiece and the pallets are advanced uniformly, wherein at least two of the workcells are configured to perform work operations on different lengthwise portions of the workpiece that are engaged by different pallets without having to reposition the workpiece longitudinally in the system, and wherein the transport system includes a plurality of rollers positioned along the process flow path, the rollers structured to support the pallets and the workpiece such that the pallets and workpiece are configured to be advanced along the process flow path while the pallets remain engaged with the respective portions of the workpiece. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A machining system for performing a plurality of work operations on an elongate workpiece, the system comprising:
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an infeed system configured to receive the workpiece; a plurality of workcells positioned along a substantially linear process flow path extending from the infeed system such that a distance between any two consecutive workcells along the path is less than the length of the workpiece, each workcell having clamping members for immobilizing and stabilizing the workpiece and having at least one tool for performing at least one work operation on the immobilized workpiece; and a transport system configured to advance the workpiece from the infeed system along the process flow path, thereby moving a plurality of lengthwise portions of the workpiece successively through the workcells, the transport system including a plurality of pallets structured to be engaged to the workpiece such that the workpiece is supported by the pallets throughout at least a portion of the machining system, wherein each of the pallets includes at least one clamp device for engaging a feature of the workpiece such that the workpiece is supported by the pallets and is advanced along the process flow path thereby, wherein at least two of the workcells are configured to perform work operations on different lengthwise portions of the workpiece without having to reposition the workpiece longitudinally in the system, and wherein at least one clamp device includes a damper such that the clamp device is movable relative to the pallet during the work operations to reduce a transmission of kinetic energy from the workpiece through the pallet during the work operations. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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Specification