Template follower

Claim 1

A multiple station workpiece positioning device, comprising: first table means supported on a base for longitudinal movement and second table means mounted on said first table means for longitudinal movement transversely of the longitudinal movement of said first table means, a follower member secured to said second table means and movable therewith; first and second reciprocable power means secured to said first and second table means, respectively, for driving said first and second table means for longitudinal transverse movement relative to each other; sequence means for selectively energizing said first and seconD reciprocable power means for independent reciprocable motion; a template fixedly mounted on said base, said template having guide means therein for guiding the follower member and said first and second table means in a predetermined pattern fixed by said guide means, said guide means having a plurality of bypassable obstruction means therein, said sequence means selectively energizing said first and second reciprocable power means for movement in one direction to drive said follower member into engagement with said bypassable obstruction means to thereby limit movement of said first and second table means and said follower member relative to said guide means and to hold said follower member in engagement with said obstruction means to accurately position and maintain said first and second table means at successive ones of said multiple stations, said bypassable obstruction means being open on one side thereof, said sequence means energizing at least one of said reciprocable power means for movement in an opposite direction from said one direction to move said follower member through said open side to bypass said obstruction means to permit a continued movement of said follower member and said first and second table means in said pattern determined by said guide means toward another of said multiple stations.