Position compensator for a programmed work device

Claim 1

An apparatus for performing programmed operations on a workpiece mounted on a carrier movable along a first track between an entrance point and an exit point of a work station, comprising a work device supported on a base movable in either direction along a second track adjacent and parallel to the first track of the workpiece carrier, means for driving the workpiece carrier along the first track at a substantially constant velocity, means for driving the base along the second track relative to the workpiece carrier so as to allow the work device to perform operations on any portion of the workpiece as the latter is conveyed by the workpiece carrier, a programmed servocontrol system for operating the work device and the base drive means for positioning the base at different programmed points relative to the workpiece carrier so that the work device can perform programmed operations on the workpiece, first position responsive means adapted to be connected to the workpiece carrier, said first position responsive means comprising a tracking device; a third track supporting the tracking device for movement along the first track between the entrance point and the exit point of the work station, the tracking device being initially positioned at the entrance point of the work station and having a first member attached thereto; means supporting the first member on the tracking device for shifting movement between first and second positions; a second member attached to the workpiece carrier at a predetermined point thereon; actuating means for shifting the first member from its first position to its second position when the second member is at the entrance point of the work station so as to mechanically couple the tracking device to the workpiece carrier and thereby cause the tracking device to be driven by the workpiece carrier; means for shifting the first member from its second position to its first position so as to decouple the tracking device from the workpiece carrier when the tracking device reaches the exit point of the work station; drive means for returning the tracking device to the entrance point of the work station after the first member is shifted from its second position to its first position; and indicating means coupled to the tracking device and responsive to the movement thereof for generating an output directly proportional to the position of the tracking device between the entrance point and the exit point of the work station so as to provide an indication of the position of the workpiece carrier between the entrance point and the exit point, second position responsive means connected to the base and responsive to the movement thereof for generating an output directly related to the position of the base along said second track, and means connected to the first and second position responsive means and the programmed servo control system and responsive to the outputs of the firSt and second position responsive means for supplying to the programmed servo control system a signal directly related to the position of the base relative to the position of the workpiece carrier so that the programmed servo control system operates the base drive means in programmed sequence for positioning the base at various points relative to the moving workpiece carrier so that the work device performs its operations on the workpiece as if the latter were in a precisely fixed and stationary position.

Claim 2

An apparatus for performing programmed operations on a workpiece mounted on a carrier movable along a first track between an entrance point and an exit point of a work station, comprising a work device supported on a base movable in either direction along a second track adjacent and parallel to the first track of the workpiece carrier, means for driving the workpiece carrier along the first track at a substantially constant velocity, means for driving the base along the second track relative to the workpiece carrier so as to allow the work device to perform operations on any portion of the workpiece as the latter is conveyed by the workpiece carrier, a programmed servocontrol system for operating the work device and the base drive means for positioning the base at different programmed points relative to the workpiece carrier so that the work device can perform programmed operations on the workpiece, first position responsive means adapted to be connected to the workpiece carrier, said first position responsive means comprising a tracking device; a third track supporting the tracking device for movement along the first track between the entrance point and the exit point of the work station, the tracking device being initially positioned at the entrance point of the work station and having a first member attached thereto; means supporting the first member on the tracking device for shifting movement between first and second positions; a second member attached to the workpiece carrier at a predetermined point thereon; actuating means for shifting the first member from its first position to its second position when the second member is at the entrance point of the work station so as to mechanically couple the tracking device to the workpiece carrier and thereby cause the tracking device to be driven by the workpiece carrier; means for shifting the first member from its second position to its first position so as to decouple the tracking device from the workpiece carrier when the tracking device reaches the exit point of the work station; drive means for returning the tracking device to the entrance point of the work station after the first member is shifted from its second position to its first position; and indicating means coupled to the tracking device and responsive to the movement thereof for generating an output directly proportional to the position of the tracking device between the entrance point and the exit point of the work station so as to provide an indication of the position of the workpiece carrier between the entrance point and the exit point, second position responsive means connected to the base and responsive to the movement thereof for generating an output directly related to the position of the base along said second track, and means connected to the first and second position responsive means and the programmed servo control system and responsive to the outputs of the firSt and second position responsive means for supplying to the programmed servo control system a signal directly related to the position of the base relative to the position of the workpiece carrier so that the programmed servo control system operates the base drive means in programmed sequence for positioning the base at various points relative to the moving workpiece carrier so that the work device performs its operations on the workpiece as if the latter were in a precisely fixed and stationary position.

Claim 3

An apparatus for performing programmed operations on a workpiece mounted on a carrier movable along a first track between an entrance point and an exit point of a work station, comprising a work device supported on a base movable in either direction along a second track adjacent and parallel to the first track of the workpiece carrier, means for driving the workpiece carrier along the first track at a substantially constant velocity, means for driving the base along the second track relative to the workpiece carrier so as to allow the work device to perform operations on any portion of the workpiece as the latter is conveyed by the workpiece carrier, a programmed servo control system for operating the work device and the base drive means for positioning the base at different programmed points relative to the workpiece carrier so that the work device can perform programmed operations on the workpiece, first position responsive means adapted to be connected to the workpiece carrier, said first position responsive means comprising a tracking device; a third track supporting the tracking device for movement along the first track between the entrance point and the exit point of the work station, the tracking device being initially positioned at the entrance point of the work station and having a lock lever attached thereto; means supporting the lock lever on the tracking device for pivotal movement between lowered and raised positions; reciprocable means for moving the lock lever from its lowered position to its raised position; a substantially U-shaped lock lever receiver mounted on the workpiece carrier and having a pair of arms horizontally extending therefrom; actuating means responsive to the position of the workpiece carrier for activating the reciprocable means when the lock lever receiver is at the entrance point of the work station, whereby the lock lever is pivoted from its lowered position to its raised position between the arms of the lock lever receiver to thereby lock the tracking device to the workpiece carrier so as to permit the latter to drive the tracking device along the first track between the entrance point and exit point of the work station; release means for pivoting the lock lever from its raised position to its lowered position and out of engagement with the lock lever receiver, said release means including a cam follower supported on the tracking device and cooperating with a cam means mounted adjacent the track at the exit point of the work station in the line of movement of the cam follower as the workpiece carrier is moved to the exit point of the work station; drive means for returning the tracking device to the entrance point of the work station after the lock lever is shifted to its lowered position; and indicating means coupled to the tracking device and responsive to the movement thereof for generating an output directly proportional to the position of the tracking device between the entrance point and the exit point of the work station so as to provide an indication of the position of the workpiece carrier between the entrance point and the exit point, second position responsive means connected to the base and responsive to the movement thereof for generating an output signal directly related to the position of the base on the second track and circuit means connected to the first and second position responsive means and the programmed servo control system and responsive to the output signals of the first and second position responsive Means for supplying to the programmed servo control system a signal directly related to the position of the base relative to the position of the workpiece carrier so that the programmed servo control system operates the base drive means in programmed sequence for positioning the base at various points relative to the moving workpiece carrier so that the work device performs its operations on the workpiece as if the latter were in a precisely fixed and stationary position.

Claim 4

An apparatus for performing programmed operations on a workpiece mounted on a carrier movable along a first track between an entrance point and an exit point of a work station, comprising a work device supported on a base movable in either direction along a second track adjacent and parallel to the first track of the workpiece carrier, means for driving the workpiece carrier along the first track at a substantially constant velocity, means for driving the base along the second track relative to the workpiece carrier so as to allow the work device to perform operations on any portion of the workpiece as the latter is conveyed by the workpiece carrier, a programmed servo control system for operating the work device and the base drive means for positioning the base at different programmed points relative to the workpiece carrier so that the work device can perform programmed operations on the workpiece, first position responsive means adapted to be connected to the workpiece carrier, said first position responsive means comprising a tracking device; a third track supporting the tracking device for movement along the first track between the entrance point and the exit point of the work station, the tracking device being initially positioned at the entrance point of the work station and having a lock lever attached thereto; means supporting the lock lever on the tracking device for pivotal movement between lowered and raised positions; reciprocable means for moving the lock lever from its lowered position to its raised position; a substantially U-shaped lock lever receiver mounted on the workpiece carrier and having a pair of arms horizontally extending therefrom; actuating means responsive to the position of the workpiece carrier for activating the reciprocable means when the lock lever receiver is at the entrance point of the work station, whereby the lock lever is pivoted from its lowered position to its raised position between the arms of the lock lever receiver to thereby lock the tracking device to the workpiece carrier so as to permit the latter to drive the tracking device along the first track between the entrance point and exit point of the work station; release means for pivoting the lock lever from its raised position to its lowered position and out of engagement with the lock lever receiver, said release means including a cam follower supported on the tracking device and cooperating with a cam means mounted adjacent the track at the exit point of the work station in the line of movement of the cam follower as the workpiece carrier is moved to the exit point of the work station; drive means for returning the tracking device to the entrance point of the work station after the lock lever is shifted to its lowered position; and indicating means coupled to the tracking device and responsive to the movement thereof for generating an output directly proportional to the position of the tracking device between the entrance point and the exit point of the work station so as to provide an indication of the position of the workpiece carrier between the entrance point and the exit point, second position responsive means connected to the base and responsive to the movement thereof for generating an output signal directly related to the position of the base on the second track and circuit means connected to the first and second position responsive means and the programmed servo control system and responsive to the output signals of the first and second position responsive Means for supplying to the programmed servo control system a signal directly related to the position of the base relative to the position of the workpiece carrier so that the programmed servo control system operates the base drive means in programmed sequence for positioning the base at various points relative to the moving workpiece carrier so that the work device performs its operations on the workpiece as if the latter were in a precisely fixed and stationary position.

Claim 5

An apparatus for continuously providing an indication of the position of a workpiece carrier as it is driven by a motor along a path between an entrance point and exit point of a work station, comprising a tracking device; a track supporting the tracking device for movement along the path between the entrance point and exit point of the work station, the tracking device being initially positioned at the entrance point of the work station and having a first member attached thereto; means supporting the first member on the tracking device for shifting movement between first and second positions; first switch means responsive to the position of the tracking device for generating an output signal when the tracking device is at the entrance point of the work station; second switch means responsive to the position of the first member for generating an output signal when the first member is in its first position; third switch means responsive to the position of the workpiece carrier for generating an output signal when the workpiece carrier is at a predetermined distance before entry into the work station; gate means connected to the first, second and third switch means and the workpiece carrier motor and responsive to the output signals of the first, second and third switch means for deenergizing the motor so as to stop the movement of the workpiece carrier when the workpiece carrier is at the predetermined distance before entry into the work station and the tracking device is not at the entrance point and the second member is not in its first position; a second member attached to the workpiece carrier at a predetermined point thereon; actuating means for shifting the first member from its first position to its second position when the second member is at the entrance point of the work station so as to couple the tracking device to the workpiece carrier and thereby cause the tracking device to be driven by the workpiece carrier; means for shifting the first member from its second position to its first position so as to decouple the tracking device from the workpiece carrier when the tracking device reaches the exit point of the work station; drive means for returning the tracking device to the entrance point of the work station after the first member is shifted from its second position to its first position; and indicating means coupled to the tracking device and responsive to the movement thereof for generating an output directly proportional to the position of the tracking device between the entrance point and the exit point of the work station so as to provide an indication of the position of the workpiece carrier between the entrance point and the exit point.

Claim 6

An apparatus for continuously providing an indication of the position of a workpiece carrier as it is driven by a motor along a path between an entrance point and exit point of a work station, comprising a tracking device; a track supporting the tracking device for movement along the path between the entrance point and exit point of the work station, the tracking device being initially positioned at the entrance point of the work station and having a first member attached thereto; means supporting the first member on the tracking device for shifting movement between first and second positions; first switch means responsive to the position of the tracking device for generating an output signal when the tracking device is at the entrance point of the work station; second switch means responsive to the position of the first member for generating an output signal when the first member is in its first position; third switch means responsive to the position of the workpiece carrier for generating an output signal when the workpiece carrier is at a predetermined distance before entry into the work station; gate means connected to the first, second and third switch means and the workpiece carrier motor and responsive to the output signals of the first, second and third switch means for deenergizing the motor so as to stop the movement of the workpiece carrier when the workpiece carrier is at the predetermined distance before entry into the work station and the tracking device is not at the entrance point and the second member is not in its first position; a second member attached to the workpiece carrier at a predetermined point thereon; actuating means for shifting the first member from its first position to its second position when the second member is at the entrance point of the work station so as to couple the tracking device to the workpiece carrier and thereby cause the tracking device to be driven by the workpiece carrier; means for shifting the first member from its second position to its first position so as to decouple the tracking device from the workpiece carrier when the tracking device reaches the exit point of the work station; drive means for returning the tracking device to the entrance point of the work station after the first member is shifted from its second position to its first position; and indicating means coupled to the tracking device and responsive to the movement thereof for generating an output directly proportional to the position of the tracking device between the entrance point and the exit point of the work station so as to provide an indication of the position of the workpiece carrier between the entrance point and the exit point.

Claim 9

An apparatus for continuously providing an indication of the position of a workpiece carrier as it is driven along a path between an entrance point and exit point of a work station, comprising a tracking device; a track supporting the tracking device for movement along the path between the entrance point and the exit point of the work station, the tracking device being initially positioned at the entrance point of the work station and having a first member attached thereto; means supporting the first member on the tracking device for shifting movement about a horizontal axis between first and second positions; a second member attached to the workpiece carrier at a predetermined point thereon; actuating means including a plunger for shifting the first member from its first position to its second position when the second member is at the entrance point of the work station so as to couple the tracking device to the workpiece carrier and thereby cause the tracking device to be driven by the workpiece carrier; cam means for shifting the first member from its second position to its first position so as to decouple the tracking device from the workpiece carrier when the tracking device reaches the exit point of the work station; motor means for returning the tracking device to the entrance point of the work station after the first member is shifted from its second position to its first position; and indicating means coupled to the tracking device and responsive to the movement thereof for generating an output directly proportional to the position of the tracking device between the entrance point and the exit point of the work station so as to provide an indication of the position of the workpiece carrier between the entrance point and the exit point.

Claim 10

An apparatus for continuously providing an indication of the position of a workpiece carrier as it is driven along a path between an entrance point and exit point of a work station, comprising a tracking device; a track supporting the tracking device for movement along the path between the entrance point and the exit point of the work station, the tracking device being initially positioned at the entrance point of the work station and having a first member attached thereto; means supporting the first member on the tracking device for shifting movement about a horizontal axis between first and second positions; a second member attached to the workpiece carrier at a predetermined point thereon; actuating means including a plunger for shifting the first member from its first position to its second position when the second member is at the entrance point of the work station so as to couple the tracking device to the workpiece carrier and thereby cause the tracking device to be driven by the workpiece carrier; cam means for shifting the first member from its second position to its first position so as to decouple the tracking device from the workpiece carrier when the tracking device reaches the exit point of the work station; motor means for returning the tracking device to the entrance point of the work station after the first member is shifted from its second position to its first position; and indicating means coupled to the tracking device and responsive to the movement thereof for generating an output directly proportional to the position of the tracking device between the entrance point and the exit point of the work station so as to provide an indication of the position of the workpiece carrier between the entrance point and the exit point.

Claim 11

An apparatus for continuously providing an indication of the position of a workpiece carrier as it is driven along a path between an entrance point and exit point of a work station comprising a tracking device; a track supporting the tracking device for movement along the path between the entrance point and the exit point of the work station, the tracking device being initially positioned at the entrance point of the work station and having a lock lever attached thereto; a cam follower supported by one end of said lock lever, means including a spring supporting the lock lever on the tracking device for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis between lowered and raised positions; reciprocable means for moving the lock lever from its lowered position to its raised position; a lock lever receiver moUnted on the workpiece carrier, actuating means responsive to the position of the workpiece carrier for activating the reciprocable means when the lock lever receiver is at the entrance point of the work station, whereby the lock lever is pivoted from its lowered position to its raised position between the arms of the lock lever receiver to thereby lock the tracking device to the workpiece carrier so as to permit the latter to drive the tracking device along the path between the entrance point and exit point of the work station; release means for pivoting the lock lever from its raised position to its lowered position and out of engagement with the lock lever receiver, said release means including cam means mounted adjacent the track at the exit point of the work station in the line of movement of the cam follower and cooperating with the cam follower for pivoting the lock lever to its lowered position as the workpiece carrier is moved to the exit point of the work station; drive means for returning the tracking device to the entrance point of the work station after the lock lever is shifted to its lowered position; and indicating means coupled to the tracking device and responsive to the movement thereof for generating an output directly proportional to the position of the tracking device between the entrance point and the exit point of the work station so as to provide an indication of the position of the workpiece carrier between the entrance point and the exit point.

Claim 12

An apparatus for continuously providing an indication of the position of a workpiece carrier as it is driven along a path between an entrance point and exit point of a work station comprising a tracking device; a track supporting the tracking device for movement along the path between the entrance point and the exit point of the work station, the tracking device being initially positioned at the entrance point of the work station and having a lock lever attached thereto; a cam follower supported by one end of said lock lever, means including a spring supporting the lock lever on the tracking device for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis between lowered and raised positions; reciprocable means for moving the lock lever from its lowered position to its raised position; a lock lever receiver moUnted on the workpiece carrier, actuating means responsive to the position of the workpiece carrier for activating the reciprocable means when the lock lever receiver is at the entrance point of the work station, whereby the lock lever is pivoted from its lowered position to its raised position between the arms of the lock lever receiver to thereby lock the tracking device to the workpiece carrier so as to permit the latter to drive the tracking device along the path between the entrance point and exit point of the work station; release means for pivoting the lock lever from its raised position to its lowered position and out of engagement with the lock lever receiver, said release means including cam means mounted adjacent the track at the exit point of the work station in the line of movement of the cam follower and cooperating with the cam follower for pivoting the lock lever to its lowered position as the workpiece carrier is moved to the exit point of the work station; drive means for returning the tracking device to the entrance point of the work station after the lock lever is shifted to its lowered position; and indicating means coupled to the tracking device and responsive to the movement thereof for generating an output directly proportional to the position of the tracking device between the entrance point and the exit point of the work station so as to provide an indication of the position of the workpiece carrier between the entrance point and the exit point.

Claim 13

An apparatus for performing programmed operations on a workpiece mounted on a carrier movable along a first track between an entrance point and an exit of a work station, comprising a work device supported on a base movable in either direction along a second track adjacent and parallel to the first track of the workpiece carrier, means for driving the workpiece carrier along the first track at a substantially constant velocity, means for driving the base along the second track relative to the workpiece carrier so as to allow the work device to perform operations on any portion of the workpiece as the latter is conveyed by the workpiece carrier, a programmed servo control system for operating the work device and the base drive means for positioning the base at different programmed points relative to the workpiece carrier so that the work device can perform programmed operations on the workpiece, first position responsive means adapted to be connected to the workpiece carrier, said first position responsive means comprising a tracking device spaced from the base and supported for movement along the first track between the entrance point and the exit point of the work station, the tracking device being initially positioned at the entrance point of the work station and having a first member for movement between first and second positions; a second member attached to the workpiece carrier at a predetermined point thereon, means for moving the first member from its first position to its second position when the second member is at the entrance point of the work station so as to mechanically couple the tracking device to the workpiece carrier and thereby cause the tracking device to be carried by the workpiece carrier along the first track, means for moving the first member from its second position to its first position so as to decouple the tracking device from the workpiece carrier when the tracking device reaches the exit point of the work station; means for returning the tracking device to the entrance point of the work station after the first member is moved from its second position to its first position; indicating means coupled to the tracking device and responsive to the movement thereof for generating an output directly proportional to the position of the tracking device between the entrance point and the exit point of the work station so as to provide an indication of the position of the workpiece carrier between the entrance point and the exit point, second position responsive means connecteD to the base and responsive to the movement thereof for generating an output directly related to the position of the base along said second track, and means connected to the first and second position responsive means and the programmed servo control system and responsive to the outputs of the first and second position responsive means for supplying to the programmed servo control system a signal directly related to the position of the base relative to the position of the workpiece carrier so that the programmed servo control system operates the base drive means in programmed sequence for positioning the base at various points relative to the moving workpiece carrier so that the work device performs its operations on the workpiece as if the latter were in a precisely fixed and stationary position.

Claim 14

An apparatus for performing programmed operations on a workpiece mounted on a carrier movable along a first track between an entrance point and an exit of a work station, comprising a work device supported on a base movable in either direction along a second track adjacent and parallel to the first track of the workpiece carrier, means for driving the workpiece carrier along the first track at a substantially constant velocity, means for driving the base along the second track relative to the workpiece carrier so as to allow the work device to perform operations on any portion of the workpiece as the latter is conveyed by the workpiece carrier, a programmed servo control system for operating the work device and the base drive means for positioning the base at different programmed points relative to the workpiece carrier so that the work device can perform programmed operations on the workpiece, first position responsive means adapted to be connected to the workpiece carrier, said first position responsive means comprising a tracking device spaced from the base and supported for movement along the first track between the entrance point and the exit point of the work station, the tracking device being initially positioned at the entrance point of the work station and having a first member for movement between first and second positions; a second member attached to the workpiece carrier at a predetermined point thereon, means for moving the first member from its first position to its second position when the second member is at the entrance point of the work station so as to mechanically couple the tracking device to the workpiece carrier and thereby cause the tracking device to be carried by the workpiece carrier along the first track, means for moving the first member from its second position to its first position so as to decouple the tracking device from the workpiece carrier when the tracking device reaches the exit point of the work station; means for returning the tracking device to the entrance point of the work station after the first member is moved from its second position to its first position; indicating means coupled to the tracking device and responsive to the movement thereof for generating an output directly proportional to the position of the tracking device between the entrance point and the exit point of the work station so as to provide an indication of the position of the workpiece carrier between the entrance point and the exit point, second position responsive means connecteD to the base and responsive to the movement thereof for generating an output directly related to the position of the base along said second track, and means connected to the first and second position responsive means and the programmed servo control system and responsive to the outputs of the first and second position responsive means for supplying to the programmed servo control system a signal directly related to the position of the base relative to the position of the workpiece carrier so that the programmed servo control system operates the base drive means in programmed sequence for positioning the base at various points relative to the moving workpiece carrier so that the work device performs its operations on the workpiece as if the latter were in a precisely fixed and stationary position.