US3890508A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Workpiece alignment system
Assignee: Texas Instruments Inc
•
Filing: 1973-12-28
•
Granted: 1975-06-17
•
Expires: 1993-12-28
Abstract
Abstract A workpiece alignment system is particularly useful in the alignment of circular or cylindrical workpieces. The workpieces are provided with a flat edge along the circumference which flat edge is aligned in a preselected direction, thereby aligning the workpiece. The system is comprised of a body which includes apertures through which directional air jets flow, carrying the workpiece on a directional air cushion to position the workpiece on the body, rotational air jet apertures for rotating the positioned workpiece until the flat edge is in the preselected direction, and flat sensing vacuum apertures for stopping the rotation of the workpiece when the flat edge is in the preselected direction and for providing a signal indicative of the alignment of the workpiece for the system. In order to speed up the slice alignment and prevent slice overshoot, a pair of photocells is provided in the body, at least one of which is covered by the slice until just prior to proper slice alignment. At this time, both of the photocells are uncovered, thereby operating a circuit to slow down rotation of the slice to obtain proper slice alignment without overshoot while retaining the ability to rotate the slice rapidly during the alignment procedure.
Inventors
- 👤 Mark Edward Sharp
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 17:14
CPC Classifications
B; B28; B28D; B28D7/00; B28D7/04; B65; B65G; B65G47/00; B65G47/22; B65G47/24; B65G47/244; H; H10; H10P; H10P72/00; H10P72/30; H10P72/36; H10P72/3602
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
372 words
A system for positioning and aligning a circular workpiece having an irregular circumference at one region along its circumference comprising in combination: a. a pair of stop members, and b. a body, c. said stop members being so positioned relative to said body as to position a workpiece on said body when both of said stop members are in contact with the circumference of said workpiece and in a desired aligned position only when the irregular portion of the circumference of said workpiece is in contact with one of said members, d. said body having i. a surface on which a workpiece is received for positioning and aligning, ii. a plurality of fluid passages communicating with said surface and a source of pressurized fluid and being so arranged and positioned to produce an upwardly inclined and directional fluid jet flow to urge said workpiece into contact with both said stop members, iii. a second plurality of fluid passages communicating with said surface and a source of pressurized fluid and so arranged and positioned to produce an upwardly inclined and tangential fluid jet flow to rotate said workpiece while being so urged, and iv. a third plurality of fluid passages communicating with said surface and a source of partial vacuum and positioned to be within the circumference of the vertical projection of said workpiece on to said surface only when both said stop members are in contact with the circumference of said workpiece and said irregular portion of the circumference of said workpiece is in contact with one of said stop members, v. a plurality of photodetector means so arranged and positioned within the circumference of the vertical projection of said workpiece on to said surface that all of said plurality of photodetector means are illuminated with actuating radiation only when said workpiece is within a given rotational angle of being in said desired aligned position, whereby said workpiece is urged against both of said stop members and rotated toward said desired aligned position at a first rotational speed while less than all of said photodetector means are illuminated with activating radiation and at a second slower rotational speed when all of said plurality of photodetector means are illuminated with said activating radiation.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
372 words
A system for positioning and aligning a circular workpiece having an irregular circumference at one region along its circumference comprising in combination: a. a pair of stop members, and b. a body, c. said stop members being so positioned relative to said body as to position a workpiece on said body when both of said stop members are in contact with the circumference of said workpiece and in a desired aligned position only when the irregular portion of the circumference of said workpiece is in contact with one of said members, d. said body having i. a surface on which a workpiece is received for positioning and aligning, ii. a plurality of fluid passages communicating with said surface and a source of pressurized fluid and being so arranged and positioned to produce an upwardly inclined and directional fluid jet flow to urge said workpiece into contact with both said stop members, iii. a second plurality of fluid passages communicating with said surface and a source of pressurized fluid and so arranged and positioned to produce an upwardly inclined and tangential fluid jet flow to rotate said workpiece while being so urged, and iv. a third plurality of fluid passages communicating with said surface and a source of partial vacuum and positioned to be within the circumference of the vertical projection of said workpiece on to said surface only when both said stop members are in contact with the circumference of said workpiece and said irregular portion of the circumference of said workpiece is in contact with one of said stop members, v. a plurality of photodetector means so arranged and positioned within the circumference of the vertical projection of said workpiece on to said surface that all of said plurality of photodetector means are illuminated with actuating radiation only when said workpiece is within a given rotational angle of being in said desired aligned position, whereby said workpiece is urged against both of said stop members and rotated toward said desired aligned position at a first rotational speed while less than all of said photodetector means are illuminated with activating radiation and at a second slower rotational speed when all of said plurality of photodetector means are illuminated with said activating radiation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
A system for positioning and aligning a circular workpiece as defined in claim 1 wherein the illumination of all of said plurality of photodetector means activates means decreasing the supply of pressurized fluid to said third plurality of fluid passages.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
A system for positioning and aligning a circular workpiece as defined in claim 2 wherein said means for decreasing comprises an AND gate and a fluid valve responsive thereto.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3025740A
Cited
US3013459A
Cited
US3322961A
Cited
US3452853A
Cited
US3683195A
Cited
US3713571A
Cited
US3797889A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-06-16 | 1978-12-16 | 1979-06-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-06-16 | 1982-12-16 | 1983-06-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-06-16 | 1986-12-16 | 1987-06-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |