Vought Aircraft Industries, Inc.

Vought Aircraft Company

Triumph Aerostructures, Llc.

Laszlo Ferenczi

Mark A Turner

James E Woods

Gary Pekar

Gregory A Prince

A manufacturing system is provided comprising a plurality of work stations having one or more tools for processing a work item, at least one carrier for moving a work item among the plurality of work stations, and a platform for connecting the plurality of work stations. In a further embodiment, at least one of the plurality of work stations is not on a line with the other work stations and may include a lift machine for raising and/or lowering the at least one carrier and the work item. The platform also may preferably comprise at least one rotator for changing the direction of movement of the at least one carrier on the platform. The system also may preferably comprise at least one conveyer for transporting the at least one carrier to the platform.

Manufacturing system

The present invention is directed to a manufacturing system comprising a plurality of work stations having one or more tools for processing a work item, at least one carrier for moving a work item among the plurality of work stations, and a platform for connecting the plurality of work stations. In a further embodiment, at least one of the plurality of work stations is not on a line with the other work stations and may include a lift machine for raising and/or lowering the at least one carrier and the work item. The platform also may preferably comprise at least one rotator for changing the direction of movement of the at least one carrier on the platform. The system also may preferably comprise at least one conveyer for transporting the at least one carrier to the platform.

A fastener injector ( ) includes a plurality of tubes ( ) operable to transfer a plurality of different sizes and types of fasteners ( ) in a desired orientation. The injector also includes a receiver ( ) operable to receive the fasteners ( ) in the desired orientation from the tubes ( ). The receiver ( ) includes a plurality of receiver fingers ( ) operable to receive the fasteners ( ) from the tubes ( ) and retain the fasteners ( ) in the desired orientation. An injector blade ( ) is operable to transfer the fasteners ( ) in the desired orientation from the receiver ( ) to a fastener installation device.

Fastener injector system and method

An orientation maintained fastener delivery system (,) includes an escapement (,), a transfer system (,), and an injector (,). The escapement (,) regulates the flow of fasteners (,) through the orientation maintained fastener delivery system (,). The escapement (,) also delivers fasteners (,) in a desired orientation to the transfer system (,). The transfer system (,) includes a plurality of tubes (,) and a distributor (,). The tubes (,) maintain the desired orientation of the fasteners (,) as the fasteners (,) are transported to the injector (,). The distributor (,) aligns a tube (,) coupled to the escapement (,) with a tube (,) coupled to the injector (,). The injector (,) receives fasteners (,) from the transfer system (,) in the desired orientation and delivers the fasteners (,) in the desired orientation to an installation device (,).

Orientation maintained fastener delivery system and method

A fastener injector (,) includes a plurality of tubes (,) operable to transfer a plurality of different sizes and types of fasteners (,) in a desired orientation. The injector also includes a receiver (,) operable to receive the fasteners (,) in the desired orientation from the tubes (,). The receiver (,) includes a plurality of receiver fingers (,) operable to receive the fasteners (,) from the tubes (,) and retain the fasteners (,) in the desired orientation. An injector blade (,) is operable to transfer the fasteners (,) in the desired orientation from the receiver (,) to a fastener installation device.

Automated extrusion processing machine

A self-indexing vise 10 for clamping an angled workpiece 47 includes a pair of jaws 20, 32 capable of relative movement, a semi-cylindrical jaw insert 54 received in a recess 52 in one of the jaws 20, 32 and capable of pivoting to automatically conform to the contour of an angled workpiece 47. The jaw insert 54 is sized slightly larger than the recess 52 in which it pivots such that when the vise 10 is loaded, a press fit forms between recess 52 and jaw insert 54 which locks the insert 54 into position.

Growing community of inventors

Irving, TX, United States of America

Laszlo Ferenczi