The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 09, 1997
Filed:
May. 09, 1996
David P Banks, Lake Stevens, WA (US);
James E Brodhead, Everett, WA (US);
James N Buttrick, Jr, Seattle, WA (US);
Paul E Ffield, Marysville, WA (US);
Darrell D Jones, Lynnwood, WA (US);
James C Murphy, Mukilteo, WA (US);
John F Richards, Woodinville, WA (US);
Melvin R Wiseman, Orting, WA (US);
John W Schooff, Janesville, WI (US);
Steven C Van Swearingen, Arbroath, GB;
The Boeing Co., Seattle, WA (US);
Abstract
An automated assembly machine for fabricating large mechanical structures including a floor assembly jig for receiving and holding parts in a desired orientation, a pair of carriages, a first drive mechanism for independently driving the carriages longitudinally, a second drive mechanism for moving the carriages vertically, a tool tray mounted on the carriages, and a plurality of tools, including a drill, a hole diameter measurement probe, a nut runner, and an electromagnetic riveter, mounted on the tool tray for lateral movement toward and away from a workpiece clamp-up position. The tools are positioned at the workpiece clamp-up position by moving one of the carriages longitudinally along the floor assembly jig and raising the other carriage to elevate the tool tray to a desired elevation.