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:
Jan. 11, 2000
Filed:
Dec. 13, 1996
Peter D McCowin, Enumclaw, WA (US);
Dennis M Cordy, Auburn, WA (US);
Ronald J Smith, Auburn, WA (US);
David L Wagner, Kent, WA (US);
The Boeing Company, Seattle, WA (US);
Abstract
An end effector (30) adap ttachment to and accurate positioning by a robot is provided for positioning a channel-shaped workpiece (10) at a desired position and drilling an accurately located positioning hole in the work piece, even if the workpiece is curved or has a compound contour. The end effector (30) includes a conventional speeder assembly (68) with a taper that can be grasped by the robot and rotated for transfer of torque to the speeder assembly. A flange base (54) is attached to the speeder assembly (68) and has a central opening to accommodate a drill bit (67). A housing assembly (50) is slidably mounted around the flange base (54) through a linear bearing (109). An index shaft (32) is slidably mounted partially within the housing assembly (50) through a second linear bearing (110). A collet (36) is concentrically mounted slidably about the index shaft (32). The collet (36) is adapted to expand radially when it is forced over a wider portion (34) of the index shaft (32). The radial expansion of the collet (36) provides the necessary force to position the channel-shaped workpiece (10).