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:
Mar. 21, 2000
Filed:
Nov. 13, 1997
Applicant:
Inventors:
Klaus D Woerner, Cambridge, CA;
Allen Sommers, Waterloo, CA;
Assignee:
ATS Automation Tooling Systems Inc., Cambridge, CA;
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
B24B / ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
451460 ; 451-9 ; 451 10 ;
Abstract
The apparatus accurately and automatically orients a shaft with an eccentric end portion for positioning in an eccentric chuck. An unoriented shaft is deposited on a support assembly. The shaft is supported by the eccentric and adjacent the end remote from the eccentric. The shaft is rotated, preferably by a magnet, to orient the eccentric at a precise angular orientation. Preferably, a proximity sensor verifies that successful orientation has been achieved. Once the shaft is properly oriented, it is removed by a pick and place robot, for insertion into the chuck.