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:
Jun. 17, 2003
Filed:
Jan. 28, 2000
Leigh R. Sargent, Plainfield, IN (US);
Phillip J. Gordon, Carmel, IN (US);
Applied Composites Engineering, Inc., Indianapolis, IN (US);
Abstract
A method and apparatus for positioning a workpiece in a desired position on a gauge fixture. The apparatus includes a gauge fixture, a positioner assembly, a pusher assembly and a controller. The fixture has a first side and a second side, the first side being opposite the second side. The positioner assembly is mounted on the first side of the gauge fixture, and includes a stop member, a crank and a positioner sensor. The pusher assembly is mounted on the second side of the gauge fixture, and includes a pusher member and a pusher sensor. The controller is connected to the pusher assembly and the positioner assembly. During positioning, the pusher member of the pusher assembly pushes the workpiece until it reaches the stop member of the positioner assembly; the controller actuates the positioner sensor and the pusher sensor to sense the position of the workpiece on the gauge fixture and the controller actuates the crank of the positioner assembly to move the workpiece until the positioner sensor and the pusher sensor indicate that the workpiece is in the desired position. The positioner and pusher sensors are preferably removable and replaceable, such that when they are mounted they are located at known positions relative to a reference position of the gauge fixture. The workpiece may be placed against the stop of the positioner assembly initially, in which case the pusher member of the pusher assembly may be omitted.