Patent ID: 11932497
Assignee: ATS CORPORATION
Field: Handling (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC B  G | IPC B

Claim 0:
1. A method of inverting workpieces in an automated mass production process, comprising:
a) advancing a carrier along a transport track toward a stop position adjacent a workpiece inversion station, the carrier holding at least one workpiece;
b) advancing an end effector of the workpiece inversion station to an unloading position in electronic synchronization with advancement of the carrier to the stop position to synchronize arrival of the carrier at the stop position with arrival of the end effector at the unloading position, in which the end effector is in alignment with the workpiece held by the carrier at the stop position and engages the workpiece;
c) while the end effector is in engagement with the workpiece, retracting the end effector from the unloading position to unload the workpiece from the carrier and advancing the end effector to a loading position to load the workpiece back into the carrier; and
d) during (c), rotating the end effector relative to the carrier by 180 degrees to invert the workpiece in electronic synchronization with the retracting and advancing in (c) for loading the workpiece back into the carrier when inverted.