Patent ID: 9566744
Date: 2017-02-14
CPC Classifications: B29C,B29L,B33Y

Claim:
1. A robotic system for positioning along an x-axis, a y-axis, and a z-axis in three-dimensional space, the robotic system comprising: a controller; a tool; an x-positioning system including a first drive motor, a first drive gear, and a first mechanical system, the first drive motor releasably coupled to the first drive gear when in a first position and responsive to signals from the controller to rotate the first drive gear in the first position, and the first mechanical system coupled to the first drive gear and configured to respond to rotation of the first drive gear by moving the tool along an x-axis; a y-positioning system including a second drive motor, a second drive gear, and a second mechanical system, the second drive motor responsive to signals from the controller to rotate the second drive gear, and the second mechanical system coupled to the second drive gear and configured to respond to rotation of the second drive gear by moving the tool along a y-axis; a z-positioning system including a gear assembly aligned for engagement with the first drive motor; and a toggle engaged with the first drive motor, the toggle including a control for switching the first drive motor from the first position to a second position where it is decoupled from the first drive gear and coupled to the gear assembly of the z-positioning system, the gear assembly responsive to movement of the first drive motor to move the tool along a z-axis when the first drive motor is in the second position.