Patent ID: 7654379
Filing Date: 2010-02-02
Classification: B23C,B23Q

Abstract:
1. A machining system for performing a plurality of work operations on an elongate workpiece, the system comprising: an infeed system configured to receive the workpiece; a plurality of workcells positioned along a substantially linear process flow path extending from the infeed system such that a distance between any two consecutive workcells along the path is less than the length of the workpiece, each workcell having clamping members for immobilizing and stabilizing the workpiece and having at least one tool for performing at least one work operation on the immobilized workpiece; and a transport system configured to advance the workpiece from the infeed system along the process flow path, thereby moving a plurality of lengthwise portions of the workpiece successively through the workcells, the transport system including a plurality of pallets structured to be concurrently engaged to respective portions of a single workpiece such that the single workpiece extends across and is concurrently supported by the plurality of pallets, wherein the transport system is configured to advance both the workpiece and the pallets engaged thereto throughout at least a portion of the machining system with the pallets configured to remain engaged with the respective portions of the workpiece during advancement of the workpiece such that the workpiece and the pallets are advanced uniformly, wherein at least two of the workcells are configured to perform work operations on different lengthwise portions of the workpiece that are engaged by different pallets without having to reposition the workpiece longitudinally in the system, and wherein the transport system includes a plurality of rollers positioned along the process flow path, the rollers structured to support the pallets and the workpiece such that the pallets and workpiece are configured to be advanced along the process flow path while the pallets remain engaged with the respective portions of the workpiece.