Patent ID: 6223413
Filing Date: 2001-05-01
Classification: B21J,B23Q,Y10T

Abstract:
Apparatus for positioning tooling for operation on a curved workpiece comprising:a) a gantry assembly comprising a gantry beam assembly having a longitudinal axis and connected at opposite ends to a pair of spaced apart pedestals each having a longitudinal axis, said gantry beam assembly being connected for pivotal movement about a pivot axis substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis of the gantry beam assembly;b) said pedestals being located adjacent opposite ends of the workpiece and said gantry beam assembly extending along the workpiece;c) a first controlled drive arrangement operatively associated with said pedestals for moving the pivot axis of said gantry beam assembly along the longitudinal axes of said pedestals;d) a second controlled arrangement operatively associated with said pedestals for moving the pivot axis of said gantry beam assembly along a path substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of said pedestals;e) head assembly containing tooling for operating on the workpiece and movably carried by said gantry beam assembly;f) a controlled drive for moving said head assembly along the longitudinal axis of said gantry beam assembly andg) a controlled rotary actuator arrangement operatively associated with said pedestals and said gantry beam assembly for pivoting said gantry beam assembly about said pivot axis.