Patent ID: 7108189
Filing Date: 2006-09-19
Classification: B23Q

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for positioning a workpiece carrier with respect to a workstation comprising: a single encoder reader located in a fixed position at a workstation for generating a signal in response to interaction with at least one encoder strip; a workpiece carrier movable along a path of travel through the workstation, and having an encoder strip connected thereto, the encoder strip operably interacting with the encoder reader located at the workstation; and a non-direct friction drive engaging the workpiece carrier for moving the carrier along the path of travel through the workstation, the non-direct drive responsive to the signal from the encoder reader in a closed loop feedback control system for precisely locating the workpiece carrier at a predetermined stationary position relative to the workstation, the encoder strip including a plurality of different information segments, one segment comprising a carrier position information segment and another segment comprising an indentification information segment.