Reconfigurable tooling system for supporting a workpiece

This invention relates to a tooling system comprising a plurality of elements (22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60, 62, 64) having tessellating sides arranged in an array. The elements of the array being movable between a closed position in which the elements contact one another, and an open position in which the elements of the array are spaced apart. In the open position the elements are capable of vertical movement relative to one another. Drive means for opening and closing the array are provided and the elements are mounted on supporting rails (2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14) and are driven by the drive means between the open position and the closed position along a drive axis which is at angle to the longitudinal axis of the supporting rails.

The present invention relates to an improved tooling system, in particular to a reconfigurable modular tooling system.

It is known from WO 02/064308 A1 to provide a tooling system comprising a plurality of elements arranged in an array, the elements of the array being movable between a closed position in which the elements contact one another and are secured in position, and an open position in which the elements of the array are spaced apart and are capable of vertical movement relative to one another, and drive means for opening and closing the array.

In the tooling systems specifically described in WO 02/064308 A1, the elements are mounted on supporting rails to form an array, the supporting rails being arranged parallel to one another and being provided with drive means to drive the support rails apart to move the elements of the array between the closed and open positions.

The elements are mounted on the supporting rails such that the vertices of adjacent elements, having diagonals which are aligned in the closed position, touch one another. In order to separate the vertices of adjacent elements, adjacent elements are mounted on separate supporting rails.

Because of the diagonal alignment of the elements, the closed array has a saw edge. For some applications of the tooling system, it may be a disadvantage that the saw edge halves of the elements located on the periphery of the array are not usable as part of the working area of the tool.

Similarly, for certain applications of the tooling system, it may be a further disadvantage of the known array, that where the elements are clamped in the closed position by means of a bolster, the bolster has to have a saw tooth edge to match the peripheral profile of the closed array.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved tooling system in which the above disadvantages are released or substantially obviated.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved tooling system which is particularly adapted for tools which have a high aspect ratio, i.e. tools which are relatively elongated in shape.

The present invention provides a tooling system comprising a plurality of elements arranged in an array, the elements of the array being movable between a closed position in which the elements contact one another and are secured in position, and an open position in which the elements of the array are spaced apart and are capable of vertical movement relative to one another, and drive means for opening and closing the array, wherein the elements have tessellating sides and the sides of adjacent elements contact one another in the closed position; the elements are mounted on supporting rails which are driven by the drive means between the open position and the closed position along a drive axis at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the supporting rails.

The elements are preferably substantially rectangular in plan and the drive axis is substantially parallel to the sides of these elements.

The supporting rails may be mounted at an angle of 45° to the drive axis or at a smaller angle, for example 30°.

The supporting rails are preferably provided with engagement means adapted to co-operate with the drive means and located perpendicular to the drive axis.

The elements of the array may be provided with inter-element interlocking features, to improve the alignment of the elements and the strength of the array.

As can be seen fromFIG. 1, a plurality of supporting rails2,4,6,8,10,12,14are arranged in an array. Each of the rails2,4,6,8,10,12,14is identical and comprises an elongate section16which terminates at each end in an angled portion18,20, set at angle of approximately 45° to the longitudinal axis of the elongate section16. Each of the angled portions18,20includes means (not shown) for mounting the rail on the drive means (not shown) for driving in the direction shown by the arrow A. A plurality of elements22,24,26,28,30,32,34,36,38,40,42,44,46,48,50,52,54,56,58,60,62,64are mounted on the rails, the sides66,68of adjacent elements22,24contacting each other.

InFIG. 2, the array ofFIG. 1is shown in an open position. As can be seen fromFIG. 2, the rails2and4together with the elements24,26,32,34,42,44, and54mounted on these rails have been moved away from the rail6. The rail6has itself been moved away from the rail8, so that the elements22,30,40,52and64do not contact adjacent elements by means of their sides but only contact adjacent elements mounted on the same rail at their vertices. In this configuration each of the elements22,30,40,52and64can independently be moved vertically relative to the other elements according to the method described in WO 02/064308 A1.

In the second embodiment of a tooling system as shown inFIGS. 3 and 4, a plurality of supporting rails302,304,306,308,310,312,314,316,318are arranged in an array. Each of the rails302,304,306,308,310,312,314,316,318is identical and comprises an elongate section322which terminates at each end in an angled portion324,326, set at angle of approximately 30° to the longitudinal axis of the elongate section322. Each of the angled portions324,326includes means (not shown) for mounting the rail on the drive means (not shown) for driving in the direction shown by the arrow A. A plurality of elements328,330,332,334,336,338,340,342,344,346,348,350,352,354,356are mounted on the rails, the sides358,360of adjacent elements328,330contacting each other.

InFIG. 4, the array ofFIG. 3is shown in an open position. As can be seen fromFIG. 4, the rails302,304,306together with the elements332,334,336,346mounted on these rails have been moved away from the rail308. The rail308has itself been moved away from the rail310, and the rail310has itself been moved away from the rail312so that the elements328,330,342,344and356do not contact adjacent elements. In this configuration each of the elements328,330,342,344and356can independently be moved vertically relative to the other elements according to the method described in WO 02/064308 A1.

In the third embodiment of a tooling system as shown inFIGS. 5 and 6, a plurality of supporting rails502,504,506,508,510,512,514are arranged in an array. Each of the rails502,504,506,508,510,512,514is identical and comprises an elongate chevron section516which terminates at each end in an angled portion518,520set at angle of approximately 30° to the longitudinal axis of the elongate chevron section516. Each of the angled portions518,520includes means (not shown) for mounting the rail on the drive means (not shown) for driving in the direction shown by the arrow A. A plurality of elements522,524,526,528,530,532,534,536,538,540,542,544,546,548,550are mounted on the rails, the sides552,554of adjacent elements522,524contacting each other.

InFIG. 6, the array ofFIG. 5is shown in an open position. As can be seen fromFIG. 6, the rails502,504,506,508together with the elements522,524,526,528,530,534,536,538, mounted on these rails have been moved away from the rail510. The rail510has itself been moved away from the rail512, so that the elements532,540,546do not contact adjacent elements. In this configuration each of the elements532,540,546can independently be moved vertically relative to the other elements according to the method described in WO 02/064308 A1.

As can be seen fromFIG. 7, a plurality of supporting rails702,704,706,708,710are arranged in an array. Each of the rails702,704,706,708,710is identical and comprises an elongate chevron section712which terminates at each end in an angled portion714,716, set at angle of approximately 45° to the longitudinal axis of the elongate section712. Each of the angled portions714,716includes means (not shown) for mounting the rail on the drive means (not shown) for driving in the direction shown by the arrow A. A plurality of elements718,720,722,724,726,728,730,732,734,736,738,740,742,744,746are mounted on the rails, the sides748,750of adjacent elements718,720contacting each other.

InFIG. 8, the array ofFIG. 7is shown in an open position. As can be seen fromFIG. 8, the rails702and704together with the elements720,722,724and732mounted on these rails have been moved away from the rail706. The rail706has itself been moved away from the rail708, so that the elements718,726,730,734and742do not contact adjacent elements by means of their sides but only contact adjacent elements mounted on the same rail at their vertices. In this configuration each of the elements718,726,730,734and742can independently be moved vertically relative to the other elements according to the method described in WO 02/064308 A1.

As can be seen fromFIG. 9, a plurality of supporting rails902,904,906,908,910,912are arranged in an array. Each of the rails902,904,906,908,910,912is identical and comprises an elongate zigzag section916which terminates at each end in an angled portion914,918, set at angle of approximately 30° to the longitudinal axis of the elongate section916. Each of the angled portions914,918includes means (not shown) for mounting the rail on the drive means (not shown) for driving in the direction shown by the arrow A. A plurality of elements920,922,924,926,928,930,932,934,936,938,940,942,944,946,948are mounted on the rails, the sides950,952of adjacent elements920,922contacting each other.

InFIG. 10, the array ofFIG. 9is shown in an open position. As can be seen fromFIG. 10, the rails902and904together with the elements920,922,924,926and928mounted on these rails have been moved away from the rail906. The rail906has itself been moved away from the rail908, which has itself been moved away from the rail910so that the elements930,932,934,936and938do not contact adjacent elements. In this configuration each of the elements930,932,934,936and938can independently be moved vertically relative to the other elements according to the method described in WO 02/064308 A1.

As can be seen fromFIG. 11, a plurality of supporting rails1102,1104,1106,1108are arranged in an array. Each of the rails1102,1104,1106,1108is identical and comprises an elongate zigzag section1112which terminates at each end in an angled portion1110,1114, set at angle of approximately 45° to the longitudinal axis of the elongate section1112. Each of the angled portions1110,1114includes means (not shown) for mounting the rail on the drive means (not shown) for driving in the direction shown by the arrow A. A plurality of elements1116,1118,1120,1122,1124,1126,1128,1130,1132,1134,1136,1138,1140,1142,1144are mounted on the rails, the sides1146,1148of adjacent elements1116,1118contacting each other.

InFIG. 12, the array ofFIG. 11is shown in an open position. As can be seen fromFIG. 12, the rails1102and1104together with the elements1116,1118,1120,1122,1124,1128and1132mounted on these rails have been moved away from the rail1106. The rail1106has itself been moved away from the rail1108, so that the elements1126,1130,1134,1138and1142do not contact adjacent elements by means of their sides but only contact adjacent elements mounted on the same rail at their vertices. In this configuration each of the elements1126,1130,1134,1138and1142can independently be moved vertically relative to the other elements according to the method described in WO 02/064308 A1.

The tooling system has been described with reference to the method described in WO 02/064308 A1, but is also suitable for use in other tooling systems, for example those described in International Patent Applications Nos WO 05/061147 A1; WO 05/061182 A1; WO 05/061183 A1 and GB 2005/002533 and GB Patent Application No 04283396.