Patent ID: 8250743

Claim:
A processing system ( 10 ) for processing a moving workpiece ( 12 ) by means of an industrial robot ( 16 ) that can be rigidly coupled, intermittently, to the workpiece ( 12 ) and/or to a movable workpiece carrier unit ( 14 ), the industrial robot ( 16 ), when in a decoupled operating position ( 42 ), being carried by a carrier device ( 18 ) that is movable, independently of a workpiece, by means of a drive unit ( 20 ) acting with active drive, and, when in a coupled operating position ( 44 ), being floatingly mounted relative to the carrier device ( 18 ) by means of a floating bearing system ( 22 ), wherein, in a coupled operating position ( 44 ) of the industrial robot ( 16 ), the drive unit ( 20 ) does not act with active drive upon the carrier device ( 18 ) and the carrier device ( 18 ) is moved concomitantly, at least intermittently, by the moving workpiece ( 12 ) and/or by the moving workpiece carrier unit ( 14 ), by means of the floating bearing system ( 22 ).