Claims
- 1. A method for flipping a workpiece on a work surface having an edge, comprising the steps of:raising a retracted arm out of the work surface to pivot the workpiece up and away from the edge; sliding the arm and the workpiece toward the edge; and guiding the workpiece through a 180 degree rotation so that the workpiece is flipped, at least partially in place, back onto the work surface, wherein said raising step comprises engaging a lower corner of the workpiece farthest from the edge, wherein said engaging step comprises contacting a lower surface of the workpiece with a support arm and contacting a side surface of the workpiece farthest from the edge with a bracket arm, and wherein said raising step further comprises actuating pneumatic drives via computer control for coordinating movement of said support arm and said bracket arm.
- 2. The method of claim 1, wherein said work surface is smaller than the workpiece.
- 3. The method of claim 1, wherein said guiding step comprises guiding the workpiece toward the edge.
- 4. A method for flipping a workpiece on a work surface having an edge, comprising the steps of:raising a retracted arm out of the work surface to pivot the workpiece up and away from the edge; sliding the arm and the workpiece toward the edge; guiding the workpiece through a 180 degree rotation so that the workpiece is flipped, at least partially in place, back onto the work surface, providing sensor data to a computer control about the position of the workpiece; and halting operation of pneumatic drives if the workpiece travels a preset distance beyond a periphery of the work surface.
- 5. The method of claim 4, wherein said sensor data is obtained from an optical sensor array which monitors a boundary located a preset distance outbound of the work surface periphery.
- 6. A material handling system mounted within a worktable having a work surface with an edge comprising:an arm having an initial position within the worktable below the work surface; a mechanical drive coupled to said arm for raising said arm to pivot the workpiece up and away from the edge and for subsequently sliding said arm and the workpiece toward the edge; a catcher plate for guiding the workpiece through a 180 degree rotation so that the workpiece is flipped, at least partially in place, back onto the work surface; a support arm for engaging a lower surface of the workpiece; a bracket arm for engaging a side surface of the workpiece farthest from the edge; and a microprocessor coupled to said mechanical drive for coordinating movements of said support arm and said bracket arm.
- 7. The system of claim 6, comprising a catcher plate drive coupled to said microprocessor.
- 8. The system of claim 7, wherein said mechanical drive and said catcher plate drive comprise pneumatic drives.
- 9. The system of claim 7, wherein the system includes an idle position where (i) said mechanical drive retracts said support arm and said bracket arm below the work surface, and (ii) said catcher plate drive retracts said catcher plate below the work surface.
- 10. The system of claim 7, wherein said catcher plate drive moves the catcher plate and the workpiece toward the edge.
- 11. The system of claim 7, further comprising the work surface, and wherein the work surface is smaller than the workpiece.
- 12. The system of claim 11, further comprising sensors coupled to said microprocessor for providing sensor data about the position of the workpiece in relationship to said work surface.
- 13. The system of claim 12, wherein said sensors comprise an optical sensor array which monitors a boundary located a preset distance outbound of a periphery of said work surface.
- 14. The system of claim 13, wherein said microprocessor halts operation of said drives upon receiving sensor data that the workpiece has encountered said boundary.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application claims the benefit of copending provisional application Serial No. 60/242,728 filed on Oct. 24, 2000, the contents of which is incorporated herein by reference thereto.
US Referenced Citations (10)
Foreign Referenced Citations (2)
Number |
Date |
Country |
0 682 135 |
Nov 1995 |
EP |
50-36821 |
Nov 1975 |
JP |
Provisional Applications (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60/242728 |
Oct 2000 |
US |