IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,293,446
Granted Patent B2
US 10,293,446 · App. 15/580,775 · Granted May 21, 2019

Setting-up method and workpiece machining system comprising a setting-up module

Inventors: Philippe Jacot (Bevaix, CH); Sebastien Laporte (Thyez, FR)
Assignee: WATCH OUT SA
B23Q17/2266B23Q1/015B23Q17/2233B23Q17/24
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,293,446
App. No.
15/580,775
Granted
May 21, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

A workpiece machining system including a setting-up module and a machining module for producing workpieces. The setting-up module includes at least one first tool-holder attachment device for removably attaching at least one tool-holder and at least one first workpiece-carrier attachment device for removably attaching a workpiece-carrier. The machining module includes at least one second tool-holder attachment device for removably attaching at least one tool-holder and at least one second workpiece-carrier attachment device—for removably attaching a workpiece-carrier, such that the tool-holder and the workpiece-carrier—can both be transferred after setting up from the setting-up module to the machining module.

Claims (21)

1. A workpiece machining system comprising a setting-up module and a machining module for producing workpieces,

the setting-up module comprising:

at least one first tool-holder attachment device configured for removably attaching at least one tool-holder and at least one first workpiece-carrier attachment device configured for removably attaching a workpiece-carrier, said machining module comprising:

at least one second tool-holder attachment device configured for removably attaching at least one tool-holder and at least one second workpiece-carrier attachment device configured for removably attaching a workpiece-carrier,

wherein

said setting-up module further comprises a first positioning control device configured for controlling the positioning of said at least one tool-holder relative to said workpiece-carrier,

said machining module further comprises a second positioning control device adapted to check the positioning of said at least one tool-holder relative to said workpiece-carrier,

such that the tool-holder and the workpiece-carrier can both be transferred after setting up from the setting-up module to the machining module, the second positioning control device thus making it possible to ensure on said machining module that the positioning between said at least one tool-holder and said workpiece-carrier is identical to that applied between said at least one tool-holder and said workpiece-carrier during setting up on the setting-up module.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said first positioning control device provides reference values for the relative positioning between said at least one tool-holder and said workpiece-carrier.

3. The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said first positioning control device and said second positioning control device are adapted to check the positioning of the tool-holder and the workpiece-carrier at least in a X-Y plane.

4. The system as claimed in claim 1 , the tool-holder allowing several tools to be attached in a removable manner.

5. The system as claimed in claim 4 , the first and second tool-holder attachment devices being each configured to allow a tool-holder to be removably attached to a movable slide.

6. The system as claimed in claim 1 , the setting-up module comprising a measuring and storing device configured for measuring and storing the distance of the tool-holder with respect to a reference linked to the workpiece-carrier.

7. The system as claimed in claim 1 , the setting-up module comprising a detector which detects the direction of movement of the tool-holder in a reference frame linked to the workpiece-carrier.

8. The system as claimed claim 6 , the machining module comprising a measuring and compensating device configured for measuring the distance of the tool-holder with respect to a reference linked to the workpiece-carrier and for compensating for a difference with respect to said distance of the tool-holder with respect to said reference linked to the workpiece-carrier, said distance being measured on the setting-up module, so as to ensure a relative positioning of the tool-holder and the workpiece-carrier which is identical to that applied during setting up on the setting-up module.

9. The system as claimed in claim 7 , the machining module comprising a detector which detects the direction of movement of the tool-holder in a reference frame linked to the workpiece-carrier and a compensating device which compensates for a difference with respect to the direction measured on the setting-up module.

10. The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said position correction devices of the setting-up module are adapted to compensate for the relative position of the tool-holder with respect to the workpiece-carrier.

11. The system as claimed in claim 2 , wherein said position correction devices of the setting-up module are adapted to compensate for the relative position of the tool-holder with respect to the workpiece-carrier and wherein said position correction devices of the setting-up module are adapted to obtain a relative positioning and orientation of the tool-holder and of the workpiece-carrier corresponding to the reference values of the setting-up module.

12. The system as claimed in claim 1 , said setting-up module comprising a camera or a high-resolution sensor not provided on the machining module, in order to set up the machining on said setting-up module.

13. The system as claimed in claim 1 , comprising sensors and/or measurement systems for assisting with the setting up.

14. The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said second positioning control device is arranged in order to check that the relative positioning of the workpiece-carrier and the tool-holder corresponds to a predefined value, and to modify it if this is not the case.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 3, 2023
From: LDI FINANCES
To: WATCHOUTCORP SA
Reel/Frame 065104/0829 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 19, 2022
From: WATCH OUT SA
To: LDI FINANCES
Reel/Frame 061133/0173 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 6, 2018
From: JACOT, PHILIPPE; LAPORTE, SÉBASTIEN
To: WATCH OUT SA
Reel/Frame 045503/0409 →
Priority Claims (1)
CH 0831/15 · Jun 11, 2015 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20180229340A1 · Aug 16, 2018
Cited By (2)
US 12,636,710 US 12,691,501