Index paddles for a robotic workstation centered on a rotating positioner table
An adapter plate attached to the top of the riser, with a surface area extending outward from the top of the riser to provide the surface area larger than a perimeter of the top of the riser; a first guide mounted off-center of the adapter plate on a first side of the adapter plate; a first index paddle movably mounted on the first guide, comprising an extending portion that extends off-center of the first index paddle and configured for receiving a first robotic arm; and a first actuator for moving the first index paddle with respect to the adapter plate between an inward position and an outward position, wherein the extending portion in the outward position projects farther from the riser than in the inward position to extend a reach of the first robotic arm.
1 . A robotic workstation positioned in a center of a pair of rotating work cells, the robotic workstation comprising:
a riser mounted to a base and comprising a top and a bottom;
an adapter plate attached to the top of the riser with a surface area extending outward on opposite sides of the top of the riser to provide a surface area that is larger than a perimeter of the top of the riser;
a first bearing mounted off-center of the adapter plate on a first side of the adapter plate;
a first index paddle rotatably mounted on the first bearing comprising of an extending portion that extends off-center of the first index paddle and configured for receiving a first robotic arm;
a first actuator comprising a first cylinder and a first rod that moves linearly with respect to the first cylinder with the first rod pivotally attached to the first index paddle for rotating the first index paddle with respect to the adapter plate;
a second bearing mounted off-center of the adapter plate on a second side of the adapter plate;
a second index paddle rotatably mounted on the second bearing comprising of an extending portion that extends off-center of the second index paddle and configured for receiving a second robotic arm, wherein a second index paddle movably mounted on a second guide on a second side of the adapter plate, and a second actuator for moving the second index paddle between an inward position and an outward position;
a second actuator comprising a second cylinder and a second rod that moves linearly with respect to the second cylinder with the second rod pivotally attached to the second index paddle for rotating the second index paddle with respect to the adapter plate;
a vertical plate adapted to the adapter plate wherein the first cylinder of the first actuator is pivotally combined with the vertical plate and the second cylinder of the second actuator is pivotally combined to the vertical plate and below the first actuator such that in retracted positions the first actuator and the second actuator are pivoted away from the vertical plate;
wherein the first actuator and the second actuator translates linear extension of the respective first rod and second rod to rotation of the corresponding first index paddle and the second index paddle; and
a bearing positioned on the base and having an open center and a rotating portion that rotates with respect to the base, wherein the riser is mounted in the open center of the bearing to the base, and a positioner with a single surface for two work cells mounted on opposite ends of the single surface of the rotating portion of the bearing, wherein the positioner is configured for movement between a working position, wherein the first robotic arm and the second robotic arm can carry out work on a work piece, and an open position, wherein the work piece can be unloaded.
2 . The robotic workstation of claim 1 , wherein the first actuator and the second actuator are each configured for rotating the corresponding first index paddle and the second index paddle ninety degrees with respect to the adapter plate.
3 . The robotic workstation of claim 2 , wherein the rotation of the respective first index paddle and the second index paddle ninety degrees with respect to the adapter plate corresponds with moving the first index paddle and the second index paddle between an inward position and an outward position.
4 . The robotic workstation of claim 1 , wherein the first actuator comprises of an air cylinder.
5 . The robotic workstation of claim 1 , wherein the adapter plate comprises a first hole aligned with a rotational axis of the first bearing, wherein the first index paddle comprises a through-hole aligned with the rotational axis of the first bearing, and wherein the first hole and the through-hole together define a channel configured to receive wiring for the first robotic arm.
6 . The robotic workstation of claim 1 , and further comprising a longitudinal axis extending through the riser; a first rotational axis about which the first index paddle rotates; a second rotational axis about which the second index paddle rotates, wherein the first rotational axis and the second rotational axis are each off set from the longitudinal axis on opposite sides thereof.
7 . A robotic workstation comprising:
a riser comprising a top and a bottom;
an adapter plate attached to the top of the riser, with a surface area extending outward from the top of the riser to provide the surface area larger than a perimeter of the top of the riser;
a first guide mounted off-center of the adapter plate on a first side of the adapter plate;
a first index paddle movably mounted on the first guide, comprising an extending portion that extends off-center of the first index paddle and configured for receiving a first robotic arm;
a first actuator comprising a first cylinder and a first rod that moves linearly with respect to the first cylinder with the first rod pivotally attached to the first index paddle for moving the first index paddle with respect to the adapter plate between an inward position and an outward position, wherein the extending portion in the outward position projects farther from the riser than in the inward position to extend a reach of the first robotic arm;
a second index paddle movably mounted on a second guide on a second side of the adapter plate, and a second actuator for moving the second index paddle between the inward position and the outward position;
a second actuator comprising a second cylinder and a second rod that moves linearly with respect to the second cylinder with the second rod pivotally attached to the second index paddle for moving the second index paddle with respect to the adapter plate between an inward position and an outward position;
a vertical plate adapted to the adapter plate wherein the first cylinder of the first actuator is pivotally combined with the vertical plate and the second cylinder of the second actuator is pivotally combined to the vertical plate and below the first actuator such that in retracted positions the first actuator and the second actuator are pivoted away from the vertical plate;
wherein the first actuator and the second actuator translates linear extension of the respective first rod and second rod to rotation of the corresponding first index paddle and the second index paddle.
8 . The robotic workstation of claim 7 , wherein the first actuator is configured to rotate the first index paddle ninety degrees with respect to the adapter plate between the inward position and the outward position.
9 . The robotic workstation of claim 7 , wherein the first actuator is configured to translate the first index paddle linearly along the first guide with respect to the adapter plate between the inward position and the outward position.
10 . The robotic workstation of claim 7 , wherein the first actuator is configured to move the first index paddle along an arcuate path defined by the first guide with respect to the adapter plate between the inward position and the outward position.
11 . The robotic workstation of claim 7 , wherein the first actuator comprises a pneumatic cylinder.
12 . The robotic workstation of claim 7 , wherein the adapter plate comprises a first hole aligned with the first guide, and the first index paddle comprises a through-hole aligned with the first guide to create a channel for receiving wiring for the first robotic arm.
13 . The robotic workstation of claim 7 , further comprising a longitudinal axis extending through the riser, and a first movement axis along which the first index paddle moves, wherein the first movement axis is offset from the longitudinal axis.
14 . The robotic workstation of claim 7 , and further comprising a bearing having an open center and a rotating portion, wherein the riser is mounted in the open center of the bearing, and a positioner mounted on the rotating portion of the bearing, wherein the positioner is configured for movement between a working position, wherein the first robotic arm can carry out work on a work piece, and an open position, wherein the work piece can be unloaded.
15 . The robotic workstation of claim 14 , wherein the movement between the working position and the open position is one hundred eighty degrees.
16 . The robotic workstation of claim 15 , wherein a first work cell and a second work cell are mounted on the positioner, and wherein the first work cell and the second work cell rotate back and forth one hundred eighty degrees to periodically position the first work cell and the second work cell in the working position and the open position.
17 . The robotic workstation of claim 16 , wherein with the work cell in the working position, the first index paddle can move between the inward position and the outward position such the robotic arm can reach an inward area and an outward area of the corresponding first work cell and the second work cell.