TITLE: WORKPIECE SUPPORT ASSEMBLY FOR MICROROBOTIC APPARATUS.
European Patent Application EP0591517 A1

ABSTRACT:
Abstract not available for EP0591517
Abstract of corresponding document: US5295700
A compliant workpiece support assembly for a microrobotic apparatus for
aligning three workpieces and welding them into an assembled package,
includes a lower support assembly having a ball and socket joint with a
polymer ball seat cast around the ball. The ball has a radial bore
containing a lower collet axially movable in the bore to grip one of
the workpieces. The other two workpieces are held in telescoping
arrangement, respectively in inner and outer collets of an upper
support assembly, the collets being disposed coaxially one within the
other and respectively having camming housings for opening and closing
the collets. The outer collet housing supports the entire upper support
assembly and is axially driven so that when the outer collet bottoms on
the outer workpiece the continued movement of the outer housing closes
the collet to grip the workpiece. The inner collet is closed over the
inner workpiece by a pneumatic piston. When the upper support assembly
is lowered over the lower support assembly to bring the workpieces
together, the force drives the lower collet into the ball to close the
collet over the lower workpiece. Pneumatic clamps are provided for
locking the lower collet closed and for locking the ball against
rotation. A pneumatic clamp floats on the upper support assembly to
lock the outer collet closed. The inner collet assembly is movable
axially relative to the outer collet assembly for axial adjustment of
the positions of the two upper workpieces relative to each other.

INVENTORS:
Crews, Daniel F. (US)
O'brien, Gregory R. (US)
Stone, Alan L. (US)

APPLICATION NUMBER: EP19930912238
PUBLICATION DATE: 04/13/1994
FILING DATE: 04/13/1993

ASSIGNEE: DUKANE CORP (US)
INTERNATIONAL CLASSES: B23K37/00; B23B5/22; B23K37/04; B23Q1/54; B23Q3/08; B23Q39/04;
G02B6/42; G05B19/402; (IPC1-7): B27N3/08; B23B5/22; B28B19/00
EUROPEAN CLASSES: B23Q1/54B; B23Q3/08; B23Q39/04C; G02B6/42C5A8; G05B19/402

OTHER REFERENCES:
See references of WO 9320988A1