US 12,257,695 B2
Pick-and-place manufacturing system and method
Phillip John Crothers, Hampton East (AU); and Martin Alexander Szarski, Brighton East (AU)
Assigned to The Boeing Company, Arlington, VA (US)
Filed by The Boeing Company, Chicago, IL (US)
Filed on Oct. 16, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/046,936.
Prior Publication US 2024/0123631 A1, Apr. 18, 2024
Int. Cl. B23Q 3/00 (2006.01); B25J 5/04 (2006.01); B25J 15/00 (2006.01); B25J 15/06 (2006.01)
CPC B25J 15/0608 (2013.01) [B25J 5/04 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A manufacturing system, comprising:
a stator base having a planar stator surface covering an array of electrical coils configured to generate an electromagnetic field;
a plurality of movers, each containing multiple permanent magnets configured to cause the movers to levitate and move relative to the stator surface in response to the electromagnetic field;
one or more end effectors coupled to the movers, each end effector configured to perform one or more functions in relation to a material sheet; and
a controller configured to selectively activate the electrical coils in a manner causing independent, coordinated movement of the movers over the stator surface, and causing the end effectors to engage with and operate on the material sheet.