US 12,264,016 B2
Automated repitch system and related methods
Kenneth Wayne Nicholson, Cambridge (CA); David Andrew Tait, Cambridge (CA); and Robert James MacGregor, Cambridge (CA)
Assigned to ATS Corporation, Cambridge (CA)
Filed by ATS Corporation, Cambridge (CA)
Filed on Sep. 6, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/903,808.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/242,758, filed on Sep. 10, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0083483 A1, Mar. 16, 2023
Int. Cl. B65G 47/24 (2006.01); B25J 15/00 (2006.01); B65G 47/248 (2006.01); B65G 47/90 (2006.01)
CPC B65G 47/248 (2013.01) [B25J 15/0052 (2013.01); B65G 47/905 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of repitching workpieces in an automated mass production system, comprising:
a) receiving a supply carrier at a workpiece repitch station, the supply carrier including at least one row of supply retainers, the supply retainers positioned along each row at regular intervals defined by a first pitch, and each supply retainer holding a corresponding workpiece for unloading at the repitch station;
b) receiving a processing carrier at the repitch station, the processing carrier including at least one row of processing retainers for receiving corresponding workpieces, the processing retainers positioned along each row at regular intervals defined by a second pitch, the second pitch different from the first pitch;
c) transferring a set of workpieces from adjacent supply retainers in a corresponding row of the supply carrier to corresponding repitch grippers of a repitch robot at the repitch station, including, prior to engagement of the set of workpieces by the repitch grippers, raising the set of workpieces relative to the supply carrier to present an upper surface of each workpiece of the set of workpieces to the repitch grippers;
d) transferring the set of workpieces from the repitch grippers to adjacent processing retainers in a corresponding row of the processing carrier; and
e) after (c) and prior to (d): moving the repitch grippers from a pick-up position adjacent the supply carrier to a drop-off position adjacent the processing carrier, and translating the repitch grippers relative to each other from a pick-up configuration, in which adjacent repitch grippers are spaced apart from each other by a first spacing, to a drop-off configuration, in which adjacent repitch grippers are spaced apart from each other by a second spacing, the first spacing corresponding to the first pitch for alignment of the repitch grippers in the pick-up position with corresponding supply retainers to facilitate the transferring in (c), and the second spacing corresponding to the second pitch for alignment of the repitch grippers in the drop-off position with corresponding processing retainers to facilitate the transferring in (d).