US 12,318,926 B2
Pick-and-place system and method for transferring and installing a contoured composite structure
Darrell Darwin Jones, Mill Creek, WA (US); Raviendra S. Suriyaarachchi, Kirkland, WA (US); Antonio Martinez, Murcia (ES); and Bret Rodeheaver, Lake Stevens, WA (US)
Assigned to The Boeing Company, Arlington, VA (US)
Filed by The Boeing Company, Chicago, IL (US)
Filed on Jan. 24, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/583,178.
Claims priority of application No. 21382073 (EP), filed on Jan. 29, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0242065 A1, Aug. 4, 2022
Int. Cl. B25J 9/02 (2006.01); B25J 9/10 (2006.01); B25J 9/16 (2006.01); B25J 15/00 (2006.01); B25J 15/06 (2006.01); B25J 19/00 (2006.01); B29C 70/38 (2006.01); B64F 5/10 (2017.01); G06K 7/10 (2006.01); G06K 19/07 (2006.01); B29L 31/30 (2006.01)
CPC B25J 9/026 (2013.01) [B25J 9/1005 (2013.01); B25J 9/1687 (2013.01); B25J 15/0066 (2013.01); B25J 15/0616 (2013.01); B25J 19/0008 (2013.01); B29C 70/388 (2013.01); B64F 5/10 (2017.01); G06K 7/10297 (2013.01); G06K 19/0728 (2013.01); B25J 9/104 (2013.01); B29L 2031/3082 (2013.01); B29L 2031/3085 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A pick-and-place system for transferring and installing a contoured composite structure onto a mandrel, in a composite manufacturing system, the pick-and-place system comprising:
a tray station having a tray assembly designed to hold the contoured composite structure, prior to transfer and installation onto the mandrel; and
an installation station comprising:
the mandrel designed to receive the contoured composite structure, and designed to move along a moving manufacturing line, via a conveyor assembly; and
a pick-and-place assembly comprising:
a gantry assembly;
a main beam suspended from the gantry assembly, the main beam having a plurality of end effector assemblies and a pair of indexing assemblies, coupled to the main beam;
a vacuum system coupled to the main beam and coupled to the plurality of end effector assemblies;
a load balancer assembly coupling the main beam to the gantry assembly; and
a control system coupled to the pick-and-place assembly, to operably control the pick-and-place assembly.