US Patent:
20040183245, Sep 23, 2004
Inventors:
Shigeo Ishibashi - Kanagawa, JP
Duane Depweg - Tipp City OH, US
Curtis Smith - New Carlisle OH, US
International Classification:
B23Q001/64
Abstract:
A workpiece processing system having, a first assembly for performing at least a first processing operation on a workpiece at a first location and having a frame, a nesting assembly, a bolster assembly upon which a workpiece can be supported at the first processing location, and a transfer assembly. The bolster assembly is repositionable relative to the frame by movement along a first path between first and second positions. The transfer assembly is capable of moving a workpiece to/from the first processing location along a second path from/to the nesting assembly. The nesting assembly has first and second workpiece support elements, each with a length. The first and second workpiece support elements are each repositionable relative to the bolster assembly between a) an operating orientation wherein the lengths of the first and second workpiece support elements project generally in the direction of the second path, and b) a stored orientation. The first and second workpiece support elements have a lesser projection along the second path with the first and second workpiece support elements in their stored orientation than with the first and second workpiece support elements in their operating orientation. At least one of the first and second workpiece support elements is repositionable relative to the bolster assembly to a pre-storage position wherein the first and second workpiece support elements do not interfere with each other as the other of the first and second workpiece support elements is changed from its operating orientation into its stored orientation.