SE515357C2 - A system for processing a material along a production line - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a system for working material along a production line with the aid of an arangement (2) that can be moved along a supporting surface (1). A bottom part (2a) can be moved and/or displaced across the supporting surface (1) with the aid of an air cushion (L) located between the bottom part and the supporting surface and can be held against said supporting surface (1) in a chosen positional setting, by at least removing the lifting effect of said air cushion. A holding means (20) co-acts with an inner part (2c) and functions to affix said inner part (2c) relative to the supporting surface (1). The bottom and a top part of the arrangement can be moved relative to said inner part (2c) by means of a movement generating means (30, 40, 50) mounted in said top and bottom parts (2a and 2b), and adapted to provide rotary movement and/or provide linear movement.

Description

25 30 35,,. . .a 515 557 _ 2 _ movement over the support surface via an air cushion appearing between the lower part of the lower part and the support surface, lifting the air part but retainable against said support surface in a selected setting position by at least having the lifting effect of said air cushion removed.

It is a previously known system of initially stated nature and which utilizes a, along a support surface, movable and / or displaceably arranged arrangement.

These arrangements are arranged to be able to move quickly or move slowly over a flat support surface and where the position of said arrangement is evaluable in a computer equipment and where a movement from one position to another is controllable from said computer equipment.

It is also a previously known system (US-A-4,6l5,568) which utilizes arrangements, which are based on resp. arrangement has a lower part, an upper part and an inner part, the lower part being -friction-free- arranged for a movement over the support surface via an air cushion, between the lower surface of the lower part and the support surface but retainable against said support surface in a selected setting position by behavior, lifting the lower part, at least allowing the lifting effect of said air cushion to be removed.

Thus, it can be mentioned that through the patent publication US-A-4 192 240 a machine-related tool is previously known, such as for holding a workpiece and a table, with a support surface for supporting the support member. here it is indicated that a plurality of openings are arranged along the table surface in order thereby to be able to carry air to or to be able to remove air from a space between the support member and the table. 10 15 20 25 30 35. . . . . . An operator-controlled valve selectively connects either an air source to the openings, so as to be able to provide an air cushion which allows a frictionless or frictionless positioning of the support member relative to the table, or a vacuum source to the openings, thereby providing a holding force. , which holds the support member in a fixed position relative to the table.

The holding against the support surface can thus be strengthened by applying a negative pressure between the lower surface of the lower part and the support surface.

BEDQQQBELSE_EQB_EQBELIQ§BHDE_HBBElNHIH fi IEKHlSKI_BBQBLEM Takes into account the fact that the technical considerations that a person skilled in the relevant technical field must make in order to offer a solution to one or more set of technical measures or the initial a necessary choice of the means or means required must be made and, as a result, the subsequent technical problems should be relevant in the creation of the present invention.

Taking into account the prior art, as described above, it should be seen as a technical problem to be able to create such conditions with simple measures in an associated system that it can easily utilize a flat sectioned support surface, which can extend along a selected production line and past one or more material processing stations.

There is also a technical problem in being able to create such conditions with simple measures that a plan support surface required for this may be formed by a number of up to 10 15 20 25 30 35. . ~. . » 515 357 | . . . «. -. _ 4 _ mutually oriented support surface parts.

There is then a technical problem in being able to realize the significance of allowing at least a number of the mentioned support surface parts to be oriented edge by edge.

There is also a technical problem in being able to realize the importance of assigning a system which is so structured that in each case each of a selected number of utilized support surface parts must have a number of arrangement relative to the support surface registering points and / or bodies and with a predetermined distance between selected points and / or bodies.

There is also a technical problem in being able to easily create such conditions that a selected distance between edge-related points and / or means for a first support part and edge-related points for a second support part must be chosen equal to the distance between said recording points and / or other bodies allocated a support area share.

There is also a technical problem in being able to realize the significance of and the advantages associated with allowing in a system, of initially stated nature, edge-related points to be oriented in the edge portion of each support part and in addition to realize that said edge-related points should be oriented between 0 and half the distance between the selected support points otherwise belonging to the support surface.

There is also a technical problem in being able to realize the significance of and the advantages associated with allowing one or more support surface parts to be adapted for a collaboration with a support surface part lifting means or a support surface part lowering means.

There is also a technical problem in using simple measures. . . ,. . 515 357. . . . . . ,. . _, _ 5 _ be able to create such conditions that said lifting means or the said lowering means must be so adapted that they can move vertically one or more support surface parts from a first horizontally oriented production line to another horizontally oriented production line. , with one or more arrangements resting thereon.

There is also a technical problem in being able to assign an arrangement and utilize it in an initially specified system, where the arrangement is adapted to be able to move quickly from a first selected position, related to a first recording point or several recording points, to another selected position, related to a second recording point or several recording points, and thereby, if necessary, having the arrangement shifted to a predetermined exact position.

There is then a technical problem in being able to realize the advantages of and the need to in said system according to the invention let said arrangement, over a line, be allowed to stand in a connection with a rail arrangement, along which said line is slidably arranged and to which rail arrangement a computer equipment is connected over a drive circuit.

There is then a technical insight into allowing computer equipment to be equipped with and assigned a program to not only control the movement and / or displacement of the arrangement but also to control means that allow the arrangement to be held against a support part, activate machine tools if necessary. or material at resp. material processing station.

There is then a technical problem in being able to realize the significance of the fact that in the case of a system of initially stated nature, an utilized arrangement must have an arrangement against a selected support surface part retaining means, cooperable with an inner part belonging to the arrangement. , whereby 10 15 20 25 30 35 ». . . ,. 515 357. . . . . . Said retaining means shall be arranged to have said inner part fixed relative to said support surface part, that a lower and an upper part for said arrangement shall be movably arranged relative to said inner part via motion generating means, arranged within said lower and upper parts .

There is also a technical problem in being able to realize the advantages of allowing each support part to be provided with a number of registering bodies oriented in rows and columns and to allow the respective support part to be identical with each other.

There is also a technical problem in that for a precise movement and displacement of said arrangements within the designated system, said means may be made up of pins, the distance between them is adapted to correspond to the distance between recording means in the support surface part or vice versa.

In order to make the system according to the invention more efficient, it should be seen as a technical problem to be able to realize the significance of allowing the distance of movement of said lower and upper parts relative to said inner part to be adapted to slightly exceed a selected distance between recording means. a technical problem in being able to realize the significance of and the advantages associated with having an arrangement moved along an support part in accordance with the possibilities offered by the system by: a) allowing said holding means to be activated to thereby have an arrangement fixed. associated inner part relative to said support surface part, b) to allow an air cushion to be applied during the lower part belonging to the arrangement, c) to allow the upper or lower parts of the arrangement to be displaced relative to the support surface part via arrangement-associated movement generating means. and d) allowing the airbag to be removed at a predetermined position, whereby the lower the part becomes firmly related to the support surface.

There is also a technical problem in being able to realize the advantages associated with allowing said means, at the fixed position according to -d-, to have said holding means deactivated and via movement generating means to have said holding means within the arrangement shifted to a in a predetermined position and where said determined position can consist of a new registered position.

LQSHIHQEH In order to be able to solve one or more of the above-mentioned technical problems, the present invention now starts from a system for having either one along the production line processed in one or more material processing stations, along a production line formed as a support surface. movable material of stationary solid material processing machines or a solid material oriented along the production line of a material processing machine movable along the production line, said movement can take place by means of one or more arrangements which are movable via an air cushion and / or movement means and / or slidably arranged above the said production line belonging to the support surface.

In such a system, therefore, the present invention proposes that at least a part of said support surface should be formed by a number, edge by edge, oriented support surface parts, that each of these support surface parts should have a number of arrangements relative to the support surface recording points and / or means, with a predetermined distance between selected points and / or means and that a selected distance between edge relation 10 15 20 25 30 35. , - | «U 515 357. . . 3 points and / or bodies for a first support part and edge-related points for a second support part are chosen equal to the distance between registering points and / or bodies assigned to another support part and that an arrangement-related means must be arranged to have an inner arrangement belonging part fixed to said support surface and means for allowing the arrangement set to be movable or displaceably arranged relative to the support surface with a fixed inner part.

As proposed embodiments, falling within the scope of the inventive idea, it is indicated that said edge-related points for a support surface part shall be oriented between 0 and half the distance between the support surface part and otherwise associated recording points.

It is further indicated that said support surface parts must be able to be adapted so that they can be displaced laterally relative to each other, when there is thus a need for this.

The invention further indicates that one or more of these support surface parts, which are included in the utilized production line, must be adapted in order to be able to cooperate with a support surface lifting means or alternatively a support surface part lowering means.

In particular, it is proposed that said lifting means or lowering means should be adapted to be able to move a selected support surface part from one production line to another, with one or more arrangements resting thereon.

The invention also provides utilization of a system-associated arrangement which is adapted to be able to move quickly from a first selected position, related to the first recording point or several recording points, to another selected position, related to a second recording point or several recording points and thereby, if necessary, have the arrangement moved towards one of 10 15 20 25 30 35 515 557 | - -; u- predetermined position.

The system further indicates that said arrangement should be connected via a line to a rail arrangement, along which said line is slidably arranged and to which rail arrangement a computer equipment is connected via a drive circuit.

The system further indicates that the computer equipment must be provided with a computer program in order to thereby control the movement and / or displacement of the arrangement.

In addition, the computer equipment is adapted to allow the arrangement to be held against a support surface part, to activate, if necessary, machine tools or the like in material processing stations.

The system-associated arrangement also has a means for holding against a selected support surface part, cooperable with an inner part belonging to the arrangement, said holding means being arranged to have said inner part relative to said support surface part and for a lower and an upper part for said arrangement are movably arranged relative to said inner part via motion generating means, arranged within said lower and upper parts.

It has proved to be particularly advantageous to allow each support surface part to be provided with a number of recording means oriented in rows and columns.

The invention also utilizes the possibility of allowing said means to consist of pins, the distance between them is adapted to correspond to the distance between recording means in the support surface part or vice versa.

The system is also based on the distance of movement of said lower and upper parts relative to said inner part being adapted. . ~. x> 515 357. . . | ~ n _10 .. to slightly exceed a selected distance between recording means, where said means may be rotatably arranged relative to said inner part.

The system is also based on having an arrangement moved along a support part through; a) allowing said holding means to be activated to cause an inner part of the arrangement to be fixed therefrom relative to said support surface part, b) allowing an air cushion to be applied under an lower part of the arrangement, c) allowing , displacing the upper or lower parts of the arrangement relative to the support surface part and d) to have the air cushion removed at a predetermined position so that the lower part thereby becomes firmly related to the support surface part.

In the fixed position, according to -d-, the system-associated arrangement shall have said computer means deactivated via the computer equipment, which can be displaced from the support surface part via motion generating means within the arrangement to a predetermined position and where said determined position can advantageously consists of a new registered mode. The advantages that can primarily be considered significant for a system, in accordance with the present invention, are that in this way conditions have been created for being able to easily build up a production line adapted for one or more material processing stations, by allowing the production line support surface may consist of a number, edge 10 15 20 25. . -. . . 515 357 _ 11 _ 'id edge oriented, support surface parts.

In addition, each of the support surface parts must have a number, one or more arrangements relative to the support surface registering, points and / or bodies.

It is furthermore possible in a simple manner, via an air cushion and / or motion-generating means, to allow the arrangement to be movably and / or displaceably arranged over said production line belonging to support surface parts.

What can primarily be considered as characteristic of a system, in accordance with the present invention, is stated in the characterizing part of the appended claim 1.

A presently proposed embodiment of a system adapted to have a material and a proposed arrangement processed in one or more material processing stations, along a production line formed as a support surface, will now be described in more detail in one, of several possible, embodiments. where; Figure 1 shows in perspective view an embodiment of an application of the inventive idea with a production line built up of a plurality, edge-to-edge oriented, support surface parts with only one material processing station, Figure 2 shows a proposed orientation of edge-related points. a utilized arrangement, 10 Figure Figure Figure Figure Figure Figure OJ. ,. . v p 515 357. A. ~ 1. _ 12 _ shows an alternative embodiment of the orientation of said edge-related points, shows in a section the basic structure of the lower lower part of an arrangement, where a holding means is in a registered cooperation with the recording surface part of the recording points. shows in perspective view a support surface or support surface along arrangement is movable or displaceably arranged by using arrangement-associated movement-generating means, controllable by a computer equipment, shows in a side view and in section an arrangement used according to the invention, shows in a plan view and partly in a The arrangement according to Figure 6 shows an example of a movement diagram that can be offered by using three motion generating means built into the arrangement.

Thus, with reference to Figure 1, there is shown in a perspective view a system -S-, for processing in one or more material processing stations, such as the station S1 shown, a material 2 'along one formed as a support surface production line -A-.

The system is based on allowing an arrangement 2 to be used, which is movable and / or displaceably arranged along support surface parts, some of which have been assigned the reference designations A1..A7 and oriented in a consecutive order. 10 l5 20 25 30 35 515 357. . . . . . | i _13 ..

The arrangement 2 can be an arbitrary arrangement, adapted for a movement along the support surface, but can also consist of an arrangement which is shown in more detail and described in the following and which is shown in more detail and described in an application submitted under application number 98 03227-9. patent application entitled "One, along a support surface, slidably arranged, arrangement".

The invention is based on having either a material movable along the production line A, placed on or attached to the arrangement 2, machined by stationary material processing machines, such as a drilling machine within the station -S1-.

Alternatively, a solid material oriented along the production line can be processed by one or more material processing machines movable along the production line, attached to or applied to one or more arrangements 2.

For the sake of simplicity, the invention will be described in more detail when a material 2 'is attached to an arrangement 2 and which is to be provided with a hole in the material processing station -S1-, and which consists of a drilling machine.

The invention assumes that the arrangement 2 at the point -P1- is in the registered position and that the material 2 'is also in the registered position (by registered position is meant a selected orientation and location).

Thus, a system-adapted movement towards the station -S1- of the material 2 'will take place by means of an arrangement 2.

Such arrangements are arranged to be movable and / or displaceably arranged along an said production line via an air cushion and / or motion generating means. 10 15 20 25 30 35 515 357, -. 1 v. 1 I 1 _ 14 _ The support surface has the reference numeral 1 and is thus formed from a number, edge-to-edge oriented, support surface parts, A1, A2 - A7.

Each of these support surface parts has a number of arrangements relative to the support surface registering points (compare Figure 2), assigned the reference numerals 1a, 1b and / or means, with a predetermined distance between selected points and / or means, where the distance is assigned refer - ningsbeteckningen -a-.

Thus, such recording points are present under the arrangement 2 at the point -P1-, but these are not indicated in Figure 1 for the purpose of clarification.

The system according to the invention is based on that a selected distance between edge-related points and / or means 11a for a first support surface part A1 and edge-related points 11b for a second support surface part A2 must be adapted equal to the distance -a- between said recording points and / or means 1a, lb allocated a support area part Al otherwise.

In any case, one of the said edge-related points 11a is here oriented between 0 and half the distance between the supporting surface part A1 otherwise belonging to the registering points 1a, 1b.

Edge-related points 11a can also be oriented in the respective support surface edge portion, as Figure 1 shows.

Figure 2 is intended to illustrate that the predetermined distance -a- is here the same in the x- and y-coordinates of a right-angled coordinate system.

Figure 2 is intended to illustrate that the distance between the edge relation 11b and the edge surface A1 'is chosen to be half the distance between the registered points 11a, associated points 1a, 1b belonging to the upper surface of the support surface part A1. 10 15 20 25 30 35 - .. a? 515 357 _ 15 _ Figure 3 illustrates that the distance -a- between the edge relation- lbb is chosen in 45 degrees in relation to the x- and y-axes of a right-angled coordinate system. Figure 1 further shows that one or more support surface parts, indicated in figure 1 as the support surface part -A6-, are adapted for a co-operation with a lifting surface part lifting means.

Agents of this kind are well known in this technical field, which is why the said means are only schematically assigned the reference designation -M1-.

One or more support surface parts -A6- may also be adapted to cooperate with a support surface part lowering means -M2-.

Figure 1 further intends to indicate and illustrate that said means M1 resp. M2 must be adapted to be able to move said support surface part -A6- from a horizontal production line -A- to another horizontal production line -A'-, located slightly above the production line -A-.

The movement of the said support surface part -A6- must then take place with one or more arrangements resting thereon.

The arrangement 2 has, according to Figure 4, means (30,40) which make it adapted to be able to move quickly from a first selected position -P1-, related to a first recording point or several recording points, to another selected position -P2-, related to a second recording point or several recording points, and thereby, if necessary, having the arrangement 2 shifted to a predetermined position by means of motion generating means 30, 4OI. The first position -P1- is shown in FIG. 1 with one, arrangement 2 while a second position -P2- is shown without a 10 15 20 25 30 35 515 357, .-. However, it is obvious that when the arrangement 2 has been moved to the second recording point -P2-, a drilling machine within the station -S1- can drill a hole in the material 2 'in a predetermined exact position.

Figure 1 further shows that said arrangement 2 over a line -F- can be connected to a rail arrangement -F1-, along which said line -F- is slidably arranged and to which rail arrangement a computer equipment -D- is connected via a drive circuit - E- with the help of a wire -F'-.

The rail arrangement -Fl- is illustrated here to run along the production line -A-.

The computer equipment -D- is provided with a program, a computer program, in order to be able to control via this partly the movement and / or displacement of the arrangement 2 from the first position -P1- to the second position -P2- but also to control the holding of the arrangement 2 against a support surface part and, if necessary, to have machine tools activated within different stations -S1- or the like at each material processing station.

The system will now use an arrangement 2 which has an arrangement 20 holding means 20 against a selected support surface part, cooperable with an inner part 2c associated with the arrangement, said holding means 20 being arranged to have said inner part 2c fixed relative to said support surface part 1 and that a lower 2a and an upper part 2b of said arrangement 2 are movably arranged relative to said inner part 2c via motion generating means 30, 40, arranged within said lower and upper parts.

Figure 1 illustrates with all the desired clarity that each support surface part A1, A2 - A7 is provided with a number of recording means oriented in rows and columns. 10 15 20 25 30 35. . - - u 515 357 _17 ..

Said fixing means 20 may consist of pins, the distance between them is adapted to correspond to the distance -a- between recording means 1a, 1b in the support surface part or vice versa. The system requires that the distance of movement of said lower and upper parts relative to said inner part of the arrangement is adapted to slightly exceed a selected distance -a- between the registering means 1a, 1b.

In particular, it is indicated that said means 20 should be rotatably arranged relative to said inner part 2c.

The system according to the invention is based on having an arrangement 2 moved along a support surface part through; a) to allow said holding means 20 to be activated to fix an inner part 2c belonging to the arrangement 2 relative to said support surface part 1, b) to allow an air cushion -L- to be applied under a lower part 2a belonging to the arrangement 2, c) to, via arrangement-associated movement-generating means 40, cause the upper 2b or lower 2a parts of the arrangement 2 to be displaced relative to the support surface part 1 and d) to, at a predetermined position, have the air cushion -L- removed and the lower part 2a become firmly related to the support surface part 1 .

The system further requires, at the fixed position according to -d-, deactivating said holding means 20 which thereby rises above the upper surface 1 of the support surface part and via movement generating means 40 displaces said holding means 20 within the arrangement to a predetermined position. 10 15 20 25 30 35 -. f. l- S15 357 4. . . ,, _18 ..

Said determined position should consist of a new registered position.

By activating the means 20 in this position in cooperation with the registered means of the support surface part, activating the air cushion -L-, the arrangement 2 can be moved stepwise along the support surface 1.

It should also be mentioned that at the position -P2- the arrangement 2 can not only be -locked- by a negative pressure between the lower surface of the arrangement 2 and the support surface 1 but also by the means 20 in the active position.

With reference to Figure 5, there is thus shown in perspective view an arrangement 2, slidably arranged along a support surface 1, exhibiting the properties significant with the invention.

The arrangement 2 has a lower part 2a, an upper part 2b and an inner part 2c obscured in figure 1.

Figure 6 illustrates that the lower part 2a and the upper part 2b may be formed in one piece, however, the upper part 2b may advantageously be a separate unit, which is attached to the lower part 2a in a manner known per se.

The upper surface 2b 'of the upper part 2b is provided with grooves 2b "for holding in a known manner a material intended for machining or a tool intended for machining a material.

The lower part 2a is arranged in a known manner to be frictionlessly movable over the support surface 1 via a lower part 2a and thus of course also the upper part 2b and thus of the upper part 2b and thus also the upper part 2b and the inner part 2c lifting, air cushion -L-, generated by supplying air under pressure via a line L1. .e- .v 10 15 20 25 30 35. - -. The arrangement 2 is further held firmly against said support surface 1 in a selected setting position by in any case allowing the floating effect of said air cushion to be removed, whereby the weight of the arrangement 2 will rest against the support surface 1 alternatively, instead of the air cushion, a retaining negative pressure is introduced via said line -Ll-. The support surface 1 has a number of registration points, in rectangular -x and y- coordinates, oriented in rows and columns, in the form of circular holes, two of which are assigned the reference numerals 1a and 1b oriented in x-direction.

The recording points 1a and 1b are located under the arrangement 2, as Figure 6 shows. However, it should be mentioned that the corresponding recording points 1a and 1b are shown laterally offset in Figure 5 in order thereby to facilitate the understanding of the present invention.

These registration points shall consist of means oriented in rows and columns.

In the embodiment shown here, it is assumed that the points 1a, 1b consist of holes, preferably some conical holes, in the support surface 1.

It should be borne in mind, however, that there is nothing to prevent sticks used in the support surface from being used instead of holes, which can be brought to an upper position cooperating with the arrangement 2 or a lower position connecting to the support surface 1.

Figure 5 also shows that said arrangement 2 is controlled by a computer equipment -D-, the outputs of which are connected to a drive circuit -E- and which are connected to the arrangement 2 via a cable F.

Via said cable -F- each of the motion generating means within the arrangement is controlled via air, air is supplied to form an air cushion and possibly a vacuum, a means for a. . @. f. 515 357 _20- activated (locked) or deactivated (detached) position related to the support surface 1 and in addition instantaneous positions of the motion generating means are sensed in order to be able to evaluate and store the position of the arrangement therefrom.

This is done by determining the utilized recording points and determining the setting position of the three motion generating means, one with a linear motion and two with circular motions.

Thus it can be stated that for each selected point -P- on the upper surface 2b 'of the arrangement 2, representing a workpiece or a tool, the coordinates of the points are stored in the computer equipment -D- and for a point -P- to be able to assuming an exact position selected by the computer equipment in the coordinate system requires a predetermined position for one or more of the motion generating means and the computer equipment is adapted to be able to control the motion generating means to said positions via selected calculations.

According to the proposed embodiment, this displacement or movement takes place by three motion generating means, two for a rotational movement and one for a linear movement, which will be described in more detail with reference to Figures 6 and 7.

By displacement is meant that the upper surface 2b 'of the upper part 2b is displaced relative to a fixed relation to the support surface for the arrangement 2 in general (the means is in fixed cooperation with registration means in the support surface 1) and by displacement is meant that the whole arrangement is moved along the support surface.

Referring to Figure 6, it is shown there that the arrangement 2 has a means 20, which is in cooperation with said inner part 20, and arranged to have said inner part 2c fixed and registered relative to said support surface 1 in an activated position.

This fixed position is evaluable by the computer equipment D. 10 15 20 25 30 35 ~ ». . This means 20 is illustrated here in the form of two pins or pins 21a, 21b, where the horizontal distance between said pins corresponds to the horizontal distance in x-direction between the registration points 1a and 1b but also between the registration points 1a and 1b. lc.

Said pins 21a, 21b are, by means not shown in more detail in figure 6, together movably arranged to a lower position, cooperating with the support surface 1 and an upper one, raised from the support surface and releasing the support surface, position by activating or deactivating said not shown average.

Said lower 2a and upper 2b parts are movably arranged via a rotational movement relative to said inner part 2c, via two different motion generating means and also these are arranged within said lower and upper parts.

This will be described in more detail below.

The said lower part 2a has an air cushion receiving circular lower surface 2a 'and this surface is delimited by elastic strips 22a, 22b, closes an inner circular recess 23, through which said which are also circular and thereby circumferential means 20 are movably arranged.

A selected linear distance of movement for said lower 2a and upper 2b parts relative to said inner part 2c is adapted to correspond to and at least slightly exceed a selected distance between two adjacent registration points, such as 1a and 1b.

The means 20 is rotatably arranged relative to said inner part 2c in that said means 20 cooperates with a motion generating means 30, which means 30 is illustrated as a stepping motor 31, the shaft of which is provided with a gear 32 acting against a gear ring 33. 35 -. . . e: 515 357. ,. . -. By actuating the stepper motor 31 in one direction and with the means 20 in an active position with the support surface 1, the upper 2b and the lower 2a part will be assigned a rotational movement in a direction about an axis of rotation 30 'and in an actuation of the stepping motor 31 in an opposite direction takes place a rotation of the parts 2b and 2a in the opposite direction.

The means 20 is further rotatably arranged to a plate 24, said plate being of a member 40 generating a linear movement, slidably arranged for a movement parallel to the support surface 1.

The motion generating member 40 here is constituted by a stepper motor 41 which cooperates with a rotatably related screw 42, which is connected to a pin 43, which in turn is attached to the plate 24.

The plate 24 may be supported by wheels or other friction and 24 "to be able to offer a linear movement back and forth and by reducing means and runs along guide rails 24 'which movement the center of rotation 30' becomes displaceable. The upper part 2b is also rotatably related to the plate 1 by means of a motion generating member 50, consisting of a stepper motor 51, the shaft of which cooperates with a gear 52 and which is in gear engagement with a gear ring 53.

By rotating the motor shaft and the gear 52 in one direction, the upper part 2b (and also the lower part 2a) is rotated about an axis of rotation 50 'in one direction and vice versa.

The lower part 2a and the upper part 2b are both cylindrical and could be rotatable relative to each other.

However, the exemplary embodiment shows that these are firmly related to each other. 10 15 20 25 30 35 515 357 _23 ..

The axis of rotation 50 'of the upper part 2b is centrally located.

Referring to Figure 8, there are shown three different movement possibilities for the upper part 2b of the arrangement in dependence on two different rotational movements and a linear movement.

Figure 8a shows the possibility of rotation of a point -P-, on the upper surface 2b 'of the upper part 2b, which will be able to be offered by having the member 30 actuated in either of two directions and with the means 20 activated in figure 8b shows the possibility offered when the movement in Figure 8a is combined with a rectilinear movement of the plate 24 via the member 40.

It follows that the point -P- can be shifted in the direction of and maximum to the point -P'- or -P "- and each intermediate position.

The movement pattern according to Figure 8a can be combined with the movement pattern according to Figure 8b in an arbitrary manner.

The maximum displacement movement via the member 40 is shown here with the distance -a-.

Figure 8c shows a further movement pattern, which will be offered during an operation of the member 50, where the point P can be moved to the point -Pa- by a rotational movement about the axis of rotation 50 '.

From Figures 8a - 8c it is clear that each point, -P-, to be represented by a material intended for machining or a tool intended for machining, can be chosen arbitrarily on or next to the surface 2b 'and that this point -P - of the motion generating means 30, 40 resp. 10 15 20 25 30 35 «- | «I v 515 357 _24- SG can be shifted to any point and position within the movement scheme.

These movements are controlled in a known manner via the computer equipment D and each of the motion generating means can advantageously consist of a stepper motor of known construction.

The invention also provides a possibility of having an arrangement 2 moved along the support surface 1 by means of a number of recording points, such as 1a, 1b and 1b, respectively. lc and during the use of primarily the motion generating means 40, but also of the means 30 and 50.

The invention thus provides a method for having an arrangement 2 moved along a support surface 1 by means of only the linear motion generating member 40.

This method is based on a starting position, where the inner plate 24 is in a left-facing position, according to Figure 6, and with the pins 21a, 21b oriented immediately over the holes 1a, 1b; The procedure is based on; a) activating a means 20 so that the pins 21a, 2lb are brought into engagement with the holes 1a, 1b to have the arrangement 2 fixed therefrom via said inner part 2c relative to the support surface 1, b) applying an air cushion -L- between the lower part 2a and the support surface 1, so that the arrangement 2 becomes floating, c) to have the upper and / or lower parts Zb, 2a of the arrangement displaced in the x-direction via the linear motion generating member 40, via the inner plate 24, relative to the support surface 1 and to the left in Figures 5 and 10 15 20 25 30 35 - ~. . .a 515 357 _25- U, d) at a predetermined position having the air cushion -L- removed and the lower part 2a becomes firmly related to the support surface. e) to deactivate the means 20 so that the arrangement 2 rests by the dead weight and / or by a negative pressure against the support surface 1 and f) to cause the means 20 to be displaced via the means 40 to a position immediately above the registration points 1a 'and 1a.

The procedure as above can now be repeated and the arrangement can be moved arbitrarily over the support surface 1 in the x-direction. If a movement in the y-direction is desired, the member 30 is actuated, so that the pins 2la, 2lb in an upper position turn to the y-joint for an alignment and cooperation with the holes 1b, 1c, after which the member 40 can be actuated in the manner indicated above.

The invention is of course not limited to the above-mentioned exemplary embodiment, but may undergo modifications within the scope of the inventive concept illustrated in the following claims.

Claims (17)

10 15 20 25 30 35. »,. .x 515 357 _26- A system (S) for processing in one or more material processing stations (S1), along a production line (A) formed as a support surface, either a material of material processing machines moving along the production line or movable along the production line or a material oriented along the production line of a material-processing machine which can be moved along the production line, wherein said movement of the material / machine can take place by means of one or more arrangements (2), each of which is movable via an air cushion and / or slidably arranged over the support surface (1) belonging to the production line, characterized in that said support surface is formed by a number of fixed, edge-to-edge oriented support parts (Al-A7), that each of the support parts has, in known means, a number of arrangement relative to the support surface recording points (1a, 1b) and / or means, with a predetermined distance (a) between selected points and / or means, that a distance between edge-related points and / or means (lla) for a first support surface part and edge-related points and / or means (llb), for a second support surface part is chosen equal to the distance between recording points and / or means assigned the support surface part in general, that an arrangement-associated means is arranged to have an inner arrangement-associated part, an inner part, fixed against said support surface and that an arrangement-associated means is arranged to let the arrangement be movable or displaceably arranged relative to the support surface. 2. A system according to claim 1, characterized in that the edge-related points, for at least one support surface part, are oriented between 0 and half the distance between the otherwise supporting registration points of the support surface part. 10 15 20 25 30 35 ~ - «@» v ~. . . .. 515 557 _27- 3. A system according to claim 1, characterized in that the edge-related points are oriented in the edge portion of the respective support surface part. 4. A system according to claim 1, characterized in that said support surface parts are adapted to be able to be laterally offset relative to each other. 5. A system according to claim 1, characterized in that one or more support surface parts are adapted for a cooperation with a lifting surface part lifting means. 6. A system according to claim 1 or 5, characterized in that one or more support surface parts are adapted for a cooperation with a lowering part of the support surface part. 7. A system according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that said means is adapted to move said support surface part from one production line to another, with one or more arrangements resting thereon. A system according to claim 1, characterized in that said arrangement is adapted to be able to move rapidly from a first selected position, related to a first recording point or several recording points, to another selected position, related to a other recording point or several recording points, and to have the arrangement shifted to a predetermined position if necessary. 9. A system according to claim 1, characterized in that said arrangement is, over a line, in connection with a rail arrangement, along which said line is slidably arranged and to which rail arrangement a computer equipment is connected via a drive circuit. 10 15 20 25 30 35; ,. . .n 1 Q. ,. _ 515 557 _28 .. 10. A system according to claim 9, characterized in that the computer equipment is provided with a program for controlling the movement and / or displacement of the arrangement, holding the arrangement against a support surface part, activating machine tools or the like at material processing stations if necessary. 11. ll. System according to claim 7, characterized in that said arrangement has a means holding the arrangement to a selected support surface, the inner part belonging to the arrangement, said holding cooperating with a means being arranged to have said inner part relative to said support surface part and that a lower and an upper part for said arrangement are movably arranged relative to said inner part via motion generating means, arranged within said lower and upper parts. 12. l2. System according to claim 1, characterized in that each support surface part is provided with a number of recording means oriented in rows and columns. 13. A system according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that said means consist of pins, the distance between them is adapted to correspond to a selected distance between recording means in the support surface part or vice versa. 14. A system according to claim 11, 12 or 13, characterized in that a distance of movement of said lower and upper parts relative to said inner part is adapted to slightly exceed a selected distance between recording means. 15. A system according to claim 11, characterized in that said means is rotatably arranged relative to said inner part. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, adapted to cause an arrangement to move along a support surface part, 10 15 20 25 30 35 | . . . . n 515 557 _29- k ä n n e t e c k n a t thereof a) b) C) G) that said holding means is activated to have an arrangement part belonging to the arrangement fixed relative to said support surface part, that an air cushion is applied under an lower part belonging to the arrangement. that the upper or lower parts of the arrangement are displaced relative to the support surface part via arrangement-associated movement-generating means and that at a predetermined position the air cushion is removed and the lower part becomes firmly related to the support surface part. 17. A system according to claim 16, characterized in that in the fixed position, according to -d-, said holding means are deactivated and via movement generating means said holding means within the arrangement are displaced to a predetermined position. IN