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A power translation apparatus for an air-float fixture support system of the type including a table having an upwardly facing upper surface adapted for supporting a workpiece fixture thereon, and a pneumatic system for supplying a cushion of pressurized air between the surface of the table and the w

A power translation apparatus for an air-float fixture support system of the type including a table having an upwardly facing upper surface adapted for supporting a workpiece fixture thereon, and a pneumatic system for supplying a cushion of pressurized air between the surface of the table and the workpiece fixture so as to floatingly support the fixture thereon for virtually friction-free movement. The power translation apparatus comprises an elongated slot in the table surface, a carriage mounted in the table below the surface for reciprocal movement parallel to the table surface along the slot, a retractable pin carried by the carriage and protruding through the slot above the surface of the table so as to mechanically engage a slot or opening in the lower surface of the fixture, and a drive mechanism for translating the carriage and pin member carried thereby along the slot so as to cause the fixture to be pushed or pulled to the desired location. In one embodiment of the invention, the air-float system is positioned adjacent a mechanical conveyor system and the translating pin moves over to engage the fixture on the conveyor and translate it onto the main portion of the air-float table in the vicinity of the machine tool, for example.

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An air-float fixture support system comprising: a table having an upwardly facing upper surface, a workpiece fixture having a lower surface and being supported on said table upper surface, means for supplying a cushion of pressurized air between the fixture surface and the table surface to floatingl

An air-float fixture support system comprising: a table having an upwardly facing upper surface, a workpiece fixture having a lower surface and being supported on said table upper surface, means for supplying a cushion of pressurized air between the fixture surface and the table surface to floatingly support the fixture thereon, an elongated slot in said table surface, a carriage mounted in said table below the table surface for reciprocal movement parallel to said table surface along said slot, said workpiece fixture having an opening in the lower surface thereof, a translation pin member carried by said carriage and protruding through said slot, means in said carriage for selectively extending said pin member to protrude above said table surface and enter the opening in the lower surface of said workpiece fixture to capture the workpiece fixture and for selectively retracting said pin member below said table surface to release the workpiece fixture, said fixture being rotatable around the axis of said pin on the cushion of pressurized air on said table while captured by said pin, and drive means for translating said carriage and said pin member carried thereby along said slot to translate said workpiece fixture when it is captured by said pin member.