초록 ▼

Apparatus and methods for manufacturing operations are disclosed. In one embodiment, a vacuum cup assembly includes a housing having a vacuum generator formed therein, and a compliant sealing member coupled to the housing. The vacuum generator is coupleable to a source of pressurized fluid and is a

Apparatus and methods for manufacturing operations are disclosed. In one embodiment, a vacuum cup assembly includes a housing having a vacuum generator formed therein, and a compliant sealing member coupled to the housing. The vacuum generator is coupleable to a source of pressurized fluid and is adapted to generate a reduced pressure region. The sealing member forms an enclosable region in fluid communication with the reduced pressure region. In another embodiment, a method of performing a manufacturing operation includes installing a coordinating pin into an indexing hole, the coordinating pin including a quantum of indexing information. The quantum of indexing information is sensed, and a manufacturing operation is performed based at least partially on the quantum of indexing information.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A vacuum cup assembly for supporting a manufacturing assembly on a workpiece, comprising: a housing having a vacuum generator formed therein and coupleable to a source of pressurized fluid, the vacuum generator including an internal flow duct disposed therein and adapted to e

What is claimed is: 1. A vacuum cup assembly for supporting a manufacturing assembly on a workpiece, comprising: a housing having a vacuum generator formed therein and coupleable to a source of pressurized fluid, the vacuum generator including an internal flow duct disposed therein and adapted to expand a flow of pressurized fluid to generate a reduced pressure region within the internal flow duct, and an exhaust port adapted to release the flow of pressurized fluid from the internal flow duct following expansion; and a compliant sealing member coupled to the housing and projecting outwardly therefrom, the sealing member being adapted to at least partially form an at least partially enclosable region between the housing and the workpiece, the enclosable region being in fluid communication with the reduced pressure region so that a reduced pressure may be formed within the enclosable region when the flow of pressurized fluid is expanded, wherein the housing includes a retaining plate having at least one aperture disposed therethrough, the sealing member having a slotted portion being coupled around an outer peripheral edge of the retaining plate, the enclosable region fluidly communicating with the reduced pressure region through the at least one aperture, wherein the sealing member comprises a first sealing member and the enclosable region comprises a first enclosable region, and wherein the housing includes a first vacuum port in fluid communication between the reduced pressure region and the first enclosable region, the vacuum cup assembly further comprising a second compliant sealing member adapted to at least partially form a second at least partially enclosable region between the housing and the workpiece, the housing having a second vacuum port in fluid communication between the reduced enclosable region and the second enclosable region so that a second reduced pressure may be formed within the second enclosable region when the flow of pressurized fluid is expanded. 2. The vacuum cup assembly of claim 1, wherein the internal flow duct includes a venturi portion that expands the flow of pressurized fluid into the reduced pressure region. 3. The vacuum cup assembly of claim 1, wherein the sealing member includes a plurality of feet adjacent to an outer edge of the sealing member opposite the outer peripheral edge of the retaining plate, the plurality of feet configured to engage a workpiece when the reduced pressure is formed within the enclosable region. 4. A manufacturing assembly adapted for use on a workpiece, comprising: a support member positionable proximate the workpiece, wherein the support member comprises a track assembly including a pair of elongated rails; and at least one vacuum cup assembly coupled to the support member and coupleable to the workpiece, the vacuum cup assembly including: a housing having a vacuum generator formed therein and coupleable to a source of pressurized fluid, the vacuum generator including an internal flow duct disposed therein and adapted to expand a flow of pressurized fluid to generate a reduced pressure region within the internal flow duct, and an exhaust port adapted to release the flow of pressurized fluid from the internal flow duct following expansion; and a compliant sealing member coupled to the housing and projecting outwardly therefrom, the sealing member being adapted to at least partially form an at least partially enclosable region between the housing and the workpiece, the enclosable region being in fluid communication with the reduced pressure region so that a reduced pressure may be formed within the enclosable region when the flow of pressurized fluid is expanded, wherein the housing includes a retaining plate having at least one aperture disposed therethrough, the sealing member being coupled around an outer peripheral edge of the retaining plate, the enclosable region fluidly communicating with the reduced pressure region through the at least one aperture. 5. The manufacturing assembly of claim 4, further comprising a carriage assembly operatively coupled to the support member and moveable therealong. 6. The manufacturing assembly of claim 5, further comprising a controller operatively coupled to the carriage assembly and adapted to transmit one or more control signals to the carriage assembly to controllably position the carriage assembly with respect to the workpiece. 7. The manufacturing assembly of claim 4, further comprising a manufacturing tool operatively coupled to the support member and adapted to perform a manufacturing operation on the workpiece. 8. The manufacturing assembly of claim 7, wherein the manufacturing tool includes a drilling device. 9. The manufacturing assembly of claim 4, wherein the internal flow duct includes a venturi portion that expands the flow of pressurized fluid into the reduced pressure region. 10. The manufacturing assembly of claim 4, wherein the sealing member comprises a first sealing member and the enclosable region comprises a first enclosable region, and wherein the housing includes a first vacuum port in fluid communication between the reduced pressure region and the first enclosable region, the vacuum cup assembly further comprising a second compliant sealing member adapted to at least partially form a second at least partially enclosable region between the housing and the workpiece, the housing having a second vacuum port in fluid communication between the reduced enclosable region and the second enclosable region so that a second reduced pressure may be formed within the second enclosable region when the flow of pressurized fluid is expanded. 11. A method of performing a manufacturing operation on a workpiece, comprising: providing at least one vacuum cup assembly proximate the workpiece; coupling a support member to the at least one vacuum cup assembly; operatively coupling a carriage assembly to the support member, the carriage assembly being adapted to be moveable along the support member; providing a flow of a pressurized fluid to a vacuum generator portion of the vacuum cup assembly; and expanding at least a portion of the flow of pressurized fluid to create a reduced pressure region between the vacuum cup assembly and the workpiece, wherein providing at least one vacuum cup assembly proximate the workpiece includes providing at least one vacuum cup assembly having a compliant sealing member adapted to form an at least partially enclosable region proximate the workpiece, and wherein expanding at least a portion of the flow of pressurized fluid to create a reduced pressure region between the vacuum cup assembly and the workpiece includes expanding at least a portion of the flow of pressurized fluid to create a reduced pressure region within the partially enclosable region, wherein the compliant sealing member includes a plurality of feet adjacent to an outer edge of the compliant sealing member opposite the housing, the plurality of feet configured to provide a support for the workpiece when reduced pressure is experienced within the vacuum cup. 12. The method of claim 11, wherein providing a flow of a pressurized fluid to a vacuum generator portion includes providing a flow of a pressurized fluid to an internal flow duct having a reduced pressure portion adapted to expand at least a portion of the flow of pressurized fluid, and an exhaust port adapted to release the flow of pressurized fluid from the internal flow duct following expansion. 13. The method of claim 11, wherein expanding at least a portion of the flow of pressurized fluid includes expanding at least a portion of the flow of pressurized fluid through a venturi. 14. The method of claim 11, wherein the vacuum cup assembly includes a retaining plate having at least one aperture disposed therethrough, the compliant sealing member being coupled around an outer peripheral edge of the retaining plate, the retaining plate facilitating removal of the compliant sealing member from the vacuum cup assembly. 15. The method of claim 11, wherein coupling a support member to the at least one vacuum cup assembly includes coupling a track assembly including a pair of elongated rails to the at least one vacuum cup assembly. 16. The method of claim 11, further comprising operatively coupling a manufacturing tool to the carriage assembly.