A fixture exchange rail system is provided having first and second fixture assemblies movably mounted with respect to respective first and second stationary rails. A movable rail is disposed substantially adjacent to, and movable between, the first and second stationary rails. The movable rail is su
A fixture exchange rail system is provided having first and second fixture assemblies movably mounted with respect to respective first and second stationary rails. A movable rail is disposed substantially adjacent to, and movable between, the first and second stationary rails. The movable rail is sufficiently configured to selectively receive the first and second fixture assemblies thereon. A method of operating a workstation having a fixture exchange rail system operable to enable work on a workpiece is also provided including the steps of: A) determining the style of workpiece present at the workstation; B) aligning a movable rail with one of a first and second stationary rail having a respective first and second fixture assembly mounted thereto corresponding to the style of workpiece; and C) moving the fixture assembly corresponding to the style of workpiece from the stationary rail to the movable rail.
대표청구항▼
1. A method of operating a workstation having a fixture exchange rail system operable to work on a workpiece, the method comprising: determining the style of the workpiece present at the workstation;aligning a movable rail defining a third channel with one of a first stationary rail defining a first
1. A method of operating a workstation having a fixture exchange rail system operable to work on a workpiece, the method comprising: determining the style of the workpiece present at the workstation;aligning a movable rail defining a third channel with one of a first stationary rail defining a first channel and at least one other stationary rail defining a second channel, said first stationary rail having a first fixture assembly slidably mounted thereto and said at least one other stationary rail having at least one other fixture assembly slidably mounted thereto, wherein said first fixture assembly and said at least one other fixture assembly correspond to said style of workpiece; andmoving one of said first fixture assembly and said at least one other fixture assembly corresponding to said style of workpiece from one of said first stationary rail and said at least one other stationary rail to said movable rail. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein said first fixture assembly is slidably movable from one to the other of said first channel of said first stationary rail and said third channel of said movable rail when said first stationary rail and said movable rail are aligned; andwherein said at least one other fixture assembly is slidably movable from one to the other of said second channel of said at least one other stationary rail and said third channel of said movable rail when said at least one other stationary rail and said movable rail are aligned. 3. The method of claim 1, further comprising: positioning said movable rail such that said one of said respective first fixture assembly and said at least one other fixture assembly corresponding to said style of workpiece is substantially adjacent to the workpiece. 4. The method of claim 1, further comprising: clamping said movable rail with respect to said one of said first stationary rail and said at least one other stationary rail subsequent to aligning said movable rail with said one of said first stationary rail and said at least one other stationary rail. 5. The method of claim 1, further comprising: selectively connecting a first connector member of said movable rail to a second connector member of one of said first stationary rail and said at least one other stationary rail using a connector mechanism such that as said respective one of said first fixture assembly and said at least one other fixture assembly is moving between said movable rail and said respective one of said first stationary rail and said at least one other stationary rail, said first connector member and said second connector member of said connector mechanism are connected. 6. The method of claim 1, wherein aligning said movable rail with said one of said first stationary rail and said at least one other stationary rail is automatic. 7. The method of claim 1, wherein aligning said movable rail with said one of said first stationary rail and said at least one other stationary rail is manual. 8. The method of claim 1, further comprising: realigning said movable rail with respect to said one of said first stationary rail and said at least one other stationary rail when operation of said one of said respective first fixture assembly and said at least one other fixture assembly corresponding to said style of workpiece is complete; andmoving said one of said respective first fixture assembly and said at least one other fixture assembly corresponding to said style of workpiece from said movable rail to said one of said first stationary rail and said at least another stationary rail. 9. The method of claim 8, further comprising: clamping said movable rail with respect to said one of said first stationary rail and said at least one other stationary rail subsequent to realigning said movable rail with said one of said first stationary rail and at least one other stationary rail. 10. The method of claim 1, further comprising: selectively controlling the aligning of said movable rail with one of said first stationary rail and said at least one other stationary rail using a controller. 11. The method of claim 1, further comprising: selectively controlling the moving of said movable rail between said first stationary rail and said at least one other stationary rail using a controller. 12. The method of claim 11, further comprising: sensing the position of said first fixture assembly and said at least one other fixture assembly using at least one sensing device; andproviding a signal to said controller to communicate the position of said first fixture assembly and said at least one other fixture assembly. 13. The method of claim 12, further comprising: determining if each of said first fixture assembly and said at least one other fixture assembly are not in a parked position prior to determining the style of workpiece present at the workstation; andmoving each of said first fixture assembly and said at least one other fixture assembly which are not in a parked position into a parked position prior to determining the style of workpiece present at the workstation. 14. The method of claim 11, further comprising: sensing said style of workpiece present at the workstation using a sensing device; andproviding a signal to said controller to communicate said style of said workpiece. 15. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of said first fixture assembly and said at least one other fixture assembly is pneumatically operated. 16. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of said first fixture assembly and said at least one other fixture assembly is sufficiently connected to said at least one balancer to reduce the apparent weight of said at least one of said first and second fixture assemblies. 17. The method of claim 1, wherein the workstation is configured as a workstation of an assembly line. 18. The method of claim 1, wherein the workpiece is a vehicle. 19. A method of operating a fixture exchange rail system, the method comprising: determining if each of a first fixture assembly and at least one other fixture assembly are not in a parked position;moving each of said first fixture assembly and said at least one other fixture assembly which are not in a parked position into a parked position;determining the style of a workpiece present at a workstation substantially adjacent to the fixture exchange rail system;aligning a movable rail with one of a first stationary rail and at least one other stationary rail, said first stationary rail having a first fixture assembly slidably mounted thereto and said at least one other stationary rail having at least one other fixture assembly slidably mounted thereto, wherein said first fixture assembly and said at least one other fixture assembly correspond to said style of workpiece;moving one of said first fixture assembly and said at least one other fixture assembly corresponding to said style of workpiece from one of said first stationary rail and said at least one other stationary rail to said movable rail;wherein said first fixture assembly is slidably movable from one to the other of said first stationary rail and said movable rail when said first stationary rail and said movable rail are aligned; andwherein said at least one other fixture assembly is slidably movable from one to the other of said at least one other stationary rail and said movable rail when said at least one other stationary rail and said movable rail are aligned. 20. The method of claim 19, further comprising: selectively connecting a first connector member of said movable rail to a second connector member of one of said first stationary rail and said at least one other stationary rail using a connector mechanism such that as said respective one of said first fixture assembly and said at least one other fixture assembly is moving between said movable rail and said respective one of said first stationary rail and said at least one other stationary rail, said first connector member and said second connector member of said connector mechanism are connected.
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