Abstract: A robot assembly 10 comprising a horizontal rail system 12 supported by a gantry 14 above the floor between two presses. A vertical lift 32 is supported for horizontal movement on the horizontal rail system 12 for supporting the pickup arms 18 and 20 by which a part P may be removed from the press on the left by the pickup tooling of arm 18 and moved to the buck 22 while the previously so disposed part P is moved from the buck 22 to the press on the right by the pickup tooling of the arm 20. The assembly is characterized by the vertical lift 32 including a pair of vertical beams 34 spaced from one another and braces 36 interconnecting the beams 34. The vertical lift 32 includes a pair of vertical rails 38 attached to the beams 34 and the horizontal carriage includes right and left-hand roller housings 40 and 42 supporting transverse 44 and lateral 46 rollers in rolling engagement with the vertical rails 38 for guiding the vertical movement of the vertical lift 32.

Abstract: A shuttle transfer assembly (10) is able to accurately position a workarm (12) in two axes (X, Y) to a selected coordinate position. The assembly (10) include two position controllers (74, 76) each operating along a single axis for positioning the workarm (12) to the coordinate position. A central controller (86) functions to control the sequencing of the separate position controllers (74, 76). Coarse and fine sensors (62-68) are provided to allow feedback of position to the position controllers (74, 76). The coarse sensor (62, 64) operates for general positioning as an encoder on the servo drive motor. The fine sensors (66, 68) extend from the workarm (12) to produce the final, high resolution positioning.

Abstract: A workpart transfer assembly (10) shuttles workpart stampings from a forming die (14, 16) of one stamping press (12) to a remotely spaced successive forming die (14, 16) in another stamping press (12) while the two stamping presses (12) cycle in unison. The assembly (10) includes a base (18) stationed in a clearance between the two stamping presses (12). A dual drive and dual rail transfer shuttle (26) slides on the base (18) between two oppositely extending cantilever positions. A carriage (44) slides along the transfer shuttle (26). A dual screw drive mechanism drives the transfer shuttle (26) on the base (18) while at the same time driving the carriage (44) along the transfer shuttle (26), thereby effecting highly accelerated movement of the carriage. A lift screw mechanism is carried on the carriage (44) for raising and lowering a slide plate (60) during the shuttling operation.