Abstract: A manufacturing cell for welding a workpiece includes a robotic arm extending between a base and a terminal end, a weld head coupled to the terminal end of the robotic arm such that the weld head is permitted to travel relative to the base of the robotic arm, wherein the weld head is configured to weld the workpiece, a sensor pod coupled to the weld head and including an outer pod housing defining an internal chamber extending between a front end and a rear end of the pod housing, and wherein the front end of the pod housing defines a receptacle, a sensor positioned in the internal chamber of the pod housing, the sensor configured to provide sensor feedback associated with the workpiece, and a consumable window including a transparent material is insertable into the receptacle such that a longitudinal axis of the sensor intersects the consumable window when the consumable window is inserted into the receptacle, and a controller coupled to the sensor pod and configured to operate at least one of the robotic ar

Abstract: An adjustable workpiece cradle for a welding system includes a support frame, an elongate flexible member coupled to the support frame and extending along a pathway that forms a concave receptacle configured to laterally receive an elongate workpiece for the welding system, and an adjustment module coupled to the flexible member, wherein the adjustment module includes a powertrain configured to selectably adjust the size of the concave receptacle formed by the pathway of the flexible member.

Abstract: An apparatus and method to remove a keel strip that is centrally attached to a poultry butterfly. The butterfly has first and second poultry breasts on opposite sides of the keel strip. An elongated, longitudinally-oriented spine defines a butterfly travel path and is disposed above a longitudinally-driven conveyor. A scoring blade is disposed above, and spaced a predetermined distance from, the spine. First and second severing blades are disposed along the butterfly travel path downstream of the scoring blade with the first and second severing blades disposed on opposing first and second lateral sides of the spine. A second longitudinally-driven conveyor is disposed above the spine and ex tends from a first position downstream of the scoring blade to at least a second position between the first and second severing blades.

Abstract: An apparatus and method to remove a keel strip that is centrally attached to a poultry butterfly. The butterfly has first and second poultry breasts on opposite sides of the keel strip. An elongated, longitudinally-oriented spine defines a butterfly travel path and is disposed above a longitudinally-driven conveyor. A scoring blade is disposed above, and spaced a predetermined distance from, the spine. First and second severing blades are disposed along the butterfly travel path downstream of the scoring blade with the first and second severing blades disposed on opposing first and second lateral sides of the spine. A second longitudinally-driven conveyor is disposed above the spine and ex tends from a first position downstream of the scoring blade to at least a second position between the first and second severing blades.