Modular self-configuring industrial table

• Main Author: ULMER JOHANNES
• Format: Patent
• Language: Chinese; English
• Published: 04.11.2022
• Subjects: COMBINATIONS OR ASSOCIATIONS OF METAL-WORKING MACHINES, NOTDIRECTED TO A PARTICULAR RESULT; DETAILS, COMPONENTS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR MACHINE TOOLS, e.g.ARRANGEMENTS FOR COPYING OR CONTROLLING; MACHINE TOOLS; MACHINE TOOLS IN GENERAL CHARACTERISED BY THE CONSTRUCTION OFPARTICULAR DETAILS OR COMPONENTS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING

A modular desktop apparatus is disclosed that is generally used for workpiece storage and handling during robotic manipulation and feeding to a machine. A module of the device includes detection interfaces disposed at an orientation corresponding to an edge orientation of the module and arranged in a periodic grid. Alignment of the facing detection interfaces along a common edge of a pair of adjacent modules allows the module controller to detect the adjacent modules and allows the master controller to calculate the overall size and shape of the desktop formed by the modules. A connection arrangement is also disclosed. The connection arrangement may be placed at the same grid location as the detection interface, advantageously allowing alignment of the detection interface for any interconnect configuration of the module. The module may include a plate having a grid of positioning notches. The period of the positioning grid may be an integer multiple or an integer fraction of the period of the interface/connec