POSITIONING CONTROL SYSTEM FOR A MACHINE THAT PERFORMS WORK ON A MOVING PART

摘要

A programmable and manually operable control system for controlling the position of a machine relative to a workpiece so the machine may perform work at various locations on the workpiece while the workpiece is moved by the conveyor. The system includes a pair of synchro resolvers which provide output signals indicative of the position of the machine relative to a datum position and a pair of synchro resolvers which provide output signals indicative of the position of the conveyor relative to the datum position. The outputs of the machine indicating resolvers provide the inputs to the conveyor indicating resolvers and the outputs of the conveyor indicating resolvers are compared with command signals that are generated by a continuously recycling counter which has been preset by signals from a memory so the displacement between selected locations on the workpiece and the machine is electrically measured without using differential mechanical gearing. The control system is arranged so the machine will move synchronously with the workpiece, independently of the workpiece, and synchronously with the workpiece while the machine is moving from one preprogrammed location to a new preprogrammed location on the workpiece.