METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR POSITIONING A WORKPIECE

摘要

Apparatus and method for operating on workpieces. The apparatus has a rectangular work area (46) defined by the upper run of a workpiece-positioning conveyor (11) having an oblique-roller conveyor belt selectively driven forward or reverse in coordination with the actuation and deactuation of the obliquely rotatable belt rollers (42). Tools, such as cutting tools (54) or inspection stools, along the sides of the work area ( 46) interact with the side faces of the workpieces (14) as they are translated without rotation in a rectangular path against guide surfaces on the periphery of the work area (14) by the sequential reversing of the conveyor belt (36) direction and the actuation and deactuation of the workpiece-supporting rollers (42).