HANDLING LARGE, HEAVY WORKPIECES USING GANTRY ROBOTS WITH TWO ROBOT ARMS

摘要

A robot system for handling and transporting workpieces in a workspace includes a rail (20) supported above a floor, at least two robot arms (50) supported on the rail for mutual relative displacement and coordinated displacement along the rail, each arm articulating about multiple axes for engaging and supporting the workpiece (76), and a controller (96) communicating with each of the robot arms to control displacement and articulation of each robot arm, whereby the workpiece is engaged by each gripper (78, 80), lifted above the floor on the robot arm, carried along the rail, and released from the gripper at its destination.