Apparatus and method for positioning tool heads in spaced linear array

摘要

A line of tool heads are individually positioned along a track and locked in operative position from a transport position along the track in which each of the tool heads is releasably connected to the next adjacent tool head in the line and the tool head at one end of the line is similarly releasably connected to a drive engine. The engine moves the train of coupled tool heads to an initial position where the first tool head at the end of the train is locked in its operative position and then uncoupled from the train. The remaining tool heads are sequentially positioned, locked and released from the train. The next to last of the tool heads being locked in place and then uncoupled from the engine which runs on the same track, carries the last tool head and is also locked in its final operative position.