General Electric Company
APPARATUSES AND RELATED SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR TRANSPORTING CARRYING PLATES FOR AN ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING MACHINE OR SYSTEM

Abstract:

A system for transporting a carrying plate may include a lifting assembly comprising a carriage, and a carrying assembly. The lifting assembly may include a carriage having one or more lifting arms configured to lift the carrying assembly at least in part by one or more carrying arms of the carrying assembly. A carrying assembly may include a perimeter frame surrounding a perimeter of a carrying plate, one or more carrying arms attached to the perimeter frame, and one or more indexing pins extending or extensible inwardly from the perimeter frame. The one or more indexing pins may detachably secure the carrying plate to the perimeter frame. A method of transporting a carrying plate may include detachably securing a carrying plate to a perimeter frame of a carrying assembly and transporting the carrying assembly with a lifting assembly.