Processing system for a moving workpiece and method of positioning the processing system

The processing system (10) serves for processing a moving workpiece (12) by means of an industrial robot (16) that can be rigidly coupled, intermittently, to the workpiece (12) and/or to a movable workpiece carrier unit (14), the industrial robot (16), when in a decoupled operating position (42), being carried by a carrier device (18) that is movable, independently of a workpiece, by means of a drive unit (20) acting with active drive, and, when in a coupled operating position (44), being floatingly mounted relative to the carrier device (18) by means of a floating bearing system (22). Provision is made in this case whereby, in a coupled operating position (44) of the industrial robot (16), the drive unit (20) does not act with active drive upon the carrier device (18), the carrier device (18) being moved concomitantly, at least intermittently, by the moving workpiece (12) and/or by the moving workpiece carrier unit (14), by means of the floating bearing system (22), when the industrial robot (16) has been coupled. Further provided is a positioning method for an industrial robot (16) of such a processing system (10), which industrial robot (16) can be coupled to a moving workpiece (12).