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US 10,744,605 B2Granted
Manufacturing device, manufacturing plant and method
AssigneeKUKA Systems GmbH
InventorPaul Thorwarth
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An automatic manufacturing device for vehicle body parts includes at least one program-controlled manufacturing means and a processing zone (configured to sequentially receive at least two different load accepting means. A detection device detects a type designation of one of the load accepting means, and a control device ascertains the type of the load accepting means on the basis of the detected type designation. The control device then and selects and executes a control program for the manufacturing means on the basis of the ascertained type.
Claims21
A manufacturing facility for workpieces, comprising:
- a workpiece supply;
- at least one automatic manufacturing system for workpieces;
- and
- at least two different types of load suspension devices, each load suspension device having a type identifier;
- wherein the automatic manufacturing system comprises:
- at least one program-controlled manufacturing means,
- a processing zone configured for the sequential receipt of at least two load suspension devices of different types,
- a detection device configured to detect a type identifier of one of the load suspension devices, and
- a control system configured to determine the type of load suspension device based on the type identifier detected by the detection device and to select and run a control program for the at least one manufacturing means from among a plurality of control programs on the basis of the determined type;
- wherein the type identifier is configured as encoding and contains additional information and data in addition to indicating the type and a plurality of identifier fields being provided for containing the information or data;
- the manufacturing facility further comprising a conveying mechanism configured to relocate at least one type of the load suspension devices to and from the manufacturing system;
- wherein the conveying mechanism has at least one conveying means configured as an autonomous, steerable, floor-bound driverless transport vehicle (AGV) configured to travel into and through the processing zone of the manufacturing system, and to move load suspension devices from one manufacturing system to another manufacturing system;
- the at least one manufacturing system configured to receive two or more load suspension devices of different types with workpieces or workpiece components in a predetermined sequence, and to lift and transfer a workpiece from one load suspension device to another load suspension device;
- wherein:
- the at least one manufacturing means is arranged in the processing zone,
- the manufacturing means is configured to handle a workpiece and to transfer the workpiece to another load suspension device of the same or a different type, and
- the manufacturing means is configured for the suspended retention of the workpiece during processing and is configured as an industrial robot, such that the industrial robots supports the workpiece during processing.
14 more elements
A method for processing workpieces in an automatic manufacturing system having at least one program-controlled manufacturing means and one processing zone, the method comprising:
- displacing a first of at least two load suspension devices of different types into a processing zone of a first manufacturing system, wherein the first manufacturing system comprises:
- at least one program-controlled manufacturing means,
- a processing zone configured for the sequential receipt of at least two load suspension devices of different types,
- a detection device configured to detect a type identifier of one of the load suspension devices, and
- a control system configured to determine the type of load suspension device based on the type identifier detected by the detection device and to select and run a control program for the at least one manufacturing means from among a plurality of control programs on the basis of the determined type;
- automatically detecting and determining the type of the first load suspension device;
- automatically selecting, from a plurality of control programs, a control program that is associated with the determined type for the at least one manufacturing means;
- automatically running the selected control program;
- wherein the type identifier is configured as encoding and contains additional information and data in addition to indicating the type, and includes a plurality of identifier fields containing the additional information and data;
- receiving a workpiece from the first load suspension device by at least one manufacturing means;
- moving the first load suspension device from the processing zone of the first manufacturing system;
- moving a second load suspension device, which is of a different type from the first load suspension device, into the processing zone of the first manufacturing system;
- depositing the workpiece on a second of at least two load suspension devices;
- moving a further workpiece into the processing zone of the first manufacturing system with the second load suspension device;
- and
- relocating at least one type of the load suspension devices to and from the manufacturing system with a conveying mechanism;
- wherein the conveying mechanism has at least one conveying means configured as an autonomous, steerable, floor-bound driverless transport vehicle (AGV) configured to travel into and through the processing zone of the manufacturing system, and to move load suspension devices from one manufacturing system to another manufacturing system.
14 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.