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US 11,420,853 B2Granted
Assembly material logistics system and methods
AssigneeComau S.p.A.
InventorsVelibor Kilibarda, Freddie Tappo
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
System devices and methods for logistical handling and transfer of components and consumable assembly materials to support assembly or manufacturing operations. Through use of a transport vehicle having first and second container supports, the method allows in a component storage area and an assembly area, the transport vehicle both engaging or picking up a full or empty container and disengaging or depositing a full or empty container. In an alternate example, two separate transport vehicles can coordinatingly move together to engage or pick up a full or empty container and disengage or deposit a full or empty container in the component storage area or assembly area.
Claims20
A method for assembly material logistics and handling comprising:
- selectively positioning a component transport vehicle positioned along a material aisle in at least one of a component storage area or a component assembly area, the storage area positioned outside of and distant from the assembly area, the material aisle positioned adjacent to a component rack aisle and extending in an x-coordinate direction;
- the transport vehicle:
- at a first time, engaging for transport in the storage area a selected one of a plurality of full component containers positioned in the component rack aisle and depositing in the component rack aisle in the storage area an engaged empty component container transported from the assembly area;
- and
- at a second time, engaging for transport in the assembly area a selected one of a plurality of empty component containers positioned in the component rack aisle in the assembly area and depositing in the assembly area component rack aisle an engaged full component container transported from the storage area;
- and
- selectively and reciprocally moving the transport vehicle including at least one of the engaged full component container or the engaged empty component container along the material aisle between the storage area and the assembly area.
4 more elements
A method for assembly material logistics and handling comprising:
- selectively positioning a component transport vehicle positioned along a material aisle in at least one of a component storage area or a component assembly area, the material aisle positioned adjacent to a component rack aisle and extending in an x-coordinate direction, the transport vehicle including a first component container support and a second component container support, the second container support independently operable relative to the first container support;
- wherein the transport vehicle:
- at a first time, engaging for transport in the storage area by the first container support a selected one of a plurality of full component containers positioned in the component rack aisle and depositing by the second container support in the component rack aisle in the storage area an engaged empty component container transported from the assembly area;
- and
- at a second time, engaging with the second container support for transport in the assembly area a selected one of a plurality of empty component containers positioned in a predetermined position in the component rack aisle in the assembly area and depositing with the first container support the transported full component container in the predetermined position in the assembly area rack aisle;
- and
- selectively and reciprocally moving the transport vehicle including at least one of the engaged full component container or the engaged empty component container along the material aisle between the storage area and the assembly area.
4 more elements
A method for assembly material logistics and handling comprising:
- selectively positioning a component transport vehicle positioned along a material aisle in at least one of a component storage area or a component assembly area, the material aisle positioned adjacent to a component rack aisle and extending in an x-coordinate direction, the transport vehicle including a first component container support and a second component container support, the second container support independently operable relative to the first container support;
- the transport vehicle:
- at a first time, depositing with the second container support an empty component container transported from the assembly area in a first predetermined position in the storage area rack aisle and engaging for transport in the storage area with the first container support a selected one of a plurality of full component containers positioned in a second predetermined position in the storage area rack aisle;
- and
- at a second time, engaging with the second container support for transport in the assembly area a selected one of a plurality of empty component containers positioned in the component rack aisle in the assembly area and depositing with the first container support in the assembly area an engaged full component container transported from the storage area;
- selectively and reciprocally moving the transport vehicle including at least one of the engaged full component container or the engaged empty component container along the material aisle between the storage area and the assembly area.
3 more elements
A method for assembly material logistics and handling comprising:
- storing a plurality of full component containers positioned along a rack aisle in a storage area extending in an x-coordinate direction, the first storage area positioned upstream of an assembly area;
- storing a plurality of empty component containers positioned along the rack aisle in the assembly area extending in the x-coordinate direction;
- selectively positioning a component transport vehicle positioned along a material aisle in one of the storage area or the assembly area, the transport vehicle having a first component support and a second component support, the material aisle positioned adjacent to the rack aisle and extending in the x-coordinate direction;
- the transport vehicle:
- at a first time, engaging for transport by the first component container support a selected one of the plurality of full component containers positioned in the storage area rack aisle and depositing by the second component container support an engaged empty component container transported from the assembly area in the storage area rack aisle;
- and
- at a second time, engaging for transport by the second component container support a selected one of the plurality of empty component containers positioned in the assembly area rack aisle and depositing by the first component container support an engaged full component container transported from the storage area in the assembly area rack aisle;
- and
- selectively and reciprocally moving the transport vehicle including one of the engaged full component container or the engaged empty component container along the material aisle between the storage area and the assembly area.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.