# US 12,214,836 B2 · Method for producing shells for a motor vehicle, and production plant > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,214,836 B2 - Document ID: US12214836B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/685,276 - Filed: 2022-10-12 - Published: 2024-11-07 - Granted: 2025-02-04 - Earliest claimed: 2021-11-05 - Assignees: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft - Applicants: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft - Inventors: Christoph Jacoby - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12214836B2 ## CPC - B62D 65/022: {Transferring or handling sub-units or components, e.g. in work stations or between workstations and transportation systems} - B62D 65/18: Transportation, conveyor or haulage systems specially adapted for motor vehicle or trailer assembly lines {(conveyors and haulage in general B65G)} - B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M) ## Abstract A method produces shells for a motor vehicle, in which, in each case, at least one shell part of the shell is arranged on a driverless transport vehicle and is conveyed through a production plant by way of the driverless transport vehicle. A workstation of the production plant has at least two working regions which can be driven through parallel to one another by the driverless transport vehicles and in which, during a work process, manual work is carried out on one of the shell parts introduced into the working region by way of the driverless transport vehicle and, during a changing process, one of the shell parts arranged on the driverless transport vehicle is introduced into the working region or removed from same by way of the driverless transport vehicle. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for producing shells for a motor vehicle, in which at least one respective shell part of a respective shell is disposed on a respective driverless transport vehicle and is conveyed through a production plant via the respective driverless transport vehicle, the method comprising: a workstation of the production plant has at least two working regions which are driven through parallel to one another by the driverless transport vehicles and in which, in each case during a respective working process, manual work is carried out on one of the respective shell parts introduced into the respective working region via the respective driverless transport vehicle and, during a respective changing process, one of the respective shell parts disposed on the respective driverless transport vehicle is introduced into or removed from the respective working region via the respective driverless transport vehicle, wherein, while the working process is being carried out in a first of the working regions, the changing process is carried out in the second of the working regions, and vice versa. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the respective working process is an assembly process, in which, in the respective working region, at least one component formed separately from the respective shell part is fastened to the respective shell part, which is introduced into the respective working region via the respective driverless transport vehicle, and/or two structural elements, which are formed separately from each other, of the respective shell part, which is introduced into the respective working region via the respective driverless transport vehicle, are connected to each other. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein a second workstation of the production plant, which second workstation is spaced apart from the workstation, has at least two working areas which are driven through parallel to one another by the driverless transport vehicles and in which, in each case during a respective second working process different from the working process, second manual work is carried out on one of the respective shell parts, which is introduced into the respective working area via the respective driverless transport vehicle, and, during a respective second changing process, one of the respective shell parts, which is disposed on the respective driverless transport vehicle, is introduced into or removed from the respective working area via the respective driverless transport vehicle, wherein, while the second working process is carried out in a first of the working areas, the second changing process is carried out in the second of the working areas, and vice versa. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method according to claim 3, wherein the respective second working process is a finishing process, in which, in the respective working area, at least one detected production error on the respective shell part, which is introduced into the respective working area via the respective driverless transport vehicle, is corrected. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method according to claim 4, wherein in the finishing process, in the respective working area, the production error on the respective shell part, which is introduced into the respective working area via the respective driverless transport vehicle, is detected. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The method according to claim 4, wherein the respective shell part, which is disposed on the respective driverless transport vehicle, is introduced by the respective driverless transport vehicle into an inspection region of the production plant formed separately from the working region, and a production error on the respective shell part, which is introduced into the inspection region, is automatically detected. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method according to claim 6, wherein in the finishing process, the respective production error detected in the inspection region is corrected. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the respective shell part, which is disposed on the respective driverless transport vehicle, is introduced by the respective driverless transport vehicle into an inspection region of the production plant formed separately from the working region, and a production error on the respective shell part, which is introduced into the inspection region, is automatically detected.