Method and system for transporting a workpiece in a manufacturing environment
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsMatthew B. Moore, Patrick B. Stone
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for transporting a workpiece from an initial work cell to a subsequent work cell in a manufacturing environment having a plurality of work cells, the workpiece is supported by a support beam. The method includes monitoring the initial work cell for presence of a ready-to-move condition and monitoring the subsequent work cell for presence of a ready-to-receive condition. When both the ready-to-move condition and the ready-to-receive condition are present, the method includes interfacing the support beam with a gantry and, after the interfacing, moving the support beam with the gantry from the initial work cell to the subsequent work cell.
Claims20
A method for transporting a workpiece from an initial work cell to a subsequent work cell in a manufacturing environment comprising a plurality of work cells, the workpiece being supported by a support beam, the method comprising:
- monitoring the initial work cell for presence of a ready-to-move condition using an initial work cell sensor, the ready-to-move condition at least indicating work on the workpiece within the initial work cell is complete;
- monitoring the subsequent work cell for presence of a ready-to-receive condition using a subsequent work cell sensor, the ready-to-receive condition at least indicating the subsequent work cell is devoid of a workpiece;
- when both the ready-to-move condition and the ready-to-receive condition are present, interfacing the support beam with a gantry;
- after the interfacing, moving the support beam from the initial work cell to the subsequent work cell using the gantry, wherein the moving comprises moving the support beam in directions defining a plane perpendicular to a vertical axis of the manufacturing environment;
- and
- after the support beam is in the subsequent work cell, positioning the support beam onto a first frame assembly and a second frame assembly.
A method for transporting a workpiece from an initial work cell to a subsequent work cell in a manufacturing environment comprising a plurality of work cells, the workpiece being supported by a support beam, the method comprising:
- monitoring the initial work cell for presence of a ready-to-move condition using an initial work cell sensor, wherein the ready-to-move condition is present when work on the workpiece within the initial work cell is complete and the initial work cell is devoid of personnel;
- monitoring the subsequent work cell for presence of a ready-to-receive condition using a subsequent work cell sensor, wherein the ready-to-receive condition is present when the subsequent work cell is devoid of a workpiece and devoid of personnel;
- when both the ready-to-move condition and the ready-to-receive condition are present, engaging a first coupling feature on the support beam with a second coupling feature on a gantry;
- and
- after the engaging the first coupling feature on the support beam with the second coupling feature on the gantry, moving the support beam from the initial work cell to the subsequent work cell using the gantry, wherein the moving comprises moving the support beam in directions defining a plane perpendicular to a vertical axis of the manufacturing environment;
- and
- after the support beam is in the subsequent work cell, positioning the support beam onto a first frame assembly and a second frame assembly.
A system for transporting a workpiece from an initial work cell to a subsequent work cell in a manufacturing environment comprising a plurality of work cells, the workpiece being supported by a support beam, the system comprising:
- an initial work cell sensor positioned to monitor the initial work cell for presence of a ready-to-move condition, the ready-to-move condition at least indicating work on the workpiece within the initial work cell is complete;
- a subsequent work cell sensor positioned to monitor the subsequent work cell for presence of a ready-to-receive condition, the ready-to-receive condition at least indicating the subsequent work cell is devoid of a workpiece;
- a gantry configured to interface with the support beam and configured to move the support beam from the initial work cell to the subsequent work cell in directions defining a plane perpendicular to a vertical axis of the manufacturing environment after both the ready-to-move condition and the ready-to-receive condition are present;
- and
- a first frame assembly and a second frame assembly disposed in the subsequent work cell and configured to receive the support beam after the gantry moves the support beam to the subsequent work cell.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.