Docking station for a workpiece holder in a driverless transport system
AssigneeTRUMPF Werkzeugmaschinen GmbH + Co. KG
InventorsFerdinand Baaij, Peter Epperlein
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A device for transporting workpieces includes a manufacturing execution system (MES), a driverless transport vehicle controllable indirectly or directly by the MES, a workpiece holder for receiving a workpiece, and a docking station for receiving the workpiece holder. The docking station is reachable by the driverless transport vehicle. The device further includes a position sensor connected indirectly or directly to the MES. The position sensor is configured for detecting a position of the workpiece holder at the docking station.
Claims14
A device for transporting workpieces, the device comprising:
- a manufacturing execution system (MES);
- a driverless transport vehicle controllable indirectly or directly by the MES;
- a workpiece holder for receiving a workpiece;
- a docking station for receiving the workpiece holder, the docking station being reachable by the driverless transport vehicle;
- and
- a position sensor connected indirectly or directly to the MES, the position sensor being configured for detecting a position of the workpiece holder at the docking station,
- wherein the position sensor is configured as a switch, the switch being activatable by the workpiece holder only when the workpiece holder is situated in a parked position at the docking station at which the workpiece holder is accessible to the driverless transport vehicle.
A method for checking in a workpiece holder of a device for receiving and transporting workpieces, the device comprising:
- a manufacturing execution system (MES),
- a driverless transport vehicle controllable indirectly or directly by the MES,
- a docking station for receiving the workpiece holder, the docking station being reachable by the driverless transport vehicle, and
- a position sensor connected indirectly or directly to the MES, the position sensor being configured for detecting a position of the workpiece holder at the docking station,
- wherein the position sensor is configured as a switch, the switch being activatable by the workpiece holder only when the workpiece holder is situated in a parked position at the docking station at which the workpiece holder is accessible to the driverless transport vehicle,
- the method comprising:
- dropping off the workpiece holder in the parked position at the docking station;
- detecting the parked position of the workpiece holder at the docking station using the position sensor;
- transmitting that the workpiece holder is situated in the parked position to the manufacturing execution system;
- and
- checking in the workpiece holder in the MES.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.