Automation system and a method for tending a production system
AssigneeOpiflex Automation AB
InventorJohan Frisk
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention relates to an automation system for tending a production system comprising a plurality of workstations for producing products. The automation system comprises a mobile manipulator (2) adapted to perform work at the workstations, and an automatic guided vehicle (10), in the following named an AGV, arranged to move the manipulator between the workstations. The AGV and the manipulator are designed as two separate units, which can be positioned and moved independently of each other, and the AGV is arranged to supply the workstations with material needed for producing the products while the manipulator is carrying out work at one of the workstations.
Claims14
An automation system for tending a production system comprising a plurality of workstations for producing products, the automation system comprises:
- a mobile manipulator adapted to perform work at the workstations, and
- an automatic guided vehicle arranged to move the manipulator between the plurality of workstations,
- wherein the automatic guided vehicle and the manipulator are two separate units, which can be positioned and moved independently of each other, and the automatic guided vehicle is arranged to supply the workstations with material needed for producing the products while the manipulator is carrying out work at one of the workstations.
A method for controlling an automation system tending a production system comprising a plurality of workstations for producing products, wherein the automation system comprises a mobile manipulator adapted to perform work at the workstations, and an automatic guided vehicle, the method comprises:
- commanding the automatic guided vehicle to move the manipulator to one of the plurality of workstations and to position the manipulator at the workstation,
- instructing the manipulator about the work to be performed at the workstation, and
- commanding the automatic guided vehicle to fetch material needed for producing the products and to move the material to one of the plurality of workstations while the mobile manipulator is carrying out work at the workstation at which the mobile manipulator is positioned.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.