Manufacturing station and manufacturing process
AssigneeKUKA Systems GmbH
InventorPaul THORWARTH
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An automatic manufacturing station (3) and a manufacturing process for workpieces (2), in particular for vehicle body parts, has a manufacturing area (4) with a plurality of program-controlled manufacturing robots (9). The workpieces (2) are externally fed to the manufacturing station (3) on production load carriers (8). The manufacturing station (3) also has a plurality of work stations (10, 11, 12, 13). A station-bound transport device (15) transports the production load carriers (8) within the manufacturing station (3).
Claims31
An automated manufacturing station for workpieces, the manufacturing station comprising:
- a manufacturing area;
- a plurality of program-controlled manufacturing robots;
- production load carriers, wherein the workpieces are fed to the manufacturing station on production load carriers from outside the manufacturing station;
- a plurality of work stations;
- a station-bound transport means for transporting the production load carriers within the manufacturing station;
- and
- a loading device configured to load the production load carriers with the workpieces onto the transport means and/or to unload the production load carriers with the workpieces from the transport means, wherein:
- one or more of the manufacturing robots is configured to transport a workpiece between the work stations;
- and
- the production load carriers receive the workpieces as a multipart workpiece comprising parts set in a positioned state.
4-5. (canceled)
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24-26. (canceled)
An automated manufacturing plant comprising a plurality of manufacturing stations for workpieces, wherein each of the manufacturing stations comprises:
- a manufacturing area with
- a plurality of program-controlled manufacturing robots;
- and
- production load carriers, wherein the workpieces are fed to the manufacturing station on production load carriers from outside;
- a plurality of work stations;
- a station-bound transport means for transporting the production load carriers within the manufacturing station;
- and
- a loading device configured to load the production load carriers with the workpieces onto the transport means and/or to unload the production load carriers with the workpieces from the transport means, wherein:
- one or more of the manufacturing robots is configured to transport a workpiece between the work stations;
- and
- the production load carriers receive the workpieces as a multipart workpiece comprising parts set in a positioned state.
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30-31. (canceled)
A manufacturing process for workpieces, the process comprising:
- providing an automated manufacturing station, which has a manufacturing area with a work station and with a plurality of program-controlled manufacturing robots, production load carriers, wherein the workpieces are fed to the manufacturing station on production load carriers from outside, a plurality of work stations, a station-bound transport means for transporting the production load carriers within the manufacturing station;
- and a loading device configured to load the production load carriers with the workpieces onto the transport means and/or to unload the production load carriers with the workpieces from the transport means;
- transporting the production load carrier within the manufacturing station with the station-bound transport means.
- transporting a workpiece between the work stations with one or more of the manufacturing robots;
- transferring the production load carriers with the loading device at or in front of the manufacturing station onto the transport means from an external conveying device;
- and
- the production load carriers pick up workpieces as a multipart workpiece comprising parts set in a positioned state.
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A manufacturing process in accordance with claim, 32, further comprising carrying out a work process, with a plurality of working steps and with a plurality of work cycles, on the workpiece in the manufacturing station.
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Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.