Modular manufacturing system and method for use thereof

A method of using a modular manufacturing system, the method comprising:

• providing at least three interchangeable base modules each having a first side, a second side opposite from the first side, a third side to the left of the first side, a fourth side to the right of the first side, a directional movement portion, and at least one operational attachment attached relative to at least two of the at least three base modules, the directional movement portion defining a working area for performing at least one operation on one or more articles passing through the working area, the directional movement portion being configured to move one or more platen supporting the one or more articles and loaded onto the directional movement portion from one of the first side, the second side, the third side, and the fourth side through the working area and out of another of the first side, second side, the third side, and the fourth side after the at least one operation is performed on the article;
• positioning a first base module of the at least three interchangeable base modules in a first position, positioning a second base module of the at least three interchangeable base modules in a second position adjacent the first base module, and positioning a third base module of the at least three interchangeable base modules in a third position adjacent the second base module;
• defining sides of the first base module, the second base module, and the third base module, so that the first side of the second base module is adjacent the second side of the first base module, and the first side of the third base module is adjacent the second side of the first base module;
• defining a first process flow arrangement by:
• receiving a first platen of the one or more platens supporting a first article of the one or more articles through the first side and into the working area of the first base module,
• moving, using the directional movement portion of the first base module, the first platen and the first article through the working area of the first base module and out of the second side of the first base module into the second base module,
• receiving the first platen and the first article through the first side and into the working area of the second base module and performing a first operation by a first operational attachment attached relative to the second base module,
• moving, using the directional movement portion of the second base module, the first platen and the first article through the working area of the second base module and out of the second side of the second base module into the third base module,
• receiving the first platen and the first article through the first side and into the working area of the third base module and performing a second operation by a second operational attachment attached relative to the third base module, and
• moving, using the directional movement portion of the third base module, the first platen and the first article through the working area of the third base module and out of one of the second side, the third side, and the fourth side of the third base module;
• redefining the sides of the first base module, the second base module, and the third base module, so that the first side of the second base module is adjacent the third side of the first base module, and the first side of the third base module is adjacent the fourth side of the first base module;
• and
• defining a second process flow arrangement by:
• receiving a second platen of the one or more platens supporting a second article of the one or more articles through the first side of the second base module,
• moving, using the directional movement portion of the second base module, the second platen and the second article through the working area of the second base module and out of the third side of the second base module into the third base module,
• receiving the second platen and the second article through the first side and into the working area of the first base module and performing the first operation by the first operational attachment attached relative to the first base module;
• one of removing the second platen and the second article through one of the second side, the third side, and the fourth side of the first base module, and moving, using the directional movement portion of the first base module, the second platen and the second article through the working area and out of the first side of the first base module and into the second base module;
• receiving the second platen and the second article through the third side and into the working area of the second base module, and moving, using the directional movement portion of the second base module, the second platen and the second article through the working area of the second base module and out of the fourth side of the second base module into the third base module;
• receiving the second platen and the second article through the first side and into the working area of the third base module and performing the second operation by the second operational attachment attached relative to the third base module;
• and
• one of removing the second platen and the second article through one of the second side, the third side, and the fourth side of the third base module, and moving, using the directional movement portion of the third base module, the second platen and the second article through the working area and out of the first side of the second base module and into the second base module for removal therefrom.