Automation system and a method for assembling a workpiece

An automation system for assembling a workpiece, comprising:

• a host that controls the workflow;
• a storage having a plurality of first parts and a plurality of second parts;
• and
• a sorter that selects the parts according to information on the parts, wherein said sorter receives information on a first part and selects a second part corresponding to the first part based on the received information,
• wherein the first parts have different grades of defects and the second parts have different grades of defects;
• and
• wherein said sorter pairs the first part and the second part for a subsequent process based on the grade of defects.

A method for automating the assembly of a first part and a second part, each of the first part and the second part with different grades of defects being stored in a storage, comprising steps of:

• (a) receiving a first part;
• (b) determining the grade of defects of the first part;
• (c) searching a second part with a grade of defects corresponding to that of the first part;
• (d) selecting the second part with a grade of defects corresponding to that of the first part and placing the selected second part in a new storage, if a second part with a grade of defect corresponding to that of the first part is found;
• (e) holding the first part, if a second part with a grade of defect corresponding to that of the first part is not found;
• (f) supplying the first part and the second part to their respective following production steps, if a second part with a grade of defect corresponding to that of the first part is found;
• and
• (g) continuing following production steps.

A method for automating the assembly of a first part and a second part, each of the first part and the second part having different grades of defects and IDs corresponding to the grades of defects, comprising steps of:

• determining whether an ID of a second part matches with an ID of the first part;
• determining whether there is a second part if the ID of the second part matches with the ID of the first part;
• processing the first part and the second part in synchronization when there is a second part;
• comparing the ID of the first part with the ID of the second part after processing;
• and
• selecting the second part that matches by ID with the first part among a plurality of second parts remaining from previous unsuccessful attempts to make a pair with a first part, when the ID of the second part does not match with the ID of the first part.

An automation system for assembling a workpiece, comprising:

• a host for controlling a workflow;
• a first line for processing a first part, comprising a first receiving area, a first operation section and a first unloading area;
• and
• a second line for processing a second part, comprising a second receiving area, a second operation section and a second unloading area,
• wherein said first line and said second line are communicatively coupled to each other,
• wherein the first part has a different grade of defects and the second part has a different grade of defects
• wherein the first line determines the grade of defects when it receives a first part, and sends information on the first part's grade of defects to the second line,
• wherein the second line receives the information on the first part's grade of defects from the first line and selects a second part corresponding to the first part's grade of defects, and
• wherein the received first part is processed in the first operation section and the selected second part is processed in the second operation section, when the second line reports that a second part corresponding to the first part's grade of defect is found.

An automation system for assembling a workpiece, comprising:

• a host for controlling a workflow;
• a first line for processing a first part, comprising a first receiving area, a first operation section and a first unloading area;
• a second line for processing a second part, comprising a second receiving area, a second operation section and a second unloading area;
• a first buffer connected to a downstream end of the first operation section;
• a second buffer connected to a downstream end of the second operation section;
• an assembler connected both to the first unloading area and to the second unloading area;
• and
• an unloader having a storage that can store a finished product,
• wherein said first line and said second line are communicatively coupled to each other.