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US 6,535,786 B1Granted
Modular automated assembly system
OwnerDavid W. Duemlerinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of modular manufacturing is disclosed and a modular assembly system is shown utilizing a base unit and a plurality of detachable work stations adapted to operate with the base unit. Each detachable work station includes its own work station control processor. The assembly system is preferably fully modular since each work station is capable of controlling its own operation. Work stations may be plugged into a plurality of different work station ports on the base unit in a plurality of different combinations, preferably without reprogramming either the base unit control processor or the work stations control processor.
Claims32
A modular assembly system, comprising:
- (a) a base unit, comprising:
- (i) a base unit control processor;
- (ii) a plurality of work station ports;
- and
- (iii) a conveyor controlled by said base unit control processor, said conveyor adapted to move a product during assembly of said product;
- and
- (b) a plurality of detachable work stations adapted to operate with said base unit, each of said work stations including a programmed work station control processor for directly controlling an operation of said work station on said product independent of said base unit control processor, each of said work stations detachably connected to one of said work station ports to communicate with said base unit control processor,
- wherein said base unit control processor is programmed to recognize said detachable work stations when connected to said ports, monitor whether at least one of said detachable work stations successfully performs its operation on an individual product, and selectively direct at least a successive one of said detachable work stations to perform its operation on said individual product based upon said monitoring.
5 more elements
A modular assembly system, comprising:
- (a) a base unit, comprising:
- (i) a base unit control processor;
- (ii) a plurality of work station ports;
- and
- (iii) a conveyor controlled by said base unit control processor, said conveyor adapted to move a product during assembly of said product;
- and
- (b) a plurality of detachable work stations adapted to operate with said base unit, each of said work stations including a programmed work station control processor for directly controlling an operation of said work station on said product independent of said base unit control processor, each of said work stations detachably connected to one of said work station ports to communicate with said base unit control processor,
- wherein said base unit control processor is programmed to recognize said detachable work stations, monitor whether at least one of said detachable work stations successfully performs its operation on an individual product, and selectively direct at least a successive one of said detachable work stations to perform its operation on said individual product based upon said monitoring and based upon information from said at least one successive work station identifying under what conditions it is to perform its operation,
- whereby, a plurality of combinations of said work stations may be connected to said base unit to assemble different products without said base unit control processor being programmed specific to said different products.
6 more elements
A method of modular manufacturing, comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a base unit, comprising:
- (i) a base unit control processor;
- (ii) a plurality of work station ports;
- and
- (iii) a conveyor controlled by said base unit control processor, said conveyor adapted to move a product during assembly of said product;
- (b) connecting a plurality of detachable work stations adapted to operate with said base unit, each of said work stations including a programmed work station control processor for directly controlling an operation of said work station on said product independent of said base unit control processor, each of said work stations detachably connected to one of said work stations ports to communicate with said base unit control processor in a predetermined combination and sequence selected to assemble a first product,
- wherein said base unit control processor is programmed to recognize at least one of said detachable work stations, monitor whether at least one of said detachable work stations successfully performs its operation on an individual product, and selectively direct at least a successive one of said detachable work stations to perform its operation on said individual product based upon said monitoring;
- and
- (c) connecting a second plurality of said work stations in a predetermined combination and sequence to assemble a second product without programming said base unit control processor specific to said second product.
6 more elements
A base unit for a modular automated assembly system, comprising:
- a base unit control processor;
- a plurality of work station ports;
- and
- a conveyor controlled by said base unit control processor, said conveyor adapted to move a product during assembly of said product,
- wherein said base unit control processor is programmed to recognize work stations detachably connected to said work station ports, monitor whether at least one of said detachable work stations successfully performs its operation on an individual product, and selectively direct at least a successive one of said detachable work stations to perform its operation on said individual product, in accordance with control programming at said at least one successive work station, based upon said monitoring and based upon information from said at least one successive work station identifying under what conditions it is to perform its operation.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.