System and method for dynamically switching conveyors for robots

A method for dynamically switching an active work associated with a motion device, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) defining a conveyor associated with each of a plurality of production machines;
• b) defining a plurality of load balance groups associated with at least one conveyor, wherein each of the load balance groups includes at least one conveyor work area and at least one motion device associated with the conveyor work area;
• c) activating a first one of the load balance groups by a controller to initiate a first active work of the at least one motion device associated;
• d) detecting an operational state of at least one of the production machines by receiving feedback data representing the operational state with the controller, the feedback data being generated by the at least one production machine;
• e) cancelling the first active work of the at least one motion device by the controller in response to a change in the operational state of the at least one production machine;
• and
• f) activating a second one of the load balance groups by the controller to initiate a second active work of the at least one motion device in response to the change in the operational state of the at least one production machine.

An apparatus for dynamically switching an active work associated with a motion device, comprising:

• a plurality of conveyors for moving at least one part;
• at least one production machine associated with at least one of the conveyors;
• at least one motion device to move the at least one part;
• a controller associated with the at least one motion device, wherein the controller is in data communication with the at least one production machine to receive a feedback data therefrom, the feedback data representing a detected state of the at least one production machine;
• and
• a software system executed by the controller to dynamically and selectively control the at least one motion device to move the at least one part in response to the detected state of the at least one production machine.