Universal automation line

An assembly line configured to perform a plurality of assembly steps on a device under assembly, wherein the assembly line comprises:

• a plurality of stations aligned serially, wherein each station is a stand-alone device and comprises:
• a module configured to perform one or more assembly steps on the device under assembly;
• a conveyor mechanism configured to receive as input the device under assembly, to transport the device under assembly to a defined work position, and to output the device under assembly from the station,
• wherein the plurality of stations are serially aligned such that the conveyor mechanisms of adjacent stations are aligned to output the device under assembly from one station and to input the device under assembly to another adjacent station;
• and
• an external housing on all sides of the station, one side of the external housing has an input opening through which the device under assembly is input into the station, wherein the input opening is aligned with the conveyor mechanism, further wherein another side of the external housing has an output opening through which the device under assembly is output from the station, wherein the output opening is aligned with the conveyor mechanism, further wherein the output opening of one station is aligned with the input opening of the other adjacent station, wherein the external housing further comprises a material access opening through which assembly materials are input into the station;
• an assembly materials conveyor mechanism aligned with the material access opening and configured to receive the input assembly materials;
• and
• station electronics including a controller configured to automate operation of the station including operation of the module, the conveyor mechanism, and the assembly materials conveyor mechanism;
• one or more material supply cabinets each configured to store the assembly materials, wherein one of the material supply cabinets is aligned with a corresponding material access opening of one of the plurality of stations, further wherein the assembly materials conveyor mechanism of the station is configured to input the assembly materials from the material supply cabinet into the station;
• a loading device coupled to a first station in the serially aligned plurality of stations, wherein the loading device comprises an external housing on all sides, one side of the external housing having an output opening, a first movable supply device having a plurality of carrier tray holder shelves, and a conveyor mechanism coupled to the first movable supply device, wherein each carrier tray holder shelf is configured to hold a carrier tray that carries the device under assembly, and the first movable supply device is movable so as to selectively align one of the carrier tray holder shelves with the conveyor mechanism such that each carrier tray with the device under assembly is selectively output from the loading device through the output opening, further wherein the output opening of the loading device is aligned with the input opening of the first station;
• and
• an unloading device coupled to a last station in the serially aligned plurality of stations, wherein the unloading device comprises an external housing on all sides, one side of the external housing having an input opening, a second movable supply device having a plurality of carrier tray holder shelves, and a conveyor mechanism coupled to the second movable supply device, the second movable supply device is movable so as to selectively align one of the carrier tray holder shelves with the conveyor mechanism such that each carrier tray with the device under assembly is selectively input from the last station into the unloading device through the input opening, further wherein the input opening of the unloading device is aligned with the output opening of the last station.

An assembly line configured to perform a plurality of assembly steps on a device under assembly, wherein the assembly line comprises:

• a plurality of stations aligned serially, wherein each station is a stand-alone device and comprises:
• a module configured to perform one or more assembly steps on the device under assembly;
• a conveyor mechanism configured to receive as input the device under assembly, to transport the device under assembly to a defined work position, and to output the device under assembly from the station;
• and
• an external housing on all sides of the station,
• wherein the plurality of stations are serially aligned such that the conveyor mechanisms of adjacent stations are aligned to output the device under assembly from one station and to input the device under assembly to an adjacent station;
• and
• an unloading device coupled to a last station in the serially aligned plurality of stations, wherein the unloading device comprises a conveyor mechanism configured to input the device under assembly into the unloading device from the last station, further wherein the conveyor mechanism of the unloading device is aligned with the conveyor mechanism of the last station, wherein the unloading device further comprises a movable supply device coupled to the conveyor mechanism of the unloading device, wherein the movable supply device comprises a plurality of carrier tray holder shelves, each carrier tray holder shelf is configured to hold a carrier tray that carries the device under assembly, and the movable supply device is movable so as to selectively align one of the carrier tray holder shelves with the conveyor mechanism such that each carrier tray with the device under assembly is transported from an input opening in the unloading device to the movable supply device of the unloading device.