Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B23P—METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; COMBINED OPERATIONS; UNIVERSAL MACHINE TOOLS
  • B23P21/00—Machines for assembling a multiplicity of different parts to compose units, with or without preceding or subsequent working of such parts, e.g. with programme control
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B23P—METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; COMBINED OPERATIONS; UNIVERSAL MACHINE TOOLS
  • B23P19/00—Machines for simply fitting together or separating metal parts or objects, or metal and non-metal parts, whether or not involving some deformation; Tools or devices therefor so far as not provided for in other classes
  • B23P19/04—Machines for simply fitting together or separating metal parts or objects, or metal and non-metal parts, whether or not involving some deformation; Tools or devices therefor so far as not provided for in other classes for assembling or disassembling parts
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B23P—METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; COMBINED OPERATIONS; UNIVERSAL MACHINE TOOLS
  • B23P21/00—Machines for assembling a multiplicity of different parts to compose units, with or without preceding or subsequent working of such parts, e.g. with programme control
  • B23P21/004—Machines for assembling a multiplicity of different parts to compose units, with or without preceding or subsequent working of such parts, e.g. with programme control the units passing two or more work-stations whilst being composed
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
  • B62D—MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS
  • B62D65/00—Designing, manufacturing, e.g. assembling, facilitating disassembly, or structurally modifying motor vehicles or trailers, not otherwise provided for

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a set of superposed modular stations and a corresponding modular workstation, used for example in a workshop or a production line of auto ⁇ mobile bodies.
• the installation of a car body manufacturing line using robots generally requires the production of a concrete slab in which are provided passages for electrical cables and pressurized fluid conduits. and are dis ⁇ posed means for fixing robots and different tools according to plans provided by the designer of the production line.
• the installation conditions on the site are not always optimal so that the installation is relatively long and that there is a risk of errors when positioning the robots or the outlets of the passages of cables or conduits on the site .
• EP-A-266 056 a robotic device comprising a frame extending over a first manipulator and carrying a second manipulator.
• the two manipulators each have a limited number of degrees of freedom but their dispo ⁇ sition allows the robotic device to replace a bot ro ⁇ "" d ⁇ sp ⁇ santr ⁇ d " ⁇ r ⁇ n rTôTnbre" "s" up ⁇ ⁇ rTe ⁇ r of " ⁇ ⁇ e ⁇ ⁇ ⁇ ⁇ of IES ⁇ " "rib ⁇ rte".
• Such an arrangement therefore does not make it possible to reduce the floor area of a production line and does not allow to simplify the passage of cables and other conduits.
• An object of the invention is to provide a means for a reliable and fast installation of robots in a relatively small footprint.
• a set of at least one lower work station and an upper work station which are superimposed comprising a structure carrying robots comprising platforms. lower and upper forms which are connected by at least one bracing element and which respectively have an upper face and a lower face and each of which is fixed at least one robot, the upper work station comprising a support structure robot comprising at least one lower platform on an upper face of which is fixed at least one ro ⁇ bot, at least one of the workstations being associated with a transfer member parts between the workstations.
• the invention also relates to a modular workstation for the realization of such an assembly.
• the modular working station comprises a support structure of robots having upper and lower platforms are connected by at least one bracing element d 1 and which possess respectively a lower face and an upper face to each des- ⁇ TI ⁇ s " ⁇ ⁇ ⁇ STR "fxxe â ⁇ ⁇ ⁇ mo ⁇ ns IGI ⁇ " ⁇ ⁇ r lD ⁇ E ⁇
• the workstation can be manufactured and equipped directly at the designer thereof, to be delivered delivered to the customer where the installation will be relatively fast.
• the workstation has a small footprint by its structure in superimposed platforms that allows its implementation on a limited floor space and facilitates its transport.
• FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a work station according to the invention
• FIG. 2 is a schematic view in elevation of this work station in a production line
• FIG. 3 is a schematic elevational view of a stack of work stations according to the invention.
• FIG. 4 is a view similar to that of Figure 3 of a stack of workstations according to a variant of the invention.
• the invention is here described in application to the realization of a production line of automotive car ⁇ parts. It goes without saying that the invention is not limited to such an application and can be used for the production of assembly lines of vehicles or parts of vehicles, or for any other product manufactured industrially.
• Workstation 1 has a structure carrier generally designated 2 having a lower platform 3 and an upper platform 4 between which extend columns 5 forming elements d 1 bridging of the lower and upper platforms 3, 4.
• the platform lower 3 has an upper face 6 on which is fixed a handling robot 7 and a tooling symbolized 8.
• the upper platform 4 has a lower face 9 to which is fixed a handling robot 10 and a tool symbolized in 11.
• the tools 8 and 11 are known in themselves and are for example tools for grinding, gluing, welding or other.
• the handling robots 7 and 10 of known types in themselves, are here six-axis robots having a hand provided with a gripping member of the workpieces.
• the platforms 3, 4 are here rectan ⁇ gular shape and the same dimensions.
• the workstation 1 is here open on its four sides 12, 13, 14, 15.
• the side 15 forms the input side of the workpieces.
• the side 12 forms the output side of the work ⁇ parts.
• Side 13 allows service technicians access to the workstation and introduce new equipment or robots into the workstation.
• FIG. 2 shows a manufacturing line comprising two adjoining work stations 1 identified respectively by the letters a and b.
• Each workpiece (not shown) is extracted from a conveyor 17 by the handling robot 7a which brings it to the tool 8a.
• the room is recovered by the handling robot 10a which discharge them through the side of - Release-Vlcrnsrr ⁇ ies ⁇ ⁇ giving "" dTe ⁇ air ⁇ robot compassion ⁇ û ' ⁇ ⁇ ⁇ t ⁇ bH 7LD the inlet side 11b of the station Ib.
• the handling robot 7b places the part in the tool 8b where it is recovered by the handling robot 10b which evacuates the workpiece by the outlet side 12b and deposits it in a conveyor 18.
• the conveyors 17 and 18 are known in themselves.
• Figure 3 is shown a stack of work stations la, Ib, the work station being the lower work station and the work station Ib is the upper work station. It is understood that the workstation is dimensioned to support the work station Ib and is arranged to allow the attachment of the work station Ib.
• the platforms 4b and 3a are fixed to one another. by conventional means.
• the transfer of the parts from the output side 12a of the workstation 1a to the input side 15b of the workstation 1b is provided by the handling robot 9a which gives the part to the handling robot 7b.
• the workpiece is evacuated from the work station Ib by means of the handling robot 9b which installs the workpiece on a suspended conveyor 19, known in itself.
• Such sets of stacked workstations can be joined together to form a production line extending vertically and horizontally.
• the workstation gené ⁇ generally designated 21, which extends under a workstation generally designated 51, comprises a carrier structure 22 comprising lower and upper platforms 23, 24 separated by columns 25.
• the platform 23 has an upper surface 26 on which is fixed a handling robot 27 and an outiiiage - 2-8 ⁇
• the upper platform 24 has a lower surface 29 to which a handling robot is attached.
• the tools 28 and 31 are here respectively a sizing gun and a welding clamp.
• the input and output of the workstation 21 are provided on the same side 32 thereof.
• the upper platform 24 has an upper surface 33 which is provided with column fixing means 34 supporting an upper platform 35.
• These fixing means are for example tapped holes in the upper platform 24 from the sur ⁇ upper face 33 and centering studs or fastening flanges integral with the upper surface 33 of the upper platform 24.
• the upper platform 35 On the upper surface 33 of the upper platform 24 of the workstation 21 are also fixed a handling robot 36, a welding robot 37, a tool 38 and a tool 39 such as a table and a tool punching respectively.
• the upper platform 35 has a lower surface 40 to which is fixed a handling robot 41.
• the upper platform 35 also has an upper surface 42 on which are fixed a handling robot 43, a tool 44, such as a welding clamp, and a handling robot 45. It is understood that the elements referenced 33 to 45 form the work station 51 whose lower platform is formed by the upper platform 24 of the work station 21.
• the production line thus formed further comprises a conveyor for supplying parts 46 and a suspended conveyor for evacuating parts 47.
• the production line further comprises an elevator 48 which extends along one side from workstation 21 opposite side 3-2 -.-
• Each workpiece is extracted from the con ⁇ voyeur 46 by the handling robot 27 which brings it to the tool 28 and then presents it to the handling robot 30.
• the handling robot 30 grasps the part and brings it into the machine. 31. Once the operation is performed by the tooling 31, the handling robot 30 leaves the workstation 21 piece by the side 32 so that it is grasped by the handling robot 36.
• the robot handling 36 deposits the piece on the tool 38 so that it is welded by the welding robot 37.
• the handling robot 36 then leaves the workstation part 51 to present it to the handling robot 43.
• the handling robot 45 then grabs the part to the handling robot 41 which puts the piece into the tool 39 before suspending the latter to the conveyor 47 or to deposit it in the elevator 48.
• the number and type of robots, as well as the number and type of tools equipping the workstation, can be modified depending on the operations to be performed.
• the invention is not limited to the embodiment described and one can bring va ⁇ rants of realization without departing from the scope of 1 inven ⁇ tion as defined by the claims.
• the platforms may have different shapes and different dimensions en ⁇ they and / or compared to those shown.
• -P-1- has-forms-in-fee-rméd-i-ai-res-may - in-or-lie between the upper and lower platforms.
• the columns can be height adjustable.
• higher work stations can be made simply by fixing a robot and possibly a tool on the upper surface of the upper platform of the workstation 1 which forms the workstation in ⁇ lower .
• This robot can serve as a transfer member of the parts of the lower workstation to the upper working sta ⁇ tion or it is possible to mount a dedicated transfer member on one of the workstations.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
• Transportation (AREA)
• Multi-Process Working Machines And Systems (AREA)
• Manipulator (AREA)
• Automatic Assembly (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

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Family Applications (1)

Country Status (4)

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Family Cites Families (8)

• 2004
  • 2004-11-02 FR FR0411639A patent/FR2877248B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2005
  • 2005-10-27 EP EP05814839A patent/EP1807246A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2005-10-27 WO PCT/FR2005/002692 patent/WO2006048535A1/fr active Application Filing
  • 2005-10-27 JP JP2007538471A patent/JP2008517783A/ja active Pending

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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