Manual workstation for one worker and procedures for operating the manual workstation

Abstract

Manual workstation (1) for one worker (2) for processing and / or inspecting a workpiece (3), with a work surface (4) for the operator (2) to carry out processing and / or testing steps, with a material flow device for supplying the workpiece (3) and / or feed parts (6) to the work surface (4) and / or for removing the workpiece (3) from the work surface (4), characterized in that the material flow device comprises at least one path-independent movable robot vehicle (10).

Description

State of the art:

[0001] The invention relates to a manual workstation for a worker for processing and / or testing a workpiece, with a work surface for carrying out processing and / or testing steps by the worker, with a material flow device for providing the workpiece and / or feed parts to the work surface and / or for removing the workpiece from the work surface.

[0002] Manual workstations are now preferred when product variety is high and adaptable automated production lines are economically disadvantageous. Compared to a fully automated production station, a manual workstation usually has lower acquisition costs, as only simple, manually operated tools are required and complex tasks are performed by humans. The proportional costs of a manual workstation are generally higher due to labor costs. The workers produce the variants either in batches of single variants or in a chaotic mix. In the latter case, the parts for several variants are usually kept simultaneously in an assortment container at the workstation.

[0003] German patent application DE 10 2012 011 412 A1, which likely represents the closest prior art, discloses a manual workstation with a tool system comprising a hand-held tool for machining a workpiece. Furthermore, the manual workstation includes a worker guidance device comprising at least one lighting device designed to generate a luminous spot on the workpiece to be machined and to adjust the position of the luminous spot. The worker guidance device is designed to indicate an assembly point on the workpiece to be machined by means of the luminous spot.

[0004] From DE 10 2010 026 798 A1 a method and a device for the pre-commissioning of components in motor vehicle assembly are known. Disclosure of the invention:

[0005] The invention proposes a manual workstation with the features of claim 1 and a method for operating the manual workstation with the features of claim 13. Preferred or advantageous embodiments of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims, the following description, and the accompanying figures.

[0006] The invention proposes a manual workstation for a worker to process and / or inspect a workpiece. The manual workstation can also be referred to as a manual work arrangement. The manual workstation is particularly intended for use in the industrial production of workpieces, where a person, also referred to as a worker, performs the assembly, processing, or inspection of a workpiece with the assistance of machines. The manual workstation is preferably located in a factory and / or an industrial hall. The workpieces processed and / or inspected at the manual workstation are, in particular, objects with a diameter of less than 30 cm and, for example, electronic, mechanical, electromechanical, or pneumatic components.

[0007] The manual workstation comprises a work surface on which the operator can perform processing and / or inspection steps. The work surface of the manual workstation is, in particular, mounted on a base frame and forms, for example, a table. The work surface is, for example, a permanently installed tabletop or a movable workpiece carrier on which the workpiece is mounted and can be transported. In particular, the work surface is made of a corrosion-resistant and / or easily cleanable material, such as a metal or plastic sheet. Preferably, the work surface is arranged in the manual workstation in such a way that an operator can perform specified work steps while standing or sitting. The workstation height, i.e., the distance of the work surface from the floor, is preferably greater than 72 centimeters, particularly greater than 80 centimeters, and especially greater than 90 centimeters.Furthermore, the workplace height is less than 1.4 meters, in particular less than 1.3 meters and specifically less than 1.2 meters.

[0008] The manual workstation includes a material flow device for supplying the workpiece and / or feed parts to the work surface and / or for removing the workpiece from the work surface. Feed parts are, for example, parts and consumables that a worker needs to process and / or inspect the workpiece. Specifically, the material flow device is designed to transport workpieces and / or feed parts from a storage area to the work surface. The storage area is, for example, a stockroom, which may be designed as a storage area. Furthermore, the material flow device is designed to transfer the workpieces processed and / or inspected by the worker to another processing station and / or to another manual workstation.In one possible embodiment of the invention, the material flow device is designed to transport containers with a large number of small parts and / or workpieces to the work surface when, for example, the contents of such a container have been used up on the work surface. The material flow device can also serve to replenish consumables for the production and / or processing of the workpiece on the work surface, such as adhesives, lubricants, screws, and small electronic components.

[0009] The material handling device comprises at least one movable robot vehicle, wherein the robot vehicle is movable in two dimensions without path constraints and / or without mechanical and / or electromagnetic guidance. The robot vehicle is preferably designed to transport objects, such as workpieces and / or feed parts, weighing no more than 30 kilograms, and specifically no more than 10 kilograms. The robot vehicles have a tare weight of less than 10 kilograms, and specifically less than 2 kilograms. The robot vehicles are preferably autonomously navigable within the manual workstation and / or work surface and, for example, form a transport service. In particular, the manual workstation comprises a plurality of robot vehicles.The robot is preferably configured to transport a workpiece to the work surface and / or to remove a workpiece processed by the worker from the work surface. Specifically, the robot places a workpiece in a transfer tray on the work surface or retrieves it from the transfer tray after processing by the worker. Additionally, the robot can be configured for dynamic workpiece transfer, whereby it transfers a workpiece and / or a feeder to the worker without intermediate storage. Specifically, the robot holds the workpiece and / or feeder until the worker grasps it. Conversely, the robot can be configured to take a workpiece from the worker, which the worker is holding in their hand. Optionally, the robot includes sensors for determining the worker's hand position, enabling dynamic positioning of the robot.

[0010] One aspect of the invention is to accelerate workflows through close collaboration between the operator and the material flow device, particularly through the parallelization of work steps. This relieves the operator of simple and monotonous tasks, allowing them to concentrate more on demanding work steps. Previously, the simultaneous storage of parts and tools for multiple workpiece variants required additional space at the manual workstation. This increased reach distances, thereby reducing processing time and consequently the operator's productivity. Beyond a certain number of variants, storing all parts at the operator's workstation is no longer practical. The large inventories also led to disadvantages due to increased capital tied up in inventory and the aging of parts at the workstation, which resulted in a reduction in quality, for example, through the formation of rust.One aspect of the invention is to keep only the parts for a current variant at the manual workstation, so that accidental mix-ups and resulting incorrect assembly are excluded, and the capital tied up by stocking parts at the manual workstation is reduced.

[0011] In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the manual workstation comprises a roadway. The roadway is, in particular, connected to the work surface. The at least one robot vehicle is movable on the roadway and, in particular, can be moved independently of any path. The roadway is preferably wide enough to allow two robot vehicles to move on it without obstructing each other; in particular, the roadway has at least twice the width of the robot vehicle. The roadway connects, in particular, different points of the manual workstation. These points can be located inside or outside the manual workstation. For example, the roadway connects a first manual workstation with a second manual workstation and / or a production plant, a feeding system, or a warehouse.

[0012] The road layout is preferably designed as a flat surface above the hall floor. The road layout preferably comprises a plurality of road elements, which are connectable and together form the road. The road layout can be mounted on stands or attached to the workstation with fastening elements. The road elements preferably include straight sections, curves, bends, junctions, intersections, turning points, roundabouts, slopes, inclines, bridges, tunnels, and surface elements such as parking areas for robotic vehicles. In particular, the road layout includes road elements designed as active road elements, such as drawbridges, lifts, turntables, and / or transporters / ferries.This embodiment of the invention is based on the consideration that a road arrangement consisting of modular road elements enables rapid reconfiguration of a manual workstation and its connection to storage and process points.

[0013] In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the road arrangement is positioned on the work surface such that a robot vehicle can move and / or drive between the road arrangement and the work surface. In particular, the road arrangement is positioned on the work surface such that a robot vehicle can place a workpiece and / or a feed component onto the work surface. A robot vehicle that performs transport services on the road arrangement of the manual workstation can preferably also perform transport and / or handling services and / or inspection services on the work surface. Preferably, the road arrangement is positively and / or frictionally connected to the work surface.In a possible further development of the invention, the road arrangement comprises a road interface and the working surface a counter-road interface, wherein the road arrangement can be reversibly coupled to the working surface via the road interface and the working surface road interface.

[0014] It is particularly preferred that the work surface and / or the road layout includes / includes optical markings, wherein the at least one robot vehicle has an optical sensor unit for capturing the optical markings as marking data. The optical sensor unit is configured to determine the position and / or location of the robot vehicle on the road layout and / or relative to the work surface based on the marking data. The markings are arranged section by section on the work surface and / or on the road layout; alternatively and / or additionally, the optical markings are arranged over the entire work surface and / or over the entire road layout. The optical markings form, for example, a dot and / or DOT code, wherein the dot and / or DOT code encodes the position at which the code is located within the work surface or within the road layout.The optical sensor unit is preferably configured as an optical camera, wherein the optical camera, for example, captures images in the visible, ultraviolet, and / or infrared ranges of light. For example, the optical sensor unit configured as a camera is designed to provide the image captured by the optical markings as marking data. The optical sensor unit is configured, for example, to decode this marking data and determine the position of the robot vehicle relative to the work surface and / or the road layout in up to six degrees of freedom. Furthermore, it is possible that the robot vehicle includes an inertial sensor for providing inertial sensor data, wherein the robot vehicle can navigate in areas of the roadway and / or the work surface without optical markings based on the inertial sensor data.

[0015] In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the robot vehicle comprises a handling means for handling and / or processing the workpiece. In particular, the handling means is configured as a gripper, wherein the gripper can grasp a workpiece and / or a feed part. The gripper includes, for example, a sensor for securely gripping the workpiece and / or the feed part. It is particularly possible that the handling means is configured as a means for processing the workpiece and / or a feed part and includes, for example, a drill, a soldering unit, or a cutting device. Preferably, the handling means is configured to reorient a workpiece and / or a feed part.

[0016] In one possible embodiment of the invention, the robot vehicle comprises a testing device for inspecting the workpiece. The robot vehicle with the testing device is preferably configured to verify assembly steps during the machining of the workpiece, such as the inspection of concealed components while they are still exposed. For example, the testing device comprises an image acquisition device and an image processing system, wherein the image processing system optically verifies the presence of a component in the workpiece immediately after the component has been assembled by the operator. Furthermore, the robot vehicle with the testing device can be configured to transport the machined workpiece to the next manual workstation or storage location only after successful inspection of the workpiece.The design of the invention is based on the consideration that immediate inspection of a workpiece before its removal by the robot vehicle can reduce production errors and the resulting additional costs, for example through scrapping and / or rework.

[0017] In one possible embodiment of the invention, the robot vehicle comprises an assistance module for controlling the robot vehicle as a worker-assisting robot vehicle. In particular, the assistance module is configured to control the robot vehicle in such a way that the robot vehicle supports a worker in their tasks at the manual workstation by providing assistance functions. For example, the assistance functions include a clamping and / or holding function for holding a workpiece, for example, while a worker is machining the workpiece. Furthermore, the assistance functions can include functions that relieve the worker of partial processes for manufacturing the workpiece. For example, the robot vehicle with the assistance module comprises a dispensing device for lubricating grease and is configured to support the worker by placing grease points into a gearbox after the worker has inserted the gears into the gearbox housing.Preferably, the robot vehicle is designed for close interaction between the worker and the robot vehicle and includes sensors for safe interaction with the worker. In a possible embodiment of the invention, the assistance module controls the robot vehicle to perform post-processing tasks. For example, the post-processing task is a cleaning function, in which the robot vehicle includes, for example, a vacuum cleaner element.

[0018] In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the robot vehicle is configured as a tool robot vehicle for providing tools and / or testing equipment to the operator. Specifically, the tool robot vehicle is configured to provide the operator with specific tools for the current product variant. Furthermore, the tool robot vehicle is configured to provide the operator with the tool required for the respective production step to be performed and / or to transport the tool away after the machining step has been completed. The underlying principle of this embodiment of the invention is that the operator thus only has the correct tool for the respective product variant to be produced and / or the respective manufacturing step to be performed on the work surface. Furthermore, this makes the manual workstation more compact, as less space is required on the work surface to accommodate the tool assortment.Examples of tools that a tool robot vehicle provides to the worker include a screwdriver bit, a wrench and / or a screwdriver.

[0019] It is particularly preferred that the work surface of the manual workstation has movable transfer nests, wherein the robot is configured to transfer the workpiece, a feed part, and / or a tool to and / or from the transfer nest. The transfer nests are, in particular, movable within the work surface. The robot is preferably configured to independently determine the position and / or orientation of the transfer nest within the work surface. For example, the transfer nest includes a nest marker that is recognizable by the robot, and the robot can use this marker to detect changes in the transfer nest's position. In particular, a robot at the manual workstation can be configured to explore the work surface and determine the positions of the transfer nests.The transfer trays are designed in such a way that the operator can remove a workpiece, feed parts, and / or tools from the tray and / or place them there. This design is based on the idea that freely movable transfer trays on the work surface allow the operator to ergonomically optimize their workstation.

[0020] In one possible embodiment of the invention, the robot vehicle includes an identification module for recognizing the workpiece. The identification module is configured to provide the robot vehicle and / or the operator with a process plan and / or production plan for a recognized workpiece. For example, a workpiece is accompanied by a data set that always contains up-to-date information about its identity, the planned process sequence, and the current processing status. In particular, a code is directly applied to the workpiece, or the workpiece is accompanied by a data carrier. The robot vehicle with the identification module is preferably configured to identify a workpiece based on sensors, wherein the robot vehicle includes the sensors, and, for example, to perform its next step in a workpiece-specific manner.In particular, the identification module is designed to provide the operator with the process plan and / or the production plan at the display system, allowing the operator to use the displayed process plan and / or production plan to inform themselves about the next work steps to be carried out. The sensors for identifying the workpieces are designed, for example, as an image processing system and / or as a code reader.

[0021] It is particularly preferred that the manual workstation includes a display unit for showing the work steps to be performed by the operator. The display system is, for example, designed as a monitor, which may include a control panel and / or operating elements. The display system is further configured to show the operator the variant of the workpiece to be produced, the work steps to be performed, and, if applicable, other information. In particular, the display may be configured to show the operator inspection steps. Preferably, the display unit is configured so that the operator can communicate with the robot vehicles via the operating elements and / or the control panel and, for example, control the robot vehicles.

[0022] In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the manual workstation comprises at least two robot vehicles, wherein the robot vehicles are configured to interact with each other. In particular, the at least two interacting robot vehicles are configured to also collaborate with the worker. Preferably, the interacting robot vehicles are configured to jointly perform more complex work steps and / or carry out joint handling tasks, such as moving heavier workpieces and / or feed parts that would be too heavy for a single robot vehicle.Alternatively and / or additionally to two interacting robot vehicles capable of transporting heavy workpieces, the handling workstation can include larger robot vehicles capable of transporting components weighing more than 10 kilograms. These larger robot vehicles are equipped with environmental sensors that detect people and objects in their vicinity, enabling safe operation within the manual workstation. The at least two interacting robot vehicles are specifically designed to facilitate dynamic part transfer between them. This means, for example, that the first robot vehicle holds a workpiece and / or a feeder part until the other interacting robot vehicle takes over.

[0023] A further aspect of the invention relates to a method for operating a manual workstation according to one of the preceding claims. The method is characterized in that at least one robot vehicle provides the workpiece and / or a feed element to the work surface and / or removes the workpiece from the work surface. Preferably, the robot vehicle moves on the track arrangement and / or on the work surface. In particular, a robot vehicle with a gripper retrieves the workpiece from a preceding process station and / or a preceding manual workstation and brings the workpiece to the manual workstation. For example, the robot vehicle brings a workpiece from a storage location to the manual workstation or the work surface. Here, the worker takes over the workpiece, processes it, and places it, for example, in a transfer tray.The robot picks up the workpiece being processed by the worker and transports it to the next station. Specifically, the robot places the workpiece directly at the position where the worker begins processing it. Furthermore, a robot can retrieve a component, for example, from a supply and / or place the component on the work surface. In particular, the robot palletizes workpieces processed by the worker onto a pallet before, for example, another robot transports the pallet with the processed workpieces to the next station.

[0024] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the method is characterized in that at least one robot vehicle inspects the workpiece after processing by the operator. The inspection by the robot vehicle is designed, for example, as a visual inspection, a mechanical inspection, and / or an electrical inspection. In particular, the robot vehicle documents the inspection results. For example, the robot vehicle stores the inspection results on a storage medium. Preferably, the robot vehicle checks the operator's assembly steps during the assembly process. For example, the robot vehicle checks the workpiece after each assembly step, so that, for example, concealed components that would no longer be visible after final assembly can be ruled out as a source of defects.

[0025] In a further embodiment of the invention, the method for operating the manual workstation is characterized in that the at least one robot vehicle replenishes consumables on the work surface. For example, some tools and machines at the manual workstation need to be regularly refilled with consumables. The robot vehicle is preferably configured to provide these consumables. Machines are preferably also refilled by a robot vehicle. Consumables include, for example, small electrical components and / or sealing rings.

[0026] Further features, advantages, and effects of the invention will become apparent from the following descriptions of exemplary embodiments of the invention and the accompanying figures. These show: Fig. 1. A manual workspace with street layout in a top view; Fig. 2 the handwork area Fig. 1 in a front view; Fig. 3 the craft station Fig. 1 in a side view; Fig. 4 A detailed view of the work area and street layout with optical markings.

[0027] Fig. Figure 1 shows a possible embodiment of a manual workstation 1. The manual workstation 1 is designed so that a worker 2 can process and / or inspect a workpiece 3. The worker 2 can process or inspect the workpiece 3 while standing or sitting at the manual workstation 1, and the working height of the manual workstation 1 is adjustable.

[0028] The manual workstation 1 comprises a work surface 4, which here is designed as a rectangular tabletop. The work surface 4 is in particular mounted on a frame 5 ( Fig. 2) arranged. The work surface 4 is made of a dirt-repellent and corrosion-resistant material, so that solvents, acidic and / or basic substances can also be handled on the work surface 4. The workpiece 3, feed parts 6, tools 7 and / or testing equipment are located on the work surface 4 for processing.

[0029] Transfer nests 8 are arranged on the work surface 4, and these transfer nests 8 can be freely moved within the work surface 4 by the operator 2. The operator 2 can remove a workpiece to be processed, feed parts 6 to be installed, and / or tools 7 and / or testing equipment from the transfer nests 8. In particular, the transfer nests 8 can be arranged by the operator 2 within the work surface 4 in such a way as to enable particularly favorable ergonomic working conditions for the operator 2.

[0030] A road arrangement 9 is connected to the work surface 2. Specifically, the road arrangement 9 and the work surface 4 are located on a common plane. The road arrangement 9 is designed as a two-lane roadway. Alternatively and / or additionally, the road arrangement 9 is designed as a single-lane or multi-lane roadway. Robotic vehicles 10 can move freely on the road arrangement 9. Specifically, the main direction of movement of the robotic vehicles 10 on the road arrangement 9 is along a longitudinal axis of the road arrangement 9. The width of the road arrangement 9 is chosen such that a robotic vehicle 10 can move freely along the longitudinal axis. The road arrangement 9 is connected to the work surface 4 in such a way that a robotic vehicle 10 can switch from the road arrangement 9 to the work surface 4 and / or vice versa at any time.In particular, the road layout 9 is designed to connect different manual workstations 1 and / or important logistical points with a manual workstation 1. For example, road layout 9 connects the warehouse of a production facility with a manual workstation 1.

[0031] The robot vehicles 10 are trained to provide worker 2 with workpieces 3, feed parts 6, and / or tools 7. For example, a robot vehicle 10 travels to the warehouse, picks up the required workpiece 3, feed part 6, and / or tool 7, and transports it along the roadway 9 to the work surface 4 and thus to worker 2. The robot vehicle 10 travels from the warehouse along the roadway 9 to the work surface 4 and transfers the workpiece 3, feed part 6, and / or tool 7 to the transfer station 8. Three paths for a robot vehicle are shown: the workpiece path W, the feed part path Z1, and the feed part path Z2. Worker 2 takes the workpiece 3, the feed part 1, and the feed part 2 and processes and / or inspects it in one or more processing and / or inspection steps.After processing and / or testing of the workpiece 3, the worker 2 places the workpiece 3 into the transfer nest 8, whereby a robot vehicle 10 takes the processed workpiece 3 from the transfer nest 8 and transports it away on a workpiece transport path W'.

[0032] Fig. Figure 2 shows a side view of workstation 1. Fig. 1. Robot vehicles 10 are freely movable on the road system 9 and the work surface 4. The robot vehicles 10 have handling devices 11, which are designed as grippers. The robot vehicles 10 pick up a workpiece 3 and / or feeder 6 from a storage area, transport it along the road system 9 to the work surface 4, and place the workpiece 3 and / or feeder 6 or a tool 7 in the transfer nests 8. A worker 2 picks up the feeder 7 and / or the workpiece 3 from the transfer nests 8 and processes it with a tool 7, which is designed, for example, as a drilling station or a testing station.

[0033] The work surface 4 is arranged on a base frame 5, with the working height H AThe work surface is adjusted such that work surface 4 and road arrangement 9 lie in the same plane. Alternatively, the road arrangement 9 can lie in an offset plane, in particular a lower plane, relative to work surface 4, so that the robot vehicle 10 can place a workpiece 3, a supplier part 6 or a tool 7 onto work surface 4 when approaching it.

[0034] The manual workstation 1 further comprises a display unit 12 with a control panel, the display unit 12 being arranged such that the operator 2 has the display unit 12 in their field of vision when using the manual workstation 1. The display unit 12 is configured to show the operator 2 the process and / or test steps to be performed. The display unit 12 includes a radio interface 13, the radio interface 13 being configured to communicate with the robot vehicles 10, which also have a radio interface 13. A robot vehicle 10 can, for example, inform the display unit 12 which workpiece 3 has been transferred to the transfer station 8 and which work or test steps the operator 2 has to perform.Using the control panel of the display unit 12, the worker 2 can, for example, communicate a completed and / or finished process to a robot vehicle 10, so that a robot vehicle 10 picks up the machined workpiece 3 from a process nest 8 and transports it further.

[0035] Manual workstation 1 includes a central control unit 14, which has a radio interface 13. The central control unit 14 is, for example, configured as a computer unit and can control the overall process and / or the robot vehicles 10. In particular, the central control unit 14 is configured to control the logistics, the traffic flow of the robot vehicles 10, the processes, and / or the display unit 12. The central control unit 14 with the radio interface 13 is specifically configured to communicate with the robot vehicles 10 and the display unit 12.

[0036] Fig. Figure 3 shows a side view of workstation 1. Fig. 1 and the attachment of the road assembly 9 to the work surface 4. The road assembly 9 is arranged directly adjacent to the work surface 4 in the same plane. The road assembly 9 is attached to the frame 5 of the manual workstation 1 by means of a fastening element 15. In particular, the fastening element 5 is designed as an angle bracket, a heavy-duty bracket, or a bracket. Alternatively, the road assembly 9 can also be arranged on its own tripod and / or on stands directly on the floor.

[0037] Fig.Figure 4 shows a detailed view of the work area 4 and the road layout 9 with optical markings 16. The optical markings 16 contain information about their position within the manual workstation 1. A particularly preferred embodiment is one in which the optical markings 16 are configured as a dot code. The robot vehicle 10 includes an optical sensor unit 17, which is configured to capture the optical markings 16 as marking data. The optical sensor unit 17 includes a detection direction 18, wherein the detection direction 18 is directed towards the floor of the factory hall and / or road layout 9 and thus towards the optical markings 16. In particular, the detection direction 18 is perpendicular to the road layout 9.

[0038] The robot vehicle 10 optionally includes an inertial sensor 19 configured to detect movement of the robot vehicle 10 in up to six dimensions. The inertial sensor 19 is configured to provide the robot vehicle 10 with substitute position data in the event that the optical sensor unit 17 cannot obtain valid information from the optical markings 16. The robot vehicle 10 includes an evaluation unit 20 configured to determine the position and / or orientation of the robot vehicle 10 in up to six dimensions based on the marking data. Furthermore, the evaluation unit 20 is configured to use the substitute position data from the inertial sensor 19 to determine the position and / or orientation in the event of obscured optical markings 17 or in the event that no optical markings 17 are arranged in the respective section of the work area 4 and / or road arrangement 9.

[0039] The robot vehicle 10 comprises a wheel kinematic system that enables the robot vehicle 10 to move along the road arrangement 9 and / or the work surface of the manual workstation 1. Instead of wheels, the robot vehicles 10 can also incorporate balls or sliding elements as wheel kinematics. When using wheel-based wheel kinematics, odometric sensors can also be integrated. In a further development of the invention, walking kinematics of a robot vehicle 10 can also be used instead of wheel or ball locomotion.

[0040] The robot vehicle 10 comprises a handling device 11, the handling device 11 being configured to pick up, transfer, or reorient the workpiece 3. Alternatively and / or additionally, the handling device 11 can also be configured to process the workpiece 3, for example, by drilling, filing, or inspecting it. The handling device 11 is arranged on a connecting element 21 of the robot vehicle 10. The connecting element 21 is, in particular, rotatable through 360 degrees and height-adjustable, so that any position within the work area 4 and / or the manual workstation 1 is accessible to the handling device 1 for placing and / or picking up the workpiece 3.

Claims

[1] Manual workstation (1) for a worker (2) for processing and / or inspecting a workpiece (3), with a work surface (4) for the operator (2) to carry out processing and / or testing steps, with a material flow device for supplying the workpiece (3) and / or feed parts (6) to the work surface (4) and / or for removing the workpiece (3) from the work surface (4), characterized by , that the material flow device comprises at least one path-independent movable robot vehicle (10). [2] Manual workstation (1) according to claim 1, characterized by at least one road arrangement (9) connected to the work area (4), wherein the at least one robot vehicle (10) is movable on the road arrangement (9). [3] Manual workstation (1) according to claim 2, characterized by , that the robot vehicle (10) can be moved from the road arrangement (9) to the work surface (4). [4] Manual workstation (1) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized by , that the work surface (4) and / or the road arrangements (9) include / include optical markings (16), wherein the at least one robot vehicle (10) has an optical sensor unit (17) for detecting the optical markings (16) as marking data, wherein the optical sensor unit (17) is configured to determine the position and / or location of the robot vehicle (10) on the road arrangement (9) and / or relative to the work surface (4) on the basis of the marking data. [5] Manual workstation (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the robot vehicle (10) includes a handling device (11) for handling and / or processing the workpiece (3). [6] Manual workstation (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the robot vehicle (10) includes a testing device for testing the workpiece (3). [7] Manual workstation (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the robot vehicle (10) has an assistance module for controlling the robot vehicle (10) as a robot vehicle (10) assisting the worker (2). [8] Manual workstation (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that at least one robot vehicle (10) is trained as a tool robot vehicle for providing tools (7) to the worker (2). [9] Manual workstation (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the work surface (4) has transfer nests (8), wherein the robot vehicle (10) is designed to transfer the workpiece (3) to the transfer nest (8) and / or transport it away from it. [10] Manual workstation (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by, that the robot vehicle (10) has an identification module for recognizing the workpiece (3), wherein the identification module is configured to provide a process plan and / or production plan to the robot vehicle (10) and / or the worker (2) for a recognized workpiece (3). [11] Manual workstation (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by a display unit (12) for displaying the work steps to be performed by the worker (2). [12] Manual workstation (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by at least two robot vehicles (10), wherein the robot vehicles (10) are designed to interact with each other. [13] Method for operating a manual workstation (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by, that at least one robot vehicle (10) provides the workpiece (3) and / or a feeder part (6) to the work surface (4) and / or removes the workpiece (3) from the work surface (4). [14] Method for operating a manual workstation (1) according to claim 13, characterized by , that the at least one robot vehicle (10) checks the workpiece (3) after processing by the worker (2). [15] Method for operating a manual workstation (1) according to claim 13 or 14, characterized by , that at least one robot vehicle (10) replenishes consumables on the work surface.

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