Manufacturing station for workpieces, especially body parts, as well as manufacturing plant

Abstract

Manufacturing station for workpieces, in particular body parts, wherein the manufacturing station (4, 6) is modular and comprises at least two manufacturing cells (8, 10; 12, 14) or a plurality thereof, each with its own working area (16, 18; 20, 22), wherein the working areas (16, 18; 20, 22) comprise several robots (64, 66, 68, 70) arranged uniformly and receiving arrangements (32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42) interacting therewith, wherein at least one transport arrangement (56) for required components (58, 60, 62) and workpieces (44, 46) is provided for at least both manufacturing cells (8, 10; 12, 14), characterized in that at least each manufacturing cell (8, 10; 12, 14) has a receiving arrangement storage (24, 26; 28, 30; 110) is assigned to all receiving arrangements (32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42) and has a receiving arrangement-transport arrangement (48, 50; 52, 54) for at least one manufacturing cell (8, 10; 12, 14);111) is provided, wherein the at least two manufacturing cells (8, 10; 12, 14) are coupled to each other via a connecting axis (102) with at least one joining robot (104) in a manufacturing station (4, 6), wherein the joining robot (104) has, in addition to gripping means, at least means for carrying out material-joining processes.;

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a production station for workpieces, in particular body parts. The production station is modular and comprises at least two production cells or a plurality of them, each with its own work area. The work areas comprise several, uniformly arranged robots and cooperating receiving arrangements. At least one transport arrangement for the required components and workpieces is provided for at least both production cells. The invention also relates to a production system.

[0002] Production stations and production systems are well known in the art. A generic production station and production system is known, for example, from the German utility model DE 20 2014 101 002 U1. The production station described here and the production system constructed from it are intended to be characterized in particular by greater flexibility for the processes to be carried out in a production station. Furthermore, advantages would result for better and more flexible interlinking of production stations. However, this type of flexibility only affects a range of geometric properties of the workpieces, limited by respective maximums. Particularly in automotive engineering, and in the production of high-quality vehicles, a constantly increasing individualization of vehicles and, associated with this, of the body parts is desired.In extreme cases, this can lead to the desire to produce a batch size of one piece in such a production facility. However, this has not been possible to date without adapting the respective production facilities. Furthermore, the German laid-open specification DE 10 2005 057 601 A1 discloses a production station with a number of robots that can access different clamping frames in clamping frame magazines. The German utility model specification DE 20 2017 102 155 U1 discloses a production facility with two production stations, between which an intermediate space is used for intermediate storage or for the in- and outfeed of workpieces. From the German utility model specification DE 20 2017 101 643 it is known to assign exactly one receiving arrangement storage to a production cell, and the German utility model specification DE 20 2007 002 365 U1 describes that tools, in this case clamping frames, can be transported by industrial trucks.

[0003] The object of the invention is therefore to provide a production station or a production plant which avoids the above-mentioned disadvantage in a simple and cost-effective manner.

[0004] This object is achieved according to the invention by providing a production station in which at least each production cell is assigned a receiving arrangement storage unit with all the receiving arrangements, and a receiving arrangement transport arrangement is provided for at least one production cell. The at least two production cells are coupled to one another via a connecting axis with at least one connecting robot in a production station, the connecting robot having, in addition to gripping means, at least means for carrying out material-to-material joining processes. Receiving arrangements are understood to mean, for example, receiving elements such as workpiece tables, gripper elements, tools, etc. This initially makes it possible to machine each workpiece in a suitable manner in each cell. Machining includes, in particular, joining processes that require so-called process resources, such as welding, gluing, etc., pressing and pressing processes such as screwing, nailing, or press-fitting, as well as forming processes such as folding, bending, clinching, and riveting. Different joining processes can also be performed in one production station by linking the production cells together via a connecting axis with at least one joining robot.

[0005] In an advantageous embodiment, each production cell is assigned exactly one receiving arrangement storage. Alternatively, at least two production cells can be assigned to a common receiving arrangement storage.

[0006] In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the transport assembly and / or the receiving assembly-transport assembly are designed as an AGV transport system. The abbreviation "AGV" stands for "driverless transport system."

[0007] Here, floor-mounted conveyors with their own drive are automatically controlled and guided contactlessly. Alternatively, the transport arrangement can also be implemented as a floor conveyor (e.g., a skid-roller conveyor). These conveyors transport workpieces and / or required components to a corresponding position in the respective production cell, where a robot can access them.

[0008] Particularly advantageously, each production cell comprises four robots, all of which are suitable for performing joining and handling processes, and at least one of which is operatively connected to the transport arrangement. It is particularly advantageous if two of the robots are operatively connected to the transport arrangement and are spatially separated from the other two robots by the receiving and transport arrangement. Such an arrangement provides a particularly compact, flexibly deployable production station.

[0009] In order to be able to carry out every joining process in every production cell, it is advantageous if process or equipment connection arrangements are provided at the same position in each production cell.

[0010] In this context, it is also advantageous to provide tool change stations equipped with tools at the same location in each production cell. Stationary tools can also be positioned.

[0011] A particularly compact production station is provided by providing at least one parts warehouse for the provision of components and / or workpieces on one side of the transport arrangement opposite the production cells.

[0012] To ensure precise machining of the workpieces, it is advantageous if at least one robot has control means for geometrically measuring the holding arrangements and fixtures. This can prevent deviations due to tilting, in particular.

[0013] The object of the invention is also achieved by a production system with at least two such production stations, wherein an intermediate space is provided between each two adjacent production stations, which serves for possible intermediate storage or the loading and unloading of workpieces. This makes it particularly easy to remove workpieces from the ongoing production process or to reinsert them and / or to process them further in a later production step.

[0014] It is also advantageous if at least one transport device is provided in the intermediate space for communication, which can also mean connection or buffering, with the neighboring production cells. This makes it possible, for example, to transfer workpieces from one production station to the neighboring production station without placing any strain on the transport arrangement.

[0015] The invention is explained in more detail with reference to a drawing, which shows: Fig. 1 a schematic view of two production stations that together form a production plant, and Fig. 2 a schematic view of a production station from Fig. 1 with an alternative embodiment of the receiving arrangement bearing.

[0016] The schematic drawing shows a production system 2 according to the invention, which, for the sake of clarity, is constructed in the present embodiment from two production stations 4, 6. The production stations 4, 6 are each modular and each have two production cells 8, 10, 12, 14. The respective production cells 8, 10 and 12, 14 of the production stations 4, 6 each have their own work area 16, 18 and 20, 22, which is constructed as a mirror image of the work area of ​​the adjacent production cell in the respective production station 4, 6. Each production cell 8, 10, 12, 14 is assigned its own receiving arrangement storage 24, 26, 28, 30. In these receiving arrangement storages 24, 26, 28, 30, different receiving arrangements 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42 are provided in order to receive different workpieces for different machining operations.The receiving assembly storages 24, 26, 28, 30 are each connected to the respective work area 16, 18, 20, 22 of the production cell 8, 10, 12, 14 via a receiving assembly transport assembly 48, 50, 52, 54. The respective receiving assembly transport assembly 48, 50, 52, 54 is designed as a so-called AGV transport system. On a side of the production stations 4, 6 opposite the receiving assembly storages 24, 26, 28, 30, a transport assembly 56 is provided for the workpieces 44, 46 and for the components 58, 60, 62 required for processing the workpieces 44, 46. This transport assembly 56 is designed as an AGV transport system or as a floor conveyor (e.g., a skid roller conveyor). The workpieces 44, 46 or the components 58, 60, 62 are then made available to the respective production stations 4, 6 and thus to the corresponding production cells 8, 10, 12, 14 at the required positions via the AGV transport system 56.On the side of the transport arrangement 56 opposite the production stations 4, 6 and thus also the production cells 8, 10, 12, 14, a parts warehouse 65 is provided for the provision of the components 58, 60, 62.

[0017] The processing of workpieces 44, 46 is explained in more detail using production station 4 and its production cells 8, 10, along with the associated work areas 16, 18. The reference numerals used here also apply to production station 6 with the production cells 12, 14, which are of identical design. Four robots 64, 66, 68, 70 are provided in the work area 16 of production cell 8. In the present embodiment, all of them are basically only suitable for performing joining processes and handling operations. In the illustrated embodiment, two of the robots 64, 66 are operatively connected to the transport arrangement 56 and are spatially separated from the remaining two robots 68, 70 by the receiving arrangement-transport arrangement 48.A receiving assembly 36, brought forward by the receiving assembly transport assembly 48, is fixed in a fixed location and position on a type of platform 72 (with or without a recess for a receiving assembly 36) and is thus ready, for example, to receive the workpiece 46. Reference numerals 76, 78, 80, 82, 84, 86, 88, 90 designate tools that can be used by the respective robots 66, 68, 70 to machine a workpiece 46, 48. The tools are also provided in the same position in each production cell 8, 10, 12, 14, with the production cells 8, 10 and 12, 14 being constructed as mirror images of each other in the respective production station 4, 6. Tools 74, 76, and 78 are located at a tool change station 92, tools 80, 82, and 84 are located at a tool change station 94, and tools 86, 88, and 90 are located at a tool change station 96. In addition, each production cell contains process connection arrangements 98, for example, for adhesives, etc.and resource connection arrangements 100, for example, for electricity and water, are provided. In order to also be able to transfer workpieces from one production cell 8 to the adjacent production cell 10 in a production station 4, a connecting axis 102 with at least one connecting robot 104 is provided. This connecting robot 104 can also perform joining operations on a workpiece to be machined.

[0018] In order to optimally align the holding assemblies 36, 38, 40, 42 and workpieces 46, 48 for processing, the robots 68, 70 have control means (not shown here) for geometrically measuring the holding assemblies 36, 38, 40, 42 and the workpieces 46, 48. Between the production stations 4, 6, an intermediate space 106 is provided for the temporary storage of machined or not yet machined workpieces 44, 46. This intermediate space 106 thus serves as a so-called buffer zone for temporarily storing workpieces 44, 46 that do not need to go through the entire production process. A further transport device 108, designed here as a turntable, can be provided in this intermediate space 106 to enable communication between the adjacent production cells 10, 12. In addition, the intermediate space 106 can be used for entry and exit and can provide enough space for industrial trucks.

[0019] Fig. 2 shows the production station 4 with two production cells 8, 10, which are constructed in the same way as the production cells 8, 10 in Fig.1, with an alternative embodiment of a receiving arrangement warehouse 110, which in this exemplary embodiment is assigned to the two production cells 8, 10 and can supply each production cell 8, 10 with each available receiving arrangement 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42. An AGV transport system 111 as a receiving arrangement transport arrangement is also connected to a storage and retrieval system 112 and, in this case, is assigned to both production cells 8, 10. The storage and retrieval system 112 accesses a rack arrangement 114, in which, in the present exemplary embodiment, receiving arrangements 32, 34, 36 are provided. The storage and retrieval system 112 is designed such that the receiving arrangements 32, 34, 36 are fed from the rack arrangement 114 in a correct position to the production cells 8, 10 and are led out again from these production cells 8, 10 to the rack arrangement 114.In addition, additional receiving assemblies can be added to or removed from the rack arrangement via a transfer port 115. In the present exemplary embodiment, six transport devices 116, 118, 120, 122, 124, 126 of the AGV transport system 111 are shown for the purpose of further description. A receiving table 128 (symbol "rectangle") has just been unloaded from the transport device 116. The transport device 118 is currently loaded with a gripper element 34 (symbol "triangle"), and the transport device 120 is currently loaded with two gripper elements 36 (symbol "double triangle"). The transport devices 124, 126 are empty and are to be loaded in the first production cell 8 with two gripper elements 36 and a receiving table 32, while the transport device 122 is moved to the second production cell 10 and is to be loaded there with a gripper element 32.

[0020] It should be clear that this creates a production facility 2 that is not only flexible and compact, but also enables the production of workpieces of various batch sizes and processing types with reduced setup times. For example, it is possible for material-to-material joining processes, such as bonding or welding, to be performed in one production station in one production cell, while simultaneously performing forming processes such as folding or clinching in the other production cell.

Claims

[1] Manufacturing station for workpieces, in particular body parts, wherein the manufacturing station (4, 6) is of modular design and comprises at least two manufacturing cells (8, 10; 12, 14) or a plurality thereof, each with its own work area (16, 18; 20, 22), wherein the work areas (16, 18; 20, 22) comprise a plurality of robots (64, 66, 68, 70) arranged uniformly and receiving arrangements (32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42) cooperating therewith, wherein at least one transport arrangement (56) for required components (58, 60, 62) and workpieces (44, 46) is provided for at least both manufacturing cells (8, 10; 12, 14), characterized bythat at least each production cell (8, 10; 12, 14) is assigned a receiving arrangement storage (24, 26; 28, 30; 110) with all the receiving arrangements (32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42) and a receiving arrangement transport arrangement (48, 50; 52, 54; 111) is provided for at least one production cell (8, 10; 12, 14), wherein the at least two production cells (8, 10; 12, 14) are coupled to one another via a connecting axis (102) with at least one connecting robot (104) in a production station (4, 6), wherein the connecting robot (104) has, in addition to gripping means, at least means for carrying out material-to-material joining processes. [2] Manufacturing station according to claim 1, characterized by that each production cell (8, 10; 12, 14) is assigned exactly one receiving arrangement storage (24, 26; 28, 30). [3] Manufacturing station according to claim 1, characterized bythat at least two production cells (8, 10; 12, 14) are assigned a common receiving arrangement storage (110). [4] Manufacturing station according to one of claims 1-3, characterized by that the transport arrangement (56) is designed as an AGV transport system or as a floor conveyor system, preferably as a skid roller conveyor. [5] Manufacturing station according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the receiving arrangement transport arrangement (48, 50, 52, 54; 111) is designed as an AGV transport system. [6] Manufacturing station according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that each production cell has four robots (64, 66, 68, 70), all of which are suitable for carrying out joining processes and handling processes and of which at least one robot (64, 66) is in operative connection with the transport arrangement (56). [7] Manufacturing station according to claim 6, characterized bythat two of the robots (64, 66) are operatively connected to the transport arrangement (56) and are arranged spatially separated from the other two robots (68, 70) by the receiving arrangement-transport arrangement (48, 50, 52, 54). [8] Manufacturing station according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that in each production cell (8, 10; 12, 14) process and / or equipment connection arrangements (98, 100) are provided at the same position. [9] Manufacturing station according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that in each production cell, tool changing stations (92, 94, 96) equipped with tools (74, 76, 78, 80, 82, 84, 86, 88, 90) are provided at the same position. [10] Manufacturing station according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat at least one parts store (65) for providing components (58, 60, 62) and / or workpieces (44, 46) is provided on a side of the transport arrangement (56) opposite the production cells (8, 10, 12, 14). [11] Manufacturing station according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that at least one robot (68, 70) has control means for geometrically measuring the receiving arrangements (32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42) and the workpieces (46, 48). [12] Production plant with at least two production stations according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that an intermediate space (106) is provided between each two adjacent production stations (4, 6), which serves for possible intermediate storage or insertion and removal processes of workpieces. [13] Production plant with at least two production stations according to claim 12, characterized bythat at least one transport device (108) is provided in the intermediate space for communication with the adjacent production cells (10, 12).

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