MODULARLY DESIGNED WORK STATION

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a modularly constructed workstation.

[0002] For the assembly of exhaust systems or exhaust system components for internal combustion engines of motor vehicles, components to be joined together by welding are fixed to work carriers of workstations via these supporting workpiece carriers and are movable in at least one movement mode, for example a rotary movement mode, and are positioned by moving a respective work carrier in such a way that, for example, a welding robot has access to areas to be welded.

[0003] From DE 10 2007 045 039 A1, a modularly constructed workstation according to the preamble of claim 1 is known. In this workstation, several work modules are mounted side by side on a box-like work module carrier. Each work module comprises a work carrier for holding a workpiece. The work carrier is rotatable about a rotary axis by means of an associated rotary drive. The work carrier and the rotary drive form a rotary assembly. To pivot the work carrier about a pivot axis substantially orthogonal to the rotary axis, the work module carrier, together with the work modules mounted on it, is positioned between two holders with its axial end regions opposite to a pivot axis and can be driven by a rotary drive to pivot about the pivot axis.

[0004] The object of the present invention is to provide a workstation, in particular for carrying out welding operations during the assembly of exhaust systems or components of exhaust systems for internal combustion engines of motor vehicles, with extended application possibilities.

[0005] According to the invention, this problem is solved by a modularly constructed workstation according to claim 1.

[0006] The modular design of the workstation, in which the drive unit required to generate movement of a work carrier is integrated into each work module, allows for the simple attachment of various work modules, each particularly suitable for different operations, to the work module carrier. This eliminates the need to couple drive components or decouple them from the work module carrier when removing a work module. The workstation can therefore be quickly configured for a wide range of operations.

[0007] In order to be able to perform different work processes simultaneously with the workstation constructed according to the invention, it is proposed that at least two work module carrier fastening areas are provided on the work module carrier for fixing one work module each.

[0008] To avoid mutual interference during the simultaneous execution of different or multiple work processes, it is advantageous to provide at least two work module carrier mounting areas on opposite sides of the work module carrier. For variable connection of work modules to the work module carrier, it is proposed that at least two work module carrier mounting areas be essentially identical to each other.

[0009] At least one of the work modules can be a single-axis work module, wherein the work carrier of the single-axis work module is rotatable about a rotary axis and the work carrier drive of the single-axis work module includes a rotary drive for driving the work carrier to rotate about the rotary axis.

[0010] For a simple design, the rotary drive can include a preferably electrically operated rotary drive motor.

[0011] At least one of the work modules is a two-axis work module, wherein the work carrier of the two-axis work module is rotatable about a rotary axis and pivotable about a swivel axis, and wherein the work carrier drive of the two-axis work module comprises a rotary drive for driving the work carrier to rotate about the rotary axis and a swivel drive for driving the work carrier to swivel about the swivel axis.

[0012] In this case, too, for a simple design, the rotary drive can comprise a preferably electrically operated rotary drive motor, and / or the swivel drive can comprise a preferably electrically operated swivel drive motor.

[0013] For a defined feasibility of movement processes, it is proposed that the pivot axis is not parallel to the axis of rotation, and / or that the pivot axis intersects the axis of rotation, preferably at an angle of approximately 90°.

[0014] The two-axis work module includes: a rotary assembly, wherein the rotary assembly comprises the rotary drive and the work carrier, a swivel assembly, wherein the swivel assembly comprises the work module mounting area and the swivel drive.

[0015] The rotary assembly is pivotally mounted on the swivel assembly by the swivel drive so that it can swivel around the swivel axis.

[0016] In order to be able to attach different work modules to different work module carrier mounting areas as desired, all work modules can have essentially identical work module mounting areas to each other.

[0017] For stable positioning of workpieces to be processed at the workstation according to the invention during a work operation, it is advantageous if a counter bearing unit is provided in association with at least one work module carrier mounting area. The counter bearing unit can have a counter bearing carrier rotatable about a counter bearing axis of rotation, wherein the counter bearing axis of rotation of the at least one counter bearing unit, when the work module is fixed to the work module carrier mounting area associated with it, essentially corresponds to the axis of rotation of this work module.

[0018] Further increased variability in the use of the workstation according to the invention can be achieved by making at least one counter bearing unit provided in association with a work module carrier mounting area movable preferably in the direction of a counter bearing rotation axis with respect to the associated work module carrier mounting area.

[0019] For attaching one or more workpieces to a work carrier, at least one workpiece carrier assembly can be provided, wherein the at least one workpiece carrier assembly comprises a first fastening area for holding on a work carrier and a workpiece receiving area for receiving at least one workpiece.

[0020] A stable mounting can be supported by the fact that at least one workpiece carrier assembly includes a second mounting area for mounting on a counter bearing unit.

[0021] In order to be able to use a workpiece carrier assembly in conjunction with work modules of different designs, it is proposed that at least one workpiece carrier assembly comprising a first mounting area and a second mounting area includes a first assembly part having the first mounting area and a second assembly part which can be detachably connected to the first assembly part and which provides the second mounting area.

[0022] The present invention is described in detail below with reference to the accompanying figures. These show: Fig. 1 a modular workstation in perspective view; Fig. 2 a work module carrier of the workstation Fig. 1 with two work modules attached to it; Fig. 3 a top view of the work module carrier of the Fig. 2 ; Fig. 4 a perspective view of the work module carrier of the workstation of the Fig. 1 ; Fig. 5 a side view of the work module carrier of the Fig. 4 ; Fig. 6 a perspective view of a single-axis work module of the workstation of the Fig. 1 ; Fig. 7 a perspective view of a two-axis work module of the Fig. 1 ; Fig. 8 a schematic representation of the workstation of the Fig. 1 in another application example.

[0023] In Fig. 1 Workstation 10 is a modular workstation, generally designated as such. This workstation can be used, for example, to weld exhaust systems or exhaust system components of internal combustion engines for motor vehicles. For this purpose, such components can be positioned on tool carrier assemblies 14 or 16. The tool carrier assemblies 14 and 16 can then be positioned in workstation 10 in the manner described below for carrying out welding operations by means of... Fig. 1 Welding robots not shown can be moved to suitable positions.

[0024] The modular workstation 10 comprises a box-shaped work module carrier 18, which is fixedly positioned on a suitable base 20, for example by means of screws. The work module carrier 18 is in the Fig. 4 und 5 The work module carrier is shown and has a work module carrier mounting area 24, 26 on each of its two oppositely oriented sides 20, 22. The work module carrier mounting areas 24, 26 can, for example, each have a support plate 28, 30 in which a plurality of internal threaded openings 32 are provided. Supply lines for work modules 36, 38, which can be detachably fixed to the work module carrier 18 or to the work module carrier mounting areas 24, 26 thereof, can be passed through feedthrough openings 34 in the support plates 28, 30.

[0025] The work module 36, designed as a single-axle work module 40, is in Fig. 6 The single-axis work module 40 comprises a work module mounting area 42, which allows it to be fixed to either of the two essentially identical work module support mounting areas 24, 26 of the work module support 18. The work module mounting area 42 also includes a support plate 44, through which fastening screws 46 can be screwed into the internal threaded openings 32 of the work module support mounting area 24, 26 selected for fixing the single-axis work module 40. In the example shown in the figures, the single-axis work module 40 is fixed to the work module support mounting area 24 of the work module support 18.

[0026] The work module 36, designed as a single-axis work module 40, further comprises a work carrier 48, for example, in the form of a plate or disc, and an associated work carrier drive 50, both housed in a drive box 52. The work carrier drive 50 of the single-axis work module 40 comprises a rotary drive 53 with an electrically excitable rotary drive motor, by which the work carrier 48 can be driven to rotate about a rotary axis D, for example, within an unlimited angular range. Since the work carrier drive 50, housed in the drive box 52, is otherwise fixed to the single-axis work module 40, the work carrier 48 can only be moved in a rotary motion mode, i.e., rotated about the rotary axis D.

[0027] With a first fastening area 54, for example by screwing it to the work carrier 48 of the single-axis work module 40, the workpiece carrier 54 or its workpiece receiving area 55 can be rotated about the axis of rotation D when the rotary drive motor is excited, whereby the workpieces W carried on the workpiece carrier assembly 14 are also rotated or moved about the axis of rotation D and can thus be positioned in a position suitable for access by, for example, a welding robot.

[0028] To ensure defined movement or positioning of the workpiece carrier assembly 14, which is relatively long in the direction of the axis of rotation D, a counter bearing unit 56 is provided in association with the work module carrier mounting area 24. This unit comprises a support column 58, which is fixed to a substrate, for example, and in the upper region of which a counter bearing support 60 is rotatably arranged about a counter bearing rotation axis G. The workpiece carrier assembly 14 is fixed to the counter bearing support 60 by means of a second mounting area 62, for example by means of screws. The counter bearing rotation axis D essentially corresponds to the rotation axis D, so that, driven by the work carrier drive 50, the workpiece carrier assembly 14 can be rotated or moved about the rotation axis D and the counter bearing rotation axis G, respectively, in its two mounting areas 54 and 66.

[0029] In the illustrated embodiment of a modular workstation 10, the work module 38, which is detachably fixed to the work module carrier mounting area 26, is designed as a two-axis work module 68. The two-axis work module 68 comprises a work module mounting area 70, which is essentially identical in construction to the work module mounting area 42 of the single-axis work module 40 and has a support plate 72 with which the two-axis work module 68 can be detachably fixed to each of the work module carrier mounting areas 24, 26 by means of fastening screws 74.

[0030] The two-axis work module 68 comprises a rotary assembly generally designated 76. This includes the rotary drive 53' housed in the drive box 52' for the work carrier 48', which is rotatable about the axis of rotation D in the rotary motion mode.

[0031] The two-axis work module 68 further comprises a swivel assembly 80. The swivel assembly 80 includes the work module mounting area 70 and an electrically excitable swivel drive motor mounted thereon. The swivel drive motor, which essentially provides a swivel drive 82, enables the rotary assembly 76 to be driven in a swivel motion mode to pivot about a swivel axis S. The swivel axis S and the rotary axis D' are preferably essentially orthogonal to each other and, in the illustrated embodiment, intersect in a region that lies outside the tool carrier assembly 14 in the direction of the rotary axis D' and thus also outside any workpiece mounted on it. The two-axis work module 68 is therefore designed as a two-axis rotary tool.With a different structural design, the axis of rotation D' and the pivot axis S could intersect in the axial area in which the workpiece carrier assembly 14, and thus one or more workpieces W supported on the workpiece holding area 55, are positioned in the direction of the axis of rotation D'. In this case, the two-axis work module 68 is designed as a two-axis orbital turner.

[0032] When the rotary assembly 76 is pivoted about the pivot axis S, the rotation axis D' changes its spatial orientation, for example from the one in the Fig. 1 and 2The depicted, essentially horizontal positioning of the rotary axis D' can, for example, be oriented at an angle to the horizontal or essentially at an angle of 90° to the horizontal. In this positioning of the rotary axis D', the workpiece carrier assembly 16, carried on the work carrier 48', can then be rotated about the rotary axis D' for suitable access, for example, by a welding robot. When the workpiece carrier assembly 16 is positioned as shown, the rotary drive motor 53' of the rotary assembly 76 and the swivel drive 82 of the swivel assembly 80 work together, which in this configuration of the two-axis work module 68 provide the drive carrier drive 50'.

[0033] At the in Fig. 8 In the extended embodiment of the modular workstation 10 shown, a counter bearing unit 84 is also provided in association with the work module carrier mounting area 26. This unit also comprises a support column 86 on which a counter bearing support 88 is rotatably mounted about a counter bearing pivot axis G'. The workpiece carrier assembly 16, provided in association with the two-axis work module 68, comprises, in this embodiment, a first assembly part 90, which is fixed to the work carrier 48', for example by screws, and a second assembly part 92, which is fixed to the counter bearing support 88, for example by screws. In their adjoining area 94, the two assembly parts 90 and 92 are detachably connected to each other, for example by screws, so that in the illustrated embodiment, the workpiece carrier assembly 16 has a structure that essentially corresponds to the structure of the workpiece carrier assembly 14.The workpiece carrier assembly 16 is fixed to the work carrier 48 by the first fastening area 54' provided on the first assembly part 90. The workpiece carrier assembly 16 is fixed to the counter support carrier 88 by the second fastening area 66' provided on the second assembly part 92.

[0034] In this configuration of the modular workstation 10, the two-axis work module 68 can only be operated in rotary mode, in which the workpiece carrier assembly 16 can be driven to rotate about the rotary axis D' or the counter-bearing rotary axis G'. Pivoting the rotary assembly 76 about the pivot axis S is not possible.

[0035] To enable this pivoting in this configuration of workstation 10, the counter bearing unit 84 is movable in a direction R towards or away from the work module carrier 18. The direction R essentially corresponds to the direction of the axis of rotation D' if it is oriented essentially horizontally.

[0036] Based on the one in Fig. 8 In the depicted state, the two assembly parts 90 and 92 can be detached from each other in their adjoining area 94, and assembly part 92, together with the counter bearing unit 84, can then be moved away from the first assembly part 90, or the two-axis work module 68 supporting it, in the direction R, for example, by a distance of 0.2 to 0.5 m. The first assembly part 90 of the workpiece carrier assembly 16 can then be pivoted about the pivot axis S, driven by the swivel drive 82, in order to bring workpieces carried on it into a suitable position.

[0037] The preceding description of the modular workstation 10 shows that all components or system areas intended for moving the work carriers 48 or 48' of the work modules 36, 38, and in particular the work carrier drive 50, 50' provided in each work module 36, 38, form part of their respective modules and are not wholly or partially integrated into the work module carrier 18. Therefore, no mechanical connections are required when attaching a work module 36, 38 to the work module carrier 18. It is only necessary to connect the respective work drives 50 or 50' to a control unit or a power source, such as a power grid, via appropriate cable connections in order to supply the electrical energy required to operate the work carrier drives 50, 50' to the respective rotary drive motor or slewing drive motor.If necessary, a connecting line can also be connected through a respective through-opening 34 to the work module 36 or 38, which is to be connected to a respective work module carrier mounting area 24, 26, for the supply of operating materials, such as oil or lubricant.

[0038] Since the mounting areas 24 and 26 of the work module carrier 18 are essentially identical in design, each of the work modules 36 and 38, which are constructed with equally identical mounting areas 42 and 70, can be attached to and removed from either mounting area 24 or 26 by means of screws. This allows a work operation to be carried out at the modular workstation 10, assigned to each mounting area 24 or 26, using a work module 36 or 38 that is particularly suitable for that operation. Naturally, work modules of the same design can also be arranged at both mounting areas 24 and 26.

[0039] Another possible configuration of a work module usable in the modular workstation could include a work carrier that is fixedly mounted on the work module's mounting area. This work carrier is not associated with a work carrier drive and ultimately only allows for a substantially rigid connection of a workpiece carrier assembly to such a work module or the work module carrier. Such a configuration can be particularly useful when, for the proper execution of a work process, such as welding components of an exhaust system, movement of the workpiece carrier assembly holding the workpieces to be machined is not required.

Claims

1. A modular workstation comprising: - a work module support (18) having at least one work module support fastening region (24, 26) for fixing a work module (36, 38) to the work module support (18), - a plurality of work modules (36, 38) having a work module fastening region (42, 70) for detachable fixing to a work module support fastening region (24, 26) of the work module support (18), wherein at least one of the work modules (36, 38) comprises a work carrier (48, 48') movable in at least one movement mode and a work carrier drive (50, 50') for driving the work carrier (48, 48') for movement in the at least one movement mode, characterized in that at least one of the work modules (36, 38) is a two-axis work module (68), wherein the work carrier (48') of the two-axis work module (68) can be rotated about an axis of rotation (D') and can be pivoted about a pivot axis (S), and wherein the work carrier drive (50') of the two-axis work module (68) comprises a rotary drive (53') for driving the work carrier (48) in rotation about the axis of rotation (D') and a pivot drive (82) for driving the work carrier (48') to pivot about the pivot axis (S), wherein the two-axis work module (68) comprises a rotary subassembly (76), wherein the rotary subassembly (76) comprises the rotary drive (53') and the work carrier (48'), wherein the two-axis work module (68) comprises a pivoting subassembly (80), wherein the pivoting subassembly (80) comprises the work module fastening region (70) and the pivot drive (82), and wherein the rotary subassembly (76) is supported pivotably on the pivoting subassembly (80) by the pivot drive (82) for pivoting about the pivot axis (S).

2. The workstation as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that at least two work module support fastening regions (24, 26) for fixing in each case one work module (36, 38) are provided on the work module support (18).

3. The workstation as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that at least two work module support fastening regions (24, 26) are provided on mutually opposite sides (20, 22) of the work module support (18), or / and in that at least two work module support fastening regions (24, 26) are substantially identical to one another.

4. The workstation as claimed in any of claims 1-3, characterized in that at least one of the work modules (36, 36) is a single-axis work module (40), wherein the work carrier (48) of the single-axis work module (40) can be rotated about an axis of rotation (D), and the work carrier drive (50) of the single-axis work module (40) comprises a rotary drive (53) for driving the work carrier (48) in rotation about the axis of rotation (D).

5. The workstation as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the rotary drive (53) comprises a rotary drive motor, which can preferably be operated electrically.

6. The workstation as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the rotary drive (53') comprises a rotary drive motor, which can preferably be operated electrically, or / and in that the pivot drive (82) comprises a pivot drive motor, which can preferably be operated electrically.

7. The workstation as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the pivot axis (S) is not parallel to the axis of rotation (D'), or / and in that the pivot axis (S) intersects the axis of rotation (D'), preferably at an angle of about 90°.

8. The workstation as claimed in any of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that all the work modules (36, 38) have substantially identical work module fastening regions (42, 70).

9. The workstation as claimed in any of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that a counterbearing unit (56, 84) is provided in association with at least one work module support fastening region (24, 26).

10. The workstation as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that the counterbearing unit (56, 84) has a counterbearing support (60, 88), which can be rotated about a counterbearing axis of rotation (G, G'), wherein the counterbearing axis of rotation (G, G') of the at least one counterbearing unit (56, 84) corresponds to the axis of rotation (D, D') of the work module (36, 38) when this work module (36, 38) is fixed to the work module support fastening region (24, 26) assigned to it.

11. The workstation as claimed in claim 9 or 10, characterized in that at least one counterbearing unit (84) provided in association with a work module support fastening region (26) can be moved preferably in the direction of the counterbearing axis of rotation (G') with respect to the associated work module support fastening region (26).

12. The workstation as claimed in any of claims 1 to 11, characterized by at least one workpiece carrier subassembly (14, 16), wherein the at least one workpiece carrier subassembly (14, 16) comprises a first fastening region (54, 54') for mounting on a work carrier (48, 48') and a workpiece receiving region (55) for receiving at least one workpiece (W).

13. The workstation as claimed in claim 12 and claim 9, 10 or 11, characterized in that at least one workpiece carrier subassembly (14, 16) comprises a second fastening region (66, 66') for mounting on a counterbearing unit (56, 84).

14. The workstation as claimed in claim 13, characterized in that at least one workpiece carrier subassembly (16), which comprises a first fastening region (54') and a second fastening region (66'), comprises a first subassembly part (90), which has the first fastening region (54'), and a second subassembly part (92), which is to be connected detachably to the first subassembly part (92) and provides the second fastening region (66').