Support structure store for at least one production station and corresponding production station

Abstract

Support structure warehouse for at least one production station and corresponding production station. Support structure warehouse for at least one production station (4) for machined parts (6), in particular for body parts, with a storage area (38) in which support structures (12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24) are arranged, at least one FTS transport system (46) being provided which brings the support structures (12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24) from the storage area (38) to the production station (4), a shelving structure (40) with a warehouse control system (42) being provided in the storage area (38), the support structures (12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24) being arranged therein, the warehouse control system (42) being equipped with the FTS transport system (46) being in active connection via a transfer zone (44), at least one FTS transport device (48, 50,52) being provided in the transfer zone (44) at the time of the transfer of the support structure and the transfer zone (44) being protected by safety means (68). The present invention also relates to a production station equipped with such a support structure store (2). Figure to be published with the abstract: Fig. 1,

Description

Title of the invention: Support structure storage for at least one production station and corresponding production station

[0001] The present invention relates to a support structure storage for at least one production station for machined parts, particularly for body parts, with a storage area in which support structures are arranged, at least one FTS transport system being provided that brings the support structures from the storage area to the production station. The present invention also relates to a production station equipped with such a support structure storage.

[0002] Such a store of support structures and such a production station are, for example, exhibited in a known manner in the German document DE 20 2014 101 002 Ul. The production station described herein increases the flexibility of processes carried out within a production station. It is also advantageous for improving interconnection and flexibility between production and assembly stations. The support structure storage is located remotely within the production station and supplies the production station with support structures via an FTS transport system. The abbreviation "FTS" here stands for "driverless transport system." Ground-based transport vehicles with their own drive are automatically controlled and guided without contact. However, this type of flexibility only applies to a predefined quantity of different types of machined parts.In the automotive industry, particularly in the production of high-value vehicles, there is an ever-increasing desire for vehicle customization, and consequently, for body parts as well. In extreme cases, this can lead to the desire to produce a single part in a batch within such a production facility. However, this has not been possible until now without adapting the respective production facilities.

[0003] The objective of the present invention is therefore to make available a store of support structures and / or a production station making it possible to avoid the aforementioned disadvantage simply and at low cost.

[0004] This objective is achieved according to the present invention by providing a shelving structure equipped or provided with a warehouse control system in the storage area in which the support structures are arranged, the warehouse control system being actively linked to an FTS transport system via a transfer zone, at least one FTS transport device being located in the transfer zone during the transfer of a support structure, and the transfer zone being protected by safety measures. The use of these safety measures ensures reversible, safe, and automated loading of the FTS transport devices. Support structures include, for example, collection elements such as tool tables (devices), gripping devices, assembly tools, etc. This allows any machined part of a suitable shape to be processed at any production station. Processing methods may include assembly processes that can employ these processing means, such as welding, clinching, bonding, contact and insertion pressure processes, such as screwing, studding, or press joints, as well as transformation processes such as bending, flexing, or riveting.The support structure store according to the present invention also allows for the quick and easy provision of support structures for small numbers of parts in the production station. The production station must therefore be fully flexible.

[0005] In an advantageous embodiment, the storage area is located in the immediate vicinity of the production station. This allows particularly simple and quick access to the support structures.

[0006] In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the safety features provided for the transfer zone consist of wall elements extending parallel to the direction of travel of the FTS transport device within the transfer zone and incorporating, at the entry and exit points of the transfer zone, non-contact detection systems, such as a light grid. A transfer opening is provided in the wall element facing the warehouse control system. This allows for the creation of a very compact support structure storage area. The non-contact detection systems enable simple monitoring of the entry and / or exit of the FTS transport devices. A protective door and / or a transfer opening is / are provided in the wall element opposite the warehouse control system to allow easy access to the warehouse control system.The transfer port allows the number of support structures to be increased by changing, among other things, the support structures exiting the storage area.

[0007] The security means may further include security detectors connected, in terms of control technology, to the store control system, in order to stop the store control system in the event of unauthorized access.

[0008] To ensure the transfer of support structures only occurs when the transport device is correctly oriented relative to the transfer opening, The transfer opening can be protected by a light barrier, or by a swept area.

[0009] The wall element facing the store control system can be implemented as part of a protective wall system for the storage area, further increasing the compactness of the support structure store. It is also possible to provide at least one protective door to allow easy access to the protective wall system.

[0010] The objective of the present invention is also achieved by means of a production station equipped with such a store of support structures, at least two production cells being provided, these cells being precisely associated with a store of support structures.

[0011] The present invention will be explained in more detail with the aid of a drawing, in which:

[0012] [Fig.1], the only figure, illustrates a schematic view of a support structure store associated with a production station.

[0013] The single figure illustrates a support structure store 2 according to the invention for a production station 4 for processing machined parts 6 with two production cells 8, 10 of identical structure. In this embodiment, the support structure store 2 is associated with two production cells 8, 10 located in close proximity, and the store can supply them in the same way with each available support structure 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22. The support structures 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, taking, for example, the form of receiving tables or gripping devices, are used to process the machined parts 6 by robots 28, 29, 30, 32, which are shown here schematically. To give a complete overview, it should be mentioned that the production cells 8, 10 are coupled together via a connecting axis 34, by means of a connecting robot 36.

[0014] The support structure store 2 is located in the storage area 38 and essentially consists of a shelving structure 40 and a store control system 42 that can access the shelving structure 40. In this embodiment, the shelving structure 42 is represented as tall shelves shown in a single-row plan view. Alternatively, the shelving structure can also be represented as a connected store with a transfer zone.

[0015] The store control installation 42 is actively linked to an FTS transport system 46 via a transfer zone 44; this embodiment provides for three FTS transport devices 48, 50, 52 in the transfer zone 44. The possible entry and / or exit of the transport devices 48, 50, 52 The FTS 46 transport system in production station 4 is represented by transport devices shown as dashed lines. The dashed lines represent the movement paths of the FTS 46 transport system. Transport devices 48, 50, and 52 are brought into the correct position at production cells 8 and 10, and then returned from these production cells to the shelving structure 40. For this purpose, FTS 48 is equipped with a gripping element 14, FTS 50 with a receiving table 12, and FTS 52 with a double gripping element 16. The receiving table 12 on FTS 50 is precisely positioned and grasped in the transfer zone 44 when the support structure is transferred from the warehouse control unit 42, and then returned to the shelving structure 40.Another support structure can then be placed on the FTS 50 transport device from the shelving structure 40. It will be noted that each transport device 48, 50, 52 finds its place in the transfer zone 44 in a controlled manner and is in this case automatically held in the correct position to allow its loading and / or unloading.

[0016] The storage area 38 includes a protective wall installation 54, which may be composed of wall or mesh elements, and has a transfer port 55 on the side opposite the production station 4. In this embodiment, the protective wall installation 54 consists of two mesh elements 56, 58 extending longitudinally and two mesh elements 60, 62 connected to it on the front side, in which a protective door 64, 66 is provided, respectively. The installation further includes the integrated transfer port 55, which allows the system to be filled and emptied. The transfer port 55 expands the number of possible types that can be managed to an indefinite extent. Safety means 68 are also provided to protect, in particular, the transfer area 44 against unauthorized entry, collisions, and / or damage.The fact that the transfer zone 44 is directly connected to the storage zone 38 allows a partial section 70 of the mesh element 56 to be used as a wall element for the transfer zone 44, with a transfer opening 72 provided for the transfer of a support structure 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24. In addition, a further wall element 74 with a protective door 76 is provided in the direction of travel of the FTS transport devices 48, 50, 52, on the side opposite the warehouse control system 42. Non-contact detection systems 82, 84, operating perpendicularly to the direction of travel, are provided in the form of a light grid or a scanned area on the front sides of the partial section 70 and the wall element 74, thus at an entrance 78 and an exit. 80 of the area of ​​. transfer 44. Safety detectors 86, 88, 90, 92, 94, 96, 98, 100 are also provided in this example embodiment, these detectors being connected on the control technology plane to the store control installation 42. The transfer opening 72 is further protected by a light barrier 102.

[0017] Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiment described and shown in the accompanying drawing. Modifications remain possible, particularly with regard to the composition of the various elements or by substitution of technical equivalents, without departing from the scope of protection of the invention.

Claims

Claims

1. Support structure magazine for at least one production station (4) for machined parts (6), in particular for body parts, with a storage area (38) in which support structures (12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24) are arranged, at least one FTS transport system (46) being provided which brings the support structures (12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24) from the storage area (38) into the production station (4), in which magazine a shelf structure (40) with a magazine control system (42) is provided in the storage area (38), in which the support structures (12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24) are arranged, the magazine control system (42) being in active connection with the system FTS transport (46) by means of a transfer zone (44) and at least one FTS transport device (48, 50,52) being provided in the transfer zone (44) at the time of a transfer of a support structure magazine of support structures characterized in that the transfer zone (44) is protected by safety means (68) which consist of wall elements (70, 74) extending parallel to the direction of travel of the FTS transport device (46) in the transfer zone (44) and having at the entrance (78) and the exit (80) of the transfer zone (44) contactless detection systems (82, 84), for example a light grid, a transfer opening (72) being provided in the wall element (70) oriented towards the magazine control installation (42).,

2. Support structure store according to claim 1, characterized in that the storage area (38) is provided in the immediate vicinity of the production station (4).

3. Support structure magazine according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a protective door (76) and / or a transfer opening (55) is / are provided in the wall element (74) opposite the magazine control installation (42).

4. Support structure magazine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the safety means (68) comprise safety detectors (86, 88, 90, 92, 94, 96, 98, 100) connected, in terms of control technology, to the magazine control system (42).

5. A support structure store according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the transfer opening (72) is protected by a light barrier (102) or a swept area.

6. Support structure magazine according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the wall element (70) facing the magazine control installation (42) is designed as part of a protective wall installation (54) for the storage area (38).

7. Support structure store according to claim 6, characterized in that at least one protective door (64, 66) is provided in the protective wall installation (54).

8. Production station equipped with a support structure store (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least two production cells (8, 10) are provided, these cells being precisely associated with a support structure store (2).

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