Robotic tooling system for an aeronautical factory

Abstract

Robotic tooling system for aeronautical factory This document relates to a robotic system (10) for carrying out a plurality of processing comprising: a plurality of processing stations (12) each dedicated to carrying out a given processing, each processing station (12) comprising specific processing means (13) for said processing station, a plurality of mobile platforms (14) movable between a waiting position and a usage position at the level of at least one processing station (12), each mobile platform (14) comprising: first mechanical coupling means (16) capable of cooperating with second mechanical coupling means (18) of each of the processing stations, electrical connection means (20) capable of cooperating with electrical power supply means (22) of each of the processing stations, connection means (24) to the processing means arranged at the level of each processing station (12).Figure from the summary: Figure 1.

Description

Title of the invention: Robotic tooling system for an aeronautical factory. Technical field

[0001] The present disclosure falls within the field of robotic systems for factories or workshops manufacturing parts. Previous technique

[0002] In the aeronautics industry, mechanical parts must undergo a variety of treatments carried out in a workshop or factory. To this end, the workshop includes one or more robots, each arranged in a specific area and comprising multiple processing stations arranged around the robot, each station having storage bins for the parts to be processed. The robot is capable of connecting to processing equipment or tools to perform a given treatment. This is referred to as robotic system integration.

[0003] This type of system is not optimal because the robot is not mobile and is fixed with the processing stations surrounding it. When a processing station no longer contains enough parts and the robot needs to perform the processing, the robot stops until the parts to be processed are replenished in the bin of said processing station. Thus, the robot can experience numerous downtimes. Furthermore, when a high number of processing operations are required, it is not possible to place all the processing stations around a single robot, which necessitates using multiple robots and therefore increasing the associated acquisition and maintenance investments.

[0004] It is therefore important to think about the organization of the workshop in such a way as to optimize the use of the processing robots. Summary

[0005] To this end, the present disclosure relates to a robotic system for performing a plurality of processing operations comprising: - a plurality of processing stations, each dedicated to carrying out a given process, each processing station including processing means specific to said processing station, - a plurality of mobile platforms that can be moved between a waiting position and a usage position at at least one workstation, - each mobile platform comprising: • First mechanical coupling means capable of cooperating with second mechanical coupling means of each of the processing stations, • electrical connection means capable of cooperating with the power supply means of each of the processing stations, • means of connection to the processing means arranged at each processing station.

[0006] Each processing station includes processing means or processing tools that are specific in that they enable the processing to be carried out at that processing station. "Specific" should be understood to mean that the processing carried out is specific to that station in that other processing stations do not perform exactly the same processing.

[0007] The processing concerned may be, for example and without limitation: - thermal treatment, - prestressing treatment, including localized shot peening, - material removal processing (adjustment / finishing / machining / polishing / ...), - EDM processing (drilling / driving / wire cutting), - brazing deposition treatment, - material resurfacing treatment, - measurement processing / vision / inspection / non-destructive testing.

[0008] Some of the processing stations may be unique and others may be present in several units depending on the frequency and flow rates of processing to be carried out under real conditions on a given production site.

[0009] The coupling means allow each platform to be positioned at a predetermined location at each processing station, thus enabling reproducible positioning of a platform at a station. It is therefore possible for each platform to be used interchangeably with the processing stations, provided that the processing equipment is arranged at each station. The electrical power connection between each platform and each station is made at the processing station, so that the mobile platform does not have its own power supply and does not constitute an electrical hazard when moving within the plant or workshop.Furthermore, this lack of a power supply simplifies the design of the platform, which only requires battery-type electrical power for its movement between its resting position and its position of use.

[0010] It is understood that the platform is a platform that can be described as universal in that it is capable of being coupled to each of the workstations:

[0011] - mechanically by means of the first and second means mating,

[0012] - electrically for the electrical power outlet,

[0013] - by the means of connection to carry out the processing corresponding to said station.

[0014] The waiting positions of the various mobile platforms can be positioned in a common waiting area so that the mobile platforms can be gathered in a predetermined location. This waiting area can thus facilitate on-site replacement, removal, or maintenance operations on a platform.

[0015] Each mobile platform may include a robotic arm carrying said connection means. The robotic arm may be of the gripper type. Brief description of the drawings

[0016] Other features, details and advantages will become apparent upon reading the detailed description below, and upon analysis of the accompanying drawings, on which:

[0017] [Fig-1] illustrates a robotic system for carrying out a plurality of processing according to this document. Description of the implementation methods

[0018] Figure 1 illustrates a robotic system 10 for carrying out a plurality of processing operations according to this document. The system 10 comprises - a plurality of processing stations 12, each dedicated to carrying out a given processing operation, each processing station 12 comprising processing means 13 for said processing station, - a plurality of 14 mobile platforms that can be moved between a waiting position and a usage position at the level of at least one processing station 12, - each mobile platform 14 comprising: • first mechanical coupling means 16 capable of cooperating with second mechanical coupling means 18 of each of the processing stations, • electrical connection means 20 suitable for cooperating with electrical power supply means 22 for each of the processing stations, • means of connection 24 to the processing means arranged at the level of each processing station 12.

[0019] According to the invention, mobile platforms offer the following advantages:

[0020] - avoid having costly industrial resources that are little used, which is This is particularly true with the platform, which is in constant use. Unused mechanical resources are limited to processing elements specific to each workstation.

[0021] - better management of production-related fluctuations, which are all the more more important in repair shops. Indeed, the unpredictable nature of maintenance operations can lead to activity peaks for one or more specific tasks. Having universal platforms, that is, platforms capable of being connected to multiple workstations, allows for better adjustment of the repair pace.

[0022] - facilitate maintenance since the platforms are all identical and interchangeable. Only the processing tools are specific but are located at each processing station and are also more easily accessible for replacement for example.

[0023]

[0024] Each mobile platform 14 may include a robotic arm carrying said connection means.

[0025] At least one processing station 12 is capable of performing one of the following treatments: - A heat treatment, - A prestressing treatment, such as localized shot peening, - A material removal process (adjustment / finishing / machining / polishing / ...), - An EDM (drilling / driving / wire cutting) treatment, - A brazing deposition treatment, - A material reloading treatment, - A measurement / vision / inspection / non-destructive testing process.

[0026] The waiting positions of the different mobile platforms can be positioned at the level of a common waiting area 26 so that the mobile platforms can be gathered at a predetermined location.

Claims

Demands

1. A robotic system (10) for carrying out a plurality of processing operations comprising: - a plurality of processing stations (12), each dedicated to carrying out a given processing operation, each processing station (12) comprising specific processing means (13) for said processing station, - a plurality of mobile platforms (14) movable between a waiting position and a working position at at least one processing station (12), - each mobile platform (14) comprising: • first mechanical coupling means (16) capable of cooperating with second mechanical coupling means (18) of each of the processing stations, • electrical connection means (20) capable of cooperating with power supply means (22) for each of the processing stations, • electrical power supply means intended for its movement between its resting position and its working position.• means of connection (24) to the processing means arranged at each processing station (12), said processing means being exclusively powered by the electrical connection means.

2. System according to claim 1, wherein each mobile platform (14) comprises a robotic arm carrying said connection means.

3. System according to claim 1, wherein at least one treatment station (12) is capable of performing one of the following treatments: - A heat treatment, - A prestressing treatment, in particular localized shot peening, A material removal treatment (fitting / finishing / machining / polishing / ...), An EDM treatment (drilling / die sinking / wire cutting), A brazing deposition treatment, A material build-up treatment, A measurement / vision / inspection / non-destructive testing treatment.

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