Kit for constructing a system for transporting vehicle parts to a measuring station and for holding the vehicle parts

Abstract

The invention relates to a kit (100) for assembling a system fortransporting vehicle parts, in particular a vehicle chassis, to a measuring station and for holding the vehicle parts, in particular a vehicle chassis, during measurement, the kit comprising - a self-propelled transport robot (10) including a base plate (11) movable on omnidirectional wheels (20), the base plate (11) having an top wall (12) with connecting holes (15) arranged in a preferably regular pattern, and - at least one grid plate (30), the grid plate (30) having grid holes (31) arranged in a grid, wherein the density of the grid holes (31) of the grid plate (30) is higher than the density of the connecting holes (15) of the base plate (11), and wherein the distance between two adjacent grid holes (31) is a regular multiple of the distance between two adjacent connecting holes (15).

Description

[0001] Kit for constructing a system for transporting vehicle parts to a measuring station and for holding the vehicle parts

[0002] The invention relates to a kit for constructing a system fortransporting vehicle parts to a measuring station and for holding the vehicle parts and a system fortransporting vehicle parts assembled by using such kit.

[0003] Self-propelled transport robots such as automated guided vehicles are often used in production plants for transporting a payload between different stations during the production without direct human assistance. A particular use for such self-propelled transport robots is transporting vehicle parts to a measuring area where the vehicle parts that are fixed on the self-propelled transport robot are measured by a tactile or optical measurement. Such a self-propelled transport robot is disclosed for example in US 2012 / 0214194 A1 , which presents a transport robot comprising a base plate that is movable on omnidirectional wheels. The base plate includes a plurality of holes arranged in a grid and being configured to hold fixture elements for holding vehicle parts. The grid holes offer a flexible arrangement of fastening elements, like mounting posts or columns, so that different vehicle parts can be positioned on the transport robot.

[0004] It is necessary for a precise measurement of vehicle parts that the vehicle part is positioned precisely within a predetermined or predefined system of coordinates. The base plate must therefore be very rigid and is often made of a high-strength metal material. However, it is complex and cost-intensive to make a large number of grid holes in such a material.

[0005] The object of the present invention is to provide a kit for manufacturing a system fortransporting vehicle parts to a measuring station and for holding the vehicle parts during measurement, the system enabling a cost-saving flexible arrangement of vehicle parts on a self-propelled transport robot. A further object of the invention is to provide a system for transporting vehicle parts that is assembled by using such kit.

[0006] This object is solved by a kit for manufacturing a system fortransporting and holding vehicle parts according to claim 1 and a system according to claim 11 .

[0007] In particular, the object of the invention is solved by a kit for assembling a system for transporting vehicle parts, in particular a vehicle chassis, to a measuring station and for holding the vehicle parts, in particular a vehicle chassis, during measurement. The inventive kit comprises a self-propelled transport robot including a base plate movable on omnidirectional wheels, the base plate having a top wall with connecting holes arranged in a preferably regular pattern. Moreover, the kit comprises at least one grid plate, which has grid holes arranged in a grid, wherein the density of the grid holes of the grid plate is higher than the density of the connecting holes of the base plate. Further, the distance between two adjacent grid holes is a regular multiple of the distance between two adjacent connecting holes.

[0008] The invention is based on the idea, to separate the function of providing stiffness or rigidity to the base plate from the function of providing a plurality of grid holes for providing flexible mounting positions for mounting elements, like mounting posts or mounting columns, that are configured to hold the respective vehicle part. Thus, manufacturing the base plate needs less processing steps, which reduces costs for manufacturing the base plate. Moreover, the additional grid plates can be provided in different dimensions compared to the base plate. In particular, a customer may choose from different dimensions of grid plates, wherein grid plates having smaller dimensions than the base plate are much more easy to process.

[0009] In particular, making grid holes, in particular a limited number of grid holes, into a smaller grid plate, leads to a significant reduction of manufacturing costs. Overall, the inventive kit provides a very flexible system for transporting and holding vehicle parts, which not only maintains the rigidity and precision of current systems, but at the same time can be assembled in a very costefficient manner.

[0010] In order to allow for an easy assembly of the system, the distance between two adjacent grid holes is a regular multiple of the distance between two adjacent connecting holes. This direct relation between the positions of the grid holes and the connecting holes improves the flexibility of assembling the system. In particular, grid plates of different sizes can easily be connected to the base plate, in particular without the requirement of providing additional holes for connecting the grid plate to a base plate. Preferably, the distance between the grid holes and the distance between the connecting holes is dimensioned such that the grid plates can be arranged in different orientations relating to the base plate.

[0011] It is to be noted that the grid holes are preferably arranged in a regular pattern. In particular, the distance between adjacent grid holes may be identical throughout the grid plate.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment of the inventive kit, the distances between the connecting holes and the grid holes are configured such that at least two, preferably at least four, grid holes can be arranged coaxially to the adjacent connecting holes. Therefore, the grid plate can be arranged at different positions on the base plate.

[0013] The grid plate may be fixed to the base plate by means of screws engaging coaxially arranged connecting holes and grid holes. For the assembly of a preferred system for transporting vehicle parts and holding the vehicle parts, the at least one grid plate is arranged on the base plate such that at least two, preferably at least three, more preferably four, grid holes are arranged coaxially to respective connecting holes. Screws are then inserted into the overlapping connecting holes and grid holes, thus providing for a form-fit and force-fit connection between the grid plate and the base plate.

[0014] As already mentioned, the grid plate can preferably be arranged in different orientations on the base plate. In particular, the grid plate may be positioned longitudinally or transversely on the base plate. The base plate may have rectangular shape having a longitudinal dimension and a transverse dimension, the transverse dimension being smaller than the longitudinal dimension. The grid plate may be positioned longitudinally on the base plate, i.e. in parallel to the longitudinal dimension or extension of the base plate. Alternatively, the grid plate may be positioned transversely onto the base plate, e.g. the grid plate is arranged in a 90° angle with regard to the longitudinal dimension of the base plate.

[0015] In a preferred embodiment, the grid plate and / or the base plate have a basically rectangular shape. In particular, the grid plate may be narrower than the base plate such that at least two grid plates can be fastened in parallel to the base plate. Generally, the kit may include grid plates of different dimensions. This increases the flexibility of assembling systems for transporting and holding vehicle parts. Thus, the system can be customized in a very costefficient manner based on the needs of a specific customer.

[0016] Regarding the self-propelled transport robot, which is part of the inventive kit, it is preferred that the base plate comprises a front section, a middle section and a rear section, wherein the middle section includes a sandwich structure comprising a bottom wall and a reinforcement layer that is arranged between the bottom wall and the top wall. The sandwich structure may be a box-shaped structure, having side walls, the bottom wall and the top wall. The side walls preferably connect the bottom wall and the top wall. Together, the top wall, the bottom wall and the side walls may delimit a rectangular or cuboid space that is filled with the reinforcement layer. The reinforcement layer may be a honeycomb structure wherein the honeycomb walls extend between the bottom wall and the top wall.

[0017] The front section may comprise a front receiving space and the rear section may comprise a rear receiving space. The rear receiving space may accommodate electronics to control the transport robot. The front receiving space may accommodate batteries to power the transport robot. It has been shown be FEM simulations that arranging the electronics and the batteries at the front or the back of the base plate, in particular providing a reinforcing sandwich structure in the middle section of the base plate, improves the rigidity of the base plate. A strong rigidity is preferred for providing a high precision alignment of the payload, in particular vehicle parts mounted or arranged on the base plate, in a predetermined or predefined system of coordinates. Such a precise alignment of the vehicle parts is useful to provide a highly accurate measurement of the vehicle parts. In particular the vehicle parts may be measured using tactile or optical measurement systems.

[0018] In a preferred embodiment of the inventive kit, each omnidirectional wheel of the self-propelled transport robot is integrated into a wheel suspension that comprises a support structure and a swing arm. A bearing end of the swing arm may be mounted rotatably to the support structure. A lifting mechanism for raising and lowering the wheel may be arranged between the swing arm and the support structure, wherein the lifting mechanism comprises a self-locking lifting drive.

[0019] The integration of the omnidirectional wheel into a wheel suspension has several advantages. On the one hand, it provides for a smooth ride of the self-propelled transport robot during its movement. This avoids vibrations to act on the vehicle parts mounted or arranged in the base plate. The lifting mechanism also provides for levelling the base plate on an uneven ground or floor. Therefore, a precise alignment into a predefined or predetermined system of coordinates can also be achieved in a vertical dimension. Even if the floor, on which the self-propelled transport robot travels, is not levelled, the control system of the transport robot that controls the lifting mechanism may compensate the unevenness or non-flatness of the underground.

[0020] The self-locking lifting drive has the further advantage that the lifting mechanism can be locked in a specific position and thus, measurements, in particular tactile or optical measurements, may take place in a locked position of the lifting mechanism. In this locked position, the position of the vehicle part that is to be measured, is fixed, even if a power supply to the lifting mechanism is interrupted. This provides for a safety feature, because a power failure of the lifting drive will not lead to a movement of the lifting mechanism. Rather, the self-locking lifting drive is preferably configured to stay in the locked state without any further power supply. Moreover, the lifting mechanism allows for lowering the self-propelled transport robot to the ground such that the base plate sits on the ground or floor. In such a position, the stability of the base plate is further increased for a very high precision measurement.

[0021] A further aspect of the present invention is to provide a system fortransporting vehicle parts assembled by using a kit as disclosed above.

[0022] The invention is described in more detail below by means of a preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein

[0023] Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a system for transporting and holding vehicle parts assembled by using a kit including a self-propelled transport robot and several grid plates; and

[0024] Fig. 2 a perspective underside view of the kit according to Fig. 1 . The inventive kit includes a self-propelled transport robot 10 which is movable on omnidirectional wheels 20 (Fig. 2). The omnidirectional wheels 20 may be integrated into wheel suspensions. The wheel suspensions may include dampening devices or shock absorbers. Moreover, the wheel suspension may include a lifting mechanism for lifting and lowering the omnidirectional wheel 20.

[0025] Fig. 2 shows an embodiment of the self-propelled transport robot having six omnidirectional wheels 20, two of the omnidirectional wheels being arranged in the front section 16, two of the omnidirectional wheels 20 being arranged in the middle section 17 and two of the omnidirectional wheels 20 being arranged in the rear section 18. The rear section 18 may accommodate electronics 21 for controlling the self-propelled transport robot 10. The front section 16 may include batteries 22 for powering the self-propelled transport robot.

[0026] The middle section 17 comprises a box-shaped structure including a bottom wall 14 and four side walls 13. The cuboidal space between the side walls 13 and the bottom wall 14 is further delimited by the top wall 12. A reinforcement layer may be included or integrated into the boxshaped structure. Moreover, the reinforcement layer may fill the cuboidal space within the boxshaped structure completely.

[0027] The box-shaped structure, in particular a sandwich structure, and the top wall may together form the base plate 11 . The base plate 11 rests on the omnidirectional wheels 20.

[0028] The base plate 11 , in particular the top wall 12, includes several connecting holes 15 as shown in Fig. 1. The connecting hoes 15 are preferably arranged in a regular pattern. The connecting holes 15 may be through holes.

[0029] The kit 100 further includes several grid plates 30. In the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 and 2, preferably four grid plates 30 are provided. The grid plates 30 have dimensions that are smaller than the dimensions of the top wall 12. Since the grid plates 30 have smaller dimensions, they provide for an easy handling. In particular, processing the grid plates 30 is much easier than processing the larger top wall 12.

[0030] The grid plates 30 each have grid holes 31 arranged in a grid, that is, in a regular pattern. The grid holes 31 are arranged at a density which is much higher than the density of the connecting holes 15. The base plate 11 , which has smaller dimensions than the top wall 12, can be processed much more easily in a manufacturing process than the larger top wall 12. Thus, inserting the grid holes in a high density pattern into the smaller grid plate 11 is less complex and less costly than inserting the same grid pattern into the top wall 12. In the embodiment shown in the figures, there are four grid plates 30, each two grid plates 30 being arranged in alignment with each other. Each pair of longitudinally aligned grid plates 30 is disposed parallel to the other pair of longitudinally aligned grid plates 30. The grid plates provide the necessary flexibility for mounting posts or columns to the base plate 11 . The mounting posts or mounting columns may then be used to attach vehicle parts to the transport robot 10.

[0031] The grid plates 30 are connected to the base plate 11 by coaxially arranging some of the grid holes 31 to the connecting holes 15. The grid plates 30 may then be screwed to the top plate 12.

[0032] The kit may include different grid plates 30, each having different dimensions. Thus, a customer is free to choose which configuration of a kit 100 is needed. In particular, due to economic considerations, smaller grid plates 30 may be ordered to assemble a different type of system. The system may always include the transport robot 10. However, the systems of different customers may differ with respect to the number and dimensions of the grid plates 30 mounted on the base plate 11 .

[0033] Reference signs

[0034] 100 kit

[0035] 10 transport robot

[0036] 11 base plate 12 top wall

[0037] 13 side wall

[0038] 14 bottom wall

[0039] 15 connecting holes

[0040] 16 front section 17 middle section

[0041] 18 rear section

[0042] 20 omnidirectional wheel

[0043] 21 electronics

[0044] 22 battery 30 grid plate

[0045] 31 grid hole

Claims

Claims1 . Kit (100) for assembling a system for transporting vehicle parts, in particular a vehicle chassis, to a measuring station and for holding the vehicle parts, in particular a vehicle chassis, during measurement, the kit comprising a self-propelled transport robot (10) including a base plate (11) movable on omnidirectional wheels (20), the base plate (11) having an top wall (12) with connecting holes (15) arranged in a preferably regular pattern, and at least one grid plate (30), the grid plate (30) having grid holes (31) arranged in a grid, wherein the density of the grid holes (31) of the grid plate (30) is higher than the density of the connecting holes (15) of the base plate (11), and wherein the distance between two adjacent grid holes (31) is a regular multiple of the distance between two adjacent connecting holes (15).

2. Kit (100) according to claim 1 characterized in that the distances between the connecting holes (15) and the grid holes (31) are configured such that at least two, preferably at least four, grid holes (31) can be arranged coaxially to adjacent connecting holes (15).

3. Kit (100) according to claim 1 or 2 characterized in that the grid plate (30) can be fixed to the base plate (1 1) by means of screws engaging coaxially arranged connecting holes (15) and grid holes (31).

4. Kit (100) according to any of the preceding claims characterized in that the grid plate (30) can be positioned longitudinally or transversely onto the base plate (11).

5. Kit (100) according to any of the preceding claims characterized in that the grid plate (30) and / or the base plate (1 1) have a basically rectangular shape.

6. Kit (100) according to any of the preceding claims characterized in that the grid plate (30) is narrower than the base plate (11) such that at least two grid plates (30) can be fastened in parallel to the base plate (11).

7. Kit (100) according to any of the preceding claims characterized in that the base plate (11) comprises a front section (16), a middle section (17) and a rear section (18), the middle section (17) including a sandwich structure comprising a bottom wall (14) and a reinforcement layer, which is arranged between the bottom wall (14) and the top wall (12).

8. Kit (100) according to claim 7 characterized in that the front section (16) comprises a front receiving space and the rear section (18) comprises a rear receiving space, the rear receiving space accommodating electronics to control the transport robot (10).

9. Kit (100) according to claim 8 characterized in that the front receiving space accommodating batteries to power the transport robot (10).

10. Kit (100) according to any of the preceding claims characterized in that each omnidirectional wheel (20) is integrated into a wheel suspension that comprises a support structure and a swing arm, wherein a bearing end of the swing arm is mounted rotatabl to the support structure, and wherein a lifting mechanism for raising and lowering the wheel is arranged between the swing arm and the support structure, the lifting mechanism comprising a self-locking lifting drive.

11. A system for transporting vehicle parts assembled by using a kit (100) according to any of the preceding claims.

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