Flexible production cell with centralized robotic organization

Abstract

The invention relates to a flexible manufacturing cell with a centralized robotic organization. Specifically, the invention relates to a flexible manufacturing cell with a centralized robotic organization to optimize space utilization in industrial production processes, enabling more work steps to be performed in a smaller area and thus increasing production efficiency.

Description

[0001] FLEXIBLE PRODUCTION CELL WITH CENTRALIZED ROBOTIC ORGANIZATION

[0002] Technical Field

[0003] The invention relates to a flexible manufacturing cell with centralized robotic organization.

[0004] The invention particularly relates to a flexible production cell with centralized robotic organization to optimize space utilization in industrial production processes, enabling more work steps to be performed in a smaller area and thus increasing production efficiency.

[0005] State of the Art

[0006] In the present industrial production environments, production cells using robots adapted to cartesian systems or rail systems to perform various work steps such as welded production and liquid gasket applications are common. In such cells, robots stand out as the equipment that takes up the most space in terms of space usage. In industrial production areas, space efficiency is important in terms of effective use of resources and optimizing production costs.

[0007] In traditional manufacturing cells used today, robots are generally positioned in a distributed manner within the cell in order to optimize robots' access to parts. As a result of this approach, a separate robot is allocated for each specific work step and each robot occupies a significant space within the cell volume. This situation creates the need for more space to produce the same product and thus negatively affects space efficiency in factories.

[0008] The areas covered by the present production cells are quite large, and the allocation of a separate work area for each robot and the positioning of the robots at different points requires a larger production area in total. This situation is a constraint that production facilities face, especially when they want to increase their capacity or expand their production lines.

[0009] In the present production systems using industrial robots, the distribution of robots within the cell is determined by the access requirements of the robots and the workflow. However, although this approach makes it easier for robots to access parts, it also leadsto inefficiencies in terms of space usage. This inefficiency becomes even more evident, especially in production processes where multiple work steps are performed consecutively.

[0010] This space usage problem in traditional production cells increases the total space requirement of production facilities and therefore increases facility installation and operating costs. Additionally, the distributed positioning of robots within the cell can create difficulties in terms of inter-robot coordination and workflow optimization.

[0011] As a result of the research conducted on the subject, the application numbered CN206351315U was found. The application numbered CN206351315U describes an industrial automation welding robot and was developed solely for welding operations. Although space is saved by mounting welding equipment on both sides of an elevated platform, there is no mention of a tower or similar structure that serves as a common body for the process equipment required for processes such as welding, clamping, pressing and liquid sealing. Additionally, there is no mention of a platform-like structure where the auxiliary equipment required for the operation of this equipment can be positioned.

[0012] As a result, due to the drawbacks described above and the inadequacy of existing solutions on the subject, it has become necessary to make a development in the relevant technical field.

[0013] Object of the Invention

[0014] The invention is inspired by the current situation and aims to solve the above-mentioned drawbacks.

[0015] The main object of the invention is to enable more work steps to be performed in a smaller physical space by optimizing industrial production processes. The invention, which was developed to eliminate the inefficiencies in space usage in the current state of the art, aims to maximize functionality while minimizing the space occupied by production cells.

[0016] The invention envisages that all work steps frequently used in industrial production processes, such as welding, clamping, pressing and liquid gasket application, will be performed by robots on a platform positioned in the cell center. Unlike the approach of allocating a separate workspace for each robot in traditional systems, in this inventionthe robots are strategically mounted on the walls of the central platform in different directions. Thanks to this layout, dead zones in the robots' workspaces are eliminated, making it possible to perform more work steps in less square meters.

[0017] Another object of the invention is to add flexibility to production systems. Part fixtures can be fixed around the robot system in the cell center, or a modular and flexible production methodology can be implemented using fixtures mounted on Automatic Guided Vehicles (AGVs). This allows the production line to be easily adapted to different product types or production volumes. The invention is intended to enable more efficient production in limited spaces, particularly in industrial production and manufacturing. In traditional systems in the state of the art, a different robot for each work step occupies a separate space in the cell volume, which requires more space to produce the same product, and this reduces space efficiency in factories. With this invention, robots mounted peripherally on the vertical platform in the center can perform the same work steps with a smaller volume and area.

[0018] Another object of the invention is to enable factories to use their production areas more effectively. Flexible production cells, created with equipment gathered at the cell center, allow factories to easily reconfigure their production lines and quickly adapt to different production needs. This adaptability is particularly important in modern production environments where rapid response to changing market conditions and customer demands is essential.

[0019] The invention also offers economic advantages such as reducing costs and making production processes more agile while saving space. Thanks to robots positioned around a central platform, facility installation and operating costs can be optimized, maintenance and energy costs can be reduced, and the efficiency of production processes can be increased.

[0020] The invention is a flexible production cell with a centralized robotic organization to optimize the use of space in industrial production processes and to enable more processes to be carried out in a smaller area, thus increasing production efficiency in order to achieve the above-mentioned objects, comprising::

[0021] a tower that acts as a body carrying the equipment required for the process,• a movable plate that can move in the vertical axis with the drive element and provides the connection to the process equipment that will perform the process,

[0022] • a drive element that moves the movable plate up and down on the vertical axis and thus enables the movement of the process equipment on the vertical axis,

[0023] • process equipment located on the tower at least two pieces, that performs the necessary operations to produce the product to be produced, the number of which can be determined according to the process to be done, which acts as arms that perform operations according to the process to be done and moves on the vertical axis with the drive element, which is horizontally connected to the tower to gain production space and is arranged around the tower center, intersecting the lost access areas of different processes.

[0024] The structural and characteristic features of the invention and all its advantages will be understood more clearly thanks to the figures given below and the detailed description written by making reference to these figures, and therefore the evaluation needs to be made by taking these figures and detailed description into consideration.

[0025] Figures to Help Understand the Invention

[0026] Figure 1 is a general view of the production cell.

[0027] Figure 2 is a general view of the tower and its associated components.

[0028] Figure 3 is a general view of the process equipment on the tower.

[0029] Figure 4 is a general view of the fixture with its location.

[0030] Description of Piece References

[0031] 10 Movable plate

[0032] 11 Drive element

[0033] 12 Platform

[0034] 13 Welding wire barrel

[0035] 14 Elevator

[0036] 15 Tower

[0037] 20 Process equipment

[0038] 30 Fixture

[0039] 40 Fence41 Spiral Door

[0040] 50 Automated guided vehicle (AGV / AMR)

[0041] A Production cell

[0042] Detailed Description of the Invention

[0043] In this detailed description, the preferred embodiments of the production cell (A) which is the subject of the invention are described only for a better understanding of the subject.

[0044] The said invention relates to a production cell (A) that optimizes the use of space in industrial production processes and enables different work steps to be carried out in a smaller area. The detailed description of the elements that make up the invention and its working principle are given below.

[0045] At the center of the system constituting the invention is a tower (15) structure. This tower (15) serves as the main body carrying the process equipment (20). On the tower (15), there is a platform (12) configured to hold the necessary equipment. Equipment required for welding operations, such as the welding wire barrel (13), can be positioned on the platform (12). The system includes an elevator (14) to transport the welding wire barrel (13) and other necessary equipment to the platform (12). The elevator (14) serves as a load carrier that allows this equipment to be safely lifted onto the tower (15).

[0046] The basic functionality of the system is provided by the movable plate (10) and the connected drive element (11). The movable plate (10) can move along the vertical axis via the drive element (11) and is connected to the process equipment (20) that will perform the process. The drive element (11) moves the movable plate (10) up and down on the vertical axis, enabling the positioning of the process equipment (20) on the vertical axis. This allows operations to be carried out on fixtures (30) at different heights.

[0047] Process equipment (20) is the basic production component that performs the necessary operations such as welding, clamping, pressing and liquid sealing on the fixture (30) in order to produce the product to be produced. There are at least two pieces of process equipment (20) on the tower (15), but this number can be determined as three, four, five or more depending on the process to be performed. Process equipment (20) consists of arms that perform welding, clamping, pressing, and liquid sealing operations, depending on the process to be performed. This equipment can be moved vertically by means of the drive element (11).Fixture (30) is the equipment to be used for the operations of the part to be produced and can be selected as welding fixture, apparatus, mold, etc. The fixtures (30) can be positioned permanently within the production cell (A) or can be transported on automatic guided vehicles (50).

[0048] A fence (40) is used to isolate the production cell (A) from the environment and ensure occupational safety. The fence (40) functions as a fence / wall / screen to ensure occupational safety (OHS) and to isolate the production cell (A) from the environment. A roll-up door (41) is provided for access to the cell. The spiral door (41) is used as an entry point to ensure occupational safety (OHS), as well as to allow the automatic guided vehicle (50), process equipment (20), welding wire barrel (13), etc. to be carried into the cell when necessary.

[0049] The automatic guided vehicle (50) transports fixtures (30) from the perimeter into the cell and positions them in the required position. These vehicles allow a modular and flexible production structure to be created within the production cell (A).

[0050] One of the most important technical advantages of the invention is that it saves production space. For this purpose, the process equipment (20) is horizontally connected to the tower (15). The tower (15) and platform (12) carry at least two pieces of process equipment (20). This number can increase to three, four, or five, depending on the product to be produced, the operation to be performed, the process, and the part size.

[0051] Since the robots, which are process equipment (20), are connected horizontally to the tower (15) and gathered around the center of the tower (15) rather than on the ground, the access areas that would have been lost for different processes are intersected, and a significant saving in production space is achieved. For example, while two robots fixed to the ground would occupy a total area of 30 square meters (15 square meters each), when mounted on the tower (15), the robots can be positioned to occupy only 20 square meters in total, as access- restricted and dead spaces can be shared.

[0052] During operation of the system, the movable plate (10) moves up and down on the vertical axis with the movement of the drive element (11). Therefore, the process equipment (20) can move up and down. Depending on the product and process to be produced, the height of the process equipment (20) above the ground can be changed.Different robots, equipment, cameras, etc. can be connected to the movable plate (10) for each process. For example, for a gas metal arc welding operation, the process equipment (20) selected as the welding robot is connected to the movable plate (10). The necessary operations on the fixture (30) for the product to be produced are carried out by the process equipment (20) selected as the welding robot and the welding process is completed.

[0053] If necessary, the product is passed to the next station around the tower (15) and other processes are carried out sequentially. For example, if it is considered that there are four processes around the tower (15), the first operation is cold sheet metal forming requiring low force and the part is shaped in the first operation with the process equipment (20) selected as the press arm. For the next operation, which is gas metal arc welding, it moves on to its second operation and is welded with the process equipment (20) selected as the gas metal arc welding robot. Similarly, the third and fourth operations can be used for subsequent operations. The said system comprises at least two operations.

[0054] The welding wire required for the welding operation is provided by the welding wire barrel (13). The welding wire barrel (13) is carried to the top of the tower (15) by the elevator (14) and positioned on the platform (12). Gathering the process equipment (20) around the tower (15) provides a significant gain in the production area.

[0055] The working steps of the invention are as follows:

[0056] Firstly, the equipment suitable for the product to be produced is connected to the movable plate (10) as interchangeable process equipment (20). Process equipment (20) can be robots, cameras, control equipment, quality equipment, production equipment such as sealing, etc. with very different features depending on the process to be performed. Because of its interchangeable feature, the system provides flexible production. The fixture (30) appropriate for the product to be produced is then transported into the cell by the automatic guided vehicle (50) and positioned in the appropriate position. The movable plate (10) is moved up and down by the movement of the drive element (11). The movement is stopped when the process equipment (20) reaches the appropriate height (position). The process equipment (20) performs the operations it needs to do on the fixture (30). After the operations are completed, the movable plate (10) is moved upwards, if necessary, by the movement of the drive element (11). The movement is stopped when the process equipment (20) reaches the appropriate height (position).Thanks to the inventive approach, space usage in industrial production processes is optimized, more work steps can be performed in a smaller area and production efficiency is increased.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A flexible production cell (A) with a centralized robotic organization to optimize space usage in industrial production processes, enabling more processes to be carried out in a smaller area and thus increasing production efficiency, characterized by comprising:• a tower (15) that acts as a body carrying the equipment required for the process,• a movable plate (10) that can move in the vertical axis with the drive element (11) and provides the connection to the process equipment (20) that will perform the process,• a drive element (11 ) that moves the movable plate (10) up and down on the vertical axis and thus enables the movement of the process equipment (20) on the vertical axis,• process equipment (20) located on the tower (15) at least two pieces, that performs the necessary operations to produce the product to be produced, the number of which can be determined according to the process to be done, which acts as arms that perform operations according to the process to be done and moves on the vertical axis with the drive element (11), which is horizontally connected to the tower (15) to gain production space and is arranged around the tower (15) center, intersecting the lost access areas of different processes.

2. The production cell (A) according to claim 1 , characterized by comprising a platform (12) located on the tower (15) and containing the necessary equipment.

3. The production cell (A) according to claim 2, characterized by comprising a welding wire barrel (13) that provides the welding wire required for the welding operation.

4. The production cell (A) according to claim 3, characterized by comprising an elevator (14), which is a load carrier, to lift the welding wire barrel (13) and the necessary equipment onto the platform (12).

5. The production cell (A) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by comprising at least one fixture (30) that can be selected as a welding fixture, apparatus or mold, to be used for the operations of the part to be produced.

6. The production cell (A) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by comprising a fence (40) that acts as a fence / wall / screen necessary to ensure occupational safety (OHS) and to disconnect the cell from the environment.

7. The production cell (A) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by comprising a spiral door (41) that ensures occupational safety (OHS) and allows the automatic guided vehicle (50), process equipment (20) and welding wire barrel (13) to be transported into the cell at the necessary times.

8. The production cell (A) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by comprising at least one automatic guided vehicle (50) that enables the fixtures (30) to be transported from the environment into the cell and to be in the required position.

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