Rotary Storage Rack for Robotic Tooling Space Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for storing and retrieving robotic tooling in vehicle body sheet metal assembly stations require significant factory floor space, especially when multiple vehicle models are assembled, leading to inefficiencies in tool switching and storage.
Innovation Solution
A rotary storage rack assembly with vertically and circumferentially spaced storage locations, equipped with rollers for rotation and controlled by a coordinated system to facilitate efficient storage and retrieval of robotic tooling at both radial inner and outer locations, allowing for flexible positioning and reduced space usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If conventional storage methods are used for robotic tooling, then tooling can be stored and retrieved, but significant factory floor space is required
Solution Approach 1:
The storage rack transitions from a conventional linear or ground-based layout to a vertical three-dimensional structure. Multiple storage levels are stacked vertically, utilizing the vertical dimension to increase storage capacity without expanding the horizontal factory floor footprint. This dimensional transformation directly addresses the space efficiency problem while maintaining tool accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The storage rack is divided into multiple independent storage levels or tiers, each capable of holding different robotic tooling. This segmentation allows for organized storage of various tool types across different vertical levels, enabling efficient retrieval while maximizing space utilization. Each level can be independently accessed or managed.
2Adaptability or versatility
If flexible manufacturing is implemented to assemble different vehicle models, then production versatility is improved, but more robotic tool switching is required which increases factory floor space
Solution Approach 1:
By stacking storage levels vertically, the system can accommodate a larger variety of robotic tooling for different vehicle models within the same horizontal footprint. The vertical expansion allows for diverse tool inventories needed for flexible manufacturing without proportionally increasing factory floor space.
Solution Approach 2:
The multi-level storage rack serves as a universal storage solution that can accommodate various types of robotic tooling across different levels. This single structure supports the versatile tooling requirements of flexible manufacturing, eliminating the need for separate storage areas for different tool types or models.
3Quantity of substance
If more robotic tooling is stored for different vehicle models, then production versatility is improved, but the storage apparatus requires more space
Solution Approach 1:
The storage system utilizes vertical stacking to increase the quantity of robotic tooling that can be stored without proportionally increasing the horizontal storage area. By transitioning to three-dimensional vertical storage, the system achieves higher storage density and accommodates more tooling within the same factory floor footprint.
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus (12) for storing robotic tooling for vehicle body sheet metal robotic assembly operates a robot to transfer robotic tooling between an assembly station and a rotary storage rack (56) of a storage rack assembly (28). The storage rack (56) has vertically spaced storage locations and is rotated about a vertical axis to provide circumferentially spaced storage locations.