Method for manufacturing an item

• US 20050150094A1
• Filed: 02/25/2005
• Published: 07/14/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Motor Company
• Original Assignee: Ford Motor Company
• Inventors: Moore, Diane E., Lubash, John J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,162,799 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 29/407.40
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 19/001 Article feeders for assembling machines screws or nuts being carried by a disposable strip or disc B25B23/045
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 21/004 the units passing two or more work-stations whilst being composed
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 2700/50 Other automobile vehicle parts, i.e. manufactured in assembly lines
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 65/18 Transportation, conveyor or haulage systems specially adapted for motor vehicle or trailer assembly lines conveyors and haulage in general B65G
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/41805 characterised by assembly
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31046 Aid for assembly, show display on screen next workpiece, task, position to be assembled, executed
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31432 Keep track of conveyed workpiece, batch, tool, conditions of stations, cells
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31466 Display position of different workpieces, tools in system
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/32005 Graphical, text operator instructions synchronous with product distribution
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49622 Vehicular structural member making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49764 with testing or indicating
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49769 Using optical instrument [excludes mere human eyeballing]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49778 with aligning, guiding, or instruction
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4978 Assisting assembly or disassembly
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49828 Progressively advancing of work assembly station or assembled portion of work
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49829 Advancing work to successive stations [i.e., assembly line]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53052 including position sensor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53087 with signal, scale, illuminator, or optical viewer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53365 Multiple station assembly apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/534 : Multiple station assembly or disassembly apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53548 : and work carrying vehicle

Abstract

A method for notifying installers 14-22 of the existence, type, and location of a portion 26 of an item within an assembly line 10. The notification allows the installers 14-22 to respectively ensure that the components 40 which are needed to be placed upon the portion 26 are available for use by the installer 14-22 in a timely manner.

Claims

1. A method for manufacturing an item by the use of a first portion of said item which is transported in close proximity to a plurality of individuals who respectively place a component upon said first portion of said item, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a radio frequency tag having identifying information that indicates which components are to be installed upon said first portion by said plurality of individuals; and

creating a notification which automatically notifies at least one of said plurality of individuals of said identifying information for said first portion upon a transport member, thereby allowing said at least one of said plurality of individuals to retrieve a component corresponding to said identifying information before said first portion is transported in close proximity to said at least one of said plurality of individuals.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said item comprises a vehicle.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said first portion comprises a body of said vehicle.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said notification is made by use of a visual display device.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said first portion is of a certain type and wherein said identifying information further identifies said type and said location of said first portion.

6. A method for manufacturing an item by the use of several components and a transport assembly, said method comprising the steps of:

selecting a first individual;

selecting a second individual;

creating a first portion of the item;

causing the first portion of the item to pass in close proximity to said first individual by use of said transport assembly;

creating a notification which automatically notifies the second individual of the first portion of the item and a location of the first portion of the item proximate to the first individual;

causing the first portion of the item and an assembled first component of the several components to pass in close proximity to the second individual; and

assembling a second component of the several components onto the first portion of the item by the second individual.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said item comprises a vehicle.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein said second component of the several components is remotely located from said second individual, said method further comprising the steps of:

retrieving said second component of the several components upon receipt of said notification; and

transporting said second component to said second individual.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein said notification is made by use of a visual display device.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said visual display device includes an icon of said first portion;

and

placing said icon at a location upon said display device dependant upon the current location of said first portion upon said transport assembly.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said display device includes a graphical representation of said transport assembly.