Method and apparatus for storing robotic tooling for vehicle body sheet metal robotic assembly

• US 20070258797A1
• Filed: 05/08/2006
• Published: 11/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kuka Systems North America LLC (Midea Group Co., Ltd)
• Original Assignee: Utica Enterprises Incorporated
• Inventors: Gordon, Daniel, Heal, John
• Granted Patent: US 7,713,183 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 414/276
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 21/00 Machines for assembling a multiplicity of different parts to compose units, with or without preceding or subsequent working of such parts, e.g. with programme control
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 2700/50 Other automobile vehicle parts, i.e. manufactured in assembly lines
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 483/901 Robot end effectors
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 483/11 with safety means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 483/17 including machine tool or component
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 483/1809 Matrix including means to latch tool
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 483/1845 Plural matrices
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 483/1882 Rotary disc

Abstract

A method and apparatus 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.

Claims

1. A method for storing robotic tooling for vehicle body sheet metal robotic assembly, comprising:

operating a robot to transfer robotic tooling between;

a vehicle body sheet metal robotic assembly station at which formed sheet metal parts are processed for robotic assembly to each other; and

a rotary storage rack for storing robotic tooling used at the robotic assembly station to assemble formed sheet metal parts of vehicle bodies.

2. A method for storing robotic tooling as in claim 1 wherein the storage rack used has vertically spaced storage locations and is rotated about a vertical axis to provide circumferentially spaced storage locations.

3. A method for storing robotic tooling as in claim 1 wherein the storage rack used is rotated about a vertical axis and has radial inner and outer storage locations.

4. A method for storing robotic tooling as in claim 1 wherein the storage rack used has vertically spaced storage locations and is rotated about a vertical axis to provide circumferentially spaced storage locations, and each storage location having capability for radial outer and inner robotic tooling storage.

5. A method for storing robotic tooling as in claim 1 wherein the storage rack is rotated about a vertical axis and is supported on rollers for such rotation.

6. A method for storing robotic tooling as in claim 1 wherein the robot and storage rack are operated in coordination with each other to store and retrieve the robotic tooling.

7. A method for storing robotic tooling as in claim 1 wherein the robotic tooling is selected from the group consisting of laser welding heads, electric resistance welding heads, adhesive applicators, sealant providers, material handling operators, part positioning tooling, and combinations of the preceding.

8. A method for storing robotic tooling for vehicle body sheet metal robotic assembly, comprising:

operating a robot to transfer robotic tooling between;

a vehicle body sheet metal robotic assembly station at which formed sheet metal parts are processed for robotic assembly to each other; and

a rotary storage rack that has vertically spaced storage locations and that is rotatable about a vertical axis for storing robotic tooling used at the robotic assembly station to assemble formed sheet metal parts of vehicle bodies; and

the robot and rotary storage rack being operated in coordination with each other to store robotic tooling on and retrieve robotic tooling from the storage rack.

9. Robotic tooling storage apparatus comprising:

a storage rack assembly including a base and a rotary storage rack mounted by the base;

the rotary storage rack having spaced storage locations for receiving robotic tooling from a vehicle body sheet metal robotic assembly station at which formed sheet metal parts are processed for robotic assembly to each other; and

a rotary actuator for rotating the rotary storage rack to store and allow retrieval of robotic tooling at different locations on the storage rack.

10. Robotic tooling storage apparatus as in claim 9 wherein the rotary storage rack has a central axis vertical axis about which it is rotated on the base by the rotary actuator.

11. Robotic tooling storage apparatus as in claim 10 wherein the rotary storage rack has vertically spaced robotic tooling storage locations.

12. Robotic tooling storage apparatus as in claim 10 wherein the rotary storage rack has circumferentially spaced robotic tooling storage locations.

13. Robotic tooling storage apparatus as in claim 10 wherein the rotary storage rack has vertically and circumferentially spaced robotic tooling storage locations.

14. Robotic tooling storage apparatus as in claim 10 wherein the rotary storage rack has radial outer and inner robotic tooling storage locations.

15. Robotic tooling storage apparatus as in claim 10 wherein the rotary storage rack has vertically and circumferentially spaced robotic tooling storage locations each of which has radial outer and inner storage capability

16. Robotic tooling storage apparatus as in claim 10 wherein the base includes rollers that support the storage rack for rotation about a vertical axis.

17. Robotic tooling storage apparatus as in claim 9 further including a control for operating the rotary actuator in coordination with a robot of the assembly station.

18. Robotic tooling storage apparatus comprising:

a storage rack assembly including a base and a rotary storage rack mounted by the base for rotation about a vertical axis;

the rotary storage rack having vertically and circumferentially spaced storage locations for receiving robotic tooling from a vehicle body sheet metal robotic assembly station at which formed sheet metal parts are processed for robotic assembly to each other;

a rotary actuator for rotating the rotary storage rack to receive and allow retrieval of robotic tooling at different locations on the storage rack; and

a control for operating the rotary actuator in coordination with a robot of the assembly station.