MATERIAL LOGISTICS SYSTEM

• US 20180004195A1
• Filed: 05/24/2017
• Published: 01/04/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Identytec GmbH & Co. KG
• Original Assignee: Identytec GmbH & Co. KG
• Inventors: FINKE, Thorsten
• Granted Patent: US 10,852,717 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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: B65G 1/02 Storage devices furniture A47B; shop fittings A47F
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 9/063 Automatically guided
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 9/122 longitudinally movable
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/41895 using automatic guided vehicles [AGV] control of position or course of AGV's G05D1/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management

Abstract

Material logistics system for coordinating transfer of production material so that production material is available as needed at production stations of a manufacturing facility, in particular a series production facility. Thus, multiple sensors are provided for sensing a production material supply at production stations, as well as a central unit in signal-transmitting connection with the sensors and which, based on output signals transmitted from the sensors, determines logistics data relating to the production material for a particular production station. And also, using logistics data, generates control signals for the transfer of production material and provides them for further data processing units. Furthermore, the central unit uses logistics data to control a driverless transport vehicle, having a transport rack including a transport level, for transporting production material accommodated in containers, for a partially automatic container transfer between a transport rack and a storage rack of a production station.

Claims

1. A material logistics system for coordinating the transfer of production material so that the production material is available as needed at production stations of a manufacturing facility, comprising:

a) a plurality of sensors for sensing a production material supply at the production stations;

b) at least one central unit which is in signal-transmitting connection with the plurality of sensors and which, on the basis of the output signals transmitted from the plurality of sensors, determines logistics data relating to the production material for a particular one of the production materials and, by using the logistics data, generates control signals for the transfer of the production material and also provides them for further data processing units;

c) the at least one central unit uses the logistics data to control at least one driverless transport vehicle, having a transport rack that includes at least one transport level, for transporting the production material accommodated in containers,

for an at least partially automatic container transfer between the transport rack and a storage rack of one of the production stations; and

,

d) the at least one driverless transport vehicle has a raising/lowering apparatus for at least partially adjusting the height of the at least one transport level in order to compensate for a height difference between the at least one transport level and a storage level of the storage rack associated with the at least transport level, for the container transfer.

2. The material logistics system according to claim 1, wherein:

a) for compensating for the height difference, the raising/lowering apparatus for the container transfer between the transport rack and the storage rack adjusts, at least partially, the height of a body of the at least one driverless transport vehicle.

3. The material logistics system according to claim 1, wherein:

a) for compensating for the height difference, the raising/lowering apparatus for the container transfer between the transport rack and the storage rack adjusts, at least partially, at least one transport level, or the transport rack, of the at least one driverless transport vehicle.

4. The material logistics system according to claim 1, wherein:

a) a control apparatus is provided for controlling the raising/lowering apparatus for a fully automatic or semiautomatic height adjustment.

5. The material logistics system according to claim 4, wherein:

a) the control apparatus is situated on the at least one driverless transport vehicle.

6. The material logistics system according to claim 4, wherein:

a) the control apparatus has a sensor for sensing the height difference between the transport level of the transport rack and the storage level of the storage rack, associated with the transport rack, for the container transfer.

7. The material logistics system according to claim 6, wherein:

a) the sensor has at least one electromechanically operating sensor with at least one probe that contacts the storage level, of the storage rack, associated with the transport level of the transport rack, for supplying the container, or contacts the storage rack, in order to determine the height difference;

or

b) has least one optically operating sensor that optically detects optically detectable features in order to determine the height difference;

or

c) has at least one capacitively operating sensor that senses a change in capacitance in order to determine a height difference.

8. The material logistics system according to claim 1, wherein:

a) the raising/lowering apparatus for compensating for the height difference adjusts the height of a first side of the transport level of the transport rack, which faces the storage level of the storage rack, associated with the transport level, for supplying the container, with respect to a second side of the transport rack, which faces away from the storage level of the storage rack, associated with the transport level, for supplying the container.

9. The material logistics system according to claim 1, wherein:

a) the raising/lowering apparatus has at least one hydraulic or pneumatic or electrical drive for the height adjustment.

10. The material logistics system according to claim 1, wherein:

a) for its position finding and routing, the at least one driverless transport vehicle has at least one receiver for receiving data of at least one GPS-based position finding system.