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Control system for mobile transporting units on transporting lines

  • US 4,831,540 A
  • Filed: 01/02/1987
  • Issued: 05/16/1989
  • Est. Priority Date: 05/02/1985
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A control system for mobile transport units for transporting respective workpieces on a transporting line defining a plurality of paths along which the transport units can be guided past a number of work stations for performing respective work operations, the transporting line further having an input at which the transport units enter the line, the control system comprising:

  • a plurality of mobile control modules fixedly mounted on respective ones of said transport units;

    a plurality of stationary control modules arranged along the paths of the transporting line at respective ones of said work stations and each of said stationary control modules being operatively connected to the work station assigned thereto so as to permit the exchange of information therebetween;

    each of said mobile control modules and each of said stationary control modules having respective transmission/receiving means for contactlessly interchanging information when the transport unit passes one of said stationary control modules in its movement along a path through the transport line;

    each one of said mobile control modules having a memory for storing a freely-selectable program assigned to the transport unit corresponding thereto;

    a stationary inputting unit arranged at the input of the transport line for storing a preselected sequence program into the memory of each of said mobile control units for defining a sequence of steps to be completed sequentially by the transport unit and specifying the work operation to be performed on the workpiece at least one of said work stations; and

    ,each of said stationary control modules including activation means for actuating the mobile control module of a transport unit when the latter passes the stationary control module in order to initiate the exchange of information therebetween and call up or modify a step of said program so that the work of the work station associated with the stationary control module can be performed as may be required.

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