Non-synchronous assembly system
First Claim
1. A programmable manufacturing process for the production of a variety of models of products, said process being able to accommodate model mix and being adaptable to run prototype models without interrupting current product, the steps of the process comprising:
- asychronously transporting a plurality of workpieces along an endless track having a plurality of workstations positioned therealong, said workstations each having at least one automatically positionable tool for performing a manufacturing operation on said workpieces;
preselectively controlling each of said workstations to select a manufacturing operation to be performed, including performing no manufacturing operation at all, thereby selecting a series of manufacturing operations to be performed on each workpiece as it is transported along said track, depending on the model of workpiece and the product to be manufactured; and
simultaneously transporting the models of workpieces and performing the same or different series of operations on the models of workpieces so transported.
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Abstract
A permanently installed manufacturing system, to join together loose part sub-assemblies with quick change workstations and exchange tool transporters. The flexible manufacturing process involves the automatic, or manual, joining of loose components, regardless of the assembly technology used, the model mix required, or the type of product to be assembled. The system allows the utilization of interchangeable flex-tools, supported on various types of power and free transporters, that can be programmably controlled and automatically changes over. The system will accommodate batch runs, random runs, prototype runs, as well as synchronous and asynchronous operations.
60 Citations
7 Claims
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1. A programmable manufacturing process for the production of a variety of models of products, said process being able to accommodate model mix and being adaptable to run prototype models without interrupting current product, the steps of the process comprising:
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asychronously transporting a plurality of workpieces along an endless track having a plurality of workstations positioned therealong, said workstations each having at least one automatically positionable tool for performing a manufacturing operation on said workpieces; preselectively controlling each of said workstations to select a manufacturing operation to be performed, including performing no manufacturing operation at all, thereby selecting a series of manufacturing operations to be performed on each workpiece as it is transported along said track, depending on the model of workpiece and the product to be manufactured; and simultaneously transporting the models of workpieces and performing the same or different series of operations on the models of workpieces so transported. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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Specification