Assembly workshop, in particular for assembling together sheet metal parts

• US 6,098,268 A
• Filed: 06/20/1997
• Issued: 08/08/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ABB Preciflex Systems (ABB Limited)
• Original Assignee: ABB Preciflex Systems (ABB Limited)
• Inventors: Negre, Bernard, Pinchon, Gerard
• Primary Examiner(s): Howell, Daniel W.
• Application Number:
  US08/860,021
• Time in Patent Office: 1,145 Days
• Field of Search: 219/388, 228/4.1 A, 228/49.8, 29/563, 29/564, 29/564.1, 29/33 K, 29/33 P, 29/711, 29/786, 29/783, 29/784, 29/791, 29/793, 29/794, 198/346.1, 198/346.2
• US Class Current: 29/563
• 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 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 65/02 Joining sub-units or components to, or positioning sub-units or components with respect to, body shell or other sub-units or components
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/5124 with means to feed work intermittently from one tool station to another
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/5137 including assembling or disassembling station
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/5191 Assembly
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/5196 Multiple station with conveyor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53413 and primary central conveyor

Abstract

An assembly workshop for assembling together sheet metal parts, the workshop including preparation stations for putting parts in place relative to one another, assembly stations for fixing the prepared parts together, and finishing stations serving to finish off fixing the parts together. More precisely, said workshop is constituted by a plurality of modules (2, 3, 22, 23), interconnected by at least one general conveyor means (1, 21) extending in a determined direction (A), each module including a loading and unloading central station (4, 24) through which the general conveyor means (1) passes, a preparation lateral station (7, 27) connected to the central station (4, 24) by a conveyor (8, 28) substantially perpendicular to the conveyor means (1, 21), an assembly station (13) connected to the central station (4, 24) by a conveyor (14, 34) substantially perpendicular to the general conveyor means (1, 21), and at least one finishing station (16, 36) situated along the general conveyor means (1, 21), downstream from the central station (4, 24).

Claims

1. An assembly workshop for assembling together sheet metal parts, the workshop including at least a general conveyor means, preparation stations for putting said parts in place relative to one another, and assembly stations for fixing together said parts as they are put in place,

wherein said workshop comprises a plurality of modules, interconnected by said general conveyor means extending in a determined direction, each module including a loading and unloading central station through which said general conveyor means passes, a preparation lateral station connected to the central station by a conveyor substantially perpendicular to said general conveyor means, and an assembly station connected to the central station by a conveyor substantially perpendicular to said general conveyor means.

2. A workshop according to claim 1, wherein each module includes at least one storage station for storing a support for supporting the parts processed in the module, and handling means for displacing the support between the storage station and said loading and unloading central station.

3. A workshop according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the modules also includes at least one finishing station situated along said general conveyor means, downstream from said central station.

4. A workshop according to claim 2, wherein at least one of the modules also includes at least one finishing station situated along said general conveyor means, downstream from said central station, and wherein said storage station is situated under said finishing station.

5. An assembly workshop according to claim 1, wherein the assembly station of each of the modules making up the workshop is situated on the same side of said general conveyor means.

6. An assembly workshop according to claim 5, comprising two sets of modules for assembling at least two sheet metal assemblies, wherein the assembly station of each model of a set is shared in common by the corresponding module of the other set.