Integrated system for handling of work pieces and materials

• US 6,556,888 B2
• Filed: 06/08/2001
• Issued: 04/29/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fastems Oy AB (Helvar Merca Oy Ab)
• Original Assignee: Fastems Oy AB (Helvar Merca Oy Ab)
• Inventors: Kantola, Juhana
• Primary Examiner(s): Ellis, Christopher P
• Assistant Examiner(s): Crawford, Gene O.
• Application Number:
  US09/876,052
• Publication Number:
  US 20010056312A1
• Time in Patent Office: 690 Days
• Field of Search: 700/214, 700/217, 700/222, 700/228, 700/229, 700/230
• US Class Current: 700/222
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 37/00 Metal-working machines, or constructional combinations thereof, built-up from units designed so that at least some of the units can form parts of different machines or combinations; Units therefor in so far as the feature of interchangeability is important features relating to particular metal-working operations, see the relevant subclass, e.g. B23P23/00
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 7/10 by means of magazines
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 7/1426 with work holders not rigidly fixed to the transport devices B23Q7/005, B23Q7/035 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 5/02 Buildings or groups of buildings for industrial purposes, e.g. for power-plants or factories buildings forming part of cooling plants E04H5/10

Abstract

A storage and retrieval system of pallets for handling of work pieces. Said system is ready-fitted in one or more freight containers. Preferably, it is arranged to be coupled as a part of an automatic manufacturing system. It can comprise a loading station to be conveyed inside the freight container, which is arranged to be connected outside said freight container for reception and delivery of work pieces. The system contains at least a shelving structure arranged inside the freight container and comprising several storage locations, a lift and transfer apparatus and a control system, which is arranged for maintaining and monitoring of material management and production plans, for controlling the transfers and for data transmission between said control system and another manufacturing system.

Claims

1. An automatic storage and retrieval system of pallets for handling of work pieces or materials, wherein said system is ready-fitted in two or more freight containers, and wherein the system comprises:

a shelving structure arranged inside a freight container and containing several storage locations for storing the work pieces arranged on the pallets,

a lift and transfer apparatus arranged inside said freight container to receive work pieces outside said freight container, to convey the same to a storage location and to deliver the same outside said freight container, and

at least two freight containers installed successively as extensions for each other, wherein both containers comprise at least said shelving structure and at least one of them comprises said lift and transfer apparatus, which is arranged to move from one freight container to another.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the lift and transfer apparatus is arranged to extend outside the freight container to deliver the work pieces to one or more machine tools, washing apparatuses, intermediate stations and/or other handling devices of work pieces arranged in connection with said freight container.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein the freight container with its systems is arranged to be coupled as a part of an automatic manufacturing system, which comprises at least one machine tool for the machining and handling of work pieces.

4. A system according to claim 1, wherein each freight container comprises a rail arrangement or guide, connectable to each other, for the lift and transfer apparatus, and wherein the lift and transfer apparatus is capable of moving inside both freight containers.

5. A system according to claim 1, wherein the freight container comprises two side walls, wherein the lift and transfer apparatus is arranged on the same side with the side wall equipped with openings for the transfers of the work pieces, and wherein the shelving structure is arranged on the same side with the opposite side wall.

6. A system according to claim 1, comprising a loading station to be conveyed inside the freight container, which is arranged to be connected outside said freight container for reception and delivery of work pieces.

7. A system according to claim 6, wherein the loading station is pivotally connected to the freight container, wherein the loading station is arranged swivellable inside the freight container for transport and arranged swivellable outside the freight container for use.

8. A system according to claim 1, wherein the freight container comprises a freight container with substantially standard dimensions and structure, which freight container comprises a floor structure, two side walls, and two end walls equipped with doors, and it is provided with a removable roof structure and its side wall is provided with at least one opening, to be closed for the duration of transport, for the transfers of the work pieces.

9. A system according to claim 8, wherein the side wall comprises a first opening for a loading station, provided for reception and delivery of work pieces, and a second opening, provided for delivery of work pieces to a machine tool, washing apparatus, intermediate station or other handling devices of work pieces.

10. A system according to claim 9, wherein the side wall further comprises a third opening for a material station, provided for retrieval of raw materials and blanks.

11. A system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a control system, which is arranged for maintaining and monitoring of material management and production plans, for controlling of the transfers and for data transmission between said control system and another manufacturing system.

12. A system according to claim 7, wherein the control system comprises a device of the control system positioned inside the freight container or separately from the freight container.

13. A system according to claim 7, wherein the control system comprises a control application functioning in a computer apparatus and equipped with a user interface, which computer apparatus is connected to the lift and transfer apparatus via a bus to transfer selected work pieces in a desired order to the manufacturing system, wherein the computer apparatus is also arranged for input and storage of information of the handling stages selected for the work piece.

14. A system according to claim 13, wherein the computer apparatus is connected via a bus to the control system of one or more machine tools in the manufacturing system to give instructions related to the manufacture of the work piece.

15. An automatic storage and retrieval system of pallets for handling of work pieces or materials, wherein the system is ready-fitted in one or more freight containers and comprises a loading station to be conveyed inside the freight container, which is arranged to be connected outside said freight container for reception and delivery of work pieces, and wherein the loading station is pivotally connected to the freight container so that it could be pivotably moved into the freight container for transport.

16. A system according to claim 15, comprising:

a shelving structure arranged inside the freight container and containing several storage locations for storing the work pieces arranged on the pallets,

a lift and transfer apparatus arranged inside the freight container to receive work pieces outside said freight container, to convey the same to a storage location and to deliver the same outside said freight container, and

a control system, which is arranged for maintaining and monitoring of material management and production plans, for controlling of the transfers and for data transmission between said control system and another manufacturing system.

17. A system according to claim 15, wherein the freight container comprises a freight container with substantially standard dimensions and structure, which freight container comprises a floor structure, two side walls, and two end walls equipped with doors, the freight container being provided with a removable roof structure and its side wall being provided with at least one opening, to be closed for the duration of transport, for the transfers of the work pieces.

18. A system according to claim 17, wherein the side wall comprises a first opening for a loading station provided for reception and delivery of work pieces, and a second opening provided for delivery of work pieces to a machine tool, an intermediate station or other devices fro handling work pieces.

19. A system according to claim 18, wherein the side wall further comprises a third opening for a material station, provided for retrieval of raw materials and blanks.

20. An automatic storage and retrieval system of pallets for handling of work pieces or materials, wherein said system is ready-fitted in one or more freight containers, the system comprising:

a shelving structure arranged inside a freight container and containing several storage locations for storing the work pieces arranged on the pallets,

a lift and transfer apparatus arranged inside said freight container to receive work pieces outside said freight container, to convey the same to a storage location and to deliver the same outside said freight container, and

a control system, which is arranged for maintaining and monitoring of material management and production plans, for controlling of the transfers and for data transmission between said control system and another manufacturing system,

wherein the freight container comprises at least first coupling means for delivery of current, and at least second coupling means for the data transmission between said control system and the automatic manufacturing system.