System and method for manufacturing products according to customer orders
First Claim
1. A build cell for manufacturing products according to customer orders, the build cell comprising:
- a first side, a second side adjacent to the first side, and a third side adjacent to the second side;
a build station at which components are assembled according to a customer order to form an assembled product, the build station being situated at the first side;
a burn station at which the assembled product is configured according to the customer order and tested to form a configured product, the burn station being situated at the second side;
a finishing station at which the configured product is inspected to produce a finished product, the finishing station being situated at the third side;
an open area of floor between the first and third sides, the open area dimensioned to accommodate at least one human operator fourth side adjacent to the third side; and
printer at the fourth side for printing identifying information for the product on an asset tag to be applied to the configured product according to the customer order.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A build cell for manufacturing products according to customer orders includes a build station at which components are assembled according to a customer order to form an assembled product. The build cell also includes a burn station at which the assembled product is configured and tested to form a configured product. In addition, the build cell includes a finishing station at which the configured product is inspected to produce a finished product. A transportation device transports the finished product from the build cell to a transportation system for delivery to a boxing facility, such that the product is assembled, configured, tested, and inspected in the build cell and packaged at the boxing facility. In an illustrative embodiment, the product is a computer, the components include hardware components, which are assembled at the build station, and software is installed at the burn station.
170 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A build cell for manufacturing products according to customer orders, the build cell comprising:
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a first side, a second side adjacent to the first side, and a third side adjacent to the second side;
a build station at which components are assembled according to a customer order to form an assembled product, the build station being situated at the first side;
a burn station at which the assembled product is configured according to the customer order and tested to form a configured product, the burn station being situated at the second side;
a finishing station at which the configured product is inspected to produce a finished product, the finishing station being situated at the third side;
an open area of floor between the first and third sides, the open area dimensioned to accommodate at least one human operator fourth side adjacent to the third side; and
printer at the fourth side for printing identifying information for the product on an asset tag to be applied to the configured product according to the customer order. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A build cell for manufacturing products according to customer orders, the build cell comprising:
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build station at which components are assembled to form an assembled product;
burn station at which the assembled product is configured according to the customer order and tested to form a configured product, the burn station being generally aligned with a corresponding burn station in a first adjacent build cell;
transportation device that transports the assembled product to the burn station, the transportation device being situated between the build cell and the first adjacent build cell to also service the corresponding burn station in the first adjacent build cell, wherein the transportation device comprises;
a shelf that moves vertically to transport a tote to the build station; and
the transportation device horizontally movable and the shelf vertically movable to transport the assembled product to the burn station. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A build cell for manufacturing products according to customer orders, the build cell comprising:
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build station at which components are assembled to form an assembled product, the build cell including a quick-test station and an open area of floor dimensioned to accommodate an operator;
burn station at which the assembled product is configured according to the customer order and tested to form a configured product, the burn station being generally aligned with a corresponding burn station in a first adjacent build cell; and
transportation device that transports the assembled product to the burn station, the transportation device being situated between the build cell and the first adjacent build cell to also service the corresponding burn station in the first adjacent build cell and wherein;
the transportation device automatically transports the assembled product to the quick-test station in response to detecting the assembled product at an exit stage of the build station;
the transportation device automatically transports the assembled product from the quick-test station to the burn station in response to a first signal from the operator;
the transportation device automatically transports the configured product from the burn station to a finishing station in response to a second signal from the operator; and
the transportation device automatically transports the finished product from an exit conveyor to an outgoing conveyor in response to detecting a finished product at an exit stage of the finishing station without the operator manually lifting the assembled product.
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Specification