Robotic high density welding body shop
First Claim
1. A modular assembly station apparatus for use in assembling motor vehicle components comprising:
- a longitudinally extending scaffold structure having an independent and modular first and a second robot platform scaffold structures positioned on opposing sides of an assembly line, the first and second scaffold structures each including a top wall and support columns extending downwardly from the top wall structure to define an open working space (WS) below the top wall structure and a work area (WA) between the first and second scaffold structures laterally across the assembly line;
at least one inverted robot connected to the top wall of at least one of the first and second robot platform scaffolds and extending downwardly from the top wall structure into the working space below the top wall structure laterally distant from the assembly line and working area;
a modular flanking shelf positioned laterally outward from at least one of the first and second robot support scaffolds and in communication with the work space, the flanking shelf including support pillars extending upward from a ground support surface to elevate the flanking shelf above the ground surface defining a transverse path of travel below the flanking shelf through the work space and in communication with the work area, the flanking shelf adapted to vertically support at least one vehicle component rack accessible by the at least one inverted robot;
a conveyor positioned along the transverse path of travel for selectively transferring a plurality of different tooling linearly along the transverse path of travel to and from the work area; and
a robot control device carried on the scaffold structure and operatively connected to the respective inverted robot, wherein on positioning of vehicle components in the working area along the assembly line, the inverted robot selectively articulates laterally into and out of the working area to conduct predetermined work on the vehicle components without using floor space in the working space.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for managing the delivery of component parts and tooling to a robotic welding assembly positioned on a motor vehicle body assembly line. Automatic guided vehicles deliver component parts from a source of parts to a parts staging area on the robotic welding assembly including a substage awaiting area, a substage in-use area and a substage empty area, and further automatic guided vehicles deliver tooling from a tooling management area to the robotic welding assembly whereafter the tooling, upon model changeover, is moved to a tooling use area proximate the assembly line whereafter, upon further model changeover, the tooling is removed from the tooling use area and loaded onto an automatic guided vehicle for return to the tooling management area.
35 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A modular assembly station apparatus for use in assembling motor vehicle components comprising:
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a longitudinally extending scaffold structure having an independent and modular first and a second robot platform scaffold structures positioned on opposing sides of an assembly line, the first and second scaffold structures each including a top wall and support columns extending downwardly from the top wall structure to define an open working space (WS) below the top wall structure and a work area (WA) between the first and second scaffold structures laterally across the assembly line; at least one inverted robot connected to the top wall of at least one of the first and second robot platform scaffolds and extending downwardly from the top wall structure into the working space below the top wall structure laterally distant from the assembly line and working area; a modular flanking shelf positioned laterally outward from at least one of the first and second robot support scaffolds and in communication with the work space, the flanking shelf including support pillars extending upward from a ground support surface to elevate the flanking shelf above the ground surface defining a transverse path of travel below the flanking shelf through the work space and in communication with the work area, the flanking shelf adapted to vertically support at least one vehicle component rack accessible by the at least one inverted robot; a conveyor positioned along the transverse path of travel for selectively transferring a plurality of different tooling linearly along the transverse path of travel to and from the work area; and a robot control device carried on the scaffold structure and operatively connected to the respective inverted robot, wherein on positioning of vehicle components in the working area along the assembly line, the inverted robot selectively articulates laterally into and out of the working area to conduct predetermined work on the vehicle components without using floor space in the working space. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification