Robotic high density welding body shop
First Claim
1. A method of managing a motor vehicle body shop assembly of the type including a body assembly line and a robotic welding assembly device (RAD) positioned on the assembly line, and the method comprising:
- providing at least one self-contained automated guide vehicle (AGV) adapted for independent movement about the assembly line, a source of parts (SOP) remote from the assembly line, the SOP including parts located on parts racks (PR), a tooling management area (TMA) remote from the assembly line, the TMA including first model tooling (FMT) for use by the RAD to assemble a first motor vehicle model and second model tooling (SMT) for use by the RAD to assemble a second motor vehicle model, a movement path (MP) for the AGV extending from the remote locations of the SOP and the TMA to the RAD and returning to the SOP and the TMA, and a positioning system for the at least one AGV for selective movement along the MP between the SOP, the TMA, and the RAD; and
utilizing the at least one AGV to selectively deliver FMT and SMT to the RAD for use in respectively assembling the first motor vehicle model and the second motor vehicle model, return the FMT or SMT not in use to the TMA, and deliver full PRs from the SOP to the RAD and return empty PRs to the SOP.
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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.
86 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method of managing a motor vehicle body shop assembly of the type including a body assembly line and a robotic welding assembly device (RAD) positioned on the assembly line, and the method comprising:
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providing at least one self-contained automated guide vehicle (AGV) adapted for independent movement about the assembly line, a source of parts (SOP) remote from the assembly line, the SOP including parts located on parts racks (PR), a tooling management area (TMA) remote from the assembly line, the TMA including first model tooling (FMT) for use by the RAD to assemble a first motor vehicle model and second model tooling (SMT) for use by the RAD to assemble a second motor vehicle model, a movement path (MP) for the AGV extending from the remote locations of the SOP and the TMA to the RAD and returning to the SOP and the TMA, and a positioning system for the at least one AGV for selective movement along the MP between the SOP, the TMA, and the RAD; and utilizing the at least one AGV to selectively deliver FMT and SMT to the RAD for use in respectively assembling the first motor vehicle model and the second motor vehicle model, return the FMT or SMT not in use to the TMA, and deliver full PRs from the SOP to the RAD and return empty PRs to the SOP. - View Dependent Claims (2, 7, 8)
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3. A method of managing a motor vehicle body shop assembly of the type including a body assembly line and a robotic welding assembly device (RAD) positioned on the assembly line, and the method comprising:
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providing at least one automated guide vehicle (AGV), a source of parts (SOP) located on parts racks (PR), a tooling management area (TMA) including first model tooling (FMT) for use by the RAD to assemble a first motor vehicle model and second model tooling (SMT) for use by the RAD to assemble a second motor vehicle model, means defining a movement path (MP) for the AGV extending from the SOP and the TMA to the RAD and returning to the SOP and the TMA, and a positioning system for the at least one AGV for selective movement along the MP between the SOP, the TMA, and the RAD; utilizing the at least one AGV to selectively deliver FMT and SMT to the RAD for use in respectively assembling the first motor vehicle model and the second motor vehicle model, return the FMT or SMT not in use to the TMA, and deliver full PRs from the SOP to the RAD and return empty PRs to the SOP; providing a staging area (SA) at the RAD including a plurality of substage areas arranged sequentially and proximate the MP, the (SA) including a substage awaiting area (SAA), a substage in-use area (SUA), and a substage empty area (SEA) arranged sequentially along and proximate the MP; and delivering a PR to the SA utilizing the AGV and thereafter moving the PR sequentially between the substage areas, wherein with a full first PR in the SUA for use by the RAD, an empty second PR in the SEA, and a void in the SAA, an AGV carrying a full third PR is moved from the SOP to the SA, the full third PR is loaded onto the SAA, the empty second PR is unloaded onto the AGV, and the AGV is returned to the SOP. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 16, 17)
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9. A method of managing a motor vehicle body shop assembly of the type including an assembly line and a robotic welding assembly device (RAD) positioned on the line, the method comprising:
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providing at least one automated guide vehicle (AGV), a source of parts (SOP) located on parts racks (PR), means defining a movement path (MP) for the AGV extending from the SOP to the RAD and returning to the SOP, and a positioning system for the at least one AGV for selective movement along the MP; providing a staging of area (SA) at the RAD including a plurality of substage areas arranged sequentially along and proximate the MP, the SA including a substage awaiting area (SAA), a substage in-use area (SUA), and a substage empty area (SEA) arranged sequentially along and proximate the MP; and delivering a PR to the SA utilizing the AGV and thereafter moving the PR sequentially between the substage areas, wherein with a full PR in the SUA for use by the RAD, an empty rack in the SEA and a void in the SAA, an AGV carrying a full PR is moved from the SOP to the SAA, the full PR is unloaded onto the SAA, the empty PR is unloaded onto the AGV, and the AGV is returned to the SOP. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification