Method for assembling a component

• US 7,974,718 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2008
• Issued: 07/05/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dietz-automotive GmbH & Co. KG
• Original Assignee: Dietz-automotive GmbH & Co. KG
• Inventors: Schweikle, Joachim
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel; Ramesh B
• Application Number:
  US12/341,698
• Publication Number:
  US 20090158577A1
• Time in Patent Office: 925 Days
• Field of Search: 700 95- 96, 700/4, 700/108, 700/112, 700115-116, 700224-225
• US Class Current: 700/95
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 21/002 the units stationary whilst being composed
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 2700/50 Other automobile vehicle parts, i.e. manufactured in assembly lines
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/41805 characterised by assembly
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31027 Computer assisted manual assembly CAA, display operation, tool, result
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31046 Aid for assembly, show display on screen next workpiece, task, position to be assembled, executed
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A method for assembling a component including individual parts, includes making a plurality of the individual parts available in a plurality of respective containers. A control and display unit is assigned to each respective container. Each control and display unit includes a display element and a sensor associated with each container. The display element is activated on a respective container to indicate the individual part required for a next assembly step. The individual part is removed from the container indicated by the display element. The removal of the individual part is monitored by the sensor of the control and display unit. The component is assembled inside an assembly device during individual assembly steps. The assembly device is monitored with a sensor arrangement to determine whether each individual part required for assembling the component is available.

Claims

1. A method for assembling a component including individual parts, comprising:

making a plurality of the individual parts available in a plurality of respective containers;

assigning a control and display unit to each respective container, each control and display unit including a display element and a sensor associated with each container;

activating the display element on a respective container to indicate the individual part required for a next assembly step;

removing the individual part from the container indicated by the display element;

monitoring the removal of the individual part by the sensor of the control and display unit;

assembling the component inside an assembly device during individual assembly steps; and

monitoring the assembly device with a sensor arrangement to determine whether each individual part required for assembling the component is available.

2. The method according to claim 1, including controlling and monitoring the assembling by a computer unit.

3. The method according to claim 2, further including, for each assembly step, deactivating the display elements for the respective containers containing the individual parts which are not involved in the assembly step.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the activating step includes activating the display element associated with the container containing the individual part required for the assembly step by displaying a green signal, and wherein the deactivating step includes deactivating the display elements associated with all other containers containing the individual parts not required for the assembly by displaying a red signal.

5. The method according to claim 3, wherein the removing step is correctly performed only when an individual part is removed from a container if the display element for the container is activated.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the deactivating step includes deactivating the display element of a container after detecting a correct removal of an individual part from the container by the control and display unit and the activating step includes activating the display element associated with the container containing the individual part for the next assembly step.

7. The method according to claim 6, further comprising detecting the removal of an individual part in a container that is not activated by the control and display unit of the respective container and generating an alarm signal in the computer in response to the detecting step.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the generating includes generating a stop signal to interrupt the assembling of the component.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising employing a light barrier as the sensor in the respective control and display units.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the monitoring includes checking, with the sensor arrangement, the assembly device to determine whether all individual parts of the component are arranged therein.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the checking includes checking installation positions for the respective individual parts with the sensor arrangement.

12. The method according to claim 11, that the checking further includes generating an alarm signal if incorrect numbers and/or installation positions are detected for the individual parts.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the sensor arrangement for the assembly device comprises an arrangement of light barriers.

14. The method according to claim 1, including using a plurality of assembly devices to assemble the component.

15. The method according to claim 14, further comprising assembling component parts in separate assembly devices.

16. The method according to claim 1, wherein the component is a finished product.

17. The method according to claim 1, further comprising showing the individual assembly steps with a film clip on a monitoring screen.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the showing includes endlessly repeating the film clip.