CN110901793A

CN110901793A - Method for conveying a pre-positioned assembly for components

Info

Publication number: CN110901793A
Application number: CN201910876662.8A
Authority: CN
Inventors: V.科尼格; D.H.莫顿; C.基齐尔坎
Original assignee: Megeswich Technology Europe Ltd; Volkswagen AG
Current assignee: Megeswich Technology Europe Ltd; Volkswagen AG
Priority date: 2018-09-17
Filing date: 2019-09-17
Publication date: 2020-03-24
Also published as: DE102018122631A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method by means of which components (10) for a component (12) to be prepared are prepositioned in a later joining position during the transport thereof up to a joining station (18). By using a switchable magnet clamp (24) together with a contour-adapted pole shoe (26), a reliable positioning of the component (10) during transport is ensured.

Description

Method for conveying a pre-positioned assembly for components

Technical Field

The invention relates to a method for conveying a pack for the pre-positioning of components according to the preamble of claim 1 and a corresponding system according to the preamble of claim 13.

Background

In the production of vehicle bodies, for example for motor vehicles, assemblies are first prepared from a plurality of components, which are subsequently joined to form a finished vehicle body.

The individual components are conventionally provided to a delivery platform and delivered to a joining station. Conventionally, the components are not fixed in their position and orientation in the prescribed state during transport. This leads to the problem that the components have to be visually detected, for example by a robot, and individually rearranged from the transport platform to the packing station. The wrapping station serves to pre-position the components within the assembly, so that the components can subsequently be joined in the joining station.

This leads to higher logistics costs in the context of increasing diversity of variants. This has a negative effect on the production cycle achievable in a production line, for example. And thereby limit the number of variants to be manufactured on a production line.

Document DT 2442219 a1 describes a device for orienting the elements with respect to each other. In this case, a punch is used, which predefines the position of the components relative to one another.

Document DE 102016225893 a1 describes a method for producing a component. The component is thermoformed and subsequently positioned and clamped in a predefined position for further processing. Permanent magnets are used as positioning devices.

Document US 8511235B 2 describes a linear conveying device. The conveying platform is mounted movably on the conveying track. The transport platform is driven here by a linear motor with permanent magnets.

Document CN 104118456 a describes a magnetic locking device for a transport platform. The locking device serves to prevent the transport platform from undesirably reversing.

Document US 9150358B 2 describes a magnet delivery positioning device. The magnet conveying and positioning device is used for assembling a magnet as a conveying object on a component.

DE 202013102380U 1 discloses a machining device for components. The processing device comprises a receiving table equipped with a plurality of receiving heads on which a magnet holder is hingedly supported. Whereby the magnet holder can be adjusted to the contours of different components.

Disclosure of Invention

The object of the invention is to provide a new method for conveying components for an assembly, with which temporary storage of the components, for example in a bale press station, is no longer necessary.

The technical problem is solved according to the invention by the solutions of the independent claims 1 and 13. Preferred embodiments of the invention are given by the features mentioned in the remaining dependent claims.

A first aspect of the invention relates to a method of conveying a pre-positioned assembly for components, the method comprising at least the steps of:

-at least one transport platform moves along at least one supply point for a component of the assembly;

-equipping the transport platform with components.

According to the invention, the conveying platform is equipped with a magnet clamp having a component-specific or dedicated pole shoe or pole head, and the component is positioned in the engagement position designed for the assembly by the pole shoe and is fixed in the engagement position by the magnet clamp.

During the transport of the assembly by the transport platform, the assembly in the assembly position is positioned on the transport platform, whereby the assembly can be removed from the transport platform with only one handling action at the end of the transport. The pole shoes provide a secure positioning of the components relative to each other throughout the transport process, the components being firmly attached to the pole shoes by magnetic forces. Therefore, temporary storage to ensure such mutual positioning becomes superfluous. Thus, the logistic efficiency of the process according to the invention is significantly improved compared to conventional processes. If, for example, a plurality of transport platforms are used in a production line, the production cycle of the production line can be significantly shortened.

In a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, it is provided that the pre-positioned assembly is fed to a downstream joining station. The pre-positioned assembly can be transferred, for example, to a joining station or be driven directly into the joining station by means of a transport platform. The joining station may for example be a welding station or other known joining stations.

In this way, a large number of components can be produced particularly efficiently.

In a further preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, it is provided that the pre-positioned assembly is removed as a whole from the transport platform and introduced into the joining station. The conveying platform is thus particularly timely provided for the subsequent conveying task. For the purpose of removing the assembly as a whole, a gripper designed for this purpose can be designed, for example, as a structural design of the handling device.

In a further preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, provision is made for the conveying platform to be equipped with a plurality of components sequentially or simultaneously. The component can be provided, for example, at one supply point or also at different supply points in a decentralized manner. For example, a plurality of different components for the assembly are arranged on the conveying platform at a plurality of successive supply points. However, it is also possible to place a plurality of different components on the transport platform at one supply point.

The method according to the invention is thus logically very flexible, which has a favorable effect on the design freedom in the layout planning of the assembly system.

In a further preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, it is provided that a plurality of transport platforms are moved along at least one supply point and thus form a plurality of pre-positioned modules. The movement of the transport platforms can be carried out simultaneously or sequentially, for example in a row, along the feed points. However, it is also possible for the transport platforms to be moved parallel to one another.

The method of the invention has high production efficiency by the mode.

In a further preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, it is provided that at least one first transport platform and one second transport platform are used, and that the first transport platform has a component-specific pole shoe for a component of the first component variant, and the second transport platform has a component-specific pole shoe for a component of the second component variant, and different variants of the pre-positioned assembly are thereby configured for different variants of the component.

The component-specific pole shoes can be easily adapted to the respective contour of the components for the different component variants. The method according to the invention is thus particularly flexible in the production of variants of components. Due to the particularly small structural dimensions of the magnet clamp and the pole shoe, the transport platform can be equipped in a particularly simple manner according to the specific variant.

In a further preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, it is provided that at least one first and one second transport platform are used, and that each of said transport platforms has a component-specific pole shoe for the components of at least one first and one second component variant, and that different variants of the pre-positioned assembly are thereby formed on a standardized transport platform for different variants of the components.

In addition to the logistical advantages, another requirement is thereby met which is constantly increasing in its sense, namely that different products are produced with the same production facility as possible. The method according to the invention thus particularly advantageously enables the production of variable variants without the need to retrofit production lines for this purpose. Furthermore, it is also possible to advantageously form a plurality of pre-positioned assemblies on only one transport platform for a plurality of different variants, wherein the size of the transport platform is the only limiting size here.

In principle, all types of magnets, for example electromagnets or permanent magnets, are conceivable for the magnet holder. Preferably a switchable magnet.

Preferably, a switchable magnet clamp with permanent magnets is used as the magnet clamp.

This offers the advantage that no energy supply at all during the transport is required for the magnet clamp.

Switchable permanent magnets are sufficiently known per se and can be switched purely mechanically, electrically or with media support, for example.

Preferably, the switching of the clamping state of the magnet clamp is done by the member or by other handling systems. The member may operate a mechanism that changes the clamping state of the magnet clamp (e.g., deactivates to activate) when the member is seated on the pole piece, for example. This is also possible when the component is detached from the pole shoe, wherein the clamping force of the magnet clamp is overcome and the mechanism is operated in the opposite direction of action, thereby changing the clamping state of the magnet clamp (preferably activating to deactivating).

It can thereby be advantageously achieved that the switching of the magnet clamp is achieved without an additional energy supply or a medium supply.

The handling system for handling the components may be a technical form of the handling system or a manual form of the handling system and a hybrid form of the two.

In a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, it is provided that at least one industrial robot is used for handling the component and/or the pre-positioned assembly. In principle, handling of the components is always necessary when the components are not in a stable or fixed state on the transport platform. Preferably, a plurality of industrial robots arranged in a row can also be provided for this purpose, similarly to the supply points. The industrial robot is preferably used for equipping the transport platform and for the discharge process. If the pre-positioned assembly is to be removed from the transport platform, the industrial robot can be equipped with a corresponding gripper in a particularly simple and flexible manner. Furthermore, the production efficiency of the method as a whole is significantly improved by using industrial robots.

In a further preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, provision is made for a skid to be used as the transport platform. In the automotive field in particular, skids are a sufficiently known transport means.

It is also particularly easy to further develop the known transport means in order to carry out the method according to the invention on the basis of the teaching according to the invention disclosed herein.

In a further preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, provision is made for a body component to be used as the component. The body component can be determined, for example, for a vehicle, in particular for a vehicle.

A second aspect of the invention relates to a system for conveying a pre-positioned assembly for components, the system comprising at least:

-a transport platform; and

-a component of the assembly.

According to the invention, the conveying platform is equipped with a magnet clamp, the magnet clamp has a component-specific pole shoe, and the component can be positioned in an engagement position designed for the assembly through the pole shoe and is fixed in the engagement position through the magnet clamp.

The system according to the invention is particularly suitable for carrying out the method according to the invention, from which the technical design results accordingly from the above description.

It can be provided that the conveying platform has component-specific pole shoes for the components of at least one first and second component variant, and that a plurality of different variants for constructing the pre-positioned assembly are thereby provided.

It can also be provided that the switchable magnet holder with the permanent magnets is designed as a magnet holder.

In other words, the invention relates to a method with which components for a component to be produced are pre-positioned in a later joining position during their transport up to the joining station. By using a switchable magnet clamp together with a contour-adapted pole shoe, a reliable positioning of the component during transport is ensured. Other positioning operations before the components are joined are therefore made superfluous.

The different embodiments of the invention mentioned in the present application can advantageously be combined with each other as long as no additional different statements are made.

It is also disclosed that it is also possible according to the invention for the magnet clamp to be replaced or supplemented by other clamping devices. The clamping device may for example act on the basis of underpressure, adhesion force or other holding force fixing the component in the engaged position.

Instead of the component-specific pole shoes, a device of this type can then also have a preferably correspondingly designed component-specific active surface, against which the component can rest in the engaged position and is fixed by a holding force.

For example, a suction head can be provided which has a component-specific contact surface and can also be sealed off from the component, taking into account the necessary positioning accuracy of the component.

There are also suction heads, for example, in which the operating vacuum is stored in the suction head as a closed system and can be switched over within the suction head for activation or deactivation of the suction head. Thus, no additional media supply is required here either.

Drawings

The invention is elucidated below in an embodiment with reference to the drawing. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows a plurality of members for a component and the members being pre-positioned assemblies;

FIG. 2 shows a system according to the present invention for delivering a pre-positioned assembly for components;

and

fig. 3 shows a method according to the invention for conveying a pre-positioned assembly for components by means of a production line.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 shows a plurality of members 10 for a component 12 and a member 10 as a pre-positioned assembly 14 from which the component 12 is to be joined.

The upper part of fig. 1 shows the component 10 still present separately. This relates to the body component 16. The lower part of fig. 1 shows the member 10 as a pre-positioned assembly 14 which should later be joined to the component 12 in the state shown. The component 10 is therefore also referred to as an assembly 12 in the assembled state 14, i.e. when the components are present in the joined position.

The pre-positioned assembly 14 should be delivered as a whole to the joining station 18 (see fig. 3) in the state shown.

Fig. 2 shows a system 20 according to the invention for conveying a pre-positioned assembly 14 for a component 12.

The system 20 includes a delivery platform 22 for this purpose. In addition, the system 20 includes a member 10 for the assembly 12.

The transport platform 22 is equipped with a magnet clamp 24.

The magnet clamp 24 is shown in detail, for example, in the middle region of fig. 2. As shown here, the magnet clamp 24 has pole pieces 26. The pole shoe 26 members are specifically matched to the contour of the illustrated member 10. The component 10 rests on the pole shoe 26 and is therefore positioned with its engagement position shown in the upper part of fig. 2.

The magnet clamp 24 is a switchable magnet clamp with permanent magnets. By generating a magnetic field which is conducted through the pole shoes 26, the component 10 is in contact with its joining position in the fixed state. The activation of the magnet clamp 24 is achieved by loading the pole shoe 26 with the member 10 by means not specifically shown. Further, the magnet clamp 24 can also be used as a pin clamp.

As shown in the lower part of fig. 2, the pole shoes 26 of the magnet clips 24 can be flexibly adapted to different geometries of the component 10.

The positioning and fixing principle on the transport platform 22, which is shown in fig. 2 by way of example in the assembly 14 for the components 12 according to fig. 1, can be transferred to the already joined components. The already joined components can in turn be used as elements for superordinate components.

Fig. 3 shows a method according to the invention for conveying a pre-positioned assembly 14 for components 12 by means of a production line 28.

Here, three transfer platforms 22 are shown, which are moved in a direction 32 through the production line 28 along a plurality of supply points 30. On the supply point 30, a handling system 34 is positioned, here in the form of an industrial robot 36.

During the movement of the transport platform 22 in the direction 32, the latter is equipped with components 10 for the components 12 to be produced by means of an industrial robot 36. The assembly of the components 10 takes place in succession, wherein a further component 36 is added at each feed point 30 by means of an industrial robot 36.

As shown in fig. 2, the added component 10 is secured in its prescribed engagement position by the magnet clamp 24, so that a pre-positioned assembly 14 is built up in the direction 32 along the production line 28.

The removal of the pre-positioned assembly 14 from the transport platform 22 is effected by the industrial robot 36 present there at the supply point 30 located upstream of the joining station 18. The industrial robot unloads the pre-positioned assembly 14 as a whole and transports it to a joining station 18, where the pre-positioned assembly 14 is provided for a subsequent joining operation.

A plurality of pre-positioned assemblies 14 may be formed along the production line 28. As shown in fig. 2, because pole piece 26 can be adapted to different member geometries,

different variations

38, 40, 42 of multiple pre-positioned assemblies 14 can be formed. This is shown by way of example in the region of the joining station 18.

List of reference numerals

10 component

12 assembly

14 combination

16 vehicle body component

18 bonding station

20 system

22 conveying platform

24 magnet clamp

26 pole shoe

28 production line

30 supply point

32 direction

34 handling system

36 industrial robot

38 variants

40 variants

42 variants

Claims

1. A method of conveying a pre-positioned pack (14) for components (12), the method comprising at least the steps of:

-at least one transport platform (22) moving along at least one supply point (30) for the components (10) of the assembly (12);

-equipping the transport platform (22) with a component (10),

characterized in that the conveying platform (22) is equipped with a magnet clamp (24) having a component-specific pole shoe (26), and the component (10) is positioned by means of the pole shoe (26) in an engagement position designed for the assembly (14) and is fixed in the engagement position by means of the magnet clamp (24).

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the pre-positioned pack (14) is conveyed to a subsequent joining station (18).

3. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pre-positioned pack (14) is detached as a whole from the transport platform (22) and placed into the joining station (18).

4. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the conveying platform (22) is equipped with components (10) sequentially or simultaneously.

5. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a plurality of transport platforms (22) are moved along at least one supply point (30) and thereby constitute a plurality of pre-positioned packs (14).

6. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one first transport platform (22) and a second transport platform (22) are used, and in that the first transport platform (22) has a component-specific pole shoe (26) for components (10) of a first component variant and the second transport platform (22) has a component-specific pole shoe (26) for components (10) of a second component variant, and in that different variants (38, 40, 42) of the pre-positioned assembly (14) are thereby constructed for different variants of the components (12).

7. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one first transport platform (22) and a second transport platform (22) are used, and in that the first transport platform (22) and the second transport platform (22) each have a component-specific pole shoe (26) for the components (10) of at least one first component variant and one second component variant, and in that different variants (38, 40, 42) of the pre-positioned assembly (14) are thereby constructed on a standardized transport platform (22) for different variants of the components (12).

8. Method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that a switchable magnet clamp with permanent magnets is used as the magnet clamp (24).

9. Method according to claim 8, characterized in that the switching of the clamping state of the magnet clamp (24) is done by the component (10) or by other handling systems (34, 36).

10. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one industrial robot (36) is used for handling the component (10) and/or the pre-positioned pack (14).

11. Method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that a slide plate is used as the transport platform (22).

12. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a body component (16) is used as the component (10).

13. A system for delivering a pre-positioned pack (14) for components (12), the system comprising at least:

-a conveying platform (22); and

-a component (10) of an assembly (12),

characterized in that the conveying platform (22) is equipped with a magnet clamp (24) having a component-specific pole shoe (26), and the component (10) can be positioned by means of the pole shoe (26) in an engagement position designed for the assembly (14) and is fixed in the engagement position by means of the magnet clamp (24).

14. The system (20) as claimed in claim 13, characterized in that the transport platform (22) has component-specific pole shoes (26) for components (10) of at least one first and second component variant and is thereby designed for constructing a plurality of different variants (38, 40, 42) of the pre-positioned assembly (14).

15. System (20) according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that a switchable magnet clamp with permanent magnets is provided as the magnet clamp (24).