JPWO2021221986A5

JPWO2021221986A5 -

Info

Publication number: JPWO2021221986A5
Application number: JP2022566200A
Authority: JP
Publication date: 2024-04-11

Claims

1. A fastener supply system for a manufacturing facility having a plurality of manufacturing cells, the fastener supply system comprising:
1. A fastener dispensing assembly comprising:
A robot manipulator;
at least one fastener reservoir proximate to the robotic manipulator and configured to receive a plurality of fasteners of one or more types from a source;
a sensor assembly associated with the robotic manipulator and configured to detect individual fasteners in the at least one fastener reservoir;
Equipped with
the robotic manipulator is adapted to select individual fasteners from the at least one fastener reservoir based on information received from the sensor assembly.
a fastener distribution assembly;
1. A conveying assembly comprising:
a transport structure defining a path extending between the fastener distribution assembly and the plurality of manufacturing cells;
one or more fastener carriers supported on the transport structure for movement along the path;
a conveying assembly comprising:
a controller in communication with the robotic manipulator and the transport assembly;
Equipped with
The fastener supply system, wherein the controller controls movement of the one or more fastener carriers between the fastener distribution assembly and the plurality of manufacturing cells, thereby delivering selected fasteners to the plurality of manufacturing cells.

the transport structure comprises a track extending between the fastener distribution assembly and the plurality of manufacturing cells;
The fastener supply system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more fastener carriers are supported on the track for movement along the track.

the track comprises a plurality of track segments aligned end-to-end;
Each track segment includes at least one linear motor;
each carrier includes at least one permanent magnet that cooperates with the linear motor of the track segment to move the carrier along its respective track segment;
3. The fastener supply system of claim 2, wherein the linear motors of the plurality of track segments controlled by the controller cooperate with the at least one permanent magnet of each fastener carrier to thereby precisely move the fastener carrier along the track and precisely position the fastener carrier at a desired location on the track.

The fastener supply system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to control movement of the robotic manipulator and the one or more fastener carriers based on information related to fastener demand in one or more of the manufacturing cells.

The fastener supply system of claim 1, wherein the sensor assembly includes a vision system.

said vision system comprising:
6. The fastener supply system of claim 5, comprising at least one of: at least one camera configured to detect visual information related to fasteners in the at least one fastener reservoir; or a marker associated with the robotic manipulator and configured to facilitate calibration of the robotic manipulator by the at least one camera.

The fastener supply system of claim 1, wherein at least one carrier includes a nest configured to support a plurality of fasteners, each fastener on the carrier being supported at a defined position and orientation.

The fastener supply system of claim 7, wherein the nest is configured to support each fastener in a predetermined position and orientation relative to at least one feature of the nest or the carrier.

The fastener supply system of claim 1, wherein at least one carrier is configured to support at least one fastener and at least one component associated with the at least one fastener.

1. A method of providing fasteners to a plurality of manufacturing cells in a manufacturing facility, the method comprising:
detecting individual fasteners in the fastener reservoir with a fastener dispensing assembly using a sensor assembly associated with the robotic manipulator ;
selecting at least one fastener from the fastener reservoir using the robotic manipulator, where selecting the fastener from the fastener reservoir includes selecting the fastener based on information received from the sensor assembly ;
placing the at least one fastener into a fastener carrier using the robotic manipulator;
controlling movement of the fastener carrier along a transport structure extending between the fastener distribution assembly and at least one of the plurality of manufacturing cells, thereby delivering the fasteners to at least one of the plurality of manufacturing cells;
A method comprising :

the sensor assembly comprising a vision system including at least one camera configured to detect visual information associated with the at least one fastener in the fastener reservoir;
The method of claim 10 , wherein selecting the fastener from the fastener reservoir comprises selecting the fastener based on the visual information.

1. A method of providing fasteners to a plurality of manufacturing cells in a manufacturing facility, the method comprising:
selecting at least one fastener from a fastener reservoir with a fastener dispensing assembly using a robotic manipulator;
placing the at least one fastener into a fastener carrier using the robotic manipulator;
controlling movement of the fastener carrier along a transport structure extending between the fastener distribution assembly and at least one of the plurality of manufacturing cells, thereby delivering the fasteners to at least one of the plurality of manufacturing cells;
Equipped with
the transport structure comprises a track having a plurality of track segments, each track segment including at least one linear motor;
the fastener carrier includes at least one permanent magnet that cooperates with at least one linear motor of the track segment to move the fastener carrier along the track segment;
wherein controlling movement of the fastener carrier along the track includes selectively energizing the linear motors of the track segments to precisely move the fastener carrier along the track and precisely position the fastener carrier at a desired location on the track.

The method of claim 12 , wherein placing the fastener on the fastener carrier comprises placing the fastener on the fastener carrier at a predetermined position and orientation.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein placing the fastener on the fastener carrier includes placing the fastener on the fastener carrier in a predetermined position and orientation relative to at least one feature of the fastener carrier or a fastener nest on the fastener carrier .

The method of claim 12 comprising supporting at least one component on at least one fastener carrier with at least one fastener associated with the at least one component.

obtaining information relating to demand for fasteners at one or more of the manufacturing cells;
controlling movement of the robotic manipulator to select and place at least one fastener on a fastener carrier in response to the information;
in response to the information, controlling movement of the fastener carrier on the transport structure to deliver the at least one fastener to one of the plurality of manufacturing cells;
The method of claim 12 comprising: