WO2007083011A1

WO2007083011A1 - Method for reconfiguring a production line and production assembly for implementing this method

Info

Publication number: WO2007083011A1
Application number: PCT/FR2007/000072
Authority: WO
Inventors: Daniel Bidaud; Gérard Pinchon; Bernard Negre
Original assignee: Abb France
Priority date: 2006-01-19
Filing date: 2007-01-16
Publication date: 2007-07-26
Also published as: FR2896178A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for reconfiguring a production line comprising at least one workstation (1.A) involving at least one operational unit (3.A, 4.A) designed to perform tasks, the method comprising the steps of adding a workstation (1.B) into the production line and of setting in place means of functionally associating the workstations so as to share the tasks between the workstations. Another subject of the invention is a production assembly allowing this method to be implemented.

Description

Process for rearranging a production line and production assembly for implementing this method

The present invention relates to a method for rearranging a production line and a production assembly that makes it possible in particular to implement this method.

The invention is for example used in the automotive field, for the manufacture and assembly of body parts or engines.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A production line includes operational units that are arranged and driven to perform tasks on one or more parts. The operational units are, for example, robots, automated tools, conveyors ...

The current industrial constraints relating in particular to the renewal of the product ranges, to the improvement of the productivity, to the increase of the number of part to produce, to the flexibility of the production workshops impose periodic evolutions of the lines of production. These evolutions do not pose any problems when they are limited to a reprogramming of automata or movements of robots, or to a setting of positioning elements of the parts, but it happens that it is necessary to proceed in addition to a rearrangement of operational units. Such a rearrangement involves moving the operational units individually and adding new ones so that the duration of the rearrangement is relatively long. This duration makes the rearrangement expensive because, on the one hand, during the entire period of the rearrangement of the specialized technicians are mobilized, and, on the other hand, no part is produced during the rearrangement. OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It would therefore be interesting to facilitate the assembly of a production line and to have a means to increase its flexibility. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

For this purpose, according to the invention, there is provided a method for rearranging a production line comprising at least one workstation comprising a frame on which at least one operational unit arranged for performing tasks is mounted, the method comprising the steps of adding a workstation to the production line and setting up functional association of the workstations to allocate tasks between the workstations. Thus, the production line is arranged in modular stations whose association can be achieved quickly and allows a redistribution of tasks. The production line thus produced is flexible allowing a flexible organization of the workshop in which the production line is installed.

The invention also relates to a production assembly comprising at least a first work station and a second work station which are adjacent by one of their sides and which each comprise a frame on which are mounted operational units of which at least one robot arranged to intervene on a part held in a work area of the corresponding station, the production assembly comprising means of functional association stations. According to a first advantageous independent characteristic, the functional association means comprise a piece conveying device comprising a workpiece support movable from a first position in the work zone of the first station to a second position in the work area of the work station. the second station, the conveying device being controlled so that the part support has at least a third intermediate position between the first and second positions, at least one of the robots being arranged to intervene on the part in the intermediate position.

The production assembly is adjustable because of the stations and the arrangement of the conveying device. The robot can access a part of the room that is not accessible to him when the room is in the normal working position. The possibility of stopping the part in the intermediate position then allows a greater flexibility of use of the station by increasing the possibilities of intervention of the robot and increases the flexibility of the assembly of production. According to a second advantageous independent characteristic, the frames comprise passages which open at least on the adjacent side of the stations and which receive energy transmission elements, at least a part of which is connected to the operational units, the transmission elements of which energy comprising reciprocal connection members in the vicinity of this side to form at least a part of the functional association means.

The interconnection of the stations can then be realized in a simple and rapid manner by limiting the use of the station, which makes the production assembly thus arranged a flexible and flexible assembly whose stations can be quickly associated.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent on reading the following description of particular non-limiting embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Reference will be made to the accompanying drawings, among which: FIG. 1 is a schematic view from above of a production line according to the invention,

FIG. 2 is a schematic view from above of a production line according to an alternative embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of a station of this production line,

FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of an alternative embodiment of this station. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to Figure I ₇ a production line according to the invention includes workstations, generally designated La and Lb, each having a frame 2.A, 2.B on which are mounted functional uni- tees. The frames 2.A, 2.B are adjacent on one side.

The functional units here comprise robots 3.A, 3.B and 4.A, 4.B arranged to perform work on the part. Each robot 3.A, 3.B, 4.A, 4.B can be for example a welding robot, a machining robot (including grinding), a crimping robot ... 3.A robots, 3.B, 4.A, 4.B are organized around a work area 5.A, 5.B respectively.

Station l.B further comprises a robot manipulator 6.B. The manipulator robot 6.B is arranged to grip the workpiece in the working zone 5.B and deposit it in an unloading zone 7 located outside the work station 1B in the vicinity thereof.

The production line is traversed by a piece conveying device which passes through the stations 1A, 1B. The piece conveying device is here a linear conveyor 10 which comprises a support of parts 11 and which is arranged in such a way that the work support 11 has a first position corresponding to the working zone 5.A, a second corresponding position to the working zone 5.B and an intermediate position in which the parts support 11 is straddling the work stations lA, lB in a common working area 8.AB. The part support is here represented in the intermediate position.

It will be noted that the robots 3.A, 3.B are situated between the working zone 5.A, 5.B and the zone 8.AB in which the part support 11 is located in the intermediate position in such a way that the robots 3.A, 3.B can perform work on the workpiece when it is in work area 5.A, 5.B respectively and when it is in the common work area 8.AB.

The robots 4.A, 4.B are in the direct vicinity of the working zone 5.A, 5.B.

The conveyor 10 has here a loading position, not visible in Figure 1, located upstream of the platform l.A relative to the direction of movement of the support parts 11 (indicated by the arrow 12). The robots 3, 4, 6 and the conveyor 10 are connected to a control automaton 13, known in itself, arranged to execute a control program and to control, according to it, the robots 3, 4, 6 and the conveyor 10 for performing tasks on the parts entering the production line.

In the variant of FIG. 2, the manipulator robot 6.A is mounted on the workstation 1A to carry the parts from an external loading zone 9.A to the station 1A to the working zone 5.A where the manipulator robot 6.A deposits the parts on the support of part 11 waiting.

The conveyor 10 here has an unloading position (shown in double ^{dashed lines on} FIG. 2) located downstream of the platform 1B with respect to the direction of movement of the support of parts 11. (indicated by arrow 12).

The station IA is better visible in FIG. 3. With reference to this figure, the frame 2.A defines channels 20 receiving energy transmission elements 21. These energy transmission elements 21 comprise, for example, transporting fluid or electrical cables which are connected to the operational units of the work station IA to supply them with energy. These energy transmission elements 21 further comprise fluid transport pipes or electrical cables which are connected to the operational units of the work station 1A and to the control automaton 13 for exchanging signals constituting instructions (signals). ranging from the control automaton 13 to the operational units) or information derived in particular from status or presence sensors (signals going from the operational units to the control automaton 13) enabling communication of the operational units. These energy transmission elements 21 further comprise fluid transport pipes or electrical cables which are connected to the operational units of the work station 1B to supply them with energy or to exchange signals with the automation station. 13. The channels 20 open here on the side of the frame 2.A adjacent to the corresponding side of the frame 2.B and some of the energy transmission elements 21 have on this side of the frame 2.A ends provided with connecting members 22 intended to cooperate with reciprocal connection members of similar energy transmission elements received in channels formed in the frame 1B The channels 20 open here also on the opposite side of the frame 2.A to allow the connection energy transmission elements 21 to the control automaton 13 and unrepresented energy sources. The station 1A further comprises relative positioning means relative to the station 1B. These means comprise screw jacks 24 fixed under the frame 2A to allow leveling of the frames 2.A, 2.B and pions. 25 extending protruding from the frame 2.A to be respectively received in a horizontal groove and a vertical groove arranged in correspondence on the frame 2.B for horizontally positioning the stations lA, .1.B. These relative positioning means can of course have different structures and include tabs, cones, cylinders ....

The loading area 9.A comprises a magazine 23 of pieces stacked one on top of the other. It goes without saying that this store can be arranged differently and have a frame to which the parts are suspended. It is also possible to provide a store with parts of different types in the case where the production line is driven to produce different types of parts. If it is necessary to evolve the production line thus formed, it suffices to implement the method of rearrangement of the invention.

This method includes the steps of adding a workstation in the production line and setting up functional association means of the workstations to distribute the tasks between the workstations.

The establishment of the means of functional association resides here in: - the connection of the transmission elements 21 of the stations to each other and to the control automaton 13,

- The configuration of the conveyor 10 to allow a stop in the intermediate position and the configuration of the robots to work on the part in position ind termédiaire,

reprogramming the control device 13 to distribute the tasks between the workstations.

Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 4, the arm of the manipulator robot 6.A has a free end provided with a member, known per se, for connection / disconnection to an intermediate support 30 and the loading zone 9. A comprises a frame 31 for temporary storage, and presentation of two intermediate supports 30. The frame 31 is here formed of a frame to which the intermediate supports 30 are intended to be suspended, the frame having the side of the station 1A, a access opening 32 by the manipulator robot arm 6.A and an opposite side an opening 33 for loading at least one piece on the intermediate support 30. The opening 32 allows the manipulator robot 6.A to suspend to the frame 31 the empty intermediate support 30 and to connect to the intermediate support 30 loaded with a piece to bring it into the working zone 5.A. The opening 33 allows a robot or an operator possibly assisted by a handling aid device, to load a piece on the intermediate support 30 suspended from the frame 31.

The frame 31 and all the components of the loading zone are here secured to a shoulder 34 having means of its functional connection to the work station l.A.

Alternatively, the frame 31 may be arranged to support a plurality of intermediate supports equipped with different types of parts, the manipulator robot 6.A grabbing the support of the part whose type is being manufactured.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiment described and it is possible to provide variations thereto without departing from the scope of the invention. as defined by the claims.

In particular, it is possible to use, as a device for transporting parts between the stations and the loading and / or unloading areas, a different device from the manipulator robot 6 such as a linear conveyor on the ground or suspended.

Furthermore, the structure of the stations may be different from that described in particular as regards the shape of the frames, the number and type of operating units, the type of conveying device, the presence of positioning elements attached. At each station, it is possible to provide a device, such as a handling robot, to unload the part of the workpiece support 11 and bring it to a dedicated positioning tool.

The conveying device may have more than one intermediate position.

Alternatively, the conveyor 10 may be connected to the control bay of one of the robots or to a control bay of several robots. This makes it possible to stop the conveyor in an infinity of positions increasing the number of access possibilities by the robots. This also simplifies the management of possible interference between the robots and the conveyor. A single control bay per station can be used to control all robots and the conveyor.

Alternatively also, one or more robots can be programmed to work on the part while it is being moved by the conveyor.

The production assembly described allows implementation of the method of the invention. This production assembly can be mounted in the configuration described from the initial assembly and possibly be modified later. The production set described can be equal the result of the implementation of the described method.

The loading and unloading areas may include racks provided with means of functional associations with the work stations.

The loading area can be simply arranged in the form of a parts store that an operator must load directly on the gripper of the manipulator robot or on the intermediate support.

Claims

1. A method for rearranging a production line comprising at least one work station (1.A) comprising a frame (2.A) on which is mounted at least one operational unit (3.A, 4.A) arranged to perform tasks, the method comprising the steps of adding a workstation (1.B) in the production line and setting up functional association means of the workstations to distribute the tasks between the workstations. workstations.

2. A production assembly comprising at least a first work station (1.A) and a second work station (1.B) which are adjacent by one of their sides and which each comprise a frame (2.A, 2.B) on which operational units (3.A, 4.A, 4.A, 4.B) are mounted, of which at least one robot (3.A, 3.B) arranged to operate on a part maintained in a working area (5.A, 5.B) of the corresponding station, the production unit comprising means for the functional association of the stations.

3. The production assembly according to claim 2, wherein the functional association means comprise a piece conveying device (10) comprising a workpiece support (11) movable from a first position in the working zone (5). .A) from the first station (1.A) to a second position in the working area (5.B) of the second station (1.B), the conveying device being controlled so that the work support has at least minus a third intermediate position (8.AB) between the first and second positions, at least one of the robots (3.A, 3.B) being arranged to intervene on the part held in the intermediate position.

4. Production set according to the claim 3, wherein the piece conveying device is a linear conveyor (10).

5. Production assembly according to claim 3, the conveying device (10) having at least one other position outside the stations (l.A, 1.B).

6. Production assembly according to claim 3, wherein the conveying device (10) is connected to be controlled at a control bay of at least one robot (3).

7. Production assembly according to the claim

3, in which the robots (3, 4) are programmed to intervene while the conveying device (10) is in motion.

8. Production assembly according to claim 2, wherein the frames (2.A) comprise passages

(20) which open at least on the adjacent side of the stations and which receive energy transmission elements (21) at least a portion of which is connected to the operational units (3.A, 4.A, 6.A), the energy transmission elements comprising connecting members (22) reciprocal in the vicinity of this side to form at least a part of the functional association means.

9. Production assembly according to claim 2, wherein the first station (lA) comprises a transport device (6.A) parts between a loading zone (9.A) outside the first station and the work area. (5.A) of the first station.

10. The production assembly of claim 9, wherein the transport device comprises a manipulator arm (6.A) having a free end provided with an intermediate support (30) in which an operator can load a workpiece.

The production assembly of claim 9, wherein the loading zone (9.A) comprises a parts store (23).

The production assembly of claim 9, wherein the transport device comprises a manipulator arm (6.A) having a free end connected to an intermediate support (30) and the loading area (9.A) comprises a frame (31) for temporary storage and presentation of at least one intermediate support, the frame having on one side an access opening (32) by the manipulator arm to the intermediate support stored and an opposite side a loading opening (33) of a workpiece on the stored intermediate support.

13. Production set according to claim

12, comprising two intermediate supports (30) and the frame (31) for temporary storage and presentation being arranged to simultaneously accommodate the two intermediate supports.

14. Production assembly according to the claim

13, wherein the intermediate supports (30) are arranged to support different parts.

The production assembly according to claim 9, wherein the second station (1.B) comprises a transport device (6.B) of parts of the working zone (5.B) of the second station to a zone of discharge (7.B) outside the second station.

The production assembly of claim 15, wherein the transport device is a manipulator robot (6.B).

17. Production assembly according to claim 2, wherein the functional association means comprise relative positioning members of frames (2.A, 2.B).