B62D65/18

ROBOTIC ASSEMBLY METHOD
20210354256 · 2021-11-18 ·

The invention relates to a method for assembling a product or portion of a product (10), on an assembly site (SA), comprising an assembly line (LA), the assembly line comprising a plurality of assembly stations (S1, S2, S3, etc.) and at least one mobile platform (PMA, PMB, etc.), the method comprising the following steps applied to each mobile platform of the at least one mobile platform (PMA, PMB, etc.): h) loading on the mobile platform (PMA, PMB, etc.) a plurality of objects, comprising one or more elementary parts (P1A, P2A, P3A, P4, P5, P6, etc.) and/or one or more partial assemblies (AP1, AP2, . . . APi) constituting the product to be assembled or a portion of the product to be assembled on the assembly line (LA); i) moving the mobile platform (PMA, PMB, etc.) to an assembly station of the plurality of assembly stations (S1, S2, S3, etc.) of the assembly line (LA); j) transferring onto the assembly station one or more objects of the plurality of objects present on the mobile platform (PMA, PMB, etc.); k) modifying or assembling the one or more objects transferred in step c), so as to constitute an intermediate object; I) transferring onto the mobile platform (PMA, PMB, etc.) the intermediate object constituted in the preceding step, so that, for the subsequent steps of the method, the object or said plurality of objects transferred in step c) are replaced in the plurality of objects with the intermediate object constituted in step d); m) repeating steps b) to e) so that the platform moves consecutively from an assembly station, at which an intermediate object is constituted, to another station, at which another intermediate object is constituted.

Method and production system for producing vehicles, and surface treatment system for treating the surface of vehicle bodies
11167305 · 2021-11-09 · ·

A method for producing vehicles, wherein vehicle bodies are conveyed through multiple system zones of a production system in order to produce vehicles. Different types of work are carried out on the vehicle bodies in two respective system zones which follow each other. The vehicle bodies are conveyed through the system zones of the surface treatment system at least from a corrosion protection treatment to a final assembly using a single conveyor system in a surface treatment system for treating the surface of the vehicle bodies. A surface treatment system is provided for treating the surface of vehicle bodies, having multiple system zones, and the vehicle bodies are treated in a different manner in two respective system zones which follow each other. The surface treatment system is designed such that the vehicle bodies can be conveyed through the system zones of the system using a single conveyor system. A production system for producing vehicles using a surface treatment system is also provided, which is arranged between a corrosion protection system and a final assembly system, the production system including such a surface treatment system.

Method and production system for producing vehicles, and surface treatment system for treating the surface of vehicle bodies
11167305 · 2021-11-09 · ·

A method for producing vehicles, wherein vehicle bodies are conveyed through multiple system zones of a production system in order to produce vehicles. Different types of work are carried out on the vehicle bodies in two respective system zones which follow each other. The vehicle bodies are conveyed through the system zones of the surface treatment system at least from a corrosion protection treatment to a final assembly using a single conveyor system in a surface treatment system for treating the surface of the vehicle bodies. A surface treatment system is provided for treating the surface of vehicle bodies, having multiple system zones, and the vehicle bodies are treated in a different manner in two respective system zones which follow each other. The surface treatment system is designed such that the vehicle bodies can be conveyed through the system zones of the system using a single conveyor system. A production system for producing vehicles using a surface treatment system is also provided, which is arranged between a corrosion protection system and a final assembly system, the production system including such a surface treatment system.

Vertical non-linear automotive assembly

A manufacturing system for assembling a vehicle includes a structure having a plurality of levels and including a plurality of manufacturing cells distributed among the plurality of levels. The manufacturing system includes a plurality of manufacturing capsules disposable at the plurality of manufacturing cells and configured to support a vehicular manufacturing process to assemble the vehicle, where the vehicular manufacturing process includes a plurality of manufacturing operations. The manufacturing system includes a transport system configured to move the plurality of manufacturing capsules to the plurality of manufacturing cells, where the transport system includes a vertical transport system configured to longitudinally move the plurality of manufacturing capsules between the plurality of levels. The manufacturing system includes a control system configured to control movement of the manufacturing capsules with the transport system.

Vertical non-linear automotive assembly

A manufacturing system for assembling a vehicle includes a structure having a plurality of levels and including a plurality of manufacturing cells distributed among the plurality of levels. The manufacturing system includes a plurality of manufacturing capsules disposable at the plurality of manufacturing cells and configured to support a vehicular manufacturing process to assemble the vehicle, where the vehicular manufacturing process includes a plurality of manufacturing operations. The manufacturing system includes a transport system configured to move the plurality of manufacturing capsules to the plurality of manufacturing cells, where the transport system includes a vertical transport system configured to longitudinally move the plurality of manufacturing capsules between the plurality of levels. The manufacturing system includes a control system configured to control movement of the manufacturing capsules with the transport system.

Transport skid

A transport skid for transporting vehicles or vehicle parts through assembly lines in a transport direction comprises two interconnected longitudinal members that extend such that the main longitudinal extension direction thereof is in parallel with the transport direction. The longitudinal members are interconnected by means of transverse connectors that are mutually spaced in the transport direction, first receptacles for placing a vehicle or vehicle part being attached to the longitudinal members. The longitudinal members and the transverse connectors and the first receptacles comprise structural profiles, in particular metal profiles or composite material profiles, structural profiles of the transverse connectors and of the first receptacles being connected to the structural profiles of longitudinal members by means of a screw connection.

Transport skid

A transport skid for transporting vehicles or vehicle parts through assembly lines in a transport direction comprises two interconnected longitudinal members that extend such that the main longitudinal extension direction thereof is in parallel with the transport direction. The longitudinal members are interconnected by means of transverse connectors that are mutually spaced in the transport direction, first receptacles for placing a vehicle or vehicle part being attached to the longitudinal members. The longitudinal members and the transverse connectors and the first receptacles comprise structural profiles, in particular metal profiles or composite material profiles, structural profiles of the transverse connectors and of the first receptacles being connected to the structural profiles of longitudinal members by means of a screw connection.

Vehicle guiding attachment

A vehicle attachment for guiding a vehicle includes a magnetic tape sensor, at least one sensor, a controller, at least one coupling device for attachment to the vehicle, and a vehicle interface system. The magnetic tape sensor is configured to detect a path. The at least one sensor can detect whether there are any obstructions along the path. The controller is configured to steer the vehicle along the predefined path and to adjust the speed of the vehicle to avoid coming in contact with any obstructions. The vehicle interface system is configured to communicatively couple the controller to at least one electronic control unit of the vehicle.

Vehicle guiding attachment

A vehicle attachment for guiding a vehicle includes a magnetic tape sensor, at least one sensor, a controller, at least one coupling device for attachment to the vehicle, and a vehicle interface system. The magnetic tape sensor is configured to detect a path. The at least one sensor can detect whether there are any obstructions along the path. The controller is configured to steer the vehicle along the predefined path and to adjust the speed of the vehicle to avoid coming in contact with any obstructions. The vehicle interface system is configured to communicatively couple the controller to at least one electronic control unit of the vehicle.

Running device

Provided is a running device including a frame (11) and a first wheel part (15) and a second wheel part (35) arranged with an appropriate distance therebetween along a running direction (R). The first wheel part (15) includes a first left support arm (17) and a first right support arm (26) arranged on the frame (11) in a manner to be swingable within a plane extending along the running direction (R). The second wheel part (35) includes a second support arm (36) arranged on the frame (11) in a manner to be swingable within a plane perpendicular to the running direction (R). The first left support arm (17) has first left wheels (19, 21) respectively on both sides thereof, and the first right support arm (26) has first right wheels (28, 30) respectively on both sides thereof. The second support arm (36) has a second left wheel (38) and a second right wheel (40) respectively on both sides thereof.