The present application is directed to a robotic system for maintaining product inventory and dispensing products upon request from a customer or other user. Product items are stored in an inventory storage unit (ISU), one item per bin. Controller logic allows items to be stored in, and retrieved from, arbitrarily-assigned storage locations. The bins hang on rails within drawers. Upon a request from a consumer (or other user) in a fulfillment operation, the robot retrieves a bin holding the first item from the ISU. Upon a request from an operator (or other user) in a replenishment operation, the robot transfers an empty bin to an operator station (such as a replenishing unit). The controller logic allows the fulfillment operations to be prioritized over the replenishment operations, in addition to the implementation of other prioritizations.

An automatic manufacturing device for vehicle body parts includes at least one program-controlled manufacturing means and a processing zone (configured to sequentially receive at least two different load accepting means. A detection device detects a type designation of one of the load accepting means, and a control device ascertains the type of the load accepting means on the basis of the detected type designation. The control device then and selects and executes a control program for the manufacturing means on the basis of the ascertained type.

A method includes receiving a training data set for a first plurality of assemblies, wherein the training data set includes a plurality of components for each of two or more types of components of the first plurality of assemblies. The method analyzes the training data set for the first plurality of assemblies. Responsive to receiving a set of product component information for a second plurality of assemblies, the method creates a graded product cluster template for the second plurality of assemblies based on the analyzed training data for the first plurality of assemblies. The method sends the graded product cluster template to an automated manufacturing device, wherein the automated manufacturing device manufactures a first assembly from the second plurality of assemblies based on the graded product cluster template.

A production plant for vehicle body components includes a production area with a plurality of automatic program-controlled production devices and a provision for workpieces. The production plant further includes a provision for various application-specific tools and a conveying device that flexibly connects the production devices to one another and to the external provisions.

The present application is directed to a robotic system for maintaining product inventory and dispensing products upon request from a customer or other user. Product items are stored in an inventory storage unit (ISU), one item per bin. Controller logic allows items to be stored in, and retrieved from, arbitrarily-assigned storage locations. The bins hang on rails within drawers. Upon a request from a consumer (or other user) in a fulfillment operation, the robot retrieves a bin holding the first item from the ISU. Upon a request from an operator in a replenishment operation, the robot transfers an empty bin to an operator station (such as a replenishing unit). Upon a request from an operator in a purge operation, the robot transfers bins containing the affected items to the operator station. The controller logic further allows certain operations to be prioritized and performed for the replenishment and purge operations.

A method includes receiving a training data set for a first plurality of assemblies, wherein the training data set includes a plurality of components for each of two or more types of components of the first plurality of assemblies. The method analyzes the training data set for the first plurality of assemblies. Responsive to receiving a set of product component information for a second plurality of assemblies, the method creates a graded product cluster template for the second plurality of assemblies based on the analyzed training data for the first plurality of assemblies. The method sends the graded product cluster template to an automated manufacturing device, wherein the automated manufacturing device manufactures a first assembly from the second plurality of assemblies based on the graded product cluster template.

A manufacturing process for providing an assembly formed of a first piece and a best fitted second piece is described. The manufacturing process is carried out by performing at least the following operations: receiving the first piece characterized in accordance with at least a first attribute, selecting the best fitted second piece from a buffer, the selecting based in part upon a best matching value of a second attribute in relation to the first attribute, replacing the selected best fitted second piece with another second piece such that the number of second pieces in the buffer remains about the same, and forming the assembly the first part and the second part to form the assembly.

The present application is directed to a robotic system for maintaining product inventory and dispensing products upon request from a customer or other user. Product items are stored in an inventory storage unit (ISU), one item per bin. Controller logic allows items to be stored in, and retrieved from, arbitrarily-assigned storage locations. The bins hang on rails within drawers. Upon a request from a consumer (or other user) in a fulfillment operation, the robot retrieves a bin holding the first item from the ISU. Upon a request from an operator in a replenishment operation, the robot transfers an empty bin to an operator station (such as a replenishing unit). Upon a request from an operator in a purge operation, the robot transfers bins containing the affected items to the operator station. The controller logic further allows certain operations to be prioritized and performed for the replenishment and purge operations.

The invention relates to an automatic manufacturing device (18-22) for vehicle body parts (2, 2), comprising at least one program-controlled manufacturing means (28, 29) and a processing zone (26) designed to sequentially receive at least two different load accepting means (6). A detection device (36) detects a type designation (37) of one of the load accepting means (6), and a control device (38) ascertains the type (A, B, C, D) of the load accepting means (6) on the basis of the detected type designation (37) and selects and executes a control program (40) for the manufacturing means (28, 29) on the basis of the ascertained type.

The invention relates to a production plant (1) for vehicle body components (2), comprising a production area (3) with a plurality of automatic program-controlled production devices (18 to 22) and a provision (10) for workpieces (2). The production plant (1) further comprises a provision (11) for various application-specific tools (8) and a conveying device (4) which flexibly connects the production devices (18 to 22) to one another and to the external provisions (10,11).