Device for positioning vehicle parts

Abstract

A device for positioning motor vehicle parts in the production or manufacture of motor vehicles. The device includes a main frame, at least one main module configured to be disposed on the main frame, at least one interchangeable first docking plate configured for releasable connection to the main module, and a plurality of first receptacles, arranged on the interchangeable first docking plate, configured to hold the motor vehicle parts at a predefined position during the production.

Claims

1. A device for selectively positioning motor vehicle parts during a production of a motor vehicle, the device comprising: a main frame; at least one main module configured to be disposed on the main frame, the at least one main module including a zero-point clamping device; at least one first interchangeable docking plate configured for releasable connection in a positionally accurate manner to the at least one main module and to be interchanged in an automated manner, the at least one first interchangeable docking plate including a retractable clamping bolt to facilitate the releasable connection of the at least one first interchangeable docking plate to the at least one main module in the positionally accurate manner, the retractable clamping bolt being lockingly received by the zero-point clamping device; a plurality of first receptacles, arranged on the at least one first interchangeable docking plate, configured to hold the motor vehicle parts at a predefined position; at least one second interchangeable docking plate configured to be interchanged in an automated manner, and which is releasably connected to the main module in the positionally accurate manner; and a plurality of second receptacles, arranged on the at least one second interchangeable docking plate and which are dissimilar to the first receptacles, configured to hold the motor vehicle parts at the predefined position.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising a media interface arranged on the main module to send a medium to the at least one main module, wherein the medium comprises compressed air and/or electric signals and/or electric current.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein each first receptacle in the plurality of first receptacles comprises a bearing face, a console, and/or a tensioner.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one first interchangeable docking plate comprises at least one holding element configured to be engaged by a gripping system to thereby position the at least one first interchangeable docking plate on the at least one main module and/or remove the first interchangeable docking plate from the main module.

5. The device of claim 1, further comprising at least one gripping system configured to position the at least one first interchangeable docking plate on the at least one main module and/or configured to remove the at least one first interchangeable docking plate from the at least one main module.

6. A device for selectively positioning motor vehicle parts during a production of a motor vehicle, the device comprising: a main frame; a plurality of main modules configured to be disposed on the main frame, each main module in the plurality of main modules including a zero-point clamping device; a plurality of first interchangeable docking plates, each first interchangeable docking plate in the plurality of first interchangeable docking plates being configured for releasable connection in a positionally accurate manner to one main module in the plurality of main modules, and to be interchanged in an automated manner, each first interchangeable docking plate in the plurality of first interchangeable docking plates including a retractable clamping bolt to facilitate the releasable connection of the first interchangeable docking plate to one main module in the plurality of main modules in the positionally accurate manner, and each main module in the plurality of main modules including a zero-point clamping device configured to lockingly receive a retractable clamping bolt of a corresponding first interchangeable docking plate; a plurality of first receptacles, arranged on a corresponding one of the first interchangeable docking plates, configured to hold the motor vehicle parts at a predefined position; a plurality of second interchangeable docking plates, each second interchangeable docking plate in the plurality of interchangeable second docking plates being configured to be interchanged in an automated manner, and releasably connected to a corresponding main module in the positionally accurate manner; and a plurality of second receptacles, arranged on the at least one second interchangeable docking plate and which are dissimilar to the first receptacles, configured to hold the motor vehicle parts at the predefined position.

7. The device of claim 6, further comprising a media interface arranged on at least one main module in the plurality of main modules to send a medium to the main module, wherein the medium comprises compressed air and/or electric signals and/or electric current.

8. The device of claim 6, wherein each first receptacle in the plurality of first receptacles comprises a bearing face, a console, and/or a tensioner.

9. The device of claim 6, wherein each first interchangeable docking plate in the plurality of interchangeable docking plates comprises at least one holding element configured to be engaged by a gripping system to thereby position the first interchangeable docking plate on a corresponding main module and/or remove the first interchangeable docking plate from the corresponding main module.

10. The device of claim 6, further comprising at least one gripping system configured to position a corresponding first interchangeable docking plate on a corresponding main module and/or for remove the corresponding first interchangeable docking plate from the corresponding main module.

Description

DRAWINGS

(1) Embodiments will be illustrated by way of example in the drawings and explained in the description below.

(2) FIG. 1 illustrates a three-dimensional view of a device for positioning a motor vehicle part, in accordance with embodiments.

(3) FIG. 2 illustrates a three-dimensional top view of a main module and a docking plate of the device of FIG. 1.

(4) FIG. 3 illustrates a three-dimensional bottom view of the docking plate of the device, without receptacles.

(5) FIG. 4 illustrates a three-dimensional bottom view of the docking plate of the device, with receptacles.

DESCRIPTION

(6) In accordance with embodiments, FIG. 1 illustrates a device for positioning motor vehicle parts for producing motor vehicles. The motor vehicle parts, for further processing, in particular, for equipping with additional components of the motor vehicle to be produced, may be positioned on docking plates 4.

(7) As illustrated in FIG. 2, a plurality of docking plates 4 may be received on main modules 2 on one common main frame 1. The main modules 2 and the docking plates 4 have a flat shape. When viewed from above, the main modules 2 and the docking plates 4 have a rectangular or square shape or cross-section. In particular, the main modules 2 and the docking plates 4 may form a substantially rectangular or square frame such that the frame of a docking plate 4 substantially fits onto the frame of a main module 2.

(8) The docking plates 4 are kept ready in a storage frame 10, for example, at the side of the main frame 1, and may be removed from the space of the docking plates 4 in the storage frame 10 by gripping systems 9, in particular, on robots, and be positioned on the main modules 2 so as to provide suitable receptacles 3 (illustrated in FIG. 2) for producing a specific type of vehicle.

(9) The device thus comprises a main frame 1, a plurality of main modules 2 which are disposed on the main frame 1, and a plurality of docking plates 4 which are configured to be interchanged in an automated manner. The docking plates 4 may be fixed to a positionally accurate manner in the main modules 2. All main modules 2 and all docking plates 4 may have identical dimensions such that the docking plates 4 may be fixed to an arbitrary manner on all main modules 2.

(10) As is illustrated in FIG. 2, a plurality of receptacles 3 (in the illustrated example, four) are in each case arranged on the docking plates 4 to hold, via the receptacle 3, motor vehicle parts at a predefined position. The receptacles 3 may comprise bearing faces, consoles, and/or tensioners and/or retractable/deployable positioning pins.

(11) As is illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, each docking plate 4, on a lower side thereof, has a plurality of bolts 5 (in the illustrated example, four) that comprise retractable clamping bolts, to fix the docking plate 4 in a positionally accurate manner in a main module 2.

(12) As is illustrated in FIG. 2, the main module 2 may have a plurality of correspondingly positioned clamping devices 6, in particular, zero-point clamping devices, which are configured to clamp the retractable clamping bolts 5 in a docking plate 4. In this way, the main module 2 forms a zero-point clamping system.

(13) In accordance with embodiments, the main module 2 may comprise a media interface 7 to facilitate supply of a medium, such as, for example, one or more of compressed air, electric signals, and electric current, to the main module 2 by way of the media interface 7. For example, the compressed air, via clamping devices 6, such as, for example, zero-point clamping devices, may serve to lock the retractable clamping bolts 5 located on the docking plate 4 on the zero-point system, or on the main module 2, respectively.

(14) Each docking plate 4 also comprises a plurality of holding elements 8, for example, bolts, clamping bolts, or the like, disposed on an upper side of the docking plates 4. The holding elements 8 are configured such that the docking plates 4 via a gripping system 9 (FIG. 1) that engages the holding element 8, are to be positioned on the main module 2 and/or be removed from the main module 2.

(15) In order for the device to selectively position motor vehicle parts for producing motor vehicles of a first type, the main module 2, via the gripping system 9, is equipped in an automated manner with a first docking plate 4. The first receptacles 3 arranged on the first docking plates 4 are configured to hold the motor vehicle parts of the motor vehicle of the first type.

(16) In order for the device to selectively position motor vehicle parts for producing motor vehicles of a second type, the main module 2, via the gripping system 9, is equipped in an automated manner with a second docking plate 4. The second receptacles 3 arranged on the second docking plates 4 are configured to hold the motor vehicle parts of the motor vehicle of the first type. Accordingly, the second receptacles 3, at least in part, are dissimilar to the first receptacles 3 such that only other motor vehicle parts may be positioned, or motor vehicle parts may be positioned in a different manner, respectively, to thereby produce another type of motor vehicle.

(17) The terms “coupled,” “attached,” or “connected” may be used herein to refer to any type of relationship, direct or indirect, between the components in question, and may apply to electrical, mechanical, fluid, optical, electromagnetic, electromechanical or other connections. In addition, the terms “first,” “second,” etc. are used herein only to facilitate discussion, and carry no particular temporal or chronological significance unless otherwise indicated.

(18) Those skilled in the art will appreciate from the foregoing description that the broad techniques of the embodiments may be implemented in a variety of forms. Therefore, while the embodiments have been described in connection with particular examples thereof, the true scope of the embodiments should not be so limited since other modifications will become apparent to the skilled practitioner upon a study of the drawings, specification, and following claims.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

(19) 1 Main frame 2 Main module 3 Receptacle 4 Docking plate 5 Bolt 6 Clamping device 7 Media interface 8 Holding element 9 Gripping system 10 Storage frame