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; 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.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the interchangeable first docking plate is configured to be interchanged in an automated manner.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the interchangeable first docking plate is configured to be releasable connected in a positionally accurate manner to the main module.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the interchangeable first docking plate comprises a retractable clamping bolt to facilitate the releasable connection of the interchangeable first docking plate to the main module in a positionally accurate manner.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the main module comprises a zero-point clamping device configured to lockingly receive and/or lockingly receive a retractable clamping bolt of the interchangeable first docking plate.

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

7. 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.

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

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

10. The device of claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of second receptacles, dissimilar to the first receptacles, configured to hold the motor vehicle parts at a predefined position; and at least one second interchangeable docking plate configured to be interchanged in an automated manner, and releasably connected to the main module in a positionally accurate manner.

11. 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; a plurality of interchangeable first docking plates, configured for releasable connection to the main module; and a plurality of first receptacles, arranged on a corresponding one of the interchangeable first docking plates, configured to hold the motor vehicle parts at a predefined position.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein each interchangeable first docking plate in the plurality of interchangeable first docking plates is configured to be releasably connected in a positionally accurate manner to the main module.

13. The device of claim 11, wherein each interchangeable first docking plate in the plurality of interchangeable first docking plates comprises a retractable clamping bolt to facilitate the releasable connection of the interchangeable first docking plate to the main module in a positionally accurate manner.

14. The device of claim 11, wherein each main module in the plurality of main modules comprises a zero-point clamping device configured to lockingly receive and/or lockingly receive a retractable clamping bolt of a corresponding interchangeable first docking plate.

15. The device of claim 11, further comprising a media interface arranged on the main module to send a medium to the main module, wherein the medium comprises compressed air and/or electric signals and/or electric current.

16. The device of claim 11, wherein each first receptacle in the plurality of first receptacles comprises a bearing face, a console, and/or a tensioner.

17. The device of claim 11, wherein each interchangeable first 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 interchangeable first docking plate on a corresponding main module and/or remove the interchangeable first docking plate from the corresponding main module.

18. The device of claim 11, further comprising at least one gripping system configured to position a corresponding interchangeable first docking plate on a corresponding main module and/or for remove the corresponding interchangeable first docking plate from the corresponding main module.

19. The device of claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of second receptacles, dissimilar to the first receptacles, each second receptacle in the plurality of second receptacles being configured to hold the motor vehicle parts; and a plurality of interchangeable second docking plates, each interchangeable second 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 a positionally accurate manner.

20. A method for manufacturing a motor vehicle of a first type and a motor vehicle of a second type, the method comprising: providing in an automated manner for the motor vehicle of the first type, at least one first main module configured to be disposed on the main frame, the first main module being releasably connected to an interchangeable first docking plate that has a plurality of first receptacles configured to hold motor vehicle parts for the motor vehicle of the first type at a predefined position; and providing in an automated manner for the motor vehicle of the second type, at least one second main module configured to be disposed on the main frame, the second main module being releasably connected to an interchangeable second docking plate that has a plurality of second receptacles configured to hold motor vehicle parts for the motor vehicle of the second type at a predefined position.

Description

DRAWINGS

[0021] Embodiments will be illustrated by way of example in the drawings and explained in the description below.

[0022] FIG. 1 illustrates a three-dimensional view of a device for positioning a motor vehicle part, in accordance with embodiments.

[0023] FIG. 2 illustrates a three-dimensional top view of a main module and a docking plate of the device of FIG. 1.

[0024] FIG. 3 illustrates a three-dimensional bottom view of the docking plate of the device, without receptacles.

[0025] FIG. 4 illustrates a three-dimensional bottom view of the docking plate of the device, with receptacles.

DESCRIPTION

[0026] 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.

[0027] 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.

[0028] 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.

[0029] 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.

[0030] 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.

[0031] 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.

[0032] 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.

[0033] 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.

[0034] 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.

[0035] 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.

[0036] 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.

[0037] 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.

[0038] 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

[0039] 1 Main frame [0040] 2 Main module [0041] 3 Receptacle [0042] 4 Docking plate [0043] 5 Bolt [0044] 6 Clamping device [0045] 7 Media interface [0046] 8 Holding element [0047] 9 Gripping system [0048] 10 Storage frame