Method for conveying at least one vehicle component to a vehicle body with at least one robot device in an assembly station and assembly station having the robot device

Abstract

A method is disclosed for conveying a vehicle component to a vehicle body with a robot device in an assembly station. The assembly station includes a provisioning position in which the vehicle component is provisioned for conveying to the vehicle body. The assembly station further includes a final assembly location at which the vehicle component is final-assembled on the vehicle body. The robot device grips the vehicle component in the provisioning position and conveys the vehicle component to the final assembly location.

Claims

1. A method for conveying a first vehicle component and a second vehicle component to a vehicle body comprising: providing the first vehicle component in a provisioning position of an assembly station, the provisioning position defined by a suspended conveyor; positioning the vehicle body in a final assembly location of the assembly station, with a height offset defined between the provisioning position and the final assembly location; gripping the first vehicle component with a first robot device in the provisioning position; conveying the first vehicle component with the first robot device from the provisioning position to a first side of the vehicle body in the final assembly location, the first robot device bridging the height offset during the conveying of the first vehicle component; providing the second vehicle component in the provisioning position; detecting a defect condition for a second robot; based on the detection of the defect condition: gripping the second vehicle component with the first robot device in the provisioning position; conveying the second vehicle component with the first robot device from the provisioning position to a handover location on the first side of the vehicle body in the final assembly location, the first robot device bridging the height offset during the conveying of the second vehicle component to the handover location; handing over the second vehicle component to an auxiliary device to convey the second vehicle component from the handover position to a correct assembly position on a second side of the vehicle body in the final assembly location; and assembling the second vehicle component to the vehicle body.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising assembling the first vehicle component on the vehicle body.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising aligning the first vehicle component relative to the vehicle body with the first robot device for the final assembly.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising switching the first robot device over to a backup operating mode based on the detection of the defect condition of the second robot.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein a second height offset is defined between the provisioning position and the handover location, and the conveying the second vehicle component with the first robot device from the provisioning position to the handover location on the first side of the vehicle body includes the first robot device bridging the first height offset and the second height offset during the conveying of the second vehicle component to the handover location.

6. A method for conveying vehicle components to a vehicle body comprising: providing a first vehicle door in a provisioning position of an assembly station, the provisioning position defined by a suspended conveyor; positioning the vehicle body in a final assembly location of the assembly station, with a height offset defined between the provisioning position and the final assembly location; gripping the first vehicle door with a first robot device in the provisioning position; conveying the first vehicle door with the first robot device from the provisioning position to a first side of the vehicle body in the final assembly location, the first robot device bridging the height offset during the conveying of the first vehicle door; assembling the first vehicle door to the vehicle body; providing a second vehicle door in the provisioning position; detecting a defect condition for a second robot; and based on the detection of the defect condition: gripping the second vehicle door with the first robot device in the provisioning position; conveying the second vehicle door with the first robot device from the provisioning position to a handover location arranged between the provisioning position and the final assembly location on the first side of the vehicle body, with a second height offset defined between the provisioning position and the handover location, the first robot device bridging the first height offset and the second height offset during the conveying of the second vehicle door to the handover location; handing over the second vehicle door to an auxiliary device to convey the second vehicle door from the handover position to a correct assembly position on the second side of the vehicle body in the final assembly location; and assembling the second vehicle door to the vehicle body.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the handover location is a turntable and the method further comprises transposing the second vehicle component on a turntable into the correct assembly position.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The present disclosure will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the following drawing figures, wherein like numerals denote like elements.

(2) FIG. 1 is a schematic top view of an assembly station with a first robot device gripping a first vehicle component and second robot device gripping a second vehicle component;

(3) FIG. 2 shows the assembly station shown in FIG. 1, wherein the second robot device is defective and the first robot device grips the first vehicle component in the provisioning position and conveys the same to the first final assembly location on the vehicle body; and

(4) FIG. 3 shows the assembly station from FIG. 2, wherein the second robot device is defective and the assembly station is configured as a backup assembly station with a handover location such that the first robot device grips the second vehicle component in the provisioning position and conveys the same to the handover location.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(5) The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the invention or the application and uses of the invention. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any theory presented in the preceding background of the invention or the following detailed description.

(6) FIG. 1 shows a top view from above onto an assembly station 1. A first robot device 9 grips a first vehicle component 2 in a provisioning position 6 and conveys the first vehicle component 2 to a first final assembly 7 location on a vehicle body 4. A second robot device 10 grips a second vehicle component 3 in the provisioning position 6 and conveys the second vehicle component 3 to a second final assembly 8 location on the vehicle body 4.

(7) In the assembly station 1, a first vehicle component 2 and a second vehicle component 3 are conveyed to a vehicle body 4 for final assembling it there on the vehicle body 4. The vehicle body 4 is arranged on a conveyor 11 on which it is moveable through the assembly station 1 at floor height, which stands for example up to one meter above a floor of the assembly station and/or on which a worker stands during the final assembly of the vehicle doors 2, 3. The final assembly of the first and second vehicle component 2, 3 takes place within the scope of a flow production in the assembly station 1. During the flow production, the vehicle body 4 is steadily moved on the conveyor 11 and the final assembly performed in motion. Alternatively, the conveyor 11 can also briefly stop for the final assembly or reduce a moving speed and restart or again increase the moving speed following the final assembly.

(8) The first and second vehicle component 2, 3 is formed as a right and left vehicle door 2, 3. The right vehicle door 2 is final-assembled on a right side R of the vehicle body 4 and the left vehicle door 3 on a left side L of the vehicle body 4. The right and left vehicle doors 2, 3 are transported into the assembly station 1 via a suspended conveyor 5, which is arranged at a height of at least two meters preferably at a height of at least three meters and/or maximally five meters above the floor.

(9) The assembly station 1 includes a provisioning position 6 which is defined by the suspended conveyor 5. Thus, the provisioning position 6 is arranged at the height of the suspended conveyor 5. In particular, the suspended conveyor 5 provisions the first and second vehicle door 2, 3 for transport to the vehicle body 4 in the provisioning position 6.

(10) The assembly station 1 includes a first and second final assembly location 7, 8 which are arranged adjacent to the vehicle body 4 and/or to the conveyor 11. The first final assembly location 7 is arranged on the right side R of the vehicle body 4 and the second final assembly location 8 on the left side L of the vehicle body 4. At the first final assembly location 7, the right vehicle door 2 is assembled on the vehicle body 4 and on the second final assembly location 8, the left vehicle door 3.

(11) Between the provisioning position 6 and the assembly locations 7, 8 a height offset of at least one meter, preferably of at least two meters, in particular of at least three meters and/or of maximally five meters is arranged.

(12) The assembly station 1 includes a first and second robot device 9, 10 which is designed as six-axis jointed-arm robot. The first robot device 9 is arranged on the right side R of the conveyor 11 and the second robot device 10 on the left side L.

(13) The first robot device 9 grips the right vehicle door 2 in the provisioning position 6 and transports the same to the first final assembly location 7, while the second robot device 10 grips the left vehicle door 2 in the provisioning position 6 and transports the same to the second final assembly location 8. When necessary, the first and/or the second robot device 9, 10 adjusts the right and/or left vehicle door 2, 3 following the gripping and/or turns the same by for example 180 degrees in order to bring the same into a fitting assembly position. During the conveying of the vehicle doors 2, 3 to the corresponding final assembly locations 7, 8, the robot devices 9, 10 bridge the height offset that is arranged between the provisioning position 6 and the final assembly locations 7, 8.

(14) FIG. 2 shows the assembly station from FIG. 1, wherein the second robot device 10 is defective. Merely the first robot device 9 is functional. The first robot device 9 grips, as already described with respect to FIG. 2, the right vehicle door 2 in the provisioning position 6, bridges the height offset, adjusts the vehicle door 2 into the correct assembly position and transports the same to the first final assembly location 7 on the right side R adjacent to the vehicle body 4. There, the worker can fine-adjust and final-assemble the right vehicle door 2 on the vehicle body 4 with the help of the first robot device 9.

(15) Should the second robot device 10 be defective, a backup method intervenes, after the left vehicle door 3 is conveyed in the assembly station 1 to the vehicle body 4, in order to final-assemble the same there. The backup method is carried out in a backup assembly station 11 (FIG. 3). For this purpose, the assembly station 1 (FIG. 1) is converted to the backup assembly station 11. In particular, the assembly station 1 is supplemented by a handover location 12 and with at least one auxiliary device.

(16) Both robot devices 9, 10 are programmed to two different operating modes, of which a first operation mode A is a standard operating mode for carrying out the method described in FIG. 1. A second operating mode B is a backup operating mode B in which the relevant robot device 9, 10 carries out the backup method.

(17) Since the second robot device 10 is defective, the first robot device 9 is switched over to the backup operating mode B within the scope of the backup method. Alternatively, in the event that the first robot device 9 is defective, the second robot device 10 can be switched over to the backup operating mode B.

(18) FIG. 3 shows the backup assembly station 1 in a schematic top view from above in which the backup method is carried out with the first robot device 9 in the backup operating mode B. The assembly station 1 is converted into the backup assembly station 12 and includes the handover location 12 and the at least one auxiliary device 13. The at least one auxiliary device 13 is designed as a transport device 14 and as a lifting and/or handling device 15.

(19) Within the scope of the backup method, the first robot device 9 in the backup operating mode B grips the left vehicle door 3 in the provisioning position 6 since the second robot device 10 is defective. The first robot device 9 conveys the left vehicle door 3 in the backup operating mode B to the handover location 12. The same is designed as a turntable on which the left vehicle door 3 placed thereon is turned by for example 180 degrees and thereby adjusted for the correct assembly position. Alternatively, the first robot device 9 can suitably adjust and/or turn the left vehicle door 3 and put the same down at the handover location 12 in the correct assembly position.

(20) The worker takes over the left vehicle door 3 at the handover location 12 with the help of the lifting and/or handling device 14 and loads the same onto the transport device 15, which is designed for example as a so-called dolly. The worker transports the left vehicle door 3 with the transport device 15 to the second final assembly location 8 where he fine adjusts and final-assembles the left vehicle door 3 with the help of the lifting and/or handling device 14.

(21) Once the first robot device 8 has put down the left vehicle door 3 at the handover location 12, it grips the right vehicle door 2 and conveys the same, as already described in FIG. 2, to the first final assembly location 7.

(22) While at least one exemplary embodiment has been presented in the foregoing detailed description, it should be appreciated that a vast number of variations exist. It should also be appreciated that the exemplary embodiment or exemplary embodiments are only examples, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the foregoing detailed description will provide those skilled in the art with a convenient road map for implementing an exemplary embodiment, it being understood that various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements described in an exemplary embodiment without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims and their legal equivalents.