Platform for conveying work parts in an assembly line, and method for placing work parts on the same

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a platform for conveying a plurality of work parts in a sequence of manufacturing stations, the platform being mobile and including an inclined surface, and a set of two elements, one element of the set extending along a first plane and another element of the set extending along a second plane, an intersection of the first plane with the inclined surface defining a first direction, an intersection of the second plane with the inclined surface defining a second direction, the first direction and the second direction delimiting an angular sector, so that a work part placed on the inclined surface within the angular sector is driven by its weight downwards with respect to a slope of the inclined plane towards an intersection of the first direction and the second direction.

Claims

1. A platform for conveying a plurality of work parts in a sequence of manufacturing stations, the platform being mobile and comprising: one or more inclined surfaces separately extending from a platform; and a plurality of sets of two elements attached to a first inclined surface of the one or more inclined surfaces, each element of the plurality of sets of two elements being attached to the first inclined surface, one element of each set extending along a first plane and the other element of each set extending along a second plane, the first plane and the second plane crossing the first inclined surface, an intersection of the first plane with the first inclined surface defining a first direction, the first direction being oriented upwards with respect to a slope of the first inclined surface, an intersection of the second plane with the first inclined surface defining a second direction, the second direction being oriented upwards with respect to the slope of the first inclined surface, the first direction and the second direction delimiting an angular sector, the two elements of each set intersecting at a corner and forming the angular sector, so that a work part placed on the first inclined surface within the angular sector is driven by its weight downwards with respect to the slope of the first inclined surface towards an intersection of the first direction and the second direction, wherein the plurality of sets of two elements are each configured to hold at least one of the plurality of work parts received in the angular sector due to the weight of the at least one of the plurality of work parts pressing against the two elements during conveying of the plurality of work parts in the sequence of manufacturing stations.

2. The platform according to claim 1, wherein a vertical plane intersects the first inclined surface along a third direction oriented upwards with respect to an inclination of the first inclined surface, the third direction being within the angular sector.

3. The platform according to claim 1, wherein the platform comprises at least two inclined surfaces and each element of at least another set of two elements being attached to a second of the at least two inclined surfaces.

4. The platform according to claim 1, wherein each inclined surface is coated with a material, the material configured to enhance sliding of each work part downwards along each inclined surface, when each work part is placed on each inclined surface.

5. The platform according to claim 4, wherein the material has a coefficient of friction that is a function of an inclination of each inclined surface.

6. The platform according to claim 1, wherein the platform is configured to receive vibrations that enhance sliding of each work part downwards along each inclined surface or each element of the sets of two elements, when each work part is placed on each inclined surface.

7. The platform according to claim 1, wherein the platform is autoguided.

8. The platform according to claim 1, wherein the sequence of manufacturing stations is an automotive manufacturing assembly line.

9. The platform according to claim 1, wherein each element of each set of two elements comprises rolling rollers or rolling balls configured to enhance sliding of each work part downwards along each element, when each work part is placed on each inclined surface.

10. The platform according to claim 1, wherein each inclined surface includes rolling rollers or rolling balls to enhance sliding of each work part downwards along each inclined surface, when each work part is placed on each inclined surface.

11. A method for positioning work parts on the platform according to claim 1, the method comprising: grabbing a work part from a storing place; placing the work part on the first inclined surface within the angular sector of one of the sets of two elements, so that the work part is driven by its weight downwards with respect to the slope of the first inclined surface towards the intersection of the first direction and the second direction of the one of the sets of two elements; and in a manufacturing station, grabbing the work part from the platform in a repeatable known position determined by the first inclined surface, the first direction, and the second direction.

12. The method according to claim 8, wherein placing the work part further comprises: enhancing sliding of the work part downwards along the first inclined surface and/or each element of the one of the sets of two elements, when the work part is placed on the first inclined surface, by: positioning the platform on a surface; and subjecting the platform to vibrations generated from displacement of the platform on the surface.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The foregoing and other purposes, features, aspects, and advantages of embodiments of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following detailed description of embodiments, given by way of illustration and not limitation with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which the same reference refer to similar elements or to elements having similar functions, and in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a simplified side view of a platform according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

(3) FIG. 2 is a same side view of a platform, conveying work parts, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

(4) FIG. 3 is a top view of a platform, conveying work parts, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

(5) FIG. 4 is a front view and a side view of an angular sector S formed on the inclined plane by a set of at least two elements, at least one element of which extends along a first plane intercepting the inclined plane along a first direction D1, and at least one other element of which extends along a second plane intercepting the inclined plane along a second direction D2.

(6) FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the same as FIG. 4.

(7) FIG. 6 is a schematic representation of a method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(8) According to an embodiment of the disclosure illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the platform 1 is configured to convey work parts 3 to be assembled at different workstations of an assembly line. The platform 1 may be a mobile platform that may be autoguided.

(9) The work parts 3 being conveyed on the platform are each positioned on the platform so as to be maintained on the platform at a given position.

(10) To that effect, the platform includes at least one inclined plane 2, 2, the work parts being positioned on one of the inclined planes.

(11) On each of the inclined planes 2, 2 are fixed different sets of two elements; in FIG. 3, one such set of two elements is represented, including two elements 4, 4; a second such set including two elements 5, 5, and a third set including two elements 6, 6, are also represented. Each element of these sets is protruding transversally from the inclined plane, in such a way that each element is an obstacle for an object sliding downwards along the inclined plane 2, 2.

(12) An element 6 of a set of at least two elements 6, 6, is extending along a first plane of extension, said first plane of extension being transverse to the inclined plane, so that the first plane of extension and the inclined plane intersect along a first direction D1, as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5. The first direction D1 is oriented in an upward direction with respect to the slope of the inclined plane, as indicated in FIGS. 4 and 5, where a horizontal direction H on the inclined plane 2, 2 is represented, as well as an upward direction D3 of steepest slope. The direction D3 can be defined as the intersection of a vertical plane, i.e. a plane transverse to the horizontal direction H, with the inclined plane 2, 2. An oriented angle A1 is defined between direction D3 and direction D2.

(13) Another element 6 of the same set of at least two elements 6, 6, is extending along a second plane of extension, said second plane of extension intersecting the inclined plane along a second direction D2, as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5. The second direction D2 is oriented in an upward direction with respect to the slope of the inclined plane, so that an oriented angle A2 is defined between direction D3 and direction D2, and an angular sector S is formed between D1 and D2.

(14) According to an embodiment, the direction D3 of steepest slope is within the angular sector S, i.e. oriented angle A1 and oriented angle A2 are of opposite signs with respect to a given angular orientation.

(15) Due to the inclination of the inclined plane, if a work part is placed on the inclined plane within the angular sector S formed by the first and second direction D1 and D2 determined respectively by one and the other element of the set of at least two elements 6, 6, then said work part will naturally slide down to the bottom of the angular sector in the direction of the intersection of the first D1 and second D2 directions, so that said work part will be clamped between and supported by the two elements 6, 6 protruding from the inclined plane.

(16) In order to enhance the clamping mechanism, it may be provided that at least one or both of angle A1 absolute value and angle A2 absolute value is strictly less than 90 degrees. Advantageously, one or both of angle A1 absolute value and angle A2 absolute value is less than 60 degrees.

(17) According to an embodiment, the inclined plane and/or each element of the set of two elements is (are) configured to enhance the sliding of an object downwards along the inclined plane and/or along each element, said object being placed on the inclined plane. For example, the surface of the inclined plane 2, 2 and/or of the elements of the sets of elements 4, 4,5, 5, 6, 6 attached to the inclined plane 2, 2 may be coated with some material having a coefficient of friction, the coefficient of friction being function of the inclination of the inclined plane, and of the material composing the work parts; or the surface of the inclined plane 2, 2 and/or of the elements of the sets of elements 4, 4, 5, 5, 6, 6 attached to the inclined plane 2, 2 may include rolling rollers or rolling balls.

(18) According to an embodiment, the platform is subjected to vibrations which enhance sliding of an object downwards along the inclined plane 2, 2 and/or along each element of the sets of two elements 4, 4, 5, 5, 6, 6, said object being placed on the inclined plane. For example the vibrations may be generated by the displacement of the platform on a rough surface, such as pavement for example.

(19) According to another aspect, the disclosure provides a method of positioning work parts 3 on a platform 1, the method including the following steps: grab 101 a work part from a storing place; place 102 the work part on the inclined plane 2, 2 within the angular sector S formed by the first and second direction D1, D2, so that the work part is driven by its weight downwards with respect to the slope of the inclined plane towards an intersection of the first direction (D1) and the second direction (D2), in a manufacturing station, grab 103 the work part from the platform in a repeatable known position determined by the inclined surface and the first direction D1 and the second direction D2.