DE20005191U1 - Device for decoupling machine lines - Google Patents

Description

BLE-114gDE
March 20, 2000

DESCRIPTION

Device for decoupling machine lines TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a device for decoupling machine lines. With such a device, workpieces can be temporarily stored. The intermediate storage can serve different purposes and is referred to below as the decoupling module. Within a production line, the decoupling module can serve as a buffer space for workpieces in order to compensate for operational disruptions in connection with the manufacture and processing of workpieces; the decoupling module can be used to buffer workpieces if disruptions occur in subsequent work stations, or workpieces buffered in the decoupling module can be removed from storage and reintegrated into the operational sequence if disruptions occur in upstream processing stations. This allows the output factor of a machine line to be increased significantly. The decoupling module can therefore maintain a continuous transport of workpieces along a production line. In addition, it is possible to use the decoupling module to take individual workpieces and check them for dimensional tolerances or other parameters, for example.

0 STATE OF THE ART

In a known device of this type, the decoupling module is designed in the form of shelves aligned parallel to one another. Between the 5 shelves arranged next to one another and one above the other

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There is a lane for a storage and retrieval machine between the shelving walls containing the shelves. In order to be able to place as many shelves and thus shelving walls as possible on a given area, the lanes are not wide enough to transport workpieces within the clearance of the respective lane. This means that the workpieces must be transported along the clearance profile of the shelving walls as they are transported in and out of the respective shelving wall. For this purpose, the storage and retrieval machine has support members that protrude into the clearance of the shelves, by means of which the workpieces can be transported within the individual compartments of a shelving wall.

In these previously known shelving walls, in order to save space and to achieve a high packing density, the individual shelves are only as far apart in height as the space required for a workpiece to be stored. This means that the workpieces within a shelf cannot be transported over stored workpieces; there is not enough space for another workpiece between a workpiece and the shelf above it in another shelf compartment. This means that these shelf compartments within a shelf level can only be filled with workpieces one after the other and that it is therefore not possible to store workpieces in any compartment within this shelf level. This in turn means that a workpiece stored first within a shelf level can only be removed from this shelf level last. The workpiece stored last on this shelf level can therefore only be removed from this shelf level first. The FIRST IN-FIRST OUT principle, which is advantageous for storing and retrieving workpieces, cannot be implemented with such a shelf.

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The length of time workpieces spend on the shelf can therefore vary greatly.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Based on this prior art, the invention is based on the object of specifying a decoupling device for machine lines of the type mentioned at the beginning, in which workpieces can be stored in a decoupling module as desired in a space-saving manner and can be removed from this decoupling module again as desired.

This invention is defined by the features of claim 1. Useful developments of the invention are the subject of subclaims.

The device according to the invention uses a robot to transport the workpieces within the decoupling module. This robot can control all of the shelves of this decoupling module as desired, so that workpieces can be stored in any of the shelves and any of the workpieces can be removed from the decoupling module by the robot. This makes it possible, for example, to ensure that the downtime of workpieces in the decoupling module does not become too long; by removing workpieces from shelves as desired, the workpiece that has been in the decoupling module for the longest time can always be removed from the decoupling module again.

It has proven to be useful to provide a swivel arm robot for intermediate transport of the workpieces within the decoupling module. The individual compartments of the 5 decoupling modules are

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The robot can be arranged in a circular cylindrical arrangement on a base frame that is stationary but can rotate about a vertical axis, for example. A robot positioned in the cylinder's longitudinal axis of this circular cylindrical shelf shape can then approach each of the existing shelves with economical arm movements and can therefore store a workpiece in any shelf and remove any workpieces from the compartments. The robot removes the workpieces from any feed conveyor device that is present or ends within the decoupling module in such a way that the robot can take workpieces from this feed conveyor device. In the same way, a removal conveyor device will be present or begin in the area of the decoupling module in such a way that the robot can put workpieces on this removal conveyor device.

Since the robot itself requires little space as a structure, it is possible to create a pedestrian passage or a comparable channel-like free space through the decoupling module. This free space is left free from shelves. The channel-like free space, such as the pedestrian passage, enables goods to be transported across or people to walk across the decoupling module. Since the decoupling module is regularly installed between different workstations within a production line, this channel-like free space leading across the decoupling module creates the possibility of crossing this production line.

For safety reasons, this channel-like free space within the working area accessible to the robot can be surrounded by a protective wall.

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Not only can the protruding channel-like free space penetrate the decoupling module, but the feed and removal conveyors must also be present or end or begin in the area of the decoupling module in such a way that the robot can operate them. This means that in the circular cylindrical shelf areas with the individual shelf compartments, there will be openings for these feed and removal conveyors if necessary.

The transfer area between the feed conveyor and the robot depends on the type of feed conveyor. For example, with a feed conveyor designed as a roller conveyor, it may be appropriate to provide limit switches that can stop incoming workpieces on the feed conveyor in their transport movement. This leaves a certain amount of time for the robot to remove these workpieces if desired. If removal is not desired, the feed conveyor can seamlessly transition into the removal conveyor. The entire conveyor for the workpieces then runs through the decoupling module, for example as a roller conveyor.

If a passage for people or goods is planned across the decoupling module, the conveyor device leading through the passage can be designed in such a way that it can be moved away from the clearance of the passage to be kept free for people or goods.

In addition, the decoupling module can be assigned a further control workstation or other workstation 5 at which workpieces removed from the decoupling module can be checked. In this context, it can be _g_

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It may be useful to provide a conveyor system between this workstation and the decoupling module, on which the robot can place workpieces and thus transport them to the control workstation. In this way, the workstation can be located outside the immediate working area of the robot and thus outside the decoupling module. Setting up the workstation does not reduce the number of shelves available in the decoupling module.

' Further embodiments and advantages of the invention result from the features further recited in the claims and from the exemplary embodiments given below.

SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The invention is described and explained in more detail below with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawing. They show:

Fig. 1 is a schematic plan view of a device according to the invention,

Fig. 2 is a partially sectioned side view of the device of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a partially sectioned side view of a

other embodiment of the invention. 30

WAYS TO CARRY OUT THE INVENTION

A device for decoupling workpieces 10 has an intermediate storage designed as a shelf 12 and a robot 14. The intermediate storage is hereinafter referred to as

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Decoupling module.

The shelf 12 is placed between a first work station 16 upstream and a second work station 18 downstream. A feed conveyor in the form of a roller conveyor 20 leads from the upstream first work station 16 into the area of the shelf 12 and there connects seamlessly to a removal conveyor, which in the present example is also designed as a roller conveyor 22. Workpieces 10 can therefore be fed from the work station 16 via the roller conveyor 20 to the roller conveyor 22 and transported by the latter to the second work station 18.

The individual shelf compartments 24 of the shelf 12 are located on circular cylindrical shelf areas. The circular cylindrical shape of the shelf 12 can be controlled as desired by the robot 14. In this way, workpieces 10 that have been picked up from the roller conveyor 20 by the robot 14 can be stored in any of the existing shelf compartments 24. Conversely, workpieces 10 can also be removed from any shelf compartment 24 by the robot 14 and placed on the roller conveyor 22. In addition, the workpieces 10 can also be transported directly from the work station 16 to the work station 18. This transport will be the normal case if there are no operational disruptions in the work stations upstream or downstream of the shelf 12 and, moreover, no workpieces 10 are to be removed from the roller conveyors 20, 22 in order to carry out tests on the workpieces.

The robot 14 is firmly mounted on a base frame 30. The robot 14, designed as a swivel arm robot, can rotate about a vertical axis 32 on the base frame 30.

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stored. In the present case, the robot has a swivel arm composed of two arms 34, 36. The swivel axis 38 between the two arms 34, 36 runs horizontally. At the end of the second arm 36, a third arm 40 is attached so as to be pivotable about a horizontal axis 43. The third arm 40 in turn carries an end arm 42. This end arm 42 is attached to the third arm 40 via a vertical axis of rotation 44 (Fig. 1) and a horizontal axis 46 (Fig. 2) in any direction in space, relative to the third arm 40.

The workpieces 10 that are to be stored in a shelf compartment 24 or that are to be removed from a shelf compartment 24 rest on the end arm 42. The robot 14 can therefore control each of the existing shelf compartments 24.

A passage 50 for people runs across the shelf 12. This passage 50 is separated from the surroundings by a protective grid wall 52 to the right and left of the passage 50. An upper ceiling closing off the passage 50 is also designed as a grid ceiling 54. People 56 passing through the passage 50 are therefore protected from the work area of the robot 14.

The passage 50 is traversed by a track section 20.1 of the feed conveyor device or roller conveyor 20. In order to enable free passage through the passage 50, this track section 20.1, which is also designed as a roller conveyor like the rest of the roller conveyor 20, can be pivoted about a vertical pivot axis 60 , in this case by 90° (old degrees). In the pivoted-away state, which is shown in dash-dotted lines in Fig. 1, a free space 62 remains which allows free passage of people or goods through the passage 50.

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The pivoting of this track section 20.1 will regularly have to be coordinated in terms of control with the workpieces arriving on the roller conveyor 20. Thus, with a sufficiently large cycle sequence between individual workpieces transported on the roller conveyor 20, there can be sufficient time for the track section 20.1 to pivot open and closed again, so that no special measures need to be taken to stop workpieces 10 in front of the track section 20.1. However, it is also possible to stop the workpieces 10 in front of the area of the track section 20.1 when the track section 20.1 is pivoted open and only to transport them further when the track section 20.1 is in the closed position shown in solid lines in Fig. 1.

Another conveyor device, which can also be designed as a roller conveyor 64, leads into the shelf 12. The roller conveyor 64 leads into an opening 66 in the shelf 12. The roller conveyor 64 leads to a work station 68 on which workpieces 10 can be checked. The opening 66 is located in the access area of the robot 14, so that workpieces 10 can be placed on the roller conveyor 64 by the robot or taken back from it. These workpieces 10 to be checked at the work station 68 can be removed either from the shelf 12 or the roller conveyor 20. Workpieces returned from the work station 68 can be stored by the robot 14 either in the shelf 12 or fed directly to the roller conveyor 22 and thus fed for further use.

The roller conveyor 22, which leads to the downstream work station 18, extends through a passage 7 0 in the shelf 12. A comparable passage is not available for the roller conveyor 2 0, since in this area the

BLE-114gDE
March 20, 2000

Passage 50 and no shelves are available.

The device according to the invention shown in Fig. 3 corresponds to the device shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The device according to Fig. 3 also has a comparable shelf 12 and the robot 14 in a comparable manner. While the removal conveyor device again has the roller conveyor 22, the feed conveyor device is not designed as a roller conveyor. The individual workpieces 10.2 are placed on a storage area 82 via an upper transfer 80. The workpieces 10.2 can be picked up from this storage area 82 by the robot 14 and then transported further, either into one of the shelf compartments 24 or directly onto the roller conveyor 22. In this embodiment of the invention, the robot 14 is therefore not only used to operate the shelf 12, but also for the "normal" transport of the workpieces 10.2 from the upstream work station 16.1 to the downstream work station 18. The passage 50.2, which is also present in Fig. 3, is separated from the work area of the robot 14 by a protective grid wall 52.2.

Claims (9)

1. Device for decoupling machine lines, - with a decoupling module, - with a device (14) for the intermediate transport of workpieces (10) within the decoupling module, - with a first conveyor device (20) for feeding the workpieces (10) into the area of this intermediate transport device (14), - with a second conveyor device (22) for removing the workpieces (10) from the area of this intermediate transport device (14), characterized by , - at least one robot (14) for transporting the workpieces (10) between the first and the second conveyor device (20, 22), - a shelf (12) operable by the robot (14), all of whose shelf compartments (24) can be controlled at will by the robot (14), regardless of whether they are occupied by workpieces (10). 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that - a swivel arm robot (14) is available for intermediate transport of the workpieces (10). 3. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that - the robot (14) is arranged on a base frame (30) so as to be rotatable about a vertical axis (32). 4. Device according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that - the free end arm (42) of the robot (14), which is designed to hold a workpiece, can be pivoted about a vertical and a horizontal axis (44, 46). 5. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that - the swivel arm (40, 36, 34) of the robot (14) which pivotably holds the end arm (42) is designed as an articulated arm. 6. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that - adjacent compartments (24) of the intermediate storage (12) are located in circular cylindrical shelving areas. 7. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that - the robot (14) is positioned in the area of the cylinder longitudinal axis (32) of the circular cylindrical shelf areas. 8. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that - a channel-like free space (50, 62) is present entirely or partially in the working space of the robot (14), - this free space is free of shelves (24). 9. Device according to claim 8, characterized in that - the open space (50) is accessible to persons (56). - Device according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that - the free space (50) crosses the feeding and/or the removal conveyor device (20). - Device according to one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that - at least the area of the free space (50) located in the working space of the robot (14) is surrounded by a protective wall (52, 54). - Device according to claim 11, characterized in that - a protective grille (52, 54) is provided as a protective wall. - Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that - a passage (70) for workpieces (10) to be transported is provided in the shelf (12), at which or in which the feed or removal conveyor device (22) ends or is provided in such a way that - the workpieces (10) can be removed from the feed conveyor device by the robot (14) or placed on the removal conveyor device. - Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that 1. the feed conveyor and/or the removal conveyor contain a roller conveyor (20, 22). - Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that - the feed conveyor device has a device for stopping the transport speed of the workpieces (10), - this stopping device is located in the working area of the robot (14). - Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that - the feed conveyor device has a storage device (82) for the workpieces (10), - this storage device (82) is located in the working area of the robot (14). - Device according to one of claims 8 to 12, characterized in that - the feed conveyor device with a feed transport piece (20.1) at least partially projects into the channel-like free space (62), - the feed transport piece (20.1) can be moved away from the free space (62), for example by being pivoted away. - Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that - a control workstation is located in the robot's workspace. - Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that - a control workstation (68) is available, - a further conveyor device (64) is present between the working area of the robot (14) and the control workstation (68).