Material or article handling – Apparatus for moving intersupporting articles into – within,... – Stack forming apparatus
Reexamination Certificate
2001-02-15
2003-04-29
Matecki, Kathy (Department: 3654)
Material or article handling
Apparatus for moving intersupporting articles into, within,...
Stack forming apparatus
C414S788700, C414S795700, C414S795800, C414S796900
Reexamination Certificate
active
06554561
ABSTRACT:
FOREIGN PRIORITY
This application claims the right of foreign priority to Application No. 100 07 024.8 filed in Germany (B.R.D.) on Feb. 16, 2000, and to Application No. 00 116 128.0 filed in Germany (B.R.D.) on Jul. 31, 2000, and both applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to an automated cell for handling parts received in part carriers comprising a working space closed to the outside in which first, second, and third stack positions are arranged in sequence. The first stack position can be separated from the others to be secured against contact. The automated cell includes a transfer device having a first linear axis extending in horizontal direction along the sequentially arranged stack positions as well as a second linear axis coupled thereto extending in vertical direction, where the transfer device allows movement of part carriers in the horizontal direction and in the vertical direction as well as a positioning of the part carriers for an associated transfer unit. The transfer unit allows the removal of parts from the part carriers and the transfer to an external station outside the working space as well as the introduction of parts into the working space and placement into the part carriers. The first stack position can be loaded through a door from the outside in the first horizontal direction.
Such an automated cell is disclosed in EP 0 865 869 A1. The known automated cell comprises a pallet transferring device within a working space closed to the outside, which can stack and unstack workpiece carriers between the two stack positions and additionally place them upwardly in a third intermediate position, so that individual parts can be removed with a portal gripper from a transversely running portal thereabove and other parts can be placed therein. A stack exchange module is also provided with a rotary table to supply stacks of part carriers into a front loading space, while individual part carriers can be handled within the working space closed off to the loading space. The rotary table is pivoted by 180° to introduce a stack of part carriers with fresh parts into the working space and to remove another stack of processed parts out of the space.
The construction of such automated cells is relatively complicated, because a stack exchange module must be provided apart from the pallet handling device. In addition, the space requirement of the automated cell is relatively large.
A further disadvantage arises when a so-called “stack specific logistics” is desired, i.e. when a mixing of parts from a stack of carriers with parts from another stack of carriers should be avoided. In such a case, relative long idle times and exchange times are necessary.
Another handling apparatus is known from DE 198 05 206 A1, where three stack positions are provided sequentially within a closed working space close, between which a stack of workpiece carriers can be transferred back and forth on their roller carts. The stacks of workpiece carriers are pushed into the corresponding stack positions from the sides and are removed therefrom. A handling unit accepts the workpiece carriers in a receiving position and after processing places them in a discharging position. Protective walls can be moved in between the individual stacks of workpiece carriers to improve working safety.
The required supply and removal of stacks of workpiece carriers into or out of the apparatus from the side has proven to be a disadvantage. This leads to an increased space requirement and, in addition, it is not apparent that complete work safety can be ensured by only inserting protective walls.
A further disadvantage is that the movement of the stacks of workpiece carriers within the apparatus takes place on roller carts. This leads to the functional reliability depending on the floor properties and alignment and, especially for relatively heavy stacks of workpiece carriers, to slippage of the entire stack or individual workpiece carriers, which can strongly impair the functional reliability and the accuracy in positioning during handling. Thus the known apparatus is hardly suitable as an automated cell for an automatic or at least partially automated production operation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is a first object of the present invention to provide an improved automated cell for handling parts received on part carriers.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved automated cell having a cost-inexpensive construction with the lowest possible space requirement.
It is still a further object of the invention to provide an improved automated cell allowing a flexible operation in handling the parts within a working space closed to the outside to be secure against contact.
It is still another object of the invention to provide high precision in the handling operations to be achieved.
Another object of the invention is to provide for a method for handling parts in an automated cell, which allows a flexible control.
Also stack-specific logistics should be possible as well as a rapid throughput of parts.
These and other objects are achieved according to the present invention with an automated cell of the above-mentioned type in that the first stack position is separated from the second stack position by a bulk head extending substantially vertical. Thus any contact of an operator with parts handled inside the automated cell is avoided.
Preferably, a hood is provided to separate the first stack position against the remaining part of the working space. The hood may be displaced between the first and second stack positions or between the first, second and third stack positions.
The object of the present invention is also achieved with a method for handling parts in an automated cell in which first, second and third stack positions are arranged sequentially in horizontal direction within a closed working space and in which part carriers for receiving the parts are re-stacked among the three stack positions by a transfer device. The parts are removed from the part carriers by a transfer unit, transported to a associated station, preferably a processing station outside of the working space and parts are taken up from the associated station and placed into the part carriers.
Stacks of part carriers with fresh parts are supplied in horizontal direction to the first stack position and stacks of part carriers with processed parts at the first stack location are removed from the working space in the opposing direction. Part carriers are lifted above a bulkhead extending substantially vertically between the first stack position and the second adjacent stack position and are moved in horizontal direction.
According to the invention, an automated cell with three sequential stack positions is provided in which the transfer of part carriers in the closed working space between the individual stack positions as well as the preparation of the part carriers for an associated transfer unit can be achieved with a single transfer device. The transfer unit can be a portal gripper driveable along a portal running above the automated cell.
In this manner, the construction of the automated cell is distinctly simplified and can be realized with a very small space requirement. With a special strategy for transferring part carriers between the individual stack positions, a rapid operation and good adaptation to the associated processing stations is realized with very short cycle times. The first stack position in combination with the hood, which is driveable at least between the first and second stack position, is separated to be secured against contact with respect to the remaining portion of the working space through the arrangement of a bulkhead between the first and second stack position. In this manner, part carriers can be moved between the second and third stack position, while at the same time a stack of part carriers can be supplied at the first stack position or removed therefrom. Despite the extremely simple configuration of the auto
Felsomat GmbH & Co. KG
Henneman & Saunders
Henneman, Jr. Larry E.
Kim Sang
Matecki Kathy
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