Processing station for workpieces, especially vehicle bodies, in

Details Processing station for workpieces, especially vehicle bodies, in Processing station for workpieces, especially vehicle bodies, in

1993-11-03

1995-03-28

Ramsey, Kenneth J.

Metal fusion bonding

With means to handle work or product

Work portion comprises can body

228 491, B62D 6500, B23K 3704

Patent

active

054009448

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention pertains to a processing station for workpieces, especially vehicle bodies, in a transfer line, with a plurality of exchangeable clamping frames for different workpieces, which are kept ready in rotatable or rotating magazines on both sides next to the transfer line and can be moved from the magazine to the working station and back by means of transport device.
Such a processing station has been known from German Utility Patent No. DE-GM 88 12 396.0. It is used to weld vehicle bodies in a transfer line and operates with changeable clamping frames, which carry clamping and sometimes also processing tools for the vehicle body. The clamping frames are adapted to the type of vehicle and can be replaced in the case of a change of model. They are kept ready for this purpose in two rotatable magazines, which are arranged on both sides of the transfer line at the height of the work station. One disadvantage of this arrangement is that relatively much time is needed for replacing the magazine. On the other hand, little space is available for the processing devices, especially welding and assembly robots due to the lateral magazines. Basically only portal robots can be used, which are mounted displaceably above the work station and can reach the vehicle body only from above.


SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

The task of the present invention is to show a processing station which offers more flexibility in terms of the processing devices and the change times.
This task is attained according to the present invention by providing magazines arranged in front of and/or behind the work station in relation to the direction of the transfer line and by providing at least one processing device at the work station on the side of the transfer line. The transport device moves the clamping frames in a plane parallel to the transfer line from the magazine to a feed device and back. The individual magazine is designed as a drum frame which is rotatable around a horizontal or vertical axis and receives a plurality of clamping frames, in which one clamping frame is in the plane extending in parallel to the transfer line in its resting position.
The magazines are no longer arranged at the height of the work station according to the present invention, but along the transfer line, offset thereto. Thus, space is created at the work station on both sides of the transfer line for the arrangement of lateral processing devices. The latter may be of any desired design and are preferably designed as robots with the necessary tools, especially welding and assembly tools. The space requirement for the processing station at right angles to the transfer line is small.
The magazines may be arranged in front of and/or behind the work station. The clamping frames are displaced along the transfer line for changing. In the simplest and most space-saving embodiment, a single magazine is associated with each work station. Four magazines, which are associated in pairs with the work stations, are arranged in the preferred embodiment.
Due to the offset arrangement of the magazines, the cycle times for a clamping frame change can be reduced. The cycle time is reduced particularly substantially in the case of the arrangement of four magazines, in which two each are connected by a common transport device over the work station, because the old clamping frame can be removed and the new one can be brought to the work station by one movement.
The magazines may have different designs, and they have at least two loading stations. The magazines may rotate around fixed axes in the manner of drums or run in the manner of paternoster elevators or the like. Their axes may assume different directions. To optimize the processing station in terms of freedom of the interference circle and change times, the magazines may be independently movable at right angles to the transfer line. It is also recommended for the same reason to arrange a feed device, preferably in the form of a frame, which receives the clamping frames

REFERENCES:
patent: 4600136 (1986-07-01), Sciaky et al.

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