A machining system is provided which includes a selected number of machining centers for selectively cutting or machining metallic parts, the system further including a rack structure for providing inventory storage for parts which are to be machined by the centers. There is further provided a part transport device for moving a given one of the parts in a first part flow loop when the given part is in a condition which enables the part to be readily moved around a plant or other manufacturing establishment or to be shipped in commerce. The part transport device also moves the given part through a second part flow loop when the part is in a condition which enables the part to be machined by one of the machining centers. The first part flow loop comprises the movement of the given part from the inventory storage to a part preparation station and from the part preparation station to a finished part destination, the second part flow loop comprising movement of the part between the part preparation station and one of the machining centers. The system also includes a part monitoring system which keeps track of the location and machined status of every part contained in the machining system.
A system for machining work pieces includes an assembly stand (1) for holding a work piece (6) and carrying the work piece to successive machining stations, and includes an assembly device or machining station (101) that holds a machining tool and receives the work piece to carry out a machining operation. The assembly stand includes a work piece receiving apparatus (3) mounted on a pallet (2) that has sliding and fixing elements (11) mounted on its underside. Each element (11) includes a bell-shaped flexible suction cup member (13). When pressurized air is applied to the suction cup members, the assembly stand floats on a cushion of air so that it can be easily moved. When vacuum is applied to the suction cup members, the assembly stand is firmly fixed in position on a work table. The assembly device (101) includes a tool receiving arm (104) and a support arm (105) attached to an assembly yoke (102) that is vertically movable to receive and adjust to the height of the work piece in an automatic or floating manner.
On Fork Lift 100, Load Cell Assemblies 40a and 40b are affixed to Fork Arms 32a and 32b and as such are capable of determining the weight of any object lifted by Fork Arm Lift Assembly 30. Continuous weight information is transmitted from Assemblies 40a and 40b to Fork Lift Computer 52 via wires and IR Transmitter 44 and Receiver 48. Changes in weight information are interpreted as load engagement and disengagement by Computer 52, which then responds by receiving the current relative vertical height of Fork Arm Lift Assembly 30 from Ultrasonic Distance Measuring Unit 56. The Computer 52 then transmits, via Telescoping Antenna 70, an uniquely encoded signal with both weight and height information to Stationary Elevated Locating Modules such as 74a and 74b, which have been strategically placed throughout the operating range of Fork Lift 100. This signal is then transmitted to Unit Tracking Computer System 80 by Locating Modules such as 74a and 74b. Using conventional tracking technology, the Computer System 80 determines the current x-y coordinates of transmitting Fork Lift 100 and communicates this information along with the transmitted z coordinate and weight to the Office Computer System 84. Computer System 84 is capable of storing this information is a database of like information for the purposes of tracking the exact three dimensional location and weight of the objects which are being moved by vehicles such as Fork Lift 100.
A facility for manufacturing a variety of products laid out on a rectangular floor. The facility includes an entry warehouse located along one side of the floor and a product warehouse arranged so as to form an L-shaped layout with the entry warehouse. Parts assembly lines and dedicated product assembly lines are located, in the stated order, in a grouping which extends toward the product warehouse on the floor and such lines are partially enclosed by the entry warehouse and the product warehouse. The dedicated product assembly lines are functionally independent from each other, but the parts assembly lines cooperate with each other so as to produce articles that are commonly required by the dedicated product assembly lines. Transportation lines are incorporated in the facility to form an E-shaped flow pattern of the articles from the entry warehouse to the product warehouse.
A device is described for changing pallets in an automatic palletizer that arranges objects on the pallets. The object was to refine such a device in such a way that it not only minimizes the space occupied by the automatic palletizer, but also enables the length of interruptions in the palletizing process to be reduced. To solve this object, it is suggested to provide a transfer vehicle having a first pallet area for receiving a first pallet, and a second pallet area for receiving a second pallet, and a driving arrangement for moving the transfer vehicle between at least a first position and a second position, wherein when the transfer vehicle is in its first position the first pallet region of the transfer vehicle can be loaded with an empty pallet while the objects can be arranged on a pallet in the second pallet area.
