System for performing work processes on workpieces or the like

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12434339-B2
Application number	US-202218698641-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 10, 2022
Priority date	Oct 11, 2021
Publication date	Oct 7, 2025
Grant date	Oct 7, 2025

Abstract

A system for performing work processes on workpieces or the like. The system includes at least two first process stations for performing, in each case, a first work process on the workpiece or the like with a first process duration and at least one second process station for performing a second work process on the workpiece or the like with a second process duration, wherein the first process duration and the second process duration are of different lengths, and including a transport surface on which the workpieces or the like are movable individually on transport units by means of electromagnetic drives.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A system for performing work processes on workpieces, comprising:
at least two first process stations, each configured to perform a first work process on at least one workpiece with a first process duration;
at least one second process station configured to perform a second work process on the at least one workpiece with a second process duration, wherein the first process duration and the second process duration are of different lengths;
a transport surface on which the at least one workpiece are movable individually on transport units using electromagnetic drives, wherein the transport units are configured to take over the at least one workpiece from a first conveying device in a region of a takeover zone, subsequently feed the at least one workpiece to a first process station of the at least two first process stations and then to a second process station of the at least one second process stations, and transfer the at least one workpiece to a second conveying device in a region of a transfer zone;
transport paths for the transport units between the takeover region, the first and second process stations, and the transfer region, wherein the at least two first process stations are arranged one behind the other or one after the other with respect to the transport path of a transport unit when viewed in a transport direction of the transport units, wherein, between the takeover region and the transfer region, a travel route continuously free of process stations is formed for the transport units, a width of the travel route corresponding to at least the width of a transport unit; and
a control device configured to control the transport units, the control device being configured to control the transport units depending on an availability of free process stations to approach the first and second process stations with a view to a lowest possible total process duration of the at least one workpiece to be processed, taking into account any required order of performing the first and second work processes.

2. The system according to claim 1 , wherein a number of the first process stations is greater than a number of the second process stations, and each respective second process station is assigned to a plurality of first process stations.

3. The system according to claim 2 , wherein each second process station is arranged with respect to the transport path of a transport unit on a side of the transport surface facing the transfer region.

4. The system according to claim 1 , wherein a number of the first process stations and of the second process stations is the same, and a different respective second process station is assigned to each respective first process station, the assigned respective first and second process stations being arranged on opposite sides of the travel route, and a connecting line between the assigned first and second process stations crossing the travel route at a right angle.

5. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the takeover region and the transfer region each have a plurality of parking spaces which can be approached as required by the transport units.

6. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one second process station is a test station.

7. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least two first process stations are discharging devices for dispensing a pasty medium, and the discharging devices have raisable, lowerable, and horizontally movable dispensing devices including dosing needles for the medium.

8. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the first and the second conveying devices are linear conveyors.

9. The system according to claim 1 , further comprising:
at least one additional third process station.

10. The system according to claim 1 , wherein at least one service transport unit is present in the region of the transport surface, the service transport unit being configured to convey a calibration device or a test device or a component of the calibration or test devices into a region of a first or second process station.

11. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the second process duration of the second work process is shorter than the first process duration of the first work process, wherein the first work process is performed prior to the second work process.

Assignees

• Bosch Gmbh Robert

Inventors

• Touhent Sami

Classifications

• B23Q7/14

  co-ordinated in production lines · CPC title

• B65G47/52

  Devices for transferring articles or materials between conveyors i.e. discharging or feeding devices (loading or unloading by means not incorporated in, or not operatively associated with, conveyors B65G65/00; transfer of workpieces during metal rolling B21B41/00) · CPC title

• B23P23/06 Primary

  Metal-working plant comprising a number of associated machines or apparatus · CPC title

• B65G54/02 Primary

  electrostatic, electric, or magnetic · CPC title