Dynamic repair system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016299500-A1
Application number	US-201514681169-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 8, 2015
Priority date	Apr 8, 2015
Publication date	Oct 13, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Devices, systems, and methods for dynamic repair of bypassed vehicles are disclosed. Information regarding an abnormality (for example, an incorrectly installed joint) occurring in a vehicle being assembled on an assembly line can be captured and recorded in a database. Following a bypass command, the vehicle can be flagged and released to continue down the assembly line to be repaired at a later time. When a user is ready to repair the vehicle, repair instructions specific to the abnormality can be retrieved from a database and presented to the user, and the repair procedure can be monitored to ensure that the abnormality has been repaired correctly. The vehicle can be unflagged only if all abnormalities in the vehicle have been repaired. The vehicle can be prevented from exiting the last station in the assembly line if it remains flagged.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A computing device for an assembly line comprising:
one or more processors for controlling operations of the computing device; and a memory storing data and program instructions used by the one or more processors, wherein the one or more processors are configured to execute instructions stored in the memory to:
receive information regarding an abnormality occurring in a vehicle being assembled on the assembly line;
flag the vehicle by storing the information regarding the abnormality in a database;
monitor a repair of the abnormality; and
unflag the vehicle only if the repair of the abnormality is completed successfully.

2 . The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the information regarding the abnormality is received from a pokayoke controller.

3 . The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the abnormality is an incorrectly installed joint.

4 . The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to execute instructions to prevent the vehicle from exiting the assembly line if the vehicle is flagged.

5 . The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the information regarding the abnormality includes information regarding a bypass command entered by an authorized user.

6 . The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the repair of the abnormality is performed using a repair tool in communication with the computing device and the repair of the abnormality is monitored using repair data received from the repair tool.

7 . The computing device of claim 6 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to execute instructions to display repair instructions to a user of the repair tool.

8 . The computing device of claim 7 , wherein the repair instructions are updated based on the repair data received from the repair tool.

9 . The computing device of claim 1 , wherein monitoring the repair of the abnormality is caused by receiving information regarding a barcode associated with the vehicle.

10 . A method comprising:
receiving information regarding an abnormality occurring in a vehicle being assembled on an assembly line; flagging the vehicle by storing the information regarding the abnormality in a database; monitoring a repair of the abnormality; and unflagging the vehicle only if the repair of the abnormality is completed successfully.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the information regarding the abnormality is received from a pokayoke controller.

12 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the abnormality is an incorrectly installed joint.

13 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising preventing the vehicle from exiting the assembly line if the vehicle is flagged.

14 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the information regarding the abnormality includes information regarding a bypass command entered by an authorized user.

15 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the repair of the abnormality is performed using a repair tool in communication with the computing device and the repair of the abnormality is monitored using repair data received from the repair tool.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to execute instructions to display repair instructions to a user of the repair tool.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the repair instructions are updated based on the repair data received from the repair tool.

18 . The method of claim 10 , wherein monitoring the repair of the abnormality is caused by receiving information regarding a barcode associated with the vehicle.

19 . A system comprising:
a repair tool configured to detect abnormalities in a repair procedure; a computing device comprising: one or more processors for controlling operations of the computing device; and a memory storing data and program instructions used by the one or more processors, wherein the one or more processors are configured to execute instructions stored in the memory to:
receive information regarding an abnormality occurring in a vehicle being assembled on an assembly line;
flag the vehicle by storing the information regarding the abnormality in a database;
monitor a repair of the abnormality; and
unflag the vehicle only if the repair of the abnormality is completed successfully.

20 . The system of claim 19 , wherein monitoring the repair of the abnormality is caused by receiving an indication that a user is ready to repair the abnormality.

Assignees

• Toyota Motor Eng & Mfg North America Inc

Inventors

• Drasovean Leontin

Classifications

• G05B19/41875 Primary

  characterised by quality surveillance of production · CPC title

• G05B2219/32177

  Computer assisted quality surveyance, caq · CPC title

• G05B19/41805

  characterised by assembly · CPC title

• G05B2219/31001

  CIM, total factory control · CPC title

• G05B2219/32228

  Repair, rework of manufactured article · CPC title