Docking station for a workpiece holder in a driverless transport system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2023415288-A1
Application number	US-202318463410-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 8, 2023
Priority date	Mar 19, 2021
Publication date	Dec 28, 2023
Grant date	—

Abstract

A device for transporting workpieces includes a manufacturing execution system (MES), a driverless transport vehicle controllable indirectly or directly by the MES, a workpiece holder for receiving a workpiece, and a docking station for receiving the workpiece holder. The docking station is reachable by the driverless transport vehicle. The device further includes a position sensor connected indirectly or directly to the MES. The position sensor is configured for detecting a position of the workpiece holder at the docking station.

First claim

1 . A device for transporting workpieces, the device comprising:
a manufacturing execution system (MES); a driverless transport vehicle controllable indirectly or directly by the MES; a workpiece holder for receiving a workpiece; a docking station for receiving the workpiece holder, the docking station being reachable by the driverless transport vehicle; and a position sensor connected indirectly or directly to the MES, the position sensor being configured for detecting a position of the workpiece holder at the docking station.

2 . The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the position sensor is disposed or configured on the docking station.

3 . The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the position sensor is configured as a switch, the switch being activatable by the workpiece holder only when the workpiece holder is situated in a parked position at the docking station at which the workpiece holder is accessible to the driverless transport vehicle.

4 . The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the docking station comprises a wireless local area network (WLAN) gateway for communicating with the MES.

5 . The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the docking station comprises an identification sensor configured to identify the workpiece holder.

6 . The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the docking station comprises a height sensor configured to detect a height of the workpiece holder.

7 . The device as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the docking station includes a plurality of receptacle spaces for the workpiece holder, each receptacle space having a respective position sensor for detecting the position of the workpiece holder.

8 . The device as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the docking station has a modular configuration and comprises a plurality of modules, each module having a respective receptacle space.

9 . A method for checking in a workpiece holder of a device, the method comprising:
dropping off the workpiece holder in a parked position at a docking station; detecting the parked position of the workpiece holder at the docking station using a position sensor; transmitting that the workpiece holder is situated in the parked position to a manufacturing execution system (MES), and checking in the workpiece holder in the MES.

10 . The method as claimed in claim 9 , further comprising identifying an identity of the workpiece holder using an identification sensor, and transmitting the identity of the workpiece holder to the MES.

11 . The method as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the docking station communicates with the MES via a wireless local area network (WLAN).

12 . The method as claimed in claim 9 , further comprising:
picking up the workpiece holder using a driverless transport vehicle controlled by the MES.

13 . The method as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the pick-up of the workpiece holder is initiated in an automated manner by the check-in of the workpiece holder in the MES.

14 . The method as claimed in claim 9 , further comprising performing a plausibility check in the MES in terms of loading of the workpiece holder.

15 . The method as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the MES as a function of the checked-in of the workpiece holders rebooks workpieces stored on the workpiece holders and/or uploads a machining program on a machine tool of a workstation.

Assignees

• Trumpf Werkzeugmaschinen Se Co Kg

Inventors

• Baaij Ferdinand
• Epperlein Peter

Classifications

• B23Q7/1436 Primary

  using self-propelled work holders · CPC title

• G05B19/41895 Primary

  using automatic guided vehicles [AGV] (control of position or course of AGV's G05D1/00) · CPC title

• G05B2219/31372

  Mes manufacturing execution system · CPC title

• G05B2219/32046

  On detection workpiece code load program for workpiece from central · CPC title