Processing or fitting component parts on workpiece holder

The invention relates to a device with several work stations for processing and / or assembly of components, as described in the preamble of claim 1.

A device with several work stations is known from WO 89/06177 A1. In this device, the workpiece carriers provided with holders for components are designed in the form of chain links and are connected to one another in an articulated manner and thus form an endless chain which is guided on housing parts vertically and sideways, which is adjustable via a deflection station designed as a drive station and with several housings closed a housing unit are connected and form different work stations for the processing and / or assembly of components. A disadvantage of such a device has been found to be the high manufacturing precision required for the workpiece carriers in order to achieve high positioning accuracy, as a result of which these devices are very expensive. Furthermore, devices of this type are relatively inflexible, as a result of which retrofitting for changing application purposes involves a high level of technical effort.

The object of the invention is now to create a device which can be quickly adapted to different purposes and which can be manufactured with little effort in terms of manufacturing technology.

This object of the invention is achieved by the features in the characterizing part of claim 1. The surprising advantage of the solution according to the invention now lies in the fact that with only one feed device having a technically simple means of transport, a device adapted to the most varied of requirements with a corresponding number of workstations forming housing parts suffices and thus the availability of the device by minimizing the retooling and downtimes is sufficient is increased.

An embodiment according to claim 2 is also possible, according to which a commercially available and high quality feed device is achieved.

However, an embodiment according to claim 3 is also possible, with which a high positioning accuracy is achieved with low device costs, in particular in connection with the use of servo and / or stepper motors.

Advantageous designs are described in claims 4 to 7, whereby a technically simple, trouble-free and also economical drive system is realized, which is created with machine elements on the market and thus also the storage for replacement elements is reduced.

An advantageous development describes claim 8, since it can be operated independently of a supply system for a pressure medium.

With an advantageous further development according to claim 9, a high safety standard is achieved, and additional expenses for protective devices are minimized.

The further described embodiment according to claim 10 achieves a modular structure which enables the device parts to be mass-produced as far as possible and thus also increases the reliability and precision of the device parts produced in this way.

Advantageous further developments, however, also describe claims 11 to 13, whereby a reliable guide with high positioning accuracy is achieved with a long running time of such a device and, due to the ease of movement of such guide arrangements, the power requirement for the feed drive is kept low.

Advantageous further developments are described in claims 14 and 15, whereby ergonomically designed operator stations are achieved for a high-quality work result.

Finally, according to claims 16 and 17, the high safety requirements of such devices for the protection of personnel are also achieved.

For a better understanding of the present invention, it is explained in more detail below with reference to the exemplary embodiments shown in the drawings.

Show it:

1 shows a device according to the invention, in view;

2 shows a housing part of the device according to the invention, in a perspective and greatly simplified, schematic representation;

3 shows a further embodiment of the device according to the invention, in view;

4 shows a partial area of ​​another embodiment of the device according to the invention;

5 shows a further embodiment of the device according to the invention;

AT 41 1 036 Β

6 shows another embodiment of the device according to the invention;

7 shows a further arrangement and design of the device according to the invention.

By way of introduction, it should be noted that in the differently described embodiments, the same parts are provided with the same reference numerals or the same component designations, whereby the disclosures contained in the entire description can be transferred accordingly to the same parts with the same reference numerals or the same component designations. The position details chosen in the description, such as above, below, to the side, etc. based on the figure immediately described and shown and are to be transferred accordingly to the new position in the event of a change in position. Furthermore, individual features from the different exemplary embodiments shown can also represent independent solutions according to the invention.

In Fig. 1 a device 1 for processing and / or for the assembly of components 2 is shown. These components 2 are arranged on a workpiece carrier 3. In order to hold the components 2 on the workpiece carrier 3, the latter is provided with a receptacle 4, for example integrally formed thereon. In the present exemplary embodiment, the workpiece carrier 3 forms, in conjunction with a feed device 5 with a feed drive 6 and a transport means 7, a transport unit for moving the workpiece carrier 3 on a housing unit 9 formed by housing parts 8 between several work stations 10 arranged in the longitudinal direction of the housing unit 9 have facing end plates 11, which are connected to each other via guide and resp. or are connected to the housing unit 9 in a self-supporting manner via coupling devices 12. In the longitudinal direction of the housing parts 8 and over an entire length 13 of the housing unit 9, at least one continuous height guide track 15 and at least one independent lateral guide track 16 for the workpiece carrier 3 are arranged on an upper side 14.

The housing parts 8 are preferably cast parts made of metal, in particular an aluminum alloy in order to achieve a low weight, and the housing unit 9 formed thereon is supported on a support surface 18 via support legs 17.

The feed device 5 for moving the workpiece carrier 3 has, as the feed drive 6, an underside 19 arranged on an underside 19 opposite the upper side 14 in the direction of the longitudinal extension of the housing unit 9, pressurized with pressurized media, eg without a piston rod. A driver 21 is connected to the transport means 7, which is formed by an endlessly revolving traction means 23 provided in opposite end regions 22 of the housing unit 9, for example belt 24 or rope, chain, etc. The workpiece carrier 3 is also connected in a fixed manner to the transport means, for which purpose a strand 25 of the transport member 7 runs in a groove 27 of the housing parts 8 assigned to an underside 26 of the workpiece carrier 3.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, the device 1 consists of three housing parts 8 connected via the guide and / or coupling devices 12. The deflection devices 23 are formed by deflection rollers 28 provided in the opposite end regions 22 of the outer housing parts 8. The workpiece carrier 3 with the component 2 is manually controlled via the feed drive 6 and the transport means 7 as required or alternatively in an automated control sequence between the work stations 10, e.g. a manual work station 29 of a mechanical manufacturing device 30, e.g. an automatic module for joining, welding, soldering, etc. and optionally conveyed to a removal device 31 for removing the assembled or manufactured component 2 or back again to the manual work station 29.

Of course, it is also possible, if necessary, to vary the number of housing parts 8 connected to the housing unit 9 to be formed compared to the exemplary embodiment shown. The housing parts 8 are designed in the same way for the device 1 according to the invention, whereby a high degree of flexibility is achieved in the creation of such devices. According to the desired overall length, only device 1 and threaded spindle 69 running parallel to height guide track 15 and lateral guide track 16 are on. Connected to the workpiece carrier 3 in a fixed manner, the transport means 7 is formed by a traveling nut 70 which is in engagement with the threaded spindle 69.

Such a design of the device 1 with the feed device 5 as a spindle drive 3

AT 41 1 036 B tool 66 enables the workpiece carrier 3 to be adjusted very quickly and with precise positioning along the course of the height guide track 15 or lateral guide track 16.

In FIG. 6, another embodiment of the device 1, consisting, for example, of two housing parts 8 lined up to form the housing unit 9, is shown. In this embodiment, the feed device 5 for the workpiece carrier 3 is formed by a pressurized cylinder 71. A piston rod 72 of the cylinder 71 runs parallel to the height guide track 15 and lateral guide track 16 and is connected in movement to the workpiece carrier 3 for carrying out the feed movement via a coupling element 73 forming the transport means 7.

7 shows a further embodiment of the device 1 and a possible parallel arrangement of several devices 1 for a step-by-step production of the components 2. The device 1 has the manual work station 64 at an end region 22, at which, for example, components 2 are manually placed or placed on the workpiece carrier 3, which is positioned in the area of ​​the manual work station 64 on the housing part 8. The side of the housing part 8 are, for example Support and / or storage boards 74 are arranged. The housing part 8 forming the manual workstation 64 is followed by further housing parts 8 which, for example, have workstations 10 for automated production processes. Such work stations 10 can be, for example, soldering devices, riveting devices, joining devices, etc.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, the feed device 5 formed from the spindle drive tool 66 is provided for moving the workpiece carrier 3 between the position at the manual work station 64 and the work stations 10. Of course, the other feed devices 5 described in the preceding figures can also be used on such a device 1.

The device 1 is furthermore encased in certain areas by a cabin-like protective housing 75. Such a protective housing 75 can be provided with appropriate entry openings or viewing windows and, according to the known state of the art, with further safety devices, e.g. on doors, etc., which shut down the device 1 as soon as operators enter the interior of the protective housing 75 . Another safety measure for operators can be achieved, for example, in the area of ​​the manual workstation 64 by means of a shielding device 76 that can be raised and lowered. The position of the shielding device 76 is monitored via limit switches, proximity switches, etc., and automatic operation of the device 1 is only possible if the area that is dangerous for an operator is reliably shielded.

A parallel arrangement of the devices 1 enables different production stages to be carried out on a component 2, in which, for example, work steps are carried out in a first device, then the component 2 is removed at the manual workstation 64 by an operator 77 and manually to a further operator 78 of the further device 1 running in parallel is handed over to carry out further work steps there. Such an arrangement also enables a very flexible reaction in the configuration and a quick changeover and thus an overall very economical production facility.

For the sake of clarity, it should finally be pointed out that, for a better understanding of the structure of the device, it or its components have been shown partially not to scale and / or enlarged and / or reduced.

The task on which the independent inventive solutions are based can be found in the description.

Above all, the individual in FIGS. 1; 2; 3; 4; 5; 6; 7 form the subject of independent solutions according to the invention. The solutions according to the invention in this regard can be found in the detailed descriptions of these figures.