METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SUPPLYING WORKPIECES AT A LINE EDGE WORKSTATION

摘要

Method for supplying parts of a workstation located at the edge of a line (1) for the circulation of a succession of structures (2) to each of which a line operator (L) adds at least one of said parts, employing rolling bases (4, 5) for supporting and presenting the parts to the line operator, this station comprising a line edge location (3) intended to receive at least one rolling base (4) in a service area, close to the line (1) and a rolling base (5) in a waiting area, behind the rolling base (4) operating in a direction perpendicular to the line (1). The method comprises, when the rolling base (4) in use is empty, to cause the line operator (L) to move the empty rolling base (4) of the service area to an evacuation zone (6) laterally. adjacent to the above-mentioned service and waiting positions, to extract said empty base from the evacuation zone by a logistics operator (T), to cause the logistics operator (T) to move the full base (5) of the waiting zone to the service area and have the logistics operator (T) place a new full base (12) in the waiting zone thus released from the location (3).