FLEXIBLE MANUFACTURING SYSTEM FOR THE PROCESSING AND PRODUCTION OF MULTIPLE-COMPONENT ASSEMBLIES, IN PARTICULAR UNFINISHED COACHWORK ASSEMBLIES

摘要

PCT No. PCT/EP85/00641 Sec. 371 Date Jul. 23, 1986 Sec. 102(e) Date Jul. 23, 1986 PCT Filed Nov. 23, 1985 PCT Pub. No. WO86/03153 PCT Pub. Date Jun. 5, 1986.The invention is concerned with the design of processing stations for the processing, by welding technology, of semi-finished vehicle body subassemblies (5) within the framework of a flexible manufacturing system. Thereby, frame-like work piece carriers (1) with support members (4) are used for loose positioning of components of the subassemblies (5), where the work piece carriers (1) are also capable of accepting differently configured subassemblies. The transfer line (9) is not planned as a single line, but includes only the input station (10), the work position (6) and the output station (11). Next to these stations (10, 11), storage stations (14) are arrayed, which are connected with one another by a transport system (20) which crosses the transfer line (9). In this manner it is made possible to store the work piece carriers (1) with the processed subassemblies (5) or to bypass the next work station if it is not capable of receiving (a work piece carrier), or is out of order. For this bypass path, transport vehicles ( 27) with their own transverse transporter (28) are utilized, which are capable of taking work piece carriers (1) from the storage stations (14) or of transferring (work piece carriers) to them.