145 results about "Flexible manufacturing system" patented technology

A flexible manufacturing system utilizing modular work stations configured to provide asynchronous operations on a plurality of work pieces mounted on fixtures or pallets that are transported through the system by means of a conveyor or rail arrangement. The pallets are diverted from the track on which they are transported linearly to a desired machining module adjacent to, but removed from, the track, such that the machining is performed in a chamber isolated from the track. Each machining module may be utilized in more than one location on the track and the modules may be interchanged depending on the desired operation sequence and the tools available in each of the machining station modules.

The invention discloses an automatic guild system and a multiple task control method and belongs to the transport vehicles field. The automatic guild vehicle system comprises a vehicle part and a guild part; wherein, the vehicle part comprises a vehicle body, an electronic control tank, a central control device, a battery group, a driving mechanism, a suspending mechanism, a road magnetic strip signal sensor, a road RFID radio frequency identification card reader, an anti-knocking mechanism and the like. The guild part comprises a magnetic strip paved on the road and an RFID radio frequency identification card; the vehicle body is provided with a road magnetic strip signal sensor and a road RFID radio frequency identification card reader; the road magnetic strip signal sensor is directly connected with an AD module of the central controller for processing the analog signal transmitted by the road magnetic strip signal sensor. In the invention, the magnetic strip paved on the road and the RIFD radio frequency identification card are used for guiding so as to change lines flexibly and be applicable to flexible manufacturing system.

The invention comprises in various embodiments controllers and apparatus for testing flexible manufacturing systems and methods of operating same. The controller includes a computer, a program, output lines from the computer, and devices connected to the output lines. The program uses matrix logic equations to determine when to start and stop jobs. The devices start and stop individual resources in response to logic signals from the computer. In one embodiment, the controller obtains sensor feedback on the distribution of work pieces and available resources in the manufacturing system. The invention also includes an apparatus and methods for testing a flexible manufacturing system. In response to the input of initial data, the apparatus for testing a flexible manufacturing system solves matrix equations and determines the activity and / or production of the manufacturing system. The apparatus for testing a flexible manufacturing system sends logical signals to a recording device which, in one embodiment, produce a cumulative display of the time dependent production or activity of the system.

A reconfigurable clamp for a flexible manufacturing system comprises a body portion, a plurality of pins slidably engaged within sleeves formed in the body portion, a compression spring attached to each shaft of the plurality of pins, a reservoir comprising a magnetorheological fluid in operative communication with the plurality of pins, and an electromagnet in operative communication with the magnetorheological fluid, wherein the electromagnet selectively increases a yield stress property of the magnetorheological fluid; and a matching pressure foot.

A flexible manufacturing system having a feature section including at least one module, at least one operational unit mounted to the module and a local controller operatively connected to the operational unit. The local controller is adapted to receive a reference signal and to control the operation of the operational unit based upon the reference signal.

A method and apparatus for manufacturing an aircraft structure. A drivable support may be driven from a first location to a second location to bring the drivable support together with at least one other drivable support to form a drivable support system. A structure may be held in a desired position using the drivable support system.

The invention discloses an intelligent flexible manufacturing system and a method for automobile bodies. The manufacturing method comprises the steps of searching the information of product parts and process data in a product data management system by means of a production resource central control system; generating operation instructions for each of all intelligent equipment, and respectively outputting the operation instructions to each of all manufacturing resources through the internet of things; and starting corresponding programs to finish the machining process by each manufacturing resource after the manufacturing resources receive corresponding operation instructions according to manufacturing resource codes. The manufacturing system comprises a product data management system, an internet of things system, an intelligent container, a modular intelligent tool and an industrial robot. According to the technical scheme of the invention, the intelligentization of a container tool is realized. Based on the distributed data management and the central control of the internet of things system, the rapid switching among welding robot programs is realized. Therefore, the mixed production of automobile parts of different configuration modes and different types can be realized, so that the production efficiency is improved. The error rate is lowered. Moreover, the number of special welding robots is reduced and the field utilization efficiency is improved. Furthermore, the manufacturing cost is reduced.

A flexible manufacturing system for producing and packaging consumer products into different packages is disclosed. The system includes one or more supplying means for providing the consumer products, and a multiplicity of packaging means for packaging the consumer products into different packages. The system further includes one or more conveying means for conveying the consumer products from the supplying means to the packaging means. The conveying means forms a continuous path linking the supplying means with the packaging means. The continuous path includes a multiplicity of receptors capable of accepting, carrying, and discharging the consumer products. Further, the system includes one or more stacking means for arranging the consumer products into separate stacks of products prior to packaging.

A converting line comprises a first unit at a first region of the converting line and a second unit at a second region of the converting line. The first unit is positioned in series with the second unit. The converting line further comprises a third unit at a third region of the converting line and a fourth unit at a fourth region of the converting line. The first, second, third, and fourth units are configured to each perform at least one function. The third unit is positioned in parallel with the first unit, the second unit, or the fourth unit. The converting line further comprises a controller configured to activate at least one of the units based a received product order. The converting line is configured to produce a first product different from a second product during a single run of the converting line.

A reconfigurable clamp for providing support for a variety of different body panel configurations employed in the vehicle assembly without requiring manual adjustment or reprogramming. The clamp includes an adjustable contact portion comprising a plurality of pins slidably engaged within sleeves formed in a body portion. The pins include a head portion and a shaft portion extending from the head portion, wherein the shaft portion has an engageable portion. The clamp further comprises a plurality of slidably mounted rods disposed generally transverse to the movement of the pins within the sleeves. The slidably mounted rods have a complementary engageable portion that lockingly engages the engageable portion of the shaft portion upon contact therewith to selectively prevent further movement of the pins within the sleeves, such as may be desired once a workpiece is loaded onto the clamp.

A method of simultaneously producing production runs of tires 200 on a multi-station sequential tire manufacturing system 10, the tires 200 being from a group of tire types of different build specifications in lot sizes of one or more tires is disclosed. The steps include: scheduling the production run by imputing tire build software, wherein the software program performs the steps of: selecting the tire building equipment and materials required for the respective tire types; calculating the corresponding number of cycles each piece of building equipment must perform to build a given lot; and automatically changing to a second build specification at a lot change by switching to the second build specification after the last tire 200 of the first build specification passes; repeating the automated changing to the next build specification at each station 11-16 and 71-74) as each last tire 200 of each prior lot passes until a final lot is produced. The multi-station sequential tire manufacturing system 10 has at least four stations for carcass 4 building, each station (11-16) being spaced at a predetermined distance and preferably a multistation tread belt assembly line 30 having workstations (71-74) separate from the carcass building line 20 wherein the carcass 4 and the tread belt assemblies 3 are joined in a segmented self-locking mold 50.

A flexible manufacturing system for producing and packaging consumer products into different packages is disclosed. The system includes one or more supplying means for providing the consumer products, and a multiplicity of packaging means for packaging the consumer products into different packages. The system further includes one or more conveying means for conveying the consumer products from the supplying means to the packaging means. The conveying means forms a continuous path linking the supplying means with the packaging means. The continuous path includes a multiplicity of receptors capable of accepting, carrying, and discharging the consumer products. Further, the system includes one or more stacking means for arranging the consumer products into separate stacks of products prior to packaging.

A method and apparatus for building a fuselage assembly for an aircraft. A number of fixtures may be drive across a floor to an assembly area to form an assembly fixture. The fuselage assembly may be built on the assembly fixture.

A method and apparatus for positioning an end effector relative to a fuselage assembly. A configuration of the fuselage assembly may be determined. The end effector may be positioned relative to the fuselage assembly based on the configuration determined. A set of actual reference locations may be identified for a set of reference points on the fuselage assembly. The end effector may be positioned at an operation location based on the set of actual reference locations identified.

A workpiece presenter for fixturing a workpiece of a vehicle assembly is provided, including a platform 50, and a tooling plate 7 removably connected to the platform, the tooling plate including a planar body 10 for supporting fixture tools 32, 34 holding the workpiece and including a connector mechanism to allow the planar body 10 to be removably connected with the platform 50 and the tooling plate having a locater mechanism 70, 72, 74 to locate the planar body 10 with respect to the platform 50 in a repeatable manner.

The invention discloses a laser flexible manufacturing system, which comprises a laser device, a laser processing head connected with a laser forming light path, a robot body with an electric motor used for bearing the laser processing head, an instrument head, a control gear used for controlling the laser device and the robot body, a guide rail and a carrying trolley. The carrying trolley is arranged at the lower side of the robot body; the control gear comprises a laser control unit and a robot motion control unit; the laser control unit and the robot motion control unit are connected with a coordinated control unit; the laser control unit is connected with the laser device; the robot motion control unit is connected with the electric motor. The laser flexible manufacturing system solves the problems of loading processing pieces, collision and interference between the instrument head and the laser processing head of the prior art and the peripheral environment when transposition, and the openness of the control system is strong.

The invention discloses an intelligent flexible manufacturing system which comprises a decision control center 1, a customer order and market analysis 2, distributed computing equipment 3, a communication network 4, a material information network 5, a product tracking control network 6 and a product and fitting processing network 7, wherein the decision control center 1 is a data, information and computation center, receives information from the customer order and market analysis 2, the distributed computing equipment 3, the material information network 5, the product tracking control network 6 and the product and fitting processing network 7 through the communication network 4 for computational analysis, and gives out a command after making a decision to carry out the system control on the the customer order and market analysis 2, the distributed computing equipment 3, the material information network 5, the product tracking control network 6 and the product and fitting processing network 7 through the communication network 4. The intelligent flexible manufacturing system provides fast execution and response abilities for multi-variety and small-amount orders, and is widely applicable to various manufacturing systems.

The invention relates to a 3D intelligent modeling method and system and a flexible manufacturing system of a 3D model. A single photograph or picture is converted into a 2D shadow picture; after a 3D model is constructed, the information of the 2D shadow picture is hidden in the 3D model, a shadow presented by the 3D model with the hidden information of the 2D shadow picture through illumination angle projection is in an original picture or photograph shape, and 3D intelligent modeling can be realized by methods, such as accumulation, splicing, stretching, extrusion and the like. The flexible manufacturing system of the 3D model enables a user to integrally experience the processes of 3D modeling and 3D printing, 3D modeling compatible data is created, stored, transmitted and managed for a user, and the user is guaranteed to carry out 3D printing at any time and place so as to realize the flexible manufacture of the 3D model.

The invention belongs to the technical field of production scheduling of flexible manufacturing systems, and particularly relates to a deadlock-free scheduling method for a flexible manufacturing system based on an improved genetic algorithm. The method comprises the following specific steps of: establishing a Petri net model of the flexible manufacturing system, determining genetic parameters, encoding and decoding, generating an initialized population, performing detecting and repairing, calculating processing time and fitness, judging whether a termination rule and genetic operation are metor not, and outputting an optimal individual; adjusting all chromosomes into control feasible chromosomes through a two-step forward looking method, and decoding the control feasible chromosomes intoa deadlock-free scheduling sequence; optimizing and improviing the genetic algorithm in the design process of the scheduling strategy. Meanwhile, in the variation process, the chromosome gene is divided into a path gene and a process gene, variation operation is conducted on the path gene and the process gene at the same time, the variation rates of the path gene and the process gene are the same, and therefore the operation steps are simple, the production efficiency is greatly improved, and the application environment is friendly.

The application relates to an AGV scheduling technique for a flexible manufacturing system. According to the AGV scheduling method in a manufacturing system, the manufacturing system is composed of amanufacturing execution system (MES), a plurality of independent units separated from each other, a plurality of AGVs for material distribution, an AGV scheduling unit for the plurality of AGVs, and an AGV-PLC in communication with the plurality of AGVs and the AGV scheduling unit. The method comprises: the AGV-PLC communicates with the AGV scheduling unit to inquire a current available AGV; whenany AGV is available, the AGV-PLC accesses an AGV scheduling task table maintained by the MES in a database server to obtain a to-be-executed AGV scheduling task; the AGV-PLC parses the obtained AGV scheduling task and generates a corresponding AGV transportation task; and the AGV-PLC transmits the AGV transport task to the AGV scheduling unit.

The invention relates to the technical field of punch forming equipment, in particular to an automatic control device for a punching machine production line. The automatic control device comprises a controller, a punching mechanism and a control mechanism. The signal output end of the controller is in electric connection with the signal input end of the punching mechanism and the signal input end of the control mechanism. The punching mechanism and the control mechanism are oppositely arranged in two rows. The first row is the punching mechanism. The control mechanism comprises six manipulators. The input / output signal control end of the control mechanism is electrically connected with the controller through an M / II bus. The input / output signal control end of the punching mechanism is electrically connected with an I / O interface of the controller. The manipulators can move rotationally, left and right, and up and down to meet the requirements of the punching machine production line for collecting punching objects. An Ethernet interface circuit is arranged in the controller, so that through a network communication mode, it is convenient for a punched refrigerator compressor support plate to be integrated into a more extensive flexible manufacturing system and an Internet of things system to achieve remote operation and control.

The invention relates to flexible manufacturing system experimental equipment based on industrial robots. A master control station comprises a PLC main console and conveying equipment controlled by the PLC main console; the conveying equipment comprises a conveying track, a transfer robot is arranged on the conveying track and connected with a stepping motor; the transfer robot transfers workpieces into a welding station, a material station is connected with a welding table, work is controlled by an electrical control cabinet, a welding robot is controlled by the master control station to transfer the workpieces to a CNC milling machine in a digital machining station for drilling, and the CNC milling machine is connected with a visual detection station; the visual detection station comprises a conveying belt, the workpieces conveyed by the CNC milling machine on the conveying belt are shot into images through cameras fixed beside the conveying belt, and unqualified workpieces are removed through a portal robot hand. Through the equipment, relevant practical training can be provided for the industrial robot application technology, the electromechanical maintenance and management specialty, the mechatronics specialty, the electric automation specialty, the machinery manufacturing and automation specialty and the like.

The invention discloses a hybrid-system modeling and simulation platform and method based on a HSTPN model. The hybrid-system modeling and simulation platform comprises a human-computer interaction module, a logic expression module, a simulation analysis module, a file storage module and an equivalent rule library. The platform can carry out modeling and simulation on a hybrid system with five hybrid characteristics of dispersing, continuation, delaying, random and decision at the same time, the hybrid characteristics are only defined in a five-type library, the modeling complexity can be reduced, the transitional moment theory is guaranteed, and the modeling expandability is improved; a hybrid state of the HSTPN model is jointly described through a library identification and the continuous state; the platform provides the equivalent function of the HSTPN model by establishing equivalent rules of a hybrid Petri net and a derivative model of the hybrid Petri net. The hybrid-system modeling and simulation platform and method can be applied to modeling and simulation of hybrid systems such as an information physical fusion system, a flexible manufacturing system, a logistic system and defense industry.

The invention discloses an object-oriented Petri network modeling method in a flexible manufacturing system. Modeling steps are as follows: step one, establishment of a structure model in an FMS; step two, construction of a single physical object OPN model; and step three, establishment of an OPN model in the FMS; wherein when no task exists, various organization units in the system have no need for mutual connection; however, once the task appears, various basic units are stimulated so that the connectivility possessed by a manufacturing unit can function, the units mutually send connection requirements, and Gate 1, Gate 2 and Gate 3 are used for realizing the connection. Compared with a common Petri network, in the invention, an OOPN model in the FMS can be expanded and easily reconstructed, and an FMS control software based on the OOPN model can be directly and correspondingly obtained and can prevent deadlock and conflict from happening in the system.