Transport System and Method for Simultaneously Transporting Workpieces and Assemblers on a Production Line

Abstract

The invention relates to a transport system for simultaneously transporting workpieces and assemblers on a production line comprising at least one rectilinear production section for several guided motor vehicles, each of which is provided with a mounting platform which extends along the entire vehicle length and on which the assemblers can move, wherein said vehicles can form a train during the displacement thereof along the production line. Each mounting platform is provided with its own drive. Said drives are controllable in such a way that the vehicles are driven in the form of a train during the displacement thereof along the production section. A method for simultaneously transporting workpieces and assemblers along the production line provided with at least one rectilinear production section. The inventive method consists in driving the vehicles in the form of a train by means of the drives mounted on the vehicles during the displacement thereof along the production section.

1 . A transport system for simultaneously transporting workpieces and assemblers on a production line having at least one rectilinear production section, the transport system including several track-guided vehicles which
 a) each have an assembly platform extending over and beyond the entire length of the vehicle and accessible to assemblers;   b) in the course of travelling along the production line are able to form a train in which the assembly platforms of adjacent vehicles adjoin one another in practically gap-free manner; and   c) each have their own drive, wherein
 the drives of the vehicles are controllable in such a manner that they propel the vehicles in the course of travelling along the rectilinear production section in the train. 
   
   
   
       2 . The transport system of  claim 1 , wherein the drives of the vehicles are controllable in such a manner that the torques generated by the drives of the vehicles are the greater, the further back a vehicle is located in the train. 
   
   
       3 . The transport system according to of  claim 1 , wherein the drives of the vehicles are controllable in such a manner that no thrust forces above a threshold value act between adjacent vehicles in the direction of travel thereof. 
   
   
       4 . The transport system of  claim 1 , wherein during the course of travelling in the train the vehicles are capable of being connected to one another via couplings. 
   
   
       5 . The transport system of  claim 4 , wherein the couplings lock together automatically upon colliding. 
   
   
       6 . The transport system of  claim 4 , wherein the couplings include electromagnets. 
   
   
       7 . The transport system of  claim 1 , further comprising a device for ascertaining the thrust forces generated by the drives of the vehicles is provided on the vehicles. 
   
   
       8 . The transport system of  claim 7 , wherein the device for ascertaining the thrust forces generated by the drives of the vehicles is a pressure sensor. 
   
   
       9 . The transport system of  claim 1 , further comprising a spacing sensor for determining the spacing between adjacent assembly platforms being arranged on the vehicles. 
   
   
       10 . The transport system of  claim 1 , wherein during in the course of travelling in the train the assembly platforms of adjacent vehicles are spaced from one another by less than 5 cm. 
   
   
       11 . The transport system of  claim 1 , further comprising a functional unit being arranged on the vehicles. 
   
   
       12 . The transport system of  claim 1 , wherein the functional unit is a lifting table with which a workpiece arranged thereon is capable of being displaced to varying heights. 
   
   
       13 . A method for simultaneously transporting workpieces and assemblers along a production line having at least one rectilinear production section, wherein several track-guided vehicles, which each have an assembly platform extending over and beyond the entire length of the vehicle and accessible to assemblers, in the course of travelling along the production line are able to form a train in which the assembly platforms of adjacent vehicles adjoin one another in practically gap-free manner, wherein during the course of travelling along the rectilinear production section in the train the vehicles are propelled by means of drives arranged on the vehicles. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the vehicles are propelled by means of the drives in such a manner that the thrust forces generated by the drives are the greater, the further back a vehicle is located in the train. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the vehicles are propelled by means of the drives in such a manner that no thrust forces above a threshold value act between adjacent vehicles in the direction of travel thereof. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the vehicles are connected to one another via couplings in the course of travelling in the train. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the couplings lock together automatically upon colliding. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the thrust forces generated by the drives of the vehicles are ascertained by means of a device provided on the vehicles. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the thrust forces generated by the drives of the vehicles are ascertained by means of a pressure sensor. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein during the course of travelling in the train the assembly platforms of adjacent vehicles are spaced from one another by less than 5 cm.