Patent · US Expired

Material handling for automated assembly facility

US4722653A · kind A · utility

201Cited by
16References
18Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 24, 1987
Grant dateFeb 2, 1988
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 24, 2007

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T29/534
  • WIPO fieldMachine tools
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

An automated assembly facility includes a random storage facility for each assembly line conveyor and associated series of assembly stations. The assembly line conveyor is located between the random storage facility and the series of assembly stations. A first conveyor is coupled between plural sources of carriers and the random storage facility. The random storage facility is coupled to the assembly stations by a transfer conveyor so that carriers can be transferred directly from random storage to an appropriate assembly station, obviating the need for the assembly line conveyor to cooperate in this transfer. The layout leaves the assembly station accessible from three sides. Efficient space use is achieved by providing one access aisle for each pair of assembly lines; random storage facilities of two lines are directly adjacent each other.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.