Method for adjusting the workpiece flow in a production system
US6434446B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 25, 2000 |
| Grant date | Aug 13, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 25, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02P90/02
- WIPO fieldControl
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The invention relates to a method for adjusting the workpiece flow in a production system (10), including workpieces (16) and workpiece agents (18) associated with the workpieces, machines (12) for machining the workpieces (16), and machine agents (14) associated with the machines (12) and transportation device (20). To make a flexible production system available that is tolerant of at least partial failures of system components, it is provided that each transportation agent (30) is assigned at least one machine (12) with a specified machine address Mn; that the transportation agent (30) is tasked to transport the workpiece (16) to a desired destination machine address Mz; and that the transportation agent (30) autonomously controls the transportation device (20) in such a way that the workpiece (16) is transported to the machine with the destination machine address Mz via a specified destination exit (A1-A4).
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.