Flexible manufacturing system and control method therefor
US8306647B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 27, 2009 |
| Grant date | Nov 6, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 10, 2030 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG05B2219/31274
- WIPO fieldMachine tools
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
In a flexible manufacturing system, a control apparatus for a transfer device stores in a memory section thereof correlation information for correlating workpieces (ante-machining workpieces) to be attached to pallets with blank materials contained in blank material baskets. When a selected one of the pallets is to be transferred to a pallet loading station, the control apparatus determines blank materials corresponding to the workpieces to be attached to the selected one of the pallets based on the correlation information and then, controls the transfer device to transfer a blank material basket containing the determined blank materials from a basket rack to a basket loading station located adjacent to the pallet loading station in connection with transferring the selected one of the pallets to the pallet loading station. Thus, when the selected one of the pallets is transferred to the pallet loading station, it becomes possible to reduce the time taken for the worker to search for the blank material basket.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.