EP0308248A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Assembly line and method for vehicles or other products
Assignee: Deere and Co
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Filing: 1988-09-16
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2008-09-16
Abstract
Abstract The frames of vehicles or other products to be assembled are placed on guided vehicles at a first station (37) and are then carried by the guide vehicles along a path (36) which traverses in turn a series of aligned island areas (41, 42, 43, 44, 46). In each island area the path splits into a plurality of parallel paths (36a, b, c; 36f, e, d), the guided vehicles being shunted into work stations at these parallel paths for assembly operations effected by assembly teams at the work stations. In between each pair of successive island areas, the path (36) deviates laterally into a loop (47) extending out to the side of the island areas. The loops (47) pass through kitting stations (48, 49, 51, 52) where components are placed on the guided vehicles for assembly at the succeeding work stations. An overhead conveyor (56, 59, 61, 62, 67) feeds the frames and components to the first work station (37) and the kitting stations (48, 49, 51, 52).
Inventors
- 👤 John R. Bishop
- 👤 Scott S. Lafleur
- 👤 Stephen J. Macheel
- 👤 Wayne E. Schneider
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 11:03
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62D; B62D65/00; B23; B23P; B23P21/00; B23P21/004; B62D65/02; B62D65/18; B23P2700/00; B23P2700/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
109 words
An assembly line for a vehicle or other product comprising a plurality of stations and guided vehicles (33) for moving the products from station to station, characterized in that the stations comprise work stations (41a, b, c; 42a, b, c; ....) arranged in island areas (41, 42, 43, 44, 46) and kitting stations (48, 49, 51, 52) alternating with the island areas, each kitting station having means (59, 92, 93) for supplying components to a guided vehicle (33) for transportation to the succeeding island area, where assembly of such components is effected and each island area (e.g. 41) comprising one or more of the work stations (41a, 41b, 41c).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
109 words
An assembly line for a vehicle or other product comprising a plurality of stations and guided vehicles (33) for moving the products from station to station, characterized in that the stations comprise work stations (41a, b, c; 42a, b, c; ....) arranged in island areas (41, 42, 43, 44, 46) and kitting stations (48, 49, 51, 52) alternating with the island areas, each kitting station having means (59, 92, 93) for supplying components to a guided vehicle (33) for transportation to the succeeding island area, where assembly of such components is effected and each island area (e.g. 41) comprising one or more of the work stations (41a, 41b, 41c).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
An assembly line according to claim 1, characterized in that at least some island areas (41, 42, 43, 44, 46) comprising a plurality of work stations (e.g. 41a, 41b, 41c) arranged in parallel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
53 words
An assembly line according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the guided vehicles (33) leaving one island area (e.g. 41) and entering the next adjacent island area (42) traverse a loop (47) extending out to the side of the island areas, with a kitting station (48) located on the loop (47).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
An assembly line according to claim 3, characterized in that the guided vehicles (33) move parallel to a first direction through each work station (41a etc.) and the loops (47) extend generally perpendicular to this first direction out to the side of the island areas.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
An assembly line according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that one or more single work stations (37, 38) are provided on a path (36) for the guided vehicles (33) leading to the first island area (41).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
49 words
An assembly line according to any of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the island areas (41, 42, 43, 44, 46) are arranged in a longitudinal alignment, guided vehicle paths (36a, b..... ) through each island area extending in alignment with common paths through the other island areas.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
An assembly line according to any of claims 1 to 6, characterized by a closed loop path (36) leading through all work stations and kitting areas for moving guided vehicles (33) therethrough.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
An assembly line according to claim 7, characterized by means for controlling the movement of the guided vehicles (37) on the closed loop path (36).
Claim 10
Independent Claim
121 words
A method of assembling vehicles or other products wherein each product is built up progressively at a succession of work stations (41a, b, c: 42A, b, c;...) on a frame (32) supplied to a guided vehicle (33) at a first work station (37), the guided vehicles being guided through work stations in succession, characterized in that the work stations (41a, b, c; b, c,...) are arranged in a plurality of island areas (41, 42, 43, 44, 46) and the guided vehicles (33) are deviated between successive island areas through kitting stations (48, 49, 51, 52) alternating with the island areas, and components are supplied to the guided vehicles at the kitting stations for assembly at the succeeding island area work stations.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
121 words
A method of assembling vehicles or other products wherein each product is built up progressively at a succession of work stations (41a, b, c: 42A, b, c;...) on a frame (32) supplied to a guided vehicle (33) at a first work station (37), the guided vehicles being guided through work stations in succession, characterized in that the work stations (41a, b, c; b, c,...) are arranged in a plurality of island areas (41, 42, 43, 44, 46) and the guided vehicles (33) are deviated between successive island areas through kitting stations (48, 49, 51, 52) alternating with the island areas, and components are supplied to the guided vehicles at the kitting stations for assembly at the succeeding island area work stations.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method according to claim 9, characterized by assembling one or more parts on the frame (32) on each guided vehicle (33) at the first work station (37).
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that each frame (32) is releasably locked to its guided vehicle (33) and is rotated about its longitudinal axis at predetermined times on the vehicle.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 9, 10 or 11 characterized by moving the frame (32) on the guided vehicle (33) vertically at a predetermined time.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
22 words
A method according to any of claims 9 to 12, characterized by automatically guiding all the vehicles (33) through the work stations.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
37 words
A method according to any of claims 9 to 13, characterized in that the guided vehicles (33) are shunted at each island area (e.g. 41) into a plurality of work stations (41a, b, c) arranged in parallel.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
37 words
A method according to any of claims 9 to 14, characterized in that the guided vehicles (33) are held as required in queue-in and queue-out spaces respectively preceding and following the work stations of each island area.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
30 words
A method according to any of claims 9 to 15, characterized in that the guided vehicles (33) are directed through the island area work stations in a generally linear path.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
48 words
A method according to claim 16, characterized in that the guided vehicles (33) are directed from and then to a pair of successive island areas (41, 42) via a kitting area (48) located therebetween in a path generally normal to the path of vehicles through the island areas.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
36 words
A method according to any of claims 17 or 18, characterized by directing a flow of parts in each kitting area (48 etc) generally normal to the flow of guided vehicles (33) through the island areas.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
31 words
A method according to any of claims 9 to 18, characterized by assembling parts to the frame (32) on each of the guided vehicles (33) at the first kitting area (48).
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 15, characterized by directing at least the same number of vehicles (33) from each island area into each kitting area.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 20, characterized by directing the said same number of vehicles into a kitting area in sequence.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
32 words
A method according to any of claims 9 to 21, characterized by separating a frame (32) from a vehicle (33) to which the frame was attached, for inspecting and/or repairing the frame.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 21, characterized by directing the empty vehicle (33) back to the first work station (37).
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method according to claim 1, characterized by placing a mower deck below the frame (32) and lifting the deck into position below the frame for attaching the deck to the frame.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 24, characterized by moving the frame by operation of the vehicle prior to placing the mower deck therebelow.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
51 words
A method according to claim 1, characterized by placing a mower deck on each vehicle at a predetermined kitting station, raising the mower deck at a subsequent island area by a lift apparatus into contiguous relation with a frame on its vehicle, and assembling the raised mower deck to the frame.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method according to claim 1, characterized by gauging the horizontal disposition of a mower deck attached to each frame on each vehicle prior to completion of the assembly of the product.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
74 words
A method according to claim 27, characterized by guiding each vehicle through a deck levelling apparatus, stopping the vehicle, raising the vehicle frame with deck above a horizontal portion of the apparatus, lowering the vehicle frame with deck on to the horizontal portion until tyres on the frame engage the horizontal portion, levelling the deck, raising the frame with deck, and guiding the vehicle with frame and deck out of the deck levelling apparatus.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
81 words
A method according to claim 28, characterized by moving a pair of gauge members each on an X-Y path, positioning each gauge member below a portion of a cutting blade of a mower deck, those portions being diametrically opposed, raising the gauge members into contact with a blade and obtaining a differential read-out of opposed ends of the cutting blade position relative to a horizontal plane, and adjusting the mower deck to a predetermined horizontal position as determined by the read-out.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method according to claim 18, characterized in that light manufacturing areas are located contiguous to the kitting areas, and by moving parts from the light manufacturing areas towards the kitting areas in a direction generally parallel to the flow of parts in the kitting areas.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method according to claim 30, characterized by moving the light manufacturing area parts in a path generally normal to the flow of vehicles through the island areas.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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