초록 ▼

A workstation having multiple robots and multiple fixtures for processing multiple workpieces along two processing paths. A first fixture can be positioned on the first processing path and a second fixture can be positioned on the second processing path. The multiple robots are positioned between th

A workstation having multiple robots and multiple fixtures for processing multiple workpieces along two processing paths. A first fixture can be positioned on the first processing path and a second fixture can be positioned on the second processing path. The multiple robots are positioned between the two paths and are moveable to process workpieces moving along both the first and second paths. The robots can be welding robots. The robots can be independently moveable with respect to each other to enhance the efficiency of the workstation. The robots can have overlapping ranges of movement so that every portion of the workpiece can be processed by at least two of the robots.

대표청구항 ▼

A workstation having multiple robots and multiple fixtures for processing multiple workpieces along two processing paths. A first fixture can be positioned on the first processing path and a second fixture can be positioned on the second processing path. The multiple robots are positioned between th

A workstation having multiple robots and multiple fixtures for processing multiple workpieces along two processing paths. A first fixture can be positioned on the first processing path and a second fixture can be positioned on the second processing path. The multiple robots are positioned between the two paths and are moveable to process workpieces moving along both the first and second paths. The robots can be welding robots. The robots can be independently moveable with respect to each other to enhance the efficiency of the workstation. The robots can have overlapping ranges of movement so that every portion of the workpiece can be processed by at least two of the robots. tool element has completed the operation on said work-in-process determining the later of the alarm event time and the operation complete time; if the alarm event time is later than the operation complete time, setting tool operation time as a difference between the alarm event time and the entry time; and if the operation complete time is later than the alarm event time, setting the tool operation time as the difference between the operation time complete and the entry time. 3. The method of claim 2 wherein measuring the alarm duration time comprises the steps of: recording an alarm event time from said recording of said time of occurrence, said alarm event time being a time at which the tool element has a fault condition and ceases operation; recording an alarm clear time from said recording of said time of occurrence, said alarm clear time being a time at which the tool element fault condition is corrected and said tool element able to function; and determining the alarm duration time as the difference between the alarm clear time and the alarm event time. 4. The method of claim 1 wherein measuring the idle duration time comprises the steps of: recording a tool element operational time from said recording of said time of occurrence, said tool element operational time being a time at which said tool element is set to be able to function; recording an alarm clear time from said recording of said time of occurrence said alarm clear time being a time at which the tool element fault condition is corrected and said tool element able to function; recording an exit time from said recording of said time of occurrence, said exit time being the time at which a previous work-in-process is removed from said tool element; recording an entry time from said recording of said time of occurrence, said entry time being the time at which a next work-in-process enters said tool element; and determining said idle duration time as the difference between said entry time and a latest time of said tool element operational time, said alarm clear time, and said exit time. 5. The method of claim 1 wherein measuring the transport time comprising the steps of: recording of an exit time from said recording of said time of occurrence, said exit time being a time at which said work-in-process is removed from a previous tool element; recording an entry time, said entry time being a time at which said work-in-process is placed in a next tool element, and determining said transport time as a difference between said exit time and said entry time. 6. The method of claim 1 wherein determining the product fabrication rate comprises the steps of: discarding all tool operation times terminated with the alarm event time; averaging all tool operation times to create an average tool operation time; determining a standard deviation of all tool operation times; discarding all tool operation times greater than and less than a sum and difference of said average tool operation time and a multiplication factor of said standard deviation; summing all remaining tool operation times, the product transport times, and the idle duration times; and dividing a number of products fabricated by the summed tool operation times, product transport times, and the idle duration times. 7. The method of claim 6 wherein the fabricated products are grouped in fabrication lots and the tool operation time indicates a time to fabricate one lot of fabricated product and the transport time is the time to transport the fabrication lot. 8. A method for determining an efficiency measurement for a product manufacturing process comprising the steps of: receiving from sensors within each tool element of a plurality of tool elements data detailing events occurring within each tool element of said plurality of tool elements; recording time of occurrence of each of said events; from said recording of said time of occurrence, measuring a tool operation time for eac