Hybrid assembly at manual workstations and automatic stations
IBG is developing a clocked assembly line for the automatic assembly of workpieces for hybrid assembly steps at manual workstations and automatic stations.
After upstream assembly steps have been carried out by an operator and the workpiece has been released, it cycles into the first automatic station where the workpiece is hot stamped with the production date. The automatic feeding and assembly of various components then begins, fastening elements are pushed into position and latched for fixing.
After the first automated assembly steps, the workpieces are transferred to pass through a total of three inspection stations and are colour-marked after successful inspection.
In the fourth automated station, a robot is provided with further workpieces for assembly in the correct position via a manually loaded feed section. Before the robot places the assembled workpieces back on the workpiece carrier provided, they are positioned under a label dispenser and labelled.
In the fifth station, the individual workpieces are made available to the robot on a pallet, brought together by the robot and placed on an assembly fixture. To ensure reliable handling of the workpieces, the robot is equipped with a vision system/camera system and is able to detect the geometry of the carrier.
In a parallel process, a two-part corrugated cardboard box is fed as a blank on a pallet, automatically erected and a label is applied to the closure half. In the erected carton, the element is placed on top and then cycles to the upstream manual workstation, where further inserts are placed in the carton.
In the last automation step, the carton is closed, strapped three times and stacked on a Euro pallet, whereby lateral fixings are necessary to stabilise the stack. After the pallet has been packed, it is automatically wrapped with stretch film and moved out of the cell. Further empty pallets are fed in via an automatic pallet dispenser.
