Machining system

Abstract

A machining system and unit, especially a welding cell, is provided for use for the machining of workpieces ( 2 ), especially body parts of vehicles. The machining system has one or more machining stations ( 15, 16 ) with robots ( 18, 19, 20 ) and at least one rotation or turning station ( 5 ), which has at least two work stations ( 6, 7 ) for carrying out different operations simultaneously. The turning station ( 5 ) has at least two said multiaxially movable turning units ( 8, 9 ) arranged next to one another with said gripping tools ( 11, 12, 13 ). The working areas ( 10 ) intersect each other at the work stations ( 6, 7 ).

1 . A machining unit for the machining of workpieces, the machining unit comprising: 
 one or more machining stations each with robots including a robot with a jointing tool; and    a turning station having at least two work stations for carrying out different operations simultaneously, said turning station having at least two multiaxially movable turning units arranged next to one another with gripping tools and with movable turning units working areas, which intersect each other at said work stations, one work station being a workpiece support and another work station being a jointing station, said robot with said jointing tool being arranged with a range of operation such that said jointing tool at said jointing station performs jointing operations at said jointing station, said robot with said jointing tool permanently connecting one workpiece to another workpiece at said jointing station.    
     
     
         2 . A machining unit in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said turning units are designed as said rotatable transport robots.  
     
     
         3 . A machining unit in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said transport robots are designed as stationary or unstationary, multiaxial articulated arm robots.  
     
     
         4 . A machining unit in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said transport robots are designed as heavy-load robots with a load carrying capacity of about 500 kg or more.  
     
     
         5 . A machining unit in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said turning units carry said replaceable gripping tools for said different workpieces corresponding to different body models.  
     
     
         6 . A machining unit in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of said gripper storage units are arranged in said working area of said turning units.  
     
     
         7 . A machining unit in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said gripping tools are designed as geometry grippers, which hold said workpiece in a defined position.  
     
     
         8 . A machining unit in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein one said work station is designed as a workpiece pick-up and said other work station as a jointing welding site, one component being permanently connected to another component via welding at said jointing welding site.  
     
     
         9 . A machining unit in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said turning station with at least one said work station is connected in said transfer direction to at least one said machining station equipped with one or more said robots, wherein said work station(s) is/are located in said working area of said robots.  
     
     
         10 . A machining unit in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said machining station has at least one workpiece storage unit for a replaceable robot tools in said working area of said robots.  
     
     
         11 . A machining unit in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said machining station has one or more component feeds in said working area of said robots.  
     
     
         12 . A machining unit in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said machining station has one or more stationary machining devices in said working area of said robots.  
     
     
         13 . A machining unit in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said machining unit has a manual or automatic workpiece feed means at the inlet of transfer line and a manual or automatic workpiece storage unit at the outlet.  
     
     
         14 . A machining unit in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein said workpiece feed means and/or said workpiece storage unit forms a work station of a turning station.  
     
     
         15 . A machining unit for machining workpieces, the machining unit comprising: 
 a plurality of machining stations having multiaxially movable jointing robots with a jointing means for permanently connecting one workpiece to another workpiece, each jointing robot moving to form a defined working area;    a plurality of turning stations having at least two multiaxially movable turning units having a gripping tool head, one turning station being arranged adjacent to another turning station, each turning unit moving to form a defined working area, said working area of said turning unit overlapping said working area of said jointing robot to define at least two work stations, one work station being a workpiece pick up work station and another work station being a jointing work station, said turning unit picking up the workpiece at said workpiece pick up work station and transferring the workpiece to said jointing work station, wherein one workpiece is permanently connected to another workpiece at said jointing work station via said jointing means;    a manual or automatic feed means for presenting the workpieces to said plurality of turning stations; and    a manual or automatic removal means for removing workpieces.    
     
     
         16 . A machining unit in accordance with  claim 14 , wherein a first jointing robot is arranged adjacent to a second jointing robot such that the working area of said first jointing robot intersects with the working area of said second jointing robot and intersects with the working area of said turning unit at said jointing work station.  
     
     
         17 . A machining unit for the machining of workpieces, the machining unit comprising: 
 a first turning station having a first multiaxially movable turning unit with a first gripping tool, said first multiaxially movable turning unit being movable to define a first movable turning unit work volume;    a second turning station having a second multiaxially movable turning unit with a second gripping tool, said second movable turning unit being movable to define a second movable turning unit work volume, said first turning station being adjacent said second turning station, said first movable turning unit work volume overlapping with said second movable turning unit work volume to define a first work station for picking up the workpiece and a second work station for permanently connecting one workpiece to another workpiece, said first turning unit or said second turning station picking up the workpiece at said first work station and transferring the workpiece to said second work station;    a fixing station having a multiaxially movable fixing robot, said movable fixing robot having a means for permanently connecting one workpiece to another workpiece, said fixing robot moving to define a fixing work volume, said fixing work volume overlapping said second movable turning unit work volume at said second work station;    a manual or automatic feed means for presenting the workpieces to said first turning station.    
     
     
         18 . A machining unit in accordance with  claim 17 , further comprising a manual or automatic removal means for removing workpieces.  
     
     
         19 . A machining unit in accordance with  claim 17 , wherein one workpiece is permanently connected to another workpiece at said fixing station via rivets, screws, nails, keys, wedges or pins.  
     
     
         20 . A machining unit in accordance with  claim 17 , wherein one workpiece is permanently connected to another workpiece at said fixing station via gluing, soldering, riveting, welding or pressing.