Denso Corporation

Nippondenso Co., Ltd.

Murata Machinery, Ltd.

Masaaki Kuroyanagi

Toshihiro Okumura

Keisuke Yoshida

Manabu Koike

Takafumi Taki

Kenji Ota

In a transfer system, at least one of a plurality of process apparatuses is connected to a station as a connected process apparatus. A station control unit controls a transfer device provided in the station through a communication with a process apparatus control unit to load the processing object to the connected process apparatus from the station and to unload the processing object from the connected process apparatus to the station. The station control unit controls the transfer device to begin unloading of the processing object from the connected process apparatus to the station after receiving a signal indicative of a presence of the processing object to be unloaded from the process apparatus control unit.

Transfer system

A process-line-to-process-line transport apparatus transports a transport subject between corresponding two of process lines. A first transport vehicle transports the transport subject in a first process line, and a second transport vehicle transports the transport subject in a second process line. A relay stocking apparatus is placed in a corresponding location, at which the relay stocking apparatus receives the transport subject from one of the first transport vehicle and the second transport vehicle and passes the received transport subject to the other one of the first transport vehicle and the second transport vehicle.

Transport system

A processing equipment unit performs a predetermined process to a carried object. A case accommodates the carried object. A carrier carries the carried object in the case. An opener is configured to enable the carrier to mount the case on the opener. The opener includes an opener control unit configured to exchange a signal with the carrier to control elevation of the case. The carrier is configured to exchange a signal with the opener control unit thereby to mount the case on the opener. The opener is equipped to the processing equipment unit.

Carrier system and method for handling carried object using the same

As a basic managing pattern, each manufacturing lot containing at least one workpiece is designated as a main objective to be managed. An appropriate number of similar type manufacturing lots containing workpieces having the same work conditions in at least one work step are loaded on a carrier. Then, the carrier is transported to a batch apparatus that performs simultaneous processing or machining operation applied to the workpieces or to an apparatus that brings the workpieces into an in-process work step under the same conditions, so as to cause the workpieces contained in respective similar type manufacturing lots to pass along a plurality of manufacturing process flows. Alternatively, an appropriate number of different type manufacturing lots containing workpieces having different work conditions are loaded on a carrier. Then, the carrier is transported to an apparatus that is capable of simultaneously bringing the workpieces into in-process work steps of different conditions, so as to cause the workpieces contained in respective different type manufacturing lots to pass along a plurality of manufacturing process flows.

Manufacturing method for a plurality of manufacturing lots

A controller of a conveyance system efficiently conveys parts. The controller includes an input/output interface receiving data related to the position and loading state of data of each vehicle; receiving carry-in/out requests from each job shop; and outputting carry-in/out instructions to each vehicle. The controller also includes a ROM storing a control program; a RAM storing job shop positional data, carry-in/out requests, vehicle loading state data; and a processing section computing values of a carriage instruction (e.g., origin, destination, carrier to be carried, carrying route) given to each vehicle using the carry-in/out request data from each job shop and the data stored in the RAM based on the program stored in the ROM.

Growing community of inventors

Anjo, Japan

Masaaki Kuroyanagi