Patent ID: 6070320
Filing Date: 2000-06-06
Classification: B23P,B62D,Y10T

Abstract:
An assembly plant, comprising:a central portion;a conveying device having a travel path defined by at least three interconnected substantially U-shaped conveying loops, with each of the U-shaped conveying loops including:(i) a conveying pair, with each conveying pair comprising two substantially equal part lengths arranged parallel and adjacent to one another, with a first of the lengths traveling from a first end to a second end away from said central portion, and a second of the lengths traveling from a third end to a fourth end toward said central portion; and(ii) an intermediate length interconnecting the substantially equal part lengths of each of the conveying pairs, respectively, wherein each of the intermediate lengths travels from the second end to the third end of the equal part lengths of each of the conveying pairs, respectively;a main assembly shop housing said conveying device, wherein the main assembly shop has a floor plan that corresponds in shape to said conveying device, whereby the main assembly shop has sections respectively enclosing said U-shaped conveying loops, such that each of said sections extends substantially radially from said central portion with adjacent ones of said sections defining a radially diverging space therebetween;a plurality of work stations arranged along said conveying device;a plurality of separate assembly shops in which relatively large and relatively complex product parts are assembled, which product parts are to be supplied to first assembly points, respectively, on said conveying device, wherein at least some of the separate assembly shops are located in at least one of the radially diverging spaces in immediate proximity to said main assembly shop, respectively;a component store in which components are stored which require minimal or no pre-assembly, wherein the component store is located within one of the radially diverging spaces in immediate proximity to said main assembly shop;a plurality of auxiliary stores in which large components are stored, the stores being located one of non-centrally in, at and next to said main assembly shop respectively near second assembly points on said conveying device; anda feeder system interconnecting each of said separate assembly shops and each of said auxiliary stores, with one of said work stations, respectively.