Patent ID: 7168548

Claim:
A production line for machining of shaft-like workpieces in machining operations, characterized in that the production line is subdivided into a plurality of decoupling modules, each decoupling module is provided to feed individual workpieces deposited in a plurality of addressable pallets to at least one of a plurality of similar or different machining operations, individual decoupling modules are combined with one another both in and counter to the direction of the production line, at the beginning of the production line, the decoupling module is connected to art infeed device for pallets containing workpieces to be machined and at the end of the production line the decoupling module is connected to a removal device for pallets containing machined workpieces; wherein each decoupling module is provided with a pallet accumulator in which a plurality of bays, each for receiving one pallet containing workpieces, is disposed one above the other in direction of the production line; wherein in direction of the production line a rack servicing unit is assigned to a first long side of the pallet accumulator whereas, transverse to the direction of the production line at least one transfer carriage and one machining operation are assigned to a second long side of the pallet accumulator and a transfer belt to a following decoupling module is assigned to at least one of the two ends of the pallet accumulator; wherein the rack servicing unit is equipped with a controller, upon the command signal of which the rack control unit can be moved forward and back on at least one horizontal guide along the pallet accumulator in the direction of the production line and can also be moved up and down in vertical direction and can be positioned in front of each bay of the pallet accumulator in a manner corresponding to the respective address of a pallet, and also is provided with a device, by means of which a pallet can be removed from its bay and deposited in a bay.