 In early 2004, a major U.S. automotive manufacturing facility
installed a new laser guided automatic guided vehicle system to transport heavy sheets or blanks of metal to and from
the stamping area. These AGVs can carry up to six metric tons.
The new AGV System replaced an outdated wire guided system that was installed in the infancy of the plant. With the
original system, changes in guidepath were not easily achieved because the floor had to be cut and new wire installed.
Additionally, parts had become increasingly hard to find.
The three new AGVs are laser guided and can easily accommodate guidepath alterations, achieved in a matter of minutes.
Each vehicle is equipped with a roller deck type conveyor.
Used to transfer loads from vehicle to conveyor station, the AGVs carry sheets of blanks or metal from storage areas to
the five presses or stamping machines. Each press contains four staging conveyors, for delivery of blanks and pickup of
leftover-stacked blanks. At the presses, blanks are stamped into automotive parts such as hoods, trunks and side panels.
The AGVs are standard equipped with a unique point-and-click feature for guidepath changes as well as laser bumpers from SICK.
All AGV moves are operator initiated. AGV Products' TRACE Control System provides the necessary intelligence to turn
materials movement requests into specific instructions for the AGVs. When not in use, the AGVs return to a home position
and automatically recharge their battery by connecting to an in-floor opportunity charging system. |
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| Project Type: |
Metal Blanks for Automotive Body Parts |
| Number of Vehicles: |
(3) Odyssey Model UL-10 |
| Load Capacity: |
6 Metric Tons |
| Special Features: |
Point & Click Guidepath Change Interface
On-Board Roller Deck Conveyor
Automatic Battery Charging
Laser Bumper System |
|
 View
PDF Document for this Project - [1.51MB] |
