US6349237B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Reconfigurable manufacturing system having a production capacity method for designing same and method for changing its production capacity
Assignee: University of Michigan (System)
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Filing: 1998-05-27
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Granted: 2002-02-19
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Expires: 2018-05-27
Abstract
Abstract A reconfigurable manufacturing system (RMS) having an adjustable structure is designed based upon market demand and can be readily changed from a first desired production capacity to a second desired production capacity to manufacture a desired amount of products from a family of products. The RMS includes a plurality of workstations with reconfigurable machines and computerized numerically controlled (CNC) machines, a control system including a plurality of reconfigurable controllers, as well as a reconfigurable material handling system. The reconfigurable machines may be reconfigurable machine tools having reconfigurable hardware that enables conversion of the machines by, for example, relocating their spindle units. The RMS production capacity is quickly adjusted to market fluctuations in product demand. The RMS functionality is easily adapted to fabrication of new products of the same product family. The RMS possesses certain key characteristics (i.e., modularity, integrability, customization, convertability, and diagnosability) that are needed for rapid and cost-effective reconfiguration. A methodology for the design of an RMS, and a complementary methodology for changing the production capacity including reconfiguration and ramp-up of the RMS are also provided.
Inventors
- 👤 Yoram Koren
- 👤 A. Galip Ulsoy
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 03:55
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06Q; G06Q10/00; G06Q10/06; B; B23; B23Q; B23Q37/00; B23Q39/00; B23Q39/02; G06Q10/063; G06Q10/0631; G06Q10/06315
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
121 words
A reconfigurable manufacturing system (RMS) having an adjustable structure to quickly change from a first desired production capacity to a second desired production capacity to manufacture a desired mix of products from a family of products, the system comprising: a plurality of work stations including reconfigurable machines; a control system including a plurality of reconfigurable controllers for controlling the reconfigurable machines; and a reconfigurable material handling system in communication with the control system for transporting material or parts between the work stations, wherein the reconfigurable machines and controllers are modular to permit rapid and reliable integration of the machines and controllers during a change in the structure of the RMS so that the RMS will have the second desired production capacity.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
121 words
A reconfigurable manufacturing system (RMS) having an adjustable structure to quickly change from a first desired production capacity to a second desired production capacity to manufacture a desired mix of products from a family of products, the system comprising: a plurality of work stations including reconfigurable machines; a control system including a plurality of reconfigurable controllers for controlling the reconfigurable machines; and a reconfigurable material handling system in communication with the control system for transporting material or parts between the work stations, wherein the reconfigurable machines and controllers are modular to permit rapid and reliable integration of the machines and controllers during a change in the structure of the RMS so that the RMS will have the second desired production capacity.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The RMS as claimed in claim 1 wherein the adjustable structure of the RMS also allows the RMS to quickly change from a first functionality to a second functionality.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The RMS as claimed in claim 1 wherein the material handling system includes a plurality of conveyor modules for moving parts or materials between the work stations.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The RMS as claimed in claim 1 wherein the material handling system includes a plurality of wireless-controlled transport vehicles for moving parts or materials between the work stations.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
The RMS as claimed in claim 1 wherein the machines include modular machine tools.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
The RMS as claimed in claim 1 wherein the controllers include open-architecture controls.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
The RMS as claimed in claim 1 wherein the machines, the controllers and the material transport system all obey an open standard so that the machines, the controllers and the material transport system can be improved and upgraded rather than replaced.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The RMS as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least one of the machines is a CNC machine.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The RMS as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least one of the machines is a machine having reconfigurable hardware components.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The RMS as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least one of the controllers is a controller having reconfigurable software components or modules.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
37 words
The RMS as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of the controllers, the machines and the material transport system has an interface to permit rapid and reliable mechanical and electrical integration with the rest of the RMS.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
The RMS as claimed in claim 1 wherein the family of products has at least one dominant feature and wherein the controllers and the machines are customized to fit the at least one dominant feature.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
The RMS as claimed in claim 12 wherein the machines are configured to fit the at least one dominant feature.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
The RMS as claimed in claim 12 wherein each of the controllers includes control modules integrated into an open controller platform.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
The RMS as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a communication system for communicating with the machines, the controllers and the material handling system.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
34 words
The RMS as claimed in claim 15 further comprising a quality measurement system in communication with the communication system for measuring part or product quality after a change in the structure of the RMS.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
The RMS as claimed in claim 1 wherein the work stations are configured in parallel.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
15 words
The RMS as claimed in claim 1 wherein the work stations are configured in series.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
The RMS as claimed in claim 1 wherein the work stations have a hybrid configuration of serial-parallel.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
54 words
The RMS as claimed in claim 16 wherein the quality measurement system includes a plurality of sensor modules, each of the sensor modules being associated with the part being produced, or with one or more of the machines, to provide corresponding sensor information to identify errors or faults via a test or calibration part.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
22 words
The RMS as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least one of the machines includes a plurality of single axis drive modules.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
24 words
The RMS as claimed in claim 21 wherein a controller for the at least one machine is a distributed controller having high bandwidth communication.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
23 words
The RMS as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least one of the machines is capable of performing machining or other manufacturing operations.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
36 words
The RMS as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a reconfigurable system diagnostics network coupled to the controllers and the material handling system to diagnose errors or faults in the RMS for calibration of the RMS.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
96 words
A computer-implemented method for designing the reconfigurable manufacturing system (RMS) of claim 1 to have the first desired production capacity, the method comprising the steps of: storing a life cycle economic analysis program in a computer to obtain a programmed computer; utilizing the programmed computer to determine whether an RMS is needed based on product information and market forecasts; performing a system level design for the RMS if the RMS is needed to obtain requirements; and performing a machine level design for the RMS based on the requirements to obtain a final design for the RMS.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method as claimed in claim 25 wherein the step of performing the system level design includes the step of designing the RMS to include subsystems that can be readily re-integrated into different RMS configurations.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method as claimed in claim 25 wherein the step of performing the machine level design includes the step of designing each subsystem to be modular, integratable, customized, convertable, and diagnosable.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
71 words
A computer-implemented method for changing the production capacity of the RMS of claim 1 , the method comprising the steps of: monitoring market conditions for the family of products to obtain market information; determining if it is desirable to reconfigure the RMS; if it is desirable to reconfigure the RMS, reconfiguring the RMS at system and machine levels, and ramping up the reconfigured RMS to obtain the second desired production capacity.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
57 words
The method as claimed in claim 28 , wherein the step of ramping up includes the steps of: measuring the reconfigured RMS at the machine level to obtain at least one machine measurement signal; processing the at least one machine measurement signal to obtain a diagnostic signal; and modifying the reconfigured RMS based on the diagnostic signal.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
62 words
The method as claimed in claim 29 wherein the step of ramping up further includes the steps of: operating the reconfigured RMS to obtain a product; measuring the product to obtain at least one product measurement signal; processing the at least one product measurement signal to obtain a second diagnostic signal; and modifying the reconfigured RMS based on the second diagnostic signal.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-02-18 | 2005-08-20 | 2006-02-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-02-18 | 2009-08-20 | 2010-02-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-02-18 | 2013-08-20 | 2014-02-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |