Keywords
Citation
(2002), "KUKA robot cell sets eyes on assembly task for Jaguar", Industrial Robot, Vol. 29 No. 6. https://doi.org/10.1108/ir.2002.04929faf.008
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2002, MCB UP Limited
KUKA robot cell sets eyes on assembly task for Jaguar
KUKA robot cell sets eyes on assembly task for Jaguar
Keywords: Automotive, Glass
A KUKA robot cell featuring an intuitive vision guidance system is being used in the assembly of rear windscreens for Jaguar’s re-modelled S-Type executive saloon car (see Plate 7).
The high-tech vision system is part of a cell containing a KUKA KR125 robot which solders contacts onto the rear windscreen glass housing the elements for the vehicle’s communication and navigation equipment.
Plate 7
The KUKA robotcell assembling rear windscreens for Jaguars S-Type
The system performs a vital role in the assembly process at Pilkington’s plant in Kings Norton, Birmingham, as there are four variations of rear windscreen glass produced by Pilkington for the various versions of the car.
After the windscreen is loaded manually onto an input conveyor, it passes through the vision guidance device which reads a fiducial mark on the glass and communicates the version of windscreen to the robot via KUKA’s computerised handheld control panel.
The robot then picks up the windscreen and transfers it to a work station where a number of contacts are soldered onto the glass before it is placed onto an output conveyor.
The cell also includes a fault diagnosis warning system which is triggered if a contact has not been soldered correctly onto the glass.
“KUKA has transformed a simple handling task by adding a highly-efficient, self- verifying, vision guidance system, which has brought a number of important benefits for Pilkington and jaguar”, explained Brett Green, KUKA UK’s general sales manager.
“The KUKA robot has not only automated the soldering process, which previously involved the manual application of the contacts onto the screen, but also enabled the assembly and glass supply operation to fit the build order requirements of jaguar”, he added.
The project is the latest automotive application by KUKA, the UK’s leading supplier of automated production systems and high technology industrial robots capable of handling payloads from 3 kg up to 500 kg.
KUKA, based in Halesowen, offers full turn key packages ranging from single robot cells for welding, handling, cutting or adhesive laying applications to machine tending systems and palletising solutions as well as fully integrated robot transfer lines for the automotive industry.
Further information on KUKA robots can be obtained online at www.kuka.co.uk or KUKA, Hereward Rise, Halesowen, West Midlands. B62 8AN. Tel: 0121 585 0800; E-mail: sales@kuka.co.uk