SME MS910292

THIS PAPER PROPOSES A METHOD TO ASSEMBLE AIR COMPRESSOR/FLASHLIGHT UNITS WITH AN AUTOMATED SYSTEM. THE AUTOMATED SYSTEM CONSISTS OF FOUR ROBOTS, A PROGRAMMABLE LOGIC CONTROLLER, A VISION SYSTEM, AND A CONVEYOR. THE UNITS CONSIST OF 15 COMPONENTS. EACH OF THE FOUR ROBOTS WILL ASSEMBLY A PORTION OF THESE COMPONENTS AND THE PROCESS WILL INCLUDE INSPECTION FOR QUALITY CONTROL. THE AUTHORS BELIEVE THAT THIS PROCESS HAS NEVER BEFORE BEEN ACCOMPLISHED IN INDUSTRY; HOWEVER, THIS AUTOMATED ASSEMBLY PROCESS WILL BE IMPLEMENTED DURING THE SPRING OF 1991 AT LAKE SUPERIOR STATE UNIVERSITY.