CN117506824A - Method and processing station for connecting components of a vehicle body - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and a processing station for connecting components of a vehicle body. The invention relates to a processing station (1) and a method for connecting a first component (101) to a second component (102) in the processing station (1), wherein a workpiece holder (4) is moved into a geometric clamping station (2) of the processing station (1), wherein a clamping gripper (3) of the processing station (1) is moved in a first movement and the workpiece holder (4) moved into the geometric clamping station (2) is simultaneously moved in a second movement in each case from an initial position (PS 1, PW 1) to a connection position (P2), in which connection position (P2) the first component (101) is connected to the second component (102).

Description

Method and processing station for connecting components of a vehicle body

Technical Field

The invention relates to a method for connecting, in particular joining, a first component of a vehicle body to a second component of the vehicle body in a processing station, wherein a workpiece holder is moved into a geometric clamping station of the processing station. In this context, the second component or a component assembly comprising the first component and the second component is provided in particular on the workpiece holder.

Background

In the prior art, for example, EP 1 890,929 b1 discloses a method for assembling components of a vehicle body in a processing station having a geometric clamping device, which is referred to herein as a geometric box.

The invention also relates to a processing station for connecting, in particular joining, a first component of a vehicle body to a second component of the vehicle body, comprising a geometric clamping station and a clamping gripper, wherein the clamping gripper is arranged on a movably configured support unit which is movable in a first direction of movement by means of a first drive unit, and wherein the geometric clamping station has a receiving unit configured to receive a workpiece holder.

These processing stations are used, for example, for clamping vehicle body parts in defined precise positions, i.e. connection positions, and in particular for subsequently final connection of the body parts by means of a joining process. The joining process may be welding, adhesive bonding, staking or other staking. Clamping fixtures are used in processes for precisely positioning one body component, such as a side wall, on another body component, such as a floor assembly. Here, one or more such holding jigs can be carried around or stored in the storage area and displaced or transported by means of a feeding device to the operating area and back. In this context, the clamping grippers are used in the prior art in particular for moving a body component, which has been temporarily positioned on a second body component by means of a rope or clamping element in a preceding assembly step, into a final position defined by the configuration, wherein the second component is held in the geometric clamping station by a workpiece holder. The workpiece holders, also called sliders, are moved in the process, typically by roller tracks, into a geometric clamping station.

It is also known to construct the clamping fixture as an upright, substantially flat support frame on which a plurality of activatable clamping fixtures are held, by means of which the body parts are mutually supported at predetermined points for engagement at the predetermined points. It is particularly known in the art that a clamping fixture for supporting a vehicle body component comprises a clamping group which can be pivoted by means of a pivoting unit, wherein the clamping group can be moved in a threaded manner by means of the pivoting unit in order to be able to position the clamping group for supporting the component appropriately. It is also particularly known that such clamping jigs can have clamping groups which can be pivoted by means of pivoting units.

In the prior art, it is disadvantageous that the treatment stations or the known methods for connecting the components provide that the first component is provided on the front side of the second component, in particular that the components are connected at a fixed connection angle of 180 °. Therefore, the use of such treatment stations is limited in the event of deviations in the geometry of the vehicle body. Furthermore, in the treatment stations known in the prior art, it is disadvantageous that the pivoting unit for pivoting the clamping group can eventually be very large and heavy. Furthermore, since the pivoting unit generally has to be provided at the upper end of the clamping jaw, and thus at the end facing away from the supporting unit, and thus in a head-to-foot arrangement, this often results in an unfavourable distribution of the center of gravity, which potentially has a negative effect on the service life of the treatment station. While a slower displacement of the clamping jig does increase the service life, this has a negative impact on the cycle time.

Disclosure of Invention

Against this background, it is an object of the invention to improve a method for connecting a first component of a vehicle body to a second component of the vehicle body in a treatment station comprising a geometrical clamping station and a clamping fixture, and to improve such a treatment station. In particular, a connection angle deviating from the connection angle of 180 ° is achieved, whereby the connection angle is preferably adaptable. It is also advantageous that the disadvantages of a pivoting unit of a clamping group arranged in a head-to-foot light manner will be avoided.

To achieve this object, a method and a processing station for joining a first component to a second component are proposed according to several aspects of the invention. Other advantageous embodiments of the invention are described in the further aspects and the description of the invention and are illustrated in the figures.

The proposed solution provides a method for connecting, in particular joining, a first component to a second component in a processing station, wherein a workpiece holder is moved into a geometric clamping station of the processing station, a clamping gripper of the processing station being moved in a first movement and a workpiece holder moved into the geometric clamping station being moved in a second movement in each case from an initial position to a connecting position, in particular simultaneously from the initial position to the connecting position. The first part is then connected to the second part in a connection position, wherein the first direction of movement of the first movement and the second direction of movement of the second movement are not parallel.

In particular, it is provided that the clamping jaw is moved from its initial position into the connecting position in a horizontal movement as the first movement. The workpiece holder is moved in a vertical movement as a second movement, in particular from its initial position to the connecting position. The first movement is advantageously performed at a first speed and the second movement is advantageously performed at a second speed. It is particularly provided that the first speed is a different speed than the second speed. It is also advantageous if an angle is defined at which the clamping jaw and the workpiece holder will reach the connecting position, wherein in the defined first direction of movement and in the defined second direction of movement the first speed and the second speed are determined such that the clamping jaw and the workpiece holder reach the connecting position at the defined angle. The definition of the angle is in particular made with respect to a previously established reference plane. The ground on which the processing station is located can be established here in particular as a reference plane.

According to a further advantageous embodiment, a movement sequence is defined, according to which the clamping jaw and the workpiece holder are to be brought into the connecting position, wherein in a defined first movement direction and in a defined second movement direction the first speed and the second speed are determined such that the clamping jaw and the workpiece holder are brought into the connecting position according to the defined movement sequence.

In order to achieve the object mentioned at the outset, a method for connecting, in particular joining, a first component, in particular a first vehicle body component, to a second component, in particular a second vehicle body component, in a treatment station is provided, wherein the first component is moved into a clamping fixture of the treatment station; the first component is fixed in the clamp; the second component is moved on the workpiece holder into a geometric clamping station of the processing station; and the clamping jaw with the first component is moved in a first movement and the workpiece holder with the second component is moved in a second movement simultaneously in each case from the initial position to the connecting position, wherein the first movement direction of the first movement and the second movement direction of the second movement are advantageously not parallel. In the connected position, the first and second parts are advantageously supported and connected with respect to each other; once the connection position is reached, welding may in particular be provided.

In this embodiment of the method, the first movement of the clamping jaw is thus advantageously initiated in order to advance from the initial position of the clamping jaw. The second movement of the workpiece holder advantageously starts in order to advance from the initial position of the workpiece holder. The respective initial position is advantageously established in advance. The first component may in particular be an outer skin or a side panel of the vehicle body. The second component may in particular be a floor assembly of a vehicle body. Since the first direction of movement of the first movement and the second direction of movement of the second movement are advantageously not parallel, the joining together of the first part and the second part advantageously takes place at a joining angle deviating from 180 °. In this way, the first component is advantageously not provided on the front side of the second component, as in the case of a connection angle of 180 °, but the first component is advantageously provided obliquely with respect to the second component. It is therefore advantageous to provide the first part with an undercut and to provide it simply obliquely to the second part, in particular if the second part does not have to be redirected in the workpiece holder. The second component can advantageously be arranged to be oriented in the same way in the workpiece holder, irrespective of the desired connection angle. The workpiece holder, in particular the slide, is advantageously moved into the geometric clamping station by means of the roller track, wherein the workpiece holder advantageously already supports the second component in this case, but in particular does not support the first component in this variant of the method. In particular in the production of electric vehicles, new geometries are emerging in the components of the vehicle body, since battery trays for receiving battery modules of electric vehicles make other geometries advantageous or even necessary, which have not been used in vehicles with internal combustion engines, for example.

An advantageous development of the method provides that the clamping jaw with the first part is moved as a horizontal movement of the first movement from its initial position to the connecting position. In particular, it is provided that the clamping jaw with the first part can be moved exclusively in a horizontal movement. By displacing the clamping jaw by means of a horizontal movement, the first component is advantageously moved into a geometric clamping station in which the connection with the second component takes place in particular. Performing a horizontal movement is advantageously easy to implement, since, as is known in the art, such a horizontal movement is also performed when the components of the vehicle body are connected front side.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the method, the workpiece holder with the second component is moved in a vertical movement as a second movement, in particular from its initial position to the connection position by means of a lifting element, which advantageously displaces the workpiece holder with the second component vertically. The first construction element is thus advantageously displaced horizontally with respect to the second construction element, while the second construction element is advantageously displaced vertically at the same time, whereby the first and second parts advantageously converge at a connection angle different from 180 ° and thus converge obliquely. Advantageously, the vertical movement is easy to control. Advantageously, the second component or the workpiece holder supporting the second component, respectively, does not have to be tilted to obtain the desired connection angle.

Also advantageously, the first movement is performed at a first speed and the second movement is performed at a second speed. The starting point of the respective movement is here the respective initial position. The first speed and the second speed may be the same or different, but in particular the first and second parts are brought to the connection position simultaneously. The speed profile, in particular the first speed profile for the first speed and the second speed profile for the second speed, can in particular be defined in each case for the first speed at which the first component is moved in the first direction of movement by the clamping gripper and/or for the second speed at which the second component is moved in the second direction of movement by the workpiece holder. By performing a movement of the first part in the first direction of movement and a movement of the second part in the second direction of movement, different connection angles can advantageously be achieved by adjusting the first speed and/or the second speed only. Advantageously, the first and second movement directions remain unchanged during this process, which advantageously simplifies the basic design of the drive unit and is therefore cost-effective.

In particular, a connection angle is defined at which the first and the second component are to converge, wherein in the defined first and in the defined second direction of movement the first and the second speed are determined such that the first and the second component arrive at the connection position at the defined connection angle. In this process, the first part is in particular always moved in the horizontal direction and the second part is in particular always moved in the vertical direction. Once the connection position has been reached, the first and second parts are advantageously connected to each other by means of a joining process.

It is also provided in particular that a movement sequence is defined, according to which the first and second components are to converge, wherein in a defined first movement direction and in a defined second movement direction the first and second speeds are determined such that the first and second components are moved to the connecting position according to the defined movement sequence. The motion sequence may be defined here in particular by a sequence of points, in particular for a control unit controlling the method. The motion sequence may in particular be a motion profile, a linear motion or a segmented motion. The first part here moves in particular in the horizontal direction and the second part moves in particular in the vertical direction. Once the connection position has been reached, the first and second parts are advantageously connected to each other by means of a joining process.

A further advantageous embodiment provides that an adhesive is applied to the connection face of the first component which contacts the second component when the first component is connected to the second component before being moved to the connection position. Alternatively or additionally, it may be provided that an adhesive is applied to the connection face of the second component which contacts the first component when the first component is connected to the second component, before being moved to the connection position. Due to the fact that the connection angle can advantageously be defined appropriately, the applied adhesive is advantageously not soiled when the components are joined.

It is also advantageously provided that the first part is moved into the clamping fixture by means of an automated machine. In this respect, the first component is not attached to the second component, in particular by a string or a clamp, before being connected or joined. The clamping jaw is advantageously in the receiving position when the first component is moved into the clamping jaw and secured therein. The clamping jig is then advantageously moved with the first component from the receiving position to the initial position. In this case, the receiving position is advantageously located in front of the initial position in terms of space. A variant may also provide that the receiving position coincides with the initial position.

A further advantageous embodiment of the method provides that the third component is moved into a further holding fixture of the processing station and is fixed in the further holding fixture. In order to connect the third component to the second component, the same method steps are then performed as already mentioned in the context of the clamping jig, which is referred to below as the first clamping jig, as already described, in terms of the other clamping jig. This means that the further holding clamp with the third component is in particular also moved in a third movement and the workpiece carrier with the second component is in each case simultaneously moved in a second movement from the initial position to the connecting position in which the third component is then connected to the second component, wherein the third movement direction of the third movement and the second movement direction of the second movement are in particular not parallel. The other clamping jaw preferably moves in a synchronized manner with the first clamping jaw. In this way, the left side panel of the vehicle body and the right side panel of the vehicle body can be connected to the body in particular in a synchronized manner.

As a further advantageous variant of the invention for achieving the object mentioned at the outset, a method for connecting, in particular joining, a first component, in particular a first vehicle body component, to a second component, in particular a second vehicle body component, in a treatment station is proposed, wherein the second component and the first component form a component assembly, which is temporarily arranged on the second component, and which is moved on a workpiece holder into a geometric clamping station of the treatment station. The clamping jaws of the processing station with the clamping groups are then moved in a first movement and the workpiece holders with the component assemblies in a second movement in each case from the initial position to the connection position. The first direction of movement of the first movement of the clamping jaw and the second direction of movement of the second movement of the workpiece holder are non-parallel. In the connected position, the clamping fixture is fixed by a fixing element or a plurality of fixing elements of the geometrical clamping station. In the connected position, the first and second parts are advantageously supported relative to each other and then joined together; once the connection position has been reached, welding can in particular be provided. In particular, the first component is temporarily positioned on the second component by means of a rope or a clamp as a temporary arrangement. In particular, the clamping device can have not only one clamping group but also a plurality of clamping groups. Accordingly, the following description of the clamping jig having clamping groups applies in a similar manner to clamping jigs having a plurality of clamping groups, and in particular to clamping jigs also having a plurality of pivoting units.

In this embodiment of the method, the first movement of the clamping jaw is advantageously started in order to advance from the initial position of the clamping jaw. The second movement of the workpiece holder advantageously starts in order to advance from the initial position of the workpiece holder. The respective initial position is advantageously established in advance. The first component may in particular be an outer skin or a side panel of the vehicle body. The second component may in particular be a floor assembly of a vehicle body. Since the first direction of movement of the first movement and the second direction of movement of the second movement are advantageously not parallel, the convergence of the clamping group of the clamping jaws and the component assembly provided on the workpiece holder advantageously takes place at an angle deviating from 180 °. In this way, the clamping group advantageously does not move only front towards the component assembly as in the case of an angle of 180 °. In contrast, the clamping group advantageously converges obliquely to the component group as a result of the overall sequence of movements of the first movement and the second movement. Thus, advantageously, the pivoting unit for pivoting the clamping group can be omitted, since the clamping group can advantageously avoid "obstacles", such as body elements protruding on the way to the connection position, due to the overall sequence of movements of the first and second movements. It is provided in particular that the clamping jaw and the workpiece holder are moved simultaneously into the connecting position.

The component assemblies may advantageously be arranged to be oriented in the same way in the workpiece holder, irrespective of the desired angle at which the clamping jig or clamping group with component assemblies will converge. The workpiece holder, in particular the slide, is advantageously moved by the roller track into the geometric clamping station, wherein the workpiece holder advantageously already supports the component assembly.

An advantageous embodiment of the method provides that the clamping jaw is moved from its initial position into the connecting position in a horizontal movement as the first movement. In particular, the clamping device can be moved exclusively in a horizontal movement. Advantageously, performing a horizontal movement is easy to perform, since, as is known in the art, such a horizontal movement is also performed when connecting components of the vehicle body in the processing station.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the method, the workpiece holder with the component assembly is moved as a second movement in a vertical movement, in particular by means of a lifting element, which advantageously displaces the workpiece holder with the component assembly vertically, from its initial position to the connection position. In this way, the clamping jaws with the clamping groups are advantageously moved horizontally into the treatment station, while the component assemblies are simultaneously advantageously displaced vertically, so that the clamping jaws or the clamping groups of clamping jaws and the component assemblies advantageously converge at an angle other than 180 ° so as to converge obliquely. Advantageously, the vertical movement is easy to control. Advantageously, the component assembly or the workpiece holder supporting the component assembly, respectively, does not have to be tilted to obtain the angle required for convergence.

Furthermore, the first movement is advantageously performed at a first speed and the second movement is performed at a second speed. The respective initial position is here the starting point of the respective movement. The first speed and the second speed may be the same or different. However, in particular, the first speed and the second speed are determined such that the clamping jig or clamping set and the component assembly arrive at the connection position simultaneously. The speed profile, in particular the first speed profile for the first speed and the second speed profile for the second speed, may in particular be defined in each case for the first speed at which the clamping gripper moves in the first direction of movement and/or for the second speed at which the component assembly moves in the second direction of movement by the workpiece holder. By performing a movement of the clamping jig in the first direction of movement and a movement of the component assembly in the second direction of movement, different angles at which the clamping jig or clamping group converges with the component assembly can advantageously be obtained by adjusting the first speed and/or the second speed only. The first and second movement directions advantageously remain unchanged during this process, which advantageously simplifies the basic design of the drive unit and is therefore cost-effective.

In particular, it is provided that an angle is defined at which the clamping group and the component assembly of the clamping fixture are to converge, wherein in the defined first direction of movement and in the defined second direction of movement the first speed and the second speed are determined such that the clamping group and the component assembly arrive at the connection position at the defined angle. In particular, the clamping jaw is here always moved in the horizontal direction and the component assembly is always moved in the vertical direction. Once the connection position has been reached, the first and second parts are advantageously connected to each other by means of a joining process.

It is also provided in particular that a movement sequence is defined, according to which the clamping groups and the component assemblies of the clamping jaws are to converge, wherein in a defined first movement direction and in a defined second movement direction the first speed and the second speed are determined such that the clamping groups and the component assemblies arrive at the connection position according to the defined movement sequence. The motion sequence may in particular be defined by a sequence of points, in particular for a control unit controlling the method. The motion sequence may in particular be a motion profile, a linear motion or a segmented motion. The clamping jaw is moved in particular in a horizontal direction, and the workpiece holder with the component assembly is moved in particular in a vertical direction. Once the connection position has been reached, the first and second parts are advantageously connected to each other by means of a joining process.

It is provided in particular that the clamping group does not perform a relative movement with respect to the clamping jaw, and therefore the clamping group is not pivoted in particular, apart from the movement of the clamping jaw, in order to reach the connection position. Thus, the pivoting unit for pivoting the clamping group relative to the clamping jaw is advantageously dispensed with.

A further advantageous embodiment of the method provides that the component assembly comprises a third component which is temporarily arranged on the second component, in particular the third component is temporarily arranged on the second component by means of a rope or a clamp. In this case, the further clamping jaw of the processing station with the further clamping group is moved in a third movement from its initial position and the workpiece holder with the component assembly is moved in a second movement from its initial position to the connecting position, in particular simultaneously, wherein the further clamping jaw is held in the connecting position by a further holding element of the geometric clamping station, and wherein, with respect to the further clamping jaw, the same method steps as mentioned in the context of the previously mentioned clamping jaw, also referred to as first clamping jaw, are carried out. This means that the further clamping jaw is in particular also moved in a third movement and the workpiece holder with the component assembly in a second movement simultaneously in each case from the initial position to the connecting position, in which the third component is then joined to the second component, wherein the third movement direction of the third movement and the second movement direction of the second movement are in particular not parallel. The other clamping jaw preferably moves in a synchronized manner with the first clamping jaw. In this way, the left side panel of the vehicle body and the right side panel of the vehicle body can be connected to the body in particular in a synchronized manner.

In order to achieve the object mentioned at the outset, a further processing station for connecting, in particular joining, a first component of a vehicle body to a second component of the vehicle body comprises a geometric clamping station and a clamping gripper, wherein the clamping gripper is arranged on a moving support unit which can be moved in a first direction of movement by means of a first drive unit. The geometric clamping station further has a receiving unit which is configured to receive the workpiece holder, wherein the receiving unit is assigned a second drive unit by means of which the receiving unit can be moved in a second direction of movement. The first direction of movement and the second direction of movement are not parallel here. The processing station is also assigned a control unit configured to control the first and second drive units such that the clamping jig and the workpiece holder are moved to the connection position.

The support unit is advantageously configured to be moved by means of the first drive unit in a horizontal direction as a first movement direction. The receiving unit is advantageously also configured to be moved in a vertical direction as a second movement direction by means of a second drive unit, in particular by means of a lifting unit. The processing station is preferably configured to perform the method designed according to the invention.

In order to achieve the object mentioned at the outset, a processing station for connecting, in particular joining, a first component of a vehicle body to a second component of the vehicle body is provided, which processing station comprises a geometric clamping station and a clamping fixture. In this variant, the clamping jaw is configured to receive the first component and is arranged on a moving support unit, wherein the support unit is movable in a first direction of movement by means of a first drive unit. Thus, the first component received by the clamping jaw may advantageously be moved in the first direction of movement. In this variant, the geometric clamping station of the processing station has a receiving unit which is configured to receive a workpiece holder which supports the second component. The receiving unit is here assigned a second drive unit, by means of which the receiving unit can be moved in a second direction of movement. The first direction of movement and the second direction of movement are advantageously not parallel here. The processing stations are also assigned control units. In particular, the processing station comprises a control unit. The control unit is in particular an electronic control unit, which is in particular a correspondingly assigned computer unit, in particular a microcontroller unit. The control unit is configured to control the first and second drive units such that the first component received by the clamping fixture and the second component received by the receiving unit through the workpiece holder are simultaneously moved to a connection position in which the first component is connected, in particular joined, to the second component. The treatment station advantageously makes it possible in this way to define different connection angles at which the construction element is to be moved to the connection position for the subsequent engagement of the construction element. The first construction element is in particular a side panel of a vehicle body or an outer skin of a side panel of a vehicle body. The second component is in particular a substrate or a floor assembly of a vehicle body.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the treatment station, the support unit is configured to be moved, in particular to the receiving unit, by means of the first drive unit in a horizontal direction as a first movement direction. The first component received by the clamping jaw can thus advantageously be moved into the geometric clamping station in a horizontal movement. In particular, the support unit is a horizontally displaceable slide.

A further advantageous embodiment of the treatment station provides that the receiving unit is configured to be moved in a vertical direction as a second direction of movement by means of a second drive unit, in particular by means of a lifting unit. In particular, the receiving unit is arranged on the lifting unit. The receiving unit may in particular be part of the lifting unit.

The processing station is advantageously configured to perform the method constructed according to the present invention. The processing station may here also comprise, in particular, a user interface for defining the connection angle and/or the sequence of movements by a user. Furthermore, the processing station may in particular comprise a robot by means of which the first component can be moved into the clamping fixture. Furthermore, the geometrical clamping station may advantageously comprise a roller track or a roller track section, by means of which the second component may advantageously be moved into the geometrical clamping station. In particular, it is provided that the roller track sections are arranged on the lifting element. The treatment station may also in particular comprise at least one further clamping fixture by means of which a further component can be arranged on the second component.

Furthermore, in order to achieve the object mentioned at the outset, a processing station for joining a first component of a vehicle body to a second component of the vehicle body is provided, wherein the second component and the first component form a component assembly, the first component being temporarily arranged on the second component. The processing station comprises a geometrical clamping station, a clamping fixture with a clamping group and at least one fixing element for fixing the clamping fixture in a connecting position. In this case, it is also provided in particular that the clamping device can have not only one clamping group but also a plurality of clamping groups. The clamping device is arranged on a movable support unit, wherein the support unit can be moved in a first direction of movement by means of a first drive unit. The geometric clamping station of the processing station has a receiving unit configured to receive a workpiece holder supporting the component assembly. The receiving unit is assigned a second drive unit, by means of which the receiving unit can be moved in a second direction of movement. The first direction of movement and the second direction of movement are advantageously not parallel here. Furthermore, the processing stations are assigned control units. In particular, the processing station comprises a control unit. The control unit is here in particular an electronic control unit, which is in particular a correspondingly assigned computer unit, in particular a microcontroller unit. The control unit is configured to control the first and second drive units such that the clamping group of the clamping jig and the component assembly received by the receiving unit via the workpiece holder are moved to a connecting position, in particular simultaneously to the connecting position, wherein the first component can be joined, in particular welded, to the second component in the connecting position. In this way, the processing station advantageously makes it possible to define different angles at which the clamping groups and the component assemblies will converge. The first construction element is in particular a side panel of a vehicle body or an outer skin of a side panel of a vehicle body. The second component is in particular a substrate or a floor assembly of a vehicle body.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the support unit is configured to be moved by means of the first drive unit in a horizontal direction as a first movement direction, in particular in a horizontal direction relative to the receiving unit. In particular, the support unit is a horizontally displaceable slide.

A further advantageous embodiment of the treatment station provides that the receiving unit is configured to be moved in a vertical direction as a second direction of movement by means of a second drive unit, in particular by means of a lifting unit. In particular, the receiving unit is arranged on the lifting unit. The receiving unit may in particular be part of the lifting unit.

The processing station is advantageously configured to perform the method constructed according to the present invention. The processing station may here also comprise, inter alia, a user interface for defining the angle at which the clamping group and the component assembly are to converge and/or the sequence of movements of the user. Furthermore, the processing station may in particular also comprise a robot by means of which the component can be temporarily positioned relative to the component assembly. Furthermore, the geometric clamping station may advantageously comprise a roller track or a roller track section, by means of which the component assembly to be joined can advantageously be moved into the geometric clamping station. In particular, it is provided that the roller track sections are arranged on the lifting element. According to an alternative embodiment, the component assembly can also be lifted to the respective height by means of roller tracks, in particular by means of correspondingly configured clamping mechanisms on the lifting elements. Furthermore, the processing station may in particular comprise at least one further clamping fixture by means of which the further component of the component assembly can be clamped in the connecting position in order to connect the further component and the second component by joining, in particular by welding.

The clamping jaw has advantageously no pivoting unit for pivoting the clamping group relative to the clamping jaw. Thanks to the displaceability of the clamping jaw and the workpiece holder provided according to the invention, the pivoting unit or the pivotable clamping group is advantageously dispensed with. In this way, a weight-saving clamping fixture can be used advantageously. Furthermore, an installation space is advantageously obtained, which can be used in particular for the use of mechanical welding guns. In this way, more welding points can advantageously be realized when joining the components, which in each case advantageously improves the connection of the components or can be used to shorten the cycle time.

Drawings

Further advantageous details, features and details of the invention will be explained in more detail in the context of exemplary embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings (figures: drawings), in which:

FIG. 1a shows a known prior art treatment station in a simplified side view in an initial position;

fig. 1b shows the treatment station according to fig. 1a in a connected position in a simplified side view;

fig. 2a shows an exemplary embodiment of a treatment station constructed according to the invention in a receiving position for a first component in a simplified side view;

Fig. 2b shows the treatment station according to fig. 2a in the initial position in a simplified side view;

fig. 2c shows the treatment station according to fig. 2a in a connected position in a simplified side view;

3 a-3 e illustrate an exemplary embodiment for defining first and second speeds for moving the first and second components to the connected position;

FIG. 4a illustrates a series of problems when joining two components at a connection angle of 180;

fig. 4b shows joining two parts at a connection angle different from 180 ° based on the method configured according to the invention;

fig. 5a shows a simplified side view of a further treatment station known from the prior art in an initial position;

FIG. 5b shows in simplified side view a clamping fixture with pivotable clamping groups in a processing station known in the prior art;

FIG. 5c shows in simplified side view a clamping fixture with pivotable clamping groups in a processing station known in the prior art;

FIG. 6a illustrates another exemplary embodiment of a processing station in an initial position constructed in accordance with the present invention in a simplified side view;

fig. 6b shows the treatment station according to fig. 6a in the connected position in a simplified side view;

FIG. 6c shows a clamping fixture with clamping groups for the processing station according to FIG. 6a in a simplified side view; and

fig. 7 a-7 e illustrate an exemplary embodiment for defining a first speed and a second speed for moving the clamping jig and component assembly to the connection position.

Detailed Description

In the various figures, identical components are generally provided with the same reference numerals and are therefore occasionally explained in the context of only one of the figures. In particular, a first variant of the invention is explained with reference to fig. 1a to 4b, and a second variant of the invention is explained with reference to fig. 5a to 7 e.

In fig. 1a treatment station 1 is shown, which is known from the prior art, with a geometrical clamping station 2 and a clamping fixture 3 displaceable in a horizontal direction BR 1. Here, the side panel 101 as a first component is attached to the body 102 as a second component by clamps before moving the construction elements 101, 102 into the geometrical clamping station 2. In the process, the body using the slide as the workpiece holder 4 is moved into the geometric clamping station 2 by means of the roller track 12 with the elevation 11. Then, the clamping jaw 3 is displaced in the horizontal direction BR1 towards the geometrical clamping station 2 and is supported on the geometrical clamping station 2 on the fixing element 13, as shown in fig. 1 b. Then, the clamp jig 3 clamps the vehicle body 102 and the side panel 101 in the connection position, and starts the welding process for connecting the side panel 101 to the vehicle body 102. It is particularly problematic here that the side panel 101 with undercut 111 as shown in fig. 4b cannot be connected to the vehicle body 102 in this way by such a horizontal movement BR1 of the clamping jaw 3 at a connection angle VA of 180 °, as shown in fig. 1a and 1 b.

This problem can be solved by defining a connection angle VA as shown in fig. 4b that is different from 180 °, in such a way that the side panel 101 and the body 102 are connected in the connection position. A method and a processing station suitable for connecting side panel 101 as a first component to body 102 as a second component, even when such undercut 111 is present, will be explained in more detail with reference to fig. 2a to 2 c.

Fig. 2a shows here an exemplary embodiment of a processing station 1 for connecting a first component 101 to a second component 102, which is constructed according to the invention, wherein in this exemplary embodiment the first component 101 is a side panel as a body component and the second component 102 is a body. The treatment station 1 comprises a geometrical clamping station 2, also called a geometrical box, and a clamping fixture 3 configured for receiving the first component 101. The clamping jig 3 is provided on the moving supporting unit 5. The support unit 5 and thus also the clamping gripper 3 can be displaced in the horizontal direction as a first movement direction BR1 by means of a first drive unit 6, which first drive unit 6 here comprises in particular an electric motor. The drive unit 6 is controlled here by an electronic control unit 9 of the processing station 1.

In fig. 2a, only one clamping jaw 9 is illustrated on the left side of the geometrical clamping station 2, wherein a further clamping jaw, in particular for attaching a side panel to a vehicle body, can be provided on the right side of the geometrical clamping station 2, wherein the further clamping jaw is advantageously controlled in the same way as the clamping jaw 3, such that both clamping jaws advantageously perform the same method steps, in particular in a synchronized way.

Fig. 2a shows a treatment station 1, in which treatment station 1 the clamping gripper 3 is in the receiving position PS 0. In this receiving position PS0, the side panel 101 is in particular coupled in the clamping jaw 3 by means of an automated machine not shown in fig. 2a and clamped in the clamping jaw 3 for fixing.

The geometrical clamping station 2 of the treatment station 1 comprises a receiving unit 7, which receiving unit 7 is configured in this exemplary embodiment as a part of a roller track. The receiving unit 7 of the geometrical clamping station 2 is designed to receive a workpiece holder 4 that supports a vehicle body 102, wherein the workpiece holder 4 is a slide in the exemplary embodiment. The body 102 is arranged on the workpiece holder 4 in the exemplary embodiment and is moved into the geometric clamping station 2 by a roller track system, wherein the workpiece holder 4 is received by the receiving unit 7. The receiving unit 7 is here arranged on a lifting unit 10 comprising a second drive unit. By means of this lifting unit 10 assigned to the receiving unit 7, the receiving unit 7 can be moved in a vertical direction as the second movement direction BR 2. The second drive unit or lifting unit 10 is likewise controlled by means of the control unit 9 of the processing station 1, respectively. In fig. 2a, the workpiece holder 4 is lowered and moved to the initial position PW1 by means of the lifting unit 10. It may be that, for the purpose of joining the workpiece holders 4, the receiving unit 7 is initially arranged in the offset position and the receiving unit 7 is moved by means of the lifting unit 10 only together with the joined workpiece holders 4 to the initial position PW1. This is suitably controlled by the control unit 9. Furthermore, the control unit 9 is configured to control the first drive unit 6 and the lifting unit 10 having the second drive unit such that the side panel 101 received by the clamping jig 3 and the vehicle body 102 received by the receiving unit 7 through the work holder 4 are simultaneously moved to the connection position P2. Side panel 101 is then connected to body 102 by engagement in connection position P2.

To this end, the clamping jaw 3 with side panel 101 is initially displaced in horizontal direction BR1 with a movement B0 from a receiving position PS0 shown in fig. 2a to a geometrical clamping station 2 to an initial position PS1 shown in fig. 2B, from which initial position PS1 the movement of the clamping jaw 3 through the movement sequence defined for the clamping jaw 3 finally starts simultaneously with the movement of the workpiece holder 4 through the movement sequence defined for the workpiece holder 4. Starting from the initial position PS1 or the initial position PW1, respectively, the clamping jaw 3 with the side panels 101 is moved simultaneously with a further horizontal movement B1 and the workpiece holder 4 with the body 102 is moved with a vertical movement B2 in each case with a definable connection angle VA or a definable movement sequence BA to a connection position P2, wherein the clamping jaw 3 is fixed in the connection position P2 to the fixing element 13 of the geometric clamping station 2. For this purpose, the fastening element 13 comprises in particular tensioning clamps, pawls and/or other fastening means for fastening the clamping jaw 3, which are not explicitly shown in the figures. Then, the side panel 101 and the vehicle body 102 may be connected to each other in the connection position P2. In fig. 2c, the treatment station 1 is shown, wherein the clamping jaw 3 with side panels 101 and the workpiece holder 4 with body 102 have reached the connection position P2.

The welding process for connecting side panel 101 to body 102 may then begin particularly in connection location P2. However, it may also be provided in particular that an adhesive is applied to the connection face of the side panel 101 that is in contact with the vehicle body 102 when connected to the vehicle body 102, before moving to the connection position P2. The connection surface 110 of the first part, which is embodied as a side panel 101, is shown by way of example in fig. 4a and 4 b. The connection angle VA for connecting side panel 101 to body 102 may be defined herein such that the adhesive is not soiled by premature mutual rubbing of the faces during connection. By supporting the body 102 and the side panels 101 by means of the fixed clamping clamps 3, the construction elements 101, 102 are then connected in the connection position P2 by adhesive bonding.

In order to obtain a defined connection angle VA at which side panels 101 and body 102 will contact or converge with each other, control unit 9 designates to the processing station a first speed V1 for a horizontal movement B1 from initial position PS1 to connection position P2 and a second speed V2 for a vertical movement B2 from initial position PW1 to connection position P2, respectively, and then performs movements B1, B2 at said speeds V1, V2.

Examples of different defined parameters for the speed V1 of the movement B1 of the clamping gripper 3 and the speed V2 of the movement B2 of the workpiece holder 4 and of the integrated movement sequence BA resulting in a synthetic addition of different connection angles are shown in fig. 3a to 3 e. It is assumed here that the displacement distances for the movement from the respective initial positions PS1, PW1 to the connection position P2 are substantially identical. In fig. 3a to 3e, the horizontal movement B1 is also referred to as Y movement and is illustrated as a horizontal vector, while the vertical movement B2 is also referred to as Z movement and is illustrated as a vertical vector. The global motion sequence BA is also referred to as "synthetic motion". v _Y Also for speed V1, V _Z Also for speed V2.

It is applicable to fig. 3a that the velocity V1 of the movement B1 is equal to the velocity V2 of the movement B2. In fig. 3b to 3e, the speed V1 is not equal to the speed V2 in each case. In fig. 3b, the velocity V1 is lower than the velocity V2, whereby the velocities V1, V2 are not constant. In fig. 3c, the speeds V1, V2 are substantially constant, whereby the speed V1 is lower than the speed V2. In fig. 3d, the speeds V1, V2 are substantially constant, whereby the speed V1 is higher than the speed V2. In fig. 3e, the movements B1, B2 are stopped during this time.

Another processing station 1 known in the prior art is illustrated in fig. 5a, having a geometrical clamping station 2 and a clamping fixture 3 displaceable in a horizontal direction BR1 and having a clamping set 32. Before moving the construction elements 101, 102 into the geometrical clamping station 2, the side panel 101 as a first component is attached to the body 102 as a second component by means of clamps. In the process, the vehicle body with the slide as workpiece holder 4 travels across the roller track 12 with the elevation 11 into the geometric clamping station 2. The clamping jaw 3 is then displaced in the horizontal direction BR1 to the geometrical clamping station 2 and is supported on both sides on the geometrical clamping station 2 on the fixing element 13, as shown in fig. 5 b. The clamp 3 then clamps the body 102 and the side panel 101 in the connecting position and starts the welding process for connecting the side panel 101 to the body 102. A particular problem here is that the clamping jaw 3 with the clamping group 32 for supporting the components 101, 102 cannot be displaced directly into the connecting position, as is shown in fig. 5 c. In this way, the clamping group 32 for clamping the roof rail component assembly 103 shown therein by way of example cannot be displaced simply in the horizontal direction (Y direction), since the roof rail component assembly may otherwise collide with a component of the vehicle body. To avoid this, the clamping fixture 3 includes a pivoting unit 31, by which pivoting unit 31 the clamping group 32 can be pivoted. For illustrative purposes, fig. 5c shows the clamping group 321 open and the clamping group 322, by means of which clamping group 321 the clamping gripper 3 is moved all the way to the component assembly 103, the clamping group 322 being pivoted inwards into the working position and the component assembly 103 being supportable in the clamping group 322 and subsequently welded in the clamping group 322.

The method and the processing station adapted to support and engage the above-mentioned component assembly 103 without a pivotable clamping group and without a pivoting unit will be explained in more detail with reference to fig. 6a to 6 c.

Fig. 6a shows an exemplary embodiment of a processing station 1 for joining a first component 101 to a second component 102, which is constructed according to the invention, wherein in this exemplary embodiment the first component 101 is a side panel as a body component and the second component 102 is a body. The second part 102 and the first part 101 here form a part assembly 103 to be connected by joining, the second part 102 for temporary treatment being attached to the first part 10 by means of clamps.

The treatment station 1 comprises a geometrical clamping station 2, also called a geometrical box, and a clamping fixture 3 with a non-pivotable clamping group 32. The clamping jig 3 is provided on the moving supporting unit 5. The support unit 5 and thus also the clamping gripper 3 can be moved in the horizontal direction as a first movement direction BR1 by means of a first drive unit 6, the first drive unit 6 here comprising in particular an electric motor. The drive unit 6 is controlled here by an electronic control unit 9 of the processing station 1. Fig. 6a shows a treatment station 1 in which the clamping grippers 3 or clamping groups 32 are each located in the initial position PS 1.

Although only one clamping jaw 3 is illustrated on the left side of the geometrical clamping station 2 in fig. 6a, another clamping jaw, in particular for attaching a side panel to a vehicle body, may be provided on the right side of the geometrical clamping station 2, whereby this other clamping jaw is advantageously controlled in the same way as the clamping jaw 3, so that both clamping jaws advantageously perform the same method steps, in particular in a synchronized way.

The geometrical clamping station 2 of the treatment station 1 comprises a receiving unit 7, which receiving unit 7 is configured in this exemplary embodiment as a part of a roller track. The receiving unit 7 of the geometrical clamping station 2 is configured to receive a workpiece holder 4 supporting a component assembly 103, wherein the workpiece holder 4 is a slide in this exemplary embodiment. The vehicle body 102 as the second component is provided on the work holder 4 in this exemplary embodiment, and the first component 101, i.e., the side panel, is attached to the vehicle body 102 by a clamp. The component assembly 103 thus formed is then moved by the roller track system into the geometric clamping station 2, wherein the workpiece holder 4 is received by the receiving unit 7. The receiving unit 7 is here arranged on a lifting unit 10 comprising a second drive unit. By means of this lifting unit 10 assigned to the receiving unit 7, the receiving unit 7 can be moved in a vertical direction as the second movement direction BR 2. The second drive unit or lifting unit 10 is likewise controlled by means of the control unit 9 of the processing station 1, respectively.

In fig. 6a, the workpiece holder 4 is lowered and moved to the initial position PW1 by means of the lifting unit 10. It may be that for joining the workpiece holders 4, the receiving unit 7 is initially arranged in the offset position and the receiving unit 7 is displaced by means of the lifting unit 10 only together with the joined workpiece holders 4 to the initial position PW1. This is suitably controlled by the control unit 9. Furthermore, the control unit 9 is configured to control the first drive unit 6 and the lifting unit 10 with the second drive unit such that the component assembly received by the clamping jaw 3 with the clamping group 32 and the component assembly received by the receiving unit 7 via the workpiece holder 4 are simultaneously moved to the connection position P2. Side panel 101 is then connected to body 102 in connection position P2 by engagement.

For this purpose, the clamping gripper 3 with the clamping group 32 is displaced with a movement B1 in the horizontal direction BR1 at a speed V1 from the initial position PS1 shown in fig. 6a to the geometrical clamping station 2 to the connecting position P2. The movement B1 here takes place simultaneously with the movement of the workpiece holder 4 by means of a movement sequence defined for the workpiece holder 4. Starting from the initial position PS1 or the initial position PW1, respectively, the clamping jaw 3 with the clamping group 32 is moved simultaneously in a horizontal movement B1 and the workpiece holder 4 with the component assembly 103 is moved in a vertical movement B2 in each case by a definable angle VA and/or a definable movement sequence BA to the connecting position P2. A plane parallel to the floor on which the processing station 1 is arranged may in particular be provided as a reference plane for the angle VA herein.

Fig. 6b shows the clamping jaw 3, the clamping group 32, the workpiece holder 4 and the component assembly 103 in the connecting position P2, respectively. The clamping jaw 3 is fixed to a fixing element 13 of the geometrical clamping station 2 in the connection position P2. For this purpose, the fastening element 13 comprises in particular tensioning clamps, pawls and/or other fastening means for fastening the clamping jaw 3, which are not explicitly shown in the figures. The component assembly 103 is then supported by means of the clamping group 32. The side panels 101 and the body 102 are then connected to each other, in particular welded to each other, in the connection position P2 by joining.

The sequence of movements BA generated by the movement B1 of the clamping jaw 3 and by the movement B2 of the workpiece holder 4 and the resultant angle VA at which the clamping group 32 and the component assembly 103 converge are illustrated by way of example in fig. 6 c. The workpiece holder 4 itself is not shown in fig. 6 c. Thus, the clamping group 32 and the component assembly 103 may advantageously converge without having to pivot the clamping group 32. Since the clamping fixture 3 and the component assembly 103 provided on the workpiece holder can be moved, an expensive and heavy pivoting unit as shown in fig. 5c can advantageously be dispensed with.

In order to obtain the defined angle VA at which the clamping group 32 and the component assembly 103 will converge, the control unit 9 designates to the processing station 1 a first speed V1 for the horizontal movement B1 from the initial position PS1 to the connection position P2 and a second speed V2 for the vertical movement B2 from the initial position PW1 to the connection position P2, then simultaneously performs the movements B1, B2 at said speeds V1, V2.

Fig. 7a to 7e show examples of different defined parameters for the speed V1 of the movement B1 of the clamping gripper 3 and the speed V2 of the movement B2 of the workpiece holder 4 and in particular the overall movement sequence BA resulting in the synthetic addition of different angles VA. It is assumed here that the displacement distances from the respective initial positions PS1, PW1 to the connection position P2 are substantially the same. The horizontal movement B1 in fig. 7a to 7e is also referred to as Y movement and is illustrated as a horizontal vector, while the vertical movement B2 is also referred to as Z movement and is illustrated as a vertical vector. The global motion sequence BA is also referred to as "synthetic motion". v _Y Also for speed V1, V _Z Also for speed V2.

Suitable for use in fig. 7a is that the velocity V1 of the motion B1 is equal to the velocity V2 of the motion B2. In fig. 7b to 7e, the speed V1 is not equal to the speed V2 in each case. In fig. 7b, the velocity V1 is lower than the velocity V2, whereby the velocities V1, V2 are not constant. In fig. 7c, the speeds V1, V2 are substantially constant, whereby the speed V1 is lower than the speed V2. In fig. 7d, the speeds V1, V2 are substantially constant, whereby the speed V1 is higher than the speed V2. In fig. 7e, the movements B1, B2 are stopped during this time.

The exemplary embodiments illustrated in the drawings and explained in the following context are intended to explain the invention without limiting it.

List of reference numerals

1 treatment station

2 geometric clamping station

3 clamping fixture

31 pivot unit

32 clamping set

321 open clamping group

322 inwardly pivoted clamping group

4 workpiece holder

5 support unit

6 first drive unit

7 receiving unit

9 control unit

10 lifting unit

11 heightening part

12 roller track

13 fixing element

101 first part

102 second part

103 component assembly

110 the connection surface of the first component (101)

111 undercut of the first part (101)

B0 initial position movement

B1 first movement

B2 second motion

BA synthesized global motion sequence

First direction of motion of BR1

Second direction of motion of BR2

Receiving position of PS0 clamping fixture (3)

Initial position of PS1 clamping fixture (3)

P2 connection position

Initial position of PW1 workpiece holder (4)

V1 first speed

V2 second speed

VA connection angle

Claims (15)

1. Method for connecting, in particular joining, a first component (101) to a second component (102) in a processing station (1), wherein a workpiece holder (4) is moved into a geometric clamping station (2) of the processing station (1), characterized in that a clamping gripper (3) of the processing station (1) is moved in a first movement (B1) and the workpiece holder (4) moved into the geometric clamping station (2) is moved in a second movement (B2) simultaneously in each case from an initial position (PS 1, PW 1) to a connection position (P2), in which connection position (P2) the first component (101) is connected to the second component (102), wherein a first movement direction (BR 1) of the first movement (B1) and a second movement direction (BR 2) of the second movement (B2) are not parallel.

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the clamping jaw (3) is moved from an initial position (PS 1) of the clamping jaw (3) to the connection position (P2) with a horizontal movement as the first movement (B1).

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the workpiece holder (4) is moved in a vertical movement as the second movement (B2) from an initial position (PW 1) of the workpiece holder (4) to the connecting position (P2).

4. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first movement (B1) is performed at a first speed (V1) and the second movement (B2) is performed at a second speed (V2).

5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that the following angles (VA) are defined: the clamping jaw (3) and the workpiece holder (4) are to reach the connecting position (P2) at the angle (VA), wherein the first speed (V1) and the second speed (V2) are determined in a defined first movement direction (BR 1) and in a defined second movement direction (BR 2) such that the clamping jaw (3) and the workpiece holder (4) reach the connecting position (P2) at the defined angle (VA).

6. Method according to claim 4 or claim 5, characterized in that a movement sequence (BA) is defined, according to which the clamping jaw (3) and the workpiece holder (4) are to reach the connection position (P2), wherein in a defined first movement direction (BR 1) and a defined second movement direction (BR 2), the first speed (V1) and the second speed (V2) are determined such that the clamping jaw (3) and the workpiece holder (4) reach the connection position (P2) according to the defined movement sequence (BA).

7. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first component (101) is moved into the clamping fixture (3) of the processing station (1) before the first movement (B1) and the second movement (B2) are performed, the first component (101) being positioned and fixed in the clamping fixture (3) and the second component (102) being moved into the geometrical clamping station (2) on the workpiece holder (4).

8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that, before moving to the connection position (P2), an adhesive is applied to a connection face (110) of the first component (101) that contacts the second component (102) when connecting the first component (101) to the second component (102); and/or applying an adhesive to a connection face of the second part (102) contacting the first part (101) when connecting the first part to the second part (102) before moving to the connection position (P2).

9. The method according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the second component (102) and the first component (101) form a component assembly (103), the second component (102) being temporarily arranged on the first component (101), the component assembly (103) being moved on the workpiece holder (4) into the geometrical clamping station (2) of the processing station (1) before the first movement (B1) and the second movement (B2) are performed, wherein the clamping clamp (3) of the processing station (1) with clamping group (32) is moved in the first movement (B1) and the workpiece holder (4) with the component assembly (103) is moved in the second movement (B2) in each case from the initial position (PS 1, PW 1) to the connection position (P2), wherein the clamping clamp (3) is moved in the connection position (P2) by means of the geometrical clamping element (2) and is then fixed in the connection position (2) to the first component (102).

10. A processing station (1) for connecting, in particular joining, a first component (101) of a vehicle body to a second component (102) of a vehicle body, the processing station (1) comprising a geometric clamping station (2) and a clamping gripper (3), wherein the clamping gripper (3) is arranged on a moving support unit (5), the support unit (5) being movable in a first direction of movement (BR 1) by means of a first drive unit (6), and wherein the geometric clamping station (2) has a receiving unit (7) configured to receive a workpiece holder (4),

It is characterized in that the method comprises the steps of,

the receiving unit (7) is assigned a second drive unit (10), the receiving unit (7) being movable by the second drive unit (10) in a second direction of movement (BR 2), wherein the first direction of movement (BR 1) and the second direction of movement (BR 2) are not parallel, and the processing station (1) is assigned a control unit (9), the control unit (9) being configured to control the first drive unit (6) and the second drive unit (10) such that the clamping gripper (3) and the workpiece holder (4) are moved to a connecting position (P2).

11. A processing station (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that the support unit (5) is configured to be moved in a horizontal direction as the first movement direction (BR 1) by means of the first drive unit (6).

12. The processing station (1) according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the receiving unit (7) is configured to be moved in a vertical direction as the second direction of movement (BR 2) by means of the second drive unit (10), in particular by means of a lifting unit (10).

13. The processing station (1) according to one of claims 10 to 12, characterized in that the clamping gripper (3) of the processing station (1) is configured to receive the first component (101) and the geometrical clamping station (2) is further configured to receive the workpiece holder (4) supporting the second component (102), wherein the control unit (9) is further configured to control the first drive unit (6) and the second drive unit (10) such that the first component (101) received by the clamping gripper (3) and the second component (102) received by the receiving unit (7) through the workpiece holder (4) are simultaneously moved to the connection position (P2) in which connection position (P2) the first component (101) can be connected to the second component (102).

14. The processing station (1) according to one of claims 10 to 12, characterized in that the second component (102) and the first component (101) form a component assembly (103), the first component (101) being temporarily arranged on the second component (102), the clamping jig (3) comprising a clamping group (32), the processing station (1) further comprising a fixing element (13) for fixing the clamping jig (3) in the connection position (P2), and the geometrical clamping station (2) comprising a receiving unit (7), the receiving unit (7) being configured to receive the workpiece holder (4) supporting the component assembly (103), wherein the control unit (9) is further configured to control the first drive unit (6) and the second drive unit (10) such that the clamping group (32) of the clamping jig (3) and the component assembly (103) received by the receiving unit (7) are moved to the connection position (P2) via the workpiece holder (4), the first component (101) being engageable in the connection position (P2).

15. The processing station (1) according to one of claims 10 to 14, characterized in that the processing station (1) is configured to perform the method according to one of claims 1 to 9.