Vehicle assembly method

• US 20010015003A1
• Filed: 03/08/2001
• Published: 08/23/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gunter Kurtz
• Original Assignee: Gunter Kurtz
• Inventors: Kurtz, Gunter
• Granted Patent: US 6,604,279 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 29/430
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 21/004 the units passing two or more work-stations whilst being composed
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 21/008 the assembling machines or tools moving synchronously with the units while these are being assembled
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 2700/50 Other automobile vehicle parts, i.e. manufactured in assembly lines
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 65/18 Transportation, conveyor or haulage systems specially adapted for motor vehicle or trailer assembly lines conveyors and haulage in general B65G
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 5/28 for testing brakes
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 17/0074 Details, e.g. roller construction, vehicle restraining devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49764 with testing or indicating
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49829 Advancing work to successive stations [i.e., assembly line]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49895 Associating parts by use of aligning means [e.g., use of a drift pin or a "fixture"]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53022 with means to test work or product
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53317 Box or pallet assembly means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53365 Multiple station assembly apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/5337 including assembly pallet
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53383 and means to fasten work parts together
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53417 Means to fasten work parts together
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53548 and work carrying vehicle

Abstract

A vehicle assembly line for automatically and continuously assembling vehicle components to a vehicle assembly. The vehicle assembly line can include multiple stations such as a component assembly station, module assembly station, fluid filling station, door assembly station, wheel alignment station, and brake test station.

Claims

1. An automatic vehicle assembly line for automatically mounting a vehicle component to a vehicle body, comprising:

a body conveyor defining an assembly path and having multiple body holders, each body holder adapted to carry a body and the body conveyor continuously moves the body holders along the assembly path;

a component conveyor defining a component path and having multiple component holders, each component holder adapted to hold a component and the component conveyor continuously moves the component holder along the component path, a portion of the component path coincides with the assembly path to define an assembly area, and the component conveyor and the body conveyor move in synchronous motion along the assembly area; and

a mating machine disposed adjacent to and capable of moving along the body conveyor and the component conveyor in the assembly area and the mating machine indexes the body holder and the component holder relative to the mating machine and couples the body holder and the component holder while the body holder and the component holder are moving.

2. The automatic vehicle assembly line according to

claim 1

, wherein the component conveyor further comprises multiple carriages continuously moving along the component path and at least one component holder is mounted to each of the multiple carriages.

3. The automatic vehicle assembly line according to

claim 2

, wherein the multiple carriages are spaced on the component conveyor so that carriages are substantially synchronized with the bodies on the body conveyor.

4. The automatic vehicle assembly line according to

claim 3

, wherein the carriage comprises at least one platform movable in the vertical and horizontal direction and the component holder is a jig mounted to the at least one platform and adapted to mount a component in a predetermined position.

5. The automatic vehicle assembly line according to

claim 4

and further comprising a building area adjacent the component conveyor and adapted to build a component on the jig prior to being indexed to the body holder.

6. The automatic vehicle assembly line according to

claim 4

, wherein the platform further comprises a horizontal floating plate having a lower plate and an upper plate, the lower plate having cup-shaped members and balls received in the cup-shaped members, the cup-shaped members being mounted at a bottom side of the lower plate, wherein the balls protrude through recesses in the lower plate slightly above the surface of the lower plate and support the upper plate.

7. The automatic vehicle assembly line according to

claim 6

, wherein the platform comprising undercarriages for moving the lower plate on rails extending in the track direction.

8. The automatic vehicle assembly line according to

claim 7

, wherein the platform is mounted on a hydraulic lifting cylinder and on a rod-type support means comprised of at least two telescopic columns.

9. The automatic vehicle assembly line according to

claim 8

, wherein the telescopic columns are comprised of tubular elements slidable one within the other, the tubular elements being guided by a ring mounted on an upper end of a wider of the tubular elements at an inner side thereof and a ring mounted at a lower end of a narrower of the tubular elements at an outer side thereof, wherein, in an extended position of the elements, the two rings are held spaced apart from each other by a stop each.

10. The automatic vehicle assembly line according to

claim 9

, wherein each stop is comprised of a shoulder formed at a narrower of the tubular elements and contacting the ring of another of the tubular elements.

11. The automatic vehicle assembly line according to

claim 10

, wherein each shoulder is comprised of a turned portion extending from the end of the tubular element to the shoulder and a sleeve pushed onto the turned portion, wherein the sleeve has a greater wall thickness than a depth of the turned portion wherein the shoulder is formed by a ring of hard-elastic plastic material inserted from an end face of the sleeve.

12. The automatic vehicle assembly line according to

claim 11

, wherein the sleeve is supported by the ring mounted at the lower end of the narrower tubular element and fastened by screws screwed in between the ring and the wall of the tubular element.

13. The automatic vehicle assembly line according to

claim 9

, wherein the telescopic column comprises a floor constructed as a screw cap, and a disk of hard-elastic plastic material placed on the floor such that the tubular elements are dampened when contacting the disk during a retraction of the tubular elements.

14. The automatic vehicle assembly line according to

claim 9

, wherein the rings arranged at the upper ends of the tubular elements are fastened by screws inserted at an end face and are provided with wiping rings held in a groove.

15. The automatic vehicle assembly line according to

claim 9

, wherein each telescopic column comprises a flange resting on a container ceiling, and, wherein the telescopic columns are immersed in an oil bath in the container, the bottom of the telescopic column having a passage for oil, and a support plate mounted on an inner of the tubular elements having an air passage provided with an air filter.

16. The automatic vehicle assembly line according to

claim 15

, wherein the oil bath contains return oil of the hydraulic lifting container.

17. The automatic vehicle assembly line according to

claim 2

, wherein the carriages are independently powered from the body conveyor throughout the component path.

18. The automatic vehicle assembly line according to

claim 1

, wherein each body holder has a guide slot and the mating machine comprises a guide adapted to be received within the guide slot to index the body holder to the mating machine.

19. The automatic vehicle assembly line according to

claim 18

, wherein the mating machine guide comprises a first arm moveable toward the guide slot and an elongated guide key mounted to the arm and a portion of the elongated guide key is received within the guide slot to index the body holder to the mating machine.

20. The automatic vehicle assembly line according to

claim 19

, wherein the body holder is a hanger having at least two legs, each of the legs having a foot portion adapted to at least partially support a body and at least one of the foot portions having a slot defining the guide slot.

21. The automatic vehicle assembly line according to

claim 19

, wherein each component holder has a guide and the mating machine further comprises a guide slot adapted to receive the guide to index the component holder to the mating machine.

22. The automatic vehicle assembly line according to

claim 21

, wherein the mating machine further comprises at least one moveable second arm having a hand defining the guide slot, and abuts the component holder to move the component holder and thereby index the component holder to the mating machine.

23. The automatic vehicle assembly line according to

claim 22

, wherein the component holder further comprises a position fixing mechanism that fixes the relative position of the component holder and the body holder after the component holder and body holder are indexed relative to the mating machine.

24. The automatic vehicle assembly line according to

claim 23

, wherein the positioning fixing mechanism includes a moveable positioning pin adapted to be received in an alignment opening in one of the body holder and the body to fix the relative position of the component holder to the body holder in the indexed position, independent of the mating machine.

25. The automatic vehicle assembly line according to

claim 24

, wherein one of the component holder and the body holder has a holding mechanism to couple the component holder and the body holder in the indexed position independent of the mating machine.

26. The automatic vehicle assembly line according to

claim 25

, wherein the holding mechanism includes an arm that can be positioned over the body holder to hold the component holder to the body holder.

27. The automatic vehicle assembly line according to

claim 22

, wherein the mating machine includes a base capable of moving generally parallel to the assembly area and at least one arm support moveably mounted to the base and capable of transverse movement relative to the generally parallel movement of the base and the arm support mounting the first arm and the second arm, wherein the base moves parallel and synchronously relative to the component holder and the body holder along the assembly path and the arm support moves towards the component holder and the body holder to bring the first and second arms into an operational position relative to the body holder and the component holder.

28. The automatic vehicle assembly line according to

claim 27

, wherein the component conveyor further comprises multiple carriages continuously moving along the component path, each carriage comprising at least one platform movable in the vertical and horizontal direction and the component holder being mounted to the at least one platform, whereby the second moveable arm moves the mating machine guide slot onto the component holder guide to move the carriage platform to index the component holder to the mating machine.

29. The automatic vehicle assembly line according to

claim 28

, wherein each carriage has two platforms, a component holder is mounted to each platform, each component holder has two component holder guides, the mating machine has two arm supports, each arm support has a pair of opposing second arms with corresponding hands for each component holder, wherein the opposing second arms in each pair move toward each other and their hands about the component holder guides to move the platforms and index the component holder relative to the mating machine.

30. The automatic vehicle assembly line according to

claim 29

, wherein the hanger has two feet, each of which has a guide slot, and each of the arm supports has a first arm, each with a guide key to be received within the guide slot on the feet to index the hanger relative to the mating machine.

31. The automatic vehicle assembly line according to

claim 27

, wherein the mating machine further comprises an extendible positioning arm having a hand that is adapted to grasp a component and move the component to a predetermined orientation.

32. The automatic vehicle assembly line according to

claim 1

or

14

, and further comprising a fastening machine disposed adjacent to and capable of moving parallel to the body conveyor and the component conveyor in the assembly area downstream of the mating machine and adapted to fasten the component to the body while the coupled body holder and component holder move along the assembly path.

33. The automatic vehicle assembly line according to

claim 32

, wherein the fastening machine includes a positioning mechanism to position the fastening machine relative to the coupled body holder and the component holder.

34. The automatic vehicle assembly line according to

claim 33

, wherein the positioning mechanism is a moveable positioning pin that is received in an opening in the component holder to position the fastening machine relative to the coupled body holder and the component holder.

35. The automatic vehicle assembly line according to

claim 34

, wherein the coupling device includes a base capable of moving generally parallel to the assembly path and at least one tool support moveably mounted to the base and capable of transverse movement relative to the movement of the base and the tool support mounting the positioning pin and at least one fastening tool, wherein the base moves parallel and synchronously to the coupled component holder and the body holder along the assembly path and the tool support moves towards the component holder and the body holder to move the fastening tool into an operative position where it is adapted to fasten the component to the body.

36. The automatic vehicle assembly line according to

claim 35

, wherein the fastening tool comprises a screwdriver.

37. The automatic vehicle assembly line according to

claim 35

, wherein the fastening tool comprises a nut driver.

38. The automatic vehicle assembly line according to

claim 35

, wherein the tool support includes an arm on which is mounted the moveable positioning pin.

39. The automatic vehicle assembly line according to

claim 35

, wherein the fastening machine comprises multiple tool supports.

40. The automatic vehicle assembly line according to

claim 39

, wherein at least one of the multiple tool supports moveably mounts one of the at least one fastening tools.

90. The automatic assembly line according to

claim 30

, and further comprising a door assembly station having a door carrier positioned adjacent the assembly path and adapted to carry and support a door during installation to the vehicle assembly.

91. The automatic assembly line according to

claim 30

and further comprising a fluid filling station having a track parallel to the assembly path and a filling unit moveably mounted to the track and adapted to fill a vehicle component or module mounted to the vehicle assembly as it moves along the assembly path.

92. The automatic assembly line according to

claim 30

and further comprising wheel alignment station having a steering wheel centering mechanism and a wheel centering mechanism adapted to center the steering wheel and align the wheels mounted to the vehicle assembly as it moves along the assembly path.

93. The automatic assembly line according to

claim 30

and further comprising a brake testing station having a brake manipulation unit adapted to be positioned with the vehicle assembly and depress a brake pedal provided in the vehicle assembly.

41. An automatic vehicle assembly line comprising:

a vehicle assembly conveyor defining an assembly path and having multiple vehicle assembly holders each adapted to carry a vehicle assembly and the vehicle assembly conveyor continuously moving the vehicle assembly holders along the assembly path; and

a component assembly station comprising;

a component conveyor defining a component path and having multiple component holders adapted to hold a component and the component conveyor continuously moving the component holder along the component path, a portion of the component path coincides with the vehicle assembly path to define an assembly area, and the component conveyor and the vehicle assembly conveyor move in synchronous motion along the assembly area; and

a mating machine disposed adjacent to and capable of moving parallel to the vehicle assembly conveyor and the component conveyor in the assembly area and the mating machine adapted to index the vehicle assembly holder and the component holder relative to mating machine and coupling the vehicle assembly holder and the component holder while the vehicle assembly holder and the component holder are moving.

42. The automatic vehicle assembly line according to

claim 41

, wherein the component assembly station further comprises multiple carriages continuously moving along the component path and at least one component holder is mounted to each of the multiple carriages.

43. The automatic vehicle assembly line according to

claim 42

, wherein each vehicle assembly holder has a guide slot and the mating machine comprises a guide adapted to be received within the guide slot to index the vehicle assembly holder to the mating machine.

44. The automatic vehicle assembly line according to

claim 41

, wherein the component assembly station further comprises a fastening machine disposed adjacent to and capable of moving parallel to the vehicle assembly conveyor and the component conveyor in the assembly area downstream of the mating machine and fastens the component to the vehicle assembly while the coupled vehicle assembly holder and component holder are moving along the assembly path.

45. The automatic vehicle assembly line according to

claim 44

, wherein the fastening machine includes a positioning mechanism including a moveable positioning pin that is moved to be received in an opening in the component holder to position the fastening machine relative to the coupled vehicle assembly holder and the component holder.

46. The automatic vehicle assembly line according to

claim 41

and further comprising a module assembly station to mount a vehicle module to the vehicle assembly.

47. The automatic vehicle assembly line according to

claim 46

, wherein the module assembly station comprises a module conveyor that the vehicle moves a module along a module path and a portion of the module path coincides with a portion of the assembly path to define a module assembly area providing for the mounting of the module to the vehicle assembly.

48. The automatic assembly line according to

claim 47

wherein the module conveyor includes a module holder conveyor having at least one module holder provided thereon, a docking station at one end of the module holder conveyor, an undocking station at another end of the module holder conveyor, downstream of the docking station, and the module holder conveyor is generally parallel to the assembly path and the docking station and undocking station are positioned in the assembly path, wherein the module holder is carried by the module holder conveyor to the docking station where the module holder is positioned and coupled relative to the vehicle assembly holder and the module holder is uncoupled from the vehicle assembly holder and moved back onto the module holder conveyor.

49. The automatic assembly line according to

claim 48

, wherein the module holder comprises a pallet that mounts the module in a predetermined position.

50. The automatic assembly line according to

claim 49

, wherein the docking station includes a module carriage having a platform and the pallet is moved from the module holder conveyor to the platform.

51. The automatic assembly line according to

claim 50

, wherein the module carriage further comprises an indexing mechanism that positions the pallet relative to the vehicle assembly holder.

52. The automatic assembly line according to

claim 51

, wherein the module carriage further comprises a fixing mechanism that fixes the relative position of the pallet to the vehicle assembly holder.

53. The automatic assembly line according to

claim 52

, wherein the pallet further comprises a holding mechanism to couple the pallet to the vehicle assembly holder in the fixed position.

54. The automatic assembly line according to

claim 53

, wherein the vehicle assembly holder is a hanger having at least one leg with a foot adapted to support a portion of the vehicle assembly and the foot has a guide slot, the positioning mechanism is a guide key extending from the platform, the fixing mechanism is a pin extending from the pallet and adapted to be received in an opening in the hanger and the vehicle assembly, and the holding machine is a moveable arm mounted to the pallet, wherein the guide key is received in the guide slot to position the platform relative to the hanger, the pin is moved into the opening of one of the hanger and the vehicle assembly, and the arm is moved over the foot to couple the pallet to the hanger in the fixed position.

55. The automatic assembly line according to

claim 50

, wherein the platform has at least one fastening mechanism adapted to fasten a module mounted on the module holder to the vehicle assembly.

56. The automatic assembly line according to

claim 55

, wherein the fastening mechanism is an automatic screwdriver.

57. The automatic assembly line according to

claim 55

, wherein the fastening mechanism is an nut driver.

58. The automatic assembly line according to

claim 49

, wherein the undocking station comprises a platform for supporting the pallet coupled to the vehicle assembly holder.

59. The automatic assembly line according to

claim 58

, wherein the undocking platform comprises a position mechanism to position the platform relative to the pallet.

63. The automatic assembly line according to

claim 59

, wherein the undocking platform is independently powered relative to the vehicle assembly conveyor and moves in synchronous motion with the vehicle assembly.

64. The automatic assembly line according to

claim 63

, wherein the undocking platform includes a lift mechanism to lift the undocking platform into an operational position relative to the vehicle assembly.

65. The automatic assembly line according to

claim 48

, wherein the module station further comprises a module holder mover to move the module holder from the module holder conveyor to the docking station.

66. The automatic assembly line according to

claim 48

, wherein the docking station comprises a positioning mechanism to position the module holder relative to the vehicle assembly holder.

67. The automatic assembly line according to

claim 66

, wherein the docking station further comprises a fixing mechanism to fix the positioned module holder to the vehicle assembly holder.

68. The automatic assembly line according to

claim 67

, wherein the docking station further comprises at least one fastening mechanism adapted to fasten a module positioned on the module holder to the vehicle assembly.

69. The automatic assembly line according to

claim 68

, wherein the undocking station comprises a decoupling mechanism to decouple the module holder from the vehicle assembly holder.

70. The automatic assembly line according to

claim 69

, wherein the module assembly station further comprises a second module holder mover for moving the module holder from the undocking station to the module mover conveyor.

71. The automatic assembly line according to

claim 70

, wherein the module assembly station further comprises a module building area disposed along the module holder conveyor and adapted to permit the placement of the module on the module holder as the module holder moves along the module holder conveyor.

72. The automatic assembly line according to

claim 46

, and further comprising a door assembly station adapted to mount a vehicle door to the vehicle assembly.

73. The automatic assembly line according to

claim 72

, wherein the door assembly station comprises a door carrier positioned adjacent the assembly path to carry and support a door during installation.

74. The automatic assembly line according to

claim 73

, wherein the door assembly station further comprises a door storage near the assembly path to store multiple doors for subsequent mounting to the vehicle assembly.

75. The automatic assembly line according to

claim 74

, wherein the door carrier is moveable from the door storage area to the assembly path and adapted to carry a door from the door storage to the assembly path for mounting on the vehicle assembly.

76. The automatic assembly line according to

claim 75

, wherein the door assembly station further comprises a door hinge pin remover and installer.

77. The automatic assembly line according to

claim 70

, wherein the door carrier has a counterbalance mechanism adapted to counterbalance the weight of the door carried by the door carrier.

78. The automatic assembly line according to

claim 72

and further comprising a fluid filling station adapted to fill a vehicle component or module mounted to the vehicle assembly.

79. The automatic assembly line according to

claim 78

, wherein the fluid filling station comprises at least one filling unit moveable generally parallel to the assembly path.

80. The automatic assembly line according to

claim 79

, wherein the filling unit comprises a fluid reservoir and a connecting hose connecting one of a component and module mounted to the vehicle assembly to the reservoir and providing for the transfer of fluid from the reservoir to the component or module.

81. The automatic assembly line according to

claim 80

, wherein the filling unit further comprises a monitoring system adapted to determine when the one of the component and module is properly filled.

82. The automatic assembly line according to

claim 80

, wherein the hose has a nozzle adapted to releasably mount to the component or module.

83. The automatic assembly line according to

claim 78

and further comprising an elongated track extending generally parallel to the assembly path and the fluid filling station moveably mounted to the track.

84. The automatic assembly line according to

claim 83

, wherein there are multiple fluid filling stations mounted to a single track.

85. The automatic assembly line according to

claim 83

, wherein there are multiple tracks and at least one fluid filling station is mounted to each track.

86. The automatic assembly line according to

claim 78

, wherein the vehicle includes a steering wheel and a wheel and further comprising a wheel alignment station.

87. The automatic assembly line according to

claim 86

, wherein the wheel alignment station comprises a steering wheel centering mechanism and a wheel centering mechanism adapted to center the steering wheel and align the wheels.

88. The automatic assembly line according to

claim 86

, wherein the vehicle comprises a brake pedal and further comprising a brake testing station.

89. The automatic assembly line according to

claim 88

, wherein the brake testing station comprises a brake actuating unit to be positioned with the vehicle assembly and depress a brake pedal provided in the vehicle assembly.

125. The method of

claim 48

and further comprising the fastening of the module to the vehicle assembly.

126. The method of

claim 125

, wherein the fastening of the module to the vehicle assembly includes screwing the module to the vehicle assembly.

127. The method of

claim 125

, wherein the fastening of the module to the vehicle assembly includes bolting the module to the vehicle assembly.

128. The method of

claim 125

and further comprising the uncoupling of the module holder from the vehicle assembly holder after the module is fastened to the vehicle assembly.

129. The method of

claim 128

and further comprising moving the module holder along the module path and placing a new module on the module holder.

130. The method of

claim 128

and further comprising automatically error checking the fastening of module to the vehicle assembly.

131. The method of

claim 130

and further comprising reworking any errors in the fastening of the module to the vehicle assembly.

145. The method of

claim 76

and further comprising fastening a component on the component holder to the vehicle assembly.

146. The method of

claim 76

and further comprising the automatic mounting of a module carried by a module holder to the vehicle assembly.

147. The method of

claim 76

and further comprising the mounting of a door to the vehicle assembly.

148. The method of

claim 76

and further comprising filling with fluid at least one of the component and module mounted to the vehicle assembly.

149. The method of

claim 76

, wherein the components mounted to the vehicle assembly include a steering wheel and a wheel and the method further comprises aligning the wheel and the steering wheel.

150. The method of

claim 76

, wherein the vehicle assembly has a brake system with a brake pedal mounted thereto and the method further comprises testing the brake system.

60. The automatic assembly line according to

claim 60

, wherein the undocking platform further comprises a fixing mechanism to fix the relative position of the pallet and the platform.

61. The automatic assembly line according to

claim 60

, wherein the platform further comprises a decoupling mechanism for decoupling the pallet from the vehicle assembly holder.

62. The automatic assembly line according to

claim 61

, wherein the platform further comprises a drive mechanism for moving a decoupled pallet from the platform to the module holder conveyor.

94. A method of automatically assembling a vehicle in an automated line comprising a vehicle assembly conveyor defining an assembly path and having multiple vehicle assembly holders each adapted to carry a vehicle assembly and a component conveyor defining a component path and having multiple component holders each adapted to carry a component and the component conveyor continuously moving the component holder along the component path, and a portion of the component path coincides with the assembly path to define an assembly area, the method comprising:

continuously moving the vehicle assembly holders and the component holders in synchronous motion along the assembly area; and

coupling the vehicle assembly holder to component holder while the vehicle assembly holders and component holders are being continuously moved in synchronous motion.

95. The method of

claim 94

, wherein the coupling of the vehicle assembly holder and the component holder comprises indexing the vehicle assembly holder and the component holder while the vehicle assembly holder and component holder are moving.

96. The method of

claim 95

, wherein the indexing of the component holder to the vehicle assembly holder comprises indirectly indexing the component holder and the vehicle assembly holder to a mating machine moving along the assembly path in the assembly area.

97. The method of

claim 96

, wherein the indirect indexing comprises indexing the vehicle assembly holder to the mating machine by moving a guide key on the mating machine into a guide slot on the vehicle assembly holder and indexing the component holder to the mating machine by extending an arm from the mating machine into contact with the component holder and moving the component holder to a predetermined position.

98. The method of

claim 97

, wherein the indirect indexing of the component holder to the mating machine further comprises inserting an alignment pin on the mating machine into an alignment opening on the component holder.

99. The method of

claim 98

and further comprising fixing the indexed position of the vehicle assembly holder and the component holder independent of the mating machine.

100. The method of

claim 99

, wherein the fixing of the indexed position comprises inserting a pin on the component holder into an opening on one of the vehicle assembly and vehicle assembly holder.

101. The method of

claim 100

, wherein the fixing of the indexed position further comprises the direct coupling of the vehicle assembly holder and the component holder.

102. The method of

claim 95

and further comprising fixing the component holder relative to the vehicle assembly holder in the indexed position.

103. The method of

claim 102

, and further comprising the clamping of the component holder to the vehicle assembly holder in the fixed indexed position.

104. The method of

claim 95

and further comprising positioning a component on the component holder to a predetermined position relative to the vehicle assembly.

105. The method of

claim 104

, wherein the positioning of a component relative to the vehicle assembly comprises relatively moving the component holder and the vehicle assembly holder toward each other.

106. The method of

claim 95

and further comprising fixing the indexed position of the vehicle assembly holder and the component holder independent of the mating machine.

107. The method of

claim 106

and further comprising the uncoupling of the mating machine from the vehicle assembly holder and the component holder.

108. The method of

claim 106

and further comprising fastening a component on the component holder to the vehicle assembly.

109. The method of

claim 108

, wherein the fastening of a component to the vehicle assembly comprises screwing a component to the vehicle assembly.

110. The method of

claim 108

, wherein the fastening of a component to the vehicle assembly comprises bolting a component to the vehicle assembly.

111. The method of

claim 108

, wherein the fastening of a component to the vehicle assembly occurs while the vehicle assembly holder and component holder are moving.

112. The method of

claim 111

, wherein the fastening of a component to the vehicle assembly comprises coupling a fastening machine to the component holder.

113. The method of

claim 112

, wherein the coupling of the fastening machine to the component holder comprises moving the fastening machine along the assembly path as the fastening machine is coupled.

114. The method of

claim 113

, wherein the coupling of the fastening machine to the component holder comprises inserting an alignment pin on the fastening machine into an opening in the component holder.

115. The method of

claim 106

and further comprising fastening a component on the component holder to the vehicle assembly.

116. The method of

claim 115

and further comprising the automatic mounting of a module carried by a module holder to the vehicle assembly.

117. The method of

claim 116

, wherein the automatic mounting of the module comprises moving the module holder along a module path, a portion of which coincides with the assembly path.

118. The method of

claim 117

and further comprising coupling the module holder to the vehicle assembly holder.

119. The method of

claim 118

, wherein the coupling of the module holder to the vehicle assembly holder occurs while the vehicle assembly and the module holder are moving.

120. The method of

claim 118

, wherein the coupling of the module holder to the vehicle assembly holder comprises indexing the module holder and the vehicle assembly holder.

121. The method of

claim 120

, wherein the indexing comprises moving a guide key on the module holder into a guide slot on the vehicle assembly holder.

122. The method of

claim 121

, wherein the indexing of the module holder to the vehicle assembly holder comprises inserting an alignment pin on the module holder into an alignment opening on one of the vehicle assembly and vehicle assembly holder.

123. The method of

claim 122

and further comprising fixing the indexed position of the vehicle assembly holder and the module holder.

124. The method of

claim 123

, wherein the fixing of the indexed position further comprises the direct coupling of the vehicle assembly holder and the module holder.

132. The method of

claim 116

and further comprising the mounting of a door to the vehicle assembly.

133. The method of

claim 132

, wherein the mounting of the door to the vehicle assembly comprises moving the door from a door storage area to the vehicle assembly.

134. The method of

claim 133

, wherein the mounting of the door further comprises installing a hinge pin between the door and the vehicle assembly to mount the door to the vehicle assembly.

135. The method of

claim 132

and further comprising filling with fluid at least one of the component and module mounted to the vehicle assembly.

136. The method of

claim 135

, wherein the fluid is filled while the vehicle assembly is moving along the assembly path.

137. The method of

claim 135

, wherein the fluid filing comprises connecting the one of the at least one of the module and component to a fluid reservoir.

138. The method of

claim 137

, wherein the fluid filling further comprises monitoring the filling of the fluid for correct filling.

139. The method of

claim 138

, wherein the fluid filling further comprises the disconnecting of the one of the at least one module and component from the fluid reservoir.

140. The method of

claim 137

and further comprising moving the fluid reservoir along the assembly path.

141. The method of

claim 135

, wherein the components mounted to the vehicle assembly include a steering wheel and a wheel and the method further comprises aligning the wheel and the steering wheel.

142. The method of

claim 141

, wherein the aligning of the wheel and steering wheel comprises positioning the steering wheel in a neutral position and aligning the wheel.

143. The method of

claim 141

, wherein the vehicle assembly has a brake system with a brake pedal mounted thereto and the method further comprises testing the brake system.

144. The method of

claim 143

, wherein the testing of the brake system comprises the depressing of the brake pedal and monitoring the depression force.