Assembly station and management method therefor

• US 20020029452A1
• Filed: 08/31/2001
• Published: 03/14/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fata Automation, S.p.A.
• Original Assignee: Fata Automation, S.p.A.
• Inventors: Cappa, Sergio, Ercole, Maurizio
• Granted Patent: US 6,591,485 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 29/407.05
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 37/047 moving work to adjust its position between soldering, welding or cutting steps B23K37/053 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 19/04 for assembling or disassembling parts
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 21/00 Machines for assembling a multiplicity of different parts to compose units, with or without preceding or subsequent working of such parts, e.g. with programme control
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 2700/50 Other automobile vehicle parts, i.e. manufactured in assembly lines
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 65/00 Designing, manufacturing, e.g. assembling, facilitating disassembly, or structurally modifying motor vehicles or trailers, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49764 with testing or indicating
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49771 Quantitative measuring or gauging
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49778 with aligning, guiding, or instruction
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4978 Assisting assembly or disassembly
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53009 with comparator
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53061 Responsive to work or work-related machine element
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53091 for work-holder for assembly or disassembly
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53961 with work-holder for assembly

Abstract

Automated parts assembly station comprising positioning means (11) having surfaces (15a, 16a) defining the desired mutual position of the parts to be assembled and assembly means (13) connecting the parts. At at least some of said surfaces (15a, 16a) there are measurement means (18) for the distance between said at least some surfaces and facing surfaces of the parts being assembled.

In such a station a method for the timely detecion of assembly tolerances comprises the steps of performance with the positioning means of a permanent positioning of the parts being assembled, operation of the assembly means for connection of the parts, release of the positioning means to take them to a loose positioning condition of the parts, measurement with the measurement means of the distance between the assembled parts and said at least some surfaces, comparison of the measured distances with maximum admissible distances, and generation of an acceptance or non-acceptance signal depending on whether the distances measured are greater or less than the related maximum admissible distances.

Claims

1. Automated parts assembly station comprising positioning means having surfaces defining the desired mutual position of the parts to be assembled and assembly means connecting the parts characterized in that at at least some of said surfaces there are measurement means for the distance between said at least some surfaces and facing surfaces of the parts being assembled.

2. Station in accordance with claim 1 characterized in that the positioning means comprise reference inserts each made up of a fixed member and a facing movable member with the movable member being capable of approaching the fixed member on command to close on a part to be assembled.

3. Station in accordance with claim 2 characterized in that the measurement means are contained in the fixed member to appear from its surface.

4. Station in accordance with claim 1 characterized in that the measurement means are linear deviation detection sensors virtually perpendicular to the surface of the positioning means.

5. Station in accordance with claim 4 characterized in that the deviation detectors have a measuring rod sliding on command out of said surface to move from a non-operational position to an operational or measurement position.

6. Station in accordance with claim 4 characterized in that the assembly means are robotized welding arms.

7. In an automated parts assembly station comprising positioning means having surfaces defining the desired mutual position of the parts to be assembled and assembly means connecting the parts with there being at at least some of said surfaces measurement means for measurement of the distance between said at least some surfaces and facing surfaces of the parts being assembled a method for the timely detection of assembly tolerances comprises the steps of:

performance with the positioning means of a permanent positioning of the parts being assembled,

operation of the assembly means for connection of the parts,

release of the positioning means to take them to a loose positioning condition of the parts,

measurement with the measurement means of the distance between the assembled parts and said at least some surfaces,

comparison of the measured distances with maximum admissible distances,

generation of an acceptance or non-acceptance signal depending on whether the distances measured are greater or less than the related maximum admissible distances.

8. Method in accordance with claim 7 comprising the additional steps of:

performance before assembly means operation of a loose positioning of the parts to be assembled with respect to the positioning means,

measurement with the measurement means of the distance between the positioned parts and said at least some surfaces, and

comparison of the distances measured with maximum admissible distances, generation of an acceptance or non-acceptance signal depending on whether the distances measured are greater or less than the related maximum admissible distances, and operation of the assembly means only in case of acceptance.

9. Method in accordance with claim 7 comprising the additional steps of:

measurement with the measurement means of the distance between the parts positioned and said at least some surfaces during permanent positioning of the parts, and

comparison or the measured distances with maximum admissible distances, generation of a conformity or non-conformity signal for the station depending on whether the measured distances are greater or less than the related maximum admissible distances.

10. In a station such as that of claim 7 and with the positioning means comprising reference inserts each made up of a fixed member and a facing movable member with the movable member being approachable on command to the fixed member to close on a part to be assembled and with the method comprising the additional steps of:

measurement with the measurement means before the parts to be assembled reach the station of the distance between said at least some surfaces and facing movable clamping surfaces with which the positioning means are equipped,

comparison of the measured distances with distances memorized previously and defined as optimal distances, and

sending of a non-conformity signal for the station if the result of the comparison indicates a deviation of the measured distance from the memorized distances greater than a tolerance previously determined to be acceptable.

11. Method in accordance with claim 10 comprising the additional steps of:

regulation of the position of the positioning means to provide that their surfaces define an optimal position of sample parts to be assembled,

shifting of each movable member to its closing position,

measurement with the measurement means of the distance between the surface of the fixed member and the facing surface of the movable member, and

memorization of the measured distances as distances defined optimal.