Flexible automotive assembly line and method

• US 20030188952A1
• Filed: 03/28/2003
• Published: 10/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Comau LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Original Assignee: Comau PICO Holdings Corporation (Stellantis NV)
• Inventors: Kilibarda, Velibor, Dugas, Michael R., Kaufman, Alan S., Oldford, Keith A., Johnson, Karl G.
• Granted Patent: US 6,827,197 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 198/345.3
• 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

Abstract

An apparatus for assembling an automotive body on an assembly line having a right-hand body subassembly line, a left-hand body subassembly line and an underbody subassembly line, for delivery to a pallet transport system for movement through a body framing subassembly line. The apparatus includes an overhead transport system for transporting automotive components along at least one of the subassembly lines and for conveying the automotive components along a pallet transport system on the body framing subassembly line. The overhead transport system includes a trolley movable along a single overhead rail, a carriage slidably movable relative to the trolley, and a plurality of antler nests. Each antler nest is individually engageable with the carriage. The apparatus also includes a lowerator for transferring components from the overhead transport system to a geometry fixture at a workstation along the subassembly line. The workstation along the subassembly line can include a plurality of geometry fixtures that are exchangeable at a ready position of the workstation.

Claims

1. An apparatus for transporting a selectable one of a plurality of automobile body configurations comprising:

an overhead transport system including a plurality of trolleys for movement along a predetermined path defined by at least one overhead rail extending between a plurality of workstations in a closed loop configuration;

at least one carriage for each trolley connected to the overhead rail for moving the trolley along the path of travel defined by the rail;

at least one downwardly extending pillar from each carriage;

a horizontal support member connected to the support pillar for movement between a raised position and a lowered position; and

a latch for connecting the horizontal support member to the support pillar when in the raised position.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

at least one locating pin mounted on the horizontal support for locking engagement with an interchangeable component nest to hold the interchangeable component nest with respect to the horizontal support member.

3. A method for assembling a plurality of automotive body configurations on a single assembly line comprising the steps of:

transporting selected components through body side assembly lines, and an underbody assembly line using at least one electric monorail overhead transport system through an underbody tack weld workstation; and

transferring an underbody from the overhead transfer system to a pallet transport system for delivery through an underbody respot workstation, a framing workstation, a framing respot workstation, and a closure workstation.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising the step of delivering left-hand and right-hand bodyside panels to the framing workstation with the electric monorail overhead transport system.