Method for monitoring proper fastening of an article of assembly at more than one location
First Claim
1. A method for assembling an article of assembly, the article of assembly having a plurality of fastening locations including first and second fastening locations in spaced apart relation, comprising:
- holding the article of assembly in a predetermined position;
providing a plurality of targets including at least a first target fixed relative to the article of assembly corresponding to the first fastening location of the article of assembly and a second target fixed relative to the article of assembly corresponding to the second fastening location, the second target having a different characteristic than the first target;
manually fastening fasteners into the article of assembly at the first and second fastening locations; and
sensing the first and second targets when said fastening is occurring at the first and second locations, respectively, and generating an electronic target output based upon said sensing that differentiates between the first and second targets thereby indicating when the fastening tool is in either of the first and second fastening locations.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A more reliable and fool-proof method and apparatus for assembling an article of assembly (e.g. with predetermined screw torque requirements) in which the article of assembly has multiple fastening locations. The method comprises holding the article of assembly fixed while providing at least two different types of targets fixed relative to the article of assembly that correspond to the individual fastening locations. Fasteners are fastened into the article of assembly at the fastening locations. When fastening is occurring at one of the fastening locations, one of the targets is being sensed. Based on the target sensed, a target output is generated that differentiates between different types of targets thereby indicating fastening location of the fastening tool. The electronic target output is used for electronic control such as for stopping a conveyor to keep the article of assembly at an assembly station until the fastening operations have been completed.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A method for assembling an article of assembly, the article of assembly having a plurality of fastening locations including first and second fastening locations in spaced apart relation, comprising:
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holding the article of assembly in a predetermined position;
providing a plurality of targets including at least a first target fixed relative to the article of assembly corresponding to the first fastening location of the article of assembly and a second target fixed relative to the article of assembly corresponding to the second fastening location, the second target having a different characteristic than the first target;
manually fastening fasteners into the article of assembly at the first and second fastening locations; and
sensing the first and second targets when said fastening is occurring at the first and second locations, respectively, and generating an electronic target output based upon said sensing that differentiates between the first and second targets thereby indicating when the fastening tool is in either of the first and second fastening locations. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 20, 21)
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6. The method of claim 6, further comprising:
releasing the article of assembly and conveying the article of assembly out of the assembly station when the predetermined torque values have been reached.
- 18. The method of 17 wherein the fastening tool plunges along a fastening axis perpendicular to said plane, the laser and laser sensing device remaining stationary during plunging of the fastening tool.
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22. A method for assembling an article of assembly, the article of assembly having a plurality of fastening locations including first and second fastening locations in spaced apart relation, comprising:
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holding the article of assembly in a predetermined position;
manually fastening fasteners into the article of assembly using a fastening tool at the first and second fastening locations according to a predetermined fastening sequence;
sensing the position of the fastening tool;
electronically comparing the sensed position of the fastening tool with a predetermined sequence of fastening among the first and second fastening locations; and
providing a sequence output indicating whether the predetermined sequence has been achieved. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification