Flexible automotive assembly line method
First Claim
1. A method for assembling a plurality of automotive body configurations on a single assembly line comprising the steps of:
- transporting selected components from at least one of a body side assembly line and an underbody assembly line with at least one electric monorail overhead transport system through an underbody tack weld workstation; and
transferring a selected component from the overhead transfer system to a pallet transport system for delivery through at least one of an underbody respot workstation, a framing workstation, a framing respot workstation, and a closure workstation.
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Accused Products
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.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for assembling a plurality of automotive body configurations on a single assembly line comprising the steps of:
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transporting selected components from at least one of a body side assembly line and an underbody assembly line with at least one electric monorail overhead transport system through an underbody tack weld workstation; and
transferring a selected component from the overhead transfer system to a pallet transport system for delivery through at least one of an underbody respot workstation, a framing workstation, a framing respot workstation, and a closure workstation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. In an automotive assembly line having a right-hand body subassembly line, a left-hand body subassembly line, an underbody subassembly line, and a pallet transport system for movement through a body framing subassembly line, the improvement comprising the steps of:
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transporting a series of automotive components corresponding to different body styles in any concurrent sequence along at least one of the subassembly lines with a corresponding overhead transport system; and
conveying each of the automotive components along the pallet transport system on the body framing subassembly line after delivery from the overhead transport system of the at least one subassembly line to a corresponding geometry fixture for a particular body style to be processed at each workstation.
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19. A method for assembling a plurality of automotive body configurations on a single assembly line comprising the steps of:
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transporting selected components through a body side assembly line and an underbody assembly line with at least one electric monorail overhead transport system for each line, and each line extending 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. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification