METHOD OF MANUFACTURING VEHICLE BODY AND WELDING FACILITY

• US 20100301099A1
• Filed: 08/10/2010
• Published: 12/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: ARIKAWA, Takeshi, SUGAHARA, Toshio, OKADA, Masami, SATA, Noritaka, NAGANO, Hiroshi
• Granted Patent: US 8,047,419 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 228/6.1
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 21/004 the units passing two or more work-stations whilst being composed
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 2700/50 Other automobile vehicle parts, i.e. manufactured in assembly lines

Abstract

A welding facility includes a main welding line for manufacturing an assembly of frame members, and a sub-welding line for manufacturing an assembly of panel members, the sub-welding line merging with the main welding line. The main welding line is comprised of a plurality of welding stages provided with a welding robot, the sub-welding line is provided at the end with a transfer mechanism for transferring the panel member assembly to the desired welding stage, and the merging parts are changeable according to the type of product to be welded. The facility permits a plurality of vehicle bodies having different vehicle types to be manufactured using the same manufacturing line.

Claims

1. A welding facility comprising:

a main welding line for manufacturing an assembly of frame members; and

a sub-welding line for manufacturing an assembly of panel members, the sub-welding line merging with the main welding line,

wherein the main welding line is comprised of a plurality of welding stages provided with a welding robot, the sub-welding line is provided at the end with a transfer mechanism for transferring the panel member assembly to the desired welding stage, and the merging parts are changeable according to the type of product to be welded.

2. The welding facility of claim 1, wherein the transfer mechanism comprises a rail established parallel to the main welding line;

a truck that moves along the rail; and

a transport robot provided on the truck.

3. The welding facility of claim 1, wherein the welding facility is provided with at least two or more sub-welding lines that merge with the main welding line, and that are provided with a transfer mechanism used for transferring a workpiece to a desired stage.