VEHICLE E-COAT DRAIN PLUG INSERTION TOOL
First Claim
1. A robot system for installing a plug into an aperture of an article, the robot system comprising:
- a robot; and
a tool including;
a plug reservoir configured to hold a plurality of plugs;
a sensor configured to detect the aperture of the article; and
an actuator configured to place one of the plugs from the plug reservoir into the aperture.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and systems for installing a plug into an aperture of an article are provided, such as drain hole in an electrocoated vehicle floor pan. A robot system used herein includes a robot and a tool, where the tool includes a plug reservoir, a sensor, and an actuator. The sensor is configured to detect the aperture of the article and the actuator is configured to place one of the plugs from the plug reservoir into the aperture. The robot system can include a tool change nest, where the plug reservoir can be received with the tool change nest and the removed from a remainder of the tool. Quick change of plug reservoirs using the present technology improves operation speed and use of one or more tool change nests can reload and/or reconfigure the robot system for plugging various apertures with minimized input or interaction.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A robot system for installing a plug into an aperture of an article, the robot system comprising:
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a robot; and a tool including; a plug reservoir configured to hold a plurality of plugs; a sensor configured to detect the aperture of the article; and an actuator configured to place one of the plugs from the plug reservoir into the aperture. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of installing a plug into an aperture of an article, the method comprising:
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providing a robot system comprising; a robot; and a tool including; a plug reservoir including a plurality of plugs; a sensor configured to detect the aperture of the article; and an actuator configured to place one of the plugs from the plug reservoir into the aperture of the article; locating the aperture of the article; and placing one of the plugs from the plug reservoir into the aperture of the article using the actuator. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of configuring a tool for installing a plug into an aperture of an article, the method comprising:
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providing a robot system comprising; a robot; a tool including; a plug reservoir; a sensor configured to detect the aperture of the article; and an actuator configured to place one of the plugs from the plug reservoir into the aperture of the article; and a tool change nest; receiving the plug reservoir with the tool change nest; and removing the plug reservoir from the tool. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification