Transport installation for manufactured products, particularly elements of automobile bodies

• US 4,411,354 A
• Filed: 11/17/1980
• Issued: 10/25/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Regie Nationale Des Usines Renault (Renault)
• Original Assignee: Regie Nationale Des Usines Renault (Renault)
• Inventors: Le Goff, Andre, Thibault, Bernard
• Primary Examiner(s): Valenza, Joseph E.
• Application Number:
  US06/207,473
• Time in Patent Office: 1,072 Days
• Field of Search: 198/472, 198/580, 198/447, 29/33 P, 29/563
• US Class Current: 198/465.1
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 35/06 comprising a load-carrier moving along a path, e.g. a closed path, and adapted to be engaged by any one of a series of traction elements spaced along the path effecting drive at two or more points spaced along the length of an endless conveyor B65G23/32
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49829 Advancing work to successive stations [i.e., assembly line]

Abstract

The invention relates to a transport installation for manufactured products. In this invention the return line consists of two parallel tracks separated by a median line of central supports supporting the upper advance line and each defined on the outside by a lateral structure forming struts for said upper advance line. This provides a wide foundation and strength for the assembly compatible with a robot assembly and the clearance necessary for the movements of the work arms of the latter. Application is to the transportation of automobile body elements.

Claims

1. A robot automated assembly line for automobile body elements, comprising:

at least two types of mounting supports for said body elements;

an upper advance line holding a plurality of said mounting supports, wherein said body elements are acted upon by robots;

means for advancing said mounting supports along said upper advance line; and

a lower return line extending beneath said upper advance line for accumulating and storing said mounting supports, said return line including at least two parallel side-by-side tracks, each of said tracks being separated by a longitudinal series of central supports, said return line being laterally defined by a longitudinal series of columns, said columns defining supports for the upper advance line, said columns providing a wide foundation for supporting said upper advance line and providing said upper advance line with clearance for the arms of said robots;

wherein said each said return tracks being adapted for returning a selected type of said mounting supports.

2. The assembly line of claim 1 wherein said return line comprises three parallel tracks separated by two series of central supports.

3. The assembly line of claims 1 or 2 including means for supplying a different type of mounting support to and from each of said tracks of said return line.

4. The assembly line of claim 2 including means for respectively supplying to and from the first, second and third of said three tracks, mounting supports adapted for a vehicle being produced at a constant rate, mounting supports adapted for a vehicle produced at a decreasing rate and mounting supports adapted for a vehicle produced at an increasing rate.

5. The assembly line of claim 3 wherein said means for supplying comprise lateral translators and associated body element type reference means located at the ends of said assembly line.