Apparatus for positioning vehicle body in assembly line

• US 4,776,084 A
• Filed: 02/11/1987
• Issued: 10/11/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/1986
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Kitano, Mikio, Tobita, Hideaki, Naruse, Kazuo
• Primary Examiner(s): Eley, Timothy V.
• Application Number:
  US07/014,253
• Time in Patent Office: 608 Days
• Field of Search: 29/771, 29/793, 29/794, 29/799, 198/345, 198/346.1, 198/346.2, 198/464, 198/469
• US Class Current: 29/771
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 19/10 Aligning parts to be fitted together
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 65/02 Joining sub-units or components to, or positioning sub-units or components with respect to, body shell or other sub-units or components
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53313 Means to interrelatedly feed plural work parts from plural sources without manual intervention
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53435 including assembly pallet

Abstract

A vehicle body positioning apparatus includes a first jig for an under body, which is located and fixed on a jig surface plate provided in a vehicle body assembly equipment, second jigs for right and left side bodies, and a third jig for upper body parts which are carried by an overhead conveyor. An arched frame, is erected on the jig surface plate perpendicular to an assembly line. A positioning and supporting assembly is provided on the arched frame and the second jigs, respectively, so as to position the third jig with respect to the first and second jigs.

Claims

1. An apparatus for assembling vehicle body parts in an assembly line, comprising:

a jig surface plate;

a first jig disposed on said surface plate for supporting a vehicle underbody;

second jigs disposed in a selected position adjacent the first jig for supporting right and left side body parts;

a third jig disposed above said first jig for supporting upper body parts;

a frame having a portion extending across the assembly line above said first jig; and

positioning means disposed on each of said extending frame portion and said second jigs for positioning said third jig in a predetermined position relative to said first and second jigs.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said jig surface plate has a front portion in the direction of assembly line travel, and said frame is disposed forward of the second jigs at the front portion of said plate.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the frame includes a pair of spaced upright members disposed to straddle said first jig, and the portion of the frame across the assembly line extends substantially perpendicular to said assembly line.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the positioning means comprises an assembly including a base member having a surface portion and a reference pin having an axis extending substantially normal to said surface portion for engaging said third jig.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of said positioning means on the extending frame portion and second jigs comprises:

an assembly including a base member having a surface portion and a reference pin having an axis extending substantially normal to said surface portion; and

aperture means disposed in said third jig means for receiving a respective reference pin for engaging said surface portion with the third jig means at times when said third jig means is in the predetermined position.

6. An assembly apparatus for vehicle body parts in the assembly of a vehicle body comprising:

a jig surface plate;

a first jig disposed on said surface plate for supporting a vehicle underbody;

second jigs disposed in a selected position adjacent the first jig supporting right and left side body parts;

a third jig carried by an overhead conveyor along a path disposed above said first jig for supporting upper bodyparts including a roof, a cowl, and an upper back;

an arched frame having a portion extending across the assembly line above said first jig;

a plurality of receiving means disposed on said third jig in a predetermined spaced relationship; and

positioning means disposed on each of said extending frame portion and said second jigs for engaging with said receiving position said third jig in a predetermined position relative to said first and second jigs.