Mounting arrangement for the automatic assembly of aggregates prefabricated parts to a car body from below

• US 4,928,386 A
• Filed: 03/28/1989
• Issued: 05/29/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kuka Schweibanlagen, Roboter GmbH
• Original Assignee: KUKA Schweissanlagen + Roboter GmbH
• Inventors: Johann, Maischberger, Tscheschlok, Klaus, Schupp, Gerhard
• Primary Examiner(s): Eley, Timothy V.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HAN, FRANCES CHIN
• Application Number:
  US07/329,582
• Time in Patent Office: 427 Days
• Field of Search: 29/709, 29/720, 29/721, 29/822, 29/823, 29/824, 29/798, 29/281.1, 29/33 P, 29/563, 198/468.8, 108/102, 108/137, 108/138
• US Class Current: 29/824
• 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: B62D 65/10 the sub-units or components being engines, clutches or transmissions
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/5196 Multiple station with conveyor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53091 for work-holder for assembly or disassembly
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/5343 Means to drive self-piercing work part
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53539 including work conveyor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53543 including transporting track
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53548 and work carrying vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a mounting device for the automatic assembly of prefabricated parts or such as aggregates to a car body from below. For this purpose the aggregates 14 are arranged centeredly, but removably on installation plates 12, which are mounted liftably and in the lifted position floatingly yielding on a mounting frame 9. The aggregates 14 are penetrated by vertical centering journals of the installation plates 12. The protruding part 24 of the centering journal 17 is tapered in its face region and serves to enter an assigned centering bore of the car body 1 while the mounting frame is lifted. As the installation plate 12 is mounted floatingly on the mounting frame 9 in this phase, the aggregate arranged on it moves automatically into an assembly position in which an automatic process can take place.

Claims

1. An automatic mounting device for assembling prefabricated parts to a car body, comprising:

suspension means for carrying a car body from a first location to a centered location at an assembly station;

a mounting frame positioned at the assembly station, said mounting frame carrying installation plates arranged substantially in parallel with respect to each other, said installation plates being slidable with respect to the mounting frame, said mounting frame being adjustable to move against a bottom part of the car body, said installation plates being liftable from a first precentered position with respect to the mounting frame, to a second floating position allowing limited floating movement with respect to the mounting frame, the prefabricated parts being arranged on the installation plates;

a vertical centering journal connected to each installation plate, the prefabricated parts having alignment bores for receiving the corresponding vertical centering journal, each said vertical centering journal protruding beyond the corresponding alignment bore;

centering bores formed at a bottom part of the car body for receiving the portion of the vertical centering journal protruding beyond the corresponding alignment bore, the prefabricated parts being automatically aligned in an assembly position by means of the floating movement of the installation plates upon movement of the mounting frame toward the car body.

2. An automobile mounting device according to claim 1, wherein the prefabricated parts mounted on the installation plate are moved in two stages, the first stage including movement of the installation plate relative to the mounting frame and the second stage including the movement of the mounting frame and the installation plate.

3. An automatic mounting device mounting device according to claim 1, further comprising a lifting device for lifting the mounting frame relative to the car body, said installation plate being arranged on journals extending through the mounting frame, bearings being provided between the journals and the lifting device for floating mobility of the installation plates upon lifting by the lifting device.

4. An automatic mounting device according to claim 1 wherein each of the installation plates and the mounting frame includes lateral shoulders which overlap in a lifted position providing play for floating of the installation plate with respect to the mounting frame from the pre-centered position.

5. An automatic mounting device according to claim 1, wherein each installation plate and the mounting frame have support elements for supporting a spring biased telescopic screwdriver arrangement.

6. An automatic mounting device according to claim 5, wherein both alignment bores are provided in the prefabricated parts, the screwdriver arrangement being aligned with said bolt holes.

7. An automatic mounting device according to claim 5, wherein said screwdriver arrangement includes a screw nut rotatably mounted on the installation plate said screw nut for receiving a bolt head, a screwdriver nut mounted in the mounting frame and articulated spring-biased telescopic portion and a rotationally rigid connection associated with the nuts.

8. An automatic mounting device according to claim 1, wherein said suspension means includes tube-shaped arms provided with an oblong hole, said mounting frame having rotatably adjustable locking bolts each locking bolt of said locking bolts being adapted to enter a corresponding said oblong hole for connection with the tube-shaped arms.