Method for assembling a vehicle using an automatic toy tab system
First Claim
1. In a work station for assembling together the main body framework components of a vehicle, including an underbody, roof headers, roof bows, and two side aperture panels, each component having plurality of tab members;
- an automated method of assembling and holding the vehicle body framework components together using a toy tab system, comprising the steps of;
transporting an underbody into a work station by a first carrier means for carrying said underbody into said work station for assembly and out of said work station when assembled;
holding said first carrier means in a proper X, Y, and Z coordinate location by a lower locating means fixed within the work station that accurately positions said first carrier means;
delivering a plurality of side aperture panels over said work station by a second carrier means for carrying said panels into said work station;
unloading said panels from said second carrier means onto an elevator means capable of extracting said panels from said second carrier means and moving vertically and horizontally;
lowering said panels into said workstation by said elevator means;
positioning alongside said workstation, a plurality of programmable robotic means capable of performing multiple functions;
unloading said panels from said elevator means by clamping onto said panels with said gripping means of said robotic means;
positioning said panels alongside said underbody using said robotic means;
clamping onto said gripping means of said robotic means by a lower clamping means;
disengaging said robotic means from said panels;
supplying a plurality of roof headers and roof bows into said work station by a delivery means;
positioning said roof headers and roof bows on said panels using said robotic means;
bending the plurality of tab members of said underbody, panels, roof headers and roof bows around an adjoining edge using said robotic means forming an intact vehicle body;
releasing said lower clamping means from said body; and
transporting said body out of said workstation by said first carrier means.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for toy tabbing a vehicle body is provided. This method includes a carrier means for transporting a vehicle body into a single work station and a delivery means for delivering side aperture panels to the work station. Vehicle body parts are supplied within the work station by an electrically indexed parts magazine. A programmable robotic means is provided for loading and assembling the side aperture panels and the vehicle body components to the vehicle underbody. A positioning unit is also provided to support the side aperture panels adjacent to the underbody to allow the programmable robotic means to assemble the vehicle'"'"'s main body framework.
25 Citations
6 Claims
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1. In a work station for assembling together the main body framework components of a vehicle, including an underbody, roof headers, roof bows, and two side aperture panels, each component having plurality of tab members;
- an automated method of assembling and holding the vehicle body framework components together using a toy tab system, comprising the steps of;
transporting an underbody into a work station by a first carrier means for carrying said underbody into said work station for assembly and out of said work station when assembled; holding said first carrier means in a proper X, Y, and Z coordinate location by a lower locating means fixed within the work station that accurately positions said first carrier means; delivering a plurality of side aperture panels over said work station by a second carrier means for carrying said panels into said work station; unloading said panels from said second carrier means onto an elevator means capable of extracting said panels from said second carrier means and moving vertically and horizontally; lowering said panels into said workstation by said elevator means; positioning alongside said workstation, a plurality of programmable robotic means capable of performing multiple functions; unloading said panels from said elevator means by clamping onto said panels with said gripping means of said robotic means; positioning said panels alongside said underbody using said robotic means; clamping onto said gripping means of said robotic means by a lower clamping means; disengaging said robotic means from said panels; supplying a plurality of roof headers and roof bows into said work station by a delivery means; positioning said roof headers and roof bows on said panels using said robotic means; bending the plurality of tab members of said underbody, panels, roof headers and roof bows around an adjoining edge using said robotic means forming an intact vehicle body; releasing said lower clamping means from said body; and transporting said body out of said workstation by said first carrier means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
- an automated method of assembling and holding the vehicle body framework components together using a toy tab system, comprising the steps of;
Specification