Device for spot welding of structures constituted by sheet metal elements, particularly motor-vehicle bodies

• US 5,397,047 A
• Filed: 05/19/1994
• Issued: 03/14/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Comau SPA (Stellantis NV)
• Original Assignee: Comau SPA (Stellantis NV)
• Inventors: Zampini, Antonio
• Primary Examiner(s): Heinrich, Samuel M.
• Application Number:
  US08/245,915
• Time in Patent Office: 299 Days
• Field of Search: 228/6.1, 228/49.1, 228/212, 219/80, 219/86.24, 219/127, 219/158, 219/161, 29/430, 29/464, 29/466, 29/469
• US Class Current: 228/6.1
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 37/047 moving work to adjust its position between soldering, welding or cutting steps B23K37/053 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 2700/50 Other automobile vehicle parts, i.e. manufactured in assembly lines
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49829 Advancing work to successive stations [i.e., assembly line]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49895 Associating parts by use of aligning means [e.g., use of a drift pin or a "fixture"]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49899 by multiple cooperating aligning means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49904 Assembling a subassembly, then assembling with a second subassembly

Abstract

In a welding device for motor vehicle bodies there are provided a number of pairs of locating gates adapted to operate on different models of body. In the work position, each pair of locating gates can be selectively coupled to a plurality of auxiliary fixtures depending upon the specific version (for example hatchback, sedan, station-wagon) of the model of body to be welded.

Claims

1. Device for spot welding of structures constituted by sheet metal elements, in particular motor-vehicle bodies, comprising:

a welding station, provided with programmable means for automatic welding,

a line for feeding loosely preassembled structures to be welded in sequence to the welding station,

two or more pairs of locating gates provided at the welding station in such a way as to be rapidly interchangeable at a work position, said locating gates carrying devices for clamping the elements forming the structure to be welded-in the correct mutual assembling position, the gates of each pair being provided with clamping devices adapted to a respective type of structure to be welded,

said pair of gates being displaceable on both sides of said line at the welding station between rest positions and a work position, so as to be rapidly interchangeable at the work position, said gates of each pair being further displaceable transversely to the line, when they are at the work position, between inoperative spaced apart positions and operative close position, in which the clamping devices engage the structure which is at the welding station,

wherein said device further comprises, for each pair of locating gates, a plurality of auxiliary fixtures movable along said line independently from the locating gates, so that a selected auxiliary fixture can be rapidly brought into the welding station, when the respective pair of locating gates is at its work position, and can be coupled to said respective locating gates, said auxiliary fixtures being provided with means for coupling to respective locating gates and having clamping devices which are respectively adapted to engage different parts of different versions of a same model of body for which said respective pair of locating gates are provided.

2. Device according to claim 1, in which the locating gates are slidably longitudinally mounted on both sides of said line, wherein said auxiliary fixtures are slidably longitudinally mounted above said conveyor line.

3. Device according to claim 2, wherein it comprises a lifting device adjacent to the work position able to pick up an auxiliary fixture and bring same into a position for coupling to the respective pair of locating gates.

4. Device according to claim 2, wherein the locating gates and the auxiliary fixtures are provided with plug-and-socket coupling means for their respective coupling.

5. Device according to claim 3, wherein there is provided an upper conveyor line for the auxiliary fixtures and that said lifting device has an upper support fixed to a support frame of the welding station and a lower support connected to the upper support by pantograph means so that it can be displaced between a raised position at the level of the upper conveyor line and a lower position for coupling the picked up auxiliary fixture to the respective pair of locating gates.