Automotive framing system
First Claim
1. An automotive framing system for positioning a lower body component and at least two upper body components together, said upper body components being positioned on top of said lower body component to form a body preassembly, said framing system comprising:
- conveyor means for sequentially moving body preassemblies to a predetermined assembly station,means at said assembly station for lifting said lower body component and said upper body components from said conveyor means to a predetermined elevated position in which said lower body component abuts against said upper body components,at least two frames, each said frame being of integral construction,means for selectively positioning one of said frame at said assembly station,each said frame having structural beams extending over and around both sides of a preassembly positioned at said assembly station, said structural beams being permanently secured together,clamping means mounted to each said frame and selectively movable between an engaged position and a released position,wherein in said engaged position, said clamping means engage predetermined location points on said upper and/or lower body components of said preassembly and hold said upper and/or lower body components of said preassembly together at preset positions relative to each other,wherein in said released position, said clamping means disengage from said preassembly to enable removal of said preassembly from said assembly station, andwherein said selective positioning means comprises first moving means longitudinally adjacent said assembly station for moving each said frame in a direction transverse to said conveyor means to a position adjacent to and longitudinally aligned with said assembly station and second moving means for selectively moving each said frame between said position adjacent to and longitudinally aligned with said assembly station and said assembly station.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An automotive framing system for positioning a lower body component and at least two upper body components together at precise positions relative to each other prior to fixedly securing the body components together. The framing system includes a conveyor for sequentially moving body preassemblies to a predetermined assembly station. A frame of integral construction is positioned around the body at the assembly station. A lifter at the assembly station lifts the lower body component and upper body components from the conveyor together with the frame to a predetermined elevated position in which the lower body component abuts against the upper body components. With the body preassembly positioned within the assembly station, clamps on the frame engage predetermined location points on the upper and lower body components to hold the upper and lower body components together at preset positions relative to each other whereupon the body components are fixedly secured together. In the preferred embodiment, at least two frames are selectively movable in a direction both parallel and transverse to the conveyor into the assembly station to accommodate different styles of automotive body preassemblies.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. An automotive framing system for positioning a lower body component and at least two upper body components together, said upper body components being positioned on top of said lower body component to form a body preassembly, said framing system comprising:
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conveyor means for sequentially moving body preassemblies to a predetermined assembly station, means at said assembly station for lifting said lower body component and said upper body components from said conveyor means to a predetermined elevated position in which said lower body component abuts against said upper body components, at least two frames, each said frame being of integral construction, means for selectively positioning one of said frame at said assembly station, each said frame having structural beams extending over and around both sides of a preassembly positioned at said assembly station, said structural beams being permanently secured together, clamping means mounted to each said frame and selectively movable between an engaged position and a released position, wherein in said engaged position, said clamping means engage predetermined location points on said upper and/or lower body components of said preassembly and hold said upper and/or lower body components of said preassembly together at preset positions relative to each other, wherein in said released position, said clamping means disengage from said preassembly to enable removal of said preassembly from said assembly station, and wherein said selective positioning means comprises first moving means longitudinally adjacent said assembly station for moving each said frame in a direction transverse to said conveyor means to a position adjacent to and longitudinally aligned with said assembly station and second moving means for selectively moving each said frame between said position adjacent to and longitudinally aligned with said assembly station and said assembly station. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification