Method and apparatus for establishing work position of manufacturing tool

• US 6,259,968 B1
• Filed: 07/07/1998
• Issued: 07/10/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: FCA US LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Original Assignee: Daimler Chrysler Corporation (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Inventors: Brusha, Christie F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mai, Ri Jue
• Application Number:
  US09/110,982
• Time in Patent Office: 1,099 Days
• Field of Search: 700/245, 700/251, 700/252, 700/254, 700/258, 700/264, 700/95, 700/114, 700/159, 700/180, 700/246, 228/102
• US Class Current: 700/245
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4182 manipulators and conveyor only
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/39101 Cooperation with one or more rotating workpiece holders, manipulators
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/50175 6-Dof manipulator associated with 1-DOF workpiece holder
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

A vehicle assembly tool includes a base and a frame pivotably coupled to the base. The frame is configured for holding a plurality of vehicle parts to be welded together. A motor is coupled to the frame via a gear system to move the frame relative to the base. Per the present disclosure, the base can be juxtaposed with a plurality of robotic welders, each having an end effector with six degrees of freedom, and the frame then moved relative to the base to essentially provide a seventh degree of freedom for welding the parts together. Also, the frame can be programmed to return, after welding, to one of several user-defined load positions, each of which load positions can be tailored to a respective individual for facilitating ergonomic loading of parts into the frame by the particular individual.

Claims

1. A computer program product comprising:

a data storage device readable by a digital processing system; and

a computer program embodied in the storage device and including instructions executable by the digital processing system for performing method steps for establishing a plurality of preselected work positions for a vehicle assembly apparatus having a base and a frame movably engaged with the base, such that the frame can be moved to establish a seventh degree of freedom in a system that includes robotic welders having six degrees of freedom, the method steps comprising;

(a) moving the frame to a desired work orientation relative to the base;

(b) generating a set signal when the frame is in the desired work orientation;

(c) generating a position signal representative of the work orientation; and

(d) correlating the position signal to a preselected work orientation.

2. The computer program product of claim 1, in combination with the frame and a motor coupled to the frame.

3. The combination of claim 2, further in combination with a position sensor associated with the frame for generating the position signal.

4. The combination of claim 3, further in combination with a data entry device for generating the set signal.

5. A computer-implemented method for establishing a plurality of preselected work positions for a vehicle assembly apparatus having a base and a frame movably engaged with the base, such that parts of a vehicle can be oriented at a plurality of orientations relative to a robotic welder during processing, comprising:

(a) moving the frame to a desired work orientation relative to the base;

(b) generating a set signal when the frame is in the desired work orientation;

(c) generating a position signal representative of the work orientation; and

(d) correlating the position signal to a preselected work orientation.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, further comprising coupling a motor to the frame.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising associating a position sensor with the frame for generating the position signal.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising providing a data entry device for generating the set signal.

9. A system for promoting assembly line versatility during vehicle assembly using a plurality of movable robotic welders, comprising:

a base juxtaposed with the welders;

a frame movably coupled to the base;

a means for moving the frame relative to the base;

a controller electrically connected to the moving means;

a position sensor electrically connected to the controller for generating a position signal representative of the orientation of the frame relative to the base;

a data input device electrically connected to the controller for generating a set signal; and

computer code elements accessible to the controller and embodying machine-readable instructions for executing method steps comprising;

receiving the position signal; and

recording the orientation of the frame upon receipt of the set signal, based on the position signal.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the recording step further comprises:

(a) moving the frame to a desired work orientation relative to the base; and

(b) correlating the position signal to a preselected work orientation.