Assembling apparatus assembling body side of automotive vehicle

• US 6,339,874 B2
• Filed: 08/28/1998
• Issued: 01/22/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Segawa, Teruo, Takahashi, Shyouichi, Okuyama, Kaoru, Kishita, Shin, Urakami, Kazuo, Matsubara, Jyun, Ueda, Yukihide, Nakamura, Setsuo
• Primary Examiner(s): Bryant, David P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cozart, Jermie E.
• Application Number:
  US09/143,370
• Time in Patent Office: 1,243 Days
• Field of Search: 298/24, 297/83, 297/91, 292/814, 294/30, 294/64
• US Class Current: 29/824
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 21/004 the units passing two or more work-stations whilst being composed
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 21/006 the conveying means comprising a rotating table
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 2700/50 Other automobile vehicle parts, i.e. manufactured in assembly lines
• 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: Y10T 29/53365 Multiple station assembly apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/534 Multiple station assembly or disassembly apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53548 and work carrying vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53974 having means to permit support movement while work is thereon

Abstract

An assembling apparatus assembling a body side of an automotive vehicle includes: a moving body provided in a transfer line; a clamp device mounted to the moving body fixing and positioning a body side outer in an upright position in which the body side outer is fixed in such a manner that a roof rail end of the body side outer is positioned substantially above the side sill end of the body side outer; and a welding robot disposed in a side of the transfer line. The welding robot assembles the body side by welding the body side outer positioned by the clamp device.

Claims

1. An assembling apparatus assembling a body side of an automotive vehicle comprising:

a moving body provided in a transfer line;

a clamp device mounted to the moving body fixing and positioning a body side outer in an upright position wherein the body side outer is fixed in such a manner that a roof rail end of the body side outer is positioned substantially above a side sill end of the body side outer, the body side outer being constructed from a front part and a rear fender part;

an assembling robot disposed in a side of the transfer line, the assembling robot assembling the body side by connecting the body side outer positioned by the clamp device,

a positioning jig disposed in one side of the transfer line advancing toward the front part and the rear fender part positioned on the transfer line, the positioning jig positioning each of the parts from the one side; and

a work set robot disposed in the opposite side of the transfer line to the positioning jig, the work set robot setting inner parts to the front part and the rear fender part,

wherein the clamp device comprises a saw tooth-shaped flange receiver defining a plurality of concave receiving portions provided on the moving body; and

wherein the flange receiver extends in a lateral direction perpendicular to a transfer direction of the transfer line to receive a flange lower end of the rear fender part closer to a rear end of the body side of the automotive vehicle than the side sill end of the body side outer.

2. An assembling apparatus assembling a body side of an automotive vehicle comprising:

a moving body provided in a transfer line;

a clamp device mounted to the moving body fixing and positioning a body side outer in an upright position wherein the body side outer is fixed in such a manner that a roof rail end of the body side outer is positioned substantially above a side sill end of the body side outer, the body side outer being constructed from a front part and a rear fender part; and

an assembling robot disposed in a side of the transfer line, the assembling robot assembling the body side by connecting the body side outer positioned by the clamp device,

wherein the moving body is provided with four cam follower sets attached to a left and a right front portion and a left and a right rear portion of the moving body;

wherein the transfer line is provided with a pair of left and right guide rails disposed in parallel to the transfer line for restricting a displacement of the cam follower sets in a lateral direction and a vertical direction of the moving body; and

wherein each of the cam follower sets is disposed to prevent movement of the guide rails in both the upward and downward vertical directions.

3. An assembling apparatus assembling a body side of an automotive vehicle comprising:

a moving body provided in a transfer line;

a clamp device mounted to the moving body fixing and positioning a body side outer in an upright position wherein the body side outer is fixed in such a manner that a roof rail end of the body side outer is positioned substantially above a side sill end of the body side outer, the body side outer being constructed from a front part and a rear fender part;

an assembling robot disposed in a side of the transfer line, the assembling robot assembling the body side by connecting the body side outer positioned by the clamp device,

a positioning jig disposed in one side of the transfer line advancing toward the front part and the rear fender part positioned on the transfer line, the positioning jig positioning each of the parts from the one side; and

a work set robot disposed in the opposite side of the transfer line to the positioning jig, the work set robot setting inner parts to the front part and the rear fender part,

wherein the clamp device comprises a saw tooth-shaped flange receiver defining a plurality of concave receiving portions provided on the moving body; and

wherein the flange receiver is retractable in a lateral direction perpendicular to a transfer direction of the transfer line and receives a flange lower end of the rear fender part at a location rearwardly from the side sill end of the body side outer.