Automatic decking and automatic fastening system
First Claim
1. An automatic vehicle component assembly for assembling a first vehicle component to a second vehicle component apparatus comprising:
- a stationary base on a floor structure;
an elevatable unit supported on and repositionable relative to the base by at least a first actuator;
a slidable unit supported on the elevatable unit and repositionable relative to the elevatable unit by a second actuator;
an arm supported on the slidable unit and repositionable relative to the slidable unit by a third actuator wherein the arm includes a tooling plate near a terminal end of the arm that engages and supports the weight of the first vehicle component, and the arm is repositionable by a cylinder that extends between the slidable unit and arm;
a transfer unit positioned away from the base and movable relative to the base and carrying the first vehicle component; and
a conveying unit positioned away from the base and the transfer unit movable relative to the base and the transfer unit and carrying the second vehicle component, wherein the second actuator positions the slidable unit against the second vehicle component and the transfer unit and the arm are cycled so that the first vehicle component is positioned on the arm in a spaced apart and predetermined position relative to the second vehicle component and at least one of the first and third actuators is operated to move the arm and position the first vehicle component on the second vehicle component.
14 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle assembly system automatically decks and automatically fastens body components to chassis components. The system uses an automatic decking and fastening unit that includes a base with an elevatable platform repositionable relative to the base by at least one actuator. A slidable unit carries a fastener driver, is supported on the elevatable platform, and is repositionable relative to the elevatable platform by at least one other actuator. The slidable unit also carries an arm that is repositionable relative to the slidable unit by yet another actuator. A pair of conveyors are positioned away from the base, are movable relative to the base and carry a pair of vehicle components. The conveyors are cycled so that the vehicle components are positioned relative to one another in a predetermined position, and the actuators are operated to reposition the fastener driver to a position determined by engagement of the slidable unit with one of the vehicle components.
39 Citations
18 Claims
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1. An automatic vehicle component assembly for assembling a first vehicle component to a second vehicle component apparatus comprising:
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a stationary base on a floor structure;
an elevatable unit supported on and repositionable relative to the base by at least a first actuator;
a slidable unit supported on the elevatable unit and repositionable relative to the elevatable unit by a second actuator;
an arm supported on the slidable unit and repositionable relative to the slidable unit by a third actuator wherein the arm includes a tooling plate near a terminal end of the arm that engages and supports the weight of the first vehicle component, and the arm is repositionable by a cylinder that extends between the slidable unit and arm;
a transfer unit positioned away from the base and movable relative to the base and carrying the first vehicle component; and
a conveying unit positioned away from the base and the transfer unit movable relative to the base and the transfer unit and carrying the second vehicle component, wherein the second actuator positions the slidable unit against the second vehicle component and the transfer unit and the arm are cycled so that the first vehicle component is positioned on the arm in a spaced apart and predetermined position relative to the second vehicle component and at least one of the first and third actuators is operated to move the arm and position the first vehicle component on the second vehicle component. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. An automatic vehicle component assembly apparatus comprising:
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a stationary base assembly;
a base plate omnipositionable relative to the base assembly by the action of a first actuator extending between the base assembly and the base plate operating in combination with a pair of bearings located between a vertical riser of the base assembly and a vertical leg of an elevatable unit;
a centering mechanism and a pair of longitudinal bearings positioned between the elevatable unit and the base plate engaging movement of the base plate in a longitudinal direction; and
a pair of lateral bearings and a second actuator positioned between the elevatable unit and the base plate engaging movement of the base plate in a lateral direction that is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction;
a fastener driver carried by the base plate;
an arm supported on the base plate for vertical linear translation;
a transfer unit spaced away from the base assembly carrying a vehicle body component; and
a conveyor spaced away from the base assembly and the transfer unit carrying a vehicle chassis component having a fastener thereon, wherein the base plate is moved to position the arm in a predetermined position relative to the chassis component and the transfer unit is moved to position the vehicle body component on the arm and the arm is translated linearly vertically to position the vehicle body component on the vehicle chassis component so that operation of the fastener driver engages and drives the fastener on the vehicle chassis component into the vehicle body component to secure the vehicle body component to the chassis component. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An automatic decking and automatic fastening system comprising:
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a transfer unit carrying a vehicle body component;
a conveying unit carrying a vehicle chassis component; and
a pair of automatic decking and automatic fastening units on opposite sides of the conveying unit and below the transfer unit, each including;
a stationary base assembly;
a platform elevatable relative to the base assembly by operation of a cylinder between the base assembly and the platform;
a base plate carried by the platform and slidable on a bearing toward and away from the conveying unit by an actuator between the base plate and the platform; and
an arm elevatable relative to the base plate which receives the vehicle body component from the transfer unit and lifts the vehicle body component above and in a predetermined position relative to the vehicle chassis component and then lowers, placing the vehicle body component on the vehicle chassis component. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification