Door installation system having synchronous movement function

• US 7,627,945 B2
• Filed: 12/12/2005
• Issued: 12/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Original Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Inventors: Lee, Jae-Won
• Primary Examiner(s): Bryant; David P
• Assistant Examiner(s): Salone; Bayan
• Application Number:
  US11/302,178
• Publication Number:
  US 20070079503A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,457 Days
• Field of Search: 298/23, 297/21, 292/811, 292/814, 295/59, 294/070.9, 292/82, 297/87, 297/09, 297/71, 297/91, 198/315, 198/330, 198/349.1, 198/370.04, 198/377.01, 104/53, 104/67
• US Class Current: 29/787
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 65/06 the sub-units or components being doors, windows, openable roofs, lids, bonnets, or weather strips or seals therefor assembling sealing arrangements with vehicle parts, e.g. doors, windows B60J10/45
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53039 with control means energized in response to activator stimulated by condition sensor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53313 Means to interrelatedly feed plural work parts from plural sources without manual intervention
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53383 and means to fasten work parts together
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/534 Multiple station assembly or disassembly apparatus

Abstract

During assembly of a vehicle door to a vehicle body, a door installation apparatus is mounted to a frame unit, which is movably mounted on a running rail. A synchronous drive unit, controlled by a user via a control panel, includes a drive roller mounted to the frame unit, a roller shift means that selectively contacts the drive roller to the running rail, and a roller drive unit that drives the drive roller such that the frame unit moves along the running rail at a speed equal to that of the vehicle body.

Claims

1. A door installation system to carry a door and assemble the door with a vehicle body, which is being moved by a conveyor provided on a support surface of a vehicle body assembly line, comprising:

a running rail provided above the conveyor in a same orientation as the conveyor;

a frame unit mounted to the running rail so as to be movable along the running rail;

a synchronous drive unit installed in the frame unit for synchronizing speed of the frame unit, with respect to the running rail, with a speed at which the conveyor carries the vehicle body;

a door installation apparatus mounted to the frame unit, which carries the door to a position at which the door is assembled with the vehicle body; and

a control panel provided such that the synchronous drive unit is operated under control of a user;

wherein the synchronous drive unit comprises;

a drive roller mounted to the frame unit and selectively brought into contact with the running rail;

a roller shift unit, for shifting the drive roller such that the drive roller selectively contacts the frame unit and

a roller drive unit, for driving the drive roller such that the frame unit is moved along the running rail.

2. The door installation system as defined in claim 1, wherein the roller shift unit comprises:

a support rod coupled to the frame unit by a hinge, with the drive roller mounted to a first rotating end of the support rod; and

an air bellows mounted to a second rotating end of the support rod and expanded and contracted by pneumatic pressure.

3. The door installation system as defined in claim 2, wherein the roller drive unit comprises:

a cylinder mounted to the frame unit and having a piston rod that is linearly advanced and retracted along the running rail by pneumatic pressure supplied from outside;

a rack gear coupled to the piston rod; and

a pinion having a same axis as the driver roller and rotating while engaging with the rack gear.

4. The door installation system as defined in claim 1, wherein the door installation apparatus comprises:

a lift cylinder provided under the frame unit, which controls upward and downward movement of the door;

a rotating shaft that is downwardly rotatable with respect to the lift cylinder;

an upper clamp unit mounted to the rotating shaft, which supports an upper portion of the door;

a lower attaching unit mounted to the rotating shaft, which supports a lower portion of the door; and

a synchronous arm mounted to the lower attaching unit and brought into surface contact with a lower hinge of the vehicle body.