System and method with drag conveyor for high rate production welding
DCFirst Claim
1. An assembly system comprising:
- an assembly station that is configured to assemble a component to a part in a loaded position;
a drag conveyor includes;
a movable conveyor member that supports multiple locating elements configured to cooperate with a locating feature on a part;
a friction bar arranged along the locating elements, the locating elements extend beyond the friction bar, the friction bar is configured to support the part and reorient the part from an unoriented position to an oriented position while the movable conveyor member drags the part along the friction bar; and
a robot configured to transfer a part from the oriented position on the conveyor to the loaded position at the assembly station.
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Abstract
An assembly system, such as welding system, includes an assembly station that is configured to assemble a component to a part in a loaded position. A drag conveyor includes a movable conveyor member that supports multiple locating elements configured to cooperate with a locating feature on a part. A friction bar is arranged along the locating elements, and the locating elements extend beyond the friction bar. The friction bar is configured to support the part and reorient the part from an unoriented position to an oriented position while the movable conveyor member drags the part along the friction bar. A robot is configured to transfer a part from the oriented position on the conveyor to the loaded position at the assembly station, such as a welding unit.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. An assembly system comprising:
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an assembly station that is configured to assemble a component to a part in a loaded position; a drag conveyor includes; a movable conveyor member that supports multiple locating elements configured to cooperate with a locating feature on a part; a friction bar arranged along the locating elements, the locating elements extend beyond the friction bar, the friction bar is configured to support the part and reorient the part from an unoriented position to an oriented position while the movable conveyor member drags the part along the friction bar; and a robot configured to transfer a part from the oriented position on the conveyor to the loaded position at the assembly station. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of positioning a part with a conveyor, the method comprising the step of:
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manually loading a part onto a conveyor locating element in an unoriented position, wherein the conveyor locating element is carried by a conveyor member; dragging the part with the conveyor member along a conveyor friction bar to an oriented position; and picking up the part robotically from the oriented position. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of positioning a part with a conveyor, the method comprising the step of:
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manually loading a part onto a conveyor locating element in an unoriented position; dragging the part with a conveyor member along a conveyor friction bar to an oriented position; picking up the part robotically from the oriented position; and wherein the manually loading step includes supporting the part on the conveyor friction bar, and comprising the step of adjusting a height of the friction bar relative to the conveyor locating element prior to the manually loading step. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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19. An assembly system conveyor comprising:
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a continuous conveyor member that includes multiple transfer pins, at least one of the transfer pins configured to cooperate with a hole in a part; friction bars arranged along lateral sides of a row of the transfer pins, the transfer pins extend beyond the friction bars and are configured to move relative thereto, the friction bars are configured to support the part and reorient the part from an unoriented position to an oriented position while the friction bars are in a fixed position. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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22. An assembly system conveyor comprising:
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a continuous conveyor member that includes multiple transfer pins, at least one of the transfer pins configured to cooperate with a hole in a part; friction bars arranged along lateral sides of a row of the transfer pins, the transfer pins extend beyond the friction bars, the friction bars are configured to support the part and reorient the part from an unoriented position to an oriented position while the friction bars are in a fixed position; and an adjustment assembly connected to the friction bar and configured to move the friction bar vertically relative to the transfer pin.
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Specification