PLANT FOR ASSEMBLING MECHANICAL PARTS ON VEHICLE BODIES

• US 20150047184A1
• Filed: 03/19/2013
• Published: 02/19/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CPM SpA (Durr AG)
• Original Assignee: CPM SpA (Durr AG)
• Inventors: Bellezza, Massimo
• Granted Patent: US 9,533,725 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 29/795
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 19/04 for assembling or disassembling parts
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 21/004 the units passing two or more work-stations whilst being composed
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 65/022 Transferring or handling sub-units or components, e.g. in work stations or between workstations and transportation systems
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 65/18 Transportation, conveyor or haulage systems specially adapted for motor vehicle or trailer assembly lines conveyors and haulage in general B65G
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49829 Advancing work to successive stations [i.e., assembly line]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/534 Multiple station assembly or disassembly apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53417 Means to fasten work parts together
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53539 including work conveyor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53548 and work carrying vehicle

Abstract

A plant including: an assembly line along which a plurality of pallets are circulated in a closed loop, divided into a first section, where the pallets are loaded in a plurality of first stations with mechanical parts to be assembled, and into a second section, where the pallets advance along a plurality of second stations; a conveyor arranged at least partially parallel to and above the second section, along which a plurality of balance supports provided with bodies run; a coupling station, arranged immediately upstream of the second section, where the pallets are integrally coupled to the balance supports; and a decoupling station, where the pallets are separated from the balance supports; each pallet having selectively engageable and releasable fastening means for a balance support and elastic means able to receive the balance support resting thereon.

Claims

1. A plant for assembling mechanical parts on vehicle bodies, of the type comprising an assembly line along which a plurality of pallets are circulated in a closed loop, the assembly line being divided into a first and a second section comprising a plurality of first and second stations, respectively, the pallets sequentially advancing in a first predetermined direction along the first section where they are progressively loaded, into the first stations, with a predetermined group of mechanical parts to be assembled, arranged on each pallet according to a defined layout, and the pallets then sequentially advancing along the second section, in a second direction, opposite to the first, where the predetermined group of mechanical parts carried by each pallet is progressively assembled in sequence on a respective vehicle body, further comprising, in combination:

i) a conveyor arranged at least partially parallel to the second section and above the second stations, a plurality of balance supports running along the conveyor, each integrally provided with one of said bodies;

ii) a coupling station, arranged immediately upstream of the second section, with reference to the pallet movement direction along the second section, provided with means for integrally coupling each pallet to a balance support so that the latter is supported by the pallet, and

iii) a decoupling station, arranged immediately downstream of the second section, with reference to the pallet movement direction along the second station, provided with means for separating the pallets from the balance supports.

2. A plant according to claim 1, wherein each pallet is provided with its own fastening means, which can be selectively engaged and released in order to integrally secure a balance support thereto;

and with elastic means able to receive a balance support resting thereon in order to remain compressed between the latter and the pallet when the fastening means are engaged.

3. A plant according to claim 2, wherein said coupling and decoupling stations comprise means for selectively controlling the engagement or release of the fastening means of each pallet;

and means for carrying out a relative vertical movement between a pallet and a respective balance support that are positioned on said stations.

4. A plant according to claim 2, wherein said selectively engageable and releasable fastening means of each pallet comprise respective rotating pins, provided with hammer heads and able to couple through respective bottom seats of the balance supports, said coupling and decoupling stations comprising means for rotating said pins.

5. A plant according to claim 4, wherein said fastening means of each pallet comprise at least one pair of pins which are axially movable in a telescopic manner.

6. A plant according to claim 2, wherein the coupling and decoupling stations are provided with selectively engageable, vertical positioning means for the balance supports, able to block upward vertical movements of the balance support present each time on the station.

7. A plant according to claim 6, wherein the positioning means of at least the decoupling station are fitted on a vertically movable slide, and at least the coupling station is provided with means for raising a pallet placed thereon towards the balance support.

8. A plant according to claim 1, wherein said coupling and decoupling stations comprise first centering centring means mating with second centering centring means carried by each said balance support.

9. A plant according to claim 1, wherein the second section of the assembly line is arranged above the first section, which have the same extension in the pallet movement direction;

a lifting station and a lowering station for transferring pallets to and from the second section is arranged at the beginning and at the end of the first section, and immediately upstream and downstream of the coupling and decoupling stations, with reference to the pallet movement direction along the second section.

10. A plant according to claim 1, wherein each said balance support comprises a C-shaped portal element, within which a respective body is supported and suspended, a pair of side-members fixed to respective opposite ends of the portal element and projecting so as to protrude therefrom in a conveyor extension direction, so that the balance support has the overall aspect of a loading fork, said side-members being provided with releasable securing means for securing the body, and universal mounting means for mounting on the conveyor, able to allow limited vertical movements of the balance support;

said conveyor being an aerial conveyor of any type.