Apparatus for welding loosely pre-assembled motor vehicle bodies (51) comprises a station (1) for locating and welding the body, a conveyor line (3) for transporting the loosely preassembled bodies (51) to the station (1), at least two pairs of locating gates (8) situated at the two sides of the station (1), each pair of locating side gates (8) being provided with locating devices (9) engageable with the body (51) and adapted to the specific geometric shape of a particular type of body, gate conveyor means for bringing a pair of side gates (8) corresponding to the type of body which is in the welding station (1) into correspondence with an operative position in the welding station (1), and at least one welding device (10) for welding the body. At least one drum (6) rotatable about an axis parallel to the longitudinal direction of the body in the welding station and carrying on its periphery a plurality of locating gates (8) suitable for various types of body is provided on each side of the conveyor line.

Apparatus for welding motor vehicle bodies

A framing system and framing device for assembling and welding a body-in-white utilizes completely separate framing and welding operations, which are typically intermixed in conventional framing systems. The framing device is a unitary frame structure within which an underbody, side frames and other body components can each be supported and accurately positioned with respect to each other prior to the welding operation. The framing device includes a cart which serves as the base and main support for the framing device, and an upper body support member. Using an appropriate number of clamping devices, the net positions of the body components which constitute the body-in-white are properly established and maintained, such that gate fixtures are unnecessary during the welding operation. The structure of the framing device provides considerable access to the body-in-white supported within the interior of the framing device, such that a greater number of welding guns can be used during the welding operation. As a result, essentially all of the welds necessary to achieve and maintain the rigidity and geometry of the body-in-white can be formed during a single welding operation.

Automobile framing system

An operator’s seat (32) for a vehicle (10) includes a base structure (46) that allows the operator’s seat to be rotated with respect to a platform floor (31) of an operator’s compartment (30) within the vehicle. The operator’s seat may further include a swivel structure (87) that allows an operator support (48) to swivel independently of the rotation of the base structure. At least one presence sensing device (98) may be provided to detect the presence of an operator. The presence sensing device(s), and rotational position of the operator support may provide input signals to a control module (106, 152, 156, 158, 160, 162) that controls the vehicle travel, load handling features, and/or other features of the vehicle that may be selectively enabled, limited or otherwise controlled.

Rotating and swiveling seat

An automotive body framing system includes a clamping frame assembly for accurately positioning and clamping loosely assembled main body panels and header members in accurate alignment with each other to be welded into a rigid permanently assembled relationship. The loosely assembly panels and members are mounted upon a conveying sled upon which the floor panel of the assembly is accurately located. A clamping frame assembly including front and rear frame sections pivotally connected in end-to-end relationship with each other is movable into a clamping position overlying the body from front to rear and supported in an inverted V configuration by support posts which support the front and rear ends of the frame assembly. Clamps mounted on the front and rear frame sections are actuable to clamp the various components in accurately assembled relationship to each other while leaving the entire opposite sides of the body accessible to welding devices. In one form of the invention, the clamping frame and support parts are mounted upon the move with the conveying sled. In another form of the invention, the clamping frame and support posts are located at a welding station and the body is conveyed by the sled to and from the operative relationship with the clamping frame.

Automotive body framing system

A vehicle seat arrangement is provided for a working vehicle comprising an operator's seat (10, 60) having an adjustable feature. A first control element (32) is arranged such that a first work operative position is defined. A seat adjusting element (34) is further provided for enabling the operator to set the adjustable feature of the operator's seat. The seat adjusting element is positioned relative to the first control element such that the operator may selectively control the adjustable feature of the seat without significantly interrupting the first work operative position or without significantly interrupting a transition from a first task to a second task and/or from a first work operative position to a second work operative position.

Systems and methods for seat repositioning

An automatic assembly and welding system is provided for carrying out the building of various shaped sheet metal members, particularly motor vehicle bodies. The system comprises a single welding station, horizontal conveyor means for conveying vehicle frames to the welding station, and a pair of endless vertical conveyor mechanisms located on opposite sides of the welding station. The vertical conveyor mechanisms are capable of selectively bringing to a vertically oriented position adjacent the welding station and removing from the welding station various different automotive frames or body members to enable a continuous circulation of the body members along a path established by the vertical conveyor mechanism operating to repeatedly deliver new body members to the welding station.

Di Rosa Gaetano

Papers

Automatic system for assembly and welding of motor vehicle bodies

Automatic system for assembly and welding of sheet metal structures e.g. motor vehicle bodies

Automatic assembling and welding system for car body

Impianto automatico per assemblaggio e saldatura di scocche di autoveicoli