Disclosed is a configurable table that uses configurable mounting pieces to mount a work piece on the configurable table at a predetermined location. The configurable table includes a fixed portion of a mounting clamp that can engage a rotatable portion of a mounting clamp on a positioner or other device. The positioner can then rotate the configurable table and work piece to various orientations for performing horizontal welds, using robotic welders, as well as machining and cutting. The configurable table can also be used for initial fabrication, cutting, or working, which eliminates the need for separate fabrication and finish welding tables.

Configurable welding table and force indicating clamp

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 apparatus for assembling an automotive body on an assembly line having a right-hand body subassembly line, a left-hand body subassembly line and an underbody subassembly line, for delivery to a pallet transport system for movement through a body framing subassembly line. The apparatus includes an overhead transport system for transporting automotive components along at least one of the subassembly lines and for conveying the automotive components along a pallet transport system on the body framing subassembly line. The overhead transport system includes a trolley movable along a single overhead rail, a carriage slidably movable relative to the trolley, and a plurality of antler nests. Each antler nest is individually engageable with the carriage. The apparatus also includes a lowerator for transferring components from the overhead transport system to a geometry fixture at a workstation along the subassembly line. The workstation along the subassembly line can include a plurality of geometry fixtures that are exchangeable at a ready position of the workstation.

Flexible automotive assembly line and method

A method of assembling a vehicular body includes the following operations: positioning a floor main and making a relative positioning between the floor main and a body side's lower section, by using a three-dimension general locator device standing on a floor, and positioning each of a right body side, a left body side and a roof rail and making the relative positioning between the body side's upper section and the roof rail, by using a front body side upper section locator jig and a rear body side upper section locator jig which are disposed on a ceiling and independent of each other in a forward-and-rearward direction of the vehicular body, and each of which is replaceable in accordance with a type of vehicle.

Method and apparatus of assembling vehicular body

An assembling apparatus assembling a body side of an automotive vehicle, comprises: a moving body provided in a transfer line; a clamp member provided on the moving body for fixing and positioning a body side outer in an upright position in such a manner that a roof rail end of the body side outer is an upper portion and the side sill end of the body side outer is a lower portion; and a welding robot disposed in a side of the transfer line, the welding robot assembling the body side by welding the body side outer positioned by the clamp member.

Assembling apparatus assembling body side of automotive vehicle and assembling method thereof

OF THE DISCLOSURE An apparatus for use in a motorcar body assembling line for setting car body components including a floor panel, a roof panel, and side panels on a set carrier in a predetermined positional relationship in a setting station at a starting end of the assembling line The apparatus has a floor panel setting device for transporting a floor panel to, and setting it on, the set carrier; a pair of right and left side-panel setting devices for receiving a pair of right and left side panels which are transported to an upper position of the setting station by a hanger and for setting them on the set carrier; and a roof panel setting device for setting a roof panel between roof side rails of the right and left side panels which have been set on the set carrier Each of the side panel setting devices includes a vertically moveable lifting frame, a device for vertically moving the lifting frame, a jig for positioning and holding the side panel, the jig being provided on the lifting frame so as to be advanced and retracted in a lateral direction such that the side panel is received from the hanger by lateral advancement and retraction of the jig at a lifted position of each of the lifting frames and that the side panel is set on the set carrier by lateral advancement and retraction of the jig at a lowered position of each of the lifting frames, and a device for advancing and retracting the jig in the lateral direction The roof panel setting device is disposed in a laterally central portion at an upper part of the setting station A charging device is disposed on one side of the setting station and has a setting frame on which the roof panel can be placed and which can be movable to advance and retreat in a lateral direction facing the setting station such that the roof panel can be received by the roof panel setting device via the setting frame and a device for moving the setting frame

Apparatus for setting car body components in motorcar body assembling line

Distortion amounts δ1, δ2, δ12 of workpieces are measured. Based on these distortion amounts, those correction amounts A1, A2, A3 for correcting the workpieces which are required to eliminate the distortions after the workpieces have been combined are computed. Clamp units are moved to thereby deflect the workpieces by the correction amounts. In this state, the workpieces are combined.

Method of combining workpieces

An apparatus for use in a motorcar body assembling line for setting car body components including a floor panel, a roof panel, and side panels on a set carrier in a predetermined positional relationship in a setting station at a starting end of the assembling line. The roof panel setting device is disposed in a laterally central portion at an upper part of the setting station and is comprised of a front unit and a rear unit, each having a pair of holding frames which are longitudinally and vertically movable with respect to each other. The apparatus further comprises a dashboard setting device disposed in a longitudinally parallel relationship to the roof panel setting device. Both the roof panel and dashboard setting devices are structurally and operationally similar.

Roof and dashboard setting apparatus for use in automobile assembly lines

An apparatus for use in a motorcar body assembling line has a floor panel setting device for transporting a panel W1 to, and setting it on, the set carrier 1; a pair of right and left side-panel setting devices 6 for receiving panels W2 which are transported to an upper position of the setting station by a hanger and for setting them on the set carrier; and a roof panel setting device 7 for setting a panel W3 between roof side rails of the side panels. The side panel setting device includes a vertically move able lifting frame, a jig for positioning and holding the side panel being provided on the lifting frame so as to be advanced and retracted in a lateral direction such that the side panel is received from the hanger at a lifted position of each of the lifting frames and that the side panel is set on the set carrier by lateral advancement and retraction of the jig at a lowered position of each of the lifting frames. The roof panel setting device is disposed in a laterally central portion at an upper part of the setting station. A charging device 34 is disposed on one side of the setting station and has a setting frame on which the roof panel can be placed and which can be movable to advance and retreat in a lateral direction facing the setting station such that the roof panel can be received by the roof panel setting device via the setting frame.

Setting car body components in an assembling line

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make a product free from strain, in assembling a product by joining works, even if the works have strain. SOLUTION: The strains δ1, δ2, δ12 of works are measured; and then, on the basis of these values of strains, straightening values A1, A2, A12 are determined which are required to make a product free from strain after the works are joined. The works are bent for the value of the straightening by moving clamp units and are joined with each other in this state. COPYRIGHT: (C)1997,JPO

Shigeru Okazaki

Papers

Apparatus for setting car body components in motorcar body assembling line

Method of combining workpieces

Roof and dashboard setting apparatus for use in automobile assembly lines

Setting car body components in an assembling line

Method for joining work