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

The present invention relates to an apparatus for assembling a front panel, a plurality of side panels, a back panel, and a roof panel in a complete body assembly line for various vehicles. The complete body assembling apparatus realizes a new type of a coupling apparatus by which hangers for vehicle models are held in a post buck in a complete body line for a vehicle and the post buck is flexibly movable depending on the changes in various vehicle models. This in turn, allows various vehicle models to be produced in a single process by flexibly coping with various vehicle models and enhancing the efficiency of an entire complete body assembling process.

Complete body assembling apparatus for various vehicle models

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

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

PURPOSE:In a setting device for setting car body constituent parts, such as a floor, a roof, a side panel, on a setting truck, to elevate space efficiency by providing a jig for holding a side panel at an elevation frame freely in lateral advancement and retreat so as to constitute a side panel setting device. CONSTITUTION:In a set station A, left and right one pair of side panel setting devices 6 are provided, which receive left and right one pair of side panels W2 carried by hangers 5 and set them on a setting truck 1. Each setting device 6 is so constituted that it receives the side panel W2 from the hanger 5 by the advance and retreat of a jig 16 at the up-move position of an elevation frame 12 and sets the side panel W2 on a setting truck 1 by the advance and retreat of the jig 1 at the down-move position, by providing the jig 16, which positions the side panel W2 at the elevation frame 12 and holds it there, freely in lateral advance and retreat. Moreover, a roof setting device 7 is arranged in the lateral direction above the station A so that the roof setting device 7 may receive a roof W3 through the set frame 37 of a throwing-in device 34.

Device for setting car body constituent members in assembling line of automobile car body

PURPOSE:To efficiently perform changing work of a welding jig by making a changing carriage freely reciprocatively between a shunting station and a welding station by the movement of a transfer bar CONSTITUTION:Each changeover rail 10b is turned to the longitudinal position and the transfer bar 5 is moved to the welding station A side and the changing carriage 4 is carried in the welding station A and the welding jigs 1 and 1 of automatic welding equipments 2 and 2 at both sides are transferred to the carriage 4 Next, the bar 5 is moved to the front position of the shunting station D and the carriage 4 is returned to the station D and each changeover 10b is turned to the horizontal position and the carriage 4 is sent out onto the minus shunting rails 11 and 11 and the carriage 4 on which the welding jigs 1 and 1 to be used next the loaded is charged from the other side rails 11 and 11 to the station D The carriage 4 is carried in the station A in the same way and the welding jigs 1 and 1 on the carriage 4 are transferred to the automatic welding equipments 2 and 2 at both sides and the empty carriage 4 is returned to the shunting station D and the carriage 4 is sent out onto the shunting rails 11 and 11 at the minus side or the other side

Takashi Kubo

Papers

Apparatus for setting car body components in motorcar body assembling line

Roof and dashboard setting apparatus for use in automobile assembly lines

Setting car body components in an assembling line

Device for setting car body constituent members in assembling line of automobile car body

Welding jig changing device for welding line