Sacrificial element removal apparatus
AssigneeJaguar Land Rover Limited
InventorsNicholas George, Dale Sawyer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Apparatus is provided for removing a sacrificial element (16) from a body panel (2) of a motor vehicle during the assembly of the body structure of the motor vehicle. The apparatus comprises a cutter tool having a pair of cutter wheels (4, 5) defining a cutter gap (6) therebetween. Means (R) are provided for positioning the cutter tool (4, 5) so that the cutter gap (6) is aligned with the sacrificial element (16). The positioning means (R) can also move the cutter wheels (4, 5) relative to the sacrificial element (16). The engagement of the cutter wheels (3, 4) with the sacrificial element can cause the cutter wheels to rotate and cut the sacrificial element. A related method and cutter tool are also contemplated.
Claims14
An apparatus for removing a sacrificial element from a body panel of a motor vehicle during the assembly of a body structure of the motor vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
- a cutter tool having a pair of cutter wheels, the cutter tool further comprising a gripper assembly for gripping the sacrificial element and transporting the sacrificial element away from the body panel after a cutting operation;
- a manipulator configured to position the cutter tool and to move the cutter tool relative to the sacrificial element to cut the sacrificial element;
- and
- a control unit,
- wherein the gripper assembly comprises first and second rotatable wheels for engaging the sacrificial element, and
- wherein, in use, the control unit is configured to control the manipulator to displace the cutter tool a sufficient distance beyond the sacrificial element such that, if the cutting operation has not completely cut the sacrificial element, the first and second wheels of the gripper assembly travel out of engagement with the sacrificial element so that subsequent retraction of the cutter tool does not attempt to transport the sacrificial element away from the body panel.
A method of removing a sacrificial element from a body panel of a motor vehicle during the assembly of a body structure of the motor vehicle, the method comprising:
- aligning a cutter tool with the sacrificial element, the cutter tool having a pair of cutter wheels and further comprising a gripper assembly comprising first and second rotatable wheels for engaging the sacrificial element;
- moving the cutter tool relative to the sacrificial element to cut the sacrificial element;
- gripping the sacrificial element with the gripper assembly;
- and
- displacing the cutter tool a sufficient distance beyond the sacrificial element such that, if the cutting operation has not completely cut the sacrificial element, the first and second wheels of the gripper assembly travel out of engagement with the sacrificial element so that subsequent retraction of the cutter tool does not attempt to transport the sacrificial element away from the body panel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.