# US 10,307,878 B2 · Method for producing a component or a component composite consisting of a plurality of components, using a camera for detecting the position of a component

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- Number: US 10,307,878 B2
- Document ID: US10307878B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/148,007
- Filed: 2014-01-06
- Published: 2014-05-01
- Granted: 2019-06-04
- Earliest claimed: 2011-08-05
- Assignees: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
- Applicants: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
- Inventors: Thomas Herzinger; Johann van Niekerk
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10307878B2

## CPC

- B23Q 17/2409: {Arrangements for indirect observation of the working space using image recording means, e.g. a camera}
- B21D 22/20: Deep-drawing (special deep-drawing arrangements in, or in connection with, presses B21D24/00)
- B21D 53/88: other parts for vehicles, e.g. cowlings, mudguards
- B23K 9/20: Stud welding
- B23K 11/0046: {the extremity of a small piece being welded to a base, e.g. cooling studs or fins to tubes or plates}
- B23K 31/02: relating to soldering or welding
- B23Q 17/2414: {for indicating desired positions guiding the positioning of tools or workpieces (B25H1/0092 takes precedence)}
- B23K 2101/006: {Vehicles}
- Y10T 29/49622: Vehicular structural member making
- Y10T 29/49895: Associating parts by use of aligning means [e.g., use of a drift pin or a "fixture"]
- Y10T 29/49968: Metal fusion joining
- B23Q: DETAILS, COMPONENTS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR MACHINE TOOLS, e.g. ARRANGEMENTS FOR COPYING OR CONTROLLING (tools of the kind used in lathes or boring machines B23B27/00); MACHINE TOOLS IN GENERAL CHARACTERISED BY THE CONSTRUCTION OF PARTICULAR DETAILS OR COMPONENTS; COMBINATIONS OR ASSOCIATIONS OF METAL-WORKING MACHINES, NOT DIRECTED TO A PARTICULAR RESULT
- B21D: WORKING OR PROCESSING OF SHEET METAL OR METAL TUBES, RODS OR PROFILES WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL (working or processing of wire B21F)
- B23K: SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

A method produces a component, particularly a body component for a vehicle, or a component composite consisting of several components. The steps include forming a metal plate in a forming tool, particularly in a deep-drawing die, producing a reference marking at a predefined location of the metal plate, rough positioning of the formed metal plate by a positioning device such that the reference marking is situated in a predefined space area, identifying the reference marking of a position recognition device, such as a camera system, the position recognition device generating position data corresponding to the position of the reference marking, positioning of a first fixing element at the location of the reference marking based on the position data by an electronically controlled positioning device, and connecting the first fixing element with the formed metal plate, particularly by welding.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of producing a vehicle body component, the method comprising acts of:
forming, via a forming tool, a metal plate;
producing a first reference marking at a first predefined location on the metal plate, wherein the metal plate comprises a plurality of orientation characteristics, the plurality of orientation characteristics including a corner point of the formed metal plate, a hole center of the formed metal plate, and an edge of the formed metal plate;
roughly positioning, via a positioning device, the formed metal plate such that the first reference marking is located in a predefined space area relative to a position recognition device;
identifying, via the position recognition device, a position of the first reference marking, wherein the position recognition device generates position data corresponding to the identified position of the first reference marking;
positioning, via an electronically controlled positioning device, a first fixing element at the predefined location of the first reference marking on the basis of the generated position data;
verifying an actual position of the first fixing element, after the positioning of the first fixing element, by determining, via a measuring device, a position of the first fixing element relative to the plurality of orientation characteristics of the formed metal plate;
welding, via a welding device, the first fixing element to the formed metal plate at the location of the first reference marking;
providing a second component having a second fixing element;
wherein the first fixing element is a sphere and the second fixing element is a hole;
inserting the sphere into the hole and clamping the sphere in the hole and thus detachably connecting the sphere to the second component to position the first component and the second component sufficiently firmly and precisely relative to one another; and
permanently fixing the second component to the formed metal plate by welding the second component to the formed metal plate.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the act of producing the first reference marking is carried out during the forming of the metal plate in the forming tool.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein after the rough positioning of the formed metal plate and during the welding of the first fixing element, the formed metal plate is held in position via a holding device.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the act of welding the first fixing element is carried out by controlling the welding device via the positioning device.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the position recognition device is a camera system.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the act of producing the first reference marking is carried out by embossing, via an embossing element of the forming tool, the first reference marking into the metal plate.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method according to claim 6, wherein the embossing element is fixedly connected with a mold part of the forming tool or is an integral component of the mold part.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The method according to claim 6, wherein the embossing element is movably arranged relative to a mold part of the forming tool.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the first reference marking is rotationally symmetrical, comprising a spherical-cap-shaped depression, in the metal plate.