# US 11,078,030 B1 · System and method for an assembly line quick changeout fixture > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,078,030 B1 - Document ID: US11078030B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 16/782,216 - Filed: 2020-02-05 - Published: 2021-08-05 - Granted: 2021-08-03 - Earliest claimed: 2020-02-05 - Assignees: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Blanche Lin Lu-Sullivan; Steven William Albert Goymour; Hussein Ajram; Jefferson Pickers - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11078030B1 ## CPC - B65G 47/61: for articles - B65G 9/00: Apparatus for assisting manual handling having suspended load-carriers movable by hand or gravity - B65G 17/20: comprising load-carriers suspended from overhead traction chains - B65G 17/44: by means excluding relative movements - B65G 2201/02: Articles - B65G: TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS (packaging B65B; handling thin or filamentary materials, e.g. paper sheets or thread, B65H; cranes B66C; portable mobile or lifting or hauling appliances, e.g. hoists, B66D; devices for lifting or lowering goods for loading or unloading purposes, e.g. fork-lift trucks, B66F9/00; emptying bottles, jars, casks, barrels or similar containers, not otherwise provided for, B67C9/00; delivering or transferring liquids B67D; filling or discharging vessels for liquefied, solidified or compressed gases F17C; pipe-line systems for fluids F17D) ## Abstract A conveyor hanger assembly includes an upper fastening end configured to mechanically couple to a conveyor, a lower fastening end configured to couple to an assembly component carrier, and a locking assembly including a locking body extending in longitudinal alignment with and between the upper fastening end and the lower fastening end, and a locking collar positionable between a locked position and an unlocked positioned. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A conveyor hanger assembly comprising: an upper fastening end configured to mechanically couple to a conveyor, said upper fastening end comprising a longitudinally-extending tab having an aperture therethrough, said tab sized and oriented to be received in a complementary-shaped slot defined in the conveyor; a lower fastening end configured to couple to an assembly component carrier; and a locking assembly comprising: a locking body extending in longitudinal alignment with and between said upper fastening end and said lower fastening end; and a locking collar positionable between a locked position and an unlocked positioned. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The conveyor hanger assembly of claim 1, wherein said locking collar at least partially surrounds said locking body. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The conveyor hanger assembly of claim 1, wherein said locking collar is translatable longitudinally along said locking body. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The conveyor hanger assembly of claim 1, wherein said locking collar is biased in the locked position. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The conveyor hanger assembly of claim 1, wherein said lower fastening end is configured to couple to the assembly component carrier in a pivot joint. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The conveyor hanger assembly of claim 1, wherein said lower fastening end comprises a pin configured to receive a hook of the assembly component carrier. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The conveyor hanger assembly of claim 6 further comprising the assembly component carrier, wherein said assembly component carrier hook is configured to engage said pin when said assembly component carrier is positioned at an angle of approximately 90° with respect to said lower fastening end. ### Claim 8 A method of changing a conveyor carrier, the method comprising: receiving a first assembly component carrier to be removed from a conveyor; translating a locking collar of a conveyor hanger assembly longitudinally away from the first assembly component carrier thereby releasing a locking assembly; pivoting the first assembly component carrier with respect to the conveyor hanger assembly; and disengaging the first assembly component carrier from a lower fastening end of the conveyor hanger assembly. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising: receiving a second assembly component carrier to be installed on the conveyor; engaging the second assembly component carrier on the lower fastening end of the conveyor hanger assembly; pivoting the second assembly component carrier into longitudinal alignment with the conveyor hanger assembly; and translating the locking collar longitudinally toward the second assembly component carrier thereby engaging the locking assembly. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein engaging the second assembly component carrier comprises engaging a hook of the second assembly component carrier to a pin of the lower fastening end. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein translating the locking collar comprises permitting a bias member to translate the locking collar into a locked position on the conveyor hanger assembly. ### Claim 12 An assembly line comprising: a conveyor for moving an assembly from a first point to a second point along the assembly line; an assembly component carrier configured to support an assembly component being transported along the conveyor; and a conveyor hanger assembly comprising: an upper fastening end configured to mechanically couple to said conveyor, wherein said upper fastening end comprises a longitudinally-extending tab having an aperture therethrough, said tab sized and oriented to be received in a complementary-shaped slot defined in said conveyor; a lower fastening end configured to couple to the assembly component carrier; and a locking assembly comprising: a locking body extending in longitudinal alignment with and between said upper fastening end and said lower fastening end; and a locking collar positionable between a locked position and an unlocked positioned. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The assembly line of claim 12, wherein said locking collar at least partially surrounds said locking body. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The assembly line of claim 12, wherein said locking collar is translatable longitudinally along said locking body. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The assembly line of claim 12, wherein said locking collar is biased in the locked position. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The assembly line of claim 12, wherein said lower fastening end and said assembly component carrier are coupled together in a pivot joint. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The assembly line of claim 12, wherein said lower fastening end comprises a pin configured to receive an assembly component carrier hook. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The assembly line of claim 17, wherein said assembly component carrier hook is configured to engage said pin when said assembly component carrier is positioned at an angle of approximately 90° with respect to said lower fastening end.