# US 12,005,980 B2 · Apparatus for supporting a component part in an automated line > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,005,980 B2 - Document ID: US12005980B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/964,467 - Filed: 2022-10-12 - Published: 2024-01-11 - Granted: 2024-06-11 - Earliest claimed: 2022-07-11 - Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company; Kia Corporation - Applicants: Hyundai Motor Company; Kia Corporation - Inventors: Sung Il Jung; Sungchul Yang - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12005980B2 ## CPC - B62D 65/18: Transportation, conveyor or haulage systems specially adapted for motor vehicle or trailer assembly lines {(conveyors and haulage in general B65G)} - B62D 65/022: {Transferring or handling sub-units or components, e.g. in work stations or between workstations and transportation systems} - B62D 65/026: {by using a jig or the like; Positioning of the jig} - B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M) ## Abstract Provided is an apparatus for supporting a component part in an automated line. The apparatus includes two or more process stations disposed along a component part transport path, a plurality of component part supporting units installed on each of the process stations to be movable to a position depending on a type of the component part, and a component part transport unit installed to be movable forward and backward along the component part transport path and configured to transport the component part to each of the process stations. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for supporting a component part in an automated line, the apparatus comprising: two or more process stations disposed along a component part transport path; a plurality of component part supporting units installed on each of the process stations to be movable to a position depending on a type of the component part; and a component part transport unit installed to be movable along the component part transport path; wherein the plurality of component part supporting units comprises a plurality of pin clamps installed on a station frame of each of the process stations, and configured to support and clamp both sides of a front portion and both sides of a rear portion of the component part with reference to the component part transport path. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: in one process station, the component part supported by the plurality of component part supporting units is lifted by the component part transport unit; and in a subsequent process station, the component part is lowered to be loaded on the plurality of component part supporting units by the component part transport unit. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the process stations comprises a station frame on which the component part transport path is formed. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of component part supporting units comprises a plurality of support blocks installed on the station frame to support between front and rear portions of the component part. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The apparatus of claim 4, wherein each of the plurality of support blocks is provided to be movable in three axis (X, Y, and Z axis) directions by an operation of a second driver. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of pin clamps comprises: a tooling pin provided to be movable in three axis (X, Y, and Z axis) directions by an operation of a first driver, and inserted into a tooling hole formed in a lower portion of the component part; and a component part damper installed to be capable of protruding from and retracting into an interior of the tooling pin by an operation of a clamp cylinder. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The apparatus of claim 6, wherein: each of the plurality of pin clamps comprises a component part supporting member of a cylinder shape configured to support an edge of the tooling hole; and the tooling pin is vertically coupled to the component part supporting member. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the tooling pin comprises: a damper mounting space vertically formed in an interior; and a hook hole connected to the damper mounting space in an upper portion. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the component part damper comprises a clamping protrusion capable of protruding through the hook hole, and is vertically mounted in the damper mounting space. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the component part damper comprises a slot of an arc form to be coupled with a fixed pin provided in the damper mounting space, and is rotatably coupled to an operation rod of the clamp cylinder. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the component part transport unit comprises: a shuttle rail installed on the process stations along the component part transport path; and a transport shuttle installed on the shuttle rail to be reciprocally movable by an operation of a shuttle driver and comprising at least one lifter installed to be vertically movable by an operation of a lifter driver. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the transport shuttle comprises a plurality of locators installed on the at least one lifter and configured to support a lower portion of the component part. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the at least one lifter is installed to be vertically movable by an up-down device connected to the lifter driver. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the component part transport unit comprises a station connection frame disposed between the process stations, connected to the process stations, and coupled with the shuttle rail. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the component part transport unit comprises an autonomous mobile robot (AMR) capable of autonomous driving along the component part transport path. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the autonomous mobile robot comprises at least one lifter installed to be vertically movable by an operation of a lifter driver. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the component part is a vehicle body component part comprising a floor assembly. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the component part transport unit is configured to transport the component part to each of the process stations. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the component part transport unit comprises an automated guided vehicle (AGV) capable of autonomous driving along the component part transport path.