Single geometry palletized framing system
AssigneeComau S.p.A.
InventorVelibor Kilibarda
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A palletized framing system for a motor vehicle body assembly system in which the pallet with a body structure positioned thereon is positioned at the framing station on balls to establish the vertical Z dimension with the pallet free to float on the balls in longitudinal X and lateral Y dimensions, whereafter positioners carried by one of the gates of the framing station engage and lock onto the pallet to precisely position the pallet and the body structure at the framing station at X and Y dimensions corresponding to the precisely attainable X and Y positioning of the gate.
Claims35
For use with a motor vehicle body weld station including a longitudinally extending bed and a pair of gates on opposite sides of the bed mounted for precision lateral movement relative to the bed to engage and weld body components forming a motor vehicle body assembly positioned in overlying relation to the bed, a method of precisely locating the body assembly at the weld station in a longitudinal (X), lateral (Y), and vertical (Z) dimension, the method comprising:
- providing a pallet;
- positioning a body assembly on the pallet;
- moving the pallet with the body assembly positioned thereon longitudinally into the weld station in overlying relation to the bed;
- precisely positioning the pallet on the bed in a Z dimension while allowing the pallet to float in X and Y dimensions;
- and
- precisely moving one of the gates laterally relative to the bed to engage and lock onto the pallet to precisely position the pallet and the body assembly at the weld station in X and Y dimensions corresponding to the precise X and Y positioning of the one gate.
A motor vehicle body weld station including a longitudinally extending bed and a pair of gates on opposite sides of the bed mounted for precision lateral movement relative to the bed to engage and weld body components forming a motor vehicle body assembly positioned in overlying relation to the bed on a pallet positioned on the bed, characterized in that:
- the bed defines a support surface precisely positioning the pallet in a vertical (Z) dimension while allowing the pallet to float in longitudinal (X) and lateral (Y) dimensions;
- and
- one of the gates includes longitudinally spaced positioners operative in response to precision lateral movement of the gate relative to the bed to engage and lock onto the pallet to precisely position the pallet and the body assembly at the weld station in X and Y dimensions corresponding to the precise X and Y positioning of the one gate.
A motor vehicle body weld station assembly including a longitudinally extending bed, a pallet adapted to be positioned on the bed, and a pair of gates on opposite sides of the bed mounted for precision lateral movement relative to the bed to engage and weld body components forming a motor vehicle body assembly positioned on the pallet in overlying relation to the bed, characterized in that:
- the bed defines a support surface precisely positioning the pallet in a vertical (Z) dimension while allowing the pallet to float in longitudinal (X) and lateral (Y) dimensions;
- and
- one of the gates includes longitudinally spaced positioners operative in response to precision lateral movement of the gate relative to the bed to engage and lock onto the pallet to precisely position the pallet and the body assembly at the weld station in X and Y dimensions corresponding to the precise X and Y positioning of the one gate.
A motor vehicle body weld station assembly including a longitudinally extending bed, a pallet adapted to be positioned on the bed and including spaced, upstanding pillars, and a pair of gates on opposite sides of the bed mounted for precision lateral movement relative to the bed to engage and weld body components forming a motor vehicle body assembly positioned on the pillars in overlying relation to the bed, characterized in that:
- the bed defines a plurality of laterally and longitudinally spaced balls lying in a common plane and engaging spaced underfaces of the pallet and operative to precisely position the pallet in a vertical (Z) dimension while allowing the pallet to float in longitudinal (X) and lateral (Y) dimensions;
- and
- one of the gates includes longitudinally spaced positioners, each including a contact member operative in response to precision lateral movement of the gate relative to the bed to engage an outboard point on the circumference of the respective pillar and a clamp movable between a retracted position and an operative position engaging an inboard point on the circumference of the pillar, whereby to lock onto respective pillars to precisely position the pallet and the body assembly at the weld station in dimensions corresponding to the precise positioning of the one gate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.