# US 4,400,607 A · Exchanging apparatus for welding jig units of an automatic welding apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 4,400,607 A - Document ID: US4400607A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 06/268,571 - Filed: 1981-05-29 - Granted: 1983-08-23 - Earliest claimed: 1980-05-30 - Assignees: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Susumu Wakou; Satoshi Kadowaki - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4400607A ## CPC - B62D 65/02: Joining sub-units or components to, or positioning sub-units or components with respect to, body shell or other sub-units or components - B23K 37/047: moving work to adjust its position between soldering, welding or cutting steps (B23K37/053 takes precedence) - B23P 2700/50: Other automobile vehicle parts, i.e. manufactured in assembly lines - Y10T 483/17: including machine tool or component - Y10T 483/19: Miscellaneous - 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) - 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 - B23P: METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; COMBINED OPERATIONS; UNIVERSAL MACHINE TOOLS (arrangements for copying or controlling B23Q) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract An exchanging apparatus for exchanging welding jig units of an automatic welding apparatus on an assembly line. The automatic welding apparatus includes a combining station where a work to be assembled is combined and welded by detachable welding jig units, and a set carrier for moving the work along a conveying railway to and from the combining station. The exchanging apparatus comprises an exchanging railway which crosses the conveying railway through a switch mechanism and at least two exchanging carriers, each having thereon a gripping means for gripping a welding jig unit. Each of the above carriers is mounted on a plurality of wheels, each of which is turnable about a fixed vertical shaft on the respective carrier. The switch mechanism comprises turnable rail portions at the crossing points of the two railways, a rail fixing device for fixing the portions at their switched positions, and a carrier fixing device for positioning and fixing any one of the carriers while the rail portions are turned thereunder. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An exchanging apparatus for a welding jig unit in combination with an automatic welding apparatus which includes a combining station for combining a work conveyed to this station by a set carrier, at least one automatic welding apparatus for welding the work at the combining station, the automatic welding apparatus having a welding jig unit which is detachable therefrom for exchanging, and a conveying railway for the set carrier, the exchanging apparatus comprising an exchanging railway which crosses the conveying railway through a switch means, and at least two exchanging carriers on the exchanging railway, each having thereon a gripping means for gripping a welding jig unit. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of the set carrier and said at least two exchanging carriers is mounted on a plurality of wheels, each wheel being turnable about a vertical shaft fixed to the respective carrier; and the switch means comprises respective turnable rail portions which are disposed at respective crossing positions between respective rails of the conveying railway and the exchanging railway, said rail portions being arranged to be switchable by turning between the two railways; a rail fixing means for fixing the respective turnable rail portions at their switched positions; and a carrier fixing means for positioning and fixing any one of the set carriers and said at least two exchanging carriers when the respective wheels of the carrier are put on the respective corresponding turnable rails.