US 4,667,866 AGranted

Car body assembling apparatus and method

AssigneeToyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha

InventorsHideaki Tobita, Kazuo Naruse

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Abstract

Different car body parts needed for a complete main body are preworked at a subassembly station and then are releasably attached to corresponding jig units, each unit having a universal frame on which is mounted a set of special jigs conforming to the kind and type of car body being produced. Each jig unit is moved by an independent conveyor to a main assembly station where it is transferred to a corresponding positioning device. Each positioning device then moves its respective jig unit from a first position to a second position predetermined so as to place the different body parts in proper juxtaposed relation for welding by automatic welding devices. Upon welding, the jig units are released from all of the body parts except the under body, are retracted by their respective positioning devices, and are transferred back to their individual conveyors for return to the subassembly station. The completed car body is moved to a succeeding work station, where the under body jig unit is released and returned to the subassembly station.

Claims10

Dependent claims

Apparatus for assembling a car body at one fixed location, the apparatus comprising:

a plurality of different jig units for a corresponding plurality of different body parts needed for a main body assembly, each jig unit comprised of a universal frame for carrying a corresponding body part for any of a plurality of different kinds and types of cars and a set of jigs for a corresponding body part of a specific kind and type of car body removably mounted on the universal frame;
said fixed location comprising body assembling means located at a single assembly including
a corresponding plurality of means for positioning the plurality of different jig units, each of the positioning means being selectively movable between a first position for receiving the universal frame of the corresponding jig unit and a second position for placing a body part carried by the set of jigs mounted on the universal frame in a predetermined assembly position relative to the different body parts carried by the other of the plurality of jig units and
welding means for welding the body parts together;
and
a plurality of conveyor means for moving said plurality of different jig units between a subassembly station for the corresponding body parts and the first positions of said respective plurality of positioning means in the body assembling means for delivering said jig units to and receiving them from the body assembling means.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 06/748,188Filed 24 Jun 1985
Priority: JP 59-13127126 Jun 1984
Granted: 26 May 1987
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification9 codes

B23K 37/047
For holding or positioning work: moving work to adjust its position between soldering, welding or cutting steps
B62D 65/02
Designing, manufacturing, e.g. assembling, facilitating disassembly, or structurally modifying motor vehicles or trailers, not otherwise provided…
B23P 2700/50
Indexing scheme relating to the articles being treated, e.g. manufactured, repaired, assembled, connected or other operations covered in the…
Y10T 29/49829
Progressively advancing of work assembly station or assembled portion of work: advancing work to successive stations [i.e., assembly line]