Method and apparatus for fitting component sections

A method of fitting two component sections together prior to rigidly fixing, and thereby assembling, said two component sections with two sets of coupling bolts into one whole integral body in an automatic assembling line, said method comprising:

• placing one of said two component sections at a preselected position relative to said automatic assembling line, said one component section being formed with two series of bolt engaging bores with which coupling bolts are engageable;
• gripping and inserting by means of a gripping hand of a manipulator, said manipulator including gripping means having a plurality of clamping fingers for holding said coupling bolts, one of two sets of coupling bolts being inserted, at first, through one of two series of bolt receiving bores formed in the other component section and, then, the remaining set of coupling bolts through the remaining series of bolt receiving bores;
• and
• setting said other component section upon said one component section by means of said manipulator while inserting said coupling bolts through said bolt receiving bores into said bolt engaging bores.

Apparatus for setting by a manipulator two sets of coupling bolts in two series of bolt receiving bores formed in one component section, said one component section being fitted to another component section prior to rigidly fixing, and thereby assembling, said two component sections into one whole body in an automatic assembling line, said apparatus comprising:

• manipulator means for picking up various coupling means and manipulating same,
• bolt gripping means to be picked up and released from said manipulator means, said bolt gripping means including
• a plurality of gripping heads and
• two series of clamping fingers attached to said gripping heads and extending out on both sides thereof, each of said series of clamping fingers having means for releasably clamping one set of coupling bolts.

A method of fitting two component sections together at a plane which is inclined to the horizontal prior to rigidly fixing, and thereby assembling, said two component sections with coupling bolts into one whole integral body in an automatic assembling line, said first component section being provided with a locating projection and said second component section being provided with a locating recess for receiving said projection to bring said two component sections into proper registry, said method comprising:

• placing a first component section at a predetermined position relative to an automatic assembling line, said first component section being provided with an inclined fitting surface formed with coupling bolt engaging means coaxially aligned with said locating projection;
• inserting coupling bolts through and protruding out of bolt receiving bores formed in an inclined fitting surface of a second component section placed at a preselected different position by means of a manipulator, said manipulator including gripping means having a plurality of clamping fingers for holding said coupling bolts;
• and
• setting the fitting surface of said second component section in juxtaposition to the fitting surface of said first component section by means of said manipulator while inserting the protruding portion of said coupling bolts into the coupling bolt engaging means and while mutually coacting said locating means to bring said component sections into proper registry with said coupling bolts received in said coupling bolt engaging means to secure said component sections temporarily together until said coupling bolts are tightened to form them into one whole integral body.

A method of fitting a cylinder block and a cylinder head together at a plane which is inclined to the horizontal prior to rigidly fixing, and thereby assembling, said cylinder block having two series of cylinder bores and cylinder head with coupling bolts into one automobile engine body in an automatic assembling line, said cylinder block being provided with a locating projection disposed between said two series of cylinder bores and said cylinder head being provided with a recess for receiving said locating projection to bring said cylinder block and cylinder head into proper registry, said method comprising:

• placing a cylinder block at a predetermined position relative to an automatic assembling line, said cylinder block being provided with an inclined fitting surface formed with coupling bolt engaging means;
• inserting coupling bolts through and protruding out of bolt receiving bores formed in an inclined fitting surface of a cylinder head placed at a preselected different position by means of a manipulator, said manipulator including gripping means having a plurality of clamping fingers for holding said coupling bolts;
• and
• setting the fitting surface of said cylinder head in juxtaposition to the fitting surface of said cylinder block by means of said manipulator while inserting the protruding portion of said coupling bolts into the coupling bolt engaging means and while mutually coacting said locating means to bring said cylinder block and cylinder head into proper registry with said coupling bolts received in said coupling bolt engaging means to secure said cylinder block and cylinder head temporarily together until said coupling bolts are tightened to form them into one whole integral body.