Method and apparatus for installing a component group, comprising a piston and a connecting rod, in an internal combustion engine

A method of installing components in a crankcase of an internal combustion engine, which comprises:

• lifting and transferring a crankcase to a rotary unit;
• picking up a component group comprising a piston and a connecting rod with a gripper of a robot and transferring the component group to a press-fitting unit;
• rotating the crankcase about an axis of a crankshaft thereof until a mounting position for the piston is reached;
• rotating the crankshaft with an adjusting device until a mounting position for the connecting rod is reached;
• aligning a perforated plate and the press-fitting unit with a cylinder opening into which the component group is to be inserted;
• introducing the component group into the cylinder opening with the connecting rod leading until a bearing half thereof contacts the crankshaft;
• and
• with the robot, picking up a connecting rod cap equipped with screws, joining the connecting rod cap to the connecting rod, and screwing the connecting rod cap and the connecting rod together.