Apparatus and method for assembling a part for an automotive vehicle

An apparatus for assembling a panel having opposite surfaces and sides interconnected by corners and having a peripheral slot defined therein and at least one overlaying layer extending over one of the opposite surfaces and for tucking the overhang of the overlaying layer into the peripheral slot, said apparatus comprising;

• an actuation system having a clamping assembly for holding the panel, and
• at least one tucking tool of said actuation system for tucking the overhang into the peripheral slot and effecting relative movement between the panel and said at least one tucking tool in a direction transverse to the opposite surfaces of the panel with said at least one tucking tool disposed in overlapping relationship with the overhang to fold the overhang over the peripheral slot and for thereafter effecting relative movement in a direction parallel to the opposite surfaces of the panel to move said at least one tucking tool into the peripheral slot to tuck the overhang into the peripheral slot;
• said clamping assembly including panel actuators for effecting said relative movement between the panel and said at least one tucking tool in said transverse direction;
• said at least one tucking tool being further defined by a plurality of said tucking tools spaced one from the other for suffounding the panel about the peripheral slot, wherein each of said plurality of tucking tools includes a tucking actuator for moving said plurality of tucking tools parallel to the panel;
• a controller for sequencing said panel actuators and said tucking actuators relative to one another and relative to the panel;
• said plurality of tucking tools being further defined by a plurality of side tucking tools for tucking the overhang of the overlaying layer into the peripheral slot about the sides of the panel and a plurality of corner tucking tools for tucking the overhang of the overlaying layer into the peripheral slot about the corners of the panel;
• said panel actuators of said clamping assembly are further defined by a plurality of pushing devices for applying a force to one of the opposite surfaces thereby pushing the panel in said transverse direction and at least one ejector for supporting the other of the opposite surfaces for moving the panel clamped therebetween in unison with said pushing devices as sequenced by said controller in different tucking modes of said apparatus with each said panel actuator being a pneumatic actuator;
• and
• each tucking actuator is a pneumatic actuator having a pneumatically operated cylinder and a pair of spaced shafts horizontally movable relative to the panel with each tucking tool including a blade support connected to said spaced shafts.