# US 7,607,212 B2 · Locating unit for work having a locating bore and an embossed portion formed about the locating bore > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,607,212 B2 - Document ID: US7607212B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/202,200 - Filed: 2005-08-12 - Published: 2005-12-08 - Granted: 2009-10-27 - Earliest claimed: 2001-01-31 - Assignees: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Setsuo Nakamura - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7607212B2 ## 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 - Y10T 29/49764: with testing or indicating - Y10T 29/4978: Assisting assembly or disassembly - Y10T 29/49895: Associating parts by use of aligning means [e.g., use of a drift pin or a "fixture"] - Y10T 29/49998: Work holding - Y10T 29/53091: for work-holder for assembly or disassembly - Y10T 29/53961: with work-holder for assembly - Y10T 29/53978: including means to relatively position plural work parts - 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) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A machine and a method for assembling a vehicle body is disclosed as including a locating pin (26) formed with a seating flange portion (35) having a work seating surface (35a) and a clamp arm (39) contained in the locating pin to be operable in a clamping or unclamping movement responsive to an extrusion and retraction of a clamp cylinder (34). A detection pin (47) is mounted for an extruding and extracting movement from the work seating surface (35a), with the detection pin (47), a shaft (44) ad a proximity switch (48) forming a work seating detection mechanism (49). A mutual engagement between the locating pin (26) and a locating bore (R) allows a panel W3 to be positioned, simultaneously detecting the presence of seating of the panel W3 responsive to a movement of the detection pin (47). ## Claims ### Claim 1 A locating unit for a plate type work having a locating bore, and an embossed portion formed about the locating bore, the locating unit comprising: a locating pin configured to be inserted into the locating bore; a work seating surface configured in a periphery of the locating pin, and to be brought into abutment with the embossed portion; and a detector located on the work seating surface configured to detect the embossed portion seated on the work seating surface, for detection of a seating of the plate type work, wherein the detector is a separate element with respect to the locating pin, and wherein the detector comprises a detection pin operative to pass through the work seating surface, for detection of the embossed portion seated on the work seating surface, wherein the detection pin is located a distance from the locating pin that is less than a radius of an outer profile of a cross-section of the locating pin, the cross-section being taken in a plane normal to a direction of projection of the locating pin. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The locating unit as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a clamp member accommodated in the locating pin and operative to clamp the embossed portion seated on the work seating surface. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The locating unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the detection pin protrudes from the work seating surface in an absence of the embossed portion being on the work seating surface and retracts from the work seating surface in a presence of the embossed portion being on the work seating surface. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The locating unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the locating pin is fixed relative to the work seating surface. ### Claim 5 A locating unit for a plate type work having a locating bore formed therethrough, the locating unit comprising: a locating pin configured to be passed through the locating bore to position the plate type work; a work seating surface configured on a root portion of the locating pin, for the plate type work to be seated thereon for the positioning of the plate type work, as the locating pin is passed through the locating bore; and a detector provided on the work seating surface, and configured to detect the plate type work seated thereon, wherein the detector is a separate element with respect to the locating pin, and wherein the detector comprises a detection pin operative to pass through the work seating surface, for detection of the plate type work seated on the work seating surfaces, wherein the detection pin is located a distance from the locating pin that is less than a radius of an outer profile of a cross-section of the locating pin, the cross-section being taken in a plane normal to a direction of projection of the locating pin. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The locating unit as claimed in claim 5, further comprising a clamp member accommodated in the locating pin and operative to clamp the plate type work seated on the work seating surface. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The locating unit as claimed in claim 5, wherein the detection pin protrudes from the work seating surface in an absence of the plate type work being on the work seating surface and retracts from the work seating surface in a presence of the plate type work being on the work seating surface. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The locating unit as claimed in claim 5, wherein the locating pin is fixed relative to the work seating surface.