US 7,610,668 B2 · Automated sidewall assembly machine

Abstract

An automated sidewall assembly machine is provided for attaching a sidewall panel to a top and bottom rail of a wheeled trailer. The machine comprises a frame, a carriage for longitudinal movement relative to the frame, an automated punch mounted proximate the frame and an automated riveting press mounted proximate the frame so that the sidewall assembly is movable by the carriage with respect to the frame, the automated punching machine and the automated riveting machine so that holes can be punched through one or more of the sidewall, the bottom rail and the top rail and rivets can be inserted into the punched holes to be mashed. A sensor is operably mounted to the sidewall assembly machine so that information obtained by the sensor can be used to drive the carriage, the automated punching machine and the automated riveting press. A drive motor in communication with the carriage moves the carriage longitudinally with respect to the frame, and a control system having a processor is in operative communication with the carriage, the automated puncher, the automated riveting press, the sensor, and the drive motor.

Claims34

Dependent claims

A method for automatically fastening a sidewall to an upper or lower rail, comprising:

a. providing the sidewall with a first post, said first post attached to an underside of the sidewall, said first post having a first reference point and a second reference point spaced apart from the first reference point, the first reference point and the second reference point being detectable from the topside of the sidewall,
providing a carriage movable relative to the longitudinal axis of the sidewall for moving the sidewall, and
providing a machine including a hole puncher, a rivet masher, a first sensor, a second sensor, and a processor;
b. automatically detecting said first post using signals from said first sensor that are sent to said processor,
c. automatically obtaining style information about said sidewall adjacent to said second sensor, via image data obtained from said second sensor,
d. providing information to the processor from said first sensor and then to an assembly program;
e. automatically punching at least one hole through the sidewall and the upper or lower rail in response to said style information obtained by said second sensor;
f. inserting a rivet in said at least one hole;
and
g. automatically mashing said rivet in response to said information obtained by said second sensor to secure the sidewall to the upper or lower rail.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Automated sidewall assembly machine

Life of this patent

Automated sidewall assembly machine

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims34