Single geometry palletized framing system
AssigneeComau S.p.A.
InventorVelibor Kilibarda
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A palletized framing system for a motor vehicle body assembly system in which the pallet with a body structure positioned thereon is positioned at the framing station on balls to establish the vertical Z dimension with the pallet free to float on the balls in longitudinal X and lateral Y dimensions, whereafter positioners carried by one of the gates of the framing station engage and lock onto the pallet to precisely position the pallet and the body structure at the framing station at X and Y dimensions corresponding to the precisely attainable X and Y positioning of the gate.
Claims20
A motor vehicle body weld station including a longitudinally extending bed and a pair of gates on opposite sides of the bed mounted for precision lateral movement relative to the bed to engage and weld body components forming a motor vehicle body assembly positioned in overlying relation to the bed on a pallet positioned on the bed, characterized in that:
- the bed defines a support surface having a plurality of laterally and longitudinally spaced points on the bed lying in a common plane adapted to engage spaced underfaces of the pallet for precisely positioning the pallet in a vertical (Z) dimension while allowing the pallet to float in longitudinal (X) and lateral (Y) dimensions along the common plane;
- and
- one of the gates includes longitudinally spaced positioners operative in response to precision lateral movement of the gate relative to the bed to engage and lock onto the pallet to precisely position the pallet and the body assembly at the weld station in X and Y dimensions corresponding to the precise X and Y positioning of the one gate.
A motor vehicle body weld station comprising:
- a longitudinally extending bed;
- a pallet adapted to be positioned on the bed;
- a pair of gates on opposite sides of the bed mounted for lateral movement relative to the bed to engage and position vehicle body components positioned on the pallet;
- wherein the bed defines a support surface having a plurality of laterally and longitudinally spaced points on the bed lying in a common plane adapted to engage spaced underfaces of the pallet for precisely positioning the pallet in a vertical (Z) dimension while allowing the pallet to float in longitudinal (X) and lateral (Y) dimensions along the common plane;
- and
- one of the gates includes longitudinally spaced positioners operative in response to precision lateral movement of the gate relative to the bed to engage and lock onto the pallet to precisely position the pallet and the body assembly at the weld station in X and Y dimensions corresponding to the precise X and Y positioning of the one gate.
A motor vehicle body weld station assembly including a longitudinally extending bed, a pallet adapted to be positioned on the bed and including spaced, upstanding pillars, and a pair of gates on opposite sides of the bed mounted for precision lateral movement relative to the bed to engage and weld body components forming a motor vehicle body assembly positioned on the pillars in overlying relation to the bed, characterized in that:
- the bed defines a plurality of laterally and longitudinally spaced balls lying in a common plane and engaging spaced underfaces of the pallet and operative to precisely position the pallet in a vertical (Z) dimension while allowing the pallet to float in longitudinal (X) and lateral (Y) dimensions;
- and
- one of the gates includes longitudinally spaced positioners, each positioner including a contact member for selected engagement with an outboard point on a circumference of the respective pillar and a clamp having a retracted position and an operative position for selected engagement with an inboard point on the circumference of the pillar to selectively lock onto respective pillars to precisely position the pallet and the body assembly at the weld station in dimensions corresponding to the precise positioning of the one gate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.