# US 9,517,805 B2 · Notification system for an assembly process at an assembly plant and a method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,517,805 B2 - Document ID: US9517805B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/741,085 - Filed: 2015-06-16 - Published: 2016-07-21 - Granted: 2016-12-13 - Earliest claimed: 2015-01-15 - Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC - Applicants: GM Global Technology Operations LLC - Inventors: Tamara E Perry - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9517805B2 ## CPC - B62D 65/005: {Inspection and final control devices} - F16L 33/02: Hose-clips - F16L 33/025: tightened by deforming radially extending loops or folds - H04B 5/77: for interrogation - B65C 7/00: Affixing tags (in combination with filling of tea bags B65B29/04 {; multi-step processes for making labels or tags B31D1/02}) - F16L 11/00: Hoses, i.e. flexible pipes - F16L 13/00: Non-disconnectable pipe joints, e.g. soldered, adhesive, or caulked joints ({non-disconnectable pipe joints to walls or other pipes, the joined pipe axis being perpendicular to the plane of the wall or to the axis of the other pipe F16L41/082;} joints for rigid pipes of plastics F16L47/00) - F16L 19/00: Joints in which sealing surfaces are pressed together by means of a member, e.g. a swivel nut, screwed on, or into, one of the joint parts (F16L17/00 takes precedence; if using bolts or equivalent connecting means F16L23/00; connecting arrangements or other fittings specially adapted to be made of plastics or to be used with pipes made of plastics F16L47/00 {; specially adapted for pipes of brittle material F16L49/06}) - F16L 33/00: Arrangements for connecting hoses to rigid members; Rigid hose-connectors, i.e. single members engaging both hoses (connecting arrangements or other fittings specially adapted to be made of plastics or to be used with pipes made of plastics F16L47/00) - Y02P 90/02: Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS] - Y10T 29/49826: Assembling or joining - 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) - F16L: PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL - H04B: TRANSMISSION - B65C: LABELLING OR TAGGING MACHINES, APPARATUS, OR PROCESSES (nailing or stapling in general B25C, B27F; applying labels for packaging purposes B65B; labels, name-plates G09F ){(series-printing machines B41L; containers for the storage or transport of packages B65D)} - Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A notification system for an assembly process at an assembly plant includes a base unit of part of a product at the assembly plant and a first component coupled to the base unit at a station in the assembly plant to further define the product. A tag is coupled to one of the base unit and the first component. A reader is disposed downstream from the station at the assembly plant. The reader is configured to detect if the tag is coupled to one of the base unit and the first component when the product is scanned by the reader. Furthermore, a method of notifying a user during the assembly process at the assembly plant includes scanning the product, via the reader that is disposed downstream from the station at the assembly plant, to detect if the tag is coupled to one of the base unit and the first component. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A notification system for an assembly process at an assembly plant, the system comprising: a base unit of part of a product located in the assembly plant; a first component coupled to the base unit at a station in the assembly plant to further define the product; a tag coupled to one of the base unit and the first component; a reader disposed downstream from the station at the assembly plant and configured to detect if the tag is coupled to one of the base unit and the first component when the product is scanned by the reader; wherein the tag includes a body that is configured as a clip; and a clamp coupled to one of the base unit and the first component, and wherein the clip holds the clamp open during coupling of the clamp to one of the base unit and the first component. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system as set forth in claim 1: further including a hose coupled to one of the base unit and the first component to further define the product; wherein the clamp is configured as a hose clamp that surrounds an end portion of the hose; and wherein the clip engages the hose clamp to hold the hose clamp open to connect the end portion of the hose to one of the base unit and the first component. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system as set forth in claim 2 wherein the clip is removable from the hose clamp after connecting the end portion of the hose to cause the hose clamp to contract around the end portion of the hose which secures the hose to one of the base unit and the first component, and wherein a failure of the reader to detect the tag when the product is scanned by the reader is indicative of the hose clamp being released to clamp the hose to one of the base unit and the first component. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The system as set forth in claim 2 wherein the hose clamp includes a pair of tabs and the clip includes a finger defining a recess that receives the tabs to hold the hose clamp open. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The system as set forth in claim 4 wherein the clip includes a handle for grasping to remove the clip from the hose clamp, with the finger extending outwardly away from the handle. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The system as set forth in claim 5: wherein the tag includes a microchip configured to store information, and wherein the microchip is embedded in at least one of the finger and the handle. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The system as set forth in claim 6 wherein the tag is a transponder, and the reader includes a transceiver that receives a signal when the microchip is detected. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the reader includes an indicator that is activated if the reader detects the tag when the product is being scanned by the reader. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The system as set forth in claim 8 wherein the reader includes a stand and an antenna being supported by the stand. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The system as set forth in claim 8 further including a computer in communication with the reader, and wherein the indicator is a display in communication with the computer to convey information regarding the tag. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the tag and the reader communicate with each other utilizing radio frequency identification (RFID). ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the tag includes a microchip configured to store information, and the reader includes an antenna that receives a signal when the microchip is detected. ### Claim 13 A method of notifying a user about a product during an assembly process at an assembly plant, the method comprising: providing a base unit which is part of the product of the assembly process at the assembly plant; coupling a first component to the base unit at a station in the assembly plant to further assemble the product; coupling a tag to one of the base unit and the first component; scanning the product, via a reader that is disposed downstream from the station at the assembly plant, to detect if the tag is coupled to one of the base unit and the first component; wherein the tag includes a body that is configured as a clip; and the method further comprising coupling a clamp to one of the base unit and the first component as the clip holds the clamp open. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method as set forth in claim 13 wherein coupling the tag to one of the base unit and the first component is further defined as coupling the tag to one of the base unit and the first component prior to coupling the first component to the base unit at the station. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The method as set forth in claim 13: wherein the clamp is configured as a hose clamp; further comprising engaging the clip with the hose clamp that surrounds an end portion of a hose to hold the hose clamp open; and further comprising connecting the end portion of the hose to one of the base unit and the first component as the clip holds the hose clamp open. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method as set forth in claim 15 further comprising removing the clip from the hose clamp after connecting the end portion of the hose to cause the hose clamp to contract around the end portion of the hose which secures the hose to one of the base unit and the first component. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method as set forth in claim 16 wherein scanning the product via the reader occurs after removing the clip from the hose clamp, and wherein a failure of the reader to detect the tag when the product is being scanned by the reader is indicative of the hose clamp being released to clamp the hose to one of the base unit and the first component, and the product passes to the next station. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The method as set forth in claim 13 wherein scanning the product via the reader occurs after the station, and wherein the product passes to the next station if the information of the tag matches the information expected to be received via the reader for that product. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The method as set forth in claim 13 further comprising comparing an actual response received by the reader from scanning the product with an expected response expected by the reader, and wherein the actual response matches the expected response is indicative of the appropriate first component being coupled to that base unit, and that product passes to the next station. ### Claim 20 A notification system for an assembly process at an assembly plant, the system comprising: a base unit of part of a product located in the assembly plant; a first component coupled to the base unit at a station in the assembly plant to further define the product; a hose coupled to one of the base unit and the first component to further define the product; a hose clamp surrounding an end portion of the hose; a tag includes a body configured as a clip, with the clip being engageable with the hose clamp to hold the hose clamp open; wherein the clip is removable from the hose clamp after connecting the end portion of the hose to cause the hose clamp to contract around the end portion of the hose which secures the hose to one of the base unit and the first component; a reader disposed downstream from the station at the assembly plant and configured to detect the tag; and wherein a failure of the reader to detect the tag when the product is scanned by the reader is indicative of the hose clamp being released to clamp the hose to one of the base unit and the first component.