The present invention relates to an automotive framing workstation on an assembly line for framing an automotive body having a plurality of panels with respect to one another using self piercing rivets.
Self piercing rivets and associated tools for fastening two or more pieces of material with respect to one another are generally known. See U.S. Pat. No. 5,752,305: U.S. Pat. No. 5,779,127; U.S. Pat. No. 5,813,114; U.S. Pat. No. 5,884,386; U.S. Pat. No. 6,089,437; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,116,835. Self piercing rivets have typically been used in non critical connections attaching two or more pieces of material with respect to one another.
It would be desirable in the present invention to assemble an automotive body at a framing station using self piercing rivets rather than spot welding the major panels with respect to one another. It is believed that self piercing rivets can provide a connection between the components of the automotive vehicle uni-body frame substantially equivalent to spot welding attachment of the frame components to one another as is commonly practiced in the industry today. Further, it is believed that use of self piercing rivets can result in increased productivity, increased flexibility, and reduced cost for the production of automotive bodies through the framing station according to the present invention.
Other applications of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art when the following description of the best mode contemplated for practicing the invention is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
The description herein makes reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views, and wherein:
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According to the present invention, the underbody, side panels, and/or roof assembly can be toy tabbed together prior to entering the framing workstation. The toy tab configuration can be accomplished either manually or robotically. Alternatively, the side panel members can be robotically loaded directly into the workstation gate equipped with self piercing riveting tools to assembly the side panels to the underbody and to assemble the roof to the side panels. In this configuration the robots are used for material handling only in order to simplify the workstation configuration. It is believed that an automotive assembly line according to the present invention can operate 200 jobs per hour with 10 to 15 self piercing rivet guns per workstation frame. Each self piercing rivet tool can be supplied with a strip of self piercing rivets having 5000 to 6000 fasteners. Approximately 1000 to 1200 rivets would be performed per tool per day requiring reloading of the rivet tools with new strips of self piercing rivets on a weekly basis.
While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims, which scope is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures as is permitted under the law.
This application is a continuation of and claims the benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 06/483,884 filed on Jun. 30, 2003.
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