This invention relates generally to the automotive vehicle manufacturing industry, and more particularly to manipulating automotive frames, chassis, and bodies, and assembling chassis and bodies.
In the automotive vehicle manufacturing industry, it is customary to install various parts onto a vehicle frame to produce a vehicle chassis, and then “marry” the vehicle chassis to a vehicle body. The vehicle frame is first inverted or turned “upside down” so that certain suspension components such as front and rear upper and lower control arms, and knuckles with hubs, can be installed on the frame. Next the frame is turned “right side up” so that further parts such as the power train, brake lines, wiring harnesses, and wheels can be installed on the frame, thereby forming the chassis (sometimes also referred to as “chassis frame”).
Currently vehicle frames are rotated either by a servo-controlled gantry (a type of crane), or by a manually operated chain hoist.
It is desirable to eliminate the need for such gantries or hoists in the manipulation of vehicle frames.
One current technique of marrying chassis and bodies occurs with chassis and body moving on a conveyor. The body is conveyed overhead by a conveyor, and the chassis to be married to the body is supported by a moving lift machine that operates to move the chassis into position beneath the moving body while lifting the chassis into position for assembly with the body. Lift machines may employ different lift actuators to raise and lower the platform or support upon which the vehicle chassis is supported. For example, a hydraulic cylinder can be used as the lift actuator. U.S. Pat. No. 6,109,424, hereby incorporated by reference herein, discloses the use of a push chain as the lift actuator. And, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 2004/0007440 A1, also hereby incorporated by reference herein, discloses the use of a spiral lift as the lift actuator.
It is desirable to eliminate the need for such lift machines in the marrying of automotive chassis and bodies.
In one aspect, the invention is a method of manipulating an automotive vehicle frame having a longitudinal axis, a first generally upwardly directed side, and a second opposite generally downwardly directed side. The method comprises providing first and second robots, engaging a first end of the frame with the first robot, engaging a second end of the frame with the second robot, and rotating the frame about the longitudinal axis such that the second side is generally upwardly directed and the first side is generally downwardly directed.
In another aspect, the invention is a method of manipulating an automotive vehicle frame having a longitudinal axis, a first generally upwardly directed side, and a second opposite generally downwardly directed side. The method comprises providing first and second stations, providing first and second robots, positioning the frame at the first station, engaging a first end of the frame with the first robot, engaging a second end of the frame with the second robot, rotating the frame about the longitudinal axis such that the second side is generally upwardly directed and the first side is generally downwardly directed, and translating the frame from the first station to the second station.
In yet another aspect, the invention is a method of assembling an automotive vehicle chassis and body. The method comprises providing first and second stations, providing first and second robots, positioning the chassis at the first station, positioning the body at the second station, engaging a first end of the body with the first robot, engaging a second end of the body with the second robot, and translating the body from the second station to the first station and placing the body atop the chassis.
In still another aspect, the invention is a method of manipulating an automotive vehicle frame, installing components on the frame to form a chassis, and assembling the chassis to a body. The method comprises providing first, second, and third stations, providing first and second pairs of robots, positioning the frame at the first station, installing suspension components on the frame, engaging a first end and a second end of the frame with the first pair of robots, rotating the frame about the longitudinal axis such that the second side is generally upwardly directed and the first side is generally downwardly directed, translating the frame from the first station to the second station, installing drive train components on the frame to form the chassis, positioning the body at the third station, engaging a first end and a second end of the body with the second pair of robots, and translating the body from the third station to the second station and placing the body atop the chassis.
A robot pair can be located between the stations that the pair moves a respective frame, chassis, or body to and from. The frame, chassis, body, and assembled chassis and body can be conveyed via conveyors. One or more of the robots can be equipped with machine vision to facilitate engaging a respective one of the frame, chassis, and body, and placing the body atop the chassis. One or more of the conveyors can be equipped with encoders to facilitate engaging a respective one of the frame, chassis, and body, and placing the body atop the chassis.
These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent during the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings herein, in which:
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The frames 12, chassis 52, and bodies 42 can be stationary or moving when engaged by the robots 30, 32 or 60, 62. The chassis 52 and bodies 42 can be stationary or moving when the body 42 is placed atop the chassis 52.
Those skilled in the art will readily recognize numerous adaptations and modifications which can be made to the present invention which will result in an improved method of manipulating and assembling automotive vehicle frames, chassis, and bodies, yet all of which will fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined in the following claims. Accordingly, the invention is to be limited only by the scope of the following claims and their equivalents.
Number | Date | Country | |
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60632117 | Dec 2004 | US |