Abstract:
A device comprising a central portion (49, 85) and conveyor portions (45, 47, 71, 73) connected to the central portion (49, 85), each of said conveyor portions including a travelling path (51, 53, 75, 77) and plate driving means (65, 115). The travelling paths (51, 53, 75, 77) of at least two of the conveyor portions (45, 47, 71, 73) are located on different levels, and the central portion (49, 85) has lifting means (85) for moving a plate (55) located thereon up or down between the different levels of the travelling paths (51, 53, 75, 77) of the conveyor portions (45, 47, 71, 73). The plate has peripheral hooking means (125, 127, 129, 131) facing at least one of the conveyor portions (45, 47, 71, 73) and being engageable with or disengageable from corresponding hooking means (125, 127, 133) on the conveyor portion in question when the pallet is moved up or down by said lifting means.
Abstract:
Method for assembling a car body comprising an underbody (3), two side members (5, 6) and transverse elements, the car body being formed and held geometrically on a platform (2). Said platform (2) is also used as the only handling means for positioning the car body in an assembly station, wherein it is positioned in relation to a stationary reference structure (2, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12) of the station. The upper geometry tools (13) are precisely linked to said structure (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12) and lateral elements (21) are geometrically positioned by means of tools (29, 30) integral with said reference structure (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12).
Abstract:
A device for indexing a part (100) through a hole (101) in said part comprises a sleeve (1) with an upper surface (7) defining a bearing surface for the part (100), a piston (9) mounted in the sleeve (1) so as to slide under the control of driving means between a retracted position in the sleeve (1) and an extended position in which it protrudes from the upper bearing surface (7) of the sleeve (1) by an end portion forming an indexing pin (15), a clamping jaw (19, 21) for clamping the part (100) on the upper bearing surface (7) of the sleeve (1) and movably mounted on the centering pin, and means (33, 37) for controlling the jaw (19, 21), including a sliding member (31) mounted in an axial bore (32) of the piston (9) and having a camming end portion.
Abstract:
Assembly center for sheet metal parts comprising stations for preparing said parts by positioning them in relation to one another, assembly stations for securing said prepared parts to one another, and finishing stations for completing securing of said parts to each other. The center consists of a plurality of units (2, 3, 22, 23) connected by at least one general conveyor (1, 21) extending along a given direction (A), each unit comprising a central loading/unloading station (4, 24) through which passes the general conveyor (1); a lateral preparation station (7, 27) linked to the central station (4, 24) by a conveyor (8, 28) substantially perpendicular to conveyor (1, 21); an assembly station (13) connected to the central station (4, 24) by a conveyor (14, 34) substantially perpendicular to the general conveyor (1, 21); and at least one finishing station (16, 36) located along the general conveyor (1, 21) downstream of the central station (4, 24).
Abstract:
A method for assembling bodywork parts, wherein at least two separate members are delivered to a geometrical positioning station, held by positioning tools thereof in predetermined relative positions with an overall arrangement determined with respect to a reference point in the station, and joined together, e.g. by welding. The assembly method comprises the steps of combining at least one of the members (200) with a holder (201) comprising devices (212, 213, 214) for gripping the member, devices (202, 203, 204) for coupling it to at least one handling device, and devices (205, 211, 220) for indexing said member through the reference point of the geometrical positioning station; delivering the member (200) to the geometrical positioning station by means of said holder (201); indexing the member through the geometrical positioning station by means of the holder by actuating the positioning tools so that they interact partly with the member (201) and partially with the holder to complete the positioning of said member, and optionally by releasing some but not all of the gripping devices (212, 214), and joining the members together.