Abstract: An assembly plant for the series assembly of vehicles has a main assembly line and associated assembly works for relatively complex vehicle parts to be supplied "just in time". Simpler assembly components and small and standard components are held in readiness in a central component store and supplied from there to the assembly line. Stores for large components are arranged near to the corresponding assembly point. The overall conveying section is divided into a plurality of mutually adjoining U-shaped conveying loops. Provided between each of the assembly shops and the central component store, on the one hand, and the main assembly line, on the other, there are in each case feeder systems.

Abstract: A device for coaxially connecting a coupler to a reinforcement bar including a threaded joint tool for the attachment of the coupler by the threaded portion of the coupler, a hollow double action jack body, and an extrusion tool. The extrusion tool is translatable along the axis of the coupler so as to allow for regular deformation of the material of the coupler in order to induce the connection on a reinforcement bar. A counter-pressure device is provided on the coupler so as to exert a force on the coupler in an opposite direction to that which is applied by the extrusion tool. The counter-pressure device serves to induce the connection of the coupler on the reinforcement bar by automatically controlling the elongation of the material of the coupler induced by the force of the extrusion.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for assembling a multi-panel door. The method includes the steps of fashioning a plurality of rails; fashioning a plurality of panels; fashioning a plurality of mullions; fashioning a plurality of stiles; and preassembling selected rails, selected panels, and selected mullions into sub-assemblies of the door. The sub-assemblies are positioned intermediate a first stile and a second stile in a pre-assembly orientation with the first stile and second stile generally coplanar with the sub-assemblies. The sub-assemblies, the first stile, and the second stile are compressively urged together in two substantially perpendicular axes to create a squared assembly with respect to the two axes. The sub-assemblies are intermediate the first stile and the second stile and are affixed to the first stile along at least a portion of the first stile, and are affixed to the second stile along at least a portion of the second stile.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for setting a door glass of a vehicle door to a vehicle body includes a frame for attachment to an inner panel of a vehicle door, at least one slide assembly to engage a vehicle body and to move a door glass of the vehicle door, and at least one locator on the slide assembly to locate and set the door glass relative to the vehicle body.

Abstract: An apparatus for assembling a photo film unit has a dark box, which has supply openings into which parts are supplied, and an exit opening from which the body loaded with the photo film is exited. Intermediate cells of the dark box shield ambient light and include interlocked outer shutter plates and inner shutter plates which are disposed in the supply openings and the exit opening. A cassette supplying loader and a robot hand transfer the cassette into the dark box, while a leading tongue of the photo film is protruded from the cassette shell, with a remaining portion of the photo film contained as a roll. A roll forming fork device winds the photo film to a predetermined length from the cassette and forms the photo film into the roll. A photo film mounting mechanism swings the roll and the cassette shell together to change orientation thereof, and loads the roll and the cassette shell into the body.

Abstract: In an assembly line in which at least two kinds of workpieces are transported by mixture and in which each of the workpieces is transported by a self-propelling transporting member, a transporting pitch for each kind of workpiece is set in advance based on a difference in the number of assembling man-hours required for each of them. The timing for starting the transporting member off a starting end of the assembly line is controlled according to the transporting pitch such that a pitch between a preceding transporting member and a succeeding transporting member becomes equal to that which is set for a workpiece to be transported by the preceding transporting member.

Abstract: An electronic device mounting apparatus prevents an error at the setup time prior to startup of the apparatus and enables mounting of proper electronic devices without a mistake. A cartridge and a lane of a cartridge mounting rack have a cartridge side connector (upper electrode portion, connection plug, lower electrode portion) and a lane side connector (fixed plug) which are electrically connected when the cartridge is installed on the lane. An error detecting circuit is formed by employing these connectors as part thereof. The error detecting circuit determines whether or not the installation position of the cartridge is appropriate depending on the conductive state or non-conductive state from a power supply to a warning buzzer when the connectors are connected.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for filling a shell body with sub-projectiles in a predefined geometric arrangement and in a very short time without creating shifting errors is provided. Prior to filling the shell body, the sub-projectiles may be combined into layers which are as thick as the length of the sub-projectiles and which extend in planes transverse to a longitudinal axis of the shell body. The sub-projectiles take up a position in the layer which corresponds to their geometric arrangement in a hollow chamber of the shell body. During the combination, the outer periphery of the layers may be shaped so that, following insertion of the layer into the hollow chamber, the sub-projectiles may be held there and fixed against relative rotation while maintaining the previously formed geometric arrangement. In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the outer periphery of the layers may assume a hexagonal shape where the axes of the cylindrical sub-projectiles are aligned with the longitudinal axis of the shell body.

Abstract: For making a mattress web having two fabric webs which are attached to one another in a transverse direction of the web by seams that are spaced apart in a longitudinal direction of the, thereby to form a succession of sleeves, each of which contains a slightly tensioned spring, one of the fabric webs is continuously conveyed in the longitudinal direction in such a manner as to be supported from below. An upwardly opening curve is formed in the transverse direction. A respective spring is introduced into each curve from above, the spring being non-tensioned and having a height exceeding the curve depth. While in the curve, the spring is compressed in the vertical direction under the action of a force acting at a distance from the downstream wall of the curve, and the curve, with the compressed spring therein, is brought together with the other of the two fabric webs, which is continuously conveyed in a longitudinal direction.

Abstract: The apparatus produces a honeycomb body, in particular a catalytic carrier body, from at least one stack of structured metal sheets which define a plurality of passages through which a fluid flows in the honeycomb body. The apparatus has a forked holding device which engages each stack, and former segments. The former segments are closeable to constitute a former. Each former segment has a respective surface portion. When the segments are closed, the surface portions jointly define the external shape of the honeycomb body to be produced. At least two of the former segments are displaceable such that at least a part of each surface portion, bearing against the stack, describes a path of movement towards free ends of the stack. The path of movement corresponds to the external shape of the honeycomb body.

Abstract: Apparatus for removing a first angle plate from a stack of angle plates and inserting the first angle plate in channel shaped flanges of a duct. The first angle plate is the bottom-most angle plate of the stack before it is removed from the stack. The stack includes a second angle plate which is the next to bottom-most angle plate of the stack before the first angle plate is removed from the stack. The apparatus comprises a duct holding mechanism configured for holding the duct in a fixed position, a separating mechanism, and a plate advancing mechanism. The separating mechanism has at least one support member engageable with the second angle plate in a manner for supporting the second angle plate. The separating mechanism is configured and operable for vertically separating the first and second angle plates from one another.

Abstract: In a method for making an assembly unit from an assembly bolt (3) that has a bolt head (9) and a shaft (6) and from a sleeve that has an axially movable annular collar (11) toward the head that surrounds a partial axial region of the shaft, first the shaft that has a counterpart back-engagement part is introduced into the sleeve, and then at least one back-engagement part on the sleeve is created by means of a stamping oriented essentially inward from the outer jacket face. The stamping has an action that is oriented radially inward and an action oriented toward the bolt head (9). In the stamping, a counterholder presses against the bearing face (22) of the annular collar (11) oriented toward the bolt head (9).

Abstract: A tool for brake spring maintenance provides the ability both to release brake springs and then hold them out of the way for removal and replacement of brake shoes or for other maintenance operations related to drum brake arrangements. A main support bar is adapted to be received on an exposed wheel mounting member. The bar has a pair of threaded pins and cooperating threaded nuts for controlled axial movement of the pins. The pins have hooked ends and are situated for engaging respective brake springs whenever the tool is properly positioned on the exposed wheel mounting member. By rotating the threaded nuts to move the pins a set axial distance with the pin hooked ends engaged with the brake springs, such springs can be drawn back from their hold on the brake shoes, to permit disassembly and maintenance of the entire drum brake arrangement.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a superconductor billet, in which superconductor billet there are used superconductor rods with a circular cross-section, and which superconductor billet can be extruded into a superconductor in a single-step extrusion process. According to the invention, the superconductor billet (12) is formed of interconnected blocks (1), into which blocks there are packed monofilament superconductor rods (5) with a circular cross-section.

Abstract: This invention pertains to an apparatus for automatically assembling elements of a COAST container. The apparatus includes a cabinet that has a vertical stocker mounted therein for holding the elements of the COAST container, an input loadlock mechanism for introducing the elements into the cabinet, a manipulating mechanism for placing the elements into the vertical stocker, a conveyor located outside of the cabinet, a load loadlock mechanism mounted inside the cabinet and interfacing with the outside thereof near the conveyor, an automatic manipulator mechanism inside the cabinet for removing the elements from the vertical stocker and assembling these elements into the COAST container, and a mechanism for pressurizing the inside of the cabinet with a protective atmosphere.

Abstract: A belt providing continuous lining up of plastics components held in a plastics web whereby components successively presented to an assembly position are then separated and utilized, having at least one guide element provided on each component whereby the component is located and positioned at the assembly position prior to separation of the component.

Abstract: A new tooling for use in a progressive die machine for the installation of self-clinching fasteners onto a sheet of material is provided. It is a complete tool easily mounted into the die during its construction and easily removed for service. Its compact size provides a minimal space between working stations on the die, and its height and stroke are minimized so as not to interfere with other operations on the die. It may be easily configured to allow for insertion of fasteners from either the top or the bottom, and is capable of correctly providing a fastener for insertion upon every cycle of the press. This is accomplished by use of a special bisected bushing which securely holds and positions each fastener in place prior to and during insertion. A replaceable force-limiting material is incorporated in the tooling above the anvil in order not to disrupt the progressive die press should fasteners or materials of excessive thickness be encountered.

Abstract: A tool to install and remove a ball and spring detent in a gear box on a support system for a trailer. The tool has a pair of arms with respective jaw portions. A respective arcuate member is pivotally attached to the tip of each jaw portion, each arcuate member being offset from the tip of the jaw portion. A method of removing and installing the spring and ball detent is disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus for applying a tubular member over an article includes means for feeding a continuous web of a flattened tubular material, means for cutting an individual tubular member from the web, a first belt conveyor unit for conveying the tubular member fed from the cutting means, a second belt conveyor unit for conveying the tubular member in such a manner as to open up at least a leading end of the tubular member as the tubular member is continuously conveyed, a mandrel for receiving the tubular member from the opened up leading end of the tubular member, and a means for sliding the tubular member along a peripheral surface of the mandrel so that the tubular member is entirely opened up. A distance between a point where the cutting means cuts the tubular member from the web of the tubular material and a point where the first belt conveyor unit starts to convey the tubular member is greater than the length of the individual tubular member.

Abstract: An adjustable hinge mount in which a first hinge member is fixed to a seat proper or frame and a second hinge member fixed to the seat back comprises a control arrangement acting on a bearing plate with upper teeth for locking engagement with internal teeth of the second hinge member. The bearing plate is guided by spaced guide walls of the first hinge member and pushed by an elevated portion of a cam pivotable about an axle together with a lever which is pivotable about the axle. Pivoting the lever to an unlocking or released position causes the cam to disengage from the internal teeth.