Abstract: A conveyor system for use in an automobile assembly line having a body-carrying tact conveyor arranged in an endless form past an engine mounting position, and switchable between a running mode and a stopping mode, a body-carrying continuous conveyor arranged in an endless form and having an inlet section and an outlet section which are arranged on the extensions of the inlet section and the outlet section of the tact engine mounting position, a pair of feeders for delivery an automobile body between the inlet sections of both conveyors and between the outlet sections of both conveyors, and engine transferring conveyor arranged in an endless form past a delivery position near the engine position and stoppable at the body delivery position, and an engine shifting conveyor having an engine shifting jig and extending between the body delivery position and the engine mounting position and being reciprocable at a comparatively high speed.

Abstract: In a transfer method for use in automobile assembling a vehicle body is transferred with the variation of its direction or orientation depending on the assembling characteristics in a plurality of assembling positions in which various parts are assembled to the vehicle body. An apparatus for carrying out the transfer method comprises a travel carriage which is travelable with a vehicle body placed thereon and angularly displacable about a vertical axis.

Abstract: A heavy-object loading jig has a slide plate provided on the upper end portion of a lifting drive means and a mounting plate for mounting a heavy object thereon. Between the slide plate and the mounting plate is disposed a rolling member which allows the mounting plate to move in any horizontal direction within a limited range. The lifting drive may include: a circular cylinder vertically extending with the upper end thereof opened; a cylindrical member which is integrally secured to the inner lower end portion of the cylinder and defines an annular cylinder chamber between the same and the inner surface of the cylinder; a ring-shaped piston slidably received in the cylinder chamber; and a cylindrical rod which is formed integral with the piston and is projected beyond the upper end of the cylinder and further has the slide plate secured to the upper end portion thereof.