Abstract: An overhead conveyor or transport system is disclosed where at least one carriage is supported on a plurality of rollers rotatably mounted in fixed overhead locations spaced along a path of travel. At least one motor is provided for driving a portion of the plurality of rollers in rotation along at least one segment of the path of travel. Each carriage has at least one elongate support member operably engagable with the rollers for movement along the path of travel in response to rotation of the rollers. The elongate support member is continuously engagable with at least two rollers simultaneously while the corresponding carriage is moved along the path of travel. Each carriage or carrier hangs downwardly below the rotational axis of the overhead rollers.

Abstract: A multi-axis articulatable robot with a weld gun having a pair of opposing arms, where at least one arm is movable relative to the other arm to apply pressure to a workpiece during a welding operation. At least one of the opposing arms of the weld gun can be rotatable or translatable relative to the other arm. At least one arm is moved relative to the other arm by an inverted roller screw linear actuator. The robot can include an electric controller for controlling the operation of the actuator of the weld gun as an additional axis of the robot movement. The actuator can be mounted on either of the opposing arms.

Abstract: A rotatable frame mounted on a base with trunnions. The frame can support a workpiece on more than one surface and can have workpiece engaging devices such as clamps, locating pins or nesting fixtures on both sides. The engaging devices can be different on different sides of the frame. The frame can be rotated by an electric motor, a pneumatic motor or a hydraulic motor. The frame can be expandable to accommodate frames of different sizes. The workstation can have a plurality of trunnion mounted fixtures positioned next to each other and a robot moveable between the fixtures. The frames can be replaced with a lifting device moving along an overhead rail. The frame includes an aperture positioned along the rotational axis of the frame for communicating power from an external power source to workpiece engaging devices.

Abstract: A pinch type weld gun wherein the weld arms are pivotally mounted on the frame structure via a ball bearing structure including annular members of insulative material positioned in apertures in the weld arms, inner races fixedly mounted on a common pivot pin, outer races positioned within the respective insulative annular members, and ball races positioned between the respective inner races and respective outer races. A shunt is fixedly secured at one end thereof to a gun electrode and fixedly secured at another end thereof to the gun transformer, and the other end of the shunt defines a coolant passage communicating with the transformer coolant passage system whereby coolant may be delivered to the transformer coolant passage system through the coolant passage in the other end of the shunt.

Abstract: A lowerator for an assembly system of the type including at least one rail defining a path of travel with respect to at least one workstation, and a conveyor for transporting a workpiece along the rail. The conveyor includes a trolley moveable along the rail and a carrier moveable with respect to the trolley. The carrier supports a workpiece during movement with respect to the workstation. The carrier is vertically positionable between a raised position and lowered position with respect to the trolley. The lowerator moves the carrier between the raised and lowered positions and cycles a latch for securing the carrier to the trolley when in the raised position. The lowerator includes at least one lifter or actuator defining a path of travel in at least a first direction, where the lifter actuates the latch to uncouple the trolley and carrier before moving the carrier into the lowered position at the workstation so that one or more processing operations can be performed on the workpiece.

Abstract: A clamping and locating fixture includes a hollow body, a pin mountable to the body, a locking arm positionable within the body locatable between two positions and a drive pin moveable within the body to engage the locking arm. A workpiece can be directed to a clamping position by the guide pin. The pin includes an aperture allowing a locking projection of the locking arm to extend therethrough and over a workpiece to clamp the workpiece for a processing operation. The locking projection can be retracted through the aperture while the workpiece is being located or is being removed. The drive pin can be moved within the body to engage a cam follower of the locking arm. The drive pin can be supported during movement by one or more rollers mounted in the body. The drive pin can include a pin body and a pin member moveably associated with one another to selectively define the position of a cam surface.

Abstract: A clamping and locating fixture includes a hollow body, a pin or angled plate mountable to the body, a locking arm positionable within the body locatable between two positions and a drive pin moveable within the body to engage the locking arm. A workpiece can be directed to a clamping position by the guide pin or angled plate. The pin or plate includes an aperture allowing a locking projection of the locking arm to extend therethrough and over a workpiece to clamp the workpiece for a processing operation. The locking projection can be retracted through the aperture while the workpiece is being located or is being removed. The drive pin can be moved within the body to engage a cam follower of the locking arm.

Abstract: A workstation having multiple robots and multiple fixtures for processing multiple workpieces along two processing paths. A first fixture can be positioned on the first processing path and a second fixture can be positioned on the second processing path. The multiple robots are positioned between the two paths and are moveable to process workpieces moving along both the first and second paths. The robots can be welding robots. The robots can be independently moveable with respect to each other to enhance the efficiency of the workstation. The robots can have overlapping ranges of movement so that every portion of the workpiece can be processed by at least two of the robots.

Abstract: A plurality of robots are positioned on a rotatable table for transporting parts to be processed through a plurality of work stations positioned around the periphery of the table. Each robot can carry a workpiece from one work station to the next. The rotation of the table moves the robot from one workstation to the next while carrying a part to be processed. Each robot can be independently movable relative to the other robots and each robot can be independently movable relative to the table. Each robot can include a welder for processing the workpiece independent of the workstation or during movement between work stations. Each robot can carry a plurality of differently configured workpieces between the work stations.

Abstract: An apparatus for assembling multiple automotive body styles on a single assembly line. The apparatus includes a workstation with multiple geometry fixtures, at least one geometry fixture for each automotive body style to be processed at the work station. One geometry fixture is at a ready position of the work station to support an automotive component during a processing operation. The geometry fixtures can be exchanged at the ready position so that a production rate of the assembly line can be maintained. The apparatus also includes a lowerator for transferring an automotive component from an overhead transport system to the geometry fixture at the ready position.

Abstract: An apparatus for assembling an automotive body on an assembly line having a right-hand body subassembly line, a left-hand body subassembly line and an underbody subassembly line, for delivery to a pallet transport system for movement through a body framing subassembly line. The apparatus includes an overhead transport system for transporting automotive components along at least one of the subassembly lines and for conveying the automotive components along a pallet transport system on the body framing subassembly line. The overhead transport system includes a trolley movable along a single overhead rail, a carriage slidably movable relative to the trolley, and a plurality of antler nests. Each antler nest is individually engageable with the carriage. The apparatus also includes a lowerator for transferring components from the overhead transport system to a geometry fixture at a workstation along the subassembly line.

Abstract: A two-stage hemming machine has a centrally located press station with an anvil extendable along a vertical axis, and a loading station and an unloading station located on opposite sides of the press station. Separate first and second dies slide on horizontal tracks mounted above the press, the first die movable therealong between the loading station and the press station, and the second die movable between the unloading station and the press station. The dies shuttle back and forth, in unison, between the press station during a production cycle wherein a component to be hemmed is loaded into the first die in the loading station, is carried into the press station along with the first die where the first stage of the hemming operation occurs, and remains on the anvil as the anvil is lowered. The first die then returns to the loading station as the second die moves into the press station.

Abstract: A plurality of robots are positioned on a rotatable table for transporting parts to be processed through a plurality of work stations positioned around the periphery of the table. Each robot can carry a workpiece from one work station to the next. The rotation of the table moves the robot from one workstation to the next while carrying a part to be processed. Each robot can be independently movable relative to the other robots and each robot can be independently movable relative to the table. Each robot can include a welder for processing the workpiece independent of the workstation or during movement between work stations. Each robot can carry a plurality of differently configured workpieces between the work stations.

Abstract: A lowerator for an assembly system of the type including at least one rail defining a path of travel with respect to at least one workstation, and a conveyor for transporting a work piece along the rail. The conveyor includes a trolley moveable along the rail and a carrier moveable with respect to the trolley. The carrier supports a work piece during movement with respect to the workstation. The carrier is vertically positionable between a raised position and lowered position with respect to the trolley. The lowerator moves the carrier between the raised and lowered positions and cycles a latch for securing the carrier to the trolley when in the raised position. The lowerator includes at least one lifter or actuator defining a path of travel in at least a first direction, wherein the lifter actuates the latch to uncouple the trolley and carrier before moving the carrier into the lowered position at the workstation so that one or more processing operations can be performed on the work piece.

Abstract: A framing system and framing device for assembling and welding a body-in-white. The framing system utilizes completely separate framing and welding operations, which are typically intermixed in conventional framing systems. The framing device is a unitary frame structure within which an underbody, side frames and other body components can each be supported and accurately positioned with respect to each other prior to the welding operation. The framing device includes a cart which serves as the base and main support for the framing device, and an upper body support member. Using an appropriate number of clamping devices, the net positions of the body components which constitute the body-in-white are properly established and maintained, such that gate fixtures are unnecessary during the welding operation.

Abstract: A hemmer apparatus has at least one welding laser attached to the moveable crown for controlled welding of the hemmed panels to hold the panels with respect to one another, at least temporarily, and/or to maintain geometry between the panels until permanently fixed, such as when the adhesive cures or when additional welding is performed. Laser welding in the hemmer apparatus can be performed by providing relief in the steel used to form the hem, or by providing a tab in the hem material extending beyond the steel forming the hem, or a combination of the two, in order to allow access of the laser beam to the location where the geometry stabilizing tack weld is desired to be placed. Multiple welds are placed in spaced locations about the periphery of the hemmed panels as required for the specific application.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for aiming a vehicle headlight to a standard image pattern includes a frame movable relative to the vehicle. A housing carried on a vertically adjustable housing includes a lens focusing a headlight beam onto a reflective screen which reflects the beam image to a camera. A control compares the digitized image output from the camera with a standard image pattern and generates a correlation factor based on the difference between the reflected image and a standard image. Based on the difference, the control generates output signals to an adjustment device engagable with the headlight mounting frame to adjust the position of the mounting frame to reduce the difference to zero.

Abstract: An apparatus for alignment and delivery of tubing for use in manufacture and assembly of heat exchangers used for controlling temperature conditions. The apparatus includes a drum into which bulk tubes are loaded. The drum aligns and deposits the tubes onto a conveyor which transports the tubes to a feed magazine. An alignment mechanism aligns the tubes within the feed magazine for use in the process of the assembly of the heat exchanger.

Abstract: An apparatus for longitudinally centering the front and rear pairs of vehicle wheels includes a frame having pairs of laterally movable tables, each for receiving one of the vehicle wheels. Pusher members are engageable with each vehicle wheel. A centering mechanism is connected to the pusher members and normally biases the pusher members laterally outward such that laterally inward movement of one of the pusher members due to engagement with an off center vehicle will be resisted by the centering apparatus which will in turn urge the pusher members laterally outward moving the vehicle wheels and the tables laterally outward to a longitudinally centered position. Preferably separate pairs of tables, pusher members and a centering mechanism are provided for each of the front and rear pairs of vehicle wheels.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for aiming a vehicle headlight to a standard image pattern includes a frame movable relative to the vehicle. A housing carried on a vertically adjustable housing includes a lens focusing a headlight beam onto a reflective screen which reflects the beam image to a camera. A control compares the digitized image output from the camera with a standard image pattern and generates a correlation factor based on the difference between the reflected image and a standard image. Based on the difference, the control generates output signals to an adjustment device engagable with the headlight mounting frame to adjust the position of the mounting frame to reduce the difference to zero.