Abstract: A vehicle body assembly system for feeding various body components to body members conveyed in succession along a body assembly line and assembling together the body components and the body members into vehicle bodies, comprises at least one first component feeding station disposed along the vehicle body assembly line to feed a body component which can be placed by itself on the body member conveyed along the vehicle body assembly line, and at least one second component feeding station disposed along the vehicle body assembly line to feed a body component which cannot be placed on the body member by itself. A first robot is provided along the first component feeding station to accomplish welding into the first component at a sub-assembly table disposed near the first component feeding station and feed the welded first component to the body member.

Abstract: A combination fishing net and snagged-hook retriever has a tubular handle with a telescopically extendable member carried within. The extension member is axially removable from the net handle when retrieval of a snagged hook is necessary. A preferred hook retriever is a split-ring device having a pair of bent arms which substantially encircle the line proximate to the hook, enabling multi-directional forces to be applied to the hook resulting in its disengagement.

Abstract: The soldering apparatus of the invention includes a soldering wire feeding mechanism for feeding soldering wire from a storage spool. The soldering wire feeding mechanism includes a motor which drives a feeding wheel for engaging and transporting the soldering wire into a flexible feeding tube. An eccentric adjusting cylinder is mounted adjacent the wheel and can be turned to fit the diameter of the soldering wire being used. The feeding tube connects to the soldering iron of the invention, which has a metal guide tube through which the soldering wire extends and is fed to the soldering area. The soldering wire travels from the feeding tube to the guide tube through a sleeve to which both tubes are threaded. The free end section of the guide tube adjacent to the tip of the soldering iron extends rectilinearly from a bend or curve such that the soldering wire leaving the tube is rectilinear and not bent.