Abstract: Disclosed herein is a tooling plate for conveying a plurality of work parts to be assembled on an assembly line, the tooling plate including a platform, a supporting element fixed on and protruding from a surface of the platform, and one or more interfacing elements configured to be attached in a removable way to the supporting element, and configured to support at least a portion of a work part from the plurality of work parts when the one or more interfacing elements is attached to the supporting element. A shape of the interfacing element matches a portion of a shape of the portion of the work part, so that the tooling plate can be configured to convey, successively, different sets of work parts by only changing interfacing elements on the supporting element, from one set to another set, without changing the platform.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a platform for conveying a plurality of work parts in a sequence of manufacturing stations, the platform being mobile and including an inclined surface, and a set of two elements, one element of the set extending along a first plane and another element of the set extending along a second plane, an intersection of the first plane with the inclined surface defining a first direction, an intersection of the second plane with the inclined surface defining a second direction, the first direction and the second direction delimiting an angular sector, so that a work part placed on the inclined surface within the angular sector is driven by its weight downwards with respect to a slope of the inclined plane towards an intersection of the first direction and the second direction.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a tooling plate for conveying a plurality of work parts to be assembled on an assembly line, the tooling plate including a platform, a supporting element fixed on and protruding from a surface of the platform, and one or more interfacing elements configured to be attached in a removable way to the supporting element, and configured to support at least a portion of a work part from the plurality of work parts when the one or more interfacing elements is attached to the supporting element. A shape of the interfacing element matches a portion of a shape of the portion of the work part, so that the tooling plate can be configured to convey, successively, different sets of work parts by only changing interfacing elements on the supporting element, from one set to another set, without changing the platform.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for assembling a product or portion of a product (10), on an assembly site (SA), comprising an assembly line (LA), the assembly line comprising a plurality of assembly stations (S1, S2, S3, etc.) and at least one mobile platform (PMA, PMB, etc.), the method comprising the following steps applied to each mobile platform of the at least one mobile platform (PMA, PMB, etc.): h) loading on the mobile platform (PMA, PMB, etc.) a plurality of objects, comprising one or more elementary parts (P1A, P2A, P3A, P4, P5, P6, etc.) and/or one or more partial assemblies (AP1, AP2, . . . APi) constituting the product to be assembled or a portion of the product to be assembled on the assembly line (LA); i) moving the mobile platform (PMA, PMB, etc.) to an assembly station of the plurality of assembly stations (S1, S2, S3, etc.) of the assembly line (LA); j) transferring onto the assembly station one or more objects of the plurality of objects present on the mobile platform (PMA, PMB, etc.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of driving a workstation (1) comprising operational units (2, 3) linked to a drive automaton (7) executing a drive program, the drive program comprising for each operational unit at least one sub-part defining a plurality of strings of actions as a function of synchronization states, the drive method comprising a phase of configuration and a phase of execution of the drive program, the configuration phase comprising the steps of selecting the units to be implemented, of parametrizing the corresponding sub-parts by selecting the string of actions to be carried out and the associated synchronization states, the execution phase comprising the step of executing the drive program thus configured. The subject matter of the invention is also a workstation allowing the implementation of this method.

Abstract: An adaptable installation for assembling sheet metal parts is provided, so as to constitute sheet metal elements of a plurality of types. The installation has a series of assembly stations in a row, each station being dedicated to assembling one type of element, at least one assembly rail extending parallel to the series of stations in a row and carrying at least one assembly robot that can move from one station to another along the rail that carries it in order to assemble sheet metal parts together at each station, and at least one handling rail extending along an assembly rail and carrying at least one handling robot in order to supply each station with sheet metal parts to be assembled and in order to extract the elements that have been assembled from each station.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments are directed to a tooling device which for connecting to a manipulator. The device includes a base unit and at least two manipulator modules each with a first and a second end. At least one degree of freedom in movement is provided between both ends of each manipulator module. The first end is connected with the base unit and a tool interface is provided at the second end. The tool interfaces are each moveable independently of the other relative to the base unit. At least one manipulator module is linearly moveable on its first end relative to the base unit.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments are directed to a tooling device which for connecting to a manipulator. The device includes a base unit and at least two manipulator modules each with a first and a second end. At least one degree of freedom in movement is provided between both ends of each manipulator module. The first end is connected with the base unit and a tool interface is provided at the second end. The tool interfaces are each moveable independently of the other relative to the base unit. At least one manipulator module is linearly moveable on its first end relative to the base unit.

Abstract: A repositionable support (1) includes a stationary portion (2) having a movable portion (3) mounted thereon to move in at least one adjustment direction (4) via a link member (5) associated with an actuator for adjusting the position of the movable portion along the adjustment direction, the link member being associated with a member for holding the movable portion in position relative to the stationary portion. A work station including such a support is also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for handling at least one part in a station for fixing two parts one on the other, characterized in that it comprises the following steps: positioning the parts in a station using a support (4); starting the fixing operation; replacing the support with a gripping robot (6) when the fixing operation has progressed sufficiently to lock the relative positioning of the two parts; mounting new parts in the support when the replacement has been made; and after the parts have been fixed, removing the thus fixed parts from the station using the gripping robot.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of driving a workstation (1) comprising operational units (2, 3) linked to a drive automaton (7) executing a drive program, the drive program comprising for each operational unit at least one sub-part defining a plurality of strings of actions as a function of synchronization states, the drive method comprising a phase of configuration and a phase of execution of the drive program, the configuration phase comprising the steps of selecting the units to be implemented, of parametrizing the corresponding sub-parts by selecting the string of actions to be carried out and the associated synchronization states, the execution phase comprising the step of executing the drive program thus configured. The subject matter of the invention is also a workstation allowing the implementation of this method.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for handling at least one part in a station for fixing two parts one on the other, characterized in that it comprises the following steps: positioning the parts in a station using a support (4); starting the fixing operation; replacing the support with a gripping robot (6) when the fixing operation has progressed sufficiently to lock the relative positioning of the two parts; mounting new parts in the support when the replacement has been made; and after the parts have been fixed, removing the thus fixed parts from the station using the gripping robot.

Abstract: An assembly workshop for assembling together sheet metal parts, the workshop including preparation stations for putting parts in place relative to one another, assembly stations for fixing the prepared parts together, and finishing stations serving to finish off fixing the parts together.

Abstract: A method for assembling body parts wherein at least two originally separate elements are brought to an assembly station, where they are held stationary with respect to one another and with reference to the assembly station. Supports, uniquely adapted to handle a plurality of models of parts grip the elements and are used to bring the elements to the assembly station and are thereafter transported to further assembly stations for the addition of additional elements as appropriate. The elements are joined together, for example, by welding.

Abstract: A process and device for interpositioning the tools of a body assembly machine which includes departing from all the intermediate mechanisms for putting these tools in place, from the function of their geometric referencing, so as to impart to the tools themselves the ability to be interpositioned after temporary isolation of a part of them from their positioning mechanism. According to the process, these tools are made to have a lateral orientation.

Abstract: For precisely positioning a vehicle body relative to robots which spot weld the vehicle body, the vehicle body is mounted on a lower tool which is rigidly connected to front and rear upper tools which are selected from a tool magazine as a function of the geometry of the vehicle body. All of the tools are rigidly connected to one another to form a rigid annular structure surrouding the body and alone capable of positioning the body.