Abstract: Described herein is an integrated clamping and clinching device for sheet-metal panels which simultaneously performs a clamping operation on two or more panels in the precise assembly condition, and application of at least one clinching point for obtaining joining of the panels. The device is provided with at least one pair of clamping elements and at least one pair of clinching elements which are controlled by one and the same fluid cylinder in such a way that the pair of clamping elements reaches a closed position immediately before the pair of clinching elements.

Abstract: Described herein is an integrated clamping and clinching device for sheet-metal panels which simultaneously performs a clamping operation on two or more panels in the precise assembly condition, and application of at least one clinching point for obtaining joining of the panels. The device is provided with at least one pair of clamping elements and at least one pair of clinching elements which are controlled by one and the same fluid cylinder in such a way that the pair of clamping elements reaches a closed position immediately before the pair of clinching elements.

Abstract: There is described a welding station for motor-vehicle bodies or subassemblies thereof in which the body side panels are engaged during welding by locking devices arranged in the space between the body sides and carried by two locating gates which are rigidly connected to each other by means of quick coupling means.

Abstract: A welding station, for example for welding motor-vehicle bodies, receives only a part of the structure to be welded from a conveyor line, the remaining components of the structure being assembled with said part at the welding station itself, by using two locating gates which receive said components from manipulating robots, said robots also providing for carrying out the spot welding of the structure once the latter has been assembled and locked in a proper welding position by said locating gates. The locating gates are provided with self-propelled lower trolleys guided on rails, in order to be rapidly interchanged with another pair of locating gates adapted to a different type of body.

Abstract: A station for assembling pressed sheet-metal structures, for example, motor-vehicle bodies, includes fixtures for locating and clamping the various components of the structure in the assembled condition and programmable robots with electrical spot-welding heads. One or more robots have means for replacing their welding heads with sensors for checking the positioning and/or configuration of the locating and clamping fixtures to ensure the quality of the product output from the station.

Abstract: In a device for welding structures, such as motor-vehicle bodies or parts thereof (for example, sides), constituted by loosely preassembled, pressed sheet-metal elements, a station for welding the elements includes two rotary drums for rapidly changing the frames for positioning the elements to be welded in the operative position, according to the type of structure to be welded. The various positioning frames are rotated by rotors and guided on annular tracks on each rotary drum. A sector of each annular track can be separted and moved along a line transverse the conveyor line for the structures to be welded in order to bring a certain positioning frame into the operative position.

Abstract: The positioning and/or configuration of the fixtures used in the various machines or stations of a production line are checked by an automatic checking device including a coordinate-checking unit which moves automatically along the line and stops at each machine or station in order to carry out the necessary checks. A stationary electronic control unit near each machine or station is connected to electronically-controlled actuator means on the checking unit in order to control the movement of a feeler head of the checking unit according to a predetermined program adapted to the specific station at which the checking unit has stopped.

Abstract: In flexible apparatus for welding different types of motor-vehicle body in which the bodies, assembled loosely beforehand, are supplied to a welding station provided with a plurality of locating devices for clamping the component parts of the body in the correct positions for welding and with welding means for welding the component parts of the body together after they have been clamped by the locating devices, the locating devices are supported by at least two pairs of locating frames which are movable along a predetermined path so as to be interchangeable rapidly at the working position in accordance with the type of body located at the welding station to be welded, the locating devices of each pair of locating frames being suitable for a respective type of body. The welding means comprise one or more laser-welding robots.

Abstract: A device for welding motor-vehicle bodies which have been assembled loosely beforehand comprises at least one station for welding the bodies, a conveyor line for transporting the loosely preassembled bodies to the station, and locating means provided at the station for clamping the component parts of the body in the correct positions for welding. The device also includes welding means comprising a plurality of laser-welding torches which are associated with the locating means and are connected to one or more laser sources by optical fibres. In a preferred embodiment, the device is applied to a flexible welding station in which the locating means are carried by two or more pairs of locating frames which can be interchanged rapidly in the working position.

Abstract: Apparatus for welding motor vehicle bodies which have previously been assembled loosely comprises a station for the forming and welding of the body, a conveyor line for transporting the loosely preassembled bodies to the station, at least two pairs of forming frames situated at the two sides of the station, each pair of forming frames being provided with positioning devices engageable with the body and adapted to the specific geometric shape of particular type of body, forming-frame conveyor means for bringing a pair of forming frames corresponding to the type of body which is in the welding station into correspondence with an operative position in the welding station from time to time, and at least one welding device for welding the body. At least one drum which can rotate about an axis parallel to the length of the welding station and carries on its periphery a plurality of forming frames suitable for various types of body is provided on each side of the conveyor line.