Abstract: A plant is made up of a plurality of automatic stations for the performance of an assembly process of body parts or the like with there being in the stations automatic support and blocking means for the parts to be assembled and automatic assembly means for the parts supported and blocked and comprising in the stations measurement sensors in established measurement points for measurement of geometrical magnitudes of the parts in assembly with the measurement data taken by the sensors being received by a processing unit which takes any deformations of the parts in the various stations and goes back from the detected deformations to the causes thereof in the asembly process and emits a diagnosis signal of the presumed cause.

Abstract: A plant is made up of a plurality of automated stations (11) for the performance of an assembly process for body parts or the like. In the stations there are measurement sensors in established measurement points for measurement of geometrical magnitudes of the parts in assembly. The measurement data taken by the sensors are received by a processing unit (16) which detects any deformations of the parts in the various stations and traces back from the deformations detected to the causes thereof and emits a diagnosis signal of the presumed cause. For identification of errors a method in accordance with the present invention comprises an analysis step in which are ascertained measurement points and correlations are ascertained between measurements detectable in the measurement points and possible causes which might generate such movements.

Abstract: The present invention provides a computer controlled robotic arm unit having a fixed body and a carriage which is linearly movable to the fixed body along a first horizontal orthogonal cartesian axis. An elongated column is vertically movably mounted to the carriage along a second vertical cartesian axis while an elongated arm is carried at the upper end of the column. This arm includes a work performing member at one end and is linearly movable along a third and substantially horizontal orthogonal cartesian axis which is perpendicular to the first axis.

Abstract: A dimensional measurement system comprises a plurality of operating arms simultaneously controlled and monitored by a computer system wherein each of the arms includes a support structure for a measurement end and includes orthoganally displaceable members enabling three dimensions of orthoganal movement of the measurement end. The displaceable members preferably comprise a first carriage slidably engaged with a support beam, a sliding beam slidably secured to the first carriage, a second carriage secured to the sliding beam, and a second sliding beam slidably secured to the second carriage, wherein the support for the measurement end is on the end of the second sliding beam. The beams preferably include racks engaged by motor driven gears to provide controlled displacement of the displaceable members. The computer system preferably simultaneously controls movement of the arms as well as delivery of workpieces to the arms.

Abstract: A position transducer for machine tools and measuring machines, arranged to measure relative displacements of a first part of the machine with respect to a second part of the machine, is described. The main feature of this position transducer is to operate by means of the optical coupling of at least two photoelectric readers fixed on the first part and at least two optical photoengraved rules rigidly connected to the second part. Selector means are provided to present in output the signals from one of the photoelectric readers.