Abstract: A multi-shift vehicle-body assembling apparatus wherein a side body structure to be assembled to a floor structure to form part of a vehicle body is moved into a position ready to be assembled to the floor structure by means of a fixture assembly carried on a jig carrier structure rotatably mounted on a movable platform which is horizontally movable into and out of a predetermined position with respect to the floor structure or on a supporting base structure which is rockable between two angular position about a fixed axis.

Abstract: Herein disclosed is an automatic vehicle-body assembling apparatus for automatically welding together an engine compartment assembly, a front floor assembly and a rear floor assembly to constitute a vehicle floor structure of an automotive vehicle, each of the engine compartment and front and rear floor assemblies being composed of a plurality of component members, comprising a frame structure, lower and upper working stations including lower and upper carrier means movable in lateral directions of the frame structure, at least two jig assemblies each operative to hold in position the engine compartment and front and rear floor assemblies during each cycle of operation, the jig assemblies being carried on the carrier means of one of the lower and upper working stations, and at least two welding units each operative to weld together the engine compartment and front and rear floor assemblies during each cycle of operation, the jig assemblies being movable in a lateral direction of the frame structure alternatel

Abstract: Herein disclosed is an automatic vehicle-body assembling system for welding together an engine compartment assembly, a front floor assembly and a rear floor assembly to form a floor structure of an automotive vehicle, wherein the component members to constitute each of the engine compartment and front and rear floor assemblies and the individual assemblies to constitute a vehicle floor structure are first provisionally or tack welded together in a primary assembling stage and are thereafter completely welded together in a series of secondary assembling stages.

Abstract: A car body side aperture assembly system for welding together multiple component parts of side apertures for different vehicle bodies at successive framing and respot welding stations. Overhead conveyor carriers each with laterally spaced racks for supporting loosely mounted component parts for left and right side apertures move into station position over selectively positioned framing station fixtures for accurately locating the component parts in required relation. Programmable robot welders produce different pretack welds at successive framing stations as well as respot welds at intermediate stations as required for different side apertures. The system includes means for selectively shuttling framing station pallets each with outwardly expandable fixtures having tooling for locating the multiple component parts of a particular side aperture at each framing station.

Abstract: Welding apparatus for a motorcar body comprising a pair of welding jig units positioned on opposing sides of a combining station which are movable laterally for positioning and holding thereon side panels of the body and a carrier movable between the combining station and a setting station for positioning and holding thereon the floor panel and the roof panel of the motorcar body. The structures of the carrier and the welding jig units are disclosed. Each welding jig unit can be turnable between an inwardly facing position and an outwardly facing one.

Abstract: Automatic welding apparatus is provided for welding contact tabs to solar lls which are particularly adapted for use in space vehicular solar generators. The apparatus comprises a plurality of welding electrodes arranged to extend across the direction of movement of a solar cell conveying table. The electrodes are movable in two directions perpendicular to each other and both perpendicular to the direction of movement of the conveying table.

Abstract: The machine for producing metal reinforcements in particular for reinforced concrete comprises a plurality of longitudinal members and at least one welded connecting member in the form of a strap in the shape of a closed or open frame. The machine comprises a strap carrier having open grooves for the passage of the longitudinal members which under the thrust exerted by a thrust device, come into direct contact with the straps waiting on the strap carrier so as to drive them one-by-one merely under the effect of friction to welding stations. The latter are adjustable in position and are in facing relation to zones of intersection between the longitudinal members and the straps. A selecting device and a stop device distribute the straps individually from the strap carrier to the welding stations. The strap carrier is fed with a series of straps required for a given reinforcement length by a withdrawable feeder and the welded reinforcements are discharged by a movable seizing device.

Abstract: A body assembly system for welding different stamped sheet metal vehicle bodies at successive framing and finish welding stations including means for accurately locating different underbody, side and top components in required accurate geometric relation at a framing station with programmable welding means for producing different initial retention welds at the framing station as well as finishing welds at successive "respot" welding stations as required for the different bodies. The system includes means for rapidly positioning locating tooling for body components at the framing station as required for different bodies as well as means to minimize and facilitate change of special tooling for model changeover.

Abstract: A multi-spot welding arrangement in which a jig table on the front surface of a machine frame has a plurality of welding guns located along the shape or contour of the workpiece to be processed or worked. An electric supply has a plurality of units which are connected to the welding guns through respective electric supply cables. A pressure applying mechanism has a plurality of operation cylinders which are connected to the welding guns through respective flexible wires, and is located on the rear side and the upper side of the machine frame. The machine frame, moreover, has a front frame and a rear frame which are coupled together in a detachable manner. The jig table and the pressure applying mechanism are located on the front frame, and the electric supply is provided on the rear frame.

Abstract: A transport drum is located adjacent two positions, one being a severing position in which a severing punch is located adjacent the drum to punch out contact plates in the order of at most 3 mm surface area from a strip of contact material, and place the punched-out plates in suitable openings formed at the circumference of the drum which, upon indexing rotation to the welding position, transports the plates thereto. Punch elements and welding electrodes have one portion of the elements located inside the drum, the other outside the drum adjacent the respective position. The contact carrier, for example in strip form, is fed to the drum, preferably tangentially, the contact plate being welded on the carrier at the welding position. Preferably, and simultaneously with the severing operation, the contact strip is deformed in advance of the severing so that the next subsequent severing operation will already accept a deformed element to provide a welding bump for concentrated application of spot welding current.

Abstract: An electrical resistance welding apparatus for spot welding workpieces together is comprised of a mounting on which two anvil blocks are supported for displacement relative to one another in order to engage and clamp a workpiece to the mounting in preparation for welding. At least one of the blocks which engages a workpiece is also electrically conductive to serve as one welding electrode in the spot welding process. A secondary electrode positioned in the vicinity of the electrically conductive anvil block clamps a second workpiece against the first on the mounting for spot welding. The mounting is electrically conductive and is electrically connected with the conductive anvil block for transmitting welding current from an electrical power source.

Abstract: A programmable manipulator having an arm which is movable in a plurality of axes and encoder apparatus for the axes operative to develop position signals corresponding to the actual position of the arm is provided adjacent a workpiece moving along a predetermined path, a conveyor for example, to perform a series of programmed operations on the workpiece.The programmable manipulator is provided with teach-programming apparatus for moving the arm during an initial teaching operation to different positions of the stationary workpiece corresponding to the desired series of operations of the manipulator relative to the stationary workpiece. Further, apparatus is provided for calculating digital representations during the teaching operation representing the positions of the arm accounting for the projected workpiece movement during playback and corresponding to the initial teaching positions relative to the workpiece.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically connecting battery plate units of adjacent cells through apertures in partitions between adjacent cell chambers of battery cases with said connection being effected by pressing lead projections of adjacent battery plate units together within each partition aperture and electrically fusing said projections together to form an electrical connection therebetween and completely fill said aperture and seal said chambers: comprising a work station in said apparatus where said plate units are connected, a conveyor for moving battery cases assembled with plate units into and from said work station, an electrode assembly comprising a pair of opposed electrodes adapted to fit into adjacent cell chambers and over said projections and apertures, indexing means for effecting relative movement of the battery case and electrode assembly at said work station for bringing the battery case into exact registry with the electrode assembly for effecting the connection, means for forcing said electro

Abstract: Apparatus for joining a first workpiece from a supply station to a second workpiece at a work station which accurately positions the first workpiece in engagement with the second workpiece at a predetermined location spaced from the periphery of the second workpiece. Positioning means are provided for transferring the first workpiece from the supply station to the work station in a manner such that the first workpiece is spaced from the second workpiece during such transfer until it is moved to the predetermined location in engagement with the second workpiece. The positioning means includes a transfer guide and a transfer device for transferring the first workpiece along the transfer guide to the work station.

Abstract: A machine for fabricating structural elements such as reinforcement trusses or girders wherein spaced flange elements are welded to a continuous, zig-zag shaped web to form a composite beam. The machine bends flat strands to form the zig-zag webs and then feeds them continuously to a welding means where the webs and flange elements are welded on an intermittent basis into an integral unit.

Abstract: An automatic machine is described for completing a metal frame such as a bicycle frame by brazing the principal portions of the frame together. The machine comprises a large rotatably mounted turret which is stepped about a vertical axis. A number of brazing fixtures are mounted on the edge of the turret so that they are carried by the turret to a number of work stations. Operators at adjacent stations load several metal frame parts onto clamps on the fixtures. Spaced work stations positioned beyond the loading stations next successively and automatically apply brazing flux to the frame portions and braze the frame parts together. The brazed frames are finally carried by the turret to a cooling station and then to a final unloading station.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming truss members which comprise oppositely disposed channel members and struts interconnected to one another by alternately extending apices wherein the apices are welded to the channel members. The method and apparatus provides for simultaneously forming channel members from a pair of endless strips and the strut members from an endless third strip, guiding the channels in a predetermined relation to one another with the third strip therebetween and thereafter welding the apices to the channel members.

Abstract: A machine and method terminating armature windings to commutators having means for testing the integrity of the connection and winding between two commutator segments immediately after each termination is bonded and recycling the bonding sequence at the same or different bonding energy if certain faults are detected. If the tests indicate certain faults or retests are negative, the armature is ejected without making further termination.