Progressively Advancing Of Work Assembly Station Or Assembled Portion Of Work Patents (Class 29/429)
  • Patent number: 7849601
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a vehicle. The method includes assembling a set of body panels to a vehicle body structure by interlocking a body panel mating feature with a body mating feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventor: Gregory Thomas Hedderly
  • Publication number: 20100286756
    Abstract: A catheter device having a shaft that extends from a proximal end to a distal end to carry on its distal end a self-expanding implant for intraluminal advance on a guidewire and delivery of the implant to an implant site by proximal withdrawal of a sheath that lies radially outside the implant in the catheter, the catheter including a first shaft element to pull the sheath proximally and a second shaft element to push the implant distally to prevent the implant moving proximally with the sheath when the sheath is pulled proximally, wherein the second shaft element carries a stopper for abutting the implant, the stopper comprising proximal and distal portions having different radiopacities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2006
    Publication date: November 11, 2010
    Applicant: C.R. BARD INC.
    Inventors: Jürgen Dorn, Martin Wuebbeling
  • Publication number: 20100263191
    Abstract: A vehicle body assembly and sequencing system includes the advantages of a batch vehicle body build sequence with the advantages of a random sequence of vehicle body styles transferred to a painting area. The build system includes using automated guided vehicles which transfer and store assembled, un-painted vehicle bodies in a storage area and sequentially transfers selected bodies from the storage area to the painting area achieving a random or variable supply of different vehicle bodies to be painted a certain color.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2010
    Publication date: October 21, 2010
    Applicant: Comau, Inc.
    Inventor: Vellbor Kllibarda
  • Patent number: 7779540
    Abstract: A quadrail ergonomic apparatus includes two or more pathways designed to permit movement in two or more directions mounted to a static object above a surface. One or more carriages designed to move in two or more directions are disposed within the pathways. Each carriage is suspended above the surface from the pathways and capable of maintaining a workload in place and permitting movement of the workload in at least four directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Michael G. McCaffrey, Robert P. Rojas, Mark F. Zelesky, Gilbert B. Cutler, Gene V. Flenke
  • Patent number: 7780825
    Abstract: A substrate holding and transporting assembly is disclosed. The substrate holding and transporting assembly includes a base plate and a pair of clamps connected to the base plate in a spaced apart orientation, the spaced apart orientation of the pair of clamps enable support of a substrate with at least two independent points. The substrate holding and transporting assembly also includes an electrode assembly connected to the base plate at a location that is substantially between the pair of clamps. The electrode assembly defined to impart an electrical contact to the substrate when present and held by the pair of clamps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Aleksander Owczarz, Robert Knop, Mike Ravkin, Carl A. Woods
  • Patent number: 7640645
    Abstract: A method for automation of conventional manual operation of setting the work-pieces on the hanger (H) for transporting the work-pieces, which moves such as in the surface treatment equipment (300), so as to provide the labor and power saving effect, to improve the efficiency on the operation, and to further improve the quality of the surface of the work-piece after treatment, comprises the process to separate and align plural work-pieces which are joined and aligned; the process to support the skewer-shaped supporting member (K) supporting plural separated and aligned work-pieces while maintaining the separated and aligned configuration; and the process to hang the skewer-shaped supporting member (K) supporting the work-pieces in the separated and aligned configuration on the hanger (H).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Nisshinbo Holdings, Inc.
    Inventor: Mitsutoshi Kurata
  • Patent number: 7624848
    Abstract: A mounting tool arranged at an elevator car raisable and lowerable along guide rails by a hoist in an elevator shaft. The hoist is suspended at a load hook of a shaft ceiling, wherein a support cable is connected with a load eye of a car yoke. The mounting tool includes a pivot support pivotally arranged at an axle of a tool foot supported by the car yoke. A load carrier carrying an elevator drive is provided at a free end of the pivot support. An assembly operative standing on the car yoke operates the hoist and the mounting tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventor: Daniel Fischer
  • Publication number: 20090283633
    Abstract: A supply device in a passenger cabin, such as an aircraft passenger cabin, includes a first panel or “function panel” having one or more comfort elements, operating elements, visual display elements, and communication elements; and a second panel or an “infill panel”, which includes flexible supply channels. The panels are guided and lined up in a rail system of a PSC channel that is arranged in the direction of flight above a passenger seat row. The function panels are individually positionable in the PSC channel relative to the passenger seat row, wherein the infill panel synchronously follows a linear actuating movement of the function panel, and in this process automatically compensates for the distance dimension S1 between function panels that are positioned so as to be spaced apart from each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2009
    Publication date: November 19, 2009
    Applicant: AIRBUS DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
    Inventor: Uwe Schneider
  • Publication number: 20090276993
    Abstract: An erection method for a solar receiver and support tower provides a climbing assembly on the support tower to raise the solar receiver to its final elevation by progressively jacking and installing support tower sections to erect the tower and support the solar receiver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2009
    Publication date: November 12, 2009
    Inventors: DENNIS S. FEDOCK, THOMAS J. STUDER, JOE C. ROUDEBUSH
  • Patent number: 7608801
    Abstract: A roof panel (31) is pre-set on the left and right side members (4) fixed to an underbody of a car. A roof panel spot welding station (7) includes a pair of frames (34) and two joisted-locating jigs (35, 36) bridging the frames. Each of the joisted-locating jigs is furnished with a clamp mechanism for holding the roof panel. The roof panel is located to the side members by the locating jigs, and spot-welded to the side members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Daihatsu Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinobu Inoue, Masaharu Saito, Akiyoshi Hazama, Yasuhiro Hosokawa, Takuma Arai, Isao Kita, Takuji Izutani, Kazuto Ikeda
  • Patent number: 7600308
    Abstract: Drainage elements are made by delivering loose fill elements under gravity from a container into a sleeve of netting that is tied at one end to a pipe, or other endless element, that is passing through the container. The sleeve of netting is supplied from an apertured cage extending below the container. In one embodiment a blower and chute arrangement is used to blow air downwardly into the drainage element being formed to increase the rate of flow of the loose fill elements into the sleeve of netting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Inventors: Harry Bussey, Jr., Buddy Harry Bussey, III
  • Patent number: 7584639
    Abstract: The aim of the invention is to produce can bodies (24?) comprising a can shell (24) and a closing element (31b, 32, 31a) that is fixed to one face of the can shell (24). Said aim is achieved by producing a tube (11) from a metal strip (1), optionally from directly adjacent sections (112), by means of a shaping step, at least one optional cutting step, and a continuous welding step, sections of said tube (11) being used as closed convex surfaces for cans. The sections are shaped by a shell-shaping device in such a way that can shells (24) are provided into which a closing element (31b, 32, 31a), especially a can bottom (31b), can be inserted. The longitudinal seam (11a, 124) can be produced inexpensively and at great precision essentially as a continuous seam in the welding step by means of simple installations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: Crebocan AG
    Inventor: Werner Boltshauser
  • Publication number: 20090165776
    Abstract: The invention relates to a metal sheet (15) ventilation/smoke exhaust duct section (10) for incorporation into a metal sheet ventilation/smoke exhaust duct, said metal sheets (15) being covered on the outside by a heat insulating material (20) and said duct section (10) including elongated stiffening bar members (30) located on the outside of the duct and attached to said metal sheets (15), the invention being characterised in said bar members (30) being located at a distance from said metal sheets (15), said bar members (30) being attached to said metal sheets (15) at discrete locations along the length of the bar members (30).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2007
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Inventors: Kurt Munk Pedersen, Kenn Christensen, Lars Elmekilde Hansen
  • Publication number: 20090133241
    Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for maintaining orientation of a manufactured part during a manufacturing process. The invention includes feeding a carrier from at least one supply apparatus. The carrier includes a flexible material and the supply apparatus stores the carrier such that the carrier may be fed from the supply apparatus. The invention includes feeding the carrier into a part forming module used by a manufacturing process to form a manufactured part and forming a plurality of manufactured parts onto the carrier as the carrier is fed into the part forming module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2009
    Publication date: May 28, 2009
    Inventors: Bart J. Storrs, Michael A. Griffin
  • Patent number: 7498541
    Abstract: Each of a pair of side members (4) is located relative to an underbody (3) using two locators (16). Each locator is lowered by a lifter (15) and placed on a slide base (18). The slide base is movable along a slide guide (17) toward and away from a transfer conveyor (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: Daihatsu Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinobu Inoue, Masaharu Saito, Akiyoshi Hazama, Yasuhiro Hosokawa, Takuma Arai, Isao Kita, Takuji Izutani, Kazuto Ikeda
  • Publication number: 20080313877
    Abstract: An assembling machine with a feeder is provided. The feeder feeds receiving components into an assembler, where a moveable coupling mechanism couples attaching components to the receiving components. Transporting mechanisms coupled to a plurality of drive trains deliver the receiving components across the feeder table and to the assembler. The transporting mechanisms alternate between a plurality of speeds so as to deliver the receiving components to the assembler such that the moveable coupling mechanism may operate at a continuous, periodic rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2008
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Inventor: Gordon H. Campbell
  • Publication number: 20080307628
    Abstract: A tool for producing composite objects, including a first and a second material path, along which a first and second sheet material are stepwise feedable. Along the first and second material paths there are disposed a number of processing stations for processing the first and second sheet materials by shearing, punching, pressing, bending etc. The first and second material paths intersect one another and in the zone of intersection an assembly station is disposed for joining together or assembling component parts from the first and second material paths. A method of producing from sheet material a composite object includes the steps of stepwise feeding a first sheet material in a first feeding direction, the sheet material being processed between certain feeding steps, feeding a second sheet material stepwise in a second feeding direction, the second sheet material being processed between certain feeding steps.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2006
    Publication date: December 18, 2008
    Applicant: Jano Technical Center AB
    Inventor: Tomi Yrjola
  • Patent number: 7386927
    Abstract: A system and method of fabricating tank car outer jackets are provided that include supporting a plurality of coils of sheet metal on a plurality of coil supports such that the central longitudinal axes of the plurality of coils are generally parallel to a central longitudinal axis of a mandrel adjacent the plurality of coils. A plurality of sheets of sheet metal are unwound from the plurality of coils by rotating each of the plurality of coils generally about the respective central longitudinal axes of each of the plurality of coils. As the plurality of sheets of sheet metal are wound onto the mandrel, adjacent sheets of the plurality of sheets of sheet metal are welded together using a plurality of automated welding torches proximate the mandrel. The plurality of automated welding torches may be coupled for communication with a programmable logic controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: Trinity Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Perry M. Maxwell, James A. Minton, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7350404
    Abstract: The probe tip movement control method of the scanning probe microscope is used for a scanning probe microscope provided with a cantilever 21 having a probe tip 20 facing a sample 12. The atomic force occurring between the probe tip and sample is measured when the probe tip scans the surface of the sample. X-, Y-, and Z-fine movement mechanisms 23, 29, and 30 are used to relatively change the positions of the probe tip and sample. It is possible to maintain a high measurement accuracy and enable scan movement of a probe tip on a sample surface by simple control when measuring a part having a gradient in measurement of an uneven shape on a sample surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi Kenki Fine Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tooru Kurenuma, Hiroaki Yanagimoto, Hiroshi Kuroda, Yasushi Minomoto, Shigeru Miwa, Ken Murayama, Yukio Kenbou, Yuuichi Kunitomo, Takenori Hiroki, Yoshiyuki Nagano, Takafumi Morimoto
  • Publication number: 20080000068
    Abstract: Vehicle body assembly line apparatus includes a plurality of work pallets (14) having locators (18) with locator members (36) that are adjustable by a grab member (40) on each at a remote location below a vertical rest surface (37) mounted on each locator member. An adjusting station (16) provides either automatic adjustment of the adjustable locators (18) by one or more robots (52) or manual adjustment of the adjustable locators (18). A sensor (58) senses the location of a positioning target (56) on each locator member (36) at a known location from the vertical rest surface (37) and any locator pin (38) mounted thereon and generates a deviation signal when the positioning is not within a design tolerance. A control (60) readjusts the appropriate locator (18) as necessary to the design tolerance range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2006
    Publication date: January 3, 2008
    Inventors: Mark A. Savoy, Phillip J. I. Morgan
  • Patent number: 7299533
    Abstract: A method for processing a gear set through a lapping operation that includes: providing a lapping machine tool having a first spindle and a second spindle, the second spindle being rotatable about an axis that is generally perpendicular to a rotational axis of the first spindle, the lapping machine tool having a loading zone for loading the first and second spindles; providing a robot with an end effector; loading a first gear set to a first end of the end effector, the first gear set having a ring gear and a pinion gear; moving the first end of the end effector into the loading zone; and loading the first gear set to the lapping machine tool without removing the end effector from the loading zone such that the ring gear is loaded onto the first spindle and the pinion gear is loaded onto the second spindle. An end effector is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel T Bickersteth, Robert G Greene, Kenneth J Gembel, II
  • Patent number: 7296349
    Abstract: When constructing a steam generator, buckstay modules are joined with tube wall units to form buckstay and tube wall modules while the boiler steel structure is being erected, and they are temporarily placed within the boiler steel structure level by level. Then an external part of the boiler top main grid is constructed whose beams are flush with the tube walls of the buckstay and tube wall modules. Then the boiler wall is mounted by aligning and welding the individual tube wall modules from top to bottom. Simultaneously, the internal components are constructed on the boiler base and hoisted to installation height. Preassembling buckstay and tube wall modules eliminate the need for inserting buckstays or tube walls from above through the boiler top main grid. For this reason, the roof opening can be smaller than usual. The inner boiler top main grid therefore does not require its own main beams, which saves a substantial amount of steel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignees: ALSTOM Power Boiler GmbH, ALSTOM Power Boiler Service GmbH
    Inventors: Rolf Gartner, Thomas Dressel
  • Patent number: 7269900
    Abstract: A production organizing method and a method and apparatus for assembling vehicle body are provided. The production line organizing method comprises the steps of classifying all parts for all types of vehicles to be assembled into groups of main part, synchronous subparts, and non-synchronous subparts, and the manhour for the non-synchronous subparts are assigned to the difference in manhours for assembly of main parts and synchronous subparts. In addition, a vehicle body assembly method and a vehicle body assembly line are also provided, which are capable of reducing a length of a main line and increasing the productivity by classifying all of the parts used for all vehicle types into three groups of main parts and two groups of subparts including non-synchronous main parts and subparts, and by assembling and storing the non-synchronous main parts and subparts in the separate section and supplying the sub-assembled non-synchronous subparts to the main line when necessary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Fumio Moriya, Takehiro Kouno, Kiyoshi Ikumi, Hiroshi Miyashita, Haruji Yoshida, Tatsuaki Son, Kouichi Hosono, Masakazu Kanda, Gengo Kajima, Tomoyoshi Takeuchi, Masanori Yoshida, Jyun Toyoda, Kenji Tatsuda, Yasuo Miyaoka, Michinao Iwami, Ikuo Kanazawa
  • Patent number: 7246423
    Abstract: A system and a method for in-line production of insulated glass units (IGU) for custom windows. The system and method schedule IGU production based on the order in which the cut glass is available, or broken out, from a glass cutting station. Once the IGUs are assembled, they are then sorted into the order in which they are to be further processed, i.e., into the order in which the corresponding windows are to be produced and shipped. Thus, the sorting, or carting, step occurs after the cut glass is contained in sealed IGUs, and the workers who perform the sorting step do not have to directly handle the pieces of cut glass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Simonton Building Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Randall Holden, Brian Stewart
  • Patent number: 7165303
    Abstract: A disc cassette delidder and feeder system that includes a frame supporting; a feed-in conveyor with a movable conveyor portion, a delidder assembly attached to a lid elevator, a caddy grip and rotate assembly secured to a caddy elevator, and a re-lid assembly portion of an out-feed conveyor. The feed-in conveyor advances a disc cassette with a caddy portion confining a disc to the delidder assembly, the delidder assembly removes a lid portion of the disc cassette, the caddy grip and rotate assembly secures and rotationally aligns the caddy portion for removal of the disc, the caddy elevator indexes the caddy portion to finally present the disc for removal from the caddy portion, and the re-lid assembly confines the caddy portion while the delidder assembly rejoins the lid portion to the caddy portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Michael W. Pfeiffer, Eric D. Johnson
  • Patent number: 7162799
    Abstract: A method for notifying installers 14–22 of the existence, type, and location of a portion 26 of an item within an assembly line 10. The notification allows the installers 14–22 to respectively ensure that the components 40 which are needed to be placed upon the portion 26 are available for use by the installer 14–22 in a timely manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Diane E. Moore, John J. Lubash
  • Patent number: 7114235
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for making and breaking tubular connections at the surface of a well by utilizing a pipe joining system. The pipe joining system includes a movable support frame for supporting and integrating on a rig floor the tools associated with making and breaking the connection between two tubulars. Tools incorporated in the pipe joining system include combinations of a wrenching assembly for gripping the tubulars and applying torque to the connection, a spinner for spinning the joints of the tubulars into connection, a positioning tool for vertically and/or horizontally aligning the tubulars in the system, a cleaning and doping device for cleaning and doping the threads of the tubulars, a stabbing guide for properly aligning the tubulars before joining, a mud bucket for handling mud spillage during the breaking of the tubulars, and a control system that remotely operates the entire automated system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: Weatherford/Lamb, Inc.
    Inventors: Manfred Jansch, Holger Wilschinsky
  • Patent number: 7111391
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for moving a truss assembly from a truss assembly table work surface are presented having lift out rails movable between a recessed position beneath the work surface and a raised position above the work surface. A support element assembly is movably mounted to each lift out rail and has at least one support surface for supporting a truss assembly when the lift out rail is in the recessed position. The support element assembly is movable between an up position and a down position. In the up position the support surface is flush with the work surface of the truss table, the support element assembly in the up position when the lift out rail is in the recessed position. In the down position the support surface does not interfere with a truss assembly sliding on the slide mechanism of the lift out rail, the support element assembly in the down position when the lift out rail is in the raised position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Assignee: Aldine Engineered Products, Inc.
    Inventors: David L. McAdoo, Kenneth T. George
  • Patent number: 7065852
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a hydraulic shock absorber is provided with a piston main body manufacturing step 21 including the process of sintering of the piston main body and the process of forming of the molded sealing are performed, a piston assembly manufacturing step 22 including process of forming of the throttle oil passage on the piston main body manufactured in the piston main body manufacturing step 21 and the assembly of valves onto the piston main body, and a hydraulic shock absorber manufacturing step 23 for manufacturing a hydraulic shock absorber using the piston assembly. In this manner, it is not necessary to provide for an intermediate inventory between each process. Furthermore inventory monitoring processes are simplified in the piston main body manufacturing step and productivity is increased since it is not necessary to monitor the inventory level with respect to a plurality of piston assembly types with different valves or throttle hydraulic passages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: Kayaba Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kimio Sudo, Ryuji Uda
  • Patent number: 7055233
    Abstract: For assigning a tool to a workpiece conveyed on an assembly line, at least one transmitter is arranged in the area of an assembly line, and a receiver is arranged on the tool. An analyzing unit determines the distance of the tool from each transmitter, based on the transit times of at least one received signal, and an indicating device emits positions information regarding workpieces on the assembly line. An assignment unit assigns a tool or a tool position to a workpiece, based on at least one distance of the tool from the transmitter, and on the workpiece positions. The arrangement of the transmitters and receivers can also be interchanged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
    Inventors: Josef Hofer, Robert Donharl
  • Patent number: 7047616
    Abstract: In a method of manufacturing and laying a plurality of elongate elements into an umbilical comprising a core element, a plurality of conduits of metal and if necessary at least one cable situated outside the core element, which core element is advanced along a feed line and the conduits and the cables are fed onto the outside of the core element and laid in a helix, a first group of single lengths of metal tubes forming the conduits are provided parallel one to another, the single lengths are advanced in the direction of the feed line, a second group of single lengths of metal tubes are provided parallel one to another, the lengths of the second group are advanced in the direction of the feed line and the first ends of the lengths of the second group are welded to the second end of the lengths of the first group, further groups of single lengths of metal tubes are provided and welded to the lengths of the foregoing group respective by, the metal tubes welded together are laid to the outside of the core elemen
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: Nexans
    Inventors: Bjorn Bjerke, Per Aage Kristensen, Lars Tangen
  • Patent number: 7032304
    Abstract: A method for conveying printed circuit boards (PCBs) in a system that includes at least two assembly modules, where each assembly module has multiple conveyors for delivering the PCBs so that while processing some PCBs, other PCBs can bypass particular assembly modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Delaware Capital Formation
    Inventor: Koenraad A. Gieskes
  • Patent number: 7024759
    Abstract: Substrates can be transported on a top transporting section to component-fitting locations of a component-fitting apparatus. Conveying sections for substrates which are to be routed past the component-fitting locations are arranged on a number of conveying levels beneath the transporting section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Frank Barnowski, Mohammed Mehdianpour
  • Patent number: 6993817
    Abstract: The present invention is a method of assembling fence sections using a banding machine to band an assembled fence section together so that the fence section does not fall apart as it is transferred to the site where it will be used. The fence section may be assembled at the beginning of an assembly line. The fence section may then move along the line toward the banding machine. The fence section is then banded and moved through the banding machine to be placed into a box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2006
    Assignee: Crane Plastics Company LLC
    Inventor: John L. Swinger
  • Patent number: 6976307
    Abstract: An accelerated vehicle development process includes establishing a common, standardized interface system whereby different types of vehicle bodies may be attached to a single chassis design. Chassis and bodies are designed, manufactured and validated independently of each other in accordance with the standardized interface system, thereby accelerating the development process. As new bodies are designed to mate with the previously manufactured and validated chassis, the newly designed bodies may be developed more quickly in response to market demand and attached to the previously validated chassis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Adrian B. Chernoff, Christopher E. Borroni-Bird, Mohsen D. Shabana, Robert Louis Vitale
  • Patent number: 6899263
    Abstract: A repair station for a soil auger includes a frame on which the mount the auger at a working height and a motor and gear reduction system to rotate the auger. A slide bar is mounted parallel to the auger and carries a welding guide for supporting a welding gun. The welding guide includes portions engaging the blade, or flight, of the auger to move the welding guide axially of the auger as it rotates. The welding guide also includes a welding gun support shoe with a variable height to position the welding gun so as to lay a bead of metal on the edge of the auger blade. Repeated applications of the welding bead are performed to build up the blade from a worn state to a rebuilt state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2005
    Assignee: Illinois Department of Transportation
    Inventors: Michael Sean Tappan, Clinton Gene Barnhart, Jerry Lee Iams
  • Patent number: 6899377
    Abstract: An automotive vehicle is provided having a body being assembled by a joining process line from a plurality of workpieces joined into a plurality of subassemblies according to the steps of providing templates arranged in a predetermined alignment to form a process line, with each template being generated from a defined set of standardized task stations which are operative to perform a joining process on a workpiece of the subassemblies, fixturing workpieces in a workpiece presenter provided in the task stations, at least one workpiece presenter including a tooling plate removably connected and precision located on a platform of a workpiece presenter, and sequentially joining the workpieces together to form the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2005
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Abid Ghuman, John E. Robertson, James Wayne Lowe, Marsha J. Rosso, Michael W. Pitt
  • Patent number: 6763567
    Abstract: A pallet assembly device is disclosed that is configured to automatically position pallet components together and to automatically secure such components to each other. Furthermore, the pallet assembly device of the invention is preferably fed stacks of pallet components, and thereby eliminates the need for an assembly operator to manually position various pallet components in a jig or carriage. Yet further, the device preferably comprises a plurality of wheels that are positioned to simultaneously engage opposite sides of a pallet component and comprises a drive motor. The drive motor is preferably operatively connected to at least one of the plurality of wheels in a manner allowing the drive motor to rotationally drive and rotationally stop at least one of the plurality of wheels so as to move the component along an assembly path. A method of assembling pallet components using a pallet assembly device is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: Fastening Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Dustin W. Smith, Dale De'Crescenzo
  • Patent number: 6725520
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing multi-layer flat products (26). Said flat products preferably comprise a core (1) of solid material, laminated with a number of layers which are processed in a sequence of work steps into the final product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Inventor: Wolfgang Weiser
  • Publication number: 20040055131
    Abstract: A method of assembling on a common process line a plurality of discrete assemblies is provided including providing a plurality of standardized task stations, determining at least first and second templates, each template being operative to perform an operation on a plurality of workpieces, combining at least the first and second templates in a predetermined alignment to form a process line, presenting a first assembly workpiece to be operated on by the task stations of at least the first template to form a first assembly, and presenting a second assembly workpiece to be operated on by the task stations of at least the first template to form a second assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2002
    Publication date: March 25, 2004
    Inventors: Abid Ghuman, James Wayne Lowe, Marsha J. Rosso, Kirk E. Sanborn
  • Patent number: 6701600
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing or machining a work piece in the form of a cylindrical hollow body, especially a container (an outer wall of a container), a barrel or a cask. According to the inventive method, the work piece is held so that the longitudinal axis thereof is oriented vertically and is then machined, especially formed, edged and provided with beads, a bottom and a lid. The method is characterised in that the work piece is moved at the transfer level and is lowered into a working area of a machining device, especially a shaping machine, for machining. The machining device is arranged underneath the transfer level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Inventor: Hans-Jürgen Beierling
  • Publication number: 20040040140
    Abstract: A casing and a lid which are supplied to a casing/lid supply machine are fed to a main assembly line where a light-shielding sheet is mounted on the casing and a film cover supplied from a film cover assembly line is mounted in the casing. Pressers supplied from a presser assembly line are mounted on the lid. The casing and the lid are combined with each other, completing a film case. The film case manufacturing system is capable of efficiently manufacturing highly accurate film cases and is relatively compact in structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2003
    Publication date: March 4, 2004
    Applicant: FUJI PHOTO FILM CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toshiro Esaki, Hideki Matsuzawa, Masami Seko, Nobuo Matsuda, Hiroki Omote, Kazuo Tanabe
  • Patent number: 6687997
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a modular fuel injector permits the fabrication of the electrical group subassembly outside a clean room while a fuel group subassembly is fabricated inside a clean room. The method provides for manufacturing a sealed fuel injector unit via a predetermined number of different types of operations. Each type comprises a range of percentages of the predetermined number of operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Siemens Automotive Corporation
    Inventors: Michael P. Dallmeyer, Robert MacFarland, Michael J. Hornby
  • Patent number: 6651306
    Abstract: A truss manufacturing apparatus and method. The apparatus includes a conveyor for moving upper and lower chords thru a series of assembly stations of the apparatus. A board is inserted between the chords at one station and secured in place forming a trimmable end of a truss. One or more web boards can be inserted between the chords at a second station and secured in place by connector nail plates forming a opening in the truss for ductwork or the like. Metal web members are secured to opposite side edges of the truss at a third station to form a web between the chords. The chords are positioned in a generally vertical plane with one above the other in the apparatus and the board, web boards and web members are moved into position from one or both sides of the chords.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: MiTek Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert A. LePoire, Douglas S. Hanneken, Randall S. Mabery, Louis A. Fanty, Jr., Du Kim
  • Publication number: 20030213116
    Abstract: A pallet assembly device is disclosed that is configured to automatically position pallet components together and to automatically secure such components to each other. Furthermore, the pallet assembly device of the invention is preferably fed stacks of pallet components, and thereby eliminates the need for an assembly operator to manually position various pallet components in a jig or carriage. Yet further, the device preferably comprises a plurality of wheels that are positioned to simultaneously engage opposite sides of a pallet component and comprises a drive motor. The drive motor is preferably operatively connected to at least one of the plurality of wheels in a manner allowing the drive motor to rotationally drive and rotationally stop at least one of the plurality of wheels so as to move the component along an assembly path. A method of assembling pallet components using a pallet assembly device is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2002
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Inventors: Dustin W. Smith, Dale De'Crescenzo
  • Publication number: 20030212380
    Abstract: A passive shield system for a syringe including a body, shield, spring and ring which provide an interlock of the shield in the retracted position prior to receipt of the syringe for bulk transportation and processing and wherein the user selects the timing of the release of the shield to its extended position following injection, but which assures shielding of the syringe needle following release of the syringe plunger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2002
    Publication date: November 13, 2003
    Inventor: Laurent Barrelle
  • Patent number: 6637100
    Abstract: A method for mounting an external heat dissipater to a light emitting diode is disclosed. The heat dissipater is comprised of at least one heat dissipation board. A long metal strip is conveyed through a working platform and is punched to form a number of heat dissipation boards connected thereto by connection sections. Light emitting diodes are positioned on the heat dissipation boards and the heat dissipation boards are cut and separated from the metal strip to form finished products of light emitting diodes to which a heat dissipater comprised of the heat dissipation board is mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: Para Light Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ming-Te Lin, Ming-Yao Lin
  • Patent number: 6612010
    Abstract: A method and a device for interconnecting two mutually coaxial and axially movable pipes (2 and 22 respectively), where one pipe (2) has a locking portion (16), and the other pipe (22) has a control body (30) and a locking part (26), which upon axial movement of the control body (30) is arranged to be moved between a first position, wherein the locking part (26) is not engaged with the locking portion (16), and a second position, wherein the locking part (26) is engaged with the locking portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Kongsberg Offshore AS
    Inventors: Knut Håvard Bekkevold, Finn G. Haugen
  • Publication number: 20030159266
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a photosensitive drum includes fabricating a rotary drum and a cylindrical photosensitive belt that closely contacts a circumferential surface of the rotary drum in an electrophotographic color image forming apparatus. The photosensitive belt is in contact with the circumferential surface of the rotary drum using shrinkage and expansion of the rotary drum according to a temperature change of the rotary drum. Thus, it is easy to fabricate the photosensitive drum. Also, since an inexpensive photosensitive belt is used, a fabricating cost of the photosensitive drum can be reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2002
    Publication date: August 28, 2003
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jin-Soo Lee
  • Publication number: 20030131464
    Abstract: A production line (1) is constituted of a sliding path (10) as a moving path provided along nine working step positions from a first step position (P1) to a ninth step position (P9), nine skids (20) as support-receipt plates slidably mounted on the sliding path (10) every predetermined interval so as to correspond to the step positions (P1) to (P9), and driving mechanisms (30), that is, (31A), (30B) and (30C) as moving and driving mechanisms for moving and driving the skids (20).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2002
    Publication date: July 17, 2003
    Applicant: Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chikara Yagaki, Akira Inoue