Abstract: The vehicular driving shaft is oriented and conveyed vertically around to plural assembling stations where component parts of a first joint unit are assembled to a lower end of the shaft whereupon the shaft is reversed and the component parts of the second joint unit are thereafter assembled to the now lower other end of the shaft. Plural carriers hold the shaft vertically as they are driven intermittently to plural stations, each station having an appropriate assembling device, the stations being grouped to first assemble the first joint unit and then to assemble the second.

Abstract: An apparatus for assembling heat exchanger elements includes a pallet comprising a frame and a plurality of blocks slidably aligned on each side of the frame with opposed pairs of blocks slotted to receive pairs of plates dropped into the pallet. Lead screws driven by servomotors and engaging the blocks position the blocks at the loading station and control the block spacing (determined at each station by the screw pitch) to allow plate insertion or to allow insertion of fin elements between the plates. To quickly move the pallet into the station auxiliary lead screws connected to the main screws engage the blocks of the pallet outside the loading station to assert positive controlled advancement force on the pallet.

Abstract: A set of positioning guide members are mounted on a worktable to delimit receiving areas for a workpiece support plate so that the support plate may be accurately positioned at each workstation on the table to allow accurate machining to be effected; a locking device is provided at each workstation to lock the support plate in a selected position in alignment with a tool at each workstation.

Abstract: An automobile assembling apparatus is provided to provisionally assemble a set of front and rear drive system assemblies, each having at least a suspension system with a damper unit dangling thereon, to a vehicle body prior to rigidly securing, and thereby setting up, the front and rear drive system assemblies and vehicle body into one unit with fasteners in an automobile assembling line and comprises a carrier pallet for carrying the set of front and rear drive system assemblies placed thereon in position, a conveyor for conveying the front and rear drive system assemblies on the carrier pallet to a provisional assembling station wherre front and rear drive system assemblies are provisionally assembled to vehicle bodies, an overhead conveyor for conveying the vehicle body above the provisional assembling station and lowering it on the front and rear drive system assemblies to provisionally assemble the front and rear drive system assemblies to the vehicle body, and a holding device installed at the provision

Abstract: An automatic assembly device includes a jig pallet for carrying and positioning parts used in an assembly line, and a holding device for holding fastener members used to mount the parts to assembled members. A drive is positioned between the fastener member holding device and an external driving device.

Abstract: A vehicle suspension having a shock absorber and a coil spring is assembled while the parts of the suspension such as the shock absorber and the coil spring are placed on a pallet and conveyed by a conveyor line. The pallet is provided with a shock absorber holding mechanism which holds the shock absorber in an upstanding state, compressing claws which are engaged with an upper end portion of a coil spring and a feed mechanism which moves up and down the compressing claws and holds it in a desired position. The conveyor line is provided with a driving mechanism which drives the feed mechanism.

Abstract: A handle case and a handle which are substantially assembled are clamped on a pallet with respective first and second clamping means, and the pallet is conveyed along a looped conveyor. The handle case and the handle are connected operatively to each other with hinge means in a first assembling station disposed alongside of the conveyor. Then, the pallet is conveyed successively through other assembling stations disposed along the conveyor to install other door handle components on the handle case and the handle in the other assembling stations.

Abstract: An apparatus for assembling a wheel attaching unit for use in a vehicle assembly line having a pallet capable of mounting at predetermined positions thereof a front assembly including a front wheel attaching unit and a rear assembly including a rear wheel attaching unit; a pallet conveyor for conveying the pallet through a setting area and a securing area of the front and rear units and a body; and a body conveyor for conveying the body to a position above the setting area and for lowering the body to set the front and rear assemblies to the body. The pallet includes a holding portion for the front assembly and/or a holding portion for the rear assembly with the holding portion being position adjustable in forward and rearward directions thereof.

Abstract: Method and system for the automated assembly of power train components along a plurality of interconnected, closed loops within cells of the system wherein parts and/or subassemblies of the components are assembled on the same assembly pallet on which they were robotically kitted. Along some of the loops, the assembly pallets are automatically transferred from kitting stations to assembly stations and from the assembly stations to an unload station where the components or subassemblies are robotically unloaded. The unloaded assembly pallets are then automatically transferred from the unload station to the kitting stations to repeat the assembly process. A mechanical guided vehicle system (MGVS) asynchronously conveys the assembly pallets along the closed loops which form guide tracks between the different stations. An automated guided vehicle system (AGVS) preferably transports part storage pallets to the system from a receiving area.

Abstract: A system for assembling bottom parts for vehicles, in which the bottom parts are transported to a position below a vehicle body positioned and fixed and are assembled to the vehicle body. The system includes a transporter for circulating a pallet member holding thereon bottom parts and a plurality of threaded parts for fastening the bottom parts to the vehicle body, so that the pallet member is stopped below the vehicle body. A first feeder is disposed in the vicinity of the transporter to feed the threaded parts to the pallet member. A second feeder is also disposed in the vicinity of the transporter to feed the bottom parts to the pallet member. A lifter is disposed below the vehicle body to raise the lower the pallet member relative to the vehicle body. A turning machine is also disposed below the vehicle body for turning the threaded part to fasten the bottom part to the vehicle body when the pallet member is in its raised position.

Abstract: A method of assembling a plurality of individual parts to manufacture a workpiece, which comprises the steps of placing each single individual part in a holder in a preparation stage, the holder holding each single individual part in a predetermined position, conveying an assembly support along a conveying path to sequentially arranged work stations whereat the parts are assembled on the assembly support, conveying the holders from the preparation stage to the work stations along the conveying path for alignment of the holders with the assembly support, removing the parts from the holders at the work stations and placing them on the assembly support for assembly thereon, returning the holders empty to the preparation stage after the single individual parts held therein have been removed, and again placing individual parts in the returned holder in the preparation stage in a predetermined position.

Abstract: An automatic assembling method and apparatus for vehicles including providing a pallet with a plurality of supporting devices for supporting under-floor parts including an engine unit, at least the supporting device for supporting the engine unit among the supporting devices being movable with respect to the pallet in a horizontal plane, and moving said movable supporting means in the horizontal plane by an operating device. In this way, the under-floor parts supported by the supporting device can be mounted on the vehicle body.

Abstract: Method and system for the automated assembly of power train components along a plurality of interconnected, closed loops within cells of the system wherein parts and/or subassemblies of the components are assembled on the same assembly pallet on which they were robotically kitted. Along some of the loops, the assembly pallets are automatically transferred from kitting stations to assembly stations and from the assembly stations to an unload station where the components or subassemblies are robotically unloaded. The unloaded assembly pallets are then automatically transferred from the unload station to the kitting stations to repeat the assembly process. A mechanical guided vehicle system (MGVS) asynchronously conveys the assembly pallets along the closed loops which form guide tracks between the different stations. An automated guided vehicle system (AGVS) preferably transports part storage pallets to the system from a receiving area.

Abstract: An automatic assembly apparatus for fastening a part to a workpiece includes a pair of T-shaped legs, each having a horizontal guide thereon, mounted on a base in alignment with and spaced from each other in the direction of the path of the workpiece while the horizontal guide on each of the T-shaped legs extends at right angles to and intersects the path of the workpiece. A horizontal orthogonal coordinate type robot is mounted on the horizontal guides to move in the direction of the path of the workpiece while being simultaneously movable at right angles to and intersecting the path of the workpiece. A conveyor jig is mounted on each of the vertical structures between the base and the T-shaped legs.

Abstract: An automatic assembling apparatus is provided for assembling in sequence at least a first component and a second component to an article at an assembling station. The assembling apparatus comprises a first assembling jig for the first assembling component and a second assembling jig for the second component. An annular rail has the first and second assembling jigs mounted thereon such that they are circumferentially movable on the annular rail. The annular rail has a movable rail portion positioned opposite the assembling station which is movable to advance toward and retract from the assembling station. At least one supplying station is positioned with respect to the circumference of the annular rail for supplying components to the assembling jigs at the supplying station.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for assembling products of various raw materials and components, mainly for so-called light industry. Raw materials and components are transported on standard-size pallets, by means of conveyor robots, all through the system from storages to packing stations wherefrom assembled products are shipped. The system preferable includes a number of production preparation stations for serving a plurality of subsequent intermediate handling stations each of which serves an assembly line with a plurality of work stations pairwise on opposite sides of respective assembly line conveyor robots. Display terminals are provided for communication between the different kinds of stations, as well as control means for operating the conveyor robots. Even a fully automated production is possible.

Abstract: An automatic assembling machine is disclosed for use with a carrier having parts arranged on it in predefined positional relationships which are defined by predetermined distances therebetween in two orthogonal directions. A movable table supports the carrier and moves in two orthogonal directions in a horizontal plan. A mounting surface extends above the plane of the movable table and has first and second portions which are parallel to the two orthogonal directions. At least one working unit is attached to at least one of the portions of the mounting surface to cooperate with movements of the table in assembling the parts on the carrier.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for assembling pallets which includes an assembly table which is pivotable on an axis, supports for supporting a plurality of first deck boards, and a displaceable support for holding up the underside of the pallet when the table has been inverted, the displaceable support being displaceable to an out of the way position to permit the pallet to drop from the table when assembly has been completed.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for automatically assembling and banding together the component parts of an expansion shell of the type typically used in a mine bolt assembly. The parts are loaded into a die position in a first work station wherein a tapered wedge is supported within a central hole passing through the die and two shell sections are seated on inclined sides located on opposite sides of the hole. A thin metal U-shaped strap is placed between die mounted guides so that the legs of the strap are positioned between raised ears carried by the shell segments and the base of the strap passes over the wedge. The die is advanced into a second work station where the ears are coined against the strap.

Abstract: An assembly line for parts of electronic and other equipment having a plurality of assembling stations, each station including a conveyor belt for successively conveying articles from the adjacent station, a drive source for the conveyor belt, means for stopping each of the articles including a stop lever for engaging a boss attached to each article for stopping each article in an operating position, means for positioning each article including a positioning pin for insertion in a hole formed in each article for positioning the article stopped in the operating position, a picking and placing unit for assembling each part with one of the articles after parts are successively fed by a supplying device, and an assembly line base machine provided with an operating panel for operating the drive source, article stopping means, article positioning means and picking and placing unit. Shifting of the stations and reorganization of the assembly line itself can be readily carried out.

Abstract: An automated assembly apparatus for inserting electrical parts into a printed circuit board includes parts supply means for supplying parts to parts conveyance means according to a predetermined sequence. The parts conveyance means is equipped with parts conveyance jigs and an identification code the detection of which determines the parts which are delivered to each jig for eventual conveyance to parts insertion means equipped with a plurality of chucks adapted to successively transfer the delivered parts, regardless of their size and shape, to an awaiting circuit board, and to insert the parts into the circuit board at prescribed positions according to a predetermined sequence.

Abstract: Conveyor apparatus comprises an endless conveyor operative to convey workpieces past a number of processing stations. The workpieces are conveyed in seats of the conveyor, each of the seats being designated to receive a workpiece which is at a predetermined stage in the process. Means are provided to sense the presence of filled and empty seats and to control workpiece removal and depositing means associated with the processing stations so that workpieces are only removed from, and deposited in, the appropriate designated seats.