Including Converging Conveyers Patents (Class 29/793)
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Publication number: 20140325834Abstract: An insulating glass unit (IGU) assembly line capable of interleaving double and triple pane IGUs in accordance with an IGU production schedule. Visual indicators or prompts instruct operators at the assembly line in configuring a sequence of IGUs. Triple pane IGUs are assembled with minimal contamination of a center glass lite. A non-contact Bernoulli pad is used to lift a glass lite off from a horizontal or vertical support that conveys it from a glass washer to an assembly station. Each of multiple pads has a capacity to lift approximately seven to ten pounds. Use of multiple pads per glass sheet or lite allows lites having dimensions up to 70 by 100 inches (assuming glass thickness of one quarter inch) to be assembled.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 18, 2014Publication date: November 6, 2014Inventors: WILLIAM A. BRIESE, JOHN GRISMER, TIMOTHY B. McGLINCHY
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Patent number: 8844109Abstract: A method for manufacturing motor vehicles at a manufacturing location (S), from which ready-assembled motor vehicles are built in a planned number and order of output. First modules (MA) are delivered in a specific assembly stage discontinuously from a first production shop (PA) to the manufacturing location (S) and are fed continuously into a manufacturing line (F) in which the modules (MA) are manufactured into motor vehicles (A). Second modules (MB) be fed in a specific assembly stage from a second production shop (PB) into the joint manufacturing line (F) at a sequencing station (5) alternately with the modules (MA). Thus, vehicles of first and second model series can be manufactured on one and the same manufacturing line.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2009Date of Patent: September 30, 2014Assignee: Dr. Ing.h.c.F.Porsche AktiengesellschaftInventors: Christian Meyer, Ralf Schuster, Lutz Muller, Pascal Kauffelin
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Patent number: 8671537Abstract: A method and device for harmless treatment and recycling of waste refrigerators. Plastic parts, electrical boxes, compressors, and condensers are disassembled at a disassembling station. Refrigerants from compressors are recycled at a fluoride-extracting station. Refrigerator bodies and doors are transferred to a double shaft shredder and a rolling crusher for crushing. Crushed materials are sorted out by wind force, by a self-discharge type iron remover made of permanent magnet and a cylindrical iron remover for magnetic separation. The device is placed in an enclosed workshop equipped with a multistage ventilation system, a protective device of nitrogen, a device for spraying, dedusting, and cooling, and an on-line detection and alarm control device for cyclopentane gas concentration, polyurethane dust concentration, and temperature. The method and device have low manufacturing and operating costs and are dustproof, explosion proof, environmentally friendly and has excellent recycling effects.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2012Date of Patent: March 18, 2014Inventors: Guoying Ming, Yehua Liu, Yuping Zhang, Qilin Li, Peng Li
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Patent number: 8621745Abstract: A stretch film sleeve label applicator for separating a stretchable sleeve label from a web of such labels and applying the label to an item, such as a container, is disclosed. The applicator is particularly useful for applying high stretch labels to highly contoured containers. The applicator is configured to receive a series of labels in an elongated, continuous web of flat, 2-ply sleeve labels, open the continuous sleeve of labels, separate an individual label from a next successive label, stretch the label to permit its application to an item to be labeled, such as a container, and apply the label in an accurate and precise location on the container. The applicator comprises three primary components: a label feeding assembly, a label separating assembly and a label stretching assembly. Various embodiments of the label feeding assembly, label separating assembly and label stretching assembly are disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2007Date of Patent: January 7, 2014Assignee: CCL Label GmbHInventors: Indarjit Deonarine, Gerard B. Doyle, Alfred Werzi
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Patent number: 8371024Abstract: Process for industrially filling differently structured cavities in building blocks with moldings, having the following features: a) the moldings are cut in the form of differently configured mineral-wool pads (1, 2) from mineral-wool boards supplied, b) the mineral-wool pads (1, 2) are then distributed in layers on at least two levels, c) the mineral-wool pads (1, 2) distributed in this way are respectively separated, arranged in rows and moved into a vertical position in order to be transported further, d) the vertically positioned mineral-wool pads (1, 2) are pushed off laterally in layers and distributed on at least two levels in a supply unit (A 170), wherein, for example, one level has large mineral-wool pads (1) and the other level has small mineral-wool pads (2) and the levels are arranged in accordance with the construction of the cavities of the building block; e) in a further position of the distributing unit (A 180), the mineral-wool pads (1, 2) are pushed into sheet-metal channels, moved up to thType: GrantFiled: July 7, 2008Date of Patent: February 12, 2013Assignee: Grenzebach Maschinenbau GmbHInventor: Karl Hertle
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Patent number: 7562621Abstract: A bidirectional lens pressing system for use in pressing a lens into a port housing is disclosed. The lens pressing system includes a frame that supports a top motor stage, a bottom motor stage, and an indexing stage. The indexing stage is interposed between the top and bottom motor stages and includes a hole that retains a port housing or other component. The top pressing tool is selectively movable in a first direction by the top motor stage and includes a first engagement surface for engaging the lens. Correspondingly, the bottom pressing tool is selectively movable in a an opposing second direction by the bottom motor stage and includes a second engagement surface for engaging the port housing. The first and second engagement surfaces of the top and bottom pressing tools cooperate to press the lens into the port housing while imposing no net force on the indexing stage.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2007Date of Patent: July 21, 2009Assignee: Finisar CorporationInventors: Heide E. Moller, legal representative, Ting Shi, Zhiqiang Zheng, Pavel Ploscariu, John Moller
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Patent number: 6851181Abstract: An apparatus of two stories for manufacturing a non-resonance knock sensor has an assembly body stage positioned at a first floor for forming an assembly body in which a lower insulator, a lower terminal plate, a piezoelectric element, an upper terminal plate and an upper insulator are mounted on a cylindrical base, and process stages positioned at a second floor for fastening the assembly body with a nut to form a sensor main body, bending partly the lower and upper terminal plates of the sensor main body and connecting by welding a resistor between the lower and upper terminal plates which are partly bent in the sensor main body. Accordingly, its manufacturing line is compact and can be installed in smaller horizontal ground area.Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 2002Date of Patent: February 8, 2005Assignee: Denso CorporationInventors: Yusuke Watanabe, Shigeru Ohwaki, Takashi Yamauchi, Katsushi Iwata
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Publication number: 20040255449Abstract: An integrated reconfigurable multi-stage manufacturing system and associated methods. The system may include a plurality of manufacturing cells, each cell associated with at least one stage of a manufacturing process. The plurality of cells may include a first cell comprising at least one flexible manufacturing station, a second cell comprising at least one reconfigurable manufacturing station, and a third cell comprising at least one reconfigurable inspection machine. The system may also include a plurality of loop conveyors and a plurality of cell gantries. Each loop conveyor may connect at least two neighboring cells and each cell gantry may transport parts from the cell associated with the cell gantry to at least one loop conveyor. In one embodiment, each cell may be hexagonal, and the manufacturing system may have a honeycomb structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 19, 2003Publication date: December 23, 2004Inventors: Yoram Koren, Rodney L. Hill
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Patent number: 6705001Abstract: Apparatus for the manufacture of a component such as an integrated circuit chip, including: a plurality of processing stations forming a production line for the manufacture of the component, a conveyor adapted to transport component forming materials from one processing station to another in the production line, and a storage on the production line for storing the materials during transport along the production line. The storage acts as buffers effectively to collect materials and store them for efficient transport along the production line.Type: GrantFiled: November 28, 2001Date of Patent: March 16, 2004Assignee: ASM Technology Singapore PTE Ltd.Inventors: Wee Kiun How, Jian Zhang, Lian Hok Tan
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Patent number: 6591488Abstract: A production system includes a shuttle (2) for moving a work (W) on a predetermined track (1), a storeroom (3) for storing components of a plurality of types to be assembled to the work, and a plurality of assembly stations (4) arranged along the track between the track and the storeroom (3), each assembly station (4) including an assembler (41) for selecting and attaching one of tools of a plurality of types corresponding to the types of components and assembling the components to the work (W) using the applied tool, and a conveyor unit (42) arranged between the assembler (41) and the storeroom (3) to convey the components stored in the storeroom (3) to the assembler (41).Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2000Date of Patent: July 15, 2003Assignee: Hirata CorporationInventor: Katsuyoshi Tachibana
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Patent number: 6339873Abstract: Indoor air conditioner units are manufactured by pre-assembling evaporators and supplying the evaporators to a plurality of unit assembling stations, whereby at each unit assembling station, the evaporators are assembled with other air conditioner elements to form finished indoor air conditioner units. The evaporators can be assembled at an evaporator assembling station which supplies all of the unit assembling stations with evaporators. Alternatively, the evaporators can be assembled at each of the unit assembling stations.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 1999Date of Patent: January 22, 2002Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Jae-jin Cha, Doo-nam Myung
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Patent number: 6272737Abstract: A system for mounting circuit components on a circuit substrate, including a circuit-substrate supporting device which supports the circuit substrate, a circuit-component mounting device which mounts, at a circuit-component mounting position, the circuit components on the circuit substrate supported by the circuit-substrate supporting device, and a circuit-substrate carry-out device which carries out the circuit substrate on which the circuit components have been mounted, the circuit-substrate carry-out device comprising a removing device which removes the circuit substrate from the circuit-substrate supporting device, and a parallel-direction carry-out device which receives the circuit substrate from the removing device and carries out the circuit substrate in a parallel direction substantially parallel to a plane of the circuit substrate, the circuit substrate being transferred from the circuit-substrate supporting device to the removing device in a first direction substantially perpendicular to the plane oType: GrantFiled: February 18, 1998Date of Patent: August 14, 2001Assignee: Fuji Machine Mfg. Co., Ltd.Inventors: Koichi Asai, Shinsuke Suhara
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Patent number: 6195960Abstract: A device for placing pipes (5′) into a case (1) and taking pipes (5) out therefrom, wherein the pipes (5) are placed in stacks (2, 3, 4) each with one pipe across, and wherein the stacks are supported laterally by supports (6, 7, 8, 9) projecting upwardly from the bottom of the case (1). The bottom of the case 91) is provided with apertures (10, 11), and the case (1) is carried by a tilting device (13) capable of raising and lowering the case 91), respectively, and of turning it about an axis (14) parallel to the pipes (5) within the case (1), to take an unloading position and a loading position, respectively, wherein the supports (6, 7, 8, 9) are nearly horizontal, flushing with a substantially horizontal support for pipes (5), and wherein a pushing device (16) is adapted to be guided through the apertures (10, 11) in the nearly vertical bottom of the case (1), in order to push pipes (5) laterally out of the case (1), upon said support, which may be a conveyor belt or another conveyor (12).Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 1999Date of Patent: March 6, 2001Assignee: Hitec ASAInventor: Jon Gjedebo
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Patent number: 6105242Abstract: A versatile production system produces different kinds of products in small quantities. The system includes production lines for assembling parts into different kinds of products, testing the assembled products, and conveying the products that have passed the tests to a collective packing terminal. Each production line has a pallet feeder for feeding pallets one by one to the start of the production line. Each production line has a bypass structure. The bypass structure includes a first switcher, a main line, a bypass line, and a second switcher. The first switcher determines whether or not a product conveyed on a pallet must be repaired or tested, and according to the determination, switches the pallet and product from the production line to one of the main and bypass lines. The main line receives pallets and products switched thereto by the first switcher and conveys same.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 1994Date of Patent: August 22, 2000Assignee: Fujitsu LimitedInventors: Kazumi Miyasaka, Eiichi Terabayashi, Katsunao Sasaki, Hiroyoshi Terashima
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Patent number: 5729892Abstract: A first printed board transferred from a prior process on an inlet conveyer is placed on a moving unit at a first switching position. The moving unit moves to a second switching position while mounting the first printed board with electronic components from a component feeding section. During this process, a second printed board stands by at the second switching position via the inlet conveyer, a transit path and an intermediate conveyer. At the second switching position, the second printed board is placed on the moving unit while shunting out the first printed board onto an outlet conveyer for transfer to a subsequent process. The moving unit moves to the first switching position while mounting the second printed board with the electronic components from the component feeding section.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 1996Date of Patent: March 24, 1998Assignee: Nippondenso Co., Ltd.Inventors: Shiniti Umemura, Isao Nagata, Tomoaki Huzii, Takumi Arai
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Patent number: 5692292Abstract: A transfer type circuit board fabricating system having a plurality of working modules each including (a) a conveyor device for transferring circuit boards in a predetermined transfer direction, (b) a working device for performing a predetermined operation on the circuit boards, and (c) a controller constituted principally by a computer, for controlling the working device, wherein the conveyor devices transfer the circuit boards one after another in the predetermined transfer direction through the working devices of the working modules, the system further having a coordinating control device constituted principally by a computer, for controlling the controllers of the working modules, on the basis of predetermined working schedule information stored therein, and status information which is received from the controllers of said working modules and which indicates operating states of the working modules.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 1995Date of Patent: December 2, 1997Assignee: Fuji Machine Mfg. Co., Ltd.Inventors: Koichi Asai, Kunio Oe, Masayuki Shimmura
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Patent number: 5659947Abstract: A device is described for automatically populating the top and bottom side of printed-circuit boards with SMD components, synchronously controllable switching points being arranged in the entry and outlet of the SMD (surface mounted device) insertion device.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 1996Date of Patent: August 26, 1997Assignee: Blaupunkt-Werke GmbHInventors: Norbert Eilers, Ansgar Graen
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Patent number: 5513428Abstract: An automatic assembling apparatus automatically assembles such parts as an engine and a suspension to each work such as a car body conveyed by a conveyor. The system includes a parts truck and a screwing truck. The parts truck can be moved parallel to the conveying path of the conveyor and includes a coupling mechanism for coupling it to the conveyor and an approach truck for approaching the work while carrying the parts. The system further includes a screwing truck which can be moved parallel to the conveying path of the conveyor and includes a coupling mechanism for coupling it to the conveyor and a screwing mechanism for effecting screwing by approaching the work. The parts truck and the screwing truck are coupled to the conveyor and are moved in synchronism with the work. The parts are positioned as the approach truck approaches, and the screwing is effected as the screwing mechanism approaches. The parts are assembled without stop of the work.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 1994Date of Patent: May 7, 1996Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kosuke Shiramizu, Atsushi Niimi, Hidemi Chiba, Tadakazu Inamori, Keiji Yamauchi, Kiyokazu Uruno, Takashi Ito
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Patent number: 5513427Abstract: A system for producing parts/substrate assemblies each of which includes a substrate such as a ceramic substrate and a plurality of parts such as LSIs mounted on the substrate. After the LSIs for one lot of the production have been checked for excess or deficiency, etc. by a collating device, they are formed with solder bumps and then inspected. The LSIs are automatically arranged on empty work pallets as parts kits by a kit setting apparatus, and the work pallets on each of which the corresponding LSIs have been arranged as the parts kit are moved into a stocker. A host computer gives a command for mounting the LSIs on the ceramic substrate on which they can be mounted, on the basis of information indicating the stocked pallet and information indicating the progress of the ceramic substrate. An LSI mounting apparatus reads the serial No. of the introduced ceramic substrate, and requests the stocker to deliver the work pallet on which the associated LSIs have been arranged as the parts kit.Type: GrantFiled: January 12, 1994Date of Patent: May 7, 1996Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi Computer Engineering Co., Ltd.Inventors: Tetsuhiro Yokoyama, Keiji Fujikawa, Yoouichi Fukuoka, Yooichi Fujiwara, Junji Narita, Terumi Saitoo, Hiroo Inoue
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Patent number: 5473810Abstract: An automated machine for attaching a suture to a surgical needle having a suture receiving opening formed therein, and for packaging the same in a package tray comprises a first workstation including a device for sorting a plurality of needles and orienting each needle for automatic feeding to a second swaging workstation, a second workstation including a device for automatically cutting an indefinite length of suture material to a definite length and a device for automatically swaging the needle to close the suture receiving opening about a free end of the suture to secure the suture thereto and form a needle-suture assembly, a needle packaging station including a device for sequentially receiving at least one of the needle-suture assemblies in a package tray in synchronism with the second workstation, the needle packaging station having a device for automatically winding the depending suture portion of the needle-suture assembly into the package tray, a first indexing device for sequentially receiving indivType: GrantFiled: January 13, 1994Date of Patent: December 12, 1995Assignee: Ethicon, Inc.Inventors: David Demarest, Robert B. Duncan, Martin Sobel, Timothy P. Lenihan, William Rattan, John F. Blanch, Michael G. Hodulik, Dennis P. Yost
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Patent number: 5400500Abstract: A method of making an injection and sampling site adapted to receive a blunt cannula. The method comprises providing an elastomeric septum, and a housing adapted to receive that septum; making a slit in the elastomeric septum; inserting the elastomeric septum into the passageway of the housing; and swaging an outer annular ledge on the housing inwardly over the septum until a septum-engaging portion of the swaging tool applies a predetermined amount of force to the septum. Before the swaging step, a pin is inserted into the passageway of the housing against the inside end of the septum to inhibit deformation of the septum during swaging.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 1994Date of Patent: March 28, 1995Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing CompanyInventors: Brett A. Behnke, Gary A. Thill
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Patent number: 5371931Abstract: Software and hardware such as part feeding and assembling devices constituting a production system are simplified with the use of a plurality of processing and assembly integrated units in which processing and assembling of parts are coupled and integrated in accordance with products to be produced. The necessities for an automatic warehouse and an automated ground vehicle are eliminated by getting rid of futility of mere movements of the parts. A fundamental idea is that a production system is constructed of units in which three sections--a section for processing a raw material, a check functional section and an assembling section--are integrally combined in accordance with the products to be produced. The parts are processed, checked and assembled by single units just in time while targeting molded parts of plastic and pressed parts.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 1992Date of Patent: December 13, 1994Assignee: Hitachi Ltd.Inventors: Takeshi Kawana, Toshiyuki Amimoto, Yasuhiro Fujita, Yuuji Enomoto, Tatsuya Niinomi, Sadao Ohara, Shin Hashizume, Yasuo Shibasaki, Tatsuhisa Matsunaga, Takeshi Yano
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Patent number: 5353495Abstract: The present invention relates to a parts supply system applied to a versatile production line, which strives to eliminate manual labor and prevent misdelivery. The parts supply system includes at least one of the product assembling sites (3) on the production line, at least one of the parts supplying sites (4), at least one of the unit assembling sites (5), at which units are assembled from parts delivered from a warehouse and a plurality of sets are arranged with the units, and a delivery means for delivering the set automatically between each of the product assembling sites (3) and each of the parts supplying sites (4) by an automatic carrier (2) or conveyors.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 1993Date of Patent: October 11, 1994Assignee: PFU LimitedInventors: Eiichi Terabayashi, Kazumi Miyasaka, Katsunao Sasaki, Hiroyoshi Terashima, Keisuke Oyanagi, Toshio Sasano
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Patent number: 5329690Abstract: A method of supplying parts in a system for assembling a printed circuit board by mounting the parts on a substrate at corresponding predetermined positions thereof. One or more kinds of substrates and at least one group of parts, to be mounted on the corresponding substrates, are introduced into the system lot by lot. The introduced parts on one or more previously prepared parts containers are placed so as to correspond to the substrates on which the individual parts are to be mounted, thereby providing one or more sets of the parts, each set corresponding to a respective one of the substrates. The sets of parts are supplied to a parts mounting station of the system.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 1992Date of Patent: July 19, 1994Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi Computer Engineering Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yoshihisa Tsuji, Sigeru Ninomiya, Kazuo Kato, Mamoru Kobayashi, Akio Kojima, Hideaki Sasaki, Tetsuhiro Yokoyama
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Patent number: 5271140Abstract: An index-feed machining system having a pilot machining device for sequentially forming pilot portions on a workpiece indexed at predetermined pitches, a pilot guide means engaging with the pilot portions, and a plurality of independent machining means corresponding to a plurality of machining processes; all of these means being sequentially disposed in the feeding direction of workpiece; in which the pilot machining means and the pilot guide means are constructed integrally. The index-feed machining system lends itself to the easy positioning of machining means, and to the manufacture of high-precision products.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 1991Date of Patent: December 21, 1993Assignee: Institute of Technology Precision Electrical Discharge WorksInventors: Shoji Futamura, Kasuo Igarashi
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Patent number: 5191707Abstract: A working line for a rear floor of a vehicle includes a first setting station for setting the rear floor panel on the rear frame, a combining station for combining the rear floor panel to the rear frame, an assembling station for assembling the rear floor by welding the rear wheel housings and the rear panel to the rear floor panel, and a second setting station. They are arranged in the order mentioned from a starting end towards a finishing end of the working line.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 1991Date of Patent: March 9, 1993Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hiroshi Sasamoto, Keizaburo Ohtaki
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Patent number: 5177862Abstract: An automatic assembly system transports workpieces to a work station whereat the workpieces are processed into an assembled product. The automatic assembly system conmprises a monorail that defines a path above the work station. A trolley travels along the monorail supporting a workpiece carrier by means of a pair of latches pivotally connected to the trolley. A lowerator mechanism is mounted to the monorail above the work station. When a trolley stops above the work station, the lowerator mechanism thereat operates to lift the workpiece carrier from the trolly latches. The trolley latches retract and the lower mechanism then lowers the carrier and workpieces to the workstation without lowering the trolley or the monorail. A safety interlock prevents uncontrolled lowering of the carrier and workpieces.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 1990Date of Patent: January 12, 1993Assignee: Giddings & Lewis, Inc.Inventor: James R. Speece
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Patent number: 5143270Abstract: A system for assembling a motorcar vehicle body is divided into a first-floor portion and a second-floor portion. The first-floor portion has a main working line provided with a vehicle body assembling station, a floor panel assembling line, and a floor panel parts working line. The second-floor portion has another floor panel parts working line and a roof panel working line. There are provided apparatuses for charging floor panel consitituting parts worked in the floor panel parts working line disposed on the first-floor portion to a floor panel assembling line, and for lowering floor panel constituting parts worked in the floor panel parts working line disposed on the second-floor portion from the second-floor portion to charge them to the floor panel assembling line so that these constituting parts are combined together in the floor panel assembling line to assemble the floor panel.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 1991Date of Patent: September 1, 1992Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Akio Hamada, Keizaburo Ohtaki, Takashi Kubo, Hiroshi Sasamoto
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Patent number: 5123148Abstract: A hinge pin couples a first hinge receiver mounted on a vehicle body and a second hinge receiver mounted on a door to be installed on the vehicle body. The hinge pin is removed from the vehicle body and the door to separate the vehicle body and the door from each other after the vehicle body and the door have been coated, and the removed pin engages in a hinge pin engaging member. The hinge pin is fed to a position where the vehicle body and the door are to be assembled together, and the hinge pin is removed from the hinge pin engaging member. Then, the removed hinge pin is pressed into the first and second hinge receivers which are aligned with each other, thereby coupling the vehicle body and the door to each other.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 1990Date of Patent: June 23, 1992Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yuzi Ikeda, Shigeo Kaibuki, Shinpei Watanabe, Hiroshi Moriya, Shunji Kobayashi, Mitsugu Takahashi, Shoichi Hayashi, Yukihiro Yaguchi
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Patent number: 5060368Abstract: An apparatus for assembling plastic cases consisting of a male case member and a female case member for cassette tapes comprising a robot for removing the male and female case member for an injection mold to an assembling position and assembling the male and female case members. The robot has an arm having a sucker assembly consisting of an upper sucker seat and a lower sucker seat. A plurality of suckers are provided on the upper and lower sucker seats. The suckers are controlled by a plurality of air cylinders in the upper and lower sucker seats to selectively retain the male and female case members on the sucker seats or release the cases members from the sucker seats. Two parallel, vertical holding arms are respectively provided adjacent to both sides of each sucker seat. Two vertical rails are formed on the arm between the upper sucker seat and the lower sucker seat. The upper sucker seat is movable along the vertical rails under the control of an actuating bar provided on the upper sucker seat.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 1990Date of Patent: October 29, 1991Inventor: Senda Chen
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Patent number: 5052095Abstract: Elongated tubular components are assembled with closures at an assembling station between a first conveyor which delivers properly oriented tubular components and a second conveyor which delivers properly oriented closures. One or more plungers are employed to transfer closures from discrete sockets of the second conveyor onto the adjacent ends of aligned components on the first conveyor. The sockets can receive closures from a web-like carrier which is or can be of one piece with the closures. The transfer of closures from the carrier into the sockets is effected by the pusher or pushers on a transporting device which is driven in synchronism with the second conveyor. The carrier can be drawn from a magazine or is supplied directly by a machine wherein the carrier is formed by providing a strip with a series of spaced-apart closures.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 1990Date of Patent: October 1, 1991Assignee: ManuMatik Produktionssysteme GmbHInventors: Gerhard Heckeler, Adolf Henzler
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Patent number: 5022143Abstract: The invention concerns an installation for finishing window frame assemblies starting from a bare opening frame and a bare fixed frame, each frame comprising grooves and shoulders to receive hardware, external seals, glazing unit spacers, glazing units, beading seals and beading. The installation is formed of two continuous lines of modular stations arranged in two parallel reference planes, the first comprising fixed frame finishing stations and the second comprising opening frame finishing stations. The opening frame finishing line is connected at its downstream end to the fixed frame finishing line by means of a storage and transfer station facing a station for assembling opening frames to fixed frames, itself located in the reference plane, together with the glazing unit fitting and fixing station and the beading fitting station.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 1990Date of Patent: June 11, 1991Assignee: Ferco International Usine de Ferrures de BatimentInventor: Jean-Jacques Kautt
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Patent number: 4934047Abstract: An assembly machine including a drive unit and an assembling unit removably coupled to the drive unit so as to be driven by the drive unit to assemble an assembly such as a torque converter case with an assembly part such as a valve body unit. The machine further includes an assembly part conveyance means for supply the assembly part, an assembling unit housing means for housing a plurality of assembling units, and a changeover conveyance means. The assembly part is conveyed from the assembly part conveyance means to the assembling unit by the changeover conveyance means.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 1989Date of Patent: June 19, 1990Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Tsutomu Maruyama, Hiroshi Ejiri, Akio Ozeki
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Patent number: 4930213Abstract: When transferring a vehicle body which is through with coating to a hanger of an overhead conveyor of a vehicle body assembly line, doors are first removed from the vehicle body and thereafter the vehicle body with the doors removed is transferred to the hanger.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 1988Date of Patent: June 5, 1990Assignee: Mazda Motor CorporationInventors: Hiroshi Hayakawa, Hiroaki Maenishi, Kazuo Okamoto
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Patent number: 4852327Abstract: The invention relates to a machine comprising an apparatus for assembling a container for an optically readable disc-shaped information carrier. The container comprises a bottom section, a cover section, a bottom insertion-card, a cover leaflet, and a tray. The disc-shaped information carrier is detachably retained in the tray. During assembly the bottom section serves as an assembly base. In order to load the disc-shaped information carrier into a tray without the remainder of the container, the machine is provided with an auxiliary bottom section which is secured to the apparatus and in principle has the same dimensions as a container bottom section, so that a tray can be placed in the auxiliary bottom section and after it has been loaded with a disc-shaped information tray, can be removed as a unit from the auxiliary bottom section.Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 1987Date of Patent: August 1, 1989Assignee: Philips and DuPont Optical CompanyInventors: Frank Kurkowski, Manfred Lucht
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Patent number: 4827598Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 1988Date of Patent: May 9, 1989Assignee: Mazda Motor CorporationInventors: Shunji Sakamoto, Tuyosi Watanabe
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Patent number: 4793055Abstract: An assembly line arrangement for producing a vehicle comprises a body assembly line including a door removing station for detaching at least one door from a vehicle body fed thereto with the door, a door mounting station located at the lower course of the line compared with the door removing station for attaching the door fed thereto to the vehicle body from which the door is detached, and a body conveying device for transporting the vehicle body through the door removing station and the door mounting station successively; and a door subassembly line including a door equipping station located in the vicinity of the door mounting station for equipping the door detached from the vehicle body with door parts, and a door conveying device for transporting the door detached from the vehicle body at the door removing station to the door equipping station and further transporting the door equipped with the door parts at the door equipping station to the door mounting station.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 1986Date of Patent: December 27, 1988Assignee: Mazda Motor CorporationInventor: Katsuhiro Shintani
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Patent number: 4757607Abstract: (a) This installation comprises means for positioning and holding car body parts and devices for welding these parts to one another. (b) This installation is characterized in that it comprises a rigid, fixed stand (1) provided in its upper part with a horizontal conveyor track (11) for carriages (12) referred to as upper carriages each having elements for positioning and holding components of the upper part of a particular car body model of the motor vehicle, and provided in its lower part with a lift (8,10) containing centering devices cooperating with the components of the lower part of a type of motor vehicle body, which lower part is common to several models.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 1986Date of Patent: July 19, 1988Assignee: Sciaky S.A.Inventors: Mario Sciaky, Jean-Jacques Marianne, Pierre Jablonski, Michel Leonard
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Patent number: 4555838Abstract: The present disclosure relates to self-piercing fasteners, such as studs, bolts or nuts, the method of attaching such fasteners to a panel and fastener installation apparatus, including the installation head and die button. The fastener includes a self-piercing and riveting annular wall which is driven into a panel supported against a die member by the installation head. The die member includes an annular die cavity surrounding a central projecting die portion which is telescopically receivable in the free open end of the fastener annular wall. The free end of the fastener annular wall includes a piercing surface which mates with a piercing surface at the outer edge of the projecting die portion to pierce a slug from the panel.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 1983Date of Patent: December 3, 1985Assignee: Multifastener Corp.Inventor: Rudolph R. M. Muller
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Patent number: 4553309Abstract: A method is disclosed of using a robot with a single fixture to install a headliner in a vehicle body on an assembly line wherein both the configuration of the vehicle body and the material and/or color as well as the configuration of the headliner vary and are combined at an assembly station.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 1984Date of Patent: November 19, 1985Assignee: General Motors CorporationInventors: Edward C. Hess, Edward Trevino
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Patent number: 4543701Abstract: A method of attaching a metal fastener, such as a stud-bolt, to a panel. The fastener includes a self-piercing annular projecting wall defining a recess having a bottom wall and an inner side wall defined by the annular wall. The method includes locating the fastener adjacent a panel with the self-piercing end portion facing the panel opposite a die member. The fastener is then forced toward the die member, such that the annular wall pierces a slug from the panel into the central recess and against the bottom wall. The die member simultaneously deforms the distal end of the annular wall outwardly and the pierced panel edge is deformed from the plane of the panel against the external surface of the annular wall, interlocking the panel and fastener.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 1983Date of Patent: October 1, 1985Assignee: Multifastener CorporationInventor: Rudolf R. M. Muller
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Patent number: 4523377Abstract: A baby bottle top assembler automatically assembles nipple, collar and hood cap components into a unitary structure. Nipple, collar and hood feeders serially supply the cap components to pickup points. The feeders each include a hopper for holding the cap components, a conveyor for removing the cap components from the hopper and a magazine assembly for serially feeding the cap components to the pickup points adjacent the assembly wheel. Pickup pins pass the pickup points and first engage a nipple, then a collar and finally a hood. The components are snapped together into a unitary structure by a pinch roller. The unitary nipple/collar/hood assembly is removed from the pickup pin by an assembly stripper having fingers which engage under the nipple/collar/hood assembly forcing it off the pickup pin.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 1983Date of Patent: June 18, 1985Assignee: Gerber Products CompanyInventors: Barry Spletzer, George J. Swiatlowski, Maurice W. Brandt
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Patent number: 4509252Abstract: A method and apparatus for assembling battery components including a battery case (10) having a plurality of divider walls (32) defining a plurality of side-by-side cell spaces (26,27,28,29,30,31) opening through a top portion of the case. A plurality of intermediate cell elements (34,35,36,37) are provided in the cell spaces intermediate the end cell spaces (26,31) and end cell elements (38,39) having terminal post portions (101) are inserted in the end cell spaces (26,31). The apparatus effects an automatic pickup of the cell elements at one or more insert stations from delivery conveyors (19,20) suitably positions the picked-up cell elements for proper polarity relationship in the inserted disposition within the battery case, and after moving the picked-up cell elements to overlying relationship with the battery case, inserts the cell elements automatically into the proper cell spaces.Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 1982Date of Patent: April 9, 1985Assignee: GNB Batteries Inc.Inventors: Anthony Sabatino, Eugene F. Stanefski, Ronald N. Romanchuk, Edward G. Schaumburg
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Patent number: 4345963Abstract: An apparatus and method for placing component parts on the ends of flexible tubing which is employed in an I.V. administration set. Flexible tubing is continuously supplied in a rectilinear manner and cut into predetermined lengths. These lengths have the ends thereof moved in a substantially transverse manner with respect to the original direction. Each end is then placed in a solvent-type solution and subsequently into a cavity of a component part. All of the foregoing functions are accomplished continuously and automatically in a device which employs a conveyor system for the cut tubing and a separate conveyor system for the component parts. The conveyors travel over a substantial elliptical pathway and along a horizontal axis. The upper conveyor is positioned with respect to the lower conveyor such that their pathways overlap a substantial distance. The upper conveyor provides a multiplicity of carrier members to which are fed and positioned predetermined cut lengths of flexible tubing.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 1981Date of Patent: August 24, 1982Assignee: Abbott LaboratoriesInventor: Robert J. Braber
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Patent number: 4320575Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus intended for use in manufacturing candles of a type comprising an open container with candle wax composition, wick and wick holder. The invention is particularly related to wick advancing means and mating means in an apparatus for manufacturing such candles.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 1980Date of Patent: March 23, 1982Inventor: Lars H. Karlsson
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Patent number: 4210091Abstract: An automatic machine for continuously producing tinned strap caps fitted with a tear opening device, characterized by comprising a disc rotating about its axis at a constant speed, including a central portion and an outer circular crown, the latter being provided with a first plurality of supporting elements or lower slides, only radially movable to receive the caps supplied by a shaped double blade magazine, and a second plurality of supporting elements or upper slides, also only radially movable, to receive the tear opening devices supplied by a second double blade magazine, said crown being also provided with a plurality of passage holes, through which each of the tear elements are positioned on the corresponding cap, the central portion carrying a plurality of joining members only vertically movable, further characterized in that the radial movement for the lower slides adjacent the cap dispenser or magazine is controlled by a flat metal cam-shaped guide, during the movement of the rotable disc, drive rolType: GrantFiled: April 12, 1978Date of Patent: July 1, 1980Inventor: Mario Erba
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Patent number: 4092771Abstract: Casting ladle gate valves of the type which are designed to be installed and removed from the ladle as a unit, are rebuilt in a work area which includes a disassembly station, a first assembly line including a revolving table for renewing the movable slide parts and a second assembly line including a revolving table for renewing the slide housings, and reassembling the slide parts, slide housings and clamping lids into renewed gate valve units. By preference, the disassembly station, both revolving tables and a conveyor for carrying the units to the work area from the foundry or steel work, and back are served by a slewing crane.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 1977Date of Patent: June 6, 1978Assignee: Metacon AGInventors: Bernhard Tinnes, Franz Ruckstuhl
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Patent number: 4049389Abstract: A method and apparatus for assembling an aerosol valve which are intended to assemble a valve made up of a valve body, a spring, a stem, a sealing disk and valve cap. In assembling the valve, two vertically disposed sets formed in sequence are indicated by a first "sealing disk-valve cap" set and a second "valve body-spring-stem" set. The sets are disposed one above the other so that their original orientation is retained, and are brought together so as to place the components into a specified position relative to each other in the valve, then the sets are interlocked by deforming the valve cap. In the apparatus employing the method, namely in a mechanism for bringing the sets together, a tip adapted to grip, transfer and dispose the first set above the second one is provided. By virtue of such an arrangement, the assembling of valves involves a minimum of operations and a high-capacity apparatus has been developed.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 1976Date of Patent: September 20, 1977Inventors: Ijun Iosifovich Grinberg, Evgeny Kuzmich Zhukov, Lev Nikolaevich Koshkin