Citation
(2006), "Flexible automotive assembly line method", Assembly Automation, Vol. 26 No. 2. https://doi.org/10.1108/aa.2006.03326bad.009
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2006, Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Flexible automotive assembly line method
Applicant: Oldford Keith A. (US);Dugas Michael R. (US); Kilibarda Velibor (US);Kaufman Alan S. (US); Johnson Karl G. (US)Patent number: US2004216983Publication date: 4 November 2004
An apparatus for assembling an automotive body on an assembly line having a right-hand body subassembly line, a left-hand body subassembly line and an underbody subassembly line, for delivery to a pallet transport system for movement through a body framing subassembly line. The apparatus includes an overhead transport system for transporting automotive components along at least one of the subassembly lines and for conveying the automotive components along a pallet transport system on the body framing subassembly line. The overhead transport system includes a trolley movable along a single overhead rail, a carriage slidably movable relative to the trolley, and a plurality of antler nests. Each antler nest is individually engageable with the carriage. The apparatus also includes a lowerator for transferring components from the overhead transport system to a geometry fixture at a workstation along the subassembly line. The workstation along the subassembly line can include a plurality of geometry fixtures that are exchangeable at a ready position of the workstation.