Vehicle framing system for plurality of vehicle body styles

Abstract

A method for randomly interchanging up to four pairs of side framing gates at a framing station of a vehicle for randomly interchanging up to four pairs of side framing gates at a framing station of a vehicle assembly line while maintaining a predetermined build cycle time interval of the assembly line. The method includes positioning first and second carousels on opposite sides of the assembly line upstream of the framing station and third and fourth carousels on opposite sides of the production line downstream of the framing station. The method further includes providing a first linear track structure extending from the first carousel to a first side of the framing station, a second linear track structure extending from the second carousel to a second, opposite side of the framing station, a third linear track structure extending from the third carousel to the first side of the framing station, a third linear track structure extending from the third carousel to the first side of the framing station, and a fourth linear track structure extending from the fourth carousel to the second side of the framing station. The carousel are provided with at least two sides, possibly three sides, four sides or more, each side capable of receiving a framing gate. The method includes randomly interchanging framing gates positioned at the framing station by a combination of rotary movements of the carousels and linear movements of framing gates along the linear track structures.

1 . A method of body framing on a vehicle assembly line in which loosely pre-assembled vehicle bodies are moved incrementally along a single assembly line from station to station, successive loosely pre-assembled vehicle bodies arrive at a framing station along the assembly line at predetermined build cycle time intervals, and each loosely pre-assembled vehicle body arriving at the framing station is welded to form a rigid vehicle body, the method for body framing comprising the steps of:
 positioning a plurality of more than three pairs of opposed side framing gates at opposite sides of the framing station for use in welding a respective plurality of more than three vehicle body styles allowing random production of the plurality of more than three vehicle body styles on the single assembly line; and   randomly exchanging with a transfer apparatus assembly any of the plurality of pairs of side framing gates positioned at the framing station with any other of the plurality of pairs of side framing gates within the predetermined build cycle time interval to allow the random production interchange of the more than three vehicle body styles on the single assembly line while maintaining the predetermined build cycle time interval.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the randomly exchanging step with the transfer apparatus assembly includes the step of coacting a rotary transfer apparatus with a linear transfer apparatus. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising the step of:
 delivering framing gates with the rotary transfer apparatus to the linear transfer apparatus for delivery to the framing station.   
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising the steps of:
 positioning first and second carousels on the rotary transfer apparatus of on opposite sides of the assembly line upstream of the framing station; and   positioning third and fourth carousels on the rotary transfer apparatus on opposite sides of the assembly line downstream of the framing station.   
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising the steps of:
 providing a first linear track system of the linear transfer apparatus extending from the first carousel to a first side of the framing station;   providing a second linear track structure of the linear transfer apparatus extending from the second carousel to a second, opposite side of the framing station;   providing a third linear track structure of the linear transfer apparatus extending from the third carousel to the first side of the framing station; and   providing a fourth linear track structure of the linear transfer apparatus extending from the fourth carousel to the second side of the framing station.   
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising the step of:
 selectively receiving a framing gate on at least one side of at least one of the first, second, third, and fourth carousels, each carousel having a polygonal configuration including at least two sides, each side capable of receiving a framing gate.   
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising the steps of:
 providing the plurality of more than three pairs of opposed side framing gates to include four pairs of framing gates;   providing each carousel with three sides;   positioning a first pair of the four pairs of framing gates on opposite sides of the framing station;   positioning a second pair of the four pairs of framing gates on respective first sides of the first and second carousels;   positioning a third pair of the four pairs of framing gates on respective second sides of the first and second carousels;   positioning a fourth pair of the four pairs of framing gates on respective first sides of the third and fourth carousels; and   randomly interchanging all of the pairs of framing gates by at least one of linear gate movements along the linear track structures and a combination of rotary movements of the carousels and linear gate movements along the linear track structures.   
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising the steps of:
 providing a base structure;   providing a first pair of spaced pillars mounted on the base structure on the first side of the framing station; and   providing a second pair of spaced pillars mounted on the base structure on the second side of the framing station;   moving the first and second pairs of pillars on the base structure between outboard positions spaced outwardly from the assembly line and inboard positions proximate the assembly line, the first pair of pillars in its outboard position linearly aligned with the first and third linear track structures, and the second pair of pillars in its outboard position linearly aligned with the second and fourth linear track structures;   delivering the framing gates to the respective pillar pairs along the respective linear track structures with the pillar pairs in the outboard positions; and   thereafter moving the pillar pairs to the inboard positions to position the framing gates proximate the assembly line for clampingly engaging loosely preassembled vehicle bodies preparatory to welding operations.   
   
   
       9 . A method for use in delivering framing gates to a framing station on a vehicle body assembly line, the carousel comprising the steps of:
 providing a base structure positioned proximate the assembly line and including a support surface and a central pivot shaft upstanding from the support surface;   providing a carousel body supported on the support surface, mounted on the pivot shaft for rotary movement about the axis of the shaft, and defining a plurality of sides, each side adapted to receive a framing gate;   generating an air cushion between the support surface and an underface of the carousel body to lift the carousel body off of the support surface; and   applying a turning force to the carousel body to rotate the body about the central axis to bring successive sides of the body into a position proximate the assembly line.   
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the air cushion generating step further comprises the step of providing a plurality of air bags positioned on the underface of the carousel body and each air bag including a plurality of apertures in confronting relation to the support surface allowing pressurized air delivered to the air bags to inflate the bags to raise the carousel body off of the support surface and air escaping from the air bags through the apertures to generate an air cushion between the air bags and the support surface. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the air cushion generating step further comprises the step of providing air bags positioned in circumferentially spaced relation about the central axis of the pivot shaft. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 10  intended for use with a linear track structure having one end positioned proximate the framing station and a free end, and further comprising the step of:
 supporting a respective framing gate on a carousel track structure located on each side of the carousel body and configured to be aligned with the free end of the linear track structure as the respective side of the carousel body is moved into a position proximate the assembly line allowing the framing gate to be slid off the carousel track structure and onto the linear track structure for delivery to the framing station.   
   
   
       13 . A method for use in delivering framing gates to a framing station on a vehicle body assembly line, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a linear track structure having one end positioned proximate the framing station and a free end;   providing a carousel positioned proximate the assembly line, defining a plurality of sides each adapted to receive a framing gate, and mounted for rotation about a central axis to bring successive sides of the carousel into a position proximate the free end of the track structure and in linear alignment with the track structure; and   moving a framing gate positioned on a side of the carousel in alignment with the track structure from the carousel side, onto the track structure, and along the track structure to the framing station with a transfer device.   
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising the step of:
 engaging a framing gate with a trolley operative to move the framing gate along the track structure to the framing station.   
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising the step of:
 supporting a framing gate positioned on the respective side of the carousel, wherein each side of the carousel includes a carousel track structure configured to be aligned with the free end of the linear track structure as the respective side of the carousel is moved into a position proximate the free end of the linear track structure.   
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising the steps of:
 latching a framing gate to a respective side of the carousel with a first latch device;   supporting the carousel with a base structure;   latching the carousel to the base structure with a second latch device; and   actuating the second latch device with a latch control device operative in response to arrival of a carousel side at a position proximate the free end of the linear track structure to latch the carousel to the base structure and releasing the first latch device to release the framing gate from the carousel and allow the trolley to move the released framing gate along the linear track structure to the framing station.   
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising the step of:
 operating a third latch device to latch the trolley to a framing gate, the third latch device actuated prior to release of the first latch device and following engagement of the second latch device, and wherein the first latch device is released following engagement of the third latch device to allow the trolley to move the released framing gate to the framing station.   
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising the steps of:
 defining a support surface with the base structure;   generating an air cushion between the support surface and an underface of the carousel to lift the carousel off of the support surface; and   applying a turning force to the lifted carousel to rotate the carousel about the central axis to bring successive sides of the carousel into position proximate the free end of the track structure and in linear alignment with the track structure.   
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising the step of releasing the second latch, wherein the second latch device is released following the air cushion generating step, thereafter the applying turning force step is actuated to bring a respective side of the carousel carrying a respective framing gate into alignment with the linear track structure, thereafter the second linear latch device actuating step is actuated to latch the carousel to the base structure, thereafter the third latch device operating step is actuated to latch the trolley to the respective framing gate, thereafter the framing gate latching step is actuated so that the first latch device is released to release the respective framing gate from the carousel, and thereafter actuating the trolley to move the respective framing gate to the framing station. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising the step of deactivating the air cushion generating step to lower the carousel back down to the support surface prior to actuation of the trolley to move the respective framing gate to the framing station. 
   
   
       21 . A method for use in delivering framing gates to a framing station on a vehicle body assembly line, the transfer apparatus comprising the steps of:
 positioning a linear track structure having one end proximate the framing station and a free end;   moving a carousel positioned proximate the assembly line, defining a plurality of sides each adapted to receive a framing gate, to bring the carousel into a position proximate the free end of the track structure and in linear alignment with the track structure; and   operating a transfer device operative to move a framing gate positioned on a side of the carousel in alignment with the track structure from the carousel side, onto the track structure, and along the track structure to the framing station.   
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising the step of operating a trolley operative to engage a framing gate and move the gate along the track structure to the framing station. 
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising the step of supporting a framing gate, wherein each side of the carousel includes a carousel track structure for supporting a framing gate positioned on the respective side of the carousel and configured to be aligned with the free end of the linear track structure as the respective side of the carousel is moved into a position proximate the free end of the linear track structure. 
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 23  further comprising the step of:
 latching a framing gate to a respective side of the carousel with a first latch device;   supporting the carousel with a base structure;   latching the carousel to the base structure with a second latch device; and   actuating the second latch device with a latch control device operative in response to arrival of a carousel side at a position proximate the free end of the linear track structure to latch the carousel to the base structure and release the first latch device to release the framing gate from the carousel and allow the trolley to move the released framing gate along the linear track structure to the framing station.   
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 24  further comprising the step of,
 actuating a third latch device to latch the trolley to a framing gate, the third latch device actuated prior to release of the first latch device and following engagement of the second latch device, and wherein the first latch device is released following engagement of the third latch device to allow the trolley to move the released framing gate to the framing station.