| Patent Number |
Title Of Patent |
Date Issued |
| 7217073 |
Broach tool holding system, broach tool, and method for mounting the broach tool |
May 15, 2007 |
| A broach tool holding system (20) includes a pair of locator pins (46) rotatably mounted on a tool holder plate (36) to facilitate mounting and detachment of an associated broach tool (34). The broach tool (34) has a pair of locating openings (62) each of which has a locating hole (64) |
| 7143494 |
Method and apparatus for assembling exterior automotive vehicle body components onto an automoti |
December 5, 2006 |
| The present invention generally relates to a method and programmable apparatus for the assembly of body components to an automotive body that has undergone a progressive series of framing and welding steps so as to produce a structurally rigid body frame, termed a body-in-white. More |
| 7117706 |
Programmable apparatus and method for body panel attachment |
October 10, 2006 |
| A method and apparatus for forming attachment pads in an inner body panel for the precise attachment of an outer body panel thereto. The apparatus positions a fixed anvil at a predefined net reference position while a face plate simultaneously "finds" the panel and is mechanically locked |
| 7100260 |
Programmable apparatus and method for body panel and clinch nut attachment |
September 5, 2006 |
| A method and apparatus for forming attachment pads on a panel for attachment of a clinch nut thereto. The panel is formed between a forming die and a fixed anvil, which occupies a predefined net reference position. A face plate simultaneously "finds" the panel and is mechanically loc |
| 6971175 |
Assembly line and method for vehicle body manufacturing |
December 6, 2005 |
| A vehicle body assembly line (10) and method for assembling vehicle bodies utilizes electromagnetic gauging apparatus (44) to generate production gauge data of an assembly of formed sheet metal components, and an electrical controller (38) compares the production gauge data to design |
| 6886574 |
Sheet metal washer including tank assembly and washer cassette mounted on the tank assembly |
May 3, 2005 |
| A sheet metal washer system for cleaning metal blanks includes a washer cassette with an open bottom that is selectively mounted on a tank assembly, a drive motor assembly and a filter assembly. The washer cassette includes an inlet opening and an exit opening with upper and lower en |
| 6802324 |
Sheet metal washer having washer cassette mountable on tank |
October 12, 2004 |
| A sheet metal washer system for cleaning metal blanks includes a washer cassette with an open bottom that is selectively mounted on a tank assembly, a drive motor assembly and a filter assembly. The washer cassette includes an inlet opening and an exit opening with upper and lower en |
| 6711800 |
Method and apparatus for attaching a body panel to an automotive vehicle frame |
March 30, 2004 |
| An improved method and apparatus for attaching vehicle doors to a body such that the doors are attachable without further adjustment. A net body coordinate system is established for a welded vehicle frame, and upper and lower locating slots are pierced in hinge pillars of the vehicle fra |
| 6701945 |
Sheet metal blank washer system |
March 9, 2004 |
| A sheet metal washer system for cleaning metal blanks includes a washer cassette with an open bottom that is selectively mounted on a tank assembly, a drive motor assembly and a filter assembly. The washer cassette includes an inlet opening and an exit opening with upper and lower en |
| 6691392 |
Method and apparatus for assembling exterior automotive vehicle body components onto an automoti |
February 17, 2004 |
| The present invention generally relates to a method and apparatus for the assembly of body components to an automotive body that has undergone a progressive series of framing and welding steps so as to produce a structurally rigid body frame, termed a body-in-white. More specifically, |
| 6648568 |
Linear blind broaching machine |
November 18, 2003 |
| A linear blind broaching machine (10) includes a base (22), a broaching ram assembly (24), a linear tool slide (26) supported on the base by linear antifriction bearings (90) and a support block (92) mounted between the base and the linear tool slide below a broaching ram of the broachin |
| 6629354 |
Apparatus for immobilizing a frame structure in its free state to establish a net datum position |
October 7, 2003 |
| An apparatus for finding and immobilizing a vehicle chassis frame in its free state to form a net datum position in the design-intent position. The chassis frame is positioned between a plurality of opposed pads. The opposed pads are advanced from a retracted position to an advanced |
| 6457231 |
Assembly line having transversely movable multiple part trays |
October 1, 2002 |
| An assembly line (14) having particular utility for use in assembling sheet metal parts includes a work station (18) having one or more production part trays (32, 34), a pilot part tray (36) and an indexer (38) that indexes these part trays in a transverse direction to a direction of |
| 6348001 |
Power transmission member |
February 19, 2002 |
| A power transmission member (20) is provided by a spline rolling method and apparatus (36) that includes a pair of racks (38) for providing splines (24) with ends (34) opposing each other in a precisely spaced relationship at an annular groove (30) that is utilized to provide snap ring o |
| 6301945 |
Rack slide assembly and machine for rolling splines in a round workpiece |
October 16, 2001 |
| A machine (10) incorporates slide assemblies (12) for adjusting the spacing between toothed forming racks (14) supported by the slide assemblies to roll form splines in a workpiece (16). Each slide assembly (12) includes a main slide (78) supported for movement on an associated base port |
| 6256857 |
Tool holder |
July 10, 2001 |
| A tool retention apparatus for retaining a cutting tool in a tool holder which has a wedged shaped securing arrangement to hold the cutting tool against a pair of precision ground supports. The securing member provides both a vertical securing force and a radial location of the cutting t |
| 6250123 |
Method, apparatus and rack for making power transmission member |
June 26, 2001 |
| A power transmission member (20) is provided by a spline rolling method and apparatus (36) that includes a pair of racks (38) for providing splines (24) with ends (34) opposing each other in a precisely spaced relationship at an annular groove (30) that is utilized to provide snap ring o |
| 5987953 |
Power transmission formation rolling machine having movable headstock and tailstock spindle supp |
November 23, 1999 |
| A machine (20) for rolling power transmission formations in a workpiece includes a base (22) having spaced base portions (30) and a rear connecting base portion (32) extending between the spaced base portions which project forwardly therefrom to define a workspace (34). A headstock s |
| 5983690 |
Machine having antifriction support for forming racks for rolling power transmission formations |
November 16, 1999 |
| A machine (20) for rolling power transmission formations in a workpiece includes a base (20) having a pair of spaced base portions (30), headstock and tailstock spindle supports (48,52) that cooperate to mount the workpiece for rotation about a rotational axis of the machine and a pair |
| 5970768 |
Machine base for supporting vertical movement of forming racks for rolling power transmission fo |
October 26, 1999 |
| A machine (20) for rolling power transmission formations in a workpiece includes a base (20) having a lower end (24) for providing support thereof in an upwardly standing orientation. The base (22) includes a pair of spaced base portions (30) and a rear connecting base portion (32). The |
| 5919015 |
Mechanical drive for a blind spline broaching machine |
July 6, 1999 |
| A mechanical drive linkage for a blind spline broaching machine wherein a rotary motion provided by a servo driven helical ball or roller screw is converted to a linear reciprocal motion of a ram through the use of a kite link and a pivot link that as a part of their motion communicate w |
| 5878642 |
Tool holder |
March 9, 1999 |
| A tool retention apparatus for retaining a cutting tool in a tool holder which has a wedged shaped securing arrangement to hold the cutting tool against a pair of precision ground supports. The securing member provides both a vertical securing force and a radial location of the cutting t |
| 5682658 |
Rotary index table assembly |
November 4, 1997 |
| A rotary index table assembly including an annular positioning mechanism (22) that cooperates with a lift mechanism (140) to accurately position a rotary index table (14) on a base (12). The annular positioning mechanism (22) includes a base mounted crown gear (24), a table mounted crown |
| 5635808 |
Method and system for controlling the motion of a rotary drive of a rotary index table assembly |
June 3, 1997 |
| Method and system are provided for controllably driving a rotary drive of a rotary index table assembly utilizing a PLC which receives various sensor signals including a feedback signal from a resolver to generate a reference central signal which, in turn, is used by a positioning drive |
| 5542317 |
Rotary index table assembly |
August 6, 1996 |
| A rotary index table assembly including an annular positioning mechanism (22) that cooperates with an air bearing (30) to accurately position a rotary index table (14) on a base (12). The annular positioning mechanism (22) includes a base mounted crown gear (24), a table mounted crown ge |
| 5536136 |
Mechanical loader |
July 16, 1996 |
| A mechanical loading device capable of generating a substantially rectilinear output motion for the purpose of transporting workpieces between work stations. The mechanical loading device is capable of producing the rectilinear output motion such that a workpiece is lifted, transferr |
| 5450771 |
Rotary index table assembly |
September 19, 1995 |
| A rotary index table assembly including an annular positioning mechanism (22) that cooperates with an air bearing (30) to accurately position a rotary index table (14) on a base (12). The annular positioning mechanism (22) includes a base mounted crown gear (24), a table mounted crown ge |
| 5439091 |
Reciprocating lift mechanism |
August 8, 1995 |
| The present invention teaches a method and apparatus for a single stroke kinematic system, having a required mid stroke dwell, which permits positioning of the mid stroke dwell with respect to both space and time. A four bar linkage mechanism is disclosed having a bottom stroke and a top |
| 5352068 |
Broach apparatus |
October 4, 1994 |
| A shell-type internal broach assembly including a number of annular insert mounting shells interleaved with a number of annular spacers, and mounted on an arbor. The annular insert mounting shells are sufficiently short so as to permit the use of travelling-wire EDM manufacturing methods |
| 5320208 |
Reciprocating lift mechanism |
June 14, 1994 |
| The present invention teaches method and apparatus for a single stroke kinematic system, having a required mid stroke dwell, which permits positioning of the mid stroke dwell with respect to both space and time. A four bar linkage mechanism is disclosed having a bottom stroke and a top |
| 5315750 |
Loading/unloading system for broaching machine |
May 31, 1994 |
| A blind spline broaching machine for machining splines as well as sprockets, keyways, gears, cams and contours on workpieces, such as shafts. The blind spline broaching machine of the preferred embodiment has dual rams reciprocable relative to a rotary dial. The rams hold a correspon |
| 5215414 |
Pot type broach assembly |
June 1, 1993 |
| A pot type broach assembly having a plurality of tool holders serially connected to each other. Each tool holder has a plurality of sub-holder slots and a plurality of pilot slots equally spaced about an inner surface. The sub-holder slots and pilot slots are longitudinally aligned. |
| 5174489 |
Electrically-driven cam-actuated tool clamp |
December 29, 1992 |
| A mechanical clamping device adapted to engage and secure the upper tooling of a welding knee. The clamping device is motor driven such that several clamping devices can be simultaneously and synchronously operated to engage, align and secure the upper tooling from a remote location. The |
| 5095618 |
Mechanical force enhancer |
March 17, 1992 |
| A mechanical force enhancer for the amplification of a force generated by a pneumatic cylinder that is mounted at one end of a pair of spaced apart side plates. A piston rod attached to the pneumatic cylinder is in turn connected to a translatable link that is guided partially by complem |
| 5083355 |
Hemming apparatus |
January 28, 1992 |
| An apparatus and method for forming a hem on an edge of a sheet metal member including an anvil attached to a columnar support structure that also includes a cantilevered bracket that is the support for a movable hemmer bracket to which a hemming steel is attached. By the utilization of |
| 5076090 |
Dual action equalizing apparatus |
December 31, 1991 |
| An apparatus for providing a reciprocating motion. The apparatus has a housing block that contains twin piston guides in spaced apart relationship to one another. The piston guides each contain a piston that has a gear rack. The gear racks are connected by a pinion gear so that the m |
| 5072506 |
Position seeking apparatus |
December 17, 1991 |
| An apparatus for locating a reference target on a partially assembled structure such as an automobile body frame. The apparatus has a base support structure for rigid mounting to a floor member, a transfer platform is attached to the base structure so that the transfer platform has f |
| 5033555 |
Fluid cylinder powered tool |
July 23, 1991 |
| An apparatus for providing a reciprocating motion. The apparatus has a housing block that contains two movable arms in spaced apart relationship to one another. The movable arms are each controlled by independently attached fluid driven actuator cylinders that are mounted externally of |
| 5027909 |
Tool holding apparatus |
July 2, 1991 |
| An apparatus for providing a reciprocating motion. The apparatus has a housing block that contains two movable arms in spaced apart relationship to one another. The movable arms each contain a rack gear connected to a common pinion gear. One movable arm is driven by a fluid actuated |
| 4998332 |
Method for body panel attachment |
March 12, 1991 |
| A method and apparatus for establishing a precisely predetermined location relative to a surface. A reforming tool has a main body, tapered portion, a shank and a tip having a point. The reforming tool is attached to a base having provision for rotating and reciprocating the reforming to |
| 4993295 |
Punch stripper |
February 19, 1991 |
| A punch stripper is formed with an axially aligned aperture extending therethrough so that the punch stripper can be installed on the shaft of a punch. The punch stripper includes a cylindrical housing with a plunger telescoped within an axially aligned bore. An array of spring elements |
| 4976026 |
Method and apparatus of establishing the position of a datum reference from an object having dim |
December 11, 1990 |
| A device for locating a datum reference on a partially assembled structural object, such as an automobile body frame. The device has a base structure for rigid mounting to a floor member, a transfer platform is attached to the base structure so that the transfer platform has freedom of m |
| 4934226 |
Socket driver tool |
June 19, 1990 |
| A socket tool for multi-faced fasteners such as nuts, bolts, and the like, having at least one resiliently biased rollably mounted retainer pin which interacts with at least one face of the multi-faced fastener to keep the multi-faced fastener received by the socket of the socket tool in |
| 4932128 |
Mechanical force enhancer |
June 12, 1990 |
| A mechanical force enhancer for the amplification of a force generated by a pneumatic cylinder that is mounted at one end of a pair of spaced apart side plates. A piston rod attached to the pneumatic cylinder is in turn connected to a translatable link that is guided partially by complem |
| 4928388 |
Single station hemming tooling |
May 29, 1990 |
| A single station hemming device for hemming the upstanding peripheral flange of an outer element to overlie the periphery of an inner element to thereby join the outer element to the inner element. The hemming device has a series of hemming tools positioned end-to-end around the peripher |
| 4884431 |
Apparatus for body panel attachment |
December 5, 1989 |
| A pad forming device for forming attachment pads in an automotive inner body panel element to provide for the attachment of an outer body panel to the inner body panel. The outer body panel must be attached at a precise location and the inner body panel element is not as precisely positi |
| 4813125 |
Method and apparatus for establishing the position of a datum reference from an object having di |
March 21, 1989 |
| A device for locating a datum reference on a partially assembled structural object, such as an automobile body frame. The device has a base structure for rigid mounting to a floor member, a transfer platform is attached to the base structure so that the transfer platform has freedom of m |
| 4760633 |
Method for body panel attachment |
August 2, 1988 |
| A pad forming device for forming attachment pads in an automotive inner body panel element to provide for the attachment of an outer body panel to the inner body panel. The outer body panel must be attached at a precise location and the inner body panel element is not as precisely positi |
