Methods and systems for installing a plug into an aperture of an article are provided, such as drain hole in an electrocoated vehicle floor pan. A robot system used herein includes a robot and a tool, where the tool includes a plug reservoir, a sensor, and an actuator. The sensor is configured to detect the aperture of the article and the actuator is configured to place one of the plugs from the plug reservoir into the aperture. The robot system can include a tool change nest, where the plug reservoir can be received with the tool change nest and the removed from a remainder of the tool. Quick change of plug reservoirs using the present technology improves operation speed and use of one or more tool change nests can reload and/or reconfigure the robot system for plugging various apertures with minimized input or interaction.

An automated grommet installer and methods of installing a grommet. The installer and methods are capable of seating a grommet in an aperture of a window and facilitating correct alignment of the grommet within the window. Grommets are used to support and seal around a window wiper attached to a window. Typically, grommets are asymmetrical to match the curvature of the window. Embodiments of the described installer maintain grommet orientation while inserting the grommet in the window, quickly and efficiently installing the grommet. In embodiments the installer includes a system for identifying an incorrectly loaded grommet prior to installation and alerting an operator. In other embodiments, the installer includes a positioner that positions the grommet proximate to the window for installation and a gripper having one or more fingers reach through the window aperture, engage the grommet, and draw it into position, seated in the window.

An optical assembly includes a combination of laser sources emitting radiation, focused by a combination of lenses into optical waveguides. The optical waveguide and the laser source are permanently attached to a common carrier, while at least one of the lenses is attached to a holder that is an integral part of the carrier, but is free to move initially. Micromechanical techniques are used to adjust the position of the lens and holder, and then fix the holder it into place permanently using integrated heaters with solder.

A support structure for a suspended injector includes a suspended injector having a tubular vertical portion extending in a vertical direction, one or more chamfered portions formed by chamfering an outer peripheral surface near an upper end of the tubular vertical portion, a pair of holding members each having a flat surface formed on an inner peripheral surface of each of the pair of holding members to engage with each of the chamfered portions, each of the pair of holding members holding the tubular vertical portion of the suspended injector by sandwiching the tubular vertical portion of the suspended injector from both sides each of the pair of holding members, and a support structure part configured to fixedly support the pair of holding members, and configured to suspend and support the suspended injector.

A method for implementing machining operations for a workpiece. Pre-existing hole locations for temporary fasteners in the workpiece requiring a clamp-up force for performing the machining operations to form holes in the workpiece is identified. A set of the pre-existing hole locations is determined from the pre-existing hole locations that results in an optimal path for performing the machining operations on the workpiece taking into account clamp-up force specifications for the workpiece. The optimal path has a near-minimum distance. An ordered sequence for performing the machining operations to form the holes at hole locations is determined that has the optimal path. Robotic control files that causes robotic devices to perform the machining operations using the optimal path is created. The robotic devices are operated using the robotic control files to form the holes in the ordered sequence using the optimal path that takes into account the clamp-up force specifications.

A technique for optimizing metal extrusion process parameters includes receiving values representing properties of an extrusion press machine, and calculating an estimated surface exit temperature of a metal work product resulting from an extrusion of a metal billet using the extrusion press machine based on the machine property values, an initial temperature of the metal billet prior to the extrusion, an extrusion force applied to the metal billet during the extrusion, and an extrusion speed of the metal work product. The estimated surface exit temperature of the metal work product is compared with a target hot shortness exit temperature of the metal work product. The initial temperature of the metal billet, the extrusion speed, and the extrusion force are changed based on the comparison until the estimated surface exit temperature equals the target hot shortness exit temperature.

A method of assembling a power brake assembly including a brake booster and a master cylinder defining a chamber disposed between at least one reservoir port and at least one brake line port begins by inserting the master cylinder into the brake booster. The method proceeds by monitoring for a pressure differential between the at least one reservoir port and the at least one brake line port of the master cylinder during the insertion step, and then ceasing insertion of the master cylinder into the brake booster in response to sensing a pressure differential. The method proceeds by withdrawing the master cylinder a distance from within the brake booster; and securing the brake booster to the master cylinder after retracting the master cylinder the distance.

The present invention provides a method for improving visibility of an image display device which is capable of providing an image display device excellent in anti-reflection properties and bright-field contrast even using an optical layered body including a light-transmitting substrate having in-plane birefringence, such as a polyester film. The method of the present invention is a method for improving visibility of an image display device that has an optical layered body including a light-transmitting substrate having in-plane birefringence and an optical functional layer disposed on one surface of the substrate. The method includes the step of disposing the optical layered body such that the slow axis showing a greater refractive index of the light-transmitting substrate is in parallel with the vertical direction of a display screen of the image display device.

A method of assembling a door on a vehicle begins by identifying critical fit areas between the door seal and the door frame. Pressure indicator tape is adhered to the seal in critical fit areas and the door is closed against the seal to produce a marking on the pressure indicator tape. Intensity of the marking is visually compared to a reference pressure intensity scale to establish an observed pressure intensity level. The observed pressure intensity level may be recorded, correlated to a specific critical fit area and analyzed to make operational and design improvements to the door, door frame or seal.

The present invention provides a method for improving visibility of an image display device which is capable of providing an image display device excellent in anti-reflection properties and bright-field contrast even using an optical layered body including a light-transmitting substrate having in-plane birefringence, such as a polyester film. The method of the present invention is a method for improving visibility of an image display device that has an optical layered body including a light-transmitting substrate having in-plane birefringence and an optical functional layer disposed on one surface of the substrate. The method includes the step of disposing the optical layered body such that the slow axis showing a greater refractive index of the light-transmitting substrate is in parallel with the vertical direction of a display screen of the image display device.