A wheel lock key assembly includes a wheel lock key portion configured to engage with keyslot features on a wheel lock. A driving tool coupling portion is connected to the wheel lock key portion and includes a surface structured to be rotationally coupled to a driving tool so as to enable rotation of the wheel lock key portion by the driving tool by a force acting on the surface. The surface extends along a plane extending parallel to the wheel lock key portion rotational axis. A retaining member is deformable to vary a radial distance the exterior surface extends from the rotational axis. A retaining member deformation mechanism is actuatable to deform the retaining member to vary the radial distance, such that the exterior surface extends at least a predetermined distance past the plane prior to rotational coupling of the wheel lock key assembly to the driving tool.

A vehicle body assembling system forms a pre-buck section and a main buck section set along a transfer path of a floor assembly. A main buck unit is set at opposite sides of the transfer path in the main buck section, controls an upper portion of a side assembly in a state that a lower portion of each side assembly is pre-assembled to the floor assembly the pre-buck section, and assembles the upper portion of the side assembly and vehicle body parts using a second welding robot.

A conveying system for simultaneously transporting workpieces and workers having a plurality of vehicles, which each have a workpiece receptacle, an assembly platform for workers to move around on, and a separate drive, with which each vehicle can be driven independently of other vehicles of the conveying system. Furthermore, the conveying system includes a plurality of workstations, which are set up for carrying out different work steps. A control device is configured to control the vehicles such that they can pass individually through a different succession of workstations depending on the transported workpiece.

A screw fastening apparatus for fastening a screw member having a bearing surface with respect to a member to be fastened by rotating the screw member from a theoretical seating point to a target rotational angle, including a rotational angle sensor which senses rotational angle values of the screw member for fastening the screw member, a torque detector which detects torque values for fastening the screw member, a torque value difference detector which detects a plurality of torque value differences, each of the torque value differences is a difference of the torque values detected at intervals of a constant rotational angle, a slip detector which detects a slip of the screw member with respect to the member to be fastened, from an average of the torque value differences, and a screw fastening discontinuing unit which instructs to discontinue the screw fastening when the slip is detected by the slip detector.

One steering column assembly includes a jacket, a bearing, and a steering spindle rotatably supported by the bearing and at least partially extending inside the jacket. The spindle includes a hollow outer tube and a hollow inner tube. The outer tube has lengthening and attachment sections, and the attachment section has transition and connection portions. The lengthening section adjoins the attachment section at an end of the transition portion, and the transition portion is between the lengthening section and the connection portion. The lengthening section has first and second portions, with the second portion being between the first and transition portions, and the outer tube terminates at an end of the connection portion. The inner tube is press-fit into the outer tube, and an end of the inner tube is adjacent the transition portion end. The inner tube does not extend into either the attachment section or the first portion.

Systems, methods and apparatus for automated vehicle wheel removal and replacement are provided. One system includes a computer system with applications for scheduling the replacement of tires for the vehicle. An electronically controlled lift device and robotic apparatus is configured for interaction with the computer system. The lift device mechanically adjusts arms for placement on lift points of vehicles. The robotic apparatus detects positioning of lug nut configuration for a wheel, removes lug nuts, and then removes the wheel from the wheel hub with gripping arms. The wheel and tire are then handed off to a separate tire changing machine. When a new tire is replaced the robotic apparatus then mounts the wheel to the original wheel hub, and then secures the lug nuts to the lug nut bolts.

A system and method for assembling a plurality of components into an assembly is provided. The system includes an assembling robot and an adhesive dispensing robot. The assembling robot is configured to attach a first sub-assembly to a second sub-assembly. The first sub-assembly includes at least one of the plurality of components, and the second sub-assembly includes remaining ones of the plurality of components. The adhesive dispensing robot is configured to apply an adhesive between the first sub-assembly and the second sub-assembly, after the first sub-assembly is attached to the second sub-assembly, to bond the first sub-assembly to the second sub-assembly.

A lift gate door having hinges installed for predetermined positioning into a vehicle. And a method of attaching a lift gate door to a vehicle while maintain proper tolerances. A first fixture holds a set of hinges in predetermined locations which correspond to assembly locations on a vehicle body. Hinges are temporarily attached to the fixture corresponding to the proper vehicle location. A second fixture holds the lift gate in a position which is a final installation position for attaching the lift gate to a vehicle. Self-adjusting moveable fastening nuts are provided in a set of holes in a hinge plate fastening area of the lift gate. The first fixture is moved into aligned orientation with the second feature and the hinges are attached to the lift gate with the fastener. The hinge is aligned in the proper installation orientation for maintaining the lift gate to vehicle gap in proper tolerances when the lift gate door with hinges is installed on the final vehicle.

Provided is a method for manufacturing an aluminium alloy automobile hub, the method comprising the following steps: putting a workpiece in the shape of a shallow hat on a first spinning base, wherein an opening of the workpiece faces upward, and a first upper pressure head extends into the workpiece from above and then fixes the workpiece; and pressing out a rim for spokes on an outer side of a lower portion of the workpiece by means of spinning rollers. In the method, series and improved aluminium alloy sheets are taken as raw materials and are integrally formed by multi-pass powerful spinning machining, such that same are deformed step by step in the whole process according to the properties of aluminium alloy, thereby forming a blank of the hub, and then the hub is formed by finishing.

Disclosed is a device for automatically assembling a hinge, comprising a connecting piece module assembly device, an adjustment sheet module assembly device, a main body bracket module assembly device, and a finished hinge product assembly device, wherein the connecting piece module assembly device is used for assembling a connecting piece module; the adjustment sheet module assembly device is used for riveting an adjustment sheet module; the main body bracket module assembly device is used for assembling a main body bracket, a main body bracket bolt, and a screw into a main body bracket module; and the high finished product assembly device is used for assembling the connecting piece module, the adjustment sheet module, the main body bracket module, and other materials into a finished hinge product. The device for automatically assembling a hinge of the present invention is used for the automatic assembly of a hinge.