An exemplary embodiment provides a method of manufacturing a string of pocketed spring coils comprising: simultaneously making at least two spring coils; simultaneously transporting the at least two spring coils to a compressor: simultaneously compressing the at least two spring coils; simultaneously inserting the at least two compressed spring coils between top and bottom plies of a piece of fabric; welding the top and bottom plies of the fabric along an edge of the folded fabric parallel to the longitudinal axis of the fabric and opposite the folded edge of the fabric; welding the top and bottom plies of the fabric along lines transverse to the longitudinal axis of the fabric between each of the compressed spring coils to create a plurality of pockets, each pocket encompassing a compressed spring coil; and expanding each of the compressed spring coils within each of the plurality of pockets.

A tooling system for assembling a hybrid vehicle transmission includes a positioning device, support structure, gripper, clutch actuator, rotational actuator, and controller. The positioning device positions a hybrid module relative to a transmission housing. The gripper grips an input shaft of the hybrid module. The clutch actuator actuates the clutch of the hybrid module. The rotational actuator rotates the gripper about an assembly axis. The controller controls operation of the clutch actuator, positioning device, gripper, and rotational actuator such that an operation is performed that includes the clutch actuator actuating the clutch, the gripper gripping the input shaft of the hybrid module, the rotational actuator rotating the gripper to rotate the input shaft of the hybrid module relative to an input shaft of the transmission module, and the positioning device translating the hybrid module toward the transmission module to seat a housing of the hybrid module on the transmission housing.

An apparatus and system for assembling a combustor comprises a push bar including a first end portion that is laterally opposed from a second end portion. A first alignment block and a second alignment block are adjustably coupled to the push bar. A first threaded rod extends through the push bar proximate to the first end portion and a second threaded rod extends through the push bar proximate to the second end portion. The first alignment block and the second alignment block extend outwardly from an aft side of the push bar and are positioned between the first threaded rod and the second threaded rod. The installation tool includes a first nut and a second nut for applying axial force to the push bar.

An automated insertion system for inserting or combining one or more fastener components with a molded part. The automated insertion system can handle multiple fastener components repeatedly, and do so faster and more safely than current processes.

A system and method can change location pins on a pallet for an assembly line. The system may include a plurality of pallets, each pallet including at least a first and second sockets configured to receive a location pin. The system may include a pin changing unit located between a top assembly line and a lower return line. The pin changing unit may include a pin grabber configured to engage the location pin within the first socket. The pin changing unit may include a horizontal linear actuator configured to move the pin grabber and the engaged location pin into alignment with the second socket. The pin changing unit may include a vertical linear actuator configured to extend the pin grabber into engagement with the location pin and retract the pin grabber away from the location pin.

A system and method can change location pins on a pallet for an assembly line. The system may include a plurality of pallets, each pallet including at least a first and second sockets configured to receive a location pin. The system may include a pin changing unit located between a top assembly line and a lower return line. The pin changing unit may include a pin grabber configured to engage the location pin within the first socket. The pin changing unit may include a horizontal linear actuator configured to move the pin grabber and the engaged location pin into alignment with the second socket. The pin changing unit may include a vertical linear actuator configured to extend the pin grabber into engagement with the location pin and retract the pin grabber away from the location pin.

A screw fastening process can be performed by reliably positioning a screw in a screw hole while suppressing a decrease in the degree of freedom of movement of a screw fastening device. Provided is a screw guide device that guides a screw to a screw hole. The screw is fastened by a screw fastening device to the screw hole formed in a workpiece to be fastened to be fastened. The screw guide device includes a guide device body provided at a support that supports the workpiece to be fastened, and also includes a guide member that is provided in the guide device body and that is openable and closable in a radial direction orthogonal to a central axis of a shaft section of the screw. The guide member forms a screw insert through which the shaft section is inserted when the guide member is in a closed state.

A screw fastening process can be performed by reliably positioning a screw in a screw hole while suppressing a decrease in the degree of freedom of movement of a screw fastening device. Provided is a screw guide device that guides a screw to a screw hole. The screw is fastened by a screw fastening device to the screw hole formed in a workpiece to be fastened to be fastened. The screw guide device includes a guide device body provided at a support that supports the workpiece to be fastened, and also includes a guide member that is provided in the guide device body and that is openable and closable in a radial direction orthogonal to a central axis of a shaft section of the screw. The guide member forms a screw insert through which the shaft section is inserted when the guide member is in a closed state.

An improved fastener comprising a fastener body orientated about a central axis and having a tool-engaging portion, a threaded fastening portion and a shroud-receiving portion having an inwardly facing annular groove orientated transverse to the central axis; a shroud concentrically mounted on the shroud-receiving portion to rotate relative to the fastener body under an applied external torque and having an axially-buckled radially-extending annular protrusion extending outwardly transverse to the central axis and disposed in the inwardly facing annular groove of the shroud-receiving portion of the body; the axially-buckled radially-extending annular protrusion of the shroud and the annular groove of the shroud-receiving portion of the body forming a shroud-retaining element restraining the shroud from movement in at least a first axial direction along the central axis.

A piston assembly mounting apparatus for an engine may include a robot having two multijoint arms movable in a predetermined range, a taking-out unit mounted at a free end of one of the arms of the robot and clamping and taking out one of a plurality of piston assemblies, and a fitting unit mounted at a free end of another of the arms of the robot, receiving and clamping the one piston assembly taken out of the taking-out unit, and then inserting the one piston assembly into a cylinder of a cylinder block.