A modular vehicle assembly system and methods for increased flexibility and adaptability of a high-volume assembly facility which builds several vehicle models. In one example, the invention includes modular assembly equipment (AE) support pallets which are shipped to vendors for installation of selected AE equipment devices that are specific to a predetermined assembly operation and then validation tested prior to shipment to the assembly facility. The validated modular AE pallets and AE devices are then shipped to the assembly facility and quickly installed to support manufacturing, assembly or other operations.

The present disclosure provides a vehicle body transfer system using a transfer unit. The system may include a base configured to move along a base rail; a moving unit comprising a supporting part that is configured to support a vehicle body, wherein the moving unit is configured to move the supporting part in a predetermined direction and the moving part is disposed on the base; and a tool unit disposed outside the base rail and selectively engaged to the moving unit, wherein the tool unit is configured to provide a driving torque such that the moving unit controls a position of the supporting part.

Some embodiments are directed to a clamp assembly for use with an air balancer for clamping a vehicle panel. The clamp assembly can include an upright member and a base member configured to engage the vehicle panel from a first side. The clamp assembly can include a first and third linkage connected to the upright member. The clamp assembly can include a second linkage defining a hook and being connected to the upright member. The clamp assembly can include a fourth linkage connected to the upright member with a lever connected to thereto and configured to rotate the fourth linkage. The clamp assembly can include a clamp member connected to the second and fourth linkages and configured to engage the vehicle panel from a second side. The clamp assembly can include a balance member having a locking protrusion and being connected to the first linkage and the third linkage.

A virtual stop station is provided having a carriage straddling an assembly line operation. This provides an independently moving platform upon which one or more manufacturing robots are affixed. The carriage is coordinated with and tracked to the linear motion of the assembly line. A vision guidance system centers the workpiece, and lifting arms mounted on the moving carriage will locate the workpiece and lift the workpiece up off of the conveyor, while being coordinated with it. The workpiece and robots thus are now fixtured to the same frame, thus eliminating movement relative to one another creating a virtual stop station. Once subassembly is complete, the coordinated robotic gantry will disengage from the conveyor and return home. The instant abstract is neither intended to define the invention disclosed in this specification nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.

A system and process for gluing two components together includes measuring the temperature of one or both panels to be glued together prior to application of the glue to the panels. If the measured temperature of the panel(s) is outside a predetermined range, the system and process thermally conditions the panel(s) to bring them into the predetermined temperature range for proper adhesion and known and controlled glued panel properties for subsequent riveting of the glued panels. A control unit with predetermined reference values is in communication with the system temperature sensors and thermal conditioning devices to provide uniform gluing quality irrespective of the environmental conditions of the assembly line.

An autonomous traveling unit is provided with a pair of toggle mechanisms. The toggle mechanisms respectively have displaceable bodies provided with cam followers. A workpiece loading unit is provided with a member in an X shape to be clamped. The cam followers are respectively advanced to a pair of opposing corners (a first crossing portion and a second crossing portion) of the member to be clamped. When advancing to the pair of opposing corners, the cam followers are respectively brought into abutment on the member to be clamped, whereby the workpiece loading unit is restrained on the autonomous traveling unit.

Some embodiments are directed to a clamp assembly for use with an air balancer for clamping a vehicle panel. The clamp assembly can include an upright member and a base member configured to engage the vehicle panel from a first side. The clamp assembly can include a first and third linkage connected to the upright member. The clamp assembly can include a second linkage defining a hook and being connected to the upright member. The clamp assembly can include a fourth linkage connected to the upright member with a lever connected to thereto and configured to rotate the fourth linkage. The clamp assembly can include a clamp member connected to the second and fourth linkages and configured to engage the vehicle panel from a second side. The clamp assembly can include a balance member having a locking protrusion and being connected to the first linkage and the third linkage.

A head-protecting airbag device includes: an airbag loaded in a vehicle as a completely folded body folded to be storable in the storage portion; and a regulation member, to be arranged near a bent portion in the completely folded body at a time of conveyance, formed of a belt-shaped body having flexibility, and capable of regulating a twist of the completely folded body at the bent portion when the completely folded body is assembled into the vehicle, wherein: in a state where a protrusion part is engaged with a periphery of an assembly hole, both front and rear sides of the protrusion part are wrapped together with the completely folded body by a wrapping material; and a length dimension of a portion between the assembly holes is set to be a length dimension which disenables one turn of twist in a circumferential direction of the completely folded body.

A vehicle includes an electric chassis provided with a navigation device and a vehicle body to be connected to the electric chassis. The navigation device is configured to control the electric chassis to travel according to a predetermined path. A vehicle final assembly line includes: a vehicle body positioning device, configured to position the vehicle body on the electric chassis to connect the vehicle body to the electric chassis at a marriage station when the navigation device controls the electric chassis to travel to the marriage station according to the predetermined path, and control the vehicle body and the electric chassis that are connected to each other to travel to a plurality of assembly stations in sequence according to the predetermined path so as to complete assembly of the vehicle at the plurality of assembly stations, and the assembled vehicle leaves the line at an end-of-line station.

Disclosed herein is a platform for conveying a plurality of work parts in a sequence of manufacturing stations, the platform being mobile and including an inclined surface, and a set of two elements, one element of the set extending along a first plane and another element of the set extending along a second plane, an intersection of the first plane with the inclined surface defining a first direction, an intersection of the second plane with the inclined surface defining a second direction, the first direction and the second direction delimiting an angular sector, so that a work part placed on the inclined surface within the angular sector is driven by its weight downwards with respect to a slope of the inclined plane towards an intersection of the first direction and the second direction.