Keywords
Citation
Rigelsford, J. (2002), "Flexible automotive assembly line", Assembly Automation, Vol. 22 No. 2. https://doi.org/10.1108/aa.2002.03322bad.010
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2002, MCB UP Limited
Flexible automotive assembly line
Keywords: Automotive, Assembly lines
Applicant: V. Kilibarda et al., USAPatent number: US2001032772Publication date: 25 October 2001Title: Flexible automotive assembly line and method
This invention relates to a method and apparatus for the flexible assembly of numerous automotive body styles on a single assembly line without loss of production during changeover.
The apparatus described comprises an assembly line having a right-hand body subassembly line, a left-hand body subassembly line and an underbody subassembly line. An overhead transport system is provided for transporting automotive components along at least one of the subassembly lines and for conveying the automotive components along a pallet transport system on the body framing subassembly line. The overhead transport system includes a trolley movable along a single overhead rail, a carriage that is movable relative to the trolley, and a plurality of antler nests. Each antler nest is individually engageable with the carriage. Components can be transferred from the overhead transport system to a geometry fixture at a workstation along the subassembly line. The workstation along the subassembly line can include numerous geometry fixtures that are exchangeable at a ready position of the workstation.