Palletized Framing System with Floating Ball Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Palletized motor vehicle body welding systems face imprecision due to tolerance stack-ups from variations in pallet dimensions and wear in positioning devices, leading to inaccurate welding operations.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that precisely position pallets at a framing station by allowing the pallet to float in X and Y dimensions while being precisely positioned in the Z dimension, using a bed with ball supports and laterally moving gates with positioners to engage and lock onto pillars, effectively eliminating tolerance stack-ups.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional locators on the base of the framing station are used to position the pallet, then the positioning accuracy depends on precise dimensioning of the pallets, but pallet dimensions vary and tolerance stack-ups develop resulting in imprecise welding operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical locator system with a laser-based measurement system. Lasers measure the actual position of the pallet and body components, and this measurement data is used to dynamically adjust the positioning, eliminating dependence on precise mechanical dimensioning of pallets
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a digital copy or representation of the actual pallet and body component positions through laser measurement. This measured data model is then used to calculate and execute the necessary positioning adjustments, separating the measurement function from the mechanical positioning function
2Ease of operation
If conventional pallet positioning devices are used, then they can position the pallet, but wear in the positioning devices results in tolerance stack-ups and imprecise welding
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces wear-prone mechanical positioning devices with a laser measurement system combined with dynamic adjustment. The lasers continuously measure positions and the system compensates for wear by adjusting based on actual measured positions rather than relying on worn mechanical tolerances
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback loop where laser measurements of the actual pallet and component positions are continuously fed back to the control system, which then adjusts the positioning accordingly. This closed-loop system compensates for wear in positioning devices by constantly referencing actual measured positions
Data Source
AI summary
A palletized framing system for a motor vehicle body assembly system in which the pallet with a body structure positioned thereon is positioned at the framing station on balls to establish the vertical Z dimension with the pallet free to float on the balls in longitudinal X and lateral Y dimensions, whereafter positioners carried by one of the gates of the framing station engage and lock onto the pallet to precisely position the pallet and the body structure at the framing station at X and Y dimensions corresponding to the precisely attainable X and Y positioning of the gate.