Vehicle Panel Alignment Jig With Elastic Marriage Path
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing panel assembly processes for vehicle components, such as hoods, require dedicated alignment and locators for each vehicle type, leading to increased investment costs and potential marriage defects due to interference between panel components.
Innovation Solution
A panel assemble apparatus featuring a marriage jig frame with multi-axis movement units, alignment units, and external force application units, including vacuum cup modules and roller modules, which align and induce elastic deformation in panel parts to form a marriage path, allowing for the assembly of various vehicle types without dedicated units.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If dedicated alignment mechanisms and locators are provided for each vehicle type, then the alignment precision and assembly quality for specific vehicle types is improved, but the device complexity and investment cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The marriage jig frame is designed with multi-axis movement units that can be adjusted to different positions and orientations, allowing the same apparatus to serve multiple vehicle types and panel configurations. The alignment units and locators are mounted on these movable platforms, enabling them to adapt to various alignment requirements without requiring dedicated fixtures for each vehicle type.
Solution Approach 2:
The alignment units and locators are mounted on multi-axis movement units that can dynamically adjust their positions during the assembly process. This dynamic positioning capability allows the same alignment units to accommodate different vehicle types and panel geometries, replacing the need for multiple static, dedicated alignment mechanisms.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the outer panel is fixed rigidly to the marriage jig, then the positioning stability is improved, but marriage defects occur due to interference between flange portions and the inner panel
Solution Approach 1:
External force application units are activated before the inner panel is fully positioned to pre-form a marriage path by inducing elastic deformation in the outer panel's flange portions. This preliminary action creates clearance space that prevents interference when the inner panel is subsequently loaded, ensuring smooth assembly without damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The physical state of the outer panel is temporarily changed from rigid to elastically deformed by applying external forces through vacuum cup modules and roller modules. This parameter change allows the flange portions to deform and create a marriage path, preventing interference with the inner panel while maintaining overall positioning stability.
3Ease of operation
If elastic deformation is induced in the main panel part to form a marriage path, then the ease of assembly is improved by preventing interference, but the manufacturing precision may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates sensors that detect the deformation state and position of panel components during the marriage path formation process. This feedback information is used to adjust the external forces applied by the vacuum cup modules and roller modules, ensuring that the elastic deformation remains within precise tolerances and does not compromise final assembly precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The external forces are precisely controlled to induce only the necessary elastic deformation for creating the marriage path, without excessive deformation that would affect precision. The parameters of the applied forces (magnitude, duration, distribution) are carefully managed to achieve the right balance between ease of assembly and maintenance of manufacturing precision.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The apparatus reduces initial investment costs by allowing common use across multiple vehicle types and designs, while minimizing marriage defects and improving assembly quality by preventing interference between panel components.
Implementation Method 1
a vacuum cup module movably installed on the marriage jig frame so as to be able to move forward and backward to allow vacuum adsorption of the flange portion formed at the edge of the main panel part
Implementation Method 2
configured to induce elastic deformation in the main panel part and form a marriage path along which a correlation panel part to be assembled with the main panel part can move
Data Source
AI summary
A panel assemble apparatus includes: a marriage jig frame, a plurality of alignment units installed in the marriage jig frame to align a main panel part to a predetermined position on the marriage jig frame, and a plurality of external force application units installed on the marriage jig frame to induce elastic deformation in the main panel part and form a marriage path along which a correlation panel part to be assembled with the main panel part can move.