Replaceable Jig Frame and Fitting Guide for Vehicle Body Clamping

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle body manufacturing apparatuses face challenges in accurately and flexibly clamping multiple types of vehicle body shapes, as they often require common clamp positions and struggle with high accuracy positioning using articulated arms.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle body manufacturing apparatus featuring a replaceable jig frame structure, a clamp jig supported by an articulated arm, a fitting member, and a fitting receiving member that guides the clamp jig to a predetermined position, allowing for high accuracy and flexibility in clamping various vehicle body types.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a 3 axis switching unit is used for positioning the clamp jig, then the clamp position can be switched between different positions, but the shape at clamp positions must be provided in common between vehicle body models, reducing flexibility

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to different vehicle body modelsVSAvoidconstraint on clamp position shapes

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The clamp positioning system is segmented into multiple components: the articulated arm provides rough positioning, while the fitting member and fitting receiving member provide precise positioning. This segmentation allows each component to have a specialized function, enabling adaptation to different vehicle body models without requiring complex switching mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The fitting member and fitting receiving member act as intermediary elements between the articulated arm and the clamp jig. These intermediaries enable precise positioning by fitting into corresponding features on the vehicle body, allowing the system to adapt to different vehicle models without directly modifying the articulated arm or clamp jig structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Manufacturing precision

If an articulated arm is used for positioning the clamp jig, then the clamp jig can be positioned movably, but high accuracy positioning cannot be achieved

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepositioning accuracy of clamp jigVSAvoidmobility of clamp jig

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The positioning function is segmented into two stages: the articulated arm provides mobility and rough positioning, while the fitting member and fitting receiving member provide precise positioning. This segmentation allows the system to maintain both mobility and high positioning accuracy by using each component for its strengths.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different parts of the positioning system have different quality characteristics: the articulated arm provides mobility and range of motion, while the fitting member and fitting receiving member provide localized precision positioning. This local quality differentiation allows the system to achieve both mobility and high accuracy without compromising either function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple types of vehicle body are assembled with common clamp positions, then the manufacturing apparatus can handle multiple models, but the accuracy and flexibility for different vehicle shapes are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecapability to assemble multiple vehicle body typesVSAvoidclamping accuracy for different vehicle shapes

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The fitting member and fitting receiving member serve as intermediary elements that adapt the common clamp jig to different vehicle body shapes. These intermediaries provide precise positioning by fitting into vehicle-specific features, allowing the system to maintain high clamping accuracy across multiple vehicle models without requiring model-specific clamp jigs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The clamp jig is designed with universal functionality to work with multiple vehicle body types, while the fitting member and fitting receiving member provide model-specific adaptation. This combination allows a single clamp jig design to serve multiple functions across different vehicle models while maintaining high positioning accuracy for each model.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS9505090B2Vehicle body manufacturing apparatus

Publication Date: 2016.11.29 SUBARU CORP

AI summary

A vehicle body manufacturing apparatus includes: a jig frame structure in which an upper jig frame out of multiple upper jig frames is replaceably disposed according to a vehicle type; a clamp jig that clamps a work of a vehicle body supported by the jig frame structure; an articulated arm that supports the clamp jig movably relative to the vehicle body; a fitting member provided in the clamp jig; and a fitting receiving member that is provided in the upper jig frame and guides the clamp jig to a predetermined clamp position of the vehicle body by fitting to the fitting member.