Patent ID: 6481083
Filing Date: 2002-11-19
Classification: B23P,B25J,B60C,Y10T

Abstract:
A method for assembling a valve stem to a wheel rim having an aperture formed therein comprising the steps of:determining a location of the aperture relative to a gauging station; coaxially aligning a central axis of the aperture and a longitudinal axis of the valve stem with respect to one another prior to insertion of the valve stem through the aperture; and moving the rim relative to the valve stem along a programmable path of travel during the coaxially aligning step and along the aligned axes to insert the valve stem through the aperture, the path of travel defined with a programmable robotic manipulator having an arm capable of compound, multi-axial movement and having a plurality of programmed paths corresponding to a plurality of different size wheel rim and valve stem combinations to be assembled.