Patent ID: 6344629
Filing Date: 2002-02-05
Classification: B62D

Abstract:
An apparatus for assembling a vehicle body comprising:a setting cart movable back and forth between a setting station and a vehicle body assembly station; a jig mounted on a supporting base in a posture to look laterally inward, said supporting base being disposed on each laterally outside portion of the vehicle body assembly station; said setting cart having: floor panel supporting members for positioning and supporting a floor panel of the vehicle body; side sill receiving members for receiving side sill portions which are defined as combined portions between the floor panel and left and right side panels; and side panel forcing members for forcing each of the side panels from a lateral outside toward the floor panel; wherein the floor panel and both the side panels are set onto said setting cart in the setting station and are transported to the vehicle body assembly station, wherein each of the side panels is received in the vehicle body assembly station in a state of being combined with the floor panel by each of said jigs and wherein, in this state, each of the side panels is combined by welding to the floor panel to thereby assemble the vehicle body; a plurality of welding robots for combining by welding each of the side panels to the floor panel, said welding robots being disposed on each of the lateral sides of the vehicle body assembly station at a level below each of said jigs; wherein said side sill receiving members and said side panel forcing members are disposed on said setting cart so as to be retractable into shunted positions free from interference with said welding robots in welding operation.