Patent ID: 6279220
Filing Date: 2001-08-28
Classification: B23P,G03B,Y10T

Abstract:
An automatic assembling method using a plurality of integrally formed pallets each having a primary work holder and a secondary work holder, a pallet conveyer for conveying said pallets cyclically and intermittently to stop said pallets at predetermined stations each having an assembly apparatus, wherein the pallets are independently adjustable on the pallet conveyer, said method comprising the steps of:a first step of conveying one of the pallets to a first predetermined station to be opposite to a first assembly apparatus, the conveyed pallet having a partially completed secondary assembly disposed in the secondary work holder of the pallet;a second step of the assembly apparatus sequentially feeding and assembling a part for the secondary assembly to said partially completed secondary assembly;a third step of conveying the pallet to a second predetermined station to be opposite to a second assembly apparatus;a fourth step of sequentially feeding said secondary assembly to said primary work holder and assembling said secondary assembly into a primary assembly disposed in the primary work holder of the pallet;a fifth step, performed after the fourth step, of removing the primary assembly from the pallet, wherein the primary assembly removed from the pallet is a completed assembly; andindividually adjusting the position of the pallets on the pallet conveyer in relation to each of the predetermined stations by moving the pallets with respect to the pallet conveyer in a longitudinal direction and a lateral direction while the pallets are disposed on the pallet conveyer,wherein the primary and secondary work holders each have an inside surface corresponding to the outward forms of the primary and secondary assemblies, respectively, such that the primary and secondary assemblies cooperate with the primary and secondary work holders, respectively, wherein each of said assembly apparatuses feeds only one of said parts to each of said pallets, and wherein said first through fifth steps are performed in a single assembly line.