Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha

Yajima Kogyo, Inc.

Toyoda Koki Kabushiki Kaisha

Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki

Kyoho Machine Works, Ltd.

Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kiahsa

Hideaki Tobita

Kazuo Naruse

Mikio Kitano

Yoichi Shibata

Hisanori Nakamura

Toshihiko Yomogida

Tsuyoshi Yamashita

Goro Kobayashi

Toshio Uno

Ichiyoshi Tsuchiya

Shigeo Yamamoto

Shigeru Yajima

Tetuo Kawakami

Hitosi Asai

Taizo Yamaura

Kyoichi Yamaguchi

Nobuzi Koda

Among systems configured by connecting a plurality of sequence controllers to one communication line to intercommunicate, many systems has been disclosed which implement fault location and recovery from the faults. In one of these systems, each substation is connected to a circulating communication line via a branch line and switches are respectively disposed on the branch line and on the communication line at both sides of a connecting point of the branch line and the communication line. Further, the communication line can be formed in a loop by a spare line. In another of these systems, an integrated portion of the communication line is formed near the master station, and the communication line is connected to the master station and is configured of one continuous line which goes and backs in sequence between the integrated portion and vicinity of each substation. In that integrated portion, a switch is disposed on each one of two lines, which connect the integrated portion and each substation. Further, a switch is provided on a line which bypasses these two switches. Other systems are a composite of the above systems. Still other systems have automated portions of fault location and fault recovery.

Multiplex communication system for sequence controllers

A transfer apparatus for transferring a plurality of workpieces has a pair of transfer rails along which run a plurality of jig pallets, each carrying a workpiece. A transfer bar is disposed between the pair of transfer rails so as to reciprocatingly move in the longitudinal direction of the rails. An engaging claw adapted to be driven up and down by a driving device is provided on the jig pallet, while a plurality of engaging blocks adapted to be engaged by the engaging claws are integrally provided on the transfer bar. The engaging claws are driven into and out of engagement with the corresponding engaging blocks so as to couple and uncouple the jig pallets and the transfer bar, whereby the jig pallets are transferred solely by linear motion of the transfer bar.

Apparatus for transferring work pieces between stations in an assembly

A transfer apparatus for transferring a plurality of workpieces has a pair of transfer rails along which a plurality of jig pallets each carrying a work run. A transfer bar is disposed between the pair of transfer rails so as to reciprocatingly move in the longitudinal direction of the rails. A plurality of engaging claws are disposed on the transfer bar so as to be able to pivot in planes which are perpendicular to the direction of the transfer so as to be brought into and out of engagement with the respective jig pallets by the operation of a pair of cylinder devices arranged on both sides of the transfer bar. In consequence, the jig pallets are transferred solely by linear motion of the transfer bar.

Pallet transfer apparatus

A system for positioning an automotive vehicle side body wherein slide rails for supporting a sliding conveyor for movement thereon in an automotive vehicle body assembly line is located, not on a floor of the assembly line, but at the same height as an underbody supported at a elevated location above the assembly line floor, so that an open space below the slide rails can be used for installing other necessary equipment.

System for positioning automotive vehicle side body

A projection welder including a guide pin adapted to be withdrawn, when welding is performed, into an electrode for performing welding. The guide pin is formed with a tapering surface portion which is positioned, when the guide pin is inserted in a threaded opening formed in a nut to be welded which adheres to a forward end of the electrode, against the edge of an entrance to the threaded opening.

Projection welder

A welding system for welding works such as floor parts of different models of automobiles has a first carrier passage provided at one end thereof with a loading stage and at the other end thereof with a welding stage where an automatic welder is provided, a second carrier passage which intersects the first carrier passage, a turn-over stage provided at the position where the first and the second carrier passages intersect each other, a plurality of jig unit carriages each carrying the parts to be welded and adapted to run along the first and the second carrier passages, linear motors arranged along the first and the second carrier passages, and a lifting device disposed at the turn-over stage and adapted for lifting the carriage as necessitated.

Welding system

A vehicle body positioning apparatus includes a first jig for an under body, which is located and fixed on a jig surface plate provided in a vehicle body assembly equipment, second jigs for right and left side bodies, and a third jig for upper body parts which are carried by an overhead conveyor. An arched frame, is erected on the jig surface plate perpendicular to an assembly line. A positioning and supporting assembly is provided on the arched frame and the second jigs, respectively, so as to position the third jig with respect to the first and second jigs.

Apparatus for positioning vehicle body in assembly line

A spot welding device for welding car bodies at a plurality of different positions without the need to move the car body to the welding device for each weld position. The device comprises a polyhedron shaped rotating member having a plurality of electrodes disposed on surfaces of the rotating member. The member is rotated to select a desired surface and the configuration of electrodes thereon to thereby perform a plurality of welds with the electrodes on the selected surface.

Spot welding device

An actuator including a first cylinder chamber and a second cylinder chamber defined as separate entities in a cylinder for receiving a first piston and a second piston therein respectively. One of the first and second cylinder chambers is connected to an oil pressure source and the other cylinder chamber is connected to an air pressure source. A piston rod of the first piston and a piston rod of the second piston which move in relative sliding movement have at their forward ends separate operating portions for performing operations on a common workpiece.

Apparatus for performing plural operations on a common workpiece

A projection welder for welding a nut to one side of a work has a movable upper electrode and a stationary lower electrode provided with a removable electrode tip for receiving and holding thereon the nut against which the work is urged by the upper electrode so that the work and the nut are welded together. A tubular nut-centering pin projects upwardly from the upper surface of the electrode tip and is axially aligned with the upper and lower electrodes to receive the nut such that the pin engages with a threaded hole in the nut whereby the nut thus received on the nut-centering pin is centered relative to the upper and lower electrodes. The nut-centering pin has an axial through-hole connected to an air source under pressure so that air can be fed under pressure to portions of the work and nut being welded.

A jig assembly for a car body including a movable jig unit having a frame with a universal configuration and removable jig members configured exclusively for a distinctive body part; and a fixed station jig unit for positioning and fixing the movable unit. The fixed unit is comprised of an elevator lifter for supporting the frame, reference pins which are provided in the elevation range of the lifter and are inserted into the frame to position the frame in the longitudinal direction, reference blocks for positioning the lower end of the frame, first clamp units for fixing the frame onto the reference blocks, and second clamp units for securing a body part to the jig members.

Jig for car body assembly

An apparatus for transferring a driving force to a jig unit, comprising a plurality of fixed station coupling assemblies mounted on a support member, each assembly having a fixed station connector to which a driving force transfer means is connected; a jig unit coupling assembly mounted on a jig unit is provided to move in the direction of the fixed station coupling assembly for connecting the unit side connector to the fixed station connectors to feed a driving force to the jig unit; an actuating means is provided on one of the fixed and unit side coupling assemblies to move a respective connector in the direction to secure both fixed station and jig unit connectors in a connected position; and an engaging means holds both the coupling assemblies at a proper position by engaging locking parts provided on both coupling assemblies.

Apparatus for transferring a driving force to jig unit

Different car body parts needed for a complete main body are preworked at a subassembly station and then are releasably attached to corresponding jig units, each unit having a universal frame on which is mounted a set of special jigs conforming to the kind and type of car body being produced. Each jig unit is moved by an independent conveyor to a main assembly station where it is transferred to a corresponding positioning device. Each positioning device then moves its respective jig unit from a first position to a second position predetermined so as to place the different body parts in proper juxtaposed relation for welding by automatic welding devices. Upon welding, the jig units are released from all of the body parts except the under body, are retracted by their respective positioning devices, and are transferred back to their individual conveyors for return to the subassembly station. The completed car body is moved to a succeeding work station, where the under body jig unit is released and returned to the subassembly station.

Car body assembling apparatus and method

A weld nut welding apparatus includes upper and lower electrodes. A weld nut and a plate material which are to be welded together are clamped between the upper and lower electrodes, and a welding current is supplied to the weld nut and the plate material via these electrodes, whereby the weld nut is welded to the plate material. A groove is formed in that surface of the weld nut which abuts against the plate material, while a punch is provided inside the lower electrode, and the punch is moved toward the upper electrode after the welding operation, whereby it is possible for the plate material to be formed with a bore which corresponds to the groove. This bore is punched in the plate material only at a required welding position and at the same time as the welding operation. It is therefore possible to overcome the disadvantage that it would otherwise be necessary for a bore to be previously formed in the plate material. Thus, even if there is a change in the number of weld nuts which are to be secured to the plate material or the nut mounting positions on the plate material, it is possible for bores to be punched in the plate material at appropriate positions thereon, provided that nut welding positions alone are determined.

Weld nut welding apparatus

A beaded edge is formed on a plate member, which has an upstanding outer edge bent with a predetermined radius of curvature, by placing the plate member on a lower die and applying a uniform force against the free edge of the upturned portion at an approximately 45.degree. angle to turn the outer portion inwardly to form an angle of about 45.degree. with the plate member, and then pressing the free edge downward into contact with the plate member while maintaining a substantially constant curvature of the bend region to produce a beaded edge.

Growing community of inventors

Toyota, Japan

Hideaki Tobita