Progressive Tool and Industries Company

Jeffrey R Angel

Velibor Kilibarda

Michael R Dugas

LeRoy R Boza

A weld gun including a frame structure, a weld arm mounted on the frame structure, an electrode mounted on the weld arm and including an electrode cap at one end of the electrode, a transformer, and a shunt fixedly secured at one end thereof to another end of the electrode and fixedly secured at another end thereof to the transformer. The electrode is elongated and defines a longitudinal axis, the shunt end of the electrode defines a shunt mounting surface that is oblique with respect to the longitudinal electrode axis, and the electrode end of the shunt defines a mounting surface adapted to seat on the mounting surface of the electrode and operative when so seated to position the end portion of the shunt defining the electrode end of the shunt obliquely with respect to the longitudinal axis of the electrode whereby to reduce the total angular curvature of the shunt between the weld arm and the transformer and thereby reduce the stress and strain in the shunt produced by repeated operation of the weld gun with consequent longer shunt life.

Pinch weld gun with swivel shunt connection

A multi-axis articulatable robot with a weld gun having a pair of opposing arms, where at least one arm is movable relative to the other arm to apply pressure to a workpiece during a welding operation. At least one of the opposing arms of the weld gun can be rotatable or translatable relative to the other arm. At least one arm is moved relative to the other arm by an inverted roller screw linear actuator. The robot can include an electric controller for controlling the operation of the actuator of the weld gun as an additional axis of the robot movement. The actuator can be mounted on either of the opposing arms.

Multi-axis articulatable robot having a weld gun with inverted roller screw actuator

A pinch type weld gun wherein the weld arms are pivotally mounted on the frame structure via a ball bearing structure including annular members of insulative material positioned in apertures in the weld arms, inner races fixedly mounted on a common pivot pin, outer races positioned within the respective insulative annular members, and ball races positioned between the respective inner races and respective outer races. A shunt is fixedly secured at one end thereof to a gun electrode and fixedly secured at another end thereof to the gun transformer, and the other end of the shunt defines a coolant passage communicating with the transformer coolant passage system whereby coolant may be delivered to the transformer coolant passage system through the coolant passage in the other end of the shunt. A second shunt fixedly secured at one end thereof to a further electrode and fixedly secured at another end thereof to the transformer defines a further coolant passage in the other end thereof communicating with the transformer coolant passage system so that the coolant may be delivered to the transformer coolant passage system through the coolant passage in the other end of the first shunt and discharged from the transformer coolant passage system through the coolant passage in the other end of the second shunt to provide a continuous flow of coolant through the transformer coolant passage system. A cooling liquid distribution block is mounted on the gun frame at a location remote from the electrodes and concentric tubing extends from the distribution block to the electrodes for respective connection to concentric passageways defined in the electrodes.

Pinch weld gun

A workstation having multiple robots and multiple fixtures for processing multiple workpieces along two processing paths. A first fixture can be positioned on the first processing path and a second fixture can be positioned on the second processing path. The multiple robots are positioned between the two paths and are moveable to process workpieces moving along both the first and second paths. The robots can be welding robots. The robots can be independently moveable with respect to each other to enhance the efficiency of the workstation. The robots can have overlapping ranges of movement so that every portion of the workpiece can be processed by at least two of the robots.

Multiple robotic workstation with multiple fixtures

A framing system and framing device for assembling and welding a body-in-white. The framing system utilizes completely separate framing and welding operations, which are typically intermixed in conventional framing systems. The framing device is a unitary frame structure within which an underbody, side frames and other body components can each be supported and accurately positioned with respect to each other prior to the welding operation. The framing device includes a cart which serves as the base and main support for the framing device, and an upper body support member. Using an appropriate number of clamping devices, the net positions of the body components which constitute the body-in-white are properly established and maintained, such that gate fixtures are unnecessary during the welding operation. The structure of the framing device provides considerable access to the body-in-white supported within the interior of the framing device, such that a greater number of welding guns can be used during the welding operation. As a result, essentially all of the welds necessary to achieve and maintain the rigidity and geometry of the body-in-white can be formed during a single welding operation.

Automobile framing system

The method and apparatus for the manufacture of product subassemblies by computer programmed robots is an end effector fixture assembly, or geometry station wherein at least two individual elements of the particular subassembly are dimensionally positioned relative to one another between a lower base fixture and an upper fixture of the end effector fixture assembly to establish a net location therebetween. The robot manipulates the end effector fixture assembly and transports the two individual elements located therein to a work performing station located within a defined region of the robot to perform work on the subassembly.

Geometry station

A framing system and framing device for assembling and welding a body-in-white utilizes completely separate framing and welding operations, which are typically intermixed in conventional framing systems. The framing device is a unitary frame structure within which an underbody, side frames and other body components can each be supported and accurately positioned with respect to each other prior to the welding operation. The framing device includes a cart which serves as the base and main support for the framing device, and an upper body support member. Using an appropriate number of clamping devices, the net positions of the body components which constitute the body-in-white are properly established and maintained, such that gate fixtures are unnecessary during the welding operation. The structure of the framing device provides considerable access to the body-in-white supported within the interior of the framing device, such that a greater number of welding guns can be used during the welding operation. As a result, essentially all of the welds necessary to achieve and maintain the rigidity and geometry of the body-in-white can be formed during a single welding operation.

A fastener suitable for joining two or more plastic or metal panels together under automated manufacturing conditions. The fastener has a piercing end for forming its own passage through the panels so as to avoid the need for a pre-drilled hole. Disposed near the piercing end are one or more rigid barbs which extend obliquely from the shank toward the head of the fastener. The barbs create an interference with the adjacent panel to secure the panels. The fastener further incorporates an adhesive strip which serves to adhere the fastener to the panels in a manner that prevents both rotation and axial displacement of the fastener relative to the panels. The fastener is particularly adapted for permanently joining two or more panels where access to both sides of the joined panels is either impracticable or undesirable, such as when a body panel of an automobile is to be fastened to the automobile's frame.

Piercing fastener with adhesive

A resistance welding gun which is adapted to prevent asymmetrical impacting of two or more metal sheets to be welded. The resistance welding gun includes a pair of rotatably connected arms, each of which has a corresponding working end and actuation end. An electrode tip is located at each working end to provide a pair of opposed welding electrodes, while a cylinder is attached to the actuation ends of the arms to provide rotation therebetween. Between the actuation ends there is provided an equalizing mechanism including a crank and a pair of linkages which serve to equalize the movement of the arms about their pivot. In cooperation with the pivot of the arms, the crank establishes a fixed or datum point at which the electrode tips of the resistance welding gun are targeted such that, when properly positioned on opposite sides of the metal sheets, the electrode tips contact the metal sheets substantially simultaneously and apply substantially equal forces to the opposite sides of the metal sheets. As a result, the equalizing mechanism substantially prevents unilateral contacting and asymmetrical impacting by the electrode tips on the metal sheets.

Growing community of inventors

Lake Orion, MI, United States of America

Jeffrey R Angel