Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Stephen St Angelo, Jr

George C Carver

David W Patterson

Owen K Fremont

Alan Heads

John J Lucci

James F Mitchell

The present invention provides a holding fixture which is best utilized when installing a closed loop fixed length of weather stripping. The fixture as provided improves a robot weather stripping system by decreasing the rate of unacceptable applications and decreasing the criticality of the weather stripping parameters by holding the weather stripping in a unique manner during installation.

Holding arm fixture for use in conjunction with a robot for installing

The field of the present invention is that of an apparatus and method of installing weather stripping in a door and like openings using a robot. The field of the present invention is also that of an end of arm tooling device (EOAT) for a robot which installs weather stripping in a door and like openings.

Method of a robot for installing weather stripping in a door or like

Robot for installing weather stripping in a door or like opening

The present invention provides for an apparatus and method for installing weather stripping in a body door opening. In its preferred embodiment the present invention provides a robot which can load itself from a weather stripping station, transfer the weather stripping to the body door opening, and install the weather stripping within the body door opening. The present invention also provides an end of arm tooling device for a robot above described. The present invention also includes a vehicle produced by the robot above described.

Apparatus and method of a robot for installing weather stripping in a

Method of using a robot for installing weather stripping in a door or

A measuring device measures the torsional rigidity of a motor vehicle weatherstrip of the type which tends to twist upon bending about its longitudinal axis as experienced during installation of the weatherstrip around a corner of a vehicle body opening. The measuring device includes a pair of a rotatably mounted arms carrying mounting shoes for gripping the weatherstrip at spaced apart points along the length of the weatherstrip. Pivot means mount the arms for movement to swing the mounting shoes in an arcuate path and thereby bend the weatherstrip about its longitudinal axis so that the weatherstrip tends to twist. An indicator clip is removably mounted on the weatherstrip intermediate the mounting shoes and twists with the twisting of the weatherstrip to indicate that the weatherstrip has experienced a predetermined degree of twisting during the arcuate bending of the weatherstrip. A readout gauge indicates the degree of bending which causes the weatherstrip to twist, thereby providing a measure of the torsional rigidity of the weatherstrip.

Device for measuring weatherstrip torsional rigidity

The present invention provides for an apparatus and method for installing wheather stripping in a body door opening. In its preferred embodiment the present invention provides a robot which can load itself from a weather stripping station, transfer the weather stripping to the body door opening, and install the weather stripping within the body door opening. The present invention also provides an end of arm tooling device for a robot above-described.

Method of loading an arm of a robot with a loop of weather stripping

The present invention disclosure provides for an apparatus and method for installing weather stripping in a body door opening. In its preferred embodiment the present disclosure provides a robot which can load itself from a weather stripping station, transfer the weather stripping to the body door opening, and install the weather stripping within the body door opening. The present disclosure also provides an end of arm tooling device for a robot above described. The present disclosure also includes a vehicle produced by the robot above described.

The present invention provides for an apparatus and method for installing weather stripping in a body door opening. In its preferred embodiment the present invention provides a robot which can load itself from a weather stripping station, transfer the weather stripping to the body door opening, and install the weather stripping within the body door opening. The present invention also provides an end of arm tooling device for a robot above-described.

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Rochester Hills, MI, United States of America

Stephen St Angelo, Jr