Utica Enterprises, Inc.

Thomas J Carter

Arthur C Mason

John H Nolan

Robert W Cetnarowski

Ronald B Michalski

Mark A Savoy

Timothy James Marx

Thomas W French

Rudolph A Gansler

A system and method for mounting a vehicle closure member () on a vehicle body () utilizes vision sensing of a master gauge location () of the vehicle body, of coordination formations () on the vehicle body, and of opening extremities of a closure member opening of the vehicle body, and the sensing is used by a controller () to provide mounting of a hinge at a proper location.

Vehicle closure member mounting

A vehicle body assembly line () and method for assembling vehicle bodies utilizes electromagnetic gauging apparatus () to generate production gauge data of an assembly of formed sheet metal components, and an electrical controller () compares the production gauge data to design gauge data to detect any production deviation and is electrically connected to the assembly line to adjust the assembly of the formed sheet metal body components to correct any production deviation detected.

Assembly line and method for vehicle body manufacturing

An assembly line ( ) having particular utility for use in assembling sheet metal parts includes a work station ( ) having one or more production part trays ( ), a pilot part tray ( ) and an indexer ( ) that indexes these part trays in a transverse direction to a direction of conveyance (C) of the assembly line to permit one of the two production part trays ( ) to be used for production or the pilot part tray ( ) to be used for a future pilot test. Detachable couplings ( ) allow the production and pilot part trays to be moved to a maintenance station ( ) that is outside of the assembly line work area ( ).

Assembly line having transversely movable multiple part trays

A rotary index table assembly including an annular positioning mechanism (22) that cooperates with an air bearing (30) to accurately position a rotary index table (14) on a base (12). The annular positioning mechanism (22) includes a base mounted crown gear (24), a table mounted crown gear (26) and a movable crown gear (28) that is moved out of engagement with the base and table mounted crown gears to permit the indexing rotation and that is thereafter moved into engagement with the base and table mounted crown gears to locate the table with respect to the base while the air bearing supports the table on the base to permit the accurate positioning. A rotary drive (18) of the table assembly is preferably constructed to include a double enveloping worm gear set (32) and a polygonal drive coupling (34) that are capable of transmitting relatively large torque to the table while still having a compact construction.

Rotary index table assembly

An apparatus for providing a reciprocating motion. The apparatus has a housing block that contains two movable arms in spaced apart relationship to one another. The movable arms are each controlled by independently attached fluid driven actuator cylinders that are mounted externally of the housing block. Tools for the altering of a workpiece may be attached to one or both ends of the movable arms. An embodiment utilizes a rack and pinion gear arrangement to immobilize any imbalance in forces that may exist when the movable arms are biased against a workpiece.

Fluid cylinder powered tool

An apparatus for providing a reciprocating motion. The apparatus has a housing block that contains two movable arms in spaced apart relationship to one another. The movable arms each contain a rack gear connected to a common pinion gear. One movable arm is driven by a fluid actuated cylinder. The driven movable arm then produces an equal and opposite motion in the other arm because of the interconnection of the pinion gear. Tools for altering of a workpiece may be attached to one or both ends of the movable arms. An embodiment utilizes the rotation of the pinion gear shaft to cause a translation of the entire apparatus away from a workpiece.

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Shelby Township, Macomb County, MI, United States of America

Thomas J Carter