Kuka Systems Corporation North America

Thomas William French

Timothy James Marx

Aaron K Kinsella

Scott McIsaac

Craig Richard Nilson

Jason Edmunn Messner

Thomas Jon Nieman

Kenneth Michael Boulan

A system for automatically handling components to be assembled onto a product on an assembly line includes a carriage that is movable to and between a first, retracted position spaced from the assembly line, and a second position displaced from the retracted position in a direction toward the assembly line. A manipulator on the carriage supports a component mounting tool configured to receive and support at least one component for assembly to the product. The manipulator may be arranged in a first orientation when the carriage is in the first position, and may be pivoted to a second orientation when the carriage is in the second position, such that a component on the component mounting tool is supported in a pose for processing when the carriage is in the first position, and is supported in a pose for joining to the product when the carriage is in the second position.

System and method for automated assembly of components

A tool for forming an attachment pad on a sheet material includes an anvil supported on a housing and defining a working axis for forming the pad. A slide block is supported on the housing for movement at least along the working axis, and a die block is supported opposite the slide block and is movable in directions along the working axis to cooperate with anvil to form the pad. At least one actuator on the housing biases the slide block in a direction toward the die block. The actuator is operable in a first mode wherein the slide block is movable toward and away from the die block, and a second mode wherein the slide block is locked against movement in a direction away from the die block. A selectively adjustable counterbalance device cooperates with the actuator to counterbalance a force applied to the slide block by the actuator.

Apparatus and methods for forming attachment pads

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Petersburg, MI, United States of America

Thomas William French