The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 23, 2005
Filed:
Mar. 28, 2003
Velibor Kilabarda, Birmingham, MI (US);
Leonard A. Zanger, Bloomfield Hills, MI (US);
Velibor Kilabarda, Birmingham, MI (US);
Leonard A. Zanger, Bloomfield Hills, MI (US);
Progressive Tool & Industries Co., Southfield, MI (US);
Abstract
An apparatus and method for randomly interchanging up to four pairs of side framing gates at a framing station of a vehicle assembly line while maintaining a predetermined build cycle time interval of the assembly line. The system employs first and second carousels positioned on opposite sides of the assembly line upstream of the framing station and third and fourth carousels positioned on opposite sides of the production line downstream of the framing station. The system further includes a first linear track structure extending from the first carousel to a first side of the framing station, a second linear track structure extending from the second carousel to a second, opposite side of the framing station, a third linear track structure extending from the third carousel to the first side of the framing station, a third linear track structure extending from the third carousel to the first side of the framing station, and a fourth linear track structure extending from the fourth carousel to the second side of the framing station. The carousel includes at least two sides, possibly three sides, four sides or more, each side capable of receiving a framing gate. The framing gates positioned at the framing station are randomly interchanged by a combination of rotary movements of the carousels and linear movements of framing gates along the linear track structures.