Patent · US Expired

Method and system for constraining and for opening, holding and closing a hinged magnetic member of a body

US5286160A · kind A · utility

11Cited by
7References
16Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 11, 1992
Grant dateFeb 15, 1994
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 11, 2012

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB62D65/14
  • WIPO fieldHandling
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

Method and system are provided wherein a process robot moves the door of a vehicle to an open position, performs a robotically controlled process within the vehicle and then moves the door back to a closed position. A separate, two-axis programmable arm holds the door in the open position. In particular, the process robot has attached thereto a tool extension whereby the process robot goes in through a window opening of the door of the vehicle, executes a door open path where the door contacts the inner panel of the door and opens the door over a magnetic holder positioned on the two-axis programmable arm below the bottom of the door. The magnet is of sufficient magnetic strength to accurately hold the door at the programmed holding position of the two-axis arm. The process robot then performs a production operation (i.e. painting, priming, sealing, etc.) within the vehicle. The process robot then inserts the tool extension into the window slot of the door and closes the door without touching the processed surfaces of the vehicle.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.