Importance

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Abstract

An automotive framing system is disclosed for positioning an underbody component with at least two body side components wherein the body side components are positioned on top of the underbody component to form a body preassembly. The system includes a conveyor for sequentially moving body preassemblies to a predetermined assembly station. At least two frames are selectively positioned at the assembly station and each frame includes structural beams extending over and around the sides of a body preassembly position at the assembly station. At least one lifting rail is vertically slidably mounted to each frame and movable between an upper and a lower position. In its upper position, one or more locators on the lifting rail register with locator receptors on the underbody component so that, as the lifting rail moves from its lower and to its upper position, the lifting rail elevates the underbody component from the conveyor to a predetermined position. A lifter at the assembly station selectively moves the lifting rails between their upper and lower positions. With the lifting rails in their upper position, clamping assemblies mounted to the frame selectively engage and hold the body components at a predetermined position relative to each other whereupon the body components are secured together in any conventional fashion, such as by a tack weld or clinching system.

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First Claim