US 12,258,225 B2
System and method for automated assembly of components
Timothy James Marx, Macomb, MI (US); Thomas William French, Petersburg, MI (US); Aaron K. Kinsella, Sterling Heights, MI (US); Thomas Jon Nieman, Shelby Township, MI (US); Scott McIsaac, Waterford, MI (US); Craig Richard Nilson, Macomb, MI (US); Kenneth Michael Boulan, Sterling Heights, MI (US); and Jason Edmunn Messner, Allenton, MI (US)
Assigned to KUKA Systems North America LLC, Sterling Heights, MI (US)
Filed by KUKA Systems North America LLC, Sterling Heights, MI (US)
Filed on Feb. 9, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/171,688.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/006,491, filed on Apr. 7, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0309466 A1, Oct. 7, 2021
Int. Cl. B65G 47/91 (2006.01); B62D 65/06 (2006.01); B25J 15/06 (2006.01)
CPC B65G 47/918 (2013.01) [B62D 65/06 (2013.01); B65G 47/914 (2013.01); B25J 15/0616 (2013.01); B65G 2811/0663 (2013.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for automatically handling components to be assembled onto a product on an assembly line, the system comprising:
a frame locatable adjacent the assembly line;
a carriage supported on the frame for movement to and between a first, retracted position spaced a distance away from the assembly line, and a second, work position displaced from the retracted position in a direction toward the assembly line;
a multi-axis articulating manipulator supported on the carriage, the manipulator including a base coupled with the carriage and a tool mounting plate controllably movable relative to the base in at least three degrees of freedom;
the manipulator base arranged in a first orientation when the carriage is in the first position, and pivoted to a second orientation when the carriage is in the second position; and
a component mounting tool coupled with the tool mounting plate of the manipulator, the component mounting tool configured to receive and support at least one component for assembly to the product;
wherein a component on the component mounting tool is supported in a pose for loading and/or processing when the carriage is in the first position, and the component is supported in a pose for joining to the product when the carriage is in the second position.