Method for controlling automotive vehicle assembly and a system performing the method

Claim 1

A method for controlling assembly of various types of assemblies in a single assembly line from a plurality of components, each of said components being variable in type in correspondence with the type of assembly to be assembled, the method comprising the steps of: sequentially feeding information concerning type and identification of components to be assembled into final assemblies, in an order of assembly; preparing first encoded signs according to the information and identification sequentially provided, each of said encoded signs containing information of the corresponding final assembly to be assembled and identification of the components to be assembled; forming a base component to which other components are assembled to form the assembly of the type corresponding to that identified by said information and identification; attaching one of said encoded signs on said base component; applying a first visual marking for each of said other components, said first visual marking being variable for identifying the type of the corresponding individual component; reading said attached encoded sign on said base component for recognizing identification of other components to be assembled to said base component for forming the final assembly of the type identified by said encoded sign; applying a plurality of second visual markings on predetermined portions of said base component, each of said second visual markings identifying one component to be assembled to said base component and having said first visual marking identical thereto; and selecting said other components, each having the said first visual marking identical to the corresponding second visual marking and assembling the selected components to said base component.

Claim 2

A method for controlling assembly of various types of assemblies in a single assembly line from a plurality of components, each of said components being variable in type in correspondence with the type of assembly to be assembled, the method comprising the steps of: sequentially feeding information concerning type and identification of components to be assembled into final assemblies, in an order of assembly; preparing first encoded signs according to the information and identification sequentially provided, each of said encoded signs containing information of the corresponding final assembly to be assembled and identification of the components to be assembled; forming a base component to which other components are assembled to form the assembly of the type corresponding to that identified by said information and identification; attaching one of said encoded signs on said base component; applying a first visual marking for each of said other components, said first visual marking being variable for identifying the type of the corresponding individual component; reading said attached encoded sign on said base component for recognizing identification of other components to be assembled to said base component for forming the final assembly of the type identified by said encoded sign; applying a plurality of second visual markings on predetermined portions of said base component, each of said second visual markings identifying one component to be assembled to said base component and having said first visual marking identical thereto; and selecting said other components, each having the said first visual marking identical to the corresponding second visual marking and assembling the selected components to said base component.

Claim 3

A method for controlling assembly of various types of assemblies in a single assembly line from a plurality of components, each of said components being variable in type in correspondence with the type of assembly to be assembled, the method comprising the steps of: preparing a bar-code label carrying a bar-code representative of one of the types of assemblies and identifying components to be assembled; forming a base component to which other components are assembled to form the assembly corresponding to that identified by said bar-code; attaching said bar-code label onto said base component at a predetermined position of said base component; reading said bar-code on said bar-code label and deriving said other components to be assembled to said base component; applying a color mark on each of said other components, said color mark being of variable color chosen to identify the type of said component; applying color marks on predetermined portions of said base component, each of said color marks on said base component corresponding to the information contained in said bar-code and identifying the type of said other components to be assembled to said base component in the vicinity of said predetermined portions; and selecting said other components having the same color marks as those on the corresponding portion of said base component and attaching the selected components to said base component.

Claim 4

A method for controlling assembly of various types of assemblies in a single assembly line from a plurality of components, each of said components being variable in type in correspondence with the type of assembly to be assembled, the method comprising the steps of: preparing a bar-code label carrying a bar-code representative of one of the types of assemblies and identifying components to be assembled; forming a base component to which other components are assembled to form the assembly corresponding to that identified by said bar-code; attaching said bar-code label onto said base component at a predetermined position of said base component; reading said bar-code on said bar-code label and deriving said other components to be assembled to said base component; applying a color mark on each of said other components, said color mark being of variable color chosen to identify the type of said component; applying color marks on predetermined portions of said base component, each of said color marks on said base component corresponding to the information contained in said bar-code and identifying the type of said other components to be assembled to said base component in the vicinity of said predetermined portions; and selecting said other components having the same color marks as those on the corresponding portion of said base component and attaching the selected components to said base component.

Claim 10

A method for controlling an assembly operation in a metal line of a vehicle body assembly line, comprising the steps of: preparing a bar-code label carrying a bar-code representative of one of a plurality of types of assemblies and identifying components to be assembled; forming various models of body preassemblies and feeding the body preassemblies to said metal line; attaching said bar-code label onto said base component at a predetermined position of said base component; forming a plurality of body subassemblies and putting color marks of specific distinct colors identifying the types of each of said subassemblies; sorting the body subassemblies in a storage area according to the types thereof as identified by said color marks; reading said bar-code on said bar-code label and deriving said other components to be assembled to said base component; putting color marks having a color matching those of the body subassemblies identified by said bar-code and to be attached to said body preassembly to corresponding positions of said body assembly; and selecting subassemblies having color marks of the same color as a body preassembly and attaching same to the body preassembly.

Claim 11

A method for controlling an assembly operation in a metal line of a vehicle body assembly line, comprising the steps of: preparing a bar-code label carrying a bar-code representative of one of a plurality of types of assemblies and identifying components to be assembled; forming various models of body preassemblies and feeding the body preassemblies to said metal line; attaching said bar-code label onto said base component at a predetermined position of said base component; forming a plurality of body subassemblies and putting color marks of specific distinct colors identifying the types of each of said subassemblies; sorting the body subassemblies in a storage area according to the types thereof as identified by said color marks; reading said bar-code on said bar-code label and deriving said other components to be assembled to said base component; putting color marks having a color matching those of the body subassemblies identified by said bar-code and to be attached to said body preassembly to corresponding positions of said body assembly; and selecting subassemblies having color marks of the same color as a body preassembly and attaching same to the body preassembly.

Claim 17

A method for controlling an assembly operation in a metal line of a vehicle body assembly line, comprising the steps of: sequentially feeding information concerning types, models and specifications of various body assemblies to be assembled in a single sequence of assembly lines and identification of components to be assembled into final vehicle body assemblies, in an order to assembly; preparing encoded signs according to the information of the types, models and specifications of the vehicle body assembly to be assembled and identification sequentially provided, each of said encoded signs containing information of the corresponding final assembly to be assembled and identification of the components to be assembled; forming a body preassembly to which one or more body subassemblies are to be assembled for forming desired type, model and specification of vehicle body assembly, and feeding said body preassembly to the metal line; providing various body subassemblies each of which corresponds to the type, model and specification of said body assembly as a final assembly in said metal line; attaching one of said encoded signs on said body preassembly; applying a first visual marking for each of said subassemblies, said first visual marking being variable for identifying the type of the corresponding individual subassembly; reading said encoded sign on said body preassembly for recognizing identification of one or more subassemblies to be assembled to said body preassembly for forming the final assembly of the type identified by said encoded sign; applying a plurality of second visual markings on predetermined portions of said body preassembly, each of said second visual markings identifying one or more subassemblies to be assembled to said body preassembly and having said first visual marking identical thereto; and selecting said subassemblies, each having the said first visual marking identical to the corresponding second visual marking and assembling the selected components to said body preassembly.

Claim 18

A method for controlling an assembly operation in a metal line of a vehicle body assembly line, comprising the steps of: sequentially feeding information concerning types, models and specifications of various body assemblies to be assembled in a single sequence of assembly lines and identification of components to be assembled into final vehicle body assemblies, in an order to assembly; preparing encoded signs according to the information of the types, models and specifications of the vehicle body assembly to be assembled and identification sequentially provided, each of said encoded signs containing information of the corresponding final assembly to be assembled and identification of the components to be assembled; forming a body preassembly to which one or more body subassemblies are to be assembled for forming desired type, model and specification of vehicle body assembly, and feeding said body preassembly to the metal line; providing various body subassemblies each of which corresponds to the type, model and specification of said body assembly as a final assembly in said metal line; attaching one of said encoded signs on said body preassembly; applying a first visual marking for each of said subassemblies, said first visual marking being variable for identifying the type of the corresponding individual subassembly; reading said encoded sign on said body preassembly for recognizing identification of one or more subassemblies to be assembled to said body preassembly for forming the final assembly of the type identified by said encoded sign; applying a plurality of second visual markings on predetermined portions of said body preassembly, each of said second visual markings identifying one or more subassemblies to be assembled to said body preassembly and having said first visual marking identical thereto; and selecting said subassemblies, each having the said first visual marking identical to the corresponding second visual marking and assembling the selected components to said body preassembly.