| US 7,610,668 B2 | ||
| Automated sidewall assembly machine | ||
| Steven A. Sprague, Savannah, Ga. (US); P. Alan Whiten, Savannah, Ga. (US); and R. Wayne Achtziger, Clyo, Ga. (US) | ||
| Assigned to Great Dane Limited Partnership, Chicago, Ill. (US) | ||
| Filed on Apr. 04, 2006, as Appl. No. 11/397,826. | ||
| Prior Publication US 2007/0226978 A1, Oct. 04, 2007 | ||
| Int. Cl. B23P 19/00 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 29—525.06 [29/897.2; 29/34 B; 29/281.1; 29/407.1; 29/407.05; 29/712; 29/564.1; 29/563; 700/113; 700/108] | 34 Claims |
| 1. A method for automatically fastening a sidewall to an upper or lower rail, comprising:
a. providing the sidewall with a first post, said first post attached to an underside of the sidewall, said first post having
a first reference point and a second reference point spaced apart from the first reference point, the first reference point
and the second reference point being detectable from the topside of the sidewall,
providing a carriage movable relative to the longitudinal axis of the sidewall for moving the sidewall, and
providing a machine including a hole puncher, a rivet masher, a first sensor, a second sensor, and a processor;
b. automatically detecting said first post using signals from said first sensor that are sent to said processor,
c. automatically obtaining style information about said sidewall adjacent to said second sensor, via image data obtained from
said second sensor,
d. providing information to the processor from said first sensor and then to an assembly program;
e. automatically punching at least one hole through the sidewall and the upper or lower rail in response to said style information
obtained by said second sensor;
f. inserting a rivet in said at least one hole; and
g. automatically mashing said rivet in response to said information obtained by said second sensor to secure the sidewall
to the upper or lower rail.
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