Assembly apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11517992-B2
Application number	US-202017061659-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 2, 2020
Priority date	Nov 11, 2019
Publication date	Dec 6, 2022
Grant date	Dec 6, 2022

Abstract

An assembly apparatus includes a retainer, a position measurement device, and a machining device. The retainer is configured to hold an assembly. The position measurement device is configured to measure a difference between an intended machining position and an actual machining position of a first coupling hole in a first assembly component. The first coupling hole is capable of being coupled to the assembly. The machining device is configured to form a second coupling hole capable of communicating with the first coupling hole in the assembly based on a reference position set on the assembly and the difference.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An aircraft wing assembly apparatus for fastening a first assembly component to an assembly, the first assembly component including a first coupling hole through which a fastening member for the fastening is insertable, the assembly apparatus comprising:
a first retainer configured to hold the first assembly component in a first position when performing the fastening, the first retainer comprising a first portion that indicates a first reference position;
a second retainer configured to hold the assembly in a second position when performing the fastening, the second retainer comprising the second position when performing the fastening, the second retainer comprising a second reference portion that indicates a second reference position;
a drilling machine comprising a robot arm that holds a drilling tool and configured to form a second coupling hole through which the fastening member is insertable in the assembly by using the drilling tool; and
a laser scanner configured to measure a three-dimensional position of a three-dimensional object,
wherein the laser scanner is configured to:
store a first intended machining position of the first coupling hole and a second intended machining position of the second coupling hole, the first intended machining position is defined relative to the first reference position, the second intended machining position is defined relative to the second reference position;
in a state where the first assembly component is held by the first retainer, measure a three-dimensional position of the first reference portion and an actual machining position of the first coupling hole;
calculate a difference between the measured actual machining position of the first coupling hole and the stored first intended machining position of the first coupling hole, and

wherein the drilling machine is configured to:
determine a target position shifted from the stored second intended machining position of the second coupling hole by the calculated difference; and
in a state where the assembly is held by the second retainer, form the second coupling hole in the assembly by moving the drilling tool to the determined target position based on the measured relative position of the drilling tool and the measured three-dimensional position of the second reference portion.

2. The aircraft wing assembly apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the laser scanner is positioned in a fixed position relative to a base of the robot arm.

Assignees

• Subaru Corp

Inventors

• Sato Yoichi
• Kikuchi Marosuke

Classifications

• B23B35/00

  Methods for boring or drilling, or for working essentially requiring the use of boring or drilling machines; Use of auxiliary equipment in connection with such methods · CPC title

• B23B2215/04

  Aircraft components · CPC title

• B64F5/10

  Manufacturing or assembling aircraft, e.g. jigs therefor · CPC title

• B64C3/185

  Spars · CPC title

• B23B49/00

  Measuring or gauging equipment on boring machines for positioning or guiding the drill; Devices for indicating failure of drills during boring; Centering devices for holes to be bored (marking-out equipment B25H7/00; measuring devices, gauges G01B) · CPC title