US-12623740-B2 - Systems and methods for opening and closing vehicle doors during manufacturing

US12623740B2US 12623740 B2US12623740 B2US 12623740B2US-12623740-B2

Abstract

Systems, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to the opening and closing of vehicle doors during manufacturing. In one embodiment, a vehicle door-opening system includes 1) a plate attachable to a vehicle door and 2) a pin inserted into a pin sleeve of the plate. The pin extends downward from the vehicle door. The vehicle door-opening system also includes a set of channels on lateral sides of the vehicle. The set of channels extend in a direction of travel of the vehicle along a manufacturing line. A channel receives and guides the pin as the vehicle moves along the manufacturing line. As the vehicle moves, an interaction between the pin and a curve in the channel opens and closes the vehicle door.

Inventors

Andrew DJ Gifford
Matthew Neal Jantzi
Graham A. Condon
Edwin J. Bates
Christlin Francis
Curtis Cochrane
Nathan Andrew Swick
Solomon HC Au-Yeung
Ankush Patil

Assignees

TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20240430

Claims (20)

1 . A vehicle door-opening system, comprising: a plate attachable to a vehicle door; a pin inserted into a pin sleeve of the plate, the pin extends downward from the vehicle door; and a set of channels on lateral sides of the vehicle, the set of channels extend in a direction of travel of the vehicle along a manufacturing line, wherein each channel receives and guides the pin as the vehicle travels along the manufacturing line, and wherein, as the vehicle travels along the manufacturing line, interaction between the pin and the channel opens and closes the vehicle door.
2 . The vehicle door-opening system of claim 1 , wherein the set of channels comprises: a first branched channel to close a rear door of the vehicle at a first longitudinal position along the manufacturing line; and a second branched channel to close a front door of the vehicle at a second longitudinal position along the manufacturing line.
3 . The vehicle door-opening system of claim 1 , wherein the plate is attached to the vehicle door below a region of the vehicle that is to receive paint.
4 . The vehicle door-opening system of claim 1 , wherein the plate is removably attached to the vehicle door.
5 . The vehicle door-opening system of claim 1 , wherein the pin slides vertically within the channel.
6 . A vehicle door-opening system, comprising: a plate attachable to a vehicle door; a pin inserted into a pin sleeve of the plate, the pin extends downward from the vehicle door; a set of channels on lateral sides of the vehicle, the set of channels extend in a direction of travel of the vehicle along a manufacturing line, a channel receives and guides the pin as the vehicle moves along the manufacturing line, as the vehicle moves an interaction between the pin and a curve in the channel opens and closes the vehicle door; and a diverter to: when in a first position, guide a front door pin to the second branched channel, wherein the front door is maintained open along the second branched channel at the first longitudinal position along the manufacturing line; and when in a second position, guide a rear door pin to the first branched channel, wherein the rear door is closed along the first branched channel at the first longitudinal position along the manufacturing line.
7 . The vehicle door-opening system of claim 6 , further comprising a control system to: monitor entry of the front door pin to the second branched channel; and trigger movement of the diverter from the first position to the second position responsive to the front door pin entering the second branched channel.
8 . The vehicle door-opening system of claim 7 , wherein the control system: monitors entry of the rear door pin to the first branched channel; and triggers actuation of a manufacturing robot responsive to the rear door pin entering the first branched channel.
9 . The vehicle door-opening system of claim 8 , wherein the manufacturing robot is a painting robot that applies paint to the vehicle.
10 . A vehicle door-opening system, comprising: a plate attachable to a vehicle door; a pin inserted into a pin sleeve of the plate, the pin extends downward from the vehicle door; and a set of channels on lateral sides of the vehicle, the set of channels extend in a direction of travel of the vehicle along a manufacturing line, a channel receives and guides the pin as the vehicle moves along the manufacturing line, wherein: the channel curves laterally away from the vehicle, as the vehicle moves an interaction between the pin and the channel opens the vehicle door; and the channel curves laterally toward the vehicle, as the vehicle moves the interaction between the pin and the channel closes the vehicle door.
11 . The vehicle door-opening system of claim 10 , wherein the set of channels includes: a first branched channel to close a rear door of the vehicle at a first longitudinal position along the manufacturing line; and a second branched channel to close a front door of the vehicle at a second longitudinal position along the manufacturing line.
12 . The vehicle door-opening system of claim 11 , further comprising a diverter to: when in a first position, guide a front door pin to the second branched channel, wherein the front door is maintained open along the second branched channel at the first longitudinal position along the manufacturing line; and when in a second position, guide a rear door pin to the first branched channel, wherein the rear door is closed along the first branched channel at the first longitudinal position along the manufacturing line.
13 . The vehicle door-opening system of claim 12 , further comprising a control system to: monitor entry of the front door pin to the second branched channel; and trigger movement of the diverter from the first position to the second position responsive to the front door pin entering the second branched channel.
14 . The vehicle door-opening system of claim 13 , wherein the control system: monitors entry of the rear door pin to the first branched channel; and triggers actuation of a painting robot responsive to the rear door pin entering the first branched channel.
15 . The vehicle door-opening system of claim 10 , wherein the plate is attached to the vehicle door below a region of the vehicle that is to receive paint.
16 . The vehicle door-opening system of claim 10 , wherein the pin slides vertically within the channel.
17 . A vehicle door-opening system, comprising: a plate attachable to a vehicle door; a pin inserted into a pin sleeve of the plate, the pin extends downward from the vehicle door; a set of channels on lateral sides of the vehicle, the set of channels extend in a direction of travel of the vehicle along a manufacturing line, a channel receives and guides the pin as the vehicle moves along the manufacturing line, wherein the set of channels comprises: a first branched channel to close a rear door of the vehicle at a first longitudinal position along the manufacturing line; and a second branched channel to close a front door of the vehicle at a second longitudinal position along the manufacturing line; and a diverter to selectively direct a front door pin to the second branched channel and a rear door pin to the first branched channel.
18 . The vehicle door-opening system of claim 17 , further comprising a control system to: monitor entry of the front door pin to the second branched channel; and trigger movement of the diverter from a first position to a second position responsive to the front door pin entering the second branched channel.
19 . The vehicle door-opening system of claim 18 , wherein the control system: monitors entry of the rear door pin to the first branched channel; and triggers actuation of a painting robot responsive to the rear door pin entering the first branched channel.
20 . The vehicle door-opening system of claim 17 , wherein the plate is attached to the vehicle door below a region of the vehicle that is to receive paint.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The subject matter described herein relates, in general, to opening and closing vehicle doors and, more particularly, to opening and closing vehicle doors as the vehicle travels along a manufacturing line with a pin and channel system. BACKGROUND Vehicles are complex machines of multiple parts and formed by various processes. During vehicle manufacturing, vehicle frames are assembled, components (e.g., tires, doors, seats, windshields, dashboards, electronics, etc.) are added to the vehicle, and the vehicle is treated (e.g., painted) before being provided to a customer. In some cases, many of the manufacturing and assembly operations are performed by automated robots. As vehicles' complexity and technological development increase, so does the complexity of vehicle fabrication and assembly operations. Vehicles may be fabricated using an assembly line production framework where components and operations are performed on a vehicle as it moves from workstation to workstation. For example, a vehicle may be placed on a conveyor belt that moves slowly through a manufacturing facility or a portion of a manufacturing facility, with different operations being performed on the vehicle as it travels. At different points in time, different operations (e.g., painting, welding, component installation) are performed on the vehicle until a completed vehicle “rolls off” the assembly line. As one particular example of a manufacturing operation, the vehicle frame is coated with a base layer, a color layer, a top coat, and other thin films. In an example, protective and/or aesthetic coatings are applied on the interior surfaces of the vehicle. For example, a vehicle door's exterior and interior surfaces may be coated with these or other coatings. SUMMARY In one embodiment, example systems relate to a manner of improving vehicle manufacturing by simply and efficiently opening and closing vehicle doors without reliance on a robotic arm. In one embodiment, a vehicle door-opening system for opening and closing vehicle doors as the vehicle travels along a manufacturing line is disclosed. The vehicle door-opening system includes 1) a plate attachable to a vehicle door and 2) a pin inserted into a pin sleeve of the plate. The pin extends downward from the vehicle door. The vehicle door-opening system also includes a set of channels on lateral sides of the vehicle. The set of channels extend in a direction of travel of the vehicle along a manufacturing line. A channel receives and guides the pin as the vehicle moves along the manufacturing line. As the vehicle moves an interaction between the pin and a curve in the channel opens and closes the vehicle door. In one embodiment, a vehicle door-opening system includes 1) the plate attachable to the vehicle door and 2) the pin inserted into the pin sleeve of the plate and extending downward from the vehicle door. The vehicle door-opening system also includes the set of channels on lateral sides of the vehicle. The set of channels extend in a direction of travel of the vehicle along a manufacturing line. As described above, a channel receives and guides the pin as the vehicle moves along the manufacturing line. The channel curves laterally away from the vehicle such that as the vehicle moves along the manufacturing line, an interaction between the pin and the channel opens the vehicle door. The channel curves laterally toward the vehicle such that as the vehicle moves along the manufacturing line, an interaction between the pin and the channel closes the vehicle door. In one embodiment, a vehicle door-opening system includes 1) the plate attachable to the vehicle door and 2) the pin inserted into the pin sleeve of the plate and extending downward from the vehicle door. The vehicle door-opening system also includes the set of channels on lateral sides of the vehicle. The set of channels extend in a direction of travel of the vehicle along a manufacturing line. As described above, a channel receives and guides the pin as the vehicle moves along the manufacturing line. Each set of channels includes 1) a first branched channel to close a rear door of the vehicle at a first longitudinal position along the manufacturing line and 2) a second branched channel to close a front door of the vehicle at a second longitudinal position along the manufacturing line. The vehicle door-opening system further includes a diverter to direct a front door pin to the second branched channel and a rear door pin to the first branched channel. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate various systems, methods, and other embodiments of the disclosure. It will be appreciated that the illustrated element boundaries (e.g., boxes, groups of boxes, or other shapes) in the figures represent one embodiment of the boundaries. In some embodiments, one element may be designed as multiple elements or multiple element