DOOR CLOSURE FOR AUTOMOTIVE MANUFACTURING PROCESS

FERMETURE DE PORTE DESTINEE A UN PROCEDE DE FABRICATION AUTOMOBILE

English Abstract

This invention relates to a wire bended door spring clip that is used to keep
the automotive door closed
in manufacturing process

Description

Description:
Abstract
1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a clip that is used to hold a door closed
during electro-coating and
painting of a vehicle.
3. Background information
It is common in manufacturing to keep the doors closed in order to meet the
processing requirements
and prevent dents and damages that occur if the door swings open
Several tools are used to keep the doors closed but due to the lack of
retention force those tools fail to
keep the doors closed at all times. In addition, those tools may be required
to be mechanically fastened
to the vehicle body. These tools may create mechanical abrasion between the
door and vehicle body.
This in-turn shaves metal and paint while the deposits accumulate on the
vehicle body and when
painted, creates defect. Removal of those tools are required before the door
latch installation and other
potential damage may occur due to potential contact on the painted surface
2. Description
Vehicles are manufactured on assembly lines where component parts are
assembled together. Painted
frame body components including body panels, doors and structural components
are assembled and
then electro-coated and painted as a final unit to ensure acceptable paint
quality. During painting, the
doors are opened and closed multiple times by both humans and operators. There
is also motions
involved when transferring vehicles from one station to another. Henceforth,
this drives the
requirement to keep the door closed while maintaining the minimum gap to allow
appropriate paint
flow and no contact between the door and the vehicle body. Temporary clips or
other tools have been
proposed but may be unacceptable due to various reasons such as the
effectiveness of the tools, cost, or
because of unintended motions during the vehicle manufacturing process.
The present invention is directed to providing an improved method of holding a
vehicle door closed and
to an improved removable clip that is effective and may be provided at a
relatively low cost. Further,
installation and removal of the clip do not substantially complicate the
vehicle manufacturing process
and do not require additional process steps, tools or added labor costs.
Summary
CA 3002098 2018-04-18