Jeffrey Regan Angel

US Patent:

6378186, Apr 30, 2002

Filed:

May 9, 1997

Appl. No.:

08/853544

Inventors:

Jeffrey R. Angel - Oxford MI

Assignee:

Progressive Tool Industries Co. - Southfield MI

International Classification:

B25B 2714

US Classification:

292811, 292815, 29822

Abstract:

A framing system and framing device for assembling and welding a body-in-white. The framing system utilizes completely separate framing and welding operations, which are typically intermixed in conventional framing systems. The framing device is a unitary frame structure within which an underbody, side frames and other body components can each be supported and accurately positioned with respect to each other prior to the welding operation. The framing device includes a cart which serves as the base and main support for the framing device, and an upper body support member. Using an appropriate number of clamping devices, the net positions of the body components which constitute the body-in-white are properly established and maintained, such that gate fixtures are unnecessary during the welding operation. The structure of the framing device provides considerable access to the body-in-white supported within the interior of the framing device, such that a greater number of welding guns can be used during the welding operation. As a result, essentially all of the welds necessary to achieve and maintain the rigidity and geometry of the body-in-white can be formed during a single welding operation.

US Patent:

6662083, Dec 9, 2003

Filed:

Oct 29, 2001

Appl. No.:

10/075852

Inventors:

Jeffrey R. Angel - Lake Orion MI

Assignee:

Progressive Tool Industries Co. - Southfield MI

International Classification:

G05B 19418

US Classification:

700248, 700174, 700245, 700249, 700250, 700251, 700254, 700262, 29430, 29469, 29711, 29712, 29791, 29822, 701 23, 901 1

Abstract:

A workstation having multiple robots and multiple fixtures for processing multiple workpieces along two processing paths. A first fixture can be positioned on the first processing path and a second fixture can be positioned on the second processing path. The multiple robots are positioned between the two paths and are moveable to process workpieces moving along both the first and second paths. The robots can be welding robots. The robots can be independently moveable with respect to each other to enhance the efficiency of the workstation. The robots can have overlapping ranges of movement so that every portion of the workpiece can be processed by at least two of the robots.

US Patent:

6723944, Apr 20, 2004

Filed:

Nov 18, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/298818

Inventors:

Jeffrey R. Angel - Lake Orion MI

Assignee:

Progressive Tool Industries Co. - Southfield MI

International Classification:

B23K 1110

US Classification:

219 90, 219120

Abstract:

A pinch type weld gun wherein the weld arms are pivotally mounted on the frame structure via a ball bearing structure including annular members of insulative material positioned in apertures in the weld arms, inner races fixedly mounted on a common pivot pin, outer races positioned within the respective insulative annular members, and ball races positioned between the respective inner races and respective outer races. A shunt is fixedly secured at one end thereof to a gun electrode and fixedly secured at another end thereof to the gun transformer, and the other end of the shunt defines a coolant passage communicating with the transformer coolant passage system whereby coolant may be delivered to the transformer coolant passage system through the coolant passage in the other end of the shunt. A second shunt fixedly secured at one end thereof to a further electrode and fixedly secured at another end thereof to the transformer defines a further coolant passage in the other end thereof communicating with the transformer coolant passage system so that the coolant may be delivered to the transformer coolant passage system through the coolant passage in the other end of the first shunt and discharged from the transformer coolant passage system through the coolant passage in the other end of the second shunt to provide a continuous flow of coolant through the transformer coolant passage system. A cooling liquid distribution block is mounted on the gun frame at a location remote from the electrodes and concentric tubing extends from the distribution block to the electrodes for respective connection to concentric passageways defined in the electrodes.

US Patent:

6787729, Sep 7, 2004

Filed:

Oct 21, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/274607

Inventors:

Michael R. Dugas - Brighton MI
Velibor Kilibarda - Birmingham MI
Jeffrey R. Angel - Lake Orion MI

Assignee:

Progressive Tool Industries Co. - Southfield MI

International Classification:

B23K 1110

US Classification:

219 8632, 901 42

Abstract:

A multi-axis articulatable robot with a weld gun having a pair of opposing arms, where at least one arm is movable relative to the other arm to apply pressure to a workpiece during a welding operation. At least one of the opposing arms of the weld gun can be rotatable or translatable relative to the other arm. At least one arm is moved relative to the other arm by an inverted roller screw linear actuator. The robot can include an electric controller for controlling the operation of the actuator of the weld gun as an additional axis of the robot movement. The actuator can be mounted on either of the opposing arms.

US Patent:

6909064, Jun 21, 2005

Filed:

May 13, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/437311

Inventors:

Jeffrey R. Angel - Lake Orion MI, US

Assignee:

Progressive Tool & Industries Co. - Southfield MI

International Classification:

B23K011/24

US Classification:

219116

Abstract:

A weld gun including a frame structure, a weld arm mounted on the frame structure, an electrode mounted on the weld arm and including an electrode cap at one end of the electrode, a transformer, and a shunt fixedly secured at one end thereof to another end of the electrode and fixedly secured at another end thereof to the transformer. The electrode is elongated and defines a longitudinal axis, the shunt end of the electrode defines a shunt mounting surface that is oblique with respect to the longitudinal electrode axis, and the electrode end of the shunt defines a mounting surface adapted to seat on the mounting surface of the electrode and operative when so seated to position the end portion of the shunt defining the electrode end of the shunt obliquely with respect to the longitudinal axis of the electrode whereby to reduce the total angular curvature of the shunt between the weld arm and the transformer and thereby reduce the stress and strain in the shunt produced by repeated operation of the weld gun with consequent longer shunt life.

US Patent:

20020111702, Aug 15, 2002

Filed:

Jun 21, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/886726

Inventors:

Jeffrey Angel - Lake Orion MI, US

International Classification:

G08B023/00
G05B009/02
H02H001/00

US Classification:

700/079000, 307/326000

Abstract:

An apparatus and method for controlling equipment in response to a proximity signal from one or more chips and sensors for detecting proximity of an individual with respect to a manufacturing device. A chip can be retained by an individual and a sensor can be mounted on the manufacturing device. When the individual retaining the chip comes into a predetermined proximity with the sensor, the sensor can emit a signal. The signal can be received by an electric control device for disengaging operation of the machine or for placing the machine in a safe mode in response to the signal. The chip and the signal can interact in a first manner where the chip emits a signal receivable by the sensor. Alternatively, the chip and sensor can interact where the sensor emits a signal creating a field for identifying when a chip enters the signal generated field.

US Patent:

20040045938, Mar 11, 2004

Filed:

May 13, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/437357

Inventors:

Jeffrey Angel - Lake Orion MI, US

International Classification:

B23K011/10

US Classification:

219/086250

Abstract:

A weld gun including a frame structure, a weld arm structure mounted on the frame structure, and an electrode mounted on the weld arm structure. The rear end of the electrode is circular and fits in a circular aperture in the weld arm structure. A radially projecting tab on the electrode fits into a groove in the weld arm structure. The groove opens axially in an end face of the weld arm structure and radially in the aperture in the weld arm structure so that both the axial and angular disposition of the electrode relative to the weld arm structure may be established by simply inserting the tab on the electrode into the groove of the weld arm structure to seat a leading end shoulder on the tab against a blind end shoulder of the groove.

US Patent:

20040045939, Mar 11, 2004

Filed:

May 13, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/437130

Inventors:

Jeffrey Angel - Lake Orion MI, US

International Classification:

B23K011/24

US Classification:

219/116000, 219/086250

Abstract:

A pinch type weld gun wherein a shunt is fixedly secured at one end thereof to a gun electrode and fixedly secured at another end thereof to the gun transformer. The shunt is formed of a plurality of elongated strips of flexible copper material which are arranged in stacked configuration whereafter the end portions of the stack are electrically welded to fuse the end portions together to form solid unified end portions. The strips are unsecured intermediate the unified end portions to form a flexible intermediate portion extending between the transformer and the electrode. The solid end portion of the shunt for securement to the transformer is thereafter machined to form intersecting longitudinal and transverse bores to define a passage for delivery of a coolant fluid to the transformer coolant passage system through the solid end of the shunt.