Process for connecting a window pane to a window lifter

Details Process for connecting a window pane to a window lifter Process for connecting a window pane to a window lifter

1999-07-29

2001-06-19

Echols, P. W. (Department: 3726)

Metal working

Method of mechanical manufacture

Assembling or joining

C029S407010, C029S430000, C029S281500

Reexamination Certificate

active

06247218

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention concerns a process and a device for connecting a window pane with a window lifter disposed in the door body of a motor vehicle.
In the assembly of a motor vehicle door
2
according to
FIG. 1
, the motor vehicle door
2
is moved along an assembly line by means of a transport device
4
and, first, a window lifter
3
in the form of a cable window lifter depicted in
FIG. 1
or a cross arm window lifter is inserted into the door body
20
of the motor vehicle door
2
and connected to an inside panel, carrier panel, or door module of the motor vehicle door
2
. Before the connection of the window lifter
3
to a window pane
1
, the tabs
33
,
34
of the window lifter
3
guided in the guide rails
31
,
32
are moved into a position A adjacent to the upper edge
21
of the motor vehicle door
2
. The window pane
1
held in a jig
6
above the door body
20
of the motor vehicle door
2
is next inserted with its bottom edge
11
in a slit formed on the upper edge
21
of the motor vehicle door
2
into the shaft of the door body
20
and set in the tabs
33
,
34
.
Since in this upper position A, adjustment and clamping of the window pane
1
to the attachment points
15
,
16
in the tabs
33
,
34
is not possible because of the construction of the door body
20
, the window lifter
3
is moved by means of the window lifter drive
30
and the cable
39
into an adjustment and clamping position B, at which point the bottom edge
11
of the window pane
1
is connected to the tabs
33
,
34
.
For the precise alignment of the window pane
1
relative to the car door
2
, the window lifter
3
is again moved into position A such that the top edge
12
and one or both side edges
13
,
14
of the window pane come into position against the jig
6
. In this position, the window pane
1
is readjusted and then driven again by means of the window lifter
3
to the adjustment and clamping position B, at which point the bottom edge
11
of the window pane
1
is clamped into the tabs
33
,
34
.
By moving again to the top positions A, it is possible to verify the correct alignment of the window pane
1
relative to the door body
20
or to the motor vehicle door
2
. If the alignment of the window pane
1
is incorrect, the window pane is again moved to the adjustment and clamping position B depicted by broken lines and the window pane
1
is readjusted by loosening the clamping of the bottom edge
11
of the window pane
1
in the tabs
33
,
34
and reconnecting the window panel with tabs
33
,
34
of the window lifter
3
positively and/or non-positively. These assembly steps are repeated until the window pane
1
is precisely aligned.
The known assembly process does not ensure a reliable and positionally accurate placement of the window pane
1
relative to the motor vehicle door
2
. After insertion of the window pane
1
and a one-time movement to the adjustment and clamping position B, it may be necessary to move the window pane
1
several times between positions A and B. This repetitive process is associated with a high expenditure of time for the exact adjustment and alignment of the window pane
1
.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention is to simplify and shorten the assembly process such that the assembly and adjustment expenditure, the costs of the assembly process and the cycle times are reduced.
This object is accomplished according to the present invention.
The solution according to the present invention enables automatic alignment of the window pane by using gravity to hold the window pane, in a jig, moving the window lifter to the adjustment and clamping position, and clamping the window pane in this position. This process a lowers the assembly and adjustment expenditure, as well as reducing the cost of the assembly process and possibly reducing cycle times.
The solution according to the present invention starts from the knowledge that in the prior art assembly, gravity interferes with the adjustment of the window pane relative to the motor vehicle door because no active elements are present holding the position of the window pane. With movement of the window lifter into the upper position with normal placement of the motor vehicle door, i.e., with the outward movement of the window pane, the adjustment elements are not accessible, such that it is necessary to alternate between the position in which the window pane is accepted by the window lifter and the position in which the window pane is adjusted and clamped in. By rotating the assembly direction to an “upside down” assembly position, gravity is used both for the automatic alignment of the window pane in a jig holding the window pane and for maintaining this alignment such that only a one-time movement to the adjustment and clamping position is necessary.
To connect the window pane automatically aligned in the jig with the holding and guide elements of the window lifter, the window pane held in the jig and the door body are moved relative to each other until the attachment point(s) of the window pane can be connected with the tabs of the window lifter in the predefined final position, i.e., in the adjustment and clamping position. This relative movement during the bringing together of the door body or of the window lifter attached in the door body and the window pane can occur by lifting the window pane held in the jig, lowering the door body with the window lifter attached therein, or lowering the door body with simultaneous lifting of the window pane or the jig to hold the window pane.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the solution according to the present invention, the door body and the jig are brought into the “upside down position” by means of a guide device, whereby the guide device determines the path of the bringing together of the door body and the window pane until the final or adjustment position is reached. The bringing together of the window pane and the door body can occur by means of a movement of the jig and/or the door body on a predefined assembly path such that a reliable, reproducible movement of the door body and the window pane is guaranteed in the assembly process.
The window pane and the door body may be aligned perpendicular to each other before assembly, i.e., the planes of the window pane and of the door body form a right angle with the horizontal plane or the assembly floor such that the window pane is guided perpendicularly into the door shaft or the door shaft perpendicularly accepts the window pane. Alternatively, the “upside down assembly” can take place relative to horizontal plane at angle of inclination of the window pane which is less than 90° such that the assembly path runs at a predefined angle relative to the horizontal plane.
In an advantageous improvement of the process according to the present invention, a plurality of window panes are placed in a magazine provided with jigs and the magazine is moved substantially perpendicular to the conveyor direction of the motor vehicle door in the “upside down position” to the subsequent connection of the window pane to the window lifter located in the door body.
With the supplying of a plurality of window panes with the jigs aligned and holding the window panes in a magazine, first, the cycle time of the assembly process is further shortened since to supply a window pane, the magazine must merely be moved farther by one unit crosswise to the transport direction of the motor vehicle door, and, also, a compact transport unit with a plurality of window panes, brought together in the magazine is produced.
In one embodiment of the process according to the present invention, the window pane is clamped before connection by its edge or in the region of its top edge in removable attachment parts of a lifting device. This supplying of the window panes in a device, like a “counter window lifter,” combines the holding and alignment of the window pane with the guidance of the window pane along the predefined assembly path such that the assembly process is further si

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