Cassette fed automated clip application system

1. An automated clip application system for fitting clips in an automotive assembly line, the system comprising:

a cassette receiving station for receiving at least one cassette, which, in use, is preloaded with a plurality of clips, each of the plurality of clips being arranged in the same orientation;

a dispensing opening for dispensing the clips from the cassette;

a grabbing member which is moveable between a first position in which it engages with the dispensing opening so as to grab a clip positioned at the dispensing opening, and a second position in which it is withdrawn from an end of the dispensing opening so as to position the grabbed clip spaced apart from the dispensing opening; and

a robotic member programmed to pick up the clip from the grabbing member when it is in the second position and fasten the clip in position in an assembly.

2. The automated clip application system according to claim 1 , wherein the grabbing member comprises a pair of jaws which are actuatable to move between a closed position and an open position, the grabbing member being configured to move from its second position to its first position with the jaws open such that a clip in the dispensing opening engages between the jaws, the jaws then being closable around the clip to retain it therein as the grabbing member is withdrawn back to the second position.

3. The automated clip application system according to claim 2 , wherein the jaws are pneumatically actuated to move between the open and closed positions.

4. The automated clip application system according to claim 1 , further including a dispensing channel having a first end which aligns with a clip holding channel in a cassette which, in use, is positioned at a clip dispensing station of the system, and a second end which forms the dispensing opening.

5. The automated clip application system according to claim 4 , further including a gate member at the second end of the dispensing channel for controlling passage of clips out of the dispensing channel.

6. The automated clip application system according to claim 1 , wherein the grabbing member is configured to grab each clip by a bottom end thereof, which, in use, constitutes an end of the clip, which is inserted into a mounting opening, so that another end is presented for engagement by the robotic member.

7. The automated clip application system according to claim 1 , wherein the, or each, cassette is mounted on a cassette receiving section at an inclination such that an outlet end of each cassette is lowermost to effect gravity feeding of clips out of the cassette.

8. The automated clip application system according to claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of cassettes loaded onto the cassette receiving station in a vertical stack one on top another, cassette at the bottom of the stack being aligned with the dispensing opening such that clips can be dispensed from the cassette.

9. The automated clip application system according to claim 8 , wherein remaining cassettes are biased downwards such that upon removal of the cassette from the bottom of the stack, an adjacent cassette automatically moves to the bottom of the stack and into alignment with the dispensing opening.

10. The automated clip application system according to claim 8 , wherein the cassette receiving station further includes an empty cassette stacking section, the cassette aligned with the dispensing opening being moveable therefrom to the empty cassette stacking station where emptied cassettes are stacked one on top of another in a vertical stack.

11. A method of supplying clips to a mated clip application system, comprising:

sorting a plurality of clips using a clip sorting assembly having:

a feeder for receiving and sorting clips into a loading channel in a fixed orientation such that all clips in the loading channel are in the same orientation and configuration,

a cassette loading station having a loading area for receiving an empty cassette in alignment with the loading channel for loading clips from the loading channel into the empty cassette, and

a gate member associated with the loading channel for controlling passage of clips out of the loading channel into the empty cassette positioned in the loading area;

loading the clips into a plurality of cassettes in the cassette loading station, inverting the plurality of cassettes,

loading the inverted cassettes into a cassette receiving station of an automated clip application system having:

the cassette receiving station for receiving at least one cassette, which, in use, is preloaded with a plurality of clips, each of the plurality of clips being arranged in the same orientation,

a dispensing opening for dispensing the clips from the cassette,

a grabbing member which is moveable between a first position in which it engages with the dispensing opening so as to grab a clip positioned at the dispensing opening, and a second position in which it is withdrawn from an end of the dispensing opening so as to position the grabbed clip spaced apart from the dispensing opening, and

a robotic member programmed to pick up the clip from the grabbing member when it is in the second position and fasten the clip in position in an assembly; and

fitting the clips from the cassettes one at a time using the robotic member.