GB2347661A

GB2347661A - Electric conveyor system

Info

Publication number: GB2347661A
Application number: GB0005463A
Authority: GB
Inventors: James R Childs; Aaron Giese
Original assignee: Progressive Tool and Industries Co
Current assignee: Comau LLC
Priority date: 1999-03-08
Filing date: 2000-03-08
Publication date: 2000-09-13
Also published as: GB0005463D0; CA2300537A1

Abstract

A conveyor system for transporting a workpiece, such as an automobile body component, comprises an conveyor rail 10, a workpiece carrier 14 movable along the rail and electrically actuated clamps 16 mounted to the carrier and actuable to alternatively clamp and unclamp the workpiece relative to the carrier. The rail 10 may be electrified and the carrier 14 movable along the rail by an electric motor powered by the rail. The clamps 16 may be powered by electricity supplied from the rail. The rail 10 may be a monorail.

Description

ELECTRIC MONORAIL CONVEYOR SYSTEM The invention relates to an electrically operated conveyor, and more particularly to a electrically operated conveyor that provides a clamping assembly for accurately positioning and clamping main body panels and header members.

Typically, an electric conveyor transports one or more vehicle body side panels or roof panels throughout a body shop and proximate to work stations located at spaced locations along the conveyor path.

Proximate to the work station, the body panel is then conveyed by another apparats to and from the work station. For example, in the case of a body side panel, as the body side panel is traveling on the electric c conveyor and when the body side panel arrives proximate to the work station, the conveyor is stopped and another auxiliary carrier transfers the body side panel to a support frame located at the work station. The body side panel and support frame are manipulated and pivoted so that the panel is clamped to the frame while work operation is performed on the panel. After the work operation has been completed, the body side panel is then transferred back to the electric conveyor for movement to the next work station.

Ic is an objective of this invention to provide a more compact and flexible conveyor system which incorporaces a means for fixing or clamping a body side or roof panel at the individual work station such that a separate manipulator and support frame is in many cases unnecessary. It is a further objective to provide a more compact design that allows for a better means to identify and track the various body and roof panels. It is a further an objective to provide a conveyor system in a body shop that is capable of traveling forward and reverse in the same track during manipulation at the work stations.

Other objects, advantages and applications of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art when the following description of the best mode contemplated for practicing the invention is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

The description herein makes reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views, and wherein: Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a portion of-a typical floor conveyor system having an electric monorail according to the present invention; Fig. 2 is a schematic of a vehicle along the electric monorail system of the present invention; Fig 3 is a side view of a similar power clamp shown in Fig. 2; and Fig. 4 is a schematic of a carrier lowered into position at a framing station.

As shown in Fig. 1, the method for the assembly of automotive vehicles comprises many steps and work stations to provide a finished product.

Looking at Figs. 1-4, the system includes an electric monorail conveyor 10 for handling and conveying body side panel portions 12 of an automotive body to a loading station for framing 20 with respect to an underbody portion and roof panel portion or for other functions such as spray brazing 40 and respotting 45 of the panel portion6 to name a few. Each body panel portion 12 is held within a carrier 14 connecte to an electric drive 17.

Power clamps 16 and electric pins 19 powered by electricity supplied through the electric monorail 10 maintain the body portion 12 within carrier 14. The power clamps 16 rigidly hold the body portion 12 within the carrier 14 so that the body portion 12 is relatively motionless within the carrier 14 to allow work to be performed on the body portions 12 as necessary. The electric clamps 16 preferably have fail-safe locking features which hold them in the clamped positions in the event of a power failure, to provide a secure assembly.

A typical air power clamp used in the prior art is shown in Fig. 3 and manufactured by BTM Corp. of Michigan. A similar power clamp 16 is converted for the present invention to be electrically actuated and receives its power from the monorail 10 via an electric control unit 18. The electric control unit 18 converts the 440 voltage controlling the monorail 10 to the 110 or 120V used for the power clamps 16. The electric control unit 18 is mounted on the carrier 14 and is programmed to control actuation of the electric clamps 16 between the clamped and the unclamped positions as required along the pach of travel.

In addition, the carrier 14 for the body side panel 12 handling conveyor 10 can be moved into position at the automotive framing station 20 or other work station to automatically load and to release the body side panel 12 at the appropriate station with power supplied by the electric monorail 10. As a result, additional external sources of power, such as air pressure, are not required to move the clamping devices holding the body side panel 12 into position or moving the body panel 12 to an independent auxiliary or support frame while work is being done.

Fig. 4 shows that the carrier 14 may be lowered into a position so that the body panel 12 may be transferred to a movable pedestal 30 that is positioned adjacent the carrier 14 at the framing station 20.

Advantages of the present invention having movable carriers on an electric monorail with electric clamping devices securing the body panel include: elimination of pita in the body shop, flexibility of the assembly layout, the carrier can be lowered to the respective station rather than having vertical curves, no lubrication is required, less noise, the monorail can move at a higher speed, better identification of the carriers for tracking, each carrier can be controlled independently, and the speed and direction of the carrier can be modified.

Claims

1. A conveyor system for transporting and handling a workpiece, the system comprising : at least one elongated rail extending between a first station and a second station; eleccrically conductive means extending parallel to the rail; a carrier movably mounted to the rail for movement therealong between the first and second stations ; electric drive means for moving the carrier along the rail, the drive means receiving power from the electrically conductive means; and at least one electrically powered clamp dispose on the carrier and actuable to alternatively clamp the workpiece into a desired position relative to the carrier and release the workpiece from said desired position, the clamp receiving electrical power from the electrically conductive means.

2. A conveyor system for transporting and handling a workpiece, the system comprising: at least one elongated rail extending between a first station and a second station; a carrier movably mounted to the rail for movement therealong between the first and second stations; and electrically actuated clamping means disposed on the carrier for selectively clamping the workpiece into a desired position relative to the carrier and selectively releasing the workpiece from said desired position.

3. The conveyor system of claim 2, wherein said elongated rail is electrically controlled,

4. The conveyor system of claim 3, wherein said electrically actuated clamping means receives power from the elongated rail via an electric control unit.

5. The conveyor system of claim 1, wherin the carrier i9 moved into position at one of the stations with power supplied by the rail.

6. The conveyor system of claim 1, wherein the carrier releases a workpiece at one of the stations with power supplied by the rail.

7. The conveyor system of claim 1, wherein the clamping means is actuated solely by electrical power. w. The conveyor system of claim 1, wherein the carrier is actuaved solely by electrical power.

9. A conveyor system for transporting and handling a workpiece substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.