ITUB20155597A1 - Equipment for motor vehicle assembly lines - Google Patents

Description

"Equipment for automotive assembly lines"

TEXT OF THE DESCRIPTION

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to equipment for motor vehicle assembly lines. In particular, the invention has been developed with reference to trolleys which make self-propelled warehouses for the storage of vehicle components during the assembly phase and with reference to equipment for assisting the assembly itself.

Known technique and general technical problem

The assembly of vehicles on continuous production lines still requires the sequential execution of predetermined operations for the manual assembly of small or medium-sized components by a line worker.

This means that it is necessary to procure the necessary parts to mobile warehouses that can follow the vehicle along the assembly line. Once in line, these warehouses must be moved several times to arrange them near the area of the vehicle where assembly is carried out, or to move them - once emptied - from areas affected by subsequent assembly operations.

Traditionally, the operations for moving the mobile warehouses are entrusted to the line worker, since the mobile warehouses are typically made as trolleys on wheels carrying one or more containers for vehicle components. The term "container" is intended to designate any structure capable of housing one or more components (for example single-compartment or multi-compartment boxes for the storage of small parts or hangers for hanging gaskets or other flexible and / or high-quality components length).

However, this condition is obviously unfavorable from the point of view of ergonomics, since the line worker must at the same time take care to carry out the assembly operations in the prescribed times and sequences and to take care of the handling of the mobile warehouses, above all avoiding that these interfere with other equipment present along the assembly line and / or impact against the already painted vehicle body.

Purpose of the invention

The object of the invention is to solve the aforementioned technical problems. In particular, the object of the invention is to relieve the operator from the tasks of positioning and moving the mobile magazines along the assembly line.

Summary of the invention

The object of the invention is achieved by a mobile magazine having the characteristics forming the subject of one or more of the following claims, which form an integral part of the technical teaching administered herein in relation to the invention. In particular, the object of the invention is achieved by a mobile warehouse of vehicle components for use in a vehicle assembly line, the warehouse including:

at least one container for vehicle components, each container being movable between a rest position and a working position,

a mechanism operatively associated with each corresponding container which carries out its movement between the rest position and the working position,

the magazine being characterized in that each mechanism is operable by means of one or more elements having a relative motion with respect to the magazine so as to move the corresponding container between the rest position and the working position.

Brief description of the figures

The invention will now be described with reference to the attached figures, given purely by way of non-limiting example, in which:

- Figures 1 a 11 illustrate an operational sequence of an equipment based on a first example not forming part of the invention, in which Figure 1A also illustrates a schematic plan view according to the arrow I of Figure 1, while Figure 1 5A shows an enlargement of the portion indicated by the arrow V in figure 5,

- Figures 12 to 20 illustrate an operational sequence of an equipment based on a second example not forming part of the invention,

- Figures 21 to 26 illustrate an operating sequence of an equipment according to an embodiment of the invention,

- figures 27 and 28 illustrate an operating sequence of an equipment based on a third example not forming part of the invention,

- Figures 29 and 30 illustrate an operating sequence of an equipment based on a fourth example not forming part of the invention, and

- Figures 31 and 32 illustrate an operating sequence of an equipment based on a fifth example not forming part of the invention.

Detailed description

With reference to Figures 1 to 11, a first example not forming part of the invention is globally indicated with the reference number 1. The equipment 1 consists of a mobile warehouse for use on the vehicle assembly line including at least one container for vehicle components which are selectively picked up by the line worker for assembly on the vehicle itself. The vehicle, in particular a body thereof, is schematically illustrated and indicated with the letter V in the figures.

The mobile magazine 1 includes a support frame 2 made by joining a first and a second frame 2A, 2B, which define two working levels. In particular, the frame 2A defines a lower working level while the frame 2B defines a higher working level. The frames 2A, 2B are joined to each other by means of vertical uprights 3, 4, 5; moreover, the assembly constituting the frame 2 is supported with respect to the ground by four orientable wheels W. It will also be appreciated that the assembly of elements 2A, 2B, 3, 4, 5 actually defines a trolley structure mounted on wheels W.

A plurality of components are associated with the uprights 4 and 5 which respectively define a first carousel G4 and a second carousel G5. The first carousel G4 includes a cam element 6 connected in rotation to a pole 7 rotating around an axis XG4 of the carousel G4 (which coincides with the longitudinal axis of the pole 7) and a first container 8 is also rigidly connected to the sheaths, for example a container for housing various small parts.

Similarly, the second G5 carousel includes a cam element 9 connected in rotation to a pole 10 rotating around an XG5 axis of the G5 carousel (which coincides with the longitudinal axis of the pole 10) and a second container is also rigidly connected to the sheaths. 11, for example a container for housing various small parts.

Both poles 10, 7 are preferably rotatably mounted within a main body of the uprights 4, 5 so as to be effectively articulated with respect to the frame 2 around the axes XG4, XG5 (which therefore constitute the rotation axes of the respective G4 carousels and G5). The cams 6, 9 are instead mounted at the free ends of the poles 7, 10, in an aerial position, meaning by this a markedly raised position with respect to the floor of the line AL, typically above the line worker.

Each cam 6, 9, has a substantially trapezoidal profile, including a major base B, a minor base b and a first and a second side L1, L2, preferably obligatory and, always preferably, identical. Conveniently, each cam element 6, 9 is made by means of a metal flange bent in closed form according to the aforementioned trapezoid profile and welded to a bushing connected in rotation to the pole 7, 10 or welded directly to the pole 7, 10 itself.

It should also be noted that the first container 8 is preferably positioned above the working level defined by the frame 2B, and is therefore preferably intended to house components and / or small parts to be installed in areas above the vehicle's beltline. V, while the container 11 is preferably positioned between the levels 2A and 2B, and therefore preferably carries components and / or small parts to be installed in areas below the waistline of the vehicle V.

A third upright indicated by the reference number 12 having vertical orientation is also installed on the support frame 2. A crosspiece 13 is fixed to the upright 12, at the free end of which a third carousel Gl3 is fixed, including a turnstile element 14, preferably with four arms, rotatably mounted around an axis XG13 of the carousel Gl3 and connected in rotation to a hanger 15 having an arcuate profile 16 for holding a plurality of gaskets S (e.g. gaskets for door sealing surfaces or the like).

Each container 8, 11, 15 is rotatable around the axis XG4, XG5, XG13 of the respective carousel G4, G5, Gl3 so as to pass from a rest position to a working position, as will be detailed shortly.

The operation of the warehouse 1 is as follows.

With reference to Figure 1, an initial condition of the magazine 1 is represented there and corresponds to a condition in which each of the containers 8, 11, 15 is in a rest position, i.e. a position such that the removal of components from them would result not very convenient as they would be positioned either in areas too remote with respect to the target air of the components, or in areas not directly accessible by the operator. The magazine 1 and the vehicle V being assembled are both located on an assembly line AL with a movable floor, i.e. able to move in the direction (and towards) FW with respect to a fixed floor F.

Similarly, fixed structures with respect to the warehouse 1 and the vehicle V, which advance integrally with the line AL, are vertical poles PI, P2 which hang from superstructures of the assembly line and which each include a roller D positioned in the same height range where they are located. the cam elements 6, 9.

Having seen that the magazine 1 moves in the FW direction, there is a relative motion between it and the posts P1, P2.

This relative movement makes it possible to operate the mechanisms which change the containers from the rest position illustrated in Figure 1 to a working position and vice versa. These mechanisms, in the case of the magazine 1, are of the cam type and correspond to the carousels G4, G5, Gl3 with the respective cams 6, 9 and the turnstile element 14 (which also has a behavior at least roughly similar to a cam) .

With reference to Figure 1, in the rest position the cams 6, 9 are arranged antisymmetrically to each other, i.e. they are 1 'rotated by 180 ° with respect to the other, so that the larger bases B face outwards. of the AL line. Not only that: given the eccentric location of the rotation axis XG4, XG5 with respect to the trapezoid profile of the cam, in the position of figure 1 they are transversely out of phase with respect to the FW direction so that they can be activated selectively.

The selective activation is also made possible by the equally staggered arrangement of the posts Pi, P2, which is schematically illustrated in Figure 1A. This figure illustrates a schematic representation from above according to the arrow I of figure 1, in which both the arrangement of the posts Pi and P2, in particular of the rollers D, and the position of the cams 6, 9 with the respective axes XG4 and XG5. In this regard, it should be noted how the eccentricity with which the rotation axis is positioned with respect to the trapezoid profile of the cams 6 and 9, as well as the relative position in the transverse direction of the posts Pi and P2, are chosen in such a way as to define a position in which there is no interference between the cam and the disc D, ie in which the possible approach and overlap between the disc and the cam does not result in any actuation of the latter.

With reference to Figures 1A, 2, in the forward movement along the FW direction it is the post Pi that first encounters the magazine 1, in particular that interacts with the cam 9.

The roller d of the post Pi slides along the side L2 of the cam 9 and causes it to rotate a9 in an anticlockwise direction around the axis XG5. In this regard, with reference to Figure 1A, it should be noted that the initial contact between the disk D of the post Pi and the side L2 of the cam 9 occurs in proximity to the major base B (due to the relative positioning of cam 9 and post Pi) , which creates a counterclockwise moment with respect to the XG5 axis.

Continuing in the advancement of the magazine 1 in the FW direction with respect to the post Pi, the roller D of the last guest travels the side L2 of the cam 9 towards the smaller base b as shown in figure 2, causing a global rotation 9 of the cam 9 around to the XG5 axis with an amplitude of 180 °. This results in the position of Figure 3; for better reference, this position is similar to that of the cam 6 in the representation of Figure 1A.

This position corresponds to a working position of the container 11, which has rotated rigidly with the cam 9 and with the pole 10, and is also a position in which - for the previously described glove - the roller D of the pole Pi is found to roll along the minor base b (o to slide parallel to it with minimum clearance, depending on the case) of the cam 9, without producing any further actuation in rotation of it and of the container 11.

In the working position, the container 11 is substantially unfolded with respect to the warehouse 1, which first of all makes it possible for the line worker to access it, and at the same time determines its positioning closer to the body of the vehicle V, facilitating the assembly of the components. The relative positioning between the magazine 1 and the container 11 is also such that in the working position (figure 3) the last guest <1> is at the front of the vehicle, thus constituting a natural candidate for housing components intended for assembly in the same area of the vehicle.

Naturally, if the container 11 is intended to house components intended for housing in other areas of the vehicle, the positioning of the magazine 1 must be carried out accordingly.

In the condition illustrated in Figure 3, the containers 8 and 15 are still in the rest position, while the container 11 is in the working position. Since there is no further element capable of operating the cams 6, 9 at least as long as they have not passed the post P1, the operator has time and means to carry out the assembly of the components of the container 11 on the front part of the vehicle. In fact, by continuing the advancement in the FW direction, the roller D of the post PI comes into contact with the minor base b of the cam 6 and rolls along it (or runs parallel to it with minimum light, depending on the case) without producing any drive. in rotation for the reasons previously described.

After passing the cam 6, the post P1 (always considering the relative motion between it and the carriage 1) enters into interaction with the turnstile element 14 (Figure 4). With reference to the following figure 5, as well as to the enlargement of figure 5A, the relative movement between the carousel Gl3 and the pole PI is such that the latter causes a clockwise rotation operation al4 of the turnstile element 14, the which results in a corresponding clockwise rotation al5 of the hanger 15 with the gaskets S carried by the curved element 16. The hanger 15 is then brought into the working position (total rotation equal to 90 °).

With reference to Figure 5, it should be observed how this movement brings the gaskets closer to the openings of the frame which will form the sealing surfaces for the doors, allowing easier assembly by the operator.

With reference to Figure 6, the relative movement between the magazine 1 and the post PI has now developed to such an extent that the latter has also passed the turnstile element 14, exhausting its interaction with the magazine 1. In this condition there is no no interaction between the structures in relative motion with respect to the warehouse 1 and the warehouse 1 itself, so that the operator has the opportunity to install the gaskets S where required (see again) Figure 6.

The subsequent operating phase is illustrated in Figure 7 and consists in an actuation of the cam 9 in a clockwise direction (rotation oc9 ') around the axis XG5. This occurs by means of the roller D of the post P2, which comes into contact with the side L1 of the cam 9 near the major base B, runs along its entire length until it comes into contact with the minor base b, which takes place when the cam 9 has rotated 180 ° with respect to the starting position, thus returning to the initial position, corresponding to the rest position of the container 11 (which is then removed from the area where the line worker is working in what is no longer necessary).

The result of this actuation is visible in figure 8, where the magazine 1 is even shown in an even more advanced position in the FW direction and such that the roller D of the post P2 comes into contact with the side L1 of the cam 6 near the base. greater B than it. This determines a clockwise rotation a.6, which takes place in the manner described above in relation to the rotation α9 'for the cam 9 (the starting position of the two cams 6 and 9 in their interaction with the pole P2 is the same) .

The actuation of the cam 6 in rotation around the axis XG4 produces a corresponding rotation of the entire carousel G4, ie of the pole 7 and of the container 8. This rotation also has a clockwise direction and an amplitude of 180 °; the result can be seen in figure 9: the container 8 is brought into the working position, i.e. in a position closest to the side of the vehicle body V.

By reason of this positioning, in the embodiment considered herein, the container 8 is a natural candidate for housing components and / or small parts which are housed in the lateral areas of the vehicle itself.

Figure 9 also corresponds to a further advancement of the warehouse 1 with respect to the fixed structures of the assembly line, in particular the warehouse 1 has already passed the posts PI, P2 and has almost completely passed a third post P3 equipped with an end trident bearing three rollers P31, P32, P33 which are placed in a transversely offset position with respect to the cams 6, 9 and such as not to produce any actuation thereof, but where this transversely offset position is in any case such as to produce an interaction with the ends of the arms of the turnstile 14, producing a 4 'counterclockwise rotation.

This rotation results in a movement of the hanger 15 towards the rest position of figure 1 (see figure 10). In fact, it should be noted that the hanger 15 is now empty since the gaskets S have all been installed on the body of the vehicle V and it is therefore advisable to remove it from the work area.

The presence of more than one roller on the pole P3 is necessary to carry out the aforementioned rotation, since the position of the rollers P31-P33 is very peripheral with respect to the arms of the turnstile 14, and such that the relative movement between rollers P31-33 and arms 14 rapidly leads to disengagement of one with respect to the other making it impossible to complete the required rotation with a single roller before disengagement occurs.

Not only that: the arrangement of three rollers makes it possible to extend the range of rotation of the celi up to the value of 180 ° by aligning the hanger 15 to the crosspiece 13 (and de facto defining a second rest position), as shown in figure 11.

It is therefore clear that the switching of each of the containers 8, 11, 15 from the rest position of Figure 1 to the working position of Figures 3, 5, 9, occurs thanks to the actuation of cam mechanisms by elements in relative movement. compared to warehouse 1.

These cam mechanisms consist respectively of the carousels G4, G5 and Gl3 (in particular the respective cams 6, 9, 14) operated by the posts P1, P2 and P3. The actuation is made possible by the fact that the warehouse 1 moves together with the vehicle V with the L-shaped assembly line with respect to the fixed structures of the assembly line, in particular the posts P1, P2, P3.

The embodiment that is the subject of figures 1-11 illustrated lends itself to innumerable variations and adaptations depending on the type of vehicle, the parts to be assembled and the production plant in the case it is installed, so that it is possible to vary the behavior simply by varying the shape and / or positioning of the cams and / or their number, as well as the position and timing of the fixed posts or more generally of the elements in relative motion with respect to the magazine 1 which operate the mechanisms operatively associated with the storage containers vehicle components.

It will also be appreciated that the operator is relieved from all the handling and positioning operations of the containers since this is carried out in an automatic and timed manner during the movement of the vehicle itself on the assembly line AL. The distance between the posts PI, P2, P3 is in fact chosen in such a way as to allow the operator to carry out the assembly of the components in the container just brought into the working position before the next container is brought into the corresponding working position for assembly. of additional components.

With reference to Figure 12, a second example of the equipment not forming part of the invention is indicated with the reference 100. The equipment 100 is also a mobile magazine for vehicle components and includes in this embodiment a support frame 102 on which a first and a second auxiliary frame 104, 105 with vertical development are installed. Associated with each auxiliary frame 104, 105 is a carousel Gl04, G105 having a main axis XG104, XG105 with respect to which a shaft 107, 110 is rotatably mounted. A first container 108 is connected in rotation to the shaft 107 of the first carousel 104 and a rocker arm 106 arranged below the frame 102 in a position close to the flooring of the assembly line AL, substantially on the same side of the frame 102 on which the wheels W are arranged.

On the other hand, a second container 111 (at a first end), and - in a position substantially homologous to that of the rocker 106 - a second rocker 109 (at a second end) are instead connected in rotation to the shaft 110 of the second carousel 105.

It should also be noted that in a preferred embodiment the axes XG104 and XG105 (which therefore constitute the rotation axes of the respective carousels Gl04 and Gl05), as well as - consequently - the shafts 107, 110, are mounted slightly inclined with respect to the vertical. . This inclination is preferably of the order of a few degrees (typically less than or equal to 3 °) and is intended to give a condition of stability to the containers 108, 111 when they are in their respective working (spontaneous stability) or rest positions. (induced stability). Further details will be provided in the description below.

However, although less functional, solutions are also possible in which the XG104 and XG105 axes are aligned to the vertical.

Each rocker 106, 109 is configured to cooperate with a corresponding cam track TI06, T109 provided on the floor of the assembly line AL. In this case the floor of the assembly line AL coincides with the fixed floor F, while the warehouse 100 is propelled along the line AL along a track RL. The direction of advancement is indicated with the reference FW 'in figure 12.

The operation of the warehouse 102 is as follows.

During the forward movement along the track RL in the direction FW ', each of the containers 111, 108 is switched from the working position to the rest position (or vice versa) by engaging the respective rocker 106, 109 within a corresponding cam track TI06, T109. Purely by way of example, the initial condition illustrated in Figure 12 corresponds to a situation in which the container 111 is in the rest position while the container 108 is in the working position.

As regards the commutation from the rest position to the working position (and vice versa), the orientation of the axes XG104 and XG105 is such that the containers 108, 11 spontaneously tend to remain in one of these positions. Typically it is preferred that the container tend to spontaneously remain in the working position. In this regard, it is known that a body hinged and rotating around an axis inclined with respect to the vertical describes a circular movement characterized by a point of minimum potential energy (the stable position, in this case the working position) and a point of maximum energy. potential, diametrically opposite. The trajectories between these two dead points are characterized by ascending or descending potential energy values depending on the direction of travel.

By choosing to identify the working position with the point with lower potential energy, the containers 108, 111 will spontaneously tend to move towards it if in their movement the diametrically opposite point, the one with maximum potential energy, is passed.

In this regard, the rest position can be defined by setting up a stop element at a point of the trajectory close to the point of maximum potential energy, but separated by at least 180 ° from the point of minimum potential energy (working position) . In this way, both the working and rest positions are stable, one spontaneously, the other because it is stabilized by the stop element and by the tendency of the container to abut against the stop element. Furthermore, the actuation required of the cam tracks T106, T109 to bring the containers into the working position must consist solely of an invitation to movement and a subsequent contrast of the dragging action of the load represented by the containers themselves.

Nonetheless, it should be noted that the natural tendency to maintain the working position makes it possible to avoid that, in the event of collisions or accidental movements given to the container by the line worker, the container starts to move freely with the risk of impacting on parts of the car chassis or on the operator himself (the problem arises, however, if the axes XG104, XG105 are vertical, which requires the use of other expedients to keep the container locked in the working position).

With reference to Figure 13, the first interaction takes place between the rocker arm 109 and the cam track TI09: this causes a counterclockwise rotation CT11 of the rocker arm 109, the shaft 110 and the container 111 itself. It should be noted that the shape of the cam track must be chosen not only so as to achieve the required movement (also accommodating the variations in position of the end of the rocker arm consequent to the dragging movement of the magazine 100 in the FW direction), but also in a way that to oppose the dragging action of the container 111 during movement.

In fact, strictly speaking, the rotation of the container 111 could also be reached simply by making the balance wheel 109 interact with any element of any geometry fixed to the ground, but this - in addition to obviously constituting a non-optimal solution - could create great difficulties in view of the need to contrast The aforementioned enthralling action.

The beginning of the rotary movement of the container 111 is visible in figure 13, while in figure 14 the relative movement proceeding between the rocker 109 and the track T1G9 is visible: in particular it can be observed how a roller placed at the end of the rocker runs along runway TI09 heading towards a rounded end section which favors its disengagement.

The rotation al11 continues and ends respectively in the following Figure 15 and Figure 16, where the roller at the end of the rocker 109 is visible on the side of the cam track TI09, completely disengaged therefrom. The complete rotation imparted to the container 111 is substantially equal to 180 ° (it is slightly greater to allow the point of maximum potential energy to be exceeded) and the container is now arranged in the working position since it is no longer in a condition of overlap with the auxiliary frame 105 and is therefore more easily accessible by the line worker.

Simultaneously with the disengagement of the rocker 109 of the cam track TI09, the engagement of the rocker 106 within the cam track TI06, which is of the two-flank type, is realized. This means that the operator, by means of the previously described glove, has completed the operations of assembling the components within the container 108 which can then be brought back to the rest position by means of a rotation in a counterclockwise direction.

During the introduction of this rotation, the worker can then proceed with the assembly of the components contained in the container 111, the sheath has just been brought into the working position.

Figures 17 to 20 illustrate the proceeding of rotation al08 and of the relative movement between the roller at the end of the rocker arm 106 and the cam track T106. The cam track TI06 has a double guide flank and defines a generally curvilinear path which corresponds actual trajectory that the rocker arm 106 (or rather the roller of the rocker 106 engaged in the track TI06) must complete due to the composition of a dragging motion in the FW 'direction and of the rotational motion of the rocker 109 (and of the container 108) around to the XG104 axis. Not only that: the double flank is therefore necessary to counteract the dragging action of the container 108 after passing the point of maximum potential energy, an exchange of the thrust flank of the cam track TI06 occurs at the guaie. This is necessary in order to prevent the container 108 from moving towards the rest position in a sudden manner, with an impact against the stop.

The rotation has an amplitude substantially equal to 180 ° (it is slightly greater to allow the point of maximum potential energy to be exceeded) and determines (figure 20) a final position of the container 108 located below the container 111, between the two auxiliary frames 104 105. This does not constitute a problem from the point of view of accessibility since the container 108 is completely empty and the fact of being below the container 111 does not affect the performance of normal assembly operations.

Similarly to the warehouse 1, the warehouse 100 also completely relieves the operator from the operations of positioning and moving the containers, since this is completely left to the cam mechanisms which operate the carousels Gl04 and Gl05 and consequently the containers 108 and 111.

It should also be noted that the technical solution consisting in the inclined arrangement of the axes XG104, XG105 can also be applied to some alternative embodiments of the magazine 1 with similar advantages. In particular, in these alternative embodiments of the warehouse 1 the axes XG4 and XG5 - and consequently the poles 8, 10 - are mounted inclined with respect to the vertical by an angle in the order of a few degrees, typically less than or equal to 3 ° as for the magazine 100. Similarly to the magazine 100, the inclined assembly of the axes XG4, XG5 is such that the working position of the containers 8, 11 is associated with the point with the lowest potential energy of the described inclined circular path. In this way, the containers 8, 11 will spontaneously tend to move towards it when they move when the diametrically opposite point, the one with maximum potential energy, is passed.

The rest position can similarly be defined by the provision of a stop element at a point of the trajectory close to the point of maximum potential energy, but separated by at least 180 ° from the point of minimum potential energy (working position).

In this way, similarly to the magazine 100, both the working and resting positions are stable, one spontaneously, the other because stabilized by the stop element and by the tendency of the container to abut against the arrest. Furthermore, the actuation of the cams 6, 9 by the stakes P1, P2 to bring the containers 8, 11 into the working position must consist solely of an invitation to move. However, in this case the resistant action offered by the interaction between the poles PI, P2 is less than the dragging action of the load represented by the containers 8, 11 which are brought into the working position: in this case, to avoid too rapid movements ( enhanced, for example, by heavily loaded containers 8, 11) it is possible to provide attenuating solutions such as increasing the difference in length between the major base B and the minor base b of the trapezoidal profile of the cams 6, 9, or to provide for a torsional damper that comes into action close to the working position and providing a slight braking action. It is also possible to use, more simply, an abutment element integral with the structure of the warehouse which slows the movement of the containers 8, 11.

As already observed, the natural tendency to maintain the working position makes it possible to avoid that, in the event of accidental impacts or movements given to the container by the line worker, the container starts to move freely with the risk of impacting on parts of the car chassis or on the operator himself With reference to figures 21 to 26, an embodiment of an equipment according to the invention is globally indicated with the reference number 200. The equipment 200 again consists of a mobile magazine for motor vehicle components, but in this case it does not carry containers in the form of boxes or supports for bulk components, but is designed to temporarily store a specific functional assembly, for example, a brake booster unit indicated by the reference PB.

The PB brake booster assembly must be inserted and fixed in a connection flange FL placed on the fireproof wall in correspondence with the vehicle pedal V, and is a component which, due to its size and weight, entails positioning difficulties for the operator. line since at the same time it has to support its weight and tighten the fixing screws.

The magazine 200 includes a support frame 202 made by joining a first and a second lattice frame 202A, 202B arranged in the lower position and in the upper position respectively. The four orientable wheels W are fixed to the frame 202A by means of which the magazine 200 rests on the movable floor of the assembly line AL.

Fixed to a vertical upright 204 is a mechanism including an arm 205 having an "L" shape and a workpiece table 206, which carries the brake booster assembly PB and thus constitutes the container of the magazine 200.

The arm 205 is articulated at a first end around a first axis X204 of the upright 204, having a vertical orientation. The X204 axis is then located in correspondence with the support frame 202.

The arm 205 is also articulated at a second end to the work table 206 in correspondence with a second axis X206. The mechanism further includes a contrast element 207 configured to bring the work table 206 towards the working position.

Preferably, the contrast element 207 is a common door closer assembly with a scissor kinematic mechanism. This door closer assembly, per se known, includes a first rod articulated with respect to an actuator element (for example incorporating an elastic element or a fluid actuator) and a second rod, the sheath is articulated at a first end to the first rod, and at a second end at a point of the frame 202B eccentric with respect to the axis X204 (in correspondence with the guaie, remember, the arm 205 is articulated).

In the position of figure 21, which corresponds to a rest position of the workpiece table 206, the door closer assembly 207 is in a preloaded condition, i.e. it is in a condition that would cause a rotation of the arm 205 towards the body of the vehicle V if the arm 205 does not was kept locked.

For this purpose, the arm 205 is held by a hook 208 articulated and rotatable about an axis X208. The hook 208 engages a peg 209 fixed to the arm 205 itself and holds it against the action of the door closer 207.

The hook 208 can be operated in rotation around the axis X2 08 by action on a flange 208A which allows to generate a twisting moment with respect to the axis X208.

The operation of the warehouse 200 is as follows.

The warehouse 200 moves alongside the body of the vehicle V along a direction FW '' on the moving floor of the assembly line AL.

In a predetermined point of the production line, fixed to the fixed floor F, there is a pole PL carrying a crosspiece BR having one end shaped to engage and operate the flat band 208A.

The pole PL is in fact fixed with respect to the mobile floor of the line AL and there is therefore a relative movement between the warehouse 200 and the pole PL itself.

With reference to the following figure 22, when the flange 208 comes into contact with the crosspiece BR the hook 208 is driven in rotation around the axis X20 8 (rotation 208 anticlockwise) disengaging from the pin 209. In this way, the single action that keeps the arm 205 in position against the action of the door closer 207 is missing, so that (figure 23) the scissor kinematism of the door closer 207 begins to unfold accelerating in rotation (205 in figure 23, anticlockwise), the arm 205.

With reference to the following figure 24, the angular acceleration imparted to the arm 205 by the door closer assembly 207 is also transferred to the workpiece table 206, giving rise to a resultant of the inertia forces applied to the center of gravity of the workpiece table 206 and brake booster assembly PB which generates a moment with respect to the X206 axis. This causes a further rotation 206 (also in a clockwise direction) of the workpiece table 206 around the axis X206, superimposed on the rotation of the arm 205 still in progress.

As the magazine 200 advances on the assembly line AL, the rotation of the arm 205 around the X204 axis and of the piece-holder table 206 around the X204 and X206 axes, continues reaching the complete deployment of the table 206 with respect to the arm 205 as illustrated in figure 25. The presence of two points of articulation (axes X204 and X206) allows to satisfy the specific positioning requirements for this application without having to resort to complex and / or disadvantageous geometries of the arm 205.

Once the unfolding of the arm 205 and of the table 206 by the door closer assembly 207 (figure 26), the workpiece table 206 is in the working position and the brake booster assembly PB is consequently in a position such that it matches the flange of FL connection and is ready to be fixed by an operator.

Basically, the magazine 200, and in particular the double articulation mechanism associated with the workpiece table 206 which switches the rest position of figure 21 to the working position of figure 26, creates a sort of "third hand" for 1 ' line worker, who in this way can concentrate his action only on fixing the PB brake booster unit without having to support its weight.

The mechanism is activated again by means of a cam element constituted by the platband 208A cooperating with the crosspiece BR, the sheath has a relative motion with respect to the magazine 200.

However, in this case the mechanism is not able to be returned to the rest position by means of the crosspiece BR simply because the latter cannot exert any return action on the door closer 207. The repositioning can, for example, take place manually at the end of the line or by a machine designed for this purpose (always arranged at the end of the line).

Also in this case, beyond the undoubted advantages on the ergonomic level, the operator is relieved of the task of moving and positioning the workpiece table 206 which carries the component to be assembled.

With reference to figures 27 and 28, the reference number 300 generally designates an apparatus based on a third example not forming part of the invention. The equipment 300 consists, similarly to the embodiments described above, in a mobile warehouse 300 which is configured for use on a vehicle assembly line, and in particular to advance together with the vehicle body V on a mobile floor of an AL assembly line.

In the condition illustrated in figures 27 and 28, two mobile magazines 300 are provided on opposite sides of a body of the vehicle V which advances on the mobile floor of the assembly line AL.

Each mobile magazine 300 includes a support frame 302 made by joining a first and a second polygonal frame 3 02A (lower) and 302B (upper) with vertical uprights 303. Four swivel wheels W are fixed to the frame 302A by means of which the warehouse rests on the mobile flooring AL. On the frame 302B, on the other hand, there is installed a vertical upright 304 having an axis X304, and on which is fitted a bushing 306 which rotates around the axis X3 04 and slides along the upright 304 itself.

Fixed to the bushing 306 is a container 308 for vehicle components which is rotatable with the bushing 306 between a first rest position indicated by a broken line in Figure 27 (the solid line representation refers to an intermediate position) and a position of work illustrated in figure 28. The work position of figure 28 is not only the result of a rotation of the container 308 as indicated in figure 27, but also of its lifting upwards as indicated by the arrows in figure 28.

The inward rotation of the body of the containers 308 can take place either manually by the operator or through any of the cam mechanisms illustrated in the course of the present description.

The lifting action of the containers 308, which brings them definitively into the working position, takes place instead by striking the body of the vehicle V on the bottom of the containers 308 and subsequent integral lifting of the body V itself, an operation normally performed for reasons of ergonomics during the assembly.

The line worker can then proceed with the removal of components from the containers 308 and continue with the assembly.

In this way, the containers 308 are adaptable to the altitude of the line (that is to the geometric height of the vehicle V) simply by means of axial sliding of the bushing 306 along the upright 304. Also in this case, in addition to the undoubted advantage of having the containers 308 in an ergonomically optimal position with respect to the worker, they follow the movement of the body always ensuring the most advantageous positioning of the components with respect to the area where they must be mounted. Furthermore, the lifting mechanism of the containers 308 again has a behavior similar to that of a cam mechanism. The body of the vehicle V with its lifting assumes a behavior at least roughly similar to that of a cam, with the container 308 which acts substantially (by logical consequence) as a tappet.

Figures 29 and 30 illustrate further equipment for assembly lines based on a fourth example not forming part of the invention. The equipment of figures 29 and 30 is indicated by the reference number 400 and consists of a trolley mounted on orientable wheels W fixed to a support frame 402. The support frame 402 leads to the top, preferably inclined to favor 1 'ergonomics, a container 4 08. A stool 410 is articulated to one of the vertical uprights of the support frame 402, including a pedestal 411, a base 412 and a seat 413. The articulation takes place by connecting the pedestal 411 to a bushing K (axially fixed along the upright, but rotatable with respect to it) by means of a crosspiece 414.

The crosspiece 414 is at a first end rigidly connected to the bushing K, while at a second end the crosspiece 414 carries a cup-shaped element 414A, which is crossed by the pedestal 411 (which slides within the element 414A) and offers a surface abutment at a first end of a helical spring 414B. The second end of the spring 414B instead abuts below the seat 413 and therefore keeps the base 412 raised from the ground by the height h.

The shelf 410 is movable between a rest position illustrated in figure 29 and a working position illustrated in figure 30. In both positions the shelf 410 can oscillate around the axis X410 by means of the bushing K, so as to be able to be positioned where it is more convenient.

In the rest position the base 412 is raised from the ground due to the action of the spring 414B: in this position the line worker can move the trolley 400 along the line without the shelf 410 creating an obstacle.

In the working position of Figure 30, the line worker who must assemble the components contained in the container 408 sits on the stool, so that the action of the weight force applied by the worker to the seat 413 causes a compression of the spring 414B until it reaches on contact between the base 412 and the floor. This also ensures the maintenance of the desired position of the stool 410 thanks to the static friction between the base 412 and the floor itself.

It should be noted that it is possible to adapt the stool to the various heights of the line workers simply by inserting one or more spacer elements between the spring 4 14B and the cup element 414A, and at the same time realizing the pedestals 411 - especially in the section between the base 412 and cup element 414A - with telescopic structure.

Finally, with reference to Figures 31 and 32, an equipment for assembly lines according to a fifth example not forming part of the invention is indicated with the reference number 500. The equipment 500 consists of a mobile trolley mounted on castors W and including a support frame 502 provided at the top with a hinge 504 with horizontal axis X504. The hinge 504 connects to the frame 502 in an articulated way a hood support rod 505, the sheath includes a curved end 500A configured to abut a bonnet or a luggage compartment door in the raised position during the assembly operations of the opening jacks .

The rod 505 can be operated in rotation around the axis X504 by means of a lever arm 506 having a curved shape. At the top of the frame 502, there is also a container 508 which can be used to store the hood opening jacks and any small parts necessary for assembly.

The position illustrated in Figure 31 is a rest position in the case the lever 506 is in the operator's favor while the rod 505 is in the lowered position. The position of figure 32, which can be reached simply by rotating the lever 506 downwards, corresponds to the working position in which the rod 505 is almost vertical and the curved ends 505A support a door HD of the vehicle V in the open position, to allow the line worker to install the opening jacks without having to resort to additional equipment such as a common bonnet stop rod applicable to the vehicle.

In this way, everything needed to complete the jack assembly operation is integrated into the equipment 500, with benefits in terms of ergonomics and the time required for assembly. Conveniently, the hinge 504 can be provided with locking means (for example by friction) which allow to maintain the position of the rod 505 under load. Alternatively, the hood support rod 505 can be abut on a stop element when it is under load (for example by providing a working position beyond the top dead center of the rod 505) so that the weight of the hood itself blocks Rod 505 in position.

The hood holding device constitutes an appreciable improvement with respect to the solutions known today for locking the hood in the open position during the assembly of the car. To date, single hood support rods are used which are positioned (or disassembled) by the line workers if necessary. This requires the presence of a certain number of hood support rods along the line (on the vehicles being assembled), of a first magazine of hood support rods upstream of the line and of a second magazine of hood support rods downstream of the line. all aggravated by the need to periodically move the auctions in order to replenish the stocks in the upstream warehouse. This creates problems in terms of logistics and safety of the workers: all these problems are solved thanks to the equipment 500, in which the bonnet rod is integrated in devices that remain on the line (and only on the line) during the assembly phase. , without accompanying the vehicle upstream of the line and without following the vehicle downstream of the line.

Naturally, the details of construction and the embodiments may be widely varied with respect to the glove described and illustrated without thereby departing from the scope of the present invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Claims (3)

CLAIMS 1. Mobile warehouse (200) of vehicle components for use in a vehicle assembly line (AL), the warehouse (200) including: at least one container (206;) for vehicle components, each container (206) being movable between a rest position and a working position, a mechanism (205, 206, 207, 208, 208A, 209) operatively associated with each corresponding container (206) which carries out its movement between the rest position and the working position, in which each mechanism (205, 206, 207, 208, 208A, 209) is operable by means of one or more elements (PL, BR) having a relative motion with respect to the magazine (200) so as to move the corresponding container (206) between the resting position and the working position, the warehouse (200) being characterized in that said at least one container includes a worktable (206) for a brake booster assembly (PB), and in which said mechanism includes an "L" shaped arm (205), in that said arm is articulated at a first end around a first axis (X204) in correspondence with said support frame (202), and is articulated at a second end to said piece-holding table (206) at a second axis (X206), e in that said mechanism also includes a contrast element (207), in particular a door closer assembly, configured to bring said workpiece table (206) towards the working position. Magazine (200) according to claim 1, wherein each mechanism (205, 206, 207, 208, 208A, 209) is of the cam type. Magazine (200) according to claim 1, in which the work table (206) is kept in the rest position by means of an articulated hook (208) configured to hold said arm (205) against the action of said contrast element ( 207), said articulated hook being operable by a crossbar (BR) in relative motion with respect to the magazine (200) to release said arm (205) and unfold the workpiece table (206) towards the working position.