JP2002200978A - Conveyor device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a line structure corresponding to the difference of a load between an inlet and an outlet of an overhead conveyor line, and to provide a technology for easily extending an existing line. SOLUTION: A first conveyor line 13 for traveling a first hanger 12 and a second conveyor line 17 for traveling a second hanger 16 are overlapped with each other at a common rail part 19, and a transfer device 35 is arranged in the common rail part 19. In the case of considering the existing line as the first conveyor line and an extension line as the second conveyor line, the second conveyor line can be provided for extension, while utilizing the first conveyor line.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a conveyor device suitable for a vehicle assembly line.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 of JP-A-9-123960, in a vehicle assembly line, a vehicle body B (reference numerals are diverted from those described in the publication; the same applies hereinafter) is used as a hanger H. The engine E, the mission M, and the like are mounted in a mounted state, that is, in a state in which the vehicle body B is held in the air.

[0003] Performing the assembling while transporting the vehicle body with a hanger in this manner is a method often used in a vehicle assembly line.
As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 of JP-A-22425, "Transportation equipment", the length is large. That is, in FIG. 2, 1 is an overhead conveyor, 7 is a slat conveyor, and after being conveyed from the left to the right by the overhead conveyor 1, the vehicle body is moved to the slat conveyor 7.
And, of course, assembling and mounting predetermined components during this transport.

[0004]

In the overhead conveyor, the vehicle body is held in the air so that the vehicle body can be conveniently assembled from below. FIG. 1 and FIG.
As is evident from the figure, the overhead conveyor is usually composed of a sufficiently long line, and the weight of the vehicle body at the entrance of the line and the vehicle body after assembling predetermined parts at the exit of the line. Weight is completely different.

[0005] Therefore, based on the weight of the vehicle body at the exit of the line, the overhead conveyor has been constructed of a hanger that is strong enough to withstand this weight. As a result, there is a problem that the size of the conveyor device becomes large as a whole, and the electric energy required to move the hanger laterally on the conveyor line also increases.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an overhead conveyor line with a line configuration corresponding to the difference in the loading load between the entrance and the exit of the line, and a technique for easily extending an existing line. It is in.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, a first conveyor line for running a first hanger suspended at a first rail at a predetermined pitch, and a same level as the first rail are provided. A second conveyor line for hanging a second hanger having a work receiving seat lower than the first hanger and having a large permissible load at a predetermined pitch, and a second rail on a part of the first rail. And a common rail unit provided at the entrance of the common rail unit for alternately introducing the first hanger and the second hanger to the common rail unit. An outlet point device provided at an outlet of the common rail portion for alternately discharging the first hanger and the second hanger, and a common rail portion for transferring a work on the first hanger to the second hanger. A transfer machine which is provided below, constitute a conveyor device from.

[0008] The first conveyor line and the second conveyor line having the second hanger on which a heavier object can be placed are connected via a common rail. Then, the first hanger and the second hanger are alternately introduced into the common rail by the entrance point device at the entrance of the common rail portion, and the work on the first hanger is transferred to the second hanger by the transfer machine and shared. The first hanger is sent out to the first conveyor line and the second hanger is sent out to the second conveyor line by an outlet point device provided at the exit of the rail section. with this,
Work such as a vehicle body can be conveyed through the first conveyor line and the second conveyor line in this order.

When the number of parts to be assembled is still small and the weight of the vehicle body is relatively small, it is transported on the first conveyor line,
When the number of assembled parts increases and the weight of the vehicle body is relatively large, the vehicle body is conveyed on the second conveyor line. In the present invention,
First hanger (second hanger) of the second conveyor line
It was made to be more durable than the hanger, so as to cope with an increase in the load. As a result, the first conveyor line including the first hanger can be reduced in size and weight as a whole. According to the first aspect, the overall weight can be reduced as compared with the conventional technology in which the entire line is enlarged.

Further, the existing line is replaced with a first conveyor line,
If the extension line is read as the second conveyor line,
The second conveyor line can be added while utilizing the conveyor line. That is, there is no need to replace the hanger in the first conveyor line. Therefore, according to the first aspect, it is extremely easy to add a line.

In the second aspect, hanger identification means for identifying the first hanger and the second hanger is provided at the rear of the entrance point device, and the first hanger and the second hanger are alternately shared by the hanger identification means. It is characterized in that it is confirmed that the vehicle travels in a section.

Due to malfunction of the entrance point device, etc.
It is possible that the hanger is followed by the first hanger, or the second hanger is followed by the second hanger. If such an inconvenience occurs, transfer from the first hanger to the second hanger cannot be performed. Therefore, the first hanger identification means
It has been confirmed that the hanger and the second hanger alternately travel on the common rail. Thus, the conveyor device of the present invention can be operated more smoothly.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the transfer machine controls the work to lower the work placed on the transfer machine from when the first hanger comes off the transfer machine to when the second hanger reaches the transfer machine. And a control unit that performs the following.

According to the first aspect, the work seat of the second hanger is made lower than that of the first hanger for the purpose of improving the rigidity of the hanger, increasing the number of assembled parts, and improving workability. Since this height difference leads to an increase in the transfer time, it is desired to avoid an increase in the transfer time. Therefore, in claim 3, the work is lowered during this time by using the movement time of the hanger, and the work can be placed on the second hanger in a short time.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawings should be viewed in the direction of reference numerals. FIG. 1 is a plan view of a conveyor device according to the present invention, and the details of each part will be described later with reference to FIG. 2 and FIG. 1 conceptually illustrates the entire conveyor device. In the conveyor device 10, the first hangers 12 (... Indicate a plurality of hangers) suspended from the first rail 11 have a predetermined pitch (the pitch is inaccurate for drawing reasons). )
And a second hanger 16 with a larger allowable load than the first hangers 12... Hang on a second rail 15 at the same level as the first rail 11. Second running at a predetermined pitch
Conveyor line 17 and common rail unit 1 in which a part of the second rail 15 is wrapped around a part of the first rail 11
9, an entrance point device 20 provided at the entrance of the common rail portion 19 for alternately introducing the first hanger 12 and the second hanger 16 into the common rail portion 19; Hanger 12 and second hanger 1
An outlet point device 30 provided at the exit of the common rail portion 19 for alternately discharging the workpieces 6, and the common rail portion 19 for transferring the work 32 on the first hanger 12 to the second hanger 16. And a transfer machine 35 provided below. The work 32 is a vehicle body as a typical example, but the type is not limited.

In the embodiment, the first rail 11 is composed of three rail groups, specifically, left and right free rails 11L and 11R and one power rail 14. Similarly the second
The rails 15 are, in detail, left and right free rails 15L,
It consists of three rail groups, 15R and one power rail 18.

Preferably, a hanger identification means 40 for identifying the first hanger 12 and the second hanger 16 is provided at the rear (downstream side, left side in the figure) of the entrance point device 20, and the hanger identification means 40 is provided. The first hanger 12
And the second hanger 16 alternately travel on the common rail portion 19. More preferably, a similar hanger identification means 40 is provided in front (upstream side, right side in the figure) of the exit point device 30 so that the first hanger 12 correctly enters the first rail 11 and the second hanger 16 is in the second position. Confirm that the vehicle enters the second rail 15 correctly.

For this purpose, the hanger identification means 40 comprises, for example, a camera 41, an image processing section 42, and a judgment section 43, and the camera 41 takes in the shape information of the first and second hangers 12, 16 (in this specific example, The image processing unit 42 converts the shape information into a signal, and the determination unit 43 compares the signal with a previously stored shape signal, and recognizes when the first hanger 12 should arrive. Yes, and similarly, when the second hanger 16 is to arrive, the second hanger 16
If it can be recognized, there is no problem and the operation will be continued.

However, when the first hanger 12 cannot be recognized due to the arrival of the second hanger 16 when the first hanger 12 should arrive, the judging section 43 judges that it is abnormal, issues an abnormal signal, and issues a line signal. And take measures such as stopping. The same applies to the second hanger 16.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the entrance point device according to the present invention. The entrance point device 20 is similar to a point device widely used in a railway track. The wedge-shaped movable guides 21 and 22 (21 and 22 are separated in the front and back directions of the drawing, 21 is at the same level as the upper flange of the free rail 11L, at a position where the three members of the second rail 15 and the common rail portion 19 merge. 22 is located at the same level as the flange below the free rail 11L.) And the movable guides 21 and 22 are pinned at the intersection of the free rail 11L and the free rail 15L from the position of the solid line to the position of the imaginary line. The cylinder 24 swings.

First hanger (the structure will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 3).
Of the driven rail 49 passes between the left and right free rails 11L and 11R, and then passes between the free rail 11R and the movable guides 21 and 22 shown by solid lines as shown by the arrows, thereby forming the first rail 11 as shown by the arrows. Enters the common rail section 19 from. During this time, since the free roll 51 runs on the lower flange of the free rail 11L and on the movable guide 22, the free roll 51 does not fall off.

When the movable guides 21 and 22 are switched to the positions indicated by the imaginary lines by the cylinder 24, the second rail 15 and the common rail portion 19 are in communication. Outgoing point device 3
0 (see FIG. 1) has the same effect, and the description is omitted. However, as long as the entry point device 20 and the exit point device 30 perform the same operation, the structure is not limited to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1 and is a front view of the first hanger according to the present invention. The first rail 11 is attached to a bracket 45 provided on the ceiling or under the floor on the building side.
(Attach the left and right free rails 11L and 11R and the power rail 14, and attach the power bracket 4 to the power rail 14.
The power bracket 6 is suspended via the rolls 47, 47, and the power bracket 46 is moved by the power chain 48 in the front and rear directions in the drawing.

On the other hand, the first hanger 12 places the free rolls 51, 51 extended from the driven members 49 on the free rails 11L, 11R, and places the top plate 52 on the driven members 49.
Are suspended from the top plate 52, and two columns 53, 53 are lowered from the top plate 52.
4 and 54, and positioning pins 55 and 55 are set up on these workpiece receiving seats 54 and 54, and these positioning pins 5
5 and 55 are hangers that support the work 32 with the work receiving seats 54 while determining the position of the work 32 along the horizontal plane.

With the above configuration, the power bracket 46
The first hanger 12 can be moved by pushing the driven member 49 toward the drawing surface at the lower end of the first hanger.

The work receiving seats 54, 54 are separated from the floor 56.
Is referred to as H1. Then, the pillar 53 with the camera 41
Is detected, the column 53 captured by the camera 41 has the first height H1 from the floor 56 to the work receiving seat 54, which is H1.
The hanger 12 can be identified.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a first hanger according to the present invention.
Because it is an extension of 3,53, it can also be called a two-post hanger. As is clear from the figure, the two-post hanger can be said to be a hanger that is hardly suitable for mounting a heavy work.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 1 and is a front view of the second hanger according to the present invention. The second rail 15 is attached to a bracket 57 provided on the ceiling or under the floor on the building side.
(Attach the left and right free rails 15L and 15R and the power rail 18, and attach the power bracket 5 to the power rail 18.
8 is suspended via the rolls 59, 59, and the power bracket 58 is moved by the power chain 61 in the front and rear directions in the drawing.

On the other hand, the second hanger 16 places the free rolls 63, 63 extended from the driven members 62 on the free rails 15L, 15R, and places the top plate 64 on the driven members 62.
Are suspended from the top plate 64, work receiving seats 66, 66 are provided at the lower ends of the columns 65, and the positioning pins 6 are mounted on the work receiving seats 66, 66.
The hangers 7 and 67 support the work 32 with the work receiving seats 66 while the positioning pins 67 and 67 determine the position of the work 32 along the horizontal plane.

With the above configuration, the power bracket 61
By pushing the driven member 62 toward the drawing table at the lower end, the second
The hanger 16 can be moved.

What is important here is that when the height from the floor 56 to the work receiving seats 66, 66 is referred to as H4,
4 is smaller than the height H1 shown in FIG. Accordingly, the distance S between the work 32 and the top plate 64 can be expected to be large. Then, by detecting the column 65 with the camera 41, the column 65 captured by the camera 41 becomes the second hanger 16 whose height from the floor 56 to the work receiving seat 66 is H4.
Can be identified.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a second hanger according to the present invention.
... can be called a four-post hanger. As is clear from the drawing, the four-post hanger is suitable for mounting the heavy work 32, that is, it can be said that the load allowable load is sufficiently larger than the first hanger 12 (see FIGS. 3 and 4).

The operation of the above-described conveyor device will now be described. FIGS. 7A and 7B are explanatory diagrams (1) of the operation of the conveyor device of the present invention. The transfer machine 35 is a lifter including a base 36, an X link 37, a mounting plate 38 as a lifting platform, and a cylinder 39. When the cylinder 39 is extended, the mounting plate 38 is raised, and when the cylinder 39 is contracted. The mounting plate 38 can be lowered.

In (a), the transfer machine 35 is in a standby state (floor 5).
The first hanger 12 (height H1), on which the work 32 is placed, is at a height H0 from the height H2 and is suspended by the power brackets 58, 58 swingably suspended on the power rail 18.
Is moving along the common rail 19 as shown by the arrow, and the empty second hanger 16 is moving along the common rail 19 as shown by the arrow.

In (b), the first hanger 12 is mounted on the transfer machine 3
5, the power bracket 58 on the left side of the figure rotates counterclockwise by the action of the unclamping guide plate 68 and comes off the driven member 49. As a result, the first hanger 12 stops right above the transfer machine 35. Next, the cylinder 39 of the transfer machine 35 is extended, and the work 32 is lifted by the mounting plate 38 (height H1 + α). Thus, the work 32 has moved from the first hanger 12 to the mounting plate 38.

FIGS. 8A and 8B are explanatory diagrams (2) of the operation of the conveyor device of the present invention. In (a), the work 32 is used while the empty first hanger 12 moves away from the mounting plate 38 and reaches the second hanger 16.
To H2. However, this height H2 is a height necessary for transfer to the second hanger 16, that is, H4 <H2 <H
Let it be 1. At this time, the sensor S1 confirms that the next second hanger 16 has not come yet.

(B) shows the lower position (the height H from the floor 56).
3 shows the work 32 in 3), and the second hanger 1
6 arrives. However, it is assumed that H4 <H3 <H2. However, the lowering to the lowering position (H3) is performed by the sensor S
1 is completed before the first hanger 16 is detected.

FIGS. 9A and 9B are explanatory diagrams (part 3) of the operation of the conveyor device of the present invention. (A) Transfer machine 3
5, the second hanger 16 is attached to the work 32 held at the height H3.
Indicates the state in which has arrived. From this state, the cylinder 39 is contracted, and the work 32 is transferred to the second hanger 16. That is, the height from the floor 56 is changed from H3 to H4. (B)
Shows a state in which the height of the transfer machine 35 is further changed from H4 to H0 to reduce it to the standby state, on which the second hanger 16 on which the work 32 is mounted travels as indicated by an arrow. This second
Next to the hanger 16, the first hanger 12 on which another work 32 is placed faces the transfer machine 35. From here, it returns to FIG. In this way, the work 32 can be efficiently transferred from the first hanger 12 to the second hanger 16.

It should be noted that the transfer machine may be one that directly lifts and lowers the mounting plate by a cylinder without using an X-link. In the embodiment, the hanger identification unit is a camera as the detection unit. However, the hanger identification unit may directly detect the shape of the hanger with a sensor such as a photoelectric sensor, a proximity sensor, or a mechanical limit switch.

[0040]

According to the present invention, the following effects are exhibited by the above configuration. According to the first aspect, the first conveyor line is connected to the second conveyor line including the second hanger on which a heavier object can be placed via a common rail portion. Then, the first hanger and the second hanger are alternately introduced into the common rail by the entrance point device at the entrance of the common rail portion, and the work on the first hanger is transferred to the second hanger by the transfer machine and shared. The first hanger is sent out to the first conveyor line and the second hanger is sent out to the second conveyor line by an outlet point device provided at the exit of the rail section. Thus, a work such as a vehicle body can be conveyed through the first conveyor line and the second conveyor line in this order.

When the number of parts to be assembled is still small and the weight of the vehicle body is relatively small, it is transported on the first conveyor line,
When the number of assembled parts increases and the weight of the vehicle body is relatively large, the vehicle body is conveyed on the second conveyor line. In the present invention,
First hanger (second hanger) of the second conveyor line
It was made to be more durable than the hanger, so as to cope with an increase in the load. As a result, the first conveyor line including the first hanger can be reduced in size and weight as a whole. According to the first aspect, the overall weight can be reduced as compared with the conventional technology in which the entire line is enlarged.

The existing line is replaced with a first conveyor line,
If the extension line is read as the second conveyor line,
The second conveyor line can be added while utilizing the conveyor line. That is, there is no need to replace the hanger in the first conveyor line. Therefore, according to the first aspect, it is extremely easy to add a line.

In the second aspect, hanger identification means for identifying the first hanger and the second hanger is provided at the rear of the entrance point device, and the first hanger and the second hanger are alternately used by the hanger identification means. It is characterized in that it is confirmed that the vehicle travels in a section. There is a possibility that the first hanger is followed by the first hanger or the second hanger and then the second hanger due to a failure of the entrance point device or the like. If such an inconvenience occurs, transfer from the first hanger to the second hanger cannot be performed. Therefore, the hanger identification means confirms that the first hanger and the second hanger alternately travel on the common rail. Thus, the conveyor device of the present invention can be operated more smoothly.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the transfer machine lowers the work placed on the transfer machine from when the first hanger comes off the transfer machine to when the second hanger reaches the transfer machine. And a control unit that performs the following. By the way, in the first aspect, the work seat of the second hanger is made lower than that of the first hanger for the purpose of improving the rigidity of the hanger, increasing the number of assembled parts, and improving workability. Since this height difference leads to an increase in the transfer time, it is desired to avoid an increase in the transfer time. Therefore, in claim 3, the work is lowered during this time by using the movement time of the hanger, and the work can be placed on the second hanger in a short time.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a conveyor device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of an entrance point device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1 and is a front view of a first hanger according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a first hanger according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 1 and is a front view of a second hanger according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a second hanger according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory view of the operation of the conveyor device of the present invention (part 1).

FIG. 8 is a view for explaining the operation of the conveyor device of the present invention (part 2).

FIG. 9 is a view for explaining the operation of the conveyor device of the present invention (part 3).

[Explanation of symbols]

10: conveyor device, 11: first rail, 12: first
Hanger, 13: first conveyor line, 15: second rail, 16: second hanger, 17: second conveyor line, 19: common rail section, 20: entry point device,
Reference numeral 30: delivery side point device, 35: transfer machine, 38: mounting plate, 39: cylinder of transfer machine, 40: hanger identification means, 54, 66: work receiving seat, 56: floor, H1 ...
Height from the floor to the work seat of the first hanger, H4 ...
Height from the floor to the work seat of the second hanger, S1 ...
A sensor for detecting the second hanger.

Claims (3)

[Claims] A first conveyor line for running a first hanger suspended at a first rail at a predetermined pitch;
A second conveyor line for hanging a second hanger having a work receiving seat lower than the first hanger and having a large allowable load at a predetermined pitch, and a second conveyor line hung on a second rail having the same level as the first rail. A common rail portion in which a part of the second rail is partially wrapped, and an entrance provided at an entrance of the common rail portion for alternately introducing the first hanger and the second hanger into the common rail portion. A point device, an outlet point device provided at an outlet of the common rail portion for alternately discharging the first hanger and the second hanger from the common rail portion, and
And a transfer machine provided below the common rail section for transferring to a hanger. 2. In the rear of the entrance point device, a first
The hanger identification means for identifying the hanger and the second hanger is provided, and the hanger identification means confirms that the first hanger and the second hanger run alternately on the common rail portion. 2. The conveyor device according to 1. 3. The transfer machine performs a control of lowering a work placed on the transfer machine from when the first hanger comes off the transfer machine to when the second hanger reaches the transfer machine. The conveyor device according to claim 1, further comprising a control unit.