JP2002239854A - Module assembly conveyor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent the expansion of a space even if assembly man-hour is increased and constitute a line necessitating no underground pit construction work in a module assembly line for assembling assembly parts on module basic parts flowing in the line. SOLUTION: A first subline 2 for assembling a power train module is formed like a loop having a substantially one-end opened square shape when viewed in a plan, and a conveyance path downstream side Y enters between a second subline 3 and a main line 4. A first transfer robot 5 is arranged in the vicinity of it, and both of the power train module in the first subline 2 and a frame module f in the second subline 3 are transferred onto the main line 4 by the first transfer robot 5.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a module assembly conveyor applied to, for example, a motorcycle assembly line.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, in a motorcycle assembly line, after a sub-line carries an engine assembly, a rear wheel, an air cleaner, a rear cushion, a muffler, and other parts are assembled on the line, and then assembled into a power train module part. There is known an assembly conveyor line which feeds into a main line and connects frame module parts sent from another sub line with this main line. As a sub line configuration for assembling the power train module etc., an underground pit etc. In general, a straight line is used to circulate the line by using a line.

[0003]

However, in the method of circulating the line using the underground pit, the return line passing through the underground pit is completely wasted, the cost of the underground pit construction is increased, and the type of the model is increased. If the number of assembling steps increases due to a difference or the like, there is a problem that a line is extended and a space is widened.

[0004] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a module assembly line that does not require a large space for an underground pit or the like even if the number of assembly steps increases.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a first module part assembled and transported on a first sub-line, and a second module part assembled and transported on a second sub-line.
In a module assembly conveyor in which module parts are fed into a main line and united, a first sub-line is formed into a plane loop, and a downstream end of the line is inserted between the second sub-line and the main line.搬路 and the transfer device disposed in the vicinity downstream end.

[0006] Then, the module basic parts are made to flow from the upstream side of the first sub-line, and the assembled parts are sequentially assembled there to assemble into the first module part. Sends the second module component to the main line, and combines it on the main line. Here, by forming the first sub-line into a planar loop, even if the number of assembling steps is increased due to, for example, a difference in model, a part of the return line can be used as an assembling line. There is no need and there is no cost for constructing an underground pit.

Further, the transfer end of the first sub-line on the conveying path is inserted between the second sub-line and the main line, and the transfer end is disposed near the downstream end of the first sub-line. This makes it easy to transfer both the first module component and the second module component to the main line,
Equipment can be simplified. If necessary, a transfer machine may be provided on the upstream end side of the first sub-line, and the module basic component may be transferred on the upstream side of the first sub-line by this transfer machine.

In the present invention, the first sub-line is formed into a substantially U-shaped loop in plan view.

[0009] By forming a substantially U-shaped loop as described above,
For example, even when a part of the return line is used as an assembly line due to an increase in the number of assembling steps, the space is not expanded as compared with a linear loop or the like, and the overall layout can be made compact.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Here, FIG. 1 is a plan view showing the entire module assembling conveyor according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view of the first sub-line, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a plan view, and FIG.
3 is a side view as viewed from the M direction, and FIG. 5 is a front view as viewed from the N direction in FIG.

[0011] The module assembly conveyor according to the present invention comprises:
Even if the number of assembling steps is increased, it is not necessary to increase the space, and the equipment can be made compact, and it is applied to a motorcycle assembly line, for example, as a line that does not require underground pit construction or the like.

That is, as shown in FIG. 1, a module assembly conveyor 1 according to the present invention comprises a power train in which various components such as a rear wheel, an air cleaner, a rear cushion, and a muffler are assembled to an engine assembly e as a module basic component. A first sub-line 2 to be assembled into a module, a second sub-line 3 to be assembled into a frame module, and a main line 4 connecting the power train module and the frame module are provided.

The first sub-line 2 is formed into a substantially U-shaped loop shape in plan view, and one end of the U-shape is set to the carry path upstream side X, and the other end of the U-shape is set to the carry path. Downstream side Y
The transport path downstream side Y enters between the second sub-line 3 and the main line 4, and a first transfer robot 5 as a transfer machine is disposed near the transport path downstream side Y. A second transfer robot 6 is also provided near the upstream side X of the transfer path. In addition, the transport path upstream side X of the first sub-line 2
In the vicinity, an engine elevator 7 into which the engine assembly e is carried is provided within a movable range of the arm 6a of the second transfer robot 6.

As shown in FIG. 2, the first sub-line 2 includes a plurality of assembling stations A, B, C, D, and D along the line from the upstream side X of the transport path to the downstream side Y of the transport path. E, and each of these assembling stations A, B, C,
In D and E, an engine assembly e is assembled with components such as a rear wheel, an air cleaner, and rear cushions and mufflers.

Also, the conveyor 8 of the first sub-line 2
As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the drive sprocket 10 on the downstream side of the transport path and the driven sprocket 1 on the upstream side X of the transport path
Endless conveyor chain 12 stretched between 1
(FIG. 3), a moving column 13 (FIGS. 4 and 5) connected to the conveyor chain 12 at a predetermined pitch and protruding upward, and attached to the lower end of the moving column 13 so as to move to the left and right sides. a cam follower support member 14 which overhangs provided with a disc-shaped receiving jig 15 attached to the upper end side of the movable column 13, the extending end portion of the cam follower support member 14, a pair of left and right cam follower 16 is mounted The cam floor 16 is guided by a cam floor receiving rail 18 (FIG. 5) of a conveyor base 17.

In the vicinity of the driving sprocket 10,
As shown in FIG. 4, a gear motor 20 is provided, and transmits a rotational driving force to the driving sprocket 10 via a torque limiter coupling 21 and a speed reducer 22.

In the conveyor 8 as described above, the sprocket shafts of the driving sprocket 10 and the driven sprocket 11 are both set in the vertical direction, and the conveyor chain 12 moves from the upstream side X to the downstream side Y along the conveyor base 17. After traveling approximately horizontally in the direction of U, the same height position is maintained along the return line, and the approximately U-shaped travels in the opposite direction and circulates. In addition, both the variable speed continuous operation and the intermittent variable speed operation can be performed.

As described above, a plurality of assembling stations A, B, C, D, and E are provided in the middle of the route traveling from the transport path upstream side X to the transport path downstream side Y. It is.

In the above-described module assembly conveyor 1, when the engine assembly e is carried in from the engine elevator 7, the second transfer robot 6 grips the engine assembly e and holds it at the predetermined position on the upstream side X of the first sub-line 2 on the carrying path. It is transferred onto the position of the receiving jig 15 and positioned on the receiving jig 15.

Then, while flowing to each of the assembling stations A, B,..., The assembling parts such as a rear wheel, an air cleaner, a rear cushion, and a muffler are assembled and assembled into an engine module. is conveyed is fed into the main line 4 first transfer robot 5 grips the engine module.

On the other hand, the first transfer robot 5 holds the frame module f to which the second sub-line 3 is conveyed and sends it to the main line 4 in parallel with this operation. , And the engine module and the frame module f are connected and flown.

Then, the receiving jig 15 of the first sub-line 2 from which the engine module has been paid out travels on the return line toward the transport path upstream side X while being empty.

When the engine model handled in the first sub-line 2 is different and the number of assembling steps is increased, a part of the return line can be used for the assembling station.

That is, when it is necessary to increase the number of assembling stations, for example, as shown in FIG.
A new mounting station F is arranged within the movable range of a. By first transferring the engine assembly e to the receiving jig 15 near the assembling station F, the number of assembling stations can be easily increased.

The first sub-line 2 is substantially U-shaped in plan view, and the downstream side Y of the conveyance path is
And the main line 4, so that the equipment and space can be made compact, and the first transfer robot 5 can handle both the engine module and the frame module f, thus simplifying the equipment. Is being planned.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. Those having substantially the same configuration as those described in the claims of the present invention and exhibiting the same operation and effect belong to the technical scope of the present invention. For example, the numbers and positions of the assembly stations A, B,... Are merely examples, and the module components are not limited to engine modules.

[0027]

As described above, the module assembling conveyor according to the present invention has the first sub-line assembled and transported by the first sub-line.
In a module assembly conveyor configured to send a module component and a second module component assembled and conveyed in a second sub-line to a main line and to combine them, the first
The sub-line is formed into a plane loop, and the downstream end of the line is inserted between the second sub-line and the main line, and the transfer machine is arranged in the vicinity of the sub-line. Even if the number of man-hours increases, a part of the return line can be used as an assembly line, so there is no need to extend the line, and there is no cost for constructing an underground pit. In addition, both the first module component and the second module component can be handled by the transfer machine near the downstream end of the transport path, which is convenient. Further, if the first sub-line is formed into a substantially U-shaped loop in plan view, even when a part of the return line is used as an assembly line, the space is not widened as compared with a linear loop or the like. The layout can be made compact.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an entire module assembly conveyor according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a first sub line.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged plan view in which a part of a downstream end of a first sub-line is partially cut away;

FIG. 4 is a side view seen from the direction M in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a front view as viewed from an N direction in FIG. 3;

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Module assembly conveyor, 2 ... First sub line, 3
... Second sub line, 4 ... Main line, 5 ... First transfer robot, 6 ... Second transfer robot, X ... Upstream of transport path, Y ...
Downstream of the transport route.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A first sub-line which is assembled and conveyed in a first sub-line.
What is claimed is: 1. A module assembling conveyor in which a module component and a second module component assembled and conveyed in a second sub-line are fed into a main line to be combined therewith, wherein the first sub-line is formed into a plane loop, A module assembling conveyor, wherein a downstream end is inserted between the second sub-line and the main line, and a transfer machine is arranged at least near a downstream end of a transport path. 2. The module assembly conveyor according to claim 1, wherein the first sub-line is formed into a substantially U-shaped loop in plan view.