JP2003072608A - Assembling carrying device for automobile and the like - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an assembling carrying device capable of being used for an assembling line of an automobile. SOLUTION: This assembling carrying device is composed of a coupled carrying truck line 1 structured by coupling front and rear plural carrying trucks 3, 4 with each other by a coupling device 5 so as to travel on a horizontal turn path portion, a driving device for driving the coupled carrying truck line 1 to travel at a constant speed on a linear assembling carrying path, and a control device 14. Each of the carrying trucks 3, 4 comprises a vertically moving table 8 supporting work so as to be vertically moved, a worker riding portion 9 adjacent to the vertically moving table 8, and an operation disc 10. The control device 14 is enabled to automatically interlock and vertically move the vertically moving table 8 on each carrying truck 3, 4 to a specified level at a fixed position on the assembling carrying path, and to manually adjust the level of the vertically/moving table 8 on the basis of operation of the operating disc 10.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automobile assembly in which a plurality of parts such as an engine conveyed by a floor conveyor are mounted in a state of being lifted from below onto an automobile body which is hung and conveyed by a hanger of an overhead conveyor. The present invention relates to an assembly and conveyance device that can be used in a line.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, in an automobile assembly line, it is possible to assemble a plurality of parts such as an engine conveyed by a floor conveyor in a state of being lifted from the bottom of an automobile body suspended by a hanger of an overhead conveyor and conveyed. For example, a front assembly such as an engine and a front suspension and a rear assembly such as a fuel tank and an exhaust muffler are assembled to one vehicle body, and in some cases, the front and rear assemblies are connected to each other. An intermediate assembly such as an exhaust pipe and a power transmission shaft is also integrally assembled.

Therefore, the elevator table supporting the front assembly and the elevator table supporting the rear assembly are synchronized with the automobile body just below the conveying path of the automobile body which is suspended from the hanger of the overhead conveyor and conveyed. It is necessary to provide a transporting device that can be driven in such a manner that various types of transporting devices have been conceived and put into practical use. However, there are merits and demerits in each, and none is sufficiently satisfactory in practical use.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, the present invention is an assembly transfer apparatus for performing an assembly operation of both front and rear assemblies with respect to an automobile body which is hung and transferred by a hanger of an overhead conveyor. Another object of the present invention is to provide a device that can be effectively utilized, and when the means is indicated by the reference numerals of the embodiments described later, a plurality of front and rear transport carriages 3 and 4 can be horizontally turned. A connection carrier train 1 configured by connecting the parts 31 and 32 to each other by a connecting device 5 so that the parts can travel, and a constant speed traveling drive of the connection carrier train 1 on the linear assembly transfer route 30. Each of the transport carriages 3 and 4 includes a drive device 36 and a control device 14, and each of the carriages 3 and 4 includes a lift table 8 that supports a work so that the work can be lifted, a worker riding section 9 adjacent to the lift table 8, and a worker riding section 9. An operation panel 10, the controller 1
4 is an automatic control that raises and lowers the lifting table 8 on each of the carriages 3 and 4 at a fixed position of the assembling transport path 30 to a predetermined level, and the lifting tables 8 are individually operated based on the operation of the operation panel 10. It is configured to allow manual control to adjust the level.

In carrying out the present invention having the above-described structure, the connecting device 5 of the connected carrier train 1 is provided with a plurality of front and rear guide rails 15 below the traveling floor surface 6 of the connected carrier train 1. Trolley 16-20 and each trolley 16
Each trolley 16 can be bent horizontally at a position of ~ 20 ~
A driven side surface 21a that connects 20 and is continuous between the front and rear ends
, A vertical connecting pin 22 for connecting the front ends of the transport carriages 3 and 4 to the trolley 16 or a position in the vicinity thereof, and the rear ends of the transport carriages 3 and 4 to the trolleys 16 to 20. And a guide means 23 for guiding the vehicle so as to be positioned on the traveling route of the load bar 21, and the drive device 36 is provided with a friction drive wheel 37 that is in pressure contact with the continuous driven side surface 21a of the load bar 21, and at least the above-mentioned. In the linear assembling transfer path 3-, the front end of the load bar 21 of each connected transfer carriage 1 can be configured to push the rear end of the load bar 21 of the immediately preceding connected transfer carriage 1.

[0006]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In FIGS. , 4
And a connecting device 5 for connecting and integrating the two carriages 3 and 4. Each of the transport carriages 3 and 4 is an octagonal one in which the four-sided shape of the square is diagonally cut, and the caster wheels 7 rolling on the floor surface 6 are arranged side by side on the front end side and the rear end side, respectively. An elevating table 8 is installed on the upper surface of the elevating table 8 to support the work so that the work can be moved up and down. The upper surface of the carriage around the elevating table 8 forms a worker riding section 9. In addition, the operator boarding section 9 is arranged on the left and right sides of the lifting table 8 by shifting the positions in the front-rear direction.
The manual operation panel 10 is provided.

The elevating table 8 is similar to a conventional table lifter, and is provided with an elevating table 11 driven in parallel by a pantograph mechanism driven by a hydraulic cylinder or the like. In this embodiment, A work support base 12 whose position can be adjusted in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction is provided on the lift base 11. A drive unit 13 of the lifting table 8 is mounted on the rear ends of the transport carriages 3 and 4, and a control device for controlling the drive unit 13 and the like is provided inside one of the left and right sides of the transport carriages 3 and 4. 14 are provided.

As shown in FIGS. 3B and 4, the connecting device 5
Is a first trolley 16 to a fifth trolley 20 supported and guided by a guide rail 15 installed on the lower side of the floor surface 6, a load bar 21 connecting and integrating these trolleys 16 to 20, and the load bar. 21 and the vertical connection pins 22 that connect the front ends of the transport carriages 3 and 4, and the transport carriages 3 and 4
And a guide means 23 for the rear end portion.
Then, in each of the trolleys 16 to 20, the vertical shaft rollers 16a to 16g fitted in the slit-shaped guide grooves 24 formed on the floor surface 6 so as to be located right above the guide rails 15 to.
20a is provided, and the load bar 21 includes three load bar units 25 to 27 having substantially the same length and a load bar unit 28 having a short tail at the end of the axis of the vertical shaft rollers 16a to 20a of each trolley. The left and right side surfaces of the driven side surface 21a are continuous from the front end protruding slightly forward of the first trolley 16 to the rear end extending slightly rearward of the fifth trolley 20. Is formed.

The vertical connecting pin 22 is provided on each of the carriages 3, 3.
4 are provided at the center position of the front end portion of the carriage 4 so as to be able to move up and down with respect to the floor surface. The vertical connecting pin 22 of the carriage 3 descends below the floor surface 6 to form the slit-shaped guide groove 24. Via the vertical axis roller 1 of the first trolley 16
The vertical connecting pin 22 of the carriage 4 is fitted in the shaft hole 6a.
Falls below the floor surface 6 to fit into the shaft hole of the vertical shaft roller 18a of the third trolley 18 via the slit-shaped guide groove 24. And the guiding means 23
Is composed of vertical shaft rollers 29 provided at the central positions near the rear ends of the respective carriages 3 and 4 so as to be able to move up and down with respect to the floor surface. These vertical shaft rollers 29 are lowered below the floor surface 6 to form slits. The guide groove 24 is shaped to fit. The vertical shaft roller 29 of the transport carriage 3 is fitted into the slit-shaped guide groove 24 immediately before the vertical shaft roller 17a of the second trolley 17, and the vertical shaft roller 29 of the transport carriage 4 is moved to the fourth position. The trolley 19 is fitted into the slit-shaped guide groove 24 immediately before the vertical shaft roller 19a.

With the above construction, each of the transport carts 3 and 4 has the first trolley 16 and the third trolley 16 of the connecting device 5 located below the floor surface 6.
If the first trolley 16 to the fifth trolley 20 (load bar 1) are connected to the trolley 18 through the vertical connecting pin 22 that passes through the slit-shaped guide groove 24 and move forward along the guide rails 15, the trolley 18 is linear. Not only the route but also the horizontal turn route portion in which the guide rail 15 (slit-shaped guide groove 24) horizontally curves is pulled by the first trolley 16 and the third trolley 18 to form the slit-shaped guide groove 2
It will move forward along 4. At this time, the rear end side of each of the carriages 3 and 4 swings left and right around the vertical connecting pin 22 of the front end, so that the vertical shaft roller 29 on the rear end side of each of the carriages 3 and 4 has a slit shape. It is prevented by fitting in the guide groove 24 of the guide carriage 24, and as a result, each of the carriages 3 and 4 is in a posture parallel to the slit-shaped guide groove 24 (the front and rear two guide grooves 24 in the horizontal turn path portion). Therefore, the robot moves forward along the guide groove 24 while maintaining the same posture).

The vertical connecting pin 22 of each of the carriages 3 and 4
The vertical shaft roller 29 and the vertical shaft roller 29 can be moved up and down by operating means (not shown and described), but the vertical connecting pin 22 and the vertical shaft roller 29 are held in a retracted position above the floor surface 6. As a result, the transport vehicles 3 and 4 can be separated from the coupling device 5 and moved to an arbitrary location outside the travel route.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, in the connecting device 5 for connecting the two transport carriages 3 and 4 as described above, the front end of the load bar 21 is located near the front end of the front transport carriage 3. At the same time, the rear end of the load bar 21 is located at a position rearward from the rear end of the rear-side carriage 4 by an appropriate distance. Then, when the coupled transport vehicle trains 1 having the same structure approach each other, the rear end 21c of the load bar 21 of the front coupled transport vehicle train 1 and the load bar of the rear coupled transport vehicle train 1, as shown in FIG. The front end 21b of 21 abuts each other in a vertically overlapped state, and a predetermined interval is maintained between the transport carriages 4 and 3 of the front and rear coupled transport carriage rows 1, while the rear coupled transport carriage row 1 is located at the front side. It becomes possible to push the connected transport vehicle train 1 of FIG. 2 via the respective load bars 21.

As shown in FIG. 5, the circulatory traveling route of the coupled transport vehicle train 1 having the above-described configuration is a linear assembly transport route 30.
And a return path 33 connected to the front and rear ends thereof via the horizontal turn path portions 31 and 32, and the feed-in propelling means 34 is disposed in the inlet-side horizontal turn path portion 31 of the assembling transfer path 30. A braking device 35 is arranged at an end portion on the exit side of the assembling transport path 30, and the connecting transport vehicle train 1 is provided by the feeding propulsion means 34 and the braking device 35.
A drive device 36 is configured to drive the vehicle at a constant speed in the assembling transport path 30.

The feeding propelling means 34 and the braking device 35 have basically the same structure, and as shown in FIG. 3B, the driven side surface 21a of the load bar 21 constituting the connecting means 5 of the connected carrier train 1. Friction drive wheel 37 and backup roller 38 for sandwiching the left and right sides, and friction drive wheel 37
The friction drive wheel 37 and the backup roller 38 (only one of the rollers may be provided in the linear path portion) are arranged in a horizontal direction substantially perpendicular to the moving path of the load bar 21. It is configured to be laterally supported on the load bar 21 and urged by a spring toward the movement path side of the load bar 21, so that the friction drive wheel 37 reliably comes into pressure contact with the driven side surface 21a of the load bar 21.

The friction drive wheel 37 of the braking device 35 is driven at a slightly lower speed than the friction drive wheel 37 of the injecting propulsion means 34, or an appropriate rotation resistance is given by the braking device without being driven by the motor 39. It's just good. Further, as a drive device for moving the connected carrier carriage 1 sent out from the exit side horizontal turn path portion 32 to the position of the feeding propulsion means 34 of the entrance side horizontal turn path portion 31 via the return path 33. The same propulsion means as the feeding propulsion means 34 or other suitable propulsion means can be used. In this case, in the return route 33, the assembling transport route 30
It is possible to configure the connected transport vehicle train 1 to travel at a higher speed than the traveling speed in the above.

[0016] As a result of the continuous transfer carriage train 1 being sent to the linear assembling transfer path 30 in the circulation traveling path having the above-described structure by the sending propulsion means 34 at a constant speed without interruption, the assembling transfer carriage 1 is carried out. In the route 30, the required number of connected carrier trains 1 continuously travel at a constant speed in a state where the load bars 21 are continuous. On the other hand, directly above the linear assembling transporting path 30, FIG. 1, FIG. 3, and FIG.
As shown in FIG.
An overhead conveyor line 41 having 0 is installed in parallel. Thus, the transportation interval of the automobile body W (the interval of the hangers 40) in the overhead conveyor line 41 is the same as the interval of the connected transport vehicle train 1 in the assembly transfer path 30. The hanger 40 is configured to continuously run at a speed equal to the running speed of each connected transport carriage row 1 so that the vehicle body W is located at a predetermined position directly above the carriage row 1.

Therefore, before being sent to the assembling transfer path 30, the front assembly wf to be mounted on the front part of the automobile body W is mounted on the elevating table 8 of the transfer carriage 3 of each connected transfer carriage row 1 and is transferred. The rear side assembly wr to be assembled to the rear part of the vehicle body W is mounted on the lifting table 8 of the carriage 4, and each lifting table 8 is held at the lowering level shown in FIGS. When the carriage train 1 is sent to the linear assembling transport path 30, the front assembly wf and the rear assembly wr mounted on the coupled transport carriage train 1 are arranged in front of and behind each vehicle body W transported on the overhead conveyor line 41. The car body W under the predetermined position
It will run in synchronization with. Of course, the linear assembly transport path 30 is lengthened so that the front assembly wf and the rear assembly wr can be loaded onto the lifting table 8 of each of the transport vehicles 3 and 4 in the starting end side region of the assembly transport path 30. You may do it. In this case, since there is no horizontal turn path portion after loading, it is possible to attach an intermediate assembly that rigidly connects the front and rear assemblies wf and wr.

However, the worker can mount the parts on the front side assembly wf and the rear side assembly wr mounted on the respective lift tables 8 by riding on the worker riding portions 9 of the respective carriages 3 and 4. , Both assemblies wf, w
It is possible to perform work such as installing parts between r.

Explaining below with reference to the flow chart shown in FIG. 6, an automobile in which the coupled transport carriage train 1 in which the necessary pre-work is completed as described above is set in the linear assembly transport path 30. When the entrance of the assembly area of each assembly wf, wr with respect to the body W (the vehicle body W is already conveyed synchronously to a predetermined position directly above the connected conveyance carriage row 1 at this place) is passed (S1), The control device 14 of each of the transport carriages 3 and 4 operates based on the detection signal of the sensor that detects the passage of the connected transport carriage train 1, and the lift table 8 is driven based on a preset lift table automatic lift control program. The unit 13 is controlled, and both the lifting tables 8 at the descending level corresponding to the parts assembling work are integrally assembled to the vehicle body W just above. Until work level is driven upward (S
2). After that, an operator who is on each of the carriages 3 and 4 pushes down an up button or a down button of the manual operation panel 10 arranged around the lifting table 8 (S3, S).
5) While the push-up button or the push-down button is being pressed, the respective lifting tables 8 are driven up and down via the control device 14 and the drive unit 13 (S4, S6), and the front side mounted on this Assembly wf and rear assembly wr
Finely adjust the height of each of these assemblies wf,
Attach wr to the car body W.

The current height of each lifting table 8 is constantly monitored by a height detecting sensor provided side by side, and the control device 14 controls both lifting tables 8 detected by the height detecting sensors. When the difference in height exceeds the preset allowable range (S7), in other words,
When an operator on each of the carriages 3 and 4 adjusts the height of the lifting tables 8 by a manual operation, the height difference between the lifting tables 8 exceeds a certain range, and the assemblies wf and wr on the lifting tables 8 are adjusted. Before a situation in which an intermediate component or the like passed over between them is adversely affected, an emergency stop command is issued to the drive unit 13 of the lifting table 8 on the lifting table 8 side of both lifting tables 8 to drive it up and down. Stop automatically (S8)
At the same time, it is a system that informs the operator of such a situation by an emergency light or a buzzer provided on the manual operation panel 10 or the like.

In the assembling area of the linear assembling transfer path 30, the linked carrier train 1 having completed the assembling work of the assemblies wf and wr to the vehicle body W as described above passes through the exit of the assembling area. When it does (S9), the control device 14 of each of the carriages 3 and 4 operates based on the detection signal of the sensor that detects the passage of the connected carriage train 1, and the preset lift table automatic lift control program is executed. Based on this, the drive unit 13 of the lifting table 8 is controlled, and both lifting tables 8 at the rising level corresponding to the assembling work to the vehicle body W are automatically and integrally driven to the lowering limit level (S).
10). After that, each of the emptied connected transport vehicle trains 1 is sent out to the return route 33 via the horizontal turn route portion 32 on the exit side, and the assembled vehicle body W is transported by the overhead conveyor line 41 to the assembly transport route. Three
It is sent out from the assembling conveyance path that is directly above 0.

It should be noted that lowering the lifting table 8 to the lower limit level after the assembling work may be performed based on a manual operation by the manual operation panel 10. In this case, the height detecting sensor checks the height of each lifting table 8 when the linked transport vehicle train 1 passes through the exit of the assembly area in the assembly transport path 30, and the lifting table 8 is lowered to the lower limit level. When not descending, the controller 14 may control the drive unit 13 so as to forcibly descend to the descending limit level.

It should be noted that the number of the linked transport carriages in the linked transport carriage 1 and the construction of the coupling device for coupling the transport carriages so that they can travel on the horizontal turn path portion, or the transport path for assembly of the coupled transport carriage 1 The configuration of the drive device 36 for driving the vehicle 30 at a constant speed is not limited to that of the above-described embodiment. Further, even when configured as in the above embodiment,
As the guide means 23 for guiding the rear end portion of each carriage to be located on the traveling path of the trolley, for example, a guide rail attached on the floor surface 6 can be used. Further, the floor surface 6 on which the transport vehicles 3 and 4 travel is lowered by one step from the floor surface on which an actual worker walks, and at least in the assembly transport path 30, the floor surfaces 6 are located on the left and right sides of the transport vehicles 3 and 4, respectively. Forming a floor surface at the same level as the worker boarding section 9 of the carrier vehicles 3 and 4 so that the worker can safely travel between the floor surface and the worker boarding section 9 of the carrier vehicles 3 and 4. It can also be configured as. In this case, the interval between the front and rear transport carriages 3 and 4 can be narrowed as much as possible so that the worker can safely transfer between the transport carriages.

[0024]

As described above, the vehicle for assembling a vehicle or the like according to the present invention can be carried out and used as described above. A hanger transport path for suspending an automobile body is arranged above the transport path, and a lifting table on a plurality of front and rear transport carriages forming a connected transport carriage row that travels on the linear assembly transport path, By assembling and mounting a plurality of front and rear assemblies separately mounted on the vehicle body conveyed by the overhead conveyor, the assembly work of the front and rear assemblies can be performed on the vehicle body. According to the configuration, the following operational effects can be expected.

That is, since a plurality of front and rear lifting tables are respectively mounted on different transport carriages, compared with the case where these front and rear lifting tables are mounted on one long transport carriage, The length of the carriage in the front-rear direction is shortened, and each carriage can be directly run on the horizontal turn path part and turned without using a traverser between the linear assembly transport path and the return path. Therefore, the equipment cost can be greatly reduced. In this case, the transport carriages must be separated from each other by a proper distance in the front-rear direction so that the front and rear carriages do not interfere with each other in the horizontal turn path portion. It can be configured in the same way as a long single carrier car for travel control, and the drive unit and travel control system are simple compared to the case where each carrier car must be separately controlled for synchronous travel. Each can be constructed at low cost.

Further, even though the respective lifting tables are mounted on different transport carriages, the lifting tables on the transport carriages are automatically controlled by the control device so that the lift tables on the transport carriages are fixed at a predetermined position, for example, an assembly area. Since it can be lifted up and down to a predetermined level at the entrance and exit of the car, the workability is improved and malfunctions are improved compared to the case where the operator boarding each carrier has to perform this operation manually. There is less fear. Of course, in the actual assembling work, the operator on each carrier can manually adjust the level of only the lifting table he is in charge of manually, so that the work can be performed easily and efficiently. .

According to the second aspect of the invention, the transport carriages must be separated from each other by a proper distance in the front-rear direction so that the front and rear carriages do not interfere with each other in the horizontal turn path portion. By using the load bar of the connecting device, it is possible to frictionally drive the connected carrier trains, each of which is composed of a plurality of carrier cars, while maintaining a required distance between the carrier cars. That is, it is possible to smoothly drive each of the coupled carrier carriages at a constant speed along the assembling carrier path with a simple driving device, and to satisfactorily perform the assembling work.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing a connected transport vehicle train on a transport route for assembly.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a coupled carriage train, and FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway plan view of the coupled device.

3 is a vertical sectional front view of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3B is a vertical sectional front view showing a drive device portion.

FIG. 4 is a partially cutaway side view showing the respective transport carriages and the coupling device in a vertically separated manner.

FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view showing a traveling path of a coupled carriage train and a drive device.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a control procedure by the control device.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Connected carrier carriage 3,4 carrier truck 5 connection device 6 floor 7 caster wheels 8 lifting table 9 Worker boarding section 10 Manual operation panel 11 elevator 12 Work support table 13 Drive unit 14 Control device 15 Guide rail 16-20 trolley 16a-20a vertical axis roller 21 load bar 21a Driven side 22 Vertical connection pin 23 Guide means 24 Slit-shaped guide groove 25-28 Load bar only 29 Vertical axis roller 30 Linear assembly transport path 31, 32 Horizontal turn path section 33 Return Route 34 Propulsion means for feeding 35 Braking device 36 Drive 37 drive friction wheel 38 Backup roller 39 motor 40 hanger 41 Overhead conveyor line W car body wf front assembly wr rear assembly

Claims (2)

[Claims] Claims: 1. A connected transport carriage row composed of a plurality of front and rear transport carriages connected to each other by a coupling device so as to be able to travel on a horizontal turn path portion, and the connected transport carriage row on a linear assembly transport path. Each of the carriages includes a lifting table for supporting a work in a vertically movable manner, an operator boarding section adjacent to the lifting table, and a control panel. The control device automatically controls the elevating table on each transfer carriage to move up and down to a predetermined level at a fixed position on the assembling transfer path, and manually adjusts the level of each elevating table based on the operation of the operation panel. An assembly and conveyance device for an automobile or the like, which is configured to be controllable. 2. The connecting device for the connected transport vehicle train is provided with a plurality of front and rear trolleys guided by guide rails below the traveling floor of the connected transport vehicle train, and can be bent horizontally at each trolley position. A load bar that connects the trolleys and forms a continuous driven side surface between the front and rear ends, a vertical connection pin that connects the front end of each carrier to the trolley or a position in the vicinity thereof, and a rear end of each carrier. And a guide means for guiding the trolley to be positioned on the traveling path of the trolley, wherein the drive device includes friction drive wheels that are in pressure contact with the continuous driven side surface of the load bar, and in the linear assembly transfer path, 3. The assembly and conveyance device for an automobile or the like according to claim 2, wherein the front end of the load bar of each connected transport carriage row pushes the rear end of the load bar of the immediately preceding connected transport carriage row.