JP2004010340A - Work posture improvement device for automobile manufacturing line - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform work for an automobile body in the state where a worker keeps a working height of the fixed range. <P>SOLUTION: The height from a working floor 10 to the worker's hands is detected with a tag 30 for detection and a read-write antenna 40 for detecting height, and the working floor 10 is lifted by moving a floor lifter 25 according to the detected height. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a work posture improving apparatus for a vehicle manufacturing line, which enables a worker to perform a work on an automobile body while maintaining a certain range of work height.
[0002]
[Prior art]
For example, in the painting work of a car body, the work of checking the painting state, and the repair work of the painting, the worker must bend down and stretch, because the work must be performed from top to bottom of the car body. You have to take your posture repeatedly. In addition, it is necessary to use a workbench or change the height of an automobile body to work in a range that is out of reach.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Therefore, since the worker repeatedly takes a deep forward leaning posture and an upward posture, there is a problem that the ergonomics evaluation for evaluating the posture during the work is deteriorated.
[0004]
In addition, since the posture is largely changed during the work, there is a problem that the work loss is caused by that and the work efficiency is deteriorated.
[0005]
It is conceivable to change the height of the car body or the work floor so that the work can be performed without changing the working posture.However, if the operation to change the height is performed manually, the height is added to the work. Therefore, there is a problem that an operation for changing the operation is required, which causes a work loss.
[0006]
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described conventional problems, and is directed to an automobile manufacturing line for enabling an operator to perform an operation on an automobile body while maintaining a certain range of operation height. It is intended to provide a work posture improvement device.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the object, an apparatus for improving a working posture of an automobile manufacturing line according to the present invention includes an elevating means for elevating and lowering an automobile body or a working floor, and a height from the working floor to a worker's hand. And height control means for raising and lowering the elevating means in accordance with the detected height, the relative height between the car body and the work floor to the height at hand of the worker By automatically changing in response to the change, the worker can work on the vehicle body without taking an unreasonable posture.
[0008]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the work posture improving apparatus for a car manufacturing line of the present invention, the relative height between the car body and the work floor can be adjusted according to the height at hand of the worker. The operator can continue working without changing his posture. In addition, work loss is reduced and work efficiency is improved.
[0009]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIGS. 1A and 1B are schematic configuration diagrams in a case where a work posture improving apparatus for an automobile manufacturing line according to the present invention is installed in a painting line. The working posture improving apparatus for an automobile manufacturing line according to the present invention can adjust the height of one or both of the car body and the working floor. In order to facilitate understanding of the present invention, an example in which only the height of the work floor is adjusted will be described.
[0010]
As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, a work floor 10 on which an operator rides and works is supported by a base 20 so as to be able to move up and down, and the raising and lowering is performed by a lifting lifter 25 composed of a hydraulic cylinder, a hydraulic motor and the like. .
[0011]
A height detection tag 30 for detecting the height from the work floor 10 to the operator's hand is attached to the worker's wrist. A radio wave of a specific frequency is transmitted from the height detection tag 30. In the present embodiment, the case where the height detection tag 30 is attached to the wrist is exemplified. However, the height detection tag 30 may be, for example, an arm of the worker if the height at hand of the worker can be detected. It can also be attached to the palm, back of the hand or any finger of the hand.
[0012]
On both sides of the work floor 10, read / write antennas 40 for height detection are attached so as to sandwich the worker in order to detect the height of the height detection tag 30 from the work floor 10. The height detection read / write antenna 40 is an antenna configured by arranging a large number of small antennas at a pitch of 50 mm in the height direction. The height detection read / write antenna 40 receives the radio wave transmitted from the height detection tag 30, and the height of the height detection tag 30, in other words, the height from the work floor 10 to the operator's hand. Can be detected at a pitch of, for example, 50 mm.
[0013]
The height of the work floor 10 is automatically adjusted according to the height of the height detection tag 30 from the work floor 10, in other words, according to the height at hand of the worker. For example, when the worker lowers his hand to work below the car body 50, the work floor 10 is lowered so that the work can be performed without the worker taking a crouching posture. When the worker raises his hand to work above the vehicle body 50, the work floor 10 is raised, so that the worker can work without taking a stretched posture. Such control is performed by the controller 100 installed on the work floor 10.
[0014]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a control system of the work posture improving device for an automobile manufacturing line according to the present invention. This control system includes a lifting lifter 25, a height detection tag 30, a height detection read / write antenna 40, and a controller 100. The controller 100 includes a height calculator 60, a lift controller 70, a changeover switch 80, and a keyboard 85.
[0015]
The lifting lifter 25 includes a hydraulic cylinder 26, an electromagnetic valve 27, a hydraulic motor 28, and a hydraulic tank 29 connected to the work floor 10, and functions as lifting means. The hydraulic motor 28 pumps up the oil stored in the hydraulic tank 29 and supplies it to the hydraulic cylinder 26. An electromagnetic valve 27 is provided in a path connecting the hydraulic cylinder 26 and the hydraulic motor 28. The electromagnetic valve 27 shuts off oil supplied to the hydraulic cylinder 26 and switches the flow path of the oil.
[0016]
When the electromagnetic valve 27 is switched to the path on the “elevating” side, the hydraulic cylinder 26 is extended by the oil supplied from the hydraulic motor 28 and increases the height of the work floor 10. Conversely, when the electromagnetic valve 27 is switched to the path on the “down” side, the hydraulic cylinder 26 is contracted by the oil supplied from the hydraulic motor 28 and the height of the work floor 10 is reduced. When the electromagnetic valve 27 is switched to the “shutoff” path, no oil is supplied to the hydraulic cylinder 26, so that the height of the work floor 10 is maintained.
[0017]
The height calculating section 60 functions as a height calculating means, and is connected to all of a plurality of small antennas constituting the height detecting read / write antenna 40. The height calculation unit 60 recognizes the reception level of the radio wave transmitted from the height detection tag 30 for all antennas, and determines from the work floor 10 of the height detection tag 30 according to which antenna has the highest reception level. Calculate the height of That is, the height from the work floor 10 to the operator's hand is calculated. The height detecting tag 30, the height detecting read / write antenna 40, and the height calculating unit 60 constitute a height detecting means.
[0018]
A changeover switch 80 is connected to the lifting lift control unit 70. The changeover switch 80 is not frequently used, but is installed in a work area on a work floor so that a worker can easily reach the changeover switch 80. The lift controller 70 does not operate when the changeover switch 80 is switched to the “fixed” side, but operates when the switch is switched to the “elevate” side.
[0019]
The elevating lifter control unit 70 switches the electromagnetic valve 27 to the “elevated” side or the “descent” side according to the height of the height detection tag 30 calculated by the height calculating unit 60, and moves the work floor 10 up and down. .
[0020]
The elevating lifter control unit 70 functions as a control unit, and includes a reference value storage unit 72, an allowable value storage unit 74, and a height change amount calculation unit 76. The reference value storage unit 72 stores a reference value of the height when the work floor 10 is moved up and down. This reference value is the height from the work floor 10 to the worker's hand when the worker performs work on the work floor 10, and is input from the keyboard 85. The worker sets the height from the work floor 10 to the operator's hand as a reference value so that the worker can easily work during the work. The reference value storage unit 72 and the keyboard 85 constitute reference value setting means.
[0021]
The allowable value storage unit 74 stores a dead zone for preventing the work floor 10 from moving up and down even when the height of the operator's hand changes within a certain range. Specifically, the permissible value of the amount of change in the height at hand based on the reference value stored in the reference value storage unit 72 is stored. The permissible value of the variation is in a range of ± 200 mm to 300 mm based on the reference value. The operator inputs a numerical value from the keyboard 85 such that the work floor 10 follows the movement of the worker's hand and does not move too much in consideration of the movement of the hand during the work. The allowable value storage unit 74 and the keyboard 85 constitute a change amount allowable value setting unit.
[0022]
The height change amount calculating unit 76 calculates the amount of change in height when the height from the work floor 10 calculated by the height calculating unit 60 at regular intervals to the operator's hand changes. The height calculator 60 and the height change calculator 76 constitute a height change calculator.
[0023]
When the amount of change in the height of the operator's hand calculated by the height change amount calculation unit 76 exceeds the allowable value set in the allowable value storage unit 74, the lifting lifter control unit 70 sets the electromagnetic valve 27 To either the “ascending” side or the “descending” side. Then, first, the work floor 10 is raised and lowered by a distance set as an allowable value, and then the work floor 10 is raised and lowered by an amount exceeding the allowable value until it reaches a reference value.
[0024]
As described above, when the work floor 10 is moved up and down in two stages, a certain time lag can be given to the response to the change in the height of the operator's hand. If it is not necessary to provide a time lag, the work floor 10 may be moved up and down according to the height at hand of the operator calculated by the height calculation unit 60 so that the height maintains the reference value. When the amount of change in the height of the operator's hand calculated by the height change amount calculation unit 76 exceeds the allowable value set in the allowable value storage unit 74, the height reaches the reference value. The work floor 10 may be moved up and down as described above.
[0025]
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation when the work posture improving device for an automobile manufacturing line according to the present invention is applied to a painting operation. Hereinafter, this operation will be described in detail with reference to FIG.
[0026]
When the changeover switch 80 is switched to the “fixed” side, the lifting / lowering lifter control unit 70 stands by without doing anything (S1, S2: fixed). On the other hand, when the changeover switch 80 is switched to the “elevation” side (S1, S2: elevate), the height calculation unit 60 receives the signal from the height detection read / write antenna 40 (Omron RFID system V690 antenna). The height of the height detection tag 30 (Omron RFID system V690 tag) from the work floor 10 is calculated based on the signal. If the height detection tag 30 is attached to the worker's wrist, the height is the height of the worker's wrist. The processing in step S2 is performed by the control unit.
[0027]
When the operator moves his / her hand to paint another place, and the height change amount calculating unit 76 detects a change in the height of the wrist of the operator (S3), the lifting / lowering lifter control unit 70 determines the height of the wrist. It is determined whether or not the variation is within the tolerance stored in the tolerance storage 74 (S4). If the change amount of the wrist height is within the allowable value (S4: YES), the lifting / lowering lifter control unit 70 returns to the step S3 without doing anything, and detects the change in the wrist height of the worker again. If the amount of change in the height of the wrist is within the allowable value, nothing is done in order to ignore a slight change in the height of the wrist during normal work. The processing in steps S3 and S4 is performed by the height calculating means, the height change amount calculating means, and the control means.
[0028]
On the other hand, if the amount of change in the height of the wrist exceeds the allowable value, the lifting / lowering lifter control unit 70 sounds the alarm buzzer and turns on the timer (S5). The alarm buzzer sounds to give a notice to the worker before moving the work lifter 10. Then, the height change amount calculation unit 76 detects a change in the height of the wrist of the worker again. Here, the change in the wrist height is detected based on the wrist height detected in the step S3 (S6). The sounding of the alarm buzzer and the detection of the change in the height of the wrist of the worker are continued until the timer turned on in step S5 times out (S7: NO). The processing in steps S5 to S7 is performed by the control unit.
[0029]
When the timer times out (S7: YES), the lifting / lowering lifter control unit 70 determines the amount of change in the wrist height detected in step S6 (based on the wrist height detected in step S3). It is again determined whether or not the amount of change is within the tolerance stored in the tolerance storage 74 (S8). The processing of the steps from S5 to S8 is performed by the height calculating means, the height change amount calculating means, and the control means.
[0030]
If the amount of change in the height of the wrist is within the allowable value (S8: YES), a lifting / lowering command for the work floor 10 is output from the lifting / lowering lift controller 70. For example, if the amount of change in wrist height detected in step S3 is +250 mm (upward) and the amount of change in wrist height detected in step S6 is -100 mm (downward), Since the amount of change detected in step S6 is within the allowable range, it is ignored, and the lifting commander 250 outputs a command to raise the work floor 10 by 250 mm (S9). The processing in step S9 is performed by the control means.
[0031]
When the ascending command is output, the electromagnetic valve 27 is switched to the “ascending” side path, the hydraulic cylinder 26 is extended by the oil supplied from the hydraulic motor 28, and the height of the work floor 10 is increased. Conversely, when a lowering command is output, the electromagnetic valve 27 is switched to the path on the “down” side, and the hydraulic cylinder 26 is contracted by the oil supplied from the hydraulic motor 28 to lower the height of the work floor 10.
[0032]
Regardless of whether the work floor 10 is raised or lowered, first, as a first step, the height of the work floor 10 is changed by a distance corresponding to the allowable value stored in the allowable value storage unit 74, and as a second step The height of the work floor 10 is changed until the distance exceeding the allowable value reaches the reference value stored in the reference value storage unit 72.
[0033]
If the work floor 10 is raised and lowered in two stages in this manner, it is possible to delay a response to a change in the height of the operator's hand. In order to speed up this response, the processing in the first stage is omitted, and the work floor 10 is moved up and down based only on the reference value stored in the reference value storage unit 72. In order to further speed up the response, the processing in steps S4 to S8 and the processing in step S11 described above are omitted, and the work floor 10 is raised and lowered so as to immediately return to the reference value when the height of the wrist changes. (S10). The processing in step S10 is performed by the control unit.
[0034]
When it is determined in step S8 that the height change amount is not within the allowable value (S8: NO), it is determined whether the direction of the height change is the same direction or the opposite direction (S11). ). If the height changes in the same direction (S11: same direction), the height of the wrist detected in the step S3 is further increased, so that the distance of the work floor 10 is equal to the height. In order to raise or lower the height, the processing of the above steps S9 and S10 is performed. On the other hand, if the direction of the change in height is the reverse direction (S11: reverse direction), the current wrist height is considered to be substantially the same as the wrist height detected in step S3. The process returns to the step S1 without changing the height of the work floor 10, and the above processing is performed again.
[0035]
The flowchart of FIG. 3 is repeatedly performed until the height of the worker's wrist reaches the reference value stored in the reference value storage unit 72. When the height of the worker's wrist reaches the reference value, the height of the work floor 10 needs to be fixed, so that the electromagnetic valve 27 is switched to the path of “blocking”.
[0036]
The processing of the above flowchart will be described more clearly with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.
[0037]
The height of the wrist at which the worker can work in a comfortable posture is set to a reference position A as shown in FIG. 4 (stored in the reference value storage unit 72), and a range of ± 200 mm is set based on the reference position A. When the change amount is set as the permissible value B (stored in the permissible value storage unit 74), if the operator moves the wrist within the range of the permissible value B (S4: YES), the lifting lifter control is performed. The unit 70 does nothing. However, when the worker raises his wrist beyond the range of the allowable value B, for example, to the position shown in FIG. C (for example, 300 mm from the reference position A), an alarm buzzer sounds (corresponding to S5).
[0038]
Then, while the buzzer is sounding, the position of the wrist is further moved from the position of C by a range of ± 200 mm (range of the allowable value B), and the position of the wrist of the worker is shown in FIG. 100 mm) (corresponding to S8: YES), since the position of D is 400 mm above the reference position A, the work floor 10 first rises by 200 mm (tolerance) as the first stage, Further, as a second step, the worker rises by 200 mm so that the worker's wrist reaches the reference position A.
[0039]
On the other hand, while the buzzer is sounding, the position of the wrist is further moved beyond the range of ± 200 mm (the range of the allowable value B) from the position of C, and the position of the wrist of the worker is shown in FIG. When the wrist moves to a position 250 mm below (equivalent to NO in S8), the direction in which the wrist is moved is opposite to the direction from A to C (equivalent to the opposite direction in S11). The work floor 10 is not moved since the position should be within the range of the allowable value B based on the reference position A.
[0040]
Since the work posture improving device for the automobile manufacturing line according to the present invention controls the height of the work floor 10 as described above, as shown in FIG. As long as the operator lowers the position of his wrist, the position of the work floor 10 automatically lowers. Conversely, as shown in FIG. 5B, when performing the painting work on the upper side of the vehicle body 50, the worker simply raises the position of his wrist, and the position of the work floor 10 automatically rises. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5, the worker performs the painting work without changing the posture and keeping the work height within a certain range, regardless of the height of the work position with respect to the vehicle body 50. Will be able to do it.
[0041]
In the above embodiment, the work floor 10 is raised and lowered according to the height of the worker's wrist. However, the work floor 10 is fixed, and the body body is adjusted according to the height of the worker's wrist. 50 may be raised and lowered. Further, if both the work floor 10 and the vehicle body 50 can be moved up and down, the stroke of the up and down movement can be made large, so that the painting work of an extremely high truck can be easily performed. .
[0042]
In the above embodiment, when the operator changes the position at hand, the position is immediately set to the preset reference position, and the work floor 10 is moved so as to follow the movement of the worker's hand. be able to.
[0043]
Further, if the work floor 10 is not moved even when the position of the operator's hand changes within a certain range set as an allowable value, the followability of the work floor 10 is reduced, but the worker can work calmly. become.
[0044]
Further, when the work floor 10 is moved, the safety is improved by first moving the distance set as an allowable value and further moving the position at hand of the worker until the position at hand reaches a preset reference position. You will be able to work calmly. It should be noted that the safety can be further improved by setting the speed at which the movement is performed by the allowable value first and the speed at which the vehicle is moved to the next reference position at different appropriate speeds.
[0045]
In the present embodiment, the height detection tag 30 and the height detection read / write antenna 40 have been exemplified as the height detection means, but other than this, an area scanner may be used as long as it can detect the height of the wrist. (F3ZN manufactured by OMRON Corporation) or an image processing apparatus that performs image processing on a captured image of a camera is applicable.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIGS. 1a and 1b are schematic configuration diagrams in a case where a work posture improving apparatus for an automobile manufacturing line according to the present invention is installed in a painting line.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a control system of the work posture improving device for an automobile manufacturing line according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the work posture improving device for an automobile manufacturing line according to the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a diagram provided for explanation of the operation of the flowchart shown in FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the flowchart shown in FIG. 3;
[Explanation of symbols]
10. Work floor,
20 ... Base,
25 ... Lifting lifter,
26 ... Hydraulic cylinder,
27 ... Electromagnetic valve,
28 ... Hydraulic motor,
29 ... Hydraulic tank,
30 ... height detection tag,
40: read / write antenna for height detection,
50 ... Car body,
60: Height calculation unit,
70 ... elevator lifter controller
72: Reference value storage unit
74 ... Allowable value storage unit
76: Height change amount calculation unit
80 ... changeover switch,
85 ... keyboard.

Claims (9)

A work posture improving apparatus for a car manufacturing line, wherein work on a car body is performed by changing a relative height between the car body and a work floor,
Elevating means for elevating the vehicle body or the work floor,
Height detection means for detecting the height from the work floor to the operator's hand,
Control means for elevating the elevating means according to the detected height,
A work posture improving device for an automobile manufacturing line, comprising: further,
Having a reference value setting means for setting a reference value of the height,
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit moves the lifting unit up and down until the detected height reaches a reference value. further,
Height change amount calculating means for calculating a height change amount when the height changes,
Change amount allowable value setting means for setting an allowable value of the height change amount,
The control means includes:
3. The vehicle according to claim 2, wherein when the calculated amount of change in height exceeds a set allowable value, the elevating means is moved up and down until the detected height reaches the reference value. Work posture improvement device for production line. The height detecting means,
A height detection tag attached to the worker's hand,
A height detection read / write antenna attached to both sides of the work floor so as to sandwich the worker from both sides to detect the height of the height detection tag from the work floor,
Height calculation means for calculating the height from the work floor to the operator's hand based on a signal from the height detection read / write antenna,
The working posture improving device for an automobile manufacturing line according to claim 1, comprising: The control means includes:
4. The working posture for an automobile manufacturing line according to claim 3, wherein the lifting means is first raised and lowered by a distance corresponding to the allowable value, and further raised and lowered by a distance exceeding the allowable value until the reference value is reached. Improvement device. In the work area on the work floor, a changeover switch is provided for switching between raising and lowering or fixing the vehicle body or the work floor. The work posture improving device for an automobile manufacturing line according to claim 1, which operates. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the work on the vehicle body is a painting work. 4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the allowable value of the amount of change in the height is in a range of ± 200 mm to 300 mm based on a reference value of the height. 5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the elevating means moves the vehicle body and the work floor relatively up and down.

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