JP2005288667A - Tool conveying apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To facilitate replacement of tools, to simplify the form of an apparatus and provide suitable equipment configuration especially in the case of enough hands in a welding line using a tool supporting a workpiece. <P>SOLUTION: In the welding lines 1, 2, the tool 10 on a tool truck 3 is loaded with a workpiece at a supply position X, the positioned workpiece is conveyed to a welding position Y to be welded. Truck conveying rails 23 are provided parallel to the sides of the welding lines 1, 2, the supply position X and the truck conveying rails 23 are connected to each other by a tool transfer rail 24, and a buffer zone S where the tool 10 is on standby and a buffer rail 25 are provided on the side of the truck conveying rails 23. A conveying path on the tool truck 3, the tool transfer rail 24, the buffer rail 25 and the conveying path 26 on the first to the fourth trucks 22a to 22d are disposed at the same height. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a jig conveying apparatus for transferring a plurality of workpiece holding jigs used for welding work of, for example, a side panel of an automobile to a standby position or a jig carriage.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, as a side panel assembling apparatus for assembling a side panel of an automobile, for example, a plurality of members to be welded are transported to a first welding station by a first jig carriage and welded. A technique is known in which the first welding line and the next welding line are configured as one line while being transferred to the second welding station and transferred to the second welding station to weld another member to be welded. . (For example, refer to Patent Document 1.)

JP 2002-293277 A

By the way, in the technique as described above, a jig carriage for holding a workpiece is provided at each welding station, and the workpiece is positioned and mounted on the jig carriage to perform temporary welding or the like. When the model was changed, it was necessary to replace the workpiece holding jig on the jig carriage.
An apparatus such as Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-293277 is convenient because everything is automatically processed. However, for example, when there are a large number of hands, the equipment becomes too large and is not economical.

  Therefore, the present invention enables easy application even when the model is changed in a welding assembly line such as a side panel of an automobile, and has a simple configuration of the apparatus, which is particularly suitable for a case where there are many manpower. The purpose is to.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is provided with two welding processing lines on the same straight line for conveying the workpiece from the supply position to the unloading position via the welding processing position. In a jig conveying apparatus that conveys a jig for holding a workpiece onto a reciprocable jig carriage, at least the first to fourth carriages can run and are substantially parallel to the welding line. Rails, a plurality of buffer zones provided on the side of the carriage transport rail and capable of stocking jigs, a jig transfer rail connecting the carriage transport rail and the supply position, A plurality of buffer rails connecting the carriage transport rail and each buffer zone are provided, and a carriage path on the jig carriage, a jig transfer rail, a buffer rail, and a carriage path on the first to fourth carriages. The same height And sequenced.

A plurality of jigs having different forms depending on the model are stocked in a plurality of buffer zones provided on the side of the carriage transportation rail so that the jig on the jig carriage can be replaced at the supply position. To do. And, for example, the first and second carts are used on the processing welding line on one side and the third and fourth carts are used on the welding processing line on the other side. When the jig taken down from the jig is transferred to the second and fourth carts via the jig transfer rail and transported to the buffer zone, and a new jig to be used is placed on the jig cart, After being conveyed by the three carriages, the jig is transferred to the jig carriage via the jig transfer rail.
At this time, by setting the carrying path on the jig carriage, the jig transfer rail, the buffer rail, and the carrying path on the first to fourth carriages to the same height, for example, the first to fourth carriages. After mounting and transporting the jig, the jig can be transported and replaced by hand, so that the replacement work can be performed easily and the equipment can be configured at low cost.

  As a jig conveying device for conveying a jig on a jig carriage that can reciprocate between the supply position of the two welding lines and the welding position, at least four first to fourth carriages can travel. A carriage transport rail is provided, a plurality of buffer zones are provided on the side of the carriage transport rail, and a plurality of jigs can be stocked. The carriage transport rail and the buffer zone are connected by a plurality of buffer rails, and the carrying path on the jig carriage, the jig transfer rail, the buffer rail, and the first to fourth carriages have the same height. By arranging them at a height, the jig can be easily exchanged, and the equipment can be configured more economically, especially when manpower is sufficient.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Here, FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an outline of the configuration of the jig conveying apparatus according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a front view of a welding line on one side, FIG. 3 is an explanatory view of a jig carriage, and FIG. FIG. 4B is a side view, FIG. 4 is a side view seen from the AA line direction of FIG. 2, and is an explanatory view when the workpiece is tack welded. FIG. 5 is a view taken from the AA line direction of FIG. FIG. 6 is an explanatory view when a workpiece is subjected to additional welding in a side view, FIG. 6 is an explanatory view of a transport carriage, (a) is a front view, (b) is a side view, FIG. 7 is an explanatory view of a jig, FIG. FIG. 9 is a side view for explaining a jig transfer rail portion viewed from the direction of the line BB in FIG. 1, and FIG. 9 is a plan view of the jig transfer rail portion.

  The jig conveying apparatus according to the present invention is applied to an assembly line used when assembling a side panel of an automobile, for example, and can be easily applied even if the model to be handled is changed, and the apparatus is simplified. In particular, the equipment configuration is suitable when there are many people.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 1, the assembly line of the side panel has two welding processing lines on the straight line (accessory attachment) for transferring the workpiece from the supply position X to the unloading position Z via the welding processing position Y. Line 1 and inner part mounting line 2) are provided, and in the accessory mounting line, the outer panel includes a fuel adapter, door striker, door opening reinforcement, rear gutter, rear fender stiffener, jack holder, door catcher, etc. The outer panel assembly is assembled by welding small parts, and in the inner part mounting line 2, the inner parts such as the front pillar inner and the rear inner are welded to the outer panel assembly to assemble the side panel.

  Further, a jig exchanging device for exchanging the jig 10 on the jig carriage 3 described later is provided on the side of such a welding line. That is, on the side of the accessory mounting line 1 and the inner part mounting line 2, a carriage transporting rail 23 on which the first to fourth carriages 22a to 22d can travel is provided in parallel with the mounting lines 1 and 2, respectively. A jig transfer rail 24 is provided between the carriage transport rail 23 and the supply position X, and a plurality of buffer zones S are provided on the side of the carriage transport rail 23. . The buffer zones S are provided with buffer rails 25 connected to the jig transfer rails 24.

First, the welding process line will be described.
The accessory attachment line 1 and the inner part attachment line 2 include a jig carriage 3 that can reciprocate between the supply position X and the welding position Y, and a carry-out carriage that can reciprocate between the welding position Y and the unload position Z. 4 are provided so as to be connectable, work clamp means 5 and a welding device 6 are provided in the vicinity of the respective welding positions Y, and the jig carriage 3 and the unloading carriage 4 are moved to move small items. A guide rail 7 connecting the supply position X, the welding position Y, and the carry-out position Z is provided on the attachment line 1 and the inner part attachment line 2.

As shown in FIG. 3, the jig cart 3 has a dedicated jig 10 detachably attached to the upper portion of the cart body 8, and the jig 10 is a dedicated jig according to the type of the side panel, for example, It is configured in the form as shown in FIG. 7, and when the type of the side panel to be handled is changed, it can be replaced with the jig 10 corresponding thereto.
Then, the jig 10 of the jig carriage 3 on the accessory mounting line 1 is configured so that the outer panel and the accessory parts mounted on the jig 10 can be positioned and clamped at a predetermined position. The jig 10 is configured so that an outer panel assembly and an outer part mounted on the jig 10 can be clamped at predetermined positions. In FIG. 3B, the maximum overhang position of a jig or the like for clamping the outer panel or the assembled part is indicated by P.

The jig carriage 3 is configured so that a predetermined workpiece W is mounted at the supply position X and can be conveyed to the welding position Y when it is positioned and clamped.
Further, the jig 10 on the carriage main body 8 is movable in a lateral direction along an inclined guide rail 31 orthogonal to the direction of the guide rail 7 and can be moved by a predetermined stroke in the workpiece clamping means 5 as described later. When delivery is performed, the cylinder unit 33 is extended from the retracted position (solid line) in FIG. 3 (b) and moved to the laterally outward delivery position (one-dot chain line in FIG. 3 (b)). After that, the cylinder unit 33 is retracted so that it can be retracted to the original retracted position.

As shown in FIG. 6, the carry-out carriage 4 includes a locking portion 11 for hooking and holding a window portion of the outer panel, and a holding portion 12 for holding a center pillar portion, 1, the outer panel assembly is received from the work clamp means 5 at the welding position Y, and the inner part mounting line 2 is configured so that it can be conveyed toward the discharge position Z after receiving the side panel from the work clamp means 5. Yes.
The unloading carriage 4 and the jig carriage 3 are connected by the connecting means 21 shown in FIG. 1 so as to move integrally, and the unloading carriage 4 moves between the welding position Y and the unloading position Z. The jig carriage 3 is reciprocally movable between the supply position X and the welding position Y while being reciprocally movable.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the work clamping means 5 includes three clamp members 13 for clamping the upper edge three places of the outer panel in the vertical orientation, and three clamp members for clamping the lower edge three places. 14 is provided on a base 15 on the side of the guide rail 7 at the welding position Y. For example, an upper portion of the base 15 is provided as shown in FIG. A horizontal guide 17 that is movable up and down along the vertical guide 16 is provided, and a clamp member 13 is attached to a support member 18 that is movable along the horizontal guide 17. For this reason, the clamp member 13 can be moved by a predetermined stroke in the left-right direction in FIG. 5 and can also be moved by a predetermined stroke in the vertical direction. Further, the clamp member 13 at a predetermined location is movable even in the direction of the guide rail 7 so that it can cope with workpieces of different types.

  Further, the clamp member 14 that holds the lower edge side of the workpiece W is provided on the floor surface opposite to the base 15 with the guide rail 7 interposed therebetween, and this clamp member 14 also has a predetermined stroke in the left-right direction in FIG. In addition to being movable, it is also possible to move in a predetermined stroke in the vertical direction, and the clamp member 14 at a predetermined location is also movable along the direction of the guide rail 7, so It can be adapted to.

  The welding apparatus 6 includes a plurality of welding robots 20, and the welding robot 20 is configured as a multi-axis robot and includes an arm that can move in at least three axial directions.

  In the above-described welding process line, first, in the accessory attachment line 1 on the upstream side, the jig carriage 3 is positioned at the supply position X and the unloading carriage 4 is positioned at the welding position Y. The outer panel is placed and clamped, and small parts such as a fuel adapter, door striker, door opening reinforcement, rear garter, rear fender stiffener, jack holder, and door catcher are attached to the outer panel. It is positioned at a predetermined position and clamped by a clamper of the jig 10.

  When the workpiece W made of an outer panel or a small part is positioned and clamped on the jig carriage 3, the unloading carriage 4 and the jig carriage 3 move forward integrally, and the unloading carriage 4 is moved to the unloading position Z. Simultaneously move to the welding position Y.

Next, at the welding processing position Y, as shown in FIG. 4, the welding robot 20 of the welding apparatus 6 performs temporary welding on the workpiece W on the jig carriage 3 while being mounted. This temporary welding is temporary attachment in which the small parts are not united with the outer panel and the small parts are not detached even if only the outer panel is held. When the temporary welding is completed, the jig 10 on the carriage main body 8 moves to the laterally outward delivery position, and delivers the temporary welded body to the work clamp means 5. When the workpiece clamping means 5 receives the tack welded body and clamps the upper and lower edges, the jig 10 is retracted to the inward retracted position in the lateral direction, and in this state, as shown in FIG. Perform additional welding on the temporary welded body and assemble the outer panel assembly. At this time, since the workpiece W is in a floating state in the air, there is no interfering substance that obstructs the additional welding, and sufficient additional welding is possible.
During this time, the unloading carriage 4 and the jig carriage 3 are moved back together so that the unloading carriage 4 returns to the welding position Y and the jig carriage 3 returns to the supply position X.

When the incremental welding is completed, the assembled outer panel assembly is automatically transferred from the work clamp means 5 to the carry-out carriage 4.
Further, at the supply position X, the outer panel and the small parts are mounted on the jig carriage 3 in the same procedure as described above.

  Next, both the unloading carriage 4 and the jig carriage 3 move forward, the unloading carriage 4 moves to the unloading position Y, and the assembled outer panel assembly is discharged. At the welding position Y, the next workpiece is welded. This is repeated.

  Next, the outer panel assembly paid out from the accessory mounting line 1 is conveyed to the supply position X of the inner component mounting line 2, and the inner component is mounted on the inner component mounting line 2. This mounting procedure is the same as that for the accessory mounting line 1. At the supply position X, the outer panel assembly is positioned and clamped on the jig carriage 3, and at the same time, the front pillar inner, rear inner, etc. Position and clamp the inner part in place.

  Then, after the jig carriage 3 is moved to the welding position Y and temporarily welded, the temporary welded body is received by the work clamp means 5 and additional welding is performed. Then, the side panel that has been subjected to the increased hit welding is transferred to the carry-out carriage 4 that has moved backward, and then is conveyed to the carry-out position Z and is paid out.

Next, a jig exchanging device for exchanging the jig 10 on the jig cart 3 will be described.
As described above, the jig exchanging apparatus includes a carriage transport rail 23 provided in parallel with the welding lines 1 and 2, and a jig transfer rail 24 that connects the carriage transport rail 23 and the supply position X. A plurality of buffer zones S arranged on the side of the carriage transport rail 23, and buffer rails 25 extending from the buffer zones S toward the carriage carriage rail 23, In FIG. 23, four carts of first, second, third, and fourth carts 22a, 22b, 22c, and 22d are made to run freely.

  Of these, the first and second carts 22a and 22b are used for replacing the jig 10 of the accessory mounting line 1, and the third and fourth carts 22c and 22d are used for replacing the jig 10 of the inner component mounting line 2. At the same time, the second and fourth carriages 22a and 22c receive the used jig 10 from the jig carriage 3 and transport it to the buffer zone S, so that the first and third carriages 22b and 22d are newly treated. The tool 10 is mounted so that it can be transferred onto the jig carriage 3.

  When the second and fourth carriages 22b to 22d on the carriage transport rail 23 are positioned in front of the jig transfer rail 24 in a state where the jig carriage 3 is located at the supply position X, the jig The jig 10 that has been used up to now is separated from the carriage 3, and the jig 10 is manually transferred to the second and fourth carriages 22b and 22d via the jig transfer rail 24 by hand, for example. To do. Then, when the second and fourth carriages 22b and 22d are manually conveyed to the buffer zone S at a predetermined position, the first and third carriages 22a and 22c that have been waiting at the standby position until then (new jigs already existed). 10) is moved to the front of the jig transfer rail 24, and the jig 10 is transferred onto the jig carriage 3 through the jig transfer rail 24 by hand pressing.

  For this reason, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, a pair of carrying paths 26 having an H-shaped cross section are provided at both ends in the front-rear direction on the first to fourth carriages 22 a to 22 d. When the first to fourth carriages 22a to 22d are moved and positioned in front of the jig transfer rail 24, the first to fourth carriages 22a are positioned at the same width interval as the jig transfer rail 24. The transport path 26 on 22d and the jig transfer rail 24 are in communication with each other. The jig transfer rail 24 is also H-shaped in cross section. And the wheel 28 of the jig | tool 10 is fitted in the H type | mold inside of the conveyance path 26, when conveyed by the 1st-4th carts 22a-22d (FIG. 7).

On the other hand, the jig carriage 3 is provided with a support plate 27 that supports the jig 10, and a carriage path is provided at both ends of the support plate 27. The transfer rail 24 and the carrying paths 26 on the first to fourth carriages 22a to 22d are set to the same height.
Also, the buffer rail 25 has the same configuration as the jig transfer rail 24, and when the first to fourth carriages 22 a to 22 d move to the front position of the buffer rail 25, the first to fourth carriages are moved. The carrying path 26 on the carriages 22a to 22d and the buffer rail 25 are brought into communication with each other, and the buffer rail 25 is also a rail 25 having an H-shaped cross section.
The height of the buffer rail 25 is also the same as that of the jig transport rail 24 and the transport path 26 on the first to fourth carriages 22a to 22d.

  In the jig exchanging apparatus as described above, when the production lot is finished with the same model and the production of another model is started, the second and second units are always on standby on the carriage transport rail 23 on the side of the supply position X. The jig on the jig carriage 3 is transferred to the four carriages 22b and 22d. That is, when the jig 10 is separated from the jig carriage 3, the operator manually pushes the jig 10 onto the second and fourth carriages 22b and 22d via the jig transfer rail 24.

  When the jig 10 is transferred onto the second and fourth carriages 22b and 22d, the second and fourth carriages 22b and 22d are manually conveyed toward the empty buffer zone S, and the desired buffer zone S The jig 10 is pushed into the buffer rail 25. This is also done manually by the workers.

Next, the worker moves the first and third carriages 22a and 22c loaded with the next jig 10 to the front of the jig transfer rail 24 by manually pushing the jig 10 on the carriages 22a and 22c. The material is transferred onto the support plate 27 of the jig carriage 3 via the tool transfer rail 24.
When the transfer onto the jig carriage 3 is completed, the first and third carriages 22a and 22c are escaped by hand to an unobstructed place, and then the second and fourth carriages 22b and 22d are used for the next model. The jig 10 is moved to the front of the buffer zone S where it waits, and the next model jig 10 is mounted on the second and fourth carriages 22b and 22d. Then, the carriages 22a and 22c are moved to the standby position to stand by.

According to the above-described procedure, the jig exchanging work using manpower is efficiently performed. At this time, the carriage path on the jig carriage 3, the jig transfer rail 24, and the buffer rail 25 are used. Since the carrying paths 26 on the first to fourth carts 22a to 22d are at the same height, the jig 10 can be moved easily.
Moreover, the equipment configuration can be simplified and it is economical.

In addition, this invention is not limited to the above embodiments. What has substantially the same configuration as the matters described in the claims of the present invention and exhibits the same operational effects belongs to the technical scope of the present invention.
For example, the workpiece is not limited to the side panel parts.

  In a processing facility having two welding processing lines, when changing the jig 10 on the jig carriage 3 when changing the model to be handled, a carriage transport rail 23 on which four carriages 22a to 22d can travel is provided. By providing the jig transfer rail 24 so as to connect the carriage transport rail 23 and the jig carriage 3, and by providing a plurality of buffer zones S and buffer rails 25 on the side of the carriage transport rail 23, When the manpower is sufficient, it becomes an economical facility configuration, and on the jig carriage 3, the jig transfer rail 24, the buffer rail 25, and the first to fourth carriages 22 a to 22 d. By making the carrying path 26 of the same height, the conveyance can be performed easily.

The top view which shows the structure outline | summary of the jig conveyance apparatus which concerns on this invention Front view of one side welding line It is explanatory drawing of a jig trolley, (a) is a front view, (b) is a side view Explanatory drawing when carrying out temporary welding of a workpiece in the side view seen from the AA line direction of FIG. Explanatory drawing when carrying out incremental welding of a workpiece in a side view seen from the AA line direction of FIG. It is explanatory drawing of a conveyance trolley, (a) is a front view, (b) is a side view. Illustration of jig The side view explaining the rail part for jig transfer seen from the BB line direction of FIG. Plan view of the rail for jig transfer

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Small article attachment line, 2 ... Inner component attachment line, 3 ... Jig trolley, 10 ... Jig, 22a ... 1st trolley, 22b ... 2nd trolley, 22c ... 3rd trolley, 22d ... 4th trolley, 23 ... Rail for transporting carriage, 24 ... Rail for transferring jig, 25 ... Rail for buffer, 26 ... Carrying path, S ... Buffer zone.

Claims (1)

Two welding lines are provided on the same straight line to transport the workpiece from the supply position to the unloading position via the welding position, and the workpiece is placed on a jig carriage that can reciprocate between the supply position and the welding position. A jig conveying apparatus for conveying a holding jig, wherein at least four first to fourth carriages can run and are substantially parallel to the welding line, and the carriage conveying rail. A plurality of buffer zones provided on the side of the rail and capable of stocking a jig; a jig transfer rail connecting the carriage transport rail and the supply position; the carriage transport rail and each buffer; A plurality of buffer rails connecting the zones, and the height of the carriage path on the jig carriage, the jig transfer rail, the buffer rail, and the carriage path on the first to fourth carriages is the same height. Jig transportation characterized by arrangement Apparatus.