JP2007061948A - Line system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an assembling line having high reliability and capable of quickly starting up the line. <P>SOLUTION: In the line system, the assembling line is composed of an aggregate of a plurality of modules 5 disposed in a conveyance direction. The respective module 5 can be mutually connected or separated and the respective module 5 has a frame 7 for installing equipment used for each work in working processes S1 to Sn. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a line system for performing various flow operations including assembly of vehicles and vehicle parts.

As described in Patent Document 1, as a conventional line system, for example, an assembly line for an automobile engine, the workpiece W is placed at a constant pitch and conveyed in front of the assembly operator row at a low speed and is assembled to the workpiece. It is known that a parts tray containing a set of parts is transported at the same pitch as the work transport pitch, in parallel with the work, and at the same speed as the work transport speed at a position above the work.
JP 2004-291170 A

  However, in the above-described assembly line, when a change in the line configuration is required due to a change in product specifications or the like, a great deal of labor is required for the recombination work. In addition, tools for assembling parts such as nutrunners and caulking devices, controllers for these tools, piping and wiring for supplying air and electricity, lighting, etc. are all installed on the floor and ceiling of the building. When a line is newly established, it is necessary to assemble the line by sequentially installing individual devices after delivery to the site, and it takes a long time to operate the line. Furthermore, the operation check and inspection of the line must be performed after the assembly of the line at the site, and an unexpected trouble may occur.

  The main object of the present invention is to provide a line system capable of flexibly changing the line configuration.

  At the same time, the purpose is to provide a line system that can start up the line quickly and can reduce the labor required for inspection and inspection after carrying on site.

  In order to achieve the above object, a line system according to the present invention comprises a plurality of processes including a transfer process, and is composed of a set of modules including at least one process, and the modules are connected to each other. And formed so as to be separable.

  According to the above configuration, an arbitrary form of line configuration can be easily realized by separating and connecting the modules. It is also possible to flexibly respond to line recombination requests due to product specification changes or the like.

  If the module is provided with a floor portion and a conveying means capable of conveying the object is provided on the floor portion, a conveyance route of the object can be formed by connecting the modules. Accordingly, the construction and recombination of the line stem can be performed more easily.

  At this time, if the conveying means is embedded in the floor portion, the operator can easily go back and forth on the floor surfaces on both sides of the conveying route, so that the workability can be improved.

  If the module is provided with a frame and equipment related to the process is arranged on the frame, it is not necessary to arrange these devices on the floor, so that the work space on the floor can be expanded. Moreover, the assembly work of these facilities at the line installation site can be eliminated, and the line can be operated quickly. Furthermore, it is possible to temporarily assemble the line, check the operation and inspect it, and then deliver and install it to the customer. This helps prevent unexpected troubles after delivery.

  By providing the module with shielding means capable of shielding the inside and the outside of the frame body, it is possible to partition the space inside the module and the space outside the module. Therefore, for example, the air conditioning efficiency in the module can be increased, or a clean room can be formed as necessary.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to adopt a flexible line configuration according to the circumstances on the user side. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the manufacturing cost by suppressing the construction cost of the line stem. In addition, it is possible to provide a highly reliable line system that can start up a line at an early stage and has few troubles.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an assembly line of an engine such as an automobile as a line system according to the present invention. As shown in the figure, in this assembly line, the engine block 3 as an object is sequentially transferred to a plurality of work processes (S1, S2,... Sn) by the transport means 1, and parts are assembled in each process S1. The engine is assembled.

  This assembly line is configured by connecting a plurality of modules 5 in the transport direction. As shown in FIG. 2, each module 5 includes a floor portion 6, and a frame body including four leg portions 7 a and a top plate 7 b disposed at both ends in the transport direction of the floor portion 6 and on both left and right sides of the transport means 1. 7 and manufactured. Adjacent modules 5 are configured to be connectable / separable by connecting means having an appropriate configuration. This connecting means is provided on one or both of the floor 6 and the frame 7.

  A typical example of the transport means 1 is a conveyor such as a roller or a belt, but any known transport mechanism can be used without being limited to the conveyor. 1 and 2 exemplify a case where a mounting table 1a for mounting the engine block 3 is provided on a conveyor as a conveying means, but this type of mounting table 1a is not essential and can be omitted. is there. If the conveying means 1 is divided for each module 5 and built in the module 5 in advance, the conveying means 1 can be constructed simultaneously with the connection of the modules 5, and the construction of the line takes a short time. Will be able to do.

  As shown in the figure, when a concave portion is provided in the floor 6 and the conveying means 1 is installed in the concave portion, the conveying means 1 is embedded in the floor 6. In this case, since the conveyance surface does not protrude significantly from the floor surface, or is below the floor surface, it is easy for an operator to move back and forth between the conveyance means 1.

  The width of the floor portion 6 is set to a width that can sufficiently secure the work space P of the worker 9 on both sides of the conveying means 1. The work space P can be provided not only on both sides of the conveying means 1 but also on only one side of the conveying means 1 according to the work contents in each work process S1... Sn. The size of each module 5 is preferably set to a size that can be easily carried by a truck or the like. Considering convenience in handling, etc., it is desirable that the modules have the same size, but at least the length in the transport direction is not necessarily the same, and modules 5 having different lengths may be used as necessary. It can also be used to construct an assembly line.

  In addition, as shown with a dashed-two dotted line in FIG. 2, the shielding means 10 can also be installed, for example in the top plate 7b of the frame 7 for the purpose of the improvement of air-conditioning efficiency, a countermeasure against a contamination (contamination), etc. The structure of the shielding means 10 is not particularly limited as long as the space inside and outside the module 5 can be partitioned. In addition to using a rigid wall made of metal or the like, a flexible material such as a vinyl sheet or a curtain is used. May be. The inside and outside of the module 5 may be partitioned in an airtight manner by the shielding means 10, whereby the space inside the module 5 can be used as a clean room, for example. The shielding means 10 may be assembled after the module 5 is manufactured in advance or may be retrofitted.

  Each module 5 is provided with a work process in which the worker 9 performs a predetermined work. Although illustration is omitted, in each step S1... Sn, an apparatus for sequentially supplying parts for assembly, an apparatus for storing the parts, and the like are installed as necessary. In FIG. 1, two steps are provided for each module 5, but the number of steps provided for each module 5 is arbitrary, and one or three or more steps may be provided.

  Various equipments used for work in each work process S1... Sn are attached to the top plate 7b of the frame body 7, for example. In FIG. 2, the case where the nut runner 9 which is a component assembly tool is attached to the lower surface of the top plate 7b is illustrated as an example of this type of equipment. In addition, various tools (for example, a caulking device) can be attached to various places on the top plate 7b. As equipment used for the work in each step S1... Sn, not only the above-mentioned tool that performs assembly work directly, but also a mechanism and a structure used in association with this, for example, a balancer rail 11 and a control panel 19 for tools. In addition, a posture change mechanism of the engine block 3, the air conditioning equipment 13, and a display panel and lighting equipment (none of which are shown) for displaying information (for example, vehicle type information) necessary for work can be included.

  On the top surface of the top plate 7b, a control panel 19 is installed, and a duct 15 for supplying air and electricity for driving or controlling the above facilities, a wiring box 17, and the like are attached. The surplus space on the top board 7b can be used as a walkway. Although not shown, the return path of the conveying means 1 may be installed on the top surface of the top plate 7b.

  Thus, by installing various facilities on the top plate 7b, the work space P of the floor portion 6 can be secured widely, and workability can be improved. Note that it is not always necessary to install all the equipment on the top board 7b, and a part of the equipment may be attached to the leg 7b.

  In this assembly line, the individual modules 5 are transported and carried into the installation location, and then the modules 5 are connected to each other, and the ducts 15 (the ducts for the air conditioner 13 are also installed across the plurality of adjacent modules 5). Assembly) or by installing the wiring box 17 or the like at a specified position. The duct 15, the wiring box 17, and the like may be assembled in advance in the individual modules 5 in a separated state, and connected and integrated using connectors and joints when the modules 5 are connected.

  As described above, according to the present invention, since the assembly line is modularized, it is possible to easily assemble a line configuration in an arbitrary form by separating and connecting the modules 5. Moreover, by installing in advance in each module 5 various facilities used in each work process S1... Sn, the installation work of these facilities at the delivery destination can be omitted, and the line can be quickly set up. Furthermore, it is possible to temporarily assemble the line at the manufacturer, check the operation and inspect it, and then deliver it to the customer and install it. This can prevent unexpected troubles after installation on site. it can. Also, even if the line has to be relocated for some reason, it may be transported for each module 5 and can be relocated more easily than when disassembled and relocated separately as in the past. The cost can be kept low and the line can be restarted quickly after relocation.

  In the above description, the module 5 manufactured by the floor portion 6 and the frame body 7 is illustrated, but the configuration of the module 5 is arbitrary. For example, the floor portion 6 is omitted and the module 5 is configured only by the frame body 7. You can also. In this case, it is possible to construct an assembly line by installing a plurality of frame bodies 7 on the floor of the building and connecting the frame bodies 7 and separately installing the conveying means 1.

  Note that the present invention can be similarly applied not only to the case where the assembly line is linear as shown in FIG. 1 but also to the case where the assembly line is curved. Further, the present invention can be similarly applied when the assembly line is branched (or joined) as shown in FIG. In this case, a module 5 ′ having a distributor is installed between the upstream module 5 and the module 5 downstream of the branch point.

  Moreover, although the assembly line of the engine was illustrated in the above description, the present invention can also be used as an assembly line for other mechanisms (for example, transmission) and structures (for example, vehicles) other than the engine. It can also be used as a line other than an assembly line, for example, a machining line such as machining, a painting line, an inspection line, or a composite line thereof.

It is a perspective view which shows the assembly line concerning this invention. It is sectional drawing in the direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the said assembly line. It is a top view which shows the other form of an assembly line.

Explanation of symbols

1 Conveying means 3 Object (engine)
5 Module 6 Floor 7 Frame 7a Leg 7b Top plate 9 Worker 10 Shielding means 11 Guide rail 13 Air-conditioning equipment 15 Air duct 17 Wiring box 19 Control panel S1... Sn process

Claims (5)

A line system comprising a plurality of processes including a conveying process,
A line system comprising a set of modules including at least one process, each module being formed to be connectable and separable.   The line system according to claim 1, wherein a floor portion is provided in the module, and transport means capable of transporting an object is provided on the floor portion.   The line system according to claim 2, wherein the conveying means is embedded in the floor portion.   The line system in any one of Claims 1-3 which provided the frame in the said module and arrange | positioned the equipment relevant to the said process in the said frame.   The line system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the module is provided with shielding means capable of shielding an inner side and an outer side of the frame body.

Images