JP2007217077A - Work carrier in assembly line - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a work carrier in an assembly line capable of carrying works without being damaged, manufacturable at low cost, and being reduced in a space for installation. <P>SOLUTION: This work carrier has, at its upper end, a locking part detachably locked to a hole formed at the lower surface of a work 4. The work 4 is placed on a carrier table in a supported state by carrying ball members 8 the lower ends of which rolling balls are rotatably held with parts thereof exposed downward. All carrying ball members 8 are positioned between two guide rails 38 installed along the carrying table. By the movement of the carrying ball members 8 in the direction perpendicular to the carrying direction restricted, the work is moved on the carrying table by rolling the rolling balls. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a work transfer device for an assembly line.

  Conventionally, in an assembly line in which various parts are assembled to a workpiece while conveying the workpiece, the workpiece is placed on a belt-type conveyor, and the conveyor is stopped for each work process. It is known to do. When the work is stopped at a predetermined position in each work process in such an assembly line, a stopper is provided for contacting the work moving by the conveyor at a predetermined position to restrict the movement of the work. The workpiece is positioned accurately by continuing to move the conveyor for a while after the contact.

  However, if the workpiece is conveyed by such a method, the conveyor continues to move for a while after the workpiece abuts against the stopper, so that the workpiece conveyance surface slides on the upper surface of the conveyor and is damaged. In particular, when the workpiece has a surface that requires a sealing property such as an aluminum cylinder head used in an engine, there is a possibility that this surface is damaged and the sealing property is impaired.

In order to solve such a problem, it is also known to place a work on a pallet and transport the pallet by a conveyor. By doing in this way, since a workpiece | work and a conveyor do not contact directly in a stop position, said problem is solved.
Further, in addition to the use of a pallet, for example, Patent Document 1 proposes that the pallet itself has a self-propelling function so that the driving device for the conveyor is eliminated. In the transport device of Patent Document 1, a plurality of support bodies each having a roller are mounted on the lower surface of the pallet, and the pallet can be self-propelled by driving the roller with a driving body. And a workpiece | work is mounted on this pallet and a workpiece | work is conveyed.
Japanese Patent No. 2579894

However, when a pallet and a conveyor for transporting the pallet are used, it is necessary to provide a conveyor for returning the pallet to the initial position on the assembly line after the assembly is completed, which increases the cost required for the equipment. Space is also required.
Further, even when the pallet itself has a self-propelling function as in the transport device of Patent Document 1, it is necessary to secure a passage for returning the pallet after the assembly is completed. Is required.

Furthermore, the pallet has a size for placing a workpiece, and there is a problem that a place for storing such a pallet must be secured.
Also, when using a pallet, it is necessary to provide a mechanism for positioning the workpiece on the pallet, so it is necessary to prepare a separate pallet for each workpiece of a different type, which increases the manufacturing cost of the pallet. There is also a problem.

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and the object of the present invention is to convey a workpiece on an assembly line that can convey a workpiece without being damaged and can reduce cost and space. To provide an apparatus.

  In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the workpiece conveying device of the assembly line of the present invention has a locking portion on the upper end side, which is detachably locked in a hole opened on the lower surface of the workpiece, and a rolling ball at the lower end partly. A plurality of transport ball members that are rotatably held in a state of being exposed downward, and the work is supported and placed on the transport ball member, and the rolling balls exposed from the transport ball members roll. A direction of the conveyance base that is movable along the assembly line and the conveyance ball member that is provided along the conveyance stage and that is mounted on the lower surface of the workpiece, perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the workpiece. And two guide rails that restrict the movement of the workpiece, and the two guide rails are such that all the transport ball members mounted on the lower surface of the workpiece are positioned between the two guide rails. Characterized in that it is arranged to (claim 1).

  According to the workpiece conveying device of the assembly line configured as described above, a plurality of conveying ball members are mounted on the lower surface of the workpiece by engaging the engaging portions with the holes opened on the lower surface of the workpiece, and supported by these conveying ball members. By placing the workpiece on the conveyance table in the above state, it is possible to move the workpiece along the assembly line on the conveyance table by rolling the rolling ball exposed downward from the conveyance ball member. At this time, all the transport ball members mounted on the lower surface of the workpiece are between two guide rails provided along the transport table, and the transport ball member moves in a direction perpendicular to the workpiece transport direction. It is regulated by these guide rails.

Further, in the workpiece transfer device of the assembly line, the transfer platform has a recess that can engage with a rolling ball of a transfer ball member mounted on the lower surface of the workpiece on an upper surface of a position where the assembly work to the workpiece is performed. It is formed (Claim 2).
According to the workpiece conveying device of the assembly line configured as described above, when the workpiece moves on the conveying table by the rolling ball of the conveying ball member and reaches the position where the assembling work is performed, the workpiece is formed on the upper surface of the conveying table. The rolling ball of the conveying ball member is engaged with the recessed portion thus made, and the workpiece becomes difficult to move from the position.

Alternatively, in the work transfer device of the assembly line, the two guide rails are rotated when the work is turned at a position where the work is turned while the work is placed on the transfer stand and the assembly work is performed. The distance between each other is enlarged so as to be outside the turning trajectory of the conveying ball member (Claim 3).
According to the workpiece conveying device of the assembly line configured as described above, when the workpiece is swung, the conveying ball member is placed on the conveying table in the inner portion sandwiched between the two guide rails whose intervals are enlarged. Turn.

  Furthermore, in the workpiece transfer device of such an assembly line, the transfer table is engageable with a rolling ball of the transfer ball member when the workpiece is in a transfer state on the upper surface of the position where the assembly operation is performed. A first recess and a second recess with which a rolling ball of the conveying ball member can be engaged when the workpiece is turned are formed (claim 4).

  According to the workpiece transfer device of the assembly line configured as described above, when the workpiece moves on the transfer table by the rolling ball of the transfer ball member and reaches the position where the assembly work is performed, it is formed on the upper surface of the transfer table. The rolling ball of the conveying ball member is engaged with the first recessed portion thus made, and the work is difficult to move from that position. Further, when the work is turned by applying a force to the work for assembly work, the engagement between the first recess and the rolling ball of the transport ball member is released, and the transport ball member is swung together with the work. The rolling ball engages with the second recess.

Further, in the work transfer device of the assembly line, the work is transferred by being brought into contact with the transfer ball member when protruding from the upper surface of the transfer table and protruding above the upper surface of the transfer table. A stopper for restricting movement in the direction is further provided (claim 5).
According to the workpiece conveying device of the assembly line configured as described above, when the workpiece reaches the position where the workpiece conveyed on the conveying table is stopped, the stopper protruding from the upper surface of the conveying table contacts the conveying ball member, The movement in the transport direction is hindered and stopped. And when moving a workpiece | work again, contact | abutting with a conveyance ball member and a stopper member is cancelled | released because a stopper retracts | saves from a conveyance table upper surface.

  Further, in the workpiece transfer device of the assembly line, the transfer ball member has a step portion facing upward when the workpiece is mounted on the lower surface of the workpiece, and the workpiece is moved upward after completion of a predetermined assembly operation. The transfer table is lifted and transferred, and the transfer table has a detachable member that engages with the stepped portion of the transfer ball member to release the transfer ball member from the work when the work is lifted. (Claim 6).

According to the workpiece conveying device of the assembly line configured as described above, when the workpiece is lifted upward for transfer after completion of a predetermined assembling operation, the removing member is engaged with the step formed on the conveying ball member. Then, since the upward movement of the transfer ball member is restricted, the transfer ball member is detached from the workpiece.
Furthermore, in the workpiece transfer device of such an assembly line, the transfer table has an opening for dropping the transfer ball member separated from the workpiece by the removing member below the transfer table ( Claim 7).

  According to the workpiece conveying device of the assembly line configured as described above, the conveying ball member detached from the workpiece by the detaching member falls from the opening to the lower side of the conveying table.

  According to the workpiece conveying device of the assembly line of the present invention, the workpiece is moved on the conveying table only by mounting a plurality of conveying ball members on the lower surface of the workpiece by locking the engaging portion in the hole opened on the lower surface of the workpiece. Therefore, not only is the workability good, but it is also possible to share the conveying ball member even with different types of workpieces, and the cost can be reduced compared to the case of using a pallet. It becomes.

Further, since the workpiece is conveyed on the conveyance table while being supported by the conveyance ball member, the workpiece does not contact the conveyance table and the like, and damage to the surface of the workpiece during conveyance can be prevented.
Furthermore, since the rolling ball exposed from the conveying ball member rolls, the workpiece can be moved on the conveying table, so that the operator can move the workpiece to the next work process only by lightly pushing the workpiece. This makes it possible to eliminate the need for a drive device for transporting the workpiece, thereby reducing the cost for the transport equipment.

  In addition, since the movement of the conveying ball member in the direction perpendicular to the conveying direction is regulated by the two guide rails arranged along the conveying table, the workpiece can be reliably conveyed without falling off the conveying table. Can do. Moreover, since all the conveyance ball members are positioned between the two guide rails, the interval between the guide rails can be partially changed or the interval between the conveyance ball members and the guide rail can be adjusted. This makes it possible to turn the workpiece without getting over the guide rail.

  Furthermore, since it is not necessary to use a large member such as a pallet, there is no need to provide a conveyor or a large passage for returning the pallet to its original position, and the transfer ball member removed from the work after completion of the assembly is placed on a tray. Can be temporarily stored and then returned together to the original position. For this reason, it is possible to significantly reduce the cost and space required for the transport facility and the storage location.

Further, according to the work transfer device of the assembly line of claim 2, when the work reaches the position where the work moves on the transfer table and performs the assembly operation, the rolling ball of the transfer ball member is formed in the recess formed on the upper surface of the transfer table. Since the workpieces are engaged and the workpiece is difficult to move from the position, the assembling work can be stably performed.
Further, according to the work transfer device of the assembly line of claim 3, at the position where the work is turned and the work is carried out, the two are placed outside the turning track of the transfer ball member when the work is turned. Since the distance between the guide rails is increased, when the workpiece is turned, the transfer ball member can be smoothly turned without going over the guide rails on the transfer table in the inner part sandwiched between the two guide rails. Can be made.

  Further, according to the work transfer device of the assembly line of claim 4, when the work that has been transferred is turned, the rolling ball of the transfer ball member is engaged with the first recess, so that the position suitable for the turn. Positioning of the workpiece on the side becomes easy. Then, when the work is turned and the rolling balls of the conveying ball member are engaged with the second recess, the assembly work after the work is turned can be stably performed. Furthermore, when the workpiece is turned again in the direction in which the workpiece can be conveyed after the assembly work is completed, the rolling ball of the conveying ball member is engaged with the first recess, so that the workpiece is positioned at a position where the workpiece can be conveyed. It becomes easy.

  According to the workpiece conveying device of the assembly line of claim 5, the stopper abuts against the conveying ball member and stops the workpiece at a predetermined position, so that damage to the workpiece when the workpiece is stopped can be prevented. On the other hand, when the workpiece is moved again, since the stopper is retracted from the upper surface of the conveyance table, the contact between the conveyance ball member and the stopper is released, and the workpiece can be conveyed without being interfered with the stopper. .

Further, according to the workpiece conveying device of the assembly line of claim 6, when the workpiece is lifted upward for transfer after completion of the predetermined assembling operation, the removing member is engaged with the step formed on the conveying ball member. Then, since the transfer ball members are detached from the work, it is not necessary to remove the transfer ball members from the work one by one, and the work efficiency can be improved.
Further, according to the workpiece conveying device of the assembly line of claim 7, since the conveying ball member detached from the workpiece by the detaching member falls from the opening to the lower part of the conveying table, by arranging a tray or the like below the opening, It becomes possible to temporarily store the used transport ball member. Therefore, it is not necessary to manually transfer the transport ball member detached from the work to another place each time, and work efficiency can be improved.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an outline of an assembly line of an aluminum cylinder head for an engine to which a work conveying apparatus for an assembly line according to the present invention is applied.
As shown in FIG. 1, the cylinder head assembly line 1 has a substantially L shape and is arranged in parallel with the engine body assembly line 2.

The cylinder head 4 which is a workpiece is placed on the transport table 6 in the carry-in area A1. At this time, the conveying ball member 8 is manually attached to the lower surface of the cylinder head 4 as shown in FIG.
A head bolt hole 10 through which a head bolt for fixing the cylinder head 4 to a cylinder block (not shown) is inserted is formed in the cylinder head 4 so as to open on the upper surface and the lower surface of the cylinder head 4. The head bolt holes 10 are arranged in two rows along the longitudinal direction of the cylinder head 4, and a total of eight head bolt holes 10 are formed in each row.

  Of the eight head bolt holes 10 arranged in two rows, one of the transport ball members 8 is attached to each of the head bolt holes 10 at both end portions of each row, so that they form exactly four rectangular corners. The distance between the conveying ball members 8 in the cylinder head 4 in the longitudinal direction is longer than the distance in the width direction. As shown in FIG. 2, the mounting of the conveying ball member 8 to the head bolt hole 10 is performed by inserting a locking portion 12 formed on the upper end side of the conveying ball member 8 into the head bolt hole 10.

  A hole 14 penetrating in the direction orthogonal to the axial direction is formed in the locking portion 12, and a ball 16 is provided in the hole 14 so as to be movable along the hole 14. The diameter of one opening of the hole 14 (the opening on the left side in FIG. 2) is smaller than the diameter of the ball 16, and the ball 16 is in the hole 14 in a state before the conveying ball member 8 is mounted on the cylinder head 4. 2 is urged to the left in FIG. 2 by a spring 18 interposed therebetween, so that a part of the locking portion 12 is protruded from the outer peripheral surface. The diameter of the locking portion 12 is smaller than the diameter of the head bolt hole 10 of the cylinder head 4, and the sum of the protruding amount of the ball 16 from the outer peripheral surface of the locking portion 12 and the diameter of the locking portion 12 is the head bolt hole 10. It is set to be larger than the diameter.

  When the locking portion 12 is inserted into the head bolt hole 10 of the cylinder head 4, the ball 16 is pushed inward of the locking portion 12 against the urging force of the spring 18 by the peripheral wall of the head bolt hole 10. At this time, when the ball 16 is pressed against the inner peripheral wall of the head bolt hole 10 by the biasing force of the spring 18, the locking portion 12 is held in the head bolt hole 10.

  A flange portion 20 is provided at an intermediate portion of the conveying ball member 8, and a rubber bush 22 is mounted on the upper surface of the flange portion 20. For this reason, when the engaging portion 12 is inserted into the head bolt hole 10 and the conveying ball member 8 is pushed in, the conveying ball member 8 is brought into contact with the lower surface of the cylinder head 4 while the rubber bush 22 on the upper surface of the flange portion 20 is in contact. The cylinder head 4 is positioned and held on the lower surface.

Accordingly, the conveying ball member 8 can be easily mounted on the lower surface of the cylinder head 4 simply by pushing the locking portion 12 of the conveying ball member 8 into the head bolt hole 10. Further, since the flange portion 20 does not directly contact the lower surface of the cylinder head 4 and the rubber bush 22 contacts, the lower surface of the cylinder head 4 is not damaged.
A bearing portion 24 is provided on the lower end side of the conveying ball member 8, and a rolling ball 26 is rotatably held on the bearing portion 24 with a part thereof exposed downward. Therefore, when the cylinder head 4 with the conveying ball member 8 mounted on the lower surface is placed on the conveying table 6 with the rolling ball 26 in contact with the upper surface of the conveying table 6, the cylinder head 4 is supported by the conveying ball member 8. At the same time, the rolling ball 26 can be moved on the carrier table 6 by rolling.

  In this way, the cylinder head 4 can be moved on the transport table 6 simply by mounting the plurality of transport ball members 8 on the lower surface of the cylinder head 4, so that not only the workability is good but also different. Even with the cylinder head 4 of the type, the conveying ball member 8 can be shared, and the cost can be reduced as compared with the case of using an individually created pallet.

  Further, the cylinder head 4 can move on the transport table 6 by the rolling ball 26 exposed from the transport ball member 8 rolling, so that the operator simply pushes the cylinder head 4 to the next work process. It is possible to move the cylinder head 4 until the drive device for transporting the cylinder head 4 becomes unnecessary, and the cost for transport equipment can be reduced.

The bearing portion 24 and the flange portion 20 are connected by a leg portion 28 having a diameter smaller than that of the bearing portion 24, thereby forming a step portion 30 facing upward on the upper surface of the bearing portion 24.
FIG. 3 shows a state where the cylinder head 4 on which the transfer ball member 8 is mounted as described above is placed on the transfer table 6 in the carry-in area A1 of the assembly line of FIG. The transport table 6 is supported by a support base (not shown) fixed to the floor surface, and spans two frames 32 arranged in parallel along the assembly line, and a bracket 34 between the frames 32. The transport plate 36 is provided.

  The cylinder head 4 to which the conveying ball member 8 is mounted is moved on the upper surface of the conveying plate 36 by the rolling of the rolling ball 26 of the conveying ball member 8. Two guide rails 38 having a substantially L-shape are attached along the extending direction of the transport plate 36. The interval between the guide rails 38 is set so that when the cylinder head 4 is placed on the transport plate 36 via the transport ball member 8, all the transport ball members are positioned inside the two guide rails 38. In this embodiment, the gap is such that a slight gap is generated between the conveying ball member 8 and the guide rail 38 in the width direction of the cylinder head 4.

  By providing such a guide rail 38, the movement of the conveying ball member 8 in the direction orthogonal to the conveying direction is restricted, so that it is possible to reliably move along the conveying table 6 without dropping from the conveying plate 36 or the conveying table 6. The cylinder head 4 can be conveyed. Further, as described above, since the interval between the conveying ball members 8 in the longitudinal direction of the cylinder head 4 is longer than the interval in the width direction, each cylinder head 4 conveyed on the conveying table 6 also rotates. It is regulated and transported almost in the same direction.

Rough guide plates 40 are erected on both frames 32 at portions where no work is performed in the assembly line, and even if the transport ball member 8 gets over the guide rails 38, the cylinder head 4 is prevented from falling off the transfer table 6.
Thus, the cylinder head 4 placed on the transport plate 36 of the transport table 6 moves to the assembly work area A2 when the worker in the carry-in area A1 pushes out in the direction of the arrow D1 in the drawing.

  The assembly work area A2 is provided with a plurality of work processes, and the cylinder head 4 moves in the direction of the arrow D1, and in each work process, a valve system such as a camshaft and intake / exhaust valves (both not shown). Parts are assembled sequentially. At this time, a stopper 42 capable of appearing and retracting is provided on the upper surface of the transport table 6 at a position corresponding to each work process, and the cylinder head 4 moving on the transport table 6 is stopped in each work process by the stopper 42. Assembling work of parts is performed.

  4 and 5 are views showing a state in which the cylinder head 4 is stopped by the stopper 42 protruding above the transport table 6 at a position corresponding to the work process. The conveyance plate 36 of the conveyance table 6 is provided with an entry / exit port 44 for the stopper 42 to appear / invade, and is penetrated by the hydraulically operated cylinder mechanism 46 disposed below the conveyance plate 36. The stopper 42 can be moved up and down. When an operator in charge of this operation process operates a switch (not shown), hydraulic pressure is supplied to the cylinder mechanism 46, and the stopper 42 protrudes above the conveyance plate 36 from the entrance / exit 44.

The cylinder head 4 that has moved in the direction of the arrow D5 in the drawing stops at a position corresponding to the work process when the conveying ball member 8 abuts against the protruding stopper 42. At this time, since the cylinder head 4 does not contact the stopper 42, the cylinder head 4 is not damaged.
In addition, after the cylinder head 4 is stopped by the stopper 42, the hydraulic pressure supplied to the cylinder mechanism 46 is released so that the stopper 42 is lowered below the conveying plate 36. The stopper 42 does not interfere with the movement of the cylinder head 4 to the process.

  In this embodiment, the hydraulic pressure is supplied to the cylinder mechanism 46 by the operator's switch operation and the stopper 42 is raised. For example, the proximity sensor or the like detects the approach of the cylinder head 4 and automatically Alternatively, the stopper 42 may be raised by supplying hydraulic pressure to the cylinder 46 mechanism. Further, with regard to the lowering of the stopper 42, for example, a pressure sensor for detecting the contact of the transport ball member 8 is provided on the stopper 42, and when the stop of the cylinder head 4 is detected by the pressure sensor, the stop of the cylinder head 4 is detected. Alternatively, the stopper 42 may be lowered by automatically releasing the hydraulic pressure from the cylinder 46 mechanism.

  Thus, when the cylinder head 4 stops at a position corresponding to the work process, a first recess 48 is formed on the upper surface of the transport plate 36 at a position corresponding to the rolling ball 26 of each transport ball member 8. Yes. Since the rolling ball 26 is engaged with the first recess 48, the cylinder head 4 is difficult to move from the place even after the stopper 42 is lowered below the transport plate 36. For this reason, when assembling parts to the cylinder head 4, the cylinder head 4 does not move, and the work can be performed in a stable state.

  Depending on the contents of the assembling work, the cylinder head 4 may have to be turned in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction. At a position where such work needs to be performed, as shown in FIG. The distance between the guide rails 38 is increased so that both guide rails 38 are positioned on the outer side of the turning trajectory of the conveying ball member 8 as the cylinder head 4 turns. Along with this, the width of the transport plate 36 is also enlarged. Accordingly, the cylinder head 4 can be smoothly turned without going over the guide rail 38 while the cylinder head 4 is placed on the transport table 6 via the transport ball member 8.

Further, in the case of the work process in which the cylinder head 4 is swung in this way, in addition to the first recess described above, the rolling balls 26 of the respective transport ball members 8 when the cylinder head 4 is swung. A second recess 50 is formed on the upper surface of the transport plate 36 at a position corresponding to.
When the rolling ball 26 of the conveying ball member 8 is engaged with the first recess, a force is applied in the turning direction to the cylinder head 4 that is stopped in the conveying direction as shown by a one-dot chain line in FIG. When the engagement between the rolling ball 26 and the first recess is released and swiveled to the direction required for the assembly operation as shown by the broken line in FIG. 6, the rolling ball 26 is now engaged with the second recess 50. And it becomes difficult to move from the position after turning. For this reason, it is possible to quickly position the cylinder head 4 at a position suitable for assembly work, and the cylinder head 4 does not move when the parts are assembled to the cylinder head 4 in this state. Work can be done in the state.

At this time, since the stopper 42 is lowered below the transport plate 36 by the cylinder mechanism 46 and does not protrude from the entrance / exit 44, the stopper 42 does not interfere with the turning of the cylinder head 4.
After completing the assembly operation, force is applied to the cylinder head 4 in the turning direction to release the engagement between the rolling ball 26 and the second recess 50, and the cylinder head 4 is turned again to the direction of conveyance. Since the rolling ball 26 engages with the first recess 48, the cylinder head 4 can be quickly positioned in a direction suitable for conveyance.

In this way, the cylinder head 4 that has been assembled in the assembly work area A2 in FIG. 1 is stopped in the work area A2 by stopping by the stopper 42 at the position corresponding to each work process and performing the work of assembling the parts. It is pushed out to the first inclined area A3 by the operator in the final process.
At this time, the stopper 42 is lowered below the transport plate 36 by the cylinder mechanism 46 and does not protrude from the entrance / exit 44, so that the stopper 42 does not interfere with the movement of the cylinder head 4. .

The first inclined area A3 is inclined in a direction in which the height gradually decreases from the work area A2 side, and the cylinder head 4 that has reached the first inclined area A3 is placed on the carriage 6 in the first inclined area A3 by its own weight. Is moved to reach the direction change area A4.
The cylinder head 4 that has reached the direction change area A4 is pushed in a direction (in the direction of the arrow D2) perpendicular to the transport direction so far and pushed out to the second inclined area A5 by an unillustrated push-out mechanism.

The second inclined area A5 is inclined in a direction in which the height gradually decreases from the direction changing area A4 side, and the cylinder head 4 that has reached the second inclined area A5 has its own weight, so that the carriage 6 in the second inclined area A5. It moves up and reaches the transfer area A6.
In the transfer area A6, in order to transfer the assembled cylinder head 4 to the engine main body 52 on the engine main assembly line 2 arranged side by side, the cylinder head 4 is lifted upward by a lift-up mechanism (not shown). Is done.

  The cylinder head 4 that has reached the transfer area A6 is moved by the operator in the direction of the arrow D3 in FIG. FIG. 7 is a view showing a state of the cylinder head 4 after being moved in the direction of the arrow D3 in the transfer area A6, and FIG. 8 is a view of this from above. In FIG. 8, the cylinder head 4 is indicated by a broken line for convenience. FIG. 9 is a view showing a state of the cylinder head 4 when viewed in the direction of the arrow D6 in FIG.

As shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, the transport table 6 includes a support column 54 fixed to the transport table 6 and a pressing plate 56 that is attached to the upper end portion of the support column 54 and is positioned above the upper surface of the transport plate 36. Detachment members 58 are projected at four locations.
The detaching member 58 is disposed at a position close to each of the four conveying ball members 8 mounted on the cylinder head 4 when the cylinder head 4 moves in the direction of the arrow D3. 7 and 9, a slight gap is generated in the vertical direction between the upper surface of the stepped portion 30 of the conveying ball member 8 and the lower surface of the pressing plate 56 of the removing member 58, and as shown in FIG. The pressing plate 56 is slightly separated in the horizontal direction from the outer peripheral surface of the leg portion 26 of the conveying ball member 8 while overlapping the step portion 30 in the vertical direction.

Further, on the upper surface of the transport plate 36 of the transport base 6, as shown in FIG. 7, each transport ball member 8 is positioned so that the transport ball member 8 stops and is positioned slightly in front of the column 54 of the removal member 58. A recess 60 is formed at a position corresponding to the rolling ball 26, and the rolling ball 26 is engaged with the recess 60.
In this state, when the cylinder head 4 is lifted upward for transfer to the engine body assembly line 2, the stepped portion 30 of each conveying ball member 8 is engaged with the holding plate 56 of the removing member 58, Further movement of the conveying ball member 8 is prevented. For this reason, the engaging portion 12 of the conveying ball member 8 is extracted from the head bolt hole 10 of the cylinder head 4 that continues to rise, and the four conveying ball members 8 are detached from the cylinder head 4 respectively.

In the area of the transfer area A6 where the removal member 58 is provided, the transport plate 36 of the transport table 6 is divided into left and right as shown in FIG. 8, and an opening 62 is formed between the left and right transport plates 36. Has been. Below the opening 62, a tray 66 is provided that is detachably supported with respect to a support frame 64 fixed to the transport table 6.
Accordingly, the transport ball member 8 detached from the cylinder head 4 as the cylinder head 4 moves up falls downward from the opening 62 and is accommodated in the tray 66. In the transfer area A6, the transfer of the assembled cylinder head 4 is repeatedly performed, and when the transport ball member 8 detached from the cylinder head 4 is stored in the tray 66 and reaches a predetermined amount, The tray 66 storing the transport ball member 8 is removed from the support frame 64 and replaced with an empty tray 66. The tray 66 in which the transport ball member 8 is stored is returned again to the carry-in area A1 of the assembly line by a carriage or the like.

As described above, in the transfer area A6, when the cylinder head 4 is transferred, the conveying ball member 8 is automatically detached from the cylinder head 4 as the cylinder head 4 is lifted. This eliminates the need to remove the work and improves work efficiency.
Further, the transport ball member 8 detached from the cylinder head 4 falls from the opening 62 of the transport table 6 and is stored in the tray 66. When a predetermined amount of the transport ball member 8 is stored in the tray 66, the assembly line is loaded. Since it only needs to be returned to the area A1, it does not require a large storage space as in the case of using a pallet, and a large-scale facility such as a conveyor for returning to the original position is not required. It becomes possible to reduce.

In the present embodiment, the operator performs the operation of moving the cylinder head 4 in the direction D3 in the transfer area A6. However, an extrusion mechanism may be provided as in the direction changing area A4.
The cylinder head 4 is positioned in the transfer area A6 by the engagement of the rolling ball 26 with the recess 60 formed in the transport plate 36. At this time, the stopper 42 used in the work area A2 is used. The same mechanism may be used in combination, or the positioning may be performed only by the stopper 48 without using the recess 60.

  Further, the detaching member 58 is fixed to the conveying table 6, but can be moved back and forth in the conveying direction of the cylinder head 4 by a hydraulic mechanism or the like, and the cylinder head 4 is moved to the rolling ball 26 of the conveying ball member 8 and the conveying plate. 36. After being positioned by engagement with the recess 60 on the upper surface, the plate 56 moves from the retracted position so that the holding plate 56 overlaps the stepped portion 30 of the conveying ball member 8 so that the positional relationship shown in FIG. May be. In this case, after the cylinder head 4 is lifted and the conveying ball member 8 is detached from the cylinder head 4, the removing member 58 returns to the retracted position, so that the conveying ball member 8 is opened without being interfered with the removing member 58. Fall from 62.

Although the description about the workpiece conveying apparatus of the assembly line which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention is finished above, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment.
For example, in the above embodiment, the cylinder head 4 is transported as a work, but the work is not limited to this, and any work may be used as long as it has a hole into which a transport ball member can be mounted. . Therefore, the assembly line is not limited to the engine assembly line as in the above embodiment.

  In the above embodiment, the stopper 42 is used to stop the cylinder head 4 in the work area. However, a similar stopper may be provided at a position where the cylinder head 4 needs to be stopped in an area other than the work area. Further, a recess that can be engaged with the rolling ball 26 of the conveying ball member 8 may be provided on the upper surface of the conveying plate 36.

1 is an overall configuration diagram of a work transfer device according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which cuts off and shows the conveyance ball member with which the cylinder head was mounted | worn. It is a figure which shows the state in which the cylinder head was mounted on the conveyance stand. It is a figure which shows the state which the cylinder head stopped with the stopper. It is a figure at the time of seeing the state of FIG. 4 from the conveyance direction. It is a top view of the conveyance stand in a work area. It is a figure which shows a state when a cylinder head exists in a transfer area. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the removal member and conveyance ball member in the state of FIG. It is a figure at the time of seeing from the direction of arrow D6 of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

1 Cylinder head assembly line 4 Cylinder head (work)
6 Carriage 8 Transport Ball Member 26 Rolling Ball 30 Stepped Part 38 Guide Rail 42 Stopper 48 First Concave 50 Second Concave 58 Detachment Member 62 Opening

Claims (7)

A plurality of conveying ball members having a locking portion detachably locked in a hole opened on the lower surface of the workpiece on the upper end side and rotatably held at the lower end with a part of the rolling ball exposed downward When,
The work is supported by and placed on the transfer ball member, and the rolling ball exposed from the transfer ball member rolls to move the work along the assembly line.
And two guide rails that are provided along the transport table and restrict movement of the transport ball member mounted on the lower surface of the work in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction of the work,
The workpiece conveying device for an assembly line, wherein the two guide rails are arranged such that all the conveying ball members mounted on the lower surface of the workpiece are positioned between the two guide rails.   The said conveyance stand is formed with the recessed part in which the rolling ball of the conveyance ball member with which the said workpiece | work lower surface was mounted | worn can be engaged in the upper surface of the position which performs the assembly operation | work to the said workpiece | work. 2. A workpiece transfer device for an assembly line according to 1.   The two guide rails are positioned outside the turning trajectory of the transfer ball member when the work is turned at a position where the work is turned and the assembly work is performed while the work is placed on the transfer table. The work transfer device for an assembly line according to claim 1, wherein the distance between each other is increased.   The transport table has a first recess that can be engaged with a rolling ball of the transport ball member when the work is in a transport state on an upper surface of a position where the assembly work is performed, and the work is turned. 4. The work conveying device for an assembly line according to claim 3, wherein a second recess is formed in which a rolling ball of the conveying ball member at a certain time can be engaged. 5.   A stopper that is provided so as to be capable of appearing above and below the upper surface of the transfer table and that restricts movement of the workpiece in the transfer direction by contacting the transfer ball member when protruding above the upper surface of the transfer table. The work conveying apparatus of the assembly line of Claim 1 characterized by the above-mentioned. The transport ball member has a step portion facing upward when it is in a state of being mounted on the work lower surface,
The workpiece is lifted and transferred after completion of a predetermined assembly operation,
The said conveyance stand has a detaching member which engages with the said step part of the said conveyance ball member when the said workpiece | work is lifted, and separates the said conveyance ball member from the said workpiece | work. Workpiece transfer device for assembly line.   7. The workpiece transfer device for an assembly line according to claim 6, wherein the transfer table has an opening for dropping the transfer ball member detached from the workpiece by the removing member to the lower side of the transfer table.

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