JP2010247662A - Vehicle body assembling device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To attain both of improvement of positioning accuracy for assembly parts and shortening the time required to replace a tool in a vehicle body assembling device. <P>SOLUTION: A rail having relatively low accuracy is used for a rail on which a slide unit moves upon changing a tool in service. This enables replacement of the tool in a short time. On the other hand, a rail having relatively high accuracy is used for a rail in a work area for positioning an assembly part with a tool. This secures high positioning accuracy for the assembly parts. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle body assembling apparatus that is used in a vehicle type mixing assembly line for assembling multiple types of vehicle bodies and positions assembly parts using a jig.

Patent Document 1 discloses a vehicle body assembly apparatus. This vehicle body assembly apparatus is used in a vehicle type mixing assembly line for assembling multiple types of vehicle bodies, and uses a jig to position an assembly part (here, a side member to be assembled to an underbody).
The vehicle body assembling apparatus includes a plurality of jigs prepared for each vehicle type, a storage area for storing the plurality of jigs, and an assembly part that is adjacent to the storage area and uses one of the multiple jigs. Has a work area for positioning. The accommodation area is provided with a first conveyance rail for guiding the conveyance of the jig, and the work area is provided with a second conveyance rail for guiding the conveyance of the jig. Each of the plurality of jigs is provided with a first sliding unit slidably engaged with the first transport rail. On the other hand, a second sliding unit that slidably engages with the second transport rail is provided on the second transport rail. The second sliding unit is provided with a jig support rail that is connected in series to the first transport rail in the accommodation area and transfers the jig to and from the first transport rail.

  In this vehicle body assembly apparatus, a plurality of jigs prepared for each vehicle type are accommodated in the accommodation area. The accommodation area is provided with a first conveyance rail, and each jig is provided with a first sliding unit that slides on the first conveyance rail. It is transported along the rail. A jig support rail provided in the second sliding unit can be connected in series to the first transport rail in the accommodation area. Thereby, the jig | tool corresponding to the vehicle model to assemble can be transferred to a 2nd sliding unit from an accommodation area. The jig transferred to the second sliding unit is guided in the work area by the second transport rail, and is used for positioning the assembly parts. When the model to be assembled is changed and the jig to be used is replaced, the jig on the second sliding unit is returned to the receiving area, and the newly used jig is transferred from the receiving area to the second sliding unit. . Since the jig is guided by the first transport rail and the jig support rail, it can be easily performed.

JP-A-9-301236

  In the above-described vehicle body assembly apparatus, the guide accuracy of each rail that guides the conveyance of the jig greatly affects the positioning accuracy of the assembly component. Here, the guide accuracy of the rail is determined by the clearance between the rail and the sliding unit. The larger the clearance, the larger the play of the sliding unit with respect to the rail, and the lower the guide accuracy of the rail. Become. Therefore, the positioning accuracy of the assembled part can be increased by reducing the clearance between each rail and its sliding unit and increasing the guide accuracy of each rail.

On the other hand, in the above-described vehicle body assembly apparatus, when the jig to be used is replaced, the jig slides from the first transport rail to the jig support rail or from the jig support rail to the first transport rail. You need to transfer units. In this case, the larger the clearance between each rail and the sliding unit, the easier the sliding unit can move between the rails. Conversely, if the clearance is small, the sliding unit cannot move between the rails even if the positional relationship between the rails is slightly shifted. However, if the clearance between each rail and the sliding unit is increased, the positioning accuracy of the assembled parts will deteriorate and the quality of the vehicle body to be assembled will deteriorate.
The present invention solves the above problems. The present invention provides a technique capable of both improving the positioning accuracy of the assembled part and shortening the time required for jig replacement.

  In the present invention, a rail with relatively low accuracy is adopted as the rail on which the sliding unit changes when the jig to be used is changed. Thereby, the jig replacement operation can be performed in a short time. On the other hand, a rail with a relatively high accuracy is used for the rail in the work area for positioning the assembly part using a jig. Thereby, the positioning accuracy of the assembly parts is ensured.

The technical idea of the present invention described above is embodied in a vehicle body assembly apparatus described below. This vehicle body assembly apparatus is used in a vehicle body assembly line for mixing vehicle types, and performs positioning of assembly parts using a jig. This vehicle body assembly apparatus is adjacent to a plurality of jigs prepared for each vehicle type, a storage area for storing the plurality of jigs, and the assembly using one of the plurality of jigs. It has a work area for positioning parts. The accommodation area is provided with a first conveyance rail for guiding the conveyance of the jig, and the work area is provided with a second conveyance rail for guiding the conveyance of the jig.
Each of the plurality of jigs is provided with a first sliding unit that slidably engages with the first transport rail. On the other hand, a second sliding unit that is slidably engaged with the second transport rail is provided on the second transport rail. The second sliding unit is provided with a jig support rail that is connected in series to the first transport rail in the accommodation area and transfers the jig to and from the first transport rail.

In this vehicle body assembly apparatus, the first transport rail and the jig support rail are configured using the same type of rail members. On the other hand, the first transport rail and the second transport rail are configured using mutually different rail members. And the clearance between the rail member which comprises a 1st conveyance rail and a jig | tool support rail, and a 1st sliding unit is from the clearance between the rail member which comprises a 2nd conveyance rail, and a 2nd sliding unit. Is also getting bigger.
According to the above-described configuration, it is possible to improve both the positioning accuracy of the assembled parts and the time for replacing the jig.

The above-described second transport rail is preferably configured by a plurality of rail members arranged in parallel. In this case, it is preferable that the second sliding unit provided with the jig support rail is provided independently on each of the plurality of rail members.
The jig transferred to the second sliding unit needs to be positioned correctly with respect to the second sliding unit. At this time, if the second sliding unit is independent for each rail member, the position of the two sliding units with respect to the jig can be finely adjusted, and the jig can be easily positioned with respect to the second sliding unit. It can be carried out.

The vehicle body assembly apparatus according to the present invention preferably further includes a positioning member for positioning the jig on the jig support rail with respect to the second sliding unit.
According to this structure, positioning with respect to the jig | tool with respect to a 2nd sliding unit can be performed rapidly.

  The first transport rail described above is preferably formed on the floor surface of the accommodation area, and the second transport rail described above is preferably formed on the floor surface of the work area. According to this configuration, bending of the first transport rail and the second transport rail is prevented, and the positional accuracy of the transported jig can be improved. When arranging each rail on the floor surface of each area, it is preferable to provide a height difference between the floor surface of the accommodation area and the floor surface of the work area. Thereby, it becomes possible to position the 1st conveyance rail of a storage area, and the jig | tool support rail of a 2nd sliding unit in the same height.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to improve the positioning accuracy of the assembly parts and shorten the time for replacing the jig, and to increase the productivity in the assembly line of the vehicle type mixing.

The top view of a vehicle body assembly apparatus. II-II sectional view taken on the line in FIG. The figure which shows a mode that a side member jig | tool is conveyed to a storage area. The figure which shows a 1st conveyance rail and a 1st sliding unit. VV sectional view taken on the line in FIG. The figure which shows a 2nd conveyance rail and a 2nd sliding unit. VII-VII sectional view taken on the line in FIG. The figure which shows the 1st sliding unit supported by the 2nd sliding unit. IX-IX sectional view taken on the line in FIG. The figure which shows a mode that the side member jig | tool after use is accommodated in an accommodation area. The figure which shows a mode that the side member jig | tool to be used is conveyed within a storage area. The figure which shows a mode that the side member jig | tool to be used is transferred to a 2nd sliding unit. The figure which shows a mode that a side member and an underbody are set. The figure which shows a mode that a side member is positioned with a side member jig | tool.

First, the main features of the embodiment in which the present invention is implemented are listed.
(Form 1) The accommodation area is provided with a first conveyance rail for guiding conveyance of the side member jig. The first transport rail is laid so that each side member jig can be transported from the storage position to the boundary position with the work area or from the boundary position with the work area to the storage position.
(Mode 2) In the work area, a second transport rail for guiding the transport of the side member jig is provided. The second transport rail is laid so that the side member jig can be transported from the boundary position with the accommodation area to the assembly position of the side member, or from the assembly position of the side member to the boundary position with the accommodation area. ing.

  A vehicle body assembly apparatus 10 that is an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a plan view of the vehicle body assembly apparatus 10, and FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II in FIG. The vehicle body assembly apparatus 10 is used in a process of assembling a pair of side members 102 on both sides of the underbody 100 in a vehicle type mixing assembly line for assembling multiple types of vehicle bodies. In the vehicle body assembly apparatus 10, the side member 102, which is an assembly component, is positioned using the side member jigs 60a, 60b, and 60c. The underbody 100 and the side member 102 are made of a steel material, and the pair of positioned side members 102 are assembled to the underbody 100 by welding. Here, the vehicle body assembly apparatus 10 has a substantially symmetrical structure. The underbody 100 is held by the underbody jig 80 and is transported from the previous process.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the vehicle body assembly device 10 accommodates a plurality of side member jigs 60a, 60b, 60c prepared for each vehicle type and a plurality of side member jigs 60a, 60b, 60c. An area 20 and a work area 40 for positioning and assembling the side members 102 are provided. In the work area 40, the side member 102 is positioned using one of the plurality of side member jigs 60a, 60b, 60c. The accommodation area 20 is provided on both sides of the work area 40, and the accommodation area 20 and the work area 40 are adjacent to each other.
In the vehicle body assembly apparatus 10, the side member jigs 60a, 60b, and 60c used in the work area 40 can be changed according to the type of vehicle to be assembled. FIGS. 1 and 2 show how the vehicle body of the vehicle type A is assembled, and the side member 102 is positioned using the side member jig 60a corresponding to the vehicle type A. FIG. After the assembly work of the vehicle type A is completed, as shown in FIG. 3, the side member jig 60a is transported to the storage area 20 and stored in the storage position. Similarly, for example, when assembling the vehicle type B, the side member jig 60b corresponding to the vehicle type B is transported to the work area 40 and used. It is transported and accommodated in the area 20. Alternatively, when assembling the vehicle type C, the side member jig 60C corresponding to the vehicle type C is transported to the work area 40 and used. To be transported and stored.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the side member jig 60 a is provided with a plurality of clamps 62 for attaching the side member 102. The plurality of clamps 62 are arranged according to the shape of the corresponding vehicle type. When the corresponding portion of the side member 102 is attached to each clamp 62, the side member 102 is fixed at a fixed position with respect to the side member jig 60a. Similarly, the other side member jigs 60b and 60c are also provided with a plurality of clamps 62 according to the corresponding vehicle type. That is, the number and positional relationship of the clamps 62 differ depending on each side member jig 60a, 60b, 60c. However, the basic structures of the side member jigs 60a, 60b, and 60c are common, and the structures of the side member jigs 60a, 60b, and 60c described below are the same unless otherwise distinguished. Common to 60b and 60c. Hereinafter, the three types of side member jigs 60a, 60b, and 60c may be collectively referred to simply as the side member jig 60.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a first transport rail 22 that guides the transport of the side member jig 60 is provided on the floor surface of the accommodation area 20. A part of the floor surface of the accommodation area 20 is a movable part 24 supported by a rail 26, and the movable part 24 is slidable along the rail 26. The first transport rail 22 is also provided on the movable unit 24. In the storage area 20, the arbitrary side member jig 20 can be transported to the boundary position with the work area 40 by the first transport rail 22 and the movable portion 24.
On the other hand, the floor surface of the work area 40 is provided with a second transport rail 42 that guides the transport of the side member jig 20. Here, as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, a step is provided between the floor surface of the storage area 20 and the floor surface of the work area 40, and the first transfer rail 22 of the storage area 20 and the first of the work area 40. The two transport rails 42 have different height positions. The second transport rail 42 extends from the boundary position with the accommodation area 20 to the assembly position of the side member 102. The 2nd conveyance rail 42 is comprised by the several rail member arrange | positioned in parallel. An underbody transport rail 82 for guiding the transport of the underbody jig 80 is also provided on the floor surface of the work area 40.

As shown in FIG. 3, each side member jig 60 is provided with a first sliding unit 70 slidably engaged with the first transport rail 22. Similarly, the other side member jigs 60b and 60c are also provided with a first sliding unit 70 that is slidably engaged with the first transport rail 22. Thereby, each side member jig 60 can be transported along the first transport rail 22 in the accommodation area 20.
4 and 5 show the first transport rail 22 and the first sliding unit 70 in an enlarged manner. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the first sliding unit 70 includes a plurality of wheels 72, a plurality of side plates 74, guide pins 76, and positioning pins 78. The plurality of wheels 72 are positioned on the first transport rail 22 and support the side member jig 60 so as to be movable. The plurality of side plates 74 are located on both sides of the first transport rail 22, and their tips extend below the flange portion 22 a of the first transport rail 22. The guide pin 76 extends downward toward the first transport rail 22, and its tip is located in a guide groove 22 b provided in the first transport rail 22. The positioning pin 78 is a member for positioning the side member jig 60 with respect to the second sliding unit 50 described later, and is inserted into a pin hole 52c of the jig support rail 52 described later.
A relatively large clearance of about several millimeters is provided between the side plate 74 and the first transport rail 22 and between the guide pin 76 and the guide groove 22b of the first transport rail 22. That is, a relatively large play is provided between the first transport rail 22 and the first sliding unit 70, and the guide accuracy by the first transport rail 22 is kept relatively low. Here, “play” means that the first sliding unit 70 engaged with the first transport rail 22 can be displaced or swung in a plane orthogonal to the first transport rail 22.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, a second sliding unit 50 that is slidably engaged with the second transport rail 42 is provided on the second transport rail 42 in the work area 40. . Here, the second sliding unit 50 is provided independently on each of the plurality of rail members constituting the second transport rail 42. The second sliding unit 50 supports the side member jig 60 in the work area 40 and guides the side member jig 60 along the second transport rail 42.
6 and 7 illustrate the second transport rail 42 and the second sliding unit 50 in an enlarged manner. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the second transport rail 42 is provided on the floor surface of the work area 40 via the base plate 41. The second sliding unit 50 includes a slider 54 slidably engaged with the second transport rail 42. In the second sliding unit 50, a plurality of sliders 54 are arranged at intervals. Here, for example, LM Guide (registered trademark) manufactured by THK Co., Ltd. can be employed for the second transport rail 42 and the slider 54.

  The second transport rail 42 is configured by a rail member that is different from the first transport rail 22, and has a cross-sectional shape that is different from that of the first transport rail 22. Each of the sliders 54 also has a structure different from that of the first sliding unit 70. The clearance between the slider 54 and the second conveyance rail 42 is sufficiently smaller than the clearance between the first conveyance rail 22 and the first sliding unit 70, and the guide accuracy by the second conveyance rail 42 is the first conveyance rail. 22 is sufficiently higher than the guide accuracy by 22. Thereby, in the work area 40, the side member jig 60 is accurately guided, and the side member 102 is positioned correctly.

  The second sliding unit 50 includes a jig support rail 52 supported by a plurality of sliders 54. The jig support rail 52 is configured using a rail member of the same type as the first transport rail 22 in the accommodation area 20. That is, the jig support rail 52 has the same cross-sectional shape as the first transport rail 22, and is similarly provided with a flange portion 52a and a guide groove 52b. The jig support rail 52 is formed with a pin hole 52c for receiving the positioning pin 78 of the first sliding unit 70.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the jig support rail 52 of the second sliding unit 50 is moved to the boundary position with the housing area 20 when the second sliding unit 50 moves to the first transport rail 22 of the housing area 20. Connect to the series. Here, the jig support rail 52 and the first transport rail 22 are located at the same height due to a step between the floor surface of the storage area 20 and the floor surface of the work area 40. By connecting the jig support rail 52 and the first transport rail 22, the first sliding unit 70 of the side member jig 60 can be transferred from the first transport rail 22 to the jig support rail 52 or the jig support rail. Transfer from 52 to the first transport rail 22 is possible.

  As described above, a relatively large clearance is formed between the first transport rail 22 and the first sliding unit 70. A relatively large clearance is also formed between the jig support rail 52 and the first sliding unit 70 that are the same type as the first transport rail 22. Therefore, the first sliding unit 70 of the side member jig 60 can easily transfer between the first transport rail 22 and the jig support rail 52. For example, even if the positional relationship between the first transport rail 22 and the jig support rail 52 is slightly shifted, the transfer of the first sliding unit 70 is performed relatively smoothly. Therefore, the replacement work of the side member jig 60 can be performed in a short time.

  8 and 9 show a state in which the first sliding unit 70 of the side member jig 60 is supported by the jig support rail 52 of the second sliding unit 50. FIG. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the positioning pins 78 of the first sliding unit 70 are inserted into the pin holes 52 c of the jig support rail 52 on the jig support rail 52. Accordingly, the first sliding unit 70 and the second sliding unit 50 are positioned, and the side member jig 60 is fixed at a fixed position with respect to the second sliding unit 50. Here, the second sliding unit 50 is provided independently for each rail member of the second transport rail 42. Therefore, the position of each second sliding unit 50 can be individually adjusted during the positioning operation using the positioning pins 78. Therefore, the positioning operation using the positioning pins 78 can be performed in a short time.

The structure of the vehicle body assembly device 10 has been described above. Hereinafter, the replacement work of the side member jig 60 will be described with reference to FIGS. 10 to 14. Here, after assembling the vehicle type A using the side member jig 60a (the state shown in FIGS. 1 and 2), the assembling work of the vehicle type C is performed using the side member jig 60c.
First, as shown in FIG. 10, the used side member jig 60 c is transported and accommodated in the accommodation area 20. Specifically, first, the side member jig 60 a is transported together with the second sliding unit 50 to a boundary position with the accommodation area 20. Next, the fixing by the positioning pins 78 is released, and the side member jig 60 a is transferred from the jig support rail 52 to the first transport rail 22. As described above, since the guide accuracy of the jig support rail 52 and the first transport rail 22 is relatively low (that is, the clearance is large), this transfer is performed smoothly. It is not necessary to strictly adjust the positional relationship between the jig support rail 52 and the first transport rail 22. In the storage area 20, the side member jig 60a is transported along the first transport rail 22 and stored in a predetermined storage position.

Next, as shown in FIG. 11, the movable part 24 of the accommodation area 20 is slid and moved, and the side member jig 60 c used for the vehicle type C is moved along the first transport rail 22 onto the movable part 24. . At this time, the transfer of the side member jig 60c to the movable portion 24 is also performed smoothly.
Next, as shown in FIG. 12, the movable portion 24 on which the side member jig 60 c is placed is slid to the boundary position with the work area 40. Then, the side member jig 60 c is transferred to the jig support rail 52 of the second sliding unit 50. This transfer is also performed smoothly. After the side member jig 60 c is moved onto the jig support rail 52, the side member jig 60 c is fixed by the positioning pins 78. Thus, the replacement work of the side member jig 60c is completed.

  Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 13, the underbody 100 of the vehicle type C is carried in from the previous process, and the side member 102 is attached to the side member jig 60c. Then, as shown in FIG. 14, the side member jig 60 c is moved toward the underbody 100. The side member jig 60 c is guided by the second transport rail 42 with high accuracy, and the side member 102 is accurately positioned with respect to the underbody 100. The positioned side member 102 is fixed to the underbody 100 by welding. Thus, the assembly work of the side member 102 is completed.

As described above, in the vehicle body assembly apparatus 10, when the side member jig 60 to be used is replaced, the first sliding unit 70 of the side member jig 60 is replaced by the first transport rail 22 and the jig support rail 52. It is necessary to transfer between them. Therefore, in the vehicle body assembly apparatus 10, a relatively large clearance is provided between the first transport rail 22 and the first sliding unit 70 and between the jig support rail 52 and the first sliding unit 70. Realizes a smooth transfer. On the other hand, with respect to the second transport rail 42 in the work area 40, the side member 102 is accurately positioned by making the clearance provided between the second transport rail 42 and the second sliding unit 50 relatively small.
According to the vehicle body assembling apparatus 10, even when a large number of vehicle types are produced one by one, a high-quality vehicle body can be efficiently produced.

Specific examples of the present invention have been described in detail above, but these are merely examples and do not limit the scope of the claims. The technology described in the claims includes various modifications and changes of the specific examples illustrated above.
The technical elements described in this specification or the drawings exhibit technical usefulness alone or in various combinations, and are not limited to the combinations described in the claims at the time of filing. In addition, the technology illustrated in the present specification or the drawings achieves a plurality of objects at the same time, and has technical utility by achieving one of the objects.

10: body assembly apparatus 20: accommodation area 20: side member jig 22: first transport rail 40: work area 42: second transport rail 50: second sliding unit 52: jig support rail 52a: flange portion 52b: Guide groove 52c: Pin holes 60a, 60b, 60c: Side member jig 70: First sliding unit 78: Positioning pin 100: Under body 102: Side member

Claims (4)

A vehicle body assembly apparatus that is used in a vehicle assembly line for mixing vehicle types, and that positions assembly parts using a jig,
Multiple jigs prepared for each vehicle type,
A storage area for storing the plurality of jigs;
Adjacent to the accommodation area, and having a work area for positioning an assembly part using one of the plurality of jigs,
The accommodation area is provided with a first conveyance rail for guiding conveyance of the jig,
The work area is provided with a second transport rail for guiding the transport of the jig,
Each of the plurality of jigs is provided with a first sliding unit slidably engaged with the first transport rail,
A second sliding unit that slidably engages with the second transport rail is provided on the second transport rail,
The second sliding unit is provided with a jig support rail that can be connected in series to the first transport rail of the accommodation area,
The first transport rail and the jig support rail are configured using rail members of the same type,
The first transport rail and the second transport rail are configured using mutually different rail members,
The clearance between the rail member constituting the first transport rail and the jig support rail and the first sliding unit is the clearance between the rail member constituting the second transport rail and the second sliding unit. Body assembly apparatus characterized by being larger than the above.   The second transport rail is composed of a plurality of rail members arranged in parallel, and a second sliding unit provided with the jig support rail is independent of each of the plurality of rail members. The vehicle body assembly apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle body assembly apparatus is provided.   The vehicle body assembly apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a positioning member that positions the jig on the jig support rail with respect to the second sliding unit. The first transport rail is formed on the floor surface of the accommodation area,
The second transport rail is formed on the floor surface of the work area,
There is a height difference between the floor surface of the storage area and the floor surface of the work area,
4. The vehicle body assembly apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first conveyance rail in the accommodation area and the jig support rail of the second sliding unit are located at the same height. 5.

Images