JP2011020809A - Automobile body carrying device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an automobile body carrying device for realizing space-saving, an improvement in carrying accuracy, an improvement in workability, miniaturization of a device, simplification and weight reduction. <P>SOLUTION: This automobile body carrying device has two power rails 130 laid in parallel along a carrying passage and an automatic carrying electric railcar 180 self-traveling oppositely on the power rails 130 and carrying an automobile body B toward a station 140 by unloading from a loading station 110. The problem is solved by laying a return rail 190 for returning the automatic carrying electric railcar 180 of becoming empty in the unloading station 140 to the loading station 110, just above the power rail 130. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an apparatus for conveying an automobile body in an automobile production line or the like. More specifically, the apparatus can be reduced in size, simplified in structure, reduced in weight, facilitated assembly / installation work, and improved in conveyance quality. The present invention relates to an automobile body transport device.

  Conventionally, as this type of automobile body conveyance device, a so-called overhead type (see, for example, Patent Document 1) in which a suspended conveyance machine that supports an automobile body with a hanger-type arm travels along a predetermined conveyance path. There is a so-called floor type (for example, see Patent Document 2) in which a transport pallet on which an automobile body is mounted travels along a predetermined transport path. Furthermore, it can be broadly classified into a trolley type and a self-propelled cart type depending on the transport method, and it has been devised to be able to handle various transport conditions (see FIG. 1).

Above all, the trolley type overhead conveyor
(1) By using overhead space, a free floor layout becomes possible.
(2) Since the worker can move around freely, work efficiency is greatly improved.
Therefore, it has been used extensively in automobile factories and has become a driving force for the development of the Japanese automobile industry.

  When transporting an automobile body with a trolley type overhead conveyor, the automobile body is supported by a suspension conveyor at a predetermined loading station, and the power chain is circulated horizontally with the suspension conveyor supporting the automobile body. A series of transfer operations are performed in which the workpiece is pulled by the straight track portion and travels along the transfer path, and the workpiece is lowered at the lowering station.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the suspension conveyor is driven by a power chain 54, and a driving dog 57 attached to a power trolley 52, 53 supported and guided by a power rail 51 is supported by a free rail 55. By engaging the driven dogs 58 and 58a provided opposite to the guided free trolley 56 in the front-rear direction, the free trolley 56 is moved along the transport path, thereby allowing the power chain 54 to move in a predetermined place. A so-called power and free trolley conveyor 50 that is detachably supported is often applied (see, for example, Patent Document 3).

  8 and 9 show a conventional automobile body transport device using a trolley type overhead conveyor, FIG. 8 is a top view, and FIG. 9 is a front view in the direction of arrow IX in FIG. is there.

  As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, in the conventional automobile body conveying apparatus 500, the automobile body B that has been placed on the body conveying carriage 550 and conveyed from the previous process line is lifted by the lifter 560 at the loading station 510. And supported by the suspended transfer machine 520. Then, the suspended transfer machine 520 supports the automobile body B and is pulled by a power chain (not shown) circulating horizontally along the power rail 530 along the transfer line 530A of the power rail 530. The vehicle body B is moved and moved, and the car body B is lowered by the lifter 570 at the lowering station 540.

  The suspended transfer machine 520 that has lowered the automobile body B is returned to the loading station 510 through the return line 530B of the power rail 530.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 61-229666 JP 2006-21618 A JP 2004-315171 A (2nd page, 2nd paragraph, FIG. 9)

  However, although the automobile body conveyance device 500 using the conventional trolley type overhead conveyor has the advantages as described above, the following problems have been pointed out.

(1) Since the power chain circulates horizontally, there is a problem in terms of space saving that it is necessary to take a space for installing the return line outside the work booth of the automobile production line.

(2) Due to overhead transfer, the work location on the lower surface of the body is farthest from the suspension point of the suspended transfer machine, so the body rolls greatly and the work that requires high accuracy is difficult. was there.

  On the other hand, in order to avoid the problem of the trolley type overhead conveyor, when the transport method is a self-propelled cart type, the frame constituting the cart is disposed so as to straddle the traveling rail laid so as to sandwich the transport path For this reason, there have been problems in terms of work such as the frame interfering with work, and problems in terms of hardware such as an increase in size, complexity, and weight of the apparatus using a carriage.

  Therefore, the technical problem to be solved by the present invention, that is, the object of the present invention is an automobile body that realizes space saving, improved conveyance accuracy, improved workability, and reduced size, simplification, and weight reduction of the apparatus. It is to provide a transport device.

  As a result of intensive research to solve the above problems, the present inventors have (1) vertically circulating an automatic transportation train that conveys an automobile body, and (2) independent automatic transportation trains that are opposed to each other. (3) Space saving, conveyance accuracy, downsizing, simplification, and light weight of the vehicle body transfer device by combining the methods of allowing the sensor mechanism to synchronize and (3) making the arm that supports the vehicle body freely openable and closable The present invention has been found to be dramatically improved, and the present invention has been completed based on such novel findings.

  That is, the invention according to the first aspect of the present invention has two power rails laid in parallel along the conveyance path and the power rails facing each other and self-propelled to convey the automobile body from the loading station to the unloading station. In the automobile body transport device comprising the automatic transport train, the return rail for returning the automatic transport train emptied at the unloading station to the loading station is laid directly above the power rail, thereby Is a solution.

  In addition, the invention according to claim 2 is the left-right synchronization mechanism for the automatic vehicle trains that face each other and that run independently in synchronization with each other. By further providing the above, the above-described problem is further solved. Here, “independently from each other” means that a pair of automated transport trains facing each other is not fixed by a frame or the like and is a separate body.

  The invention according to claim 3 is the automobile body transport device according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the automatic transport train includes a body receiving arm that can be opened and closed to support the car body. The above-described problems are further solved.

  The invention according to claim 4 is the automobile body transfer device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the automobile body is placed on the body transfer carriage and transferred to the loading station, The above-mentioned problem is further solved by transferring the body transport carriage emptied at the loading station to the unloading station through a work booth constructed in a high-floor type.

  And the invention which concerns on this invention 5 further solves the said subject in the motor vehicle body conveying apparatus which concerns on Claim 4 by the conveyance mechanism of the said body conveyance trolley being a power and free trolley conveyor. .

  The “automobile production line” to which the automobile body conveyance device of the present invention is applied is a conveyance line for conveying the automobile body in an assembly process, a welding process, a painting process, a drying process, etc. in an automobile factory. In addition, “automobile body” refers to the entire automobile body or a chassis unit such as a chassis thereof.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the two power rails laid in parallel along the conveyance path and the power rail face each other and run on their own to convey the automobile body from the loading station to the unloading station. In an automobile body transport device equipped with an automatic transport train, a return rail that returns the automatic transport train emptied at the unloading station to the loading station is laid directly above the power rail, so that the automatic transport train is horizontal. Since it circulates vertically instead of circulating, space saving can be realized.

  In addition, since the vertical circulation system is used, the car body transport device itself can be unitized and brought into the car factory, so that the installation period and cost can be significantly reduced.

Further, since the automobile body is transported on the power rail, a highly accurate production process can be realized without rolling. As a result, the work that had to be relied on manually can be replaced with a robot, so that the production line can be unmanned.
In addition, by tilting the return rail so that it descends from the unloading station to the loading station, it is possible to return an empty automated transport train from the unloading station to the loading station by its own weight without using power. become.

  Further, according to the invention according to claim 2, in the automobile body transport device according to claim 1, the left and right synchronization for the automatic transport trains that face each other and run independently are synchronized with each other. By having a mechanism, there is no need for a frame to connect the left and right automated trains, so the equipment can be made smaller, simpler and lighter, and the working space can be expanded when transporting empty automated trains. Can be realized.

  And according to the invention which concerns on this Claim 3, in the motor vehicle body conveying apparatus which concerns on Claim 1 or Claim 2, the automatic conveyance train is equipped with the body receiving arm which can be opened and closed which supports a motor vehicle body. Since the body receiving arm can be folded when the automobile body is not being transported, the work space can be further expanded when transporting an empty automatic transport train.

  And, according to the invention according to claim 4, in the automobile body transfer device according to any of claims 1 to 3, the automobile body is placed on the body transfer carriage and transferred to the loading station, The body transport trolley emptied at the loading station is transported to the unloading station through the work booth constructed on a raised floor, thereby reducing the setup time. High-speed line can be realized.

  And according to the invention which concerns on this 5th aspect, in the motor vehicle body conveyance apparatus which concerns on Claim 4, when the conveyance mechanism of a body conveyance trolley is a power and free trolley conveyor, the front and rear trolleys may collide. As a result, the safety of the production line is improved.

The figure which shows the classification | category of a motor vehicle body conveying apparatus. The top view of the motor vehicle body conveying apparatus of a present Example. The front view in the arrow III of FIG. The front view of the automatic conveyance train of the automobile body conveyance apparatus of a present Example. The front view of the body receiving arm mounted in the automatic conveyance train shown in FIG. The block diagram which shows the structure of the right-and-left synchronizing mechanism mounted in the automatic conveyance train shown in FIG. The figure which shows another structure of the left-right synchronization mechanism mounted in the automatic conveyance train shown in FIG. The top view of the conventional motor vehicle body conveying apparatus. The front view in the arrow IX of FIG. The front view of a power and free trolley conveyor.

  The automobile body conveyance device of the present invention is an automatic conveyance in which two power rails laid in parallel along a conveyance path and the self-propelled vehicle on the power rail face to convey the automobile body from the loading station to the unloading station. In an automobile body transport device equipped with a train, the return rail that returns the automated transport train emptied at the unloading station to the loading station is laid directly above the power rail, saving space and transporting Any specific embodiment may be used as long as it can improve accuracy, improve workability, and reduce the size, simplification, and weight of the apparatus.

  For example, the place where the automobile body conveyance device of the present invention is installed may be an assembly line, a painting line, or a welding line in an automobile factory.

  In addition, the vehicle type of the automobile conveyed by the automobile body conveying apparatus of the present invention may be any vehicle type such as a sports type vehicle or a van type vehicle. Furthermore, the present invention can be applied to a mixed production line capable of producing a plurality of types of vehicles.

  An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  Here, FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a state in which the automobile body transport device of the present embodiment is applied to an automobile production line that performs a two-step sealing operation, and FIG. 3 is a front view in the direction of arrow III in FIG. FIG. 4 is a front view of the automatic conveyance train of the automobile body conveyance device of the present embodiment, and FIG. 5 is a front view of a body receiving arm mounted on the automatic conveyance train shown in FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the left-right synchronization mechanism mounted on the automatic transport train shown in FIG. 4, and FIG. 7 shows another structure of the left-right synchronization mechanism mounted on the automatic transport train shown in FIG. FIG.

(Overall structure of automobile body transport device)
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the automobile body conveying apparatus 100 of the present embodiment has two power rails 130 laid in parallel along the conveying path of the automobile production line of the automobile factory and the power rail 130. A plurality of automatic transport trains 180 that self-travel in opposition and unload the automobile body B from the loading station 110 and transport it toward the station 140 are provided.

  A return rail 190 for returning the automatic transport train 180 that has been emptied at the unloading station 140 to the loading station 110 is laid directly above the power rail 130.

  In the automobile body conveying apparatus 100, the automobile body B, which has been placed on the body conveying carriage 150 and conveyed from the previous process line, is transferred to the automatic conveying train 180 at the loading station 110, and the automatic conveying train 180 is transferred by the lifter 162. Lifted with. Then, it is placed on a power rail 130 laid at a predetermined height and is carried into a work booth 170 constructed in a stilt type. On the other hand, the body conveyance carriage 150 emptied at the loading station 110 passes through under the floor of the work booth 170 and is conveyed to the station 140.

  A predetermined sealing operation is performed on the vehicle body B placed on the automatic conveyance train 180 and conveyed on the power rail 130 of the work booth 170 by a robot R that performs a sealing operation fixed to the floor of the work booth 170. Applied. The automatic transport train 180 on which the car body B subjected to the two-step sealing work is placed is lowered by the lifter 164 at the lowering station 140 and is transported through the work booth 170 under the floor of the work booth 170. Car body B is transferred to

  The empty automated train 180 is lifted up to the return rail 190 by the lifter 164 and is self-propelled on the return rail 190 and returned to the loading station 110. Then, the automobile body B that has been lowered by the lifter 162 and placed on the body transport carriage 150 from the previous process line and transported again is placed.

  Here, as the transport mechanism of the body transport cart 150, by using the power and free trolley conveyor described above, the stop and travel of the body transport cart 150 can be controlled smoothly and the collision of the front and rear body transport carts 150 can be prevented. .

  As described above, since the automobile body B is conveyed by vertically circulating the automatic conveyance train 180, the automobile body conveyance device can be reduced in size and unitized. In addition, since the size can be reduced, the degree of freedom in the installation layout of the apparatus is improved. Furthermore, the unitization can significantly reduce the construction period and cost of the apparatus installation work.

(Structure of automatic transport train)
Next, the structure of the automated guided train 180 called “auto-run” will be described with reference to FIGS.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the automatic transport train 180 of this embodiment is composed of a pair of automatic transport trains 180R and 180L (hereinafter, simply referred to as “automatic transport train 180”) that face each other and run independently. Yes. As shown in FIG. 4, the automatic conveyance train 180 includes a driven wheel 181, a driving wheel 182, a traveling motor 183 that drives the driving wheel 182, a current collector 186 for obtaining power from the power rail 130, a driving wheel 182, and a driven wheel. A connecting rod 185 that keeps a distance from 181, a body receiving arm 187 that is pivotally supported by an opening / closing mechanism that supports the automobile body B shown in FIG. 3 to be described later, and an arm rotation that rotates the body receiving arm 187. A motor 184 for movement. And a pair of automatic conveyance train 180 drive | works on the power rail 130 synchronizing with the sensor mechanism mentioned later.

(Structure of body receiving arm opening and closing mechanism)
Next, the structure of the opening / closing mechanism of the body receiving arm 187 that supports the automobile body will be described with reference to FIG.

  The body receiving arm 187 is pivotally supported at both ends of the connecting rod 185 of the automatic conveyance train 180. Then, as shown in FIG. 5, the driving body 189 is fixed to the base end portion of the body receiving arm 187 at a predetermined angle with respect to the body receiving arm 187. Further, the leading ends of the two driving bodies 189 are connected by a driven body 188. With this structure, when the body receiving arm 187 on one side is rotated 90 degrees using the arm rotating motor 184, the other body receiving arm 187 also rotates in conjunction with it. As a result, since the two body receiving arms 187 can be rotated by one arm rotating motor 184, the apparatus can be reduced in size and weight. Further, by closing the body receiving arm 187 when the empty automatic conveyance train 180 is run, the body receiving arm 187 does not cross the conveyance line, so that workability is improved.

(Structure of the left-right synchronization mechanism of the automatic transport train)
Next, the structure of the left-right synchronization mechanism for causing the left and right automatic transport trains 180 to run in synchronization will be described with reference to FIG.

  An encoder 208 that measures the rotational speed of the travel motor 183 is connected to the travel motor 183 that drives the drive wheels 182 of the automatic transport train 180. The output of the encoder 208 is input to the speed control circuit 204 and feedback controlled. In addition, the current speed is output from the speed control circuit 204 to the transmitter 206. On the other hand, the speed signal output from the transmitter 206 is received by the receiver 205 in the automatic conveyance train 180 facing, and output to the speed control circuit 204 to drive the traveling motor 183 to rotate the driving wheel 182. Further, the output of the encoder 208 is input to the speed control circuit 204 and subjected to feedback control. In this way, the left and right automatic transport trains 180 are controlled to have the same speed.

  In addition, the light-emitting element 201 is installed on one automatic transport train 180, the light-receiving element array 202 is installed on the other automatic transport train 180, and the output of the light-receiving element array 202 is Input to the displacement detection circuit 203, and a shift in the position of the left and right automatic transport train 180 is detected. The output of the position displacement detection circuit 203 is input to the speed control circuit 204, and the speed is controlled so as to compensate for the displacement of the positions of the left and right automatic transport trains 180.

  Further, another structure of the left-right synchronization mechanism for causing the left and right automatic transport trains 180 to run in synchronization will be described with reference to FIG.

  A speed control circuit 307 is connected to a traveling motor 183 that drives the driving wheel 182 of the one-side automatic conveyance train 180. Three laser sensors 301, 302, and 303 are connected to the speed control circuit 307. On the other automatic conveyance train 180, reflecting plates 304, 305, and 306 are installed so as to face the three laser sensors 301, 302, and 303. The foremost reflecting plate 304 is installed to be unevenly distributed backward with respect to the optical axis of the laser sensor 301, and the middle reflecting plate 305 is set to be unevenly distributed to the front with respect to the optical axis of the laser sensor 302, The rearmost reflector 306 is installed in the center with respect to the optical axis of the laser sensor 303 and is wider than the reflectors 304 and 305.

  As a result, in FIG. 7, the speed of the right-side automatic transport train 180 increases, and the light from the reflection plate 304 does not reach the laser sensor 301 when the vehicle travels from the left-side automatic transport train 180 and is turned OFF. Thereby, the rotational speed of the traveling motor 183 is decreased in the speed control circuit 307. On the other hand, the speed of the right automatic transport train 180 becomes slow, and when it is delayed from the left automatic transport train 180, the light from the reflector 305 does not reach the laser sensor 302 and is turned OFF. Thereby, the rotational speed of the traveling motor 183 is increased in the speed control circuit 307. Further, when the light from the reflector 306 does not reach the laser sensor 303, the position of the left and right automatic transport train 180 is too large, and it is determined that synchronization is impossible, and the automatic transport train 180 is stopped.

  As a result of mounting the left-right synchronization mechanism as described above, the self-propelled electric trains 180 that are opposed to each other according to the present invention travel synchronously even though they are independent of each other. In addition, when the automatic conveyance train 180 travels on the return rail 190, it is not necessary to synchronize the left and right automatic conveyance trains 180 because the automobile body is not mounted.

  As described above, according to the automobile body conveyance device of the present invention, (1) the automatic conveyance train that conveys the automobile body is vertically circulated, and (2) the automatic conveyance trains that are opposed to each other are made independent from each other. (3) Space saving of automobile body transfer device, factory of transfer accuracy, downsizing, simplification, and weight reduction of device by combining techniques of opening and closing the arm that supports the car body The effect is tremendous.

50 ... Power and free trolley conveyor 51 ... Power rails 52, 53 ... Power trolley 54 ... Power chain 55 ... Free rail 56 ... Free trolley 57 ... Drive dogs 58, 58a・ ・ ・ Driven dogs 100, 500 ・ ・ ・ Car body transfer devices 110, 510 ・ ・ ・ Loading station 520 ・ ・ ・ Suspended transfer machine 130, 530 ・ ・ ・ Power rail 530A ・ ・ ・ Transfer line 530B ・ ・ ・Return lines 140, 540, lowering stations 150, 550, body transport carriages 162, 164, 560, 570, lifters 170, work booths 180, automatic transport trains 181, driven wheels 182・ ・ ・ Drive wheel 183 ・ ・ ・ Traveling motor 184 ・ ・ ・ A Motor 185 ... connecting rod 186 ... current collector 187 ... body receiving arm 188 ... follower 189 ... prime mover 190 ... return rail 201 ... light emitting element 202 ... Light receiving element array 203 ... Position displacement detection circuit 204 ... Speed control circuit 205 ... Receiver 206 ... Transmitter 208 ... Encoders 301, 302, 303 ... Laser sensors 304, 305, 306 ... Reflector 307 ... Speed control circuit B ... Automobile body R ... Robot

Claims (5)

Car body transportation provided with two power rails laid in parallel along the transportation path and an automatic transportation train that faces the power rail and self-propels and loads the car body from the loading station and transports it toward the station. In the device
An automobile body transport apparatus, wherein a return rail for returning an automatic transport train emptied at the unloading station to the loading station is laid directly above the power rail.   The automobile body transport device according to claim 1, wherein the automatic transport train that runs in a confronting manner is independent of each other and includes a left-right synchronization mechanism for traveling synchronously.   The automobile body conveyance device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the automatic conveyance train includes an openable and closable body receiving arm that supports the automobile body.   The car body is placed on the body transport carriage and transported to the loading station, and the body transport truck that has been emptied at the loading station passes through the floor of the work booth where the floor is built to the unloading station. The automobile body conveying device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the vehicle body conveying device is conveyed.   The automobile body conveyance device according to claim 4, wherein the conveyance mechanism of the body conveyance carriage is a power and free trolley conveyor.

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