JP2015137153A - Connecting trolley - Google Patents

Abstract

It is an object of the present invention to provide a connecting cart capable of densely arranging carts on a conveyance path.
In a circular cart 20, a first floor portion 22 protrudes rearward from a first skeleton portion 21 by a. Since this overhang | projection part 22a is wooden, when an operator gets on, it will sink below. As a countermeasure, in the present invention, the second skeleton 31 protrudes forward from the second floor 32 of the drum-type carriage 30 by a. The projecting portion 31a is located below the projecting portion 22a and is made of steel and has high rigidity. There is a gap of several millimeters between the upper overhanging portion 22a and the lower overhanging portion 31a, but when the upper overhanging portion 22a is bent, the overhanging portion 22a is supported by the lower overhanging portion 31a.
[Effect] Since the rear part of the first carriage and the front part of the second carriage are overlapped in a plan view, the connecting carriage is shortened, and the connecting carriage can be densely arranged on the conveyance path.
[Selection] Figure 8

Description

  The present invention relates to a connecting cart on which a workpiece represented by a worker and a vehicle body is placed.

In the vehicle production line, the vehicle body is transported by a carriage or the like, and parts are assembled to the moving vehicle body manually or by a machine.
Various vehicle body transport methods have been proposed for this purpose (see, for example, Patent Document 1 (FIG. 1)).

Patent document 1 is demonstrated based on the following figure.
FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the basic configuration of the conventional technique. A plurality of carriages 102 are arranged on the closed first transport path 101, and a vehicle body 103 is mounted on each of the carriages 102.

In the figure, trolley trucks 104 and 105 are connected to the front and rear of the carriage 102 at point P1. Parts to be assembled to the vehicle body 103 are placed on these trolley carts 104 and 105. While moving from point P1 to point P2, the parts are assembled to the vehicle body 103.
The empty trolley trucks 104 and 105 are separated from the truck 102 at point P2.

At the point P3, the vehicle body 103 is picked up from the carriage 102 by the workpiece transfer device 116 such as a lift device. The empty carriage 102 is moved counterclockwise in the drawing along the first conveyance path 101 and returned to the point P1.
A part of the part is assembled in the first transport path 101, and the rest of the part is assembled in the second transport path 111.

  A plurality of carriages 112 are also arranged in the second transport path 111. In the figure, trolley carts 114 and 115 are connected to the front and rear of the cart 112 at point P4. Then, the vehicle body 103 is placed on the carriage 112 by the workpiece transfer device 116 at the point P4. While moving from point P4 to point P5, parts (remaining parts) are assembled to the vehicle body 103.

  The carts 102 and 112 are self-propelled carts each having a drive source. At point P3, the vehicle body 103 is picked up with the carriage 102 stopped. At point P4, the vehicle body 103 is placed with the carriage 112 stopped. During this time, the other carriages 102 and 112 are moved at a low speed. In order to avoid a collision between the carriages 102, 102, it is necessary to provide a certain interval between the carriages 102 and 102. The same applies to the carriages 112 and 112.

  In order to increase productivity in the conveyance paths 101 and 111 having a certain length, it is required to arrange the carriages 102 and 112 more densely.

International Publication No. 2013/042511 Pamphlet

  An object of the present invention is to provide a connecting cart capable of densely arranging carts on a conveyance path.

The invention according to claim 1 is a connecting cart comprising a preceding first cart and a second cart that is pivotably coupled to the first cart,
The first carriage includes a first skeleton portion having a first wheel and a first floor portion that is mounted on the first skeleton portion and on which an operator rides, and at least a rear portion of the first floor portion is the first skeleton portion. 1 projecting backward from the skeleton,
The second carriage includes a second skeleton portion including a second wheel, and a second floor portion mounted on the second skeleton portion and on which an operator rides, and at least a front portion of the second skeleton portion is the Projecting forward from the second floor,
When the overhanging portion of the first floor portion is bent by the weight of the worker, the second skeleton is provided below the overhanging portion of the first floor portion so as to be supported by the overhanging portion of the second skeleton portion. It is characterized in that an overhang part of the part is arranged.

  The invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that the first floor portion is a wooden floor.

  In the invention which concerns on Claim 1, since the rear part of the 1st trolley | bogie and the front part of the 2nd trolley | bogie were piled up by planar view, a connection trolley | bogie becomes short and it can arrange | position a connection trolley | bogie closely to a conveyance path | route.

  In the invention which concerns on Claim 2, a 1st floor part is a wooden floor. Wooden floors are less slippery than steel floors.

It is a perspective view of the connecting cart according to the present invention. It is a top view of a connection cart. It is a top view of the 1st cart. FIG. 4 is a view taken along the arrow 4 in FIG. 3 (a rear view of the first cart). It is a top view of the 2nd trolley. FIG. 6 is a view taken along arrow 6 in FIG. 5 (side view of the second carriage). It is a top view of a workpiece conveyance apparatus. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 8-8 in FIG. 2. It is a figure explaining the feature of the connecting cart concerning the present invention. It is a figure explaining the basic composition of the conventional technology.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the figure, Fr indicates the front and Rr indicates the rear.

As shown in FIG. 1, the connecting cart 10 includes a round cart 20 as a preceding first cart, and a drum cart 30 as a second cart coupled to the round cart 20 in a turnable manner.
On the round cart 20, a first component shelf 51 and a second component shelf 52 are mounted. The drum-type carriage 30 is attached to the left and right sides with a left sub carriage 54 on which the third parts shelf 53 is placed and a right sub carriage 56 on which the fourth parts shelf 55 is placed.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the connecting cart 10, but the component shelves 51 to 43 and 45 and the left and right sub-carts 54 and 56 are omitted.
As shown in FIG. 2, the connecting cart 10 includes a round cart 20 and a drum cart 30.
As shown in FIG. 3, the round cart 20 includes a first skeleton part 21 formed by combining steel materials and a first floor part 22 pasted on the first skeleton part 21. The first floor 22 is a wooden floor. The wooden floor may be any of a wooden board, a plywood, and a light metal with a thin wooden board attached to the upper surface, and the form is arbitrary as long as the upper surface is woody.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the round cart 20 is a vehicle that includes a plurality of first free wheels 23 below the first steel frame 21 and travels freely on the factory floor 13. A post 24 protruding upward and a center pin 25 extending downward are provided in the center. Furthermore, the brackets 26 and 26 that protrude downward are provided with free rolls 27 and 27 that rotate horizontally. Groove-shaped rails 14 and 14 are provided on the factory floor 13, and the free roll 27 is guided by the rails 14, so that the round cart 20 travels in the front and back direction of the drawing. However, since the round cart 20 is not equipped with a drive source, it does not travel on its own.

Although the round cart 20 is reinforced by a reinforcing ring plate (reference numeral 29 in FIG. 1) from the steel skeleton 21 to the wooden floor 22, it is structurally overhanging by a. Features.
The round bogie 20 has a structural feature in that the first floor portion 22 made of steel overhangs a from the first skeleton portion 21 made of steel.

As shown in FIG. 5, the drum-type carriage 30 as the second carriage includes a second skeleton part 31 made of steel and a wooden second floor part 32 pasted on the second skeleton part 31.
A cross member 33 is included in the second skeleton 31, columns 34, 34 are erected on the cross member 33, and a receiving seat 35 for receiving the vehicle body on these columns 34, 34 and a positioning pin for positioning the vehicle body in the horizontal direction 36 is provided.

  Further, a front collar 37 extends forward from the second skeleton 31. A hole 38 is provided at the front end of the front rod 37, and a center pin (reference numeral 25 in FIG. 4) is fitted into the hole 38. Further, a rear collar 39 extends rearward from the second skeleton 31. A bifurcated portion 41 is provided at the rear end of the rear collar 39, and a center pin (reference numeral 25 in FIG. 4) is fitted into the bifurcated portion 41. However, the center pin pushes the bifurcated portion 41 when moving forward (Fr). Further, when the forward speed of the bifurcated portion 41 is larger than the forward speed of the center pin, the bifurcated portion 41 is separated from the center pin.

  Pinch rolls 15 and 15 as drive sources are provided on the factory floor 13. The pinch rolls 15 and 15 are each rotated by a motor or the like. Since the front rod 37 and the rear rod 39 are sandwiched between the pinch rolls 15 and 15 and are urged forward, the drum-type carriage 30 travels. When the pinch rolls 15 and 15 stop, the drum-type carriage 30 stops. Control of the low-speed normal rotation, stop, and high-speed normal rotation of the pinch rolls 15 and 15 is collectively performed by the control unit 17.

Since the front rod 37 extends to the center of the front round cart, and the rear rod 39 extends to the center of the rear round cart, both are long materials. Since it is a long material, the front and rear pinch rolls 15 and 15 can be arranged in a jumping manner, and the number of drive sources can be reduced.

  In addition, the drum-type carriage 30 has a structural feature in that a second skeleton 31 made of steel projects forward and backward from the wooden second floor 32.

As shown in FIG. 6, a plurality of second free wheels 42 and 42 are attached to the second skeleton part 31, and the drum-type carriage 30 is a vehicle that travels on the factory floor 13.
The center pin 25 shown in FIG. 4 is fitted into the hole 38 provided at the front end of the front rod 37, whereby the connecting cart 10 shown in FIG. 2 is completed. Normally, the round carriage 20 is not separated from the drum-type carriage 30.

Next, a specific example of the work transfer device using the above-described connecting cart 10 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 7, the work transfer device 60 is disposed outside the connecting cart 10 and moves the connecting cart 10 (for example, the pinch rolls 15 and 15 described in FIG. 5) and the connecting cart 10 at a low speed. And a first low-speed movement path 61 for performing a work of placing a part to be mounted on the work truck (for example, the vehicle body 11 described with reference to FIG. 1) on the connecting carriage 10, and a first low-speed movement extending from the first low-speed movement path 61. A first high-speed moving path 62 that moves the connecting cart 10 at a higher speed than the road 61, and a part that moves from the first high-speed moving path 62 and moves the connecting cart 10 while maintaining a lower speed than the first high-speed moving path 62. A second low-speed moving path 63 for performing the attaching operation, and a second high-speed moving path that extends from the second low-speed moving path 63 and is connected to the first low-speed moving path 61 and moves the connecting carriage 10 at a higher speed than the second low-speed moving path 63. 64 and Kara A conveying path 65 closed, and a control unit 17.

  In the figure, reference numeral 77 denotes a joint portion provided on the first high-speed movement path 62 (and / or the second high-speed movement path 64). A lead-out path 78 extends from the joint section 77 to the outside of the transport path 65 and reaches a cart buffer section 79 where a spare connecting cart 10 is placed. Therefore, when the connecting cart 10 breaks down, the connecting cart 10 is pulled out from the joint portion 18 to the pull-out path 78 and retracted to the cart buffer portion 79. Instead, the spare connecting cart 10 is returned from the cart buffer 79 to the transport path 65. By providing the joint portion 77, the carriage can be exchanged efficiently.

  When the work transfer device 60 is divided by speed range, a first low speed area 66 mainly including the first low speed movement path 61, a first high speed area 67 mainly including the first high speed movement path 62, and a second low speed movement. It is divided into a second low speed area 68 mainly composed of the road 63 and a second high speed area 69 mainly composed of the second high speed moving path 64.

  Further, the first low-speed area 66 includes a parts supply area 71, the first work transfer device 72 is extended from the outside in the first high-speed area 67, and the leading end is in plan view in the first high-speed movement path 62. The work area 73 for assembling the parts is included in the second low-speed area 68, the second work transfer device 74 is extended from the outside in the second high-speed area 69, and the tip is the second high-speed movement path. 64 in a plan view.

  The first and second workpiece transfer devices 72 and 74 include a lift hanger 75 that grips the vehicle body 11 and moves it up and down, and a ceiling that guides the lift hanger 75 in a direction orthogonal to the first and second high-speed moving paths 62 and 64. Rails 76 and 76.

  In the first low-speed moving path 61 and the second low-speed moving path 63, the control unit 17 arranges the plurality of connecting carts 10 in series so that the plurality of connecting carts 10 abut each other, and in the first high-speed moving path 62, While one connecting carriage 10 is traveling at a high speed, it is stopped at one place in the middle (position overlapping with the first workpiece transfer device 72), and on the second high-speed moving path 64, one connecting carriage 10 is moved at a high speed. Control is performed so as to stop at one place in the middle (a position overlapping the second workpiece transfer device 74).

  The traveling direction is determined by the round carriage 20 shown in FIG. The subsequent drum-type carriage 30 follows the round carriage 20. Therefore, the connecting cart 10 turns or goes straight while being guided by the rail (FIG. 4, reference numeral 14).

In the figure, the movement of the connecting cart 10 will be described again using the notations P1 to P7.
Between P1 and P2, a group of connecting carts 10 move at a low speed. During this time, the plurality of connecting carts 10 are closely arranged in a so-called beaded state. While moving from P1 to P2 at low speed, the parts are supplied to the parts shelves 51, 52, 53, and 55. In addition to placing parts on the parts shelves 51, 52, 53, and 55, by replacing the parts shelves 51, 52, 53, and 55 with other parts shelves 51, 52, 53, and 55, the parts are supplied to the connecting cart 10. There is no problem.

  At P2, only the first connecting cart 10 is switched from low speed to high speed. Then, only one connecting cart 10 reaches P3 in a short time and is stopped at P3. The vehicle body 11 is placed on the connecting cart 10 by the first workpiece transfer device 72. Next, the connecting cart 10 is moved to P4 at high speed. Since the preceding connecting cart 10 at P4 is low speed, the next connecting cart 10 catches up with the connecting cart 10 as indicated by the imaginary line. Then, the center pin 25 of the next connecting cart 10 is fitted into the bifurcated portion 41 of the rear collar 39 of the preceding connecting cart 10, and thereafter the connecting carts 10 and 10 move together at a low speed. As a result, between P5 and P6, the plurality of connecting carts 10 are in a so-called bead-connected state and are closely arranged. Parts are assembled to the vehicle body 11 in the work area 73.

  In the work area 73, so-called cell production is performed. Cell production refers to a production system in which parts shelves are arranged around a workpiece and parts are assembled from the start to the end in this state. However, it is possible to perform normal production in the work area 73 by taking parts from a parts shelf arranged on the floor and assembling them on a moving work.

In the drawing, the second low-speed moving path 63 in the work area 73 is U-shaped, but the distance of the conveying path may be extended by making it W-shaped or meandering more.
Similarly, although the first low-speed moving path 61 in the component supply area 71 is U-shaped, the distance of the conveying path may be extended by making it W-shaped or meandering more.
That is, the distance of the conveyance path of the second low-speed movement path 63 may be set according to the number of work steps, and the distance of the conveyance path of the first low-speed movement path 61 may be set according to the number of assembled parts.

Further, in the work area 73, an operator rides on the round cart 20 shown in FIG. 1 and assembles the parts placed on the first parts shelf 51 to the front part of the vehicle body 11. The parts placed on the second parts shelf 52 are assembled to the rear part of the preceding vehicle body.
An operator rides on the drum-type carriage 30, the parts placed on the third parts shelf 53 are assembled on the left side of the vehicle body 11, and the parts placed on the fourth parts shelf 55 are assembled on the right side of the body 11.

  The walking surface of the round carriage 20 and the walking surface of the drum carriage 30 are wooden floors. Wooden floors have a much higher coefficient of friction than ordinary steel floors. Therefore, even if oils and fats are placed on the floor surface, it is difficult to slip if the floor surface is wooden.

  The assembly work has been completed by P6 in FIG. Therefore, only the leading connecting carriage 10 is switched from low speed to high speed at P6. Then, only one connecting cart 10 reaches P7 in a short time and is stopped at P7. The vehicle body 11 is picked up from the connecting cart 10 by the second workpiece transfer device 74. Next, the empty connecting cart 10 is moved to P1 at high speed. Since the connecting cart 10 preceding at P1 is low speed, the connecting cart 10 catches up with the connecting cart 10. Then, the center pin 25 of the next connecting cart 10 is fitted into the bifurcated portion 41 of the rear collar 39 of the preceding connecting cart 10, and thereafter the connecting carts 10 and 10 move together at a low speed. As a result, between P1 and P2, the plurality of connecting carts 10 are in a so-called bead-connected state and are closely arranged. Parts are supplied to the connecting cart 10 in the parts supply area 71.

  In FIG. 7, the work area 73 has a relatively small area because of simplification, but the work area 73 has a large area because the number of parts is large. In this case, the area increase of the work area 73 can be suppressed by meandering the second low-speed moving path 63.

A large number of connecting carts 10 are densely arranged on the second low-speed moving path 63. The same applies to the first low-speed moving path 61.
As a result, as compared with the prior art in which a space is provided between the trolleys, according to the present embodiment, more connecting trolleys 10 can be placed in the work area 73 and the parts supply area 71. Productivity per work floor area can be greatly improved.

Next, details of the connecting cart 10 of the present invention will be described.
As shown in FIG. 8, in the round cart 20, the first floor portion 22 extends from the first skeleton portion 21 to the rear by a. Since this overhang | projection part 22a is wooden, when an operator gets on, it will bend. That is, it sinks. As a countermeasure, in the present invention, the second skeleton 31 protrudes forward from the second floor 32 of the drum-type carriage 30 by a. The projecting portion 31a is located below the projecting portion 22a and is made of steel and has high rigidity.

  There is a gap between the upper overhanging portion 22a and the lower overhanging portion 31a. When the upper overhanging portion 22a bends, the overhanging portion 22a is supported by the lower overhanging portion 31a. Although the gap is emphasized in the drawing, it may be a small gap of about several mm.

  As shown in FIG. 9B, in a comparative example to which the present invention is not applied, a drum-shaped carriage 122 is connected with a gap b on the round carriage 121, and a gap b is placed on the drum-type carriage 122 and the following steps are performed. A round cart 121 is arranged. The distance between the centers of the round carts 121 and 121 is L2.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 9A, in the embodiment according to the present invention, the round carriage 20 and the drum carriage 30 are overlapped (wrapped) by a and connected to the drum carriage 30. The next round cart 20 is arranged by overlapping a. The distance L1 between the centers of the round carts 20 and 20 is L1 = L2-2 × (a + b), which is much shorter than L2.
As a result, the connecting carts 10 can be arranged more densely.

  In addition, in the Example, although the overhang | projection part was provided over the perimeter of the 1st trolley | bogie (round trolley | bogie), you may provide this overhang | projection part before and behind a 1st trolley | bogie. That is, the overhanging portion may be provided at least in the rear portion of the first carriage.

  In the embodiment, the turning center of the second carriage is the center of the first carriage, but the turning center can be provided at an arbitrary location of the first carriage.

Furthermore, the drive source may be a dog chain or a chain with an attachment in addition to the pinch roll, and the type and form are arbitrary.
In addition to the vehicle body, the workpiece may be a housing before incorporating parts, and the type and structure are arbitrary. However, the present invention is suitable for a vehicle production line in which improvement in production efficiency is strongly required.

  In addition, in the work area 73 shown in FIG. 7, it is possible to perform other forms of work such as machining work in addition to mounting components.

  The present invention is suitable for a connecting cart used in a vehicle production line.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Connection cart, 20 ... 1st cart (round cart), 21 ... 1st frame | skeleton part, 22 ... 1st floor part, 22a ... Overhang | projection part of 1st floor part, 23 ... 1st wheel (1st free wheel) ), 30... 2nd carriage (drum type carriage), 31... Second skeleton part, 31a... Overhang part of the second skeleton part, 32 ... second floor part, and 42 ... second wheel (second universal wheel).

Claims (2)

A connecting cart composed of a preceding first cart and a second cart pivotably coupled to the first cart,
The first carriage includes a first skeleton portion having a first wheel and a first floor portion that is mounted on the first skeleton portion and on which an operator rides, and at least a rear portion of the first floor portion is the first skeleton portion. 1 projecting backward from the skeleton,
The second carriage includes a second skeleton portion including a second wheel, and a second floor portion mounted on the second skeleton portion and on which an operator rides, and at least a front portion of the second skeleton portion is the Projecting forward from the second floor,
When the overhanging portion of the first floor portion is bent by the weight of the worker, the second skeleton is provided below the overhanging portion of the first floor portion so as to be supported by the overhanging portion of the second skeleton portion. A connecting cart characterized in that an overhanging portion is arranged.   The connecting cart according to claim 1, wherein the first floor portion is a wooden floor.

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