JP2833388B2 - Overhead hanger and automatic switching device thereof - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an overhead hanger used in an automobile assembly line and the like, and an automatic switching device therefor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In the process of assembling undercarriage parts of an automobile, a vehicle body 1 is mounted on an overhead hanger 2 as shown in FIG. .

A vehicle is mounted on a pair of receiving members (hereinafter, referred to as receiving members) facing each other in the vehicle width direction to support the vehicle. Here, the receiving device includes a front receiving device 3 for supporting a side seal at a front portion of the vehicle body, and a rear receiving device 4 for supporting a side seal at a rear portion of the vehicle body, and these receiving devices form a pair.

[0004] That is, a total of four receivers are provided,
The vehicle body is supported by these receiving members. Here, each receiving member is a so-called fixed hanger fixed to the overhead hanger body.

[0005]

In an assembly line, there are cases where the types of vehicles that flow on the same assembly line are changed. If the vehicle type changes, the vehicle width also changes. However, in the conventional fixed hanger, there is a case where the vehicle body cannot be accurately received by the fixed receiver with respect to the changing vehicle width.

[0006] For example, there is a case where a tool cannot be inserted into the rear receiving side and work cannot be performed. In order to cope with this, if a fixed receiver is used in common, a small vehicle such as a minicar has a small receiving amount, and thus the vehicle body may fall due to variation.

There is a problem that it is troublesome to manually replace the fixed receiver each time, and that the time loss is large.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an overhead hanger capable of automatically switching a receiving device according to a vehicle type and an automatic switching device therefor.

[0009]

To achieve the above object, the present invention has the following constitution.

(1). A support member provided opposite to the main body frame in the vehicle width direction, and a loosely fitted through hole formed in a rotation fulcrum provided on the upper surface of the support member and set at a position eccentric in the vehicle width direction. A receiving member configured to be rotatable via a vertical axis and to be able to move up and down in a coaxial direction, and a pair of driving holes fixed to a lower end of the vertical axis and having a pair of driving holes formed around the vertical axis. A moving piece, and a position holder provided on an upper surface of the support member and engaging with the receiving member when the receiving member abuts on the upper surface of the support member to regulate rotation of the receiving member, An overhead hanger for carrying the vehicle body on the receiving member, a pressing means installed on the stationary member side to contact a predetermined portion of the overhead hanger and holding the overhead hanger at a predetermined position, and an overhead hanger installed on the stationary member side. Fixed A mounting base provided on the fixed base so as to be able to move up and down, and the mounting base is provided on the mounting base and fits into the drive hole of the rotating piece at the ascending position of the mounting base, and the rotation piece is used to An automatic switching device including a drive pin that raises the receiving member and turns the receiving member by 180 ° to change its direction is provided (claim 1).

(2). (1) The overhead hanger and the automatic switching device thereof according to (1), wherein the automatic switching device is provided on the fixed base so as to be movable in a predetermined direction in a horizontal plane, and is elastically supported at a predetermined position via an elastic member. A base, a guide pin fixed to the mounting base and protruding above the drive pin, and provided below the support member, the guide pin is fitted when the mounting base is raised, and the support member is moved with the support member. A guide hole for defining a relative position with respect to the table is provided (claim 2).

[0012]

Since the receiving member is eccentrically supported and can be turned by 180 °, the rotation of the receiving member changes the area for receiving the vehicle body. The rotation control of the receiver is automatically performed by the automatic switching device.

[0013]

FIG. 2 shows a vehicle width direction X, a vehicle body traveling direction Y, and a vertical direction Z. The entire overhead hanger according to the present invention is denoted by reference numeral 14, and the main body frame is denoted by reference numeral 5. The overhead hanger 14 has front-side receiving members 6 and 7 (hereinafter referred to as receiving members 6 and 7) and rear-side receiving members 8 and 9 (hereinafter referred to as receiving members 8 and 9).

In the present embodiment, only the pair of receiving members 8 and 9 on the rear side are subject to automatic switching, and these receiving members are rotatably supported by the main body frame 5, and these receiving members are rotatably supported. An automatic switching device (described later) is provided for each of the components.

The main body frame 5 belongs to a primary hanger, and this primary hanger engages with a secondary hanger (not shown) and
The next hanger moves on the line by being guided by the rail. For convenience, the secondary hanger is omitted, the roller 10 is directly attached to the primary hanger, and the overhead hanger is guided by the rail provided above the line. Is transported in the traveling direction Y.

Since the receiving member 8 and the receiving member 9 are symmetrical and have the same configuration, the receiving member 8 will be described below. In FIG. 3, the receiving member 8 is a rectangular plate, and the shaft 8a is fixed to an eccentric position deviated from the center position in the longitudinal direction of the plate. On the other hand, a support member 11 (hereinafter, referred to as a receiving member supporting member 11) is fixed to the main body frame 5, and a supporting hole penetrates the receiving member supporting member 11 in the Z direction.

A shaft 8a is fitted into the support hole so as to be rotatable and movable in the axial direction. Assuming that an axis passing through the center of the support hole is indicated by a symbol OO, the receiving member 8 will
It can rotate around O.

A turning piece 12 is fixed to the lower end of the shaft 8a. Driving holes 15 are formed in the rotary piece 12 at positions that are equally divided about the axis OO on a line segment orthogonal to the axis OO. The distance between the drive holes 15 is D, and the alignment direction of each drive hole is orthogonal to the sides 8R and 8L.

The receiving member 8 is supported by the receiving member supporting member 11 by its own weight.
When in contact with the upper surface of the support member 11, the distance between the upper surface of the rotating piece 12 and the lower surface of the receiving member support member 11 is about 25 mm. Therefore, if the rotating piece 12 is pushed up from below, the receiving member 8 is also about
mm.

The ascending dimension (25 mm) is larger than the height (about 20 mm) of the two position holders 13 provided on the receiving member support member 11. The position holder 13 is X
Are arranged side by side.

The turning position of the receiving member 8 shown by a solid line in FIG. 3 is a position suitable for a vehicle body of a vehicle type having a large vehicle width (hereinafter referred to as a G vehicle body). In the illustrated state, the side part 8R of the receiving member 8 is in a state of being positioned in contact with the position holding part 13.

For a vehicle body of a vehicle type having a small vehicle width (hereinafter referred to as "S vehicle body"), the receiving member 8 is moved from the state shown by the solid line in FIG.
It is turned by 80 ° to a state shown by a two-dot chain line. At the time of this rotation, the receiver 8 is pushed upward from the receiver support member 11 in order to dodge the position holding body 13. Then, the receiving tool 8 is rotated.

After the rotation, when the receiving member 8 is lowered by its own weight, the side portion 8L of the receiving member comes into contact with the position holding member 13 and is positioned at a position suitable for the width of the S body. 8 is retained. As described above, since the position of the shaft 8a is eccentric in the X direction on the receiver 8, each time the receiver 8 changes its rotational position by 180 °, the distance between the opposing receivers changes. .

In FIG. 10, the receiver 8 in the middle of rotation is indicated by a solid line, and the receiver 8 after the rotation is indicated by a two-dot chain line. The posture of the receiving member 8 after the rotation is one of a state in which the side portion 8R of the receiving member 8 follows the position holding member 13 and a state in which the side portion 8L follows the position holding member 13.

At this time, the distance from the axis OO to the end of the receiving member is either L1 or L2. Therefore, the rotation of the receiving member 8 causes a change in vehicle width due to a change in vehicle type. It can be adapted to.

As described above, the shaft 8a and the receiving member supporting member 11 constitute supporting means for rotatably supporting the receiving member at the eccentric position, and the position holder 13 positions the receiving member at the predetermined rotating position. The position holding means for holding is constituted.

An automatic switching device for rotating the receiving member 8 by 180 ° as required will be described. In FIG. 4 which shows a part of the transport line of the overhead hanger in a plan view, reference numeral 29 denotes a rail for guiding the roller 10 and is a straight line following the Y direction.

A chain 30 for pulling the overhead hanger is provided along the rail 29. The chain 30 is driven in the direction of the arrow, and dogs 31 are provided at regular intervals.

The dog 31 is a kind of hook. The dog 31 advances as the chain 30 advances. When the hook 31 provided on the overhead hanger 14 is hooked in the course of the movement, the overhead hanger is pulled.

The chain 30 is pulled by elastic means 32 to obtain a predetermined tension on the way.
At that portion, it is separated from the rail 29. In the separation section 33, the dog of the overhead hanger is stopped from moving because the engagement with the hook provided on the chain is naturally released.

In this separation section, the overhead hanger 14 is pushed by a feeding means by a cylinder (not shown) and is sent to the end position of the separation section, where it waits for the next dog. An automatic switching device 34 according to the present invention is provided at a position shown in FIG. 4, which is a position waiting for the arrival of the dog.

The switching of the receiver 8 is performed under the condition that the overhead hanger 14 is fixed at a predetermined position of the automatic switching device 34. The fixing means at the predetermined position is provided by holding means provided at three places on one side of the overhead hanger 14 and at six places in total.

These holding means are shown in FIGS.
Indicated by 0 to 65. More specifically, the front end pressing means 60,
63, intermediate holding means 61, 64, rear end holding means 6
2, 65, etc.

Of these pressing means, the front pressing means 60, the intermediate pressing means 61, and the rear pressing means 62 will be described, and the others are merely symmetrical, so the description will be omitted.

First, as shown in FIG. 7, the front end pressing means 60 includes a cylinder 67 pivotally connected at one end to a base 66 serving as an immovable member, and a link mechanism 6 connected thereto.
8 and a holding tool 69. Usually 2
When the overhead hanger is fixed, the front end portion of the main body frame 5 is pressed by the holding member 69 as shown in the drawing.

Next, as for the intermediate holding means 61, as shown in FIG. 8, the cylinder 70 pivotally attached to the immovable member is used.
, A link mechanism 71 connected thereto, and a retainer 7
2 and the like. Normally, it is retracted to the lower position. However, when fixing the overhead hanger, the middle part of the main body frame 5 is pressed from below by the presser 72 as shown in the figure.

Next, regarding the rear end pressing means 62, as shown in FIG. 9, a cylinder 73 pivotally attached to an immovable member is provided.
And a holding member 74 connected thereto. The holding member 74 is pivotally attached to a supporting member 75. Usually, it is retracted to the lower position, but when fixing the overhead hanger, the rear end portion of the main body frame 5 is pressed by the holding member 74 as shown in the figure.

The structure of the receiving device switching section of the automatic switching device will be described. 1, FIG. 10 and FIG.
Shows a moving table on which a release means for releasing the receiving tool from the position holding means and a rotating means for rotating the receiving tool are mounted.

A groove is formed on the lower surface of the moving table 35. Below the movable table 35, a fixed table 36 made of a channel material integrally formed with the immovable member is provided. A rail 37 is provided on the fixed base 36 in parallel with the Y direction.
Are slidably engaged.

Therefore, the movable table 35 is guided by the rail 37 and has freedom of movement in the Y direction. The moving table 35 is
Both ends in the Y direction are drawn with equal forces in opposite directions in the Y direction. Alternatively, a configuration in which pressing is performed with equal force can be selected.

For this reason, the moving table 35 can move in the Y direction when an external force acts thereon. As long as there is no external force applied, it is stationary at that position.

Referring to FIG. 10, the center of the fixed base 36 is hollow. A cylinder 39 is mounted on the back surface of the moving table 35. This cylinder is mounted on a fixed base 35.
Occupies a position in the cavity. At the tip of the plunger 39P of this cylinder, a plate-like mount 40 is mounted.

When the cylinder is driven, the mounting table 40 is reciprocated in the Z direction by a fixed amount determined by the stroke of the cylinder in accordance with the reciprocation of the plunger 39P.
That is, it can be moved up and down.

In order to perform this movement smoothly, the mounting table 4
From 0, a guide bar 41 extends, and this guide bar 41 is engaged with a guide portion 42 formed integrally with the moving table 35. It is assumed that the guide bar, the moving table, and the like are provided as appropriate in addition to those illustrated.

A rotary actuator 43 is provided on the back surface of the mount 40. The rotary actuator 43 has a function of rotating the rotating shaft 43d by 180 ° every time the rotary actuator 43 is driven. That is, first 18
If you turn right by 0 °, then turn left by 180 °
Next, an operation such as clockwise rotation is repeated.

A rotating plate 44 is integrally attached to the rotating shaft 43d. This rotating plate 44 has a rotating shaft 43d.
Drive pins 45 are implanted at intervals d at positions equally divided about the center on a line passing through the center.

The distance d between the drive pins 45 is
The two driving holes 15 are equal in distance D to each other, and the diameters of these holes are formed such that they can be fitted to the driving pins 45.

The relative positions of these two drive pins 45 are determined so that the alignment direction after the drive by the rotary actuator 43 matches the Y direction.

Therefore, as shown by a solid line in FIG. 1 or a two-dot chain line in FIG. 11, the driving plate 45 is aligned in the original position in the original position, It is in a state rotated by 180 ° from the state.

The progress of the rotation of the rotation plate 44 and the drive pin 45 is shown by solid lines in FIGS. 10 and 11, respectively. At one end of the rotating plate 44, an actuator 46 made of metal and formed in a U-shape is provided. The two opposing pieces 4 constituting the actuator 46
6a and 46b are equally divided with a virtual straight line passing through the center of the rotating shaft 43d.

As shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG.
A proximity switch 47b is provided at a position close to the opposing piece 46b when the device 4 is at a certain rotation position. Further, a proximity switch 47a is provided at a position that is in opposition to the opposing piece 46a when in the other rotation position.

Therefore, the direction of rotation of the rotary plate 44 when the rotary actuator 43 is driven is determined by which of the proximity switches 47a and 47b detects the opposing piece. For example, in FIG. 11, since the opposing piece 46b and the proximity switch 47b face each other, if the rotary actuator 43 is driven, the counter piece 46a rotates counterclockwise from the state shown in FIG. 47
a is opposed to each other. And at the next drive,
It turns clockwise and returns to the state shown in FIG.

When the cylinder 39 is driven, the mount 40 is raised, and the drive pin 45 is fitted in the drive hole 15. Further, when the mounting table 40 is further raised, the seat surface 45Z of the drive pin 45 comes into contact with the rotating piece 12, and the rotating piece is lifted, so that the receiving member 8 floats above the position holding body 13. State.

By driving the rotary actuator 43 in the floating state where the rising end of the cylinder 39 has been removed, the receiving member 8 is changed from the G-body compatible state to the S-body compatible state or the S-body compatible state. From the position to the G vehicle body compatible position.

In this case, the stop position of the overhead hanger 2 varies and is fixed by the pressing means. However, since the bending may be caused by the clamping force, the driving pin 45 is always in the driving hole 15. They do not always match exactly.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 10, a guide hole 76 is provided in the receiving member support member 11, and a guide pin 77 is fitted in the guide hole 76 in the mounting base 40. The positional relationship is set so as to fit before fitting. In this example, as shown in FIG. 10, a guide pin 77 is provided to protrude above the drive pin 45.

By doing so, even if there is a slight shift in the position between the drive pin 45 and the drive hole 15, the guide pin 77 is driven first by driving the cylinder 39.
Are fitted in the guide holes 76, the moving table 35 follows the rails 37 and moves in the Y direction against the force of the elastic means 38.
5 will be fitted correctly.

As described above, the cylinder 39 and the guide bar 4
1. The guide plate 42 and the like constitute an example of a release unit for releasing the receiving member from the position holding unit, and the rotary actuator 43
Constitutes an example of a rotating means for rotating the receiving member by a predetermined amount of rotation.

In FIG. 1, on the Y direction corresponding to the advancing path of the main body frame 5, three positions, that is, a front portion, a middle portion, and a rear portion of the automatic switching device 34 for detecting the posture of the receiving member 8 are provided. Phototube type detection means is provided. These front, middle and rear detecting means are denoted by reference numerals 78 and 7 respectively.
Shown at 9, 80.

Based on the information from these detecting means, the receiving device 8
It is detected whether the state is out or retracted.

On the other hand, the vehicle body to be suspended by the overhead hanger, that is, whether the vehicle type to be switched is the S vehicle body or the G vehicle body is known in advance from information from the vehicle type control panel.

In addition, the output from the proximity switches 47a and 47b indicates which rotation position the rotation piece 12 is in.
That is, according to the next rotation command, it can be determined whether the camera is in a state where it can be turned 180 ° to the right or a state where it can be turned 180 ° to the left.

Accordingly, in FIG. 12, the vehicle type information from the vehicle type control panel (step S1) and the detecting means 80
It is determined from the state of the receiving device 8 (step S2) whether or not the switching of the receiving device is necessary (step S3). If it is determined that the receiving device is not required, the passing is performed without switching, and if it is determined that the switching is necessary, The receiver is switched by driving the rotary actuator 43 (step S4).

At the time of switching in step S4, information from the proximity switches 47a and 47b is used in advance.
It is necessary to prepare the necessary rotation.

The detecting means 79 can be used to confirm the state immediately before and immediately after the switching, and the detecting means 80 can be used to confirm the state of the receiver immediately before leaving the switching device.

[0066]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the position switching angle of the receiving member is set to 180 in accordance with the type of vehicle with a simple configuration.
By being rotatable and capable of automatic switching, a pair of opposing receiving members can obtain a switching mode similar to that in which only the relative position is changed (separated / closed). According to the second aspect of the present invention, the switching of the receiving member can be reliably performed by adding the position correction function.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating each main part of an automatic switching device and an overhead hanger according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an overhead hanger according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a receiving device according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the position of the automatic switching device on the conveyor line according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a plan view illustrating an arrangement of a pressing means in the automatic switching device according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a plan view illustrating an arrangement of a holding means in the automatic switching device according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a plan view illustrating a front pressing means in the automatic switching device according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a plan view illustrating a middle pressing means in the automatic switching device according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a plan view illustrating a rear pressing means in the automatic switching device according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view of the automatic switching device and the receiving device according to the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a plan view of the automatic switching device according to the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a control flowchart of the automatic switching device according to the present invention.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional technique.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 5 Body frame 8, 9 Receiver 11 (as receiving member) 11 Receiver supporting member (as supporting member) 12 Rotating piece 13 Position holder 15 Drive hole 34 Automatic switching device 35 Moving table 36 Fixed table 40 Mounting table 45 Drive pin 60, 63 Front end pressing means 61, 64 Intermediate pressing means 62, 65 Rear end pressing means 77 Guide pin 76 Guide hole

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁶ , DB name) B65G 17/20 B62D 65/00 B23P 21/00 303 B61B 10/02

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] A support member provided on the main body frame to face the vehicle in the vehicle width direction; and a penetrating hole provided on an upper surface of the support member and provided at a pivot point set at an eccentric position in the vehicle width direction. A receiving member rotatably and vertically movable in a coaxial direction via a vertical shaft loosely fitted in the hole, and a pair of driving holes fixed to a lower end of the vertical shaft and centered on the vertical shaft. A rotating piece provided, and a position holder provided on an upper surface of the support member and engaging with the receiving member when the receiving member abuts on the upper surface of the support member to regulate rotation of the receiving member. An overhead hanger for carrying the vehicle body on the receiving member, a holding means installed on the stationary member side to contact a predetermined portion of the overhead hanger and hold the overhead hanger at a predetermined position, and a stationary member. Beside A fixed base placed on the mounting base, a mounting base provided on the fixed base so as to be able to move up and down, and being fitted into the drive hole of the rotating piece at the ascending position of the mounting base and being rotated. An automatic switching device comprising a driving pin for raising the receiving member via a piece and rotating the receiving member by 180 ° to change its direction, and an overhead hanger and the automatic switching device therefor. 2. The overhead hanger and its automatic switching device according to claim 1, wherein the automatic switching device is provided on the fixed base so as to be movable in a predetermined direction in a horizontal plane, and is elastically provided at a predetermined position via an elastic member. A supported moving table, a guide pin fixed to the mounting table and protruding above the drive pin, and provided below the support member, the guide pin is fitted when the mounting table is raised, and An overhead hanger including a guide hole for defining a relative position between a support member and the movable table, and an automatic switching device for the hanger.