JP2910864B2 - Pallet changer - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Application Field] In the present invention, for example, in an assembly line for assembling an engine or a suspension to a vehicle body of an automobile, parts to be assembled such as the engine and the suspension are supported on a bogie. For transport lines that are mounted on pallets and transported,
The present invention relates to a pallet replacement device that replaces an empty pallet with a pallet on which the above-mentioned assembly components are mounted.

[Related Art] For example, in a case where an engine and a suspension are assembled to a vehicle body on an assembly line of a vehicle such as an automobile,
If the type of vehicle assembled on the line is determined to be one type, a component supply device including an overhead type transporter or the like whose stop position is set and positioned in advance is provided.
By supplying the above assembled parts to the transport line of the vehicle body by using this apparatus, the engine and the suspension and the like can be supplied to the carried vehicle body at a fixed position and assembled.

However, the type of car flowing through the line can be changed,
In a so-called mixed flow type assembly line, since the positions where the engine and the suspension are mounted on the vehicle body differ depending on the vehicle type, it is necessary to change and set the stop position of the component supply device for each vehicle type. However, there is a problem that the control mechanism and the like become complicated.

In response to this mixed flow type assembly line,
For example, in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 62-70065, while an engine and a suspension are mounted on a movable lifter device, a vehicle body is carried in a suspended state by a hanger member of an overhead type conveyor, and the lifter device is mounted directly below the vehicle body. There is disclosed a device which is moved and positioned to assemble an engine and a suspension. However, even in this case, there is still a problem that the lifter device is complicated.

In addition, a pallet for positioning and mounting the engine and suspension, etc. is mounted on a trolley, and the pallet transport line that transports the pallet by running this trolley along the rails laid on the floor is used as an overhead transport device. There is known a docking station which is provided in the vicinity of a vehicle body transfer line, and is set at a location which extends between the pallet transfer line and the vehicle body transfer line, and in which an engine, a suspension and the like are assembled to a vehicle body.

According to this system, when the vehicle type is changed,
By replacing the pallet with another pallet in which the positioning of the mounted components is set for the vehicle type, there is no need to adjust the stop position of the bogie at the docking station, and it is possible to easily cope with the vehicle type change.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] In the system provided with the pallet transport line, when mounting components such as an engine and a suspension on the pallet, the pallet is directly mounted on the pallet transport line. It is conceivable to mount each of the above components in a state of being mounted on a trolley, but in this case, it is difficult to automatically perform fine positioning of each component on the pallet, and the component mounting process on this pallet is exclusively performed Must be done manually by the operator.
Therefore, the following problem may occur.

Mounting work on the pallet transport line is poor in workability because the scaffold on the pallet is narrow.

While the pallet is being conveyed, the loading operation cannot be performed, resulting in a loss time. Further, in order to prevent the operation during the pallet conveyance, it is necessary to provide a sensor or the like for safety confirmation, which increases the cost.

The component mounting operation on the pallet is performed while the operator visually checks the component mounting position on the pallet. However, since the operation position is low, the operation posture is deteriorated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and allows a component mounting operation on the pallet to be performed before the pallet is mounted on a trolley, and improves a working posture in the component mounting operation. It is an object of the present invention to provide a pallet changing device that can perform pallet replacement.

[Means for Solving the Problems] According to a first aspect of the present invention, a work mounting pallet is supported and transported on a trolley, and a work mounted on the pallet is taken out at a predetermined position. A pallet replacement device for replacing the pallets on a pallet transport line configured, wherein a pallet storage zone capable of storing a plurality of types of pallets according to the type of the work, and a work taken out at the predetermined location. A pallet unloading means for removing the empty pallet from the trolley and unloading the pallet from the pallet transport line to the pallet storage zone; and a pallet supply line for supplying the pallet discharged from the pallet storage zone to the pallet transport line. Transports and supplies the work to be mounted on the pallet supplied by the pallet supply line A work transfer line, a pallet discharging means for discharging a pallet corresponding to the type of work to be supplied next to the work transfer line from the pallet storage zone, and a work transfer line provided in the middle of the pallet supply line; And a work mounting station for mounting the work conveyed on the conveyance line on a pallet corresponding to the type of the work.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the work mounting station adjusts a table on which a pallet conveyed by the pallet supply line is placed, and a vertical position of the table. And a table lifter having an adjusting means.

[Effects of the Invention] According to the first invention of the present application, a work mounting station for mounting a work conveyed on a work conveyance line on a pallet corresponding to the type of the work is provided in the middle of the pallet supply means. Since the work is mounted on the pallet, the work can be performed before the pallet is supplied to the transport line, and the above-mentioned various problems can be solved.

Further, according to the second invention of the present application, in the first invention, the work mounting station is provided with the table lifter, so that when performing the work mounting work, the vertical position of the pallet is adjusted. And a good working posture can be maintained.

Embodiment Hereinafter, a case where an embodiment of the present invention is applied to an assembly line for mounting parts such as an engine and a suspension on a vehicle body of an automobile will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram schematically showing a configuration of an automobile assembly line according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. For the docking station Sa where the parts are assembled, the vehicle body loading line Lb equipped with an overhead type transfer device for loading the vehicle body before the parts are assembled, and the body is moved from the docking station Sa to the next process after the above-described parts are assembled. A pallet carrying line Lc for carrying out the vehicle and a pallet carrying line Lp for positioning and supplying the mounted components (engine, suspension, etc.) on the pallet are provided.

The pallet transport line Lp is configured such that a truck C linearly transported, for example, circulates in a predetermined cycle on a rail laid in a closed loop, and a pallet P (base pallet) is placed on the truck C. Fixed and mounted.

In the present embodiment, a plurality (for example, three) of sub-pallets Pf, Pm, and Pr can be positioned and mounted on the base pallet P. As will be described in detail later, Parts such as an engine and a suspension to be mounted on the vehicle body are mounted not directly on the base pallet P but via the sub-pallets Pf, Pm and Pr.

The pallet transport line Lp has an empty sub-pallet downstream from the docking station Sa.
A sub-pallet take-out station Sb for taking out Pf and Pr from the base pallet P is provided, and the sub-pallets Pf and Pr taken out at the station Sb are carried out toward the sub-pallet storage zone Zw through the sub-pallet carry-out line Lo. In addition, the intermediate sub-pallet Pm
It is carried out and stored in the sub-pallet storage zone ZM provided inside Lp.

The sub-pallet storage zone Zw corresponds to a “pallet storage zone” described in the claims of the present application.
Further, the sub-pallet unloading station Sb and the sub-pallet unloading line Lo correspond to “pallet unloading means” described in the claims of the present application.

Further, on the downstream side of the sub-pallet unloading station Sb, the sub-pallet Pf, Pr paid out from the sub-pallet storage zone Zw corresponding to the next work is mounted on the sub-pallet mounting station Sc. Are provided, and the sub-pallets Pf and Pr stored in the sub-pallet storage zone Zw are supplied to the sub-pallet loading station Sc by a sub-pallet supply line Li.

The sub-pallet supply line Li corresponds to a “pallet supply line” described in the claims of the present application.

Although not specifically shown, the base pallet P mounted on the carriage C has sub-pallets Pf, P
Positioning pins for positioning m and Pr are provided, and a large number of these positioning pins are provided according to the vehicle type so that various types of sub-pallets different from each other can be positioned according to the vehicle type. . Each of the sub-pallets Pf, Pm, Pr is positioned with respect to the base pallet P and is supported in a floating state.

In this embodiment, mounting parts such as an engine and a suspension are mounted on the sub pallets Pf and Pr in the middle of the sub pallet supply line Li, that is, between the sub pallet mounting station Sc and the pallet storage zone Zw. A component mounting station Sd is provided.
The components are supplied by an overhead type component transport line La.

The above component transport line La and component mounting station Sd
They correspond to the “work transfer line” and the “work loading station” described in the claims of the present application, respectively.

Next, a replacement system for replacing the sub-pallets Pf and Pr with respect to the pallet transport line Lp will be described.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the pallet transport line
Sub-pallet unloading line for unloading sub-pallets from Lp
Lo has a front sub-pallet carry-out line Lof for carrying out a front sub-pallet Pf for mounting an engine and a front suspension, and a rear sub-pallet carry-out line Lor for carrying out a rear sub-pallet Pr for carrying a rear suspension. Are provided, and these unloading lines L
of and Lor are respectively connected to the front sub-pallet storage unit Zf and the rear sub-pallet storage unit Zr of the sub-pallet storage zone Zw. A fuel tank, for example, is mounted on the intermediate sub-pallet Pm located between the above-mentioned flot and rear sub-pallets Pf and Pr.

The sub-pallet take-out station Sb is provided with a sub-pallet Pf and Pr taken out of the base pallet P on the carriage C flowing on the pallet transfer line Lp downstream of the docking station Sa, on the carry-out lines Lof and Lor. As shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 8, tables 12f and 12r on which front and rear sub-pallets Pf and Pr are placed, and a common base 13 for supporting both tables 12f and 12r, A table lifter 11 including a cylinder device 14 for raising and lowering the base 13 is provided.

The front sub-pallet carry-out line Lof includes the table lifter 11, the carry-out table 16 and the table shifter 17 with the inclined guide plate 17a, as shown in FIGS.
And a chain drive power roller R
And a conveyor device 18 having a feeding mechanism by
Pallet transfer line at sub-pallet removal station Sb
The front sub-pallet Pf taken out of Lp is carried out toward the front sub-pallet storage section Zf by the front sub-pallet carry-out line Lof.

The rear sub-pallet carry-out line Lor is provided with the table lifter 11, the carry-out table 22, and the inclined guide plate 23a.
The unloading device 21 having a table shifter 23 and a conveyor device 24, and the rear sub-pallet Pr taken out from the pallet transport line Lp at the sub-pallet unloading station Sb is moved by the rear sub-pallet unloading line Lor. , And are carried out toward the rear sub-pallet storage unit Zr.

The above-mentioned rear sub-pallet storage section Zr is dug below the floor FL of the factory and extends underground,
An underground lifter 25 for lowering the rear subpallet Pr to a deeper underground portion is installed near the connection point with Lor (see FIG. 4). Then, when paying out the rear sub-pallet Pr for the next work from the storage zone Zr, as shown in FIG. 19, the rear bus pallet Pr lowered further deeply by the underground going lifter 25 is used by the underground traverser 26. After being moved, it is lifted by a lifter 27 going to the ground and put on a conveyor of a rear sub-pallet supply line Lir which will be described in detail later. The front sub pallet storage section
Zf is provided on the floor FL.

The sub-pallet supply line Li that supplies the sub-pallets Pf and Pr for the next work to the pallet transport line Lp
A front sub-pallet supply line Lif for supplying the front sub-pallets Sf and a rear sub-pallet supply line Lir for supplying the rear sub-pallets are provided, and these supply lines Lif and Lir are respectively provided on the front sub-pallet storage zone Zw. It is connected to the pallet storage section Zf and the rear sub-pallet storage section Zr.

As shown in FIG. 11, the front sub-pallet storage unit Zf and the rear sub-pallet storage unit Zr store the next work based on the production plan data stored in the control computer (not shown) of the assembly line. Sub-palette Pf, P
r and take it to the connection point with the above sub-pallet supply lines Lif, Lir,
Overhead transporters 31f and 31r for moving empty sub-pallets Pf and Pr unloaded by Lor to storage locations are provided, respectively, and these overhead transporters 31f and 31r are provided.
r corresponds to “pallet payout means” described in the claims of the present application. Further, in the present embodiment, the “next work” refers to a system (assembly line) based on the production plan data stored in the control computer, that is, a part (work) transfer line La. Means the workpiece (part) supplied next.

The overhead conveyor is, for example, a rear sub-pallet 31r, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, a horizontal frame member 32 laid above the sub-pallet storage unit Zr. A pinion 34 that meshes with a rack 33 fixed to the vehicle is provided.By driving the pinion 34 with a motor 35, the traveling wheels 36, 36 are mounted on a pair of rails 37, 37 laid below the frame member 32. The sub-pallet can be moved by traveling
An arm device 42 having a pair of opening / closing arms 42a for holding Pr, and an elevating cylinder for raising and lowering the arm device 42
45 and the like are attached to the moving base 41. Further, for example, a sensor 46 as a detecting means for detecting the type of the sub-pallet is attached to a side surface of the opening / closing arms 42, 42.

The arm device 42 is provided with a small cylinder 43, a link mechanism 44, and the like.When the overhead transporter 31r stops at a predetermined position and grips the sub pallet Pr, FIGS. 12 and 13 As shown by a two-dot chain line, the arm device 42 is lowered and the respective arms 42a are driven to open and close.

In addition, the overhead conveyor 31 for the front sub-pallet
f is configured similarly to the rear side 31r.

As shown in FIG. 6, a relay table lifter having a relay table 52 is provided near the connection point between the front side sub-pallet supply line Lif and the sub-pallet storage unit Zf.
51 is installed, and the front sub-pallet Pf for the next work carried by the overhead conveyor 31f is lowered onto the relay table 52, and then is moved to the pallet conveyance line Lp by the front sub-pallet supply line Lif. Supplied to.

As shown in FIG. 6, the front sub-pallet supply line Lif is connected to the relay table lifter 51 in order from the upstream side.
And a tilting table 53 for receiving a sub-pallet Pf from the front side, as will be described later in detail.
Table lifter 60 that unloads parts (engine and front suspension) transported by
Loading table lifter 55 with table 56 that is raised and lowered by
Are connected by a conveyor device 58 equipped with a chain-driven power roller R, and the engine is mounted on a front sub-pallet Pf for the next work paid out from the sub-pallet storage zone Zf. After positioning and mounting the front suspension and
The PF can be mounted on the base pallet P of the pallet transfer line Lp (that is, on the carriage C).

On the other hand, near the connection point between the rear side sub-pallet supply line Lir and the sub-pallet storage unit Zr, the above-mentioned table lifter 27 for lifting the rear sub-pallet Pr to the ground is installed, and 31r
The rear sub-pallet Pr for the next work carried by is transported by the underground table lifter 25 and the underground traverser 26, and after being placed on the overground table lifter 27,
It is supplied to the pallet transport line Lp by the rear sub-pallet supply line Lir.

As shown in FIG. 7, the rear sub-pallet supply line Lir includes, in order from the upstream side, the above-mentioned table lifter 27 going to the ground and, as will be described in detail later, the parts conveyed on the rear part conveyance line Lar. (Rear suspension)
Unloading table lifter 80 and table shifter 71
And a loading table lifter 75 having a table 76 which is raised and lowered by a cylinder 77, and connected by a conveyor device 78 having a chain-driven power roller R, and is discharged from a pallet storage zone Zr. After positioning and mounting the rear suspension on the rear sub-pallet Pr for the next work, the sub-pallet Pr can be mounted on the base pallet P of the pallet transfer line Lp (that is, on the carriage C). ing.

The front-side unloading table lifter 60 is disposed immediately below an overhead-type transfer machine (not shown) on the front-side component transfer line Lar, and includes a table 61 on which a front sub-pallet Pf is placed, and a table 61. A cylinder device 62 for raising and lowering the cylinder so as to adjust the vertical position thereof. The engine and the front suspension, which are transported by the overhead transporter (not shown), are mounted on a table 61 via a power roller R driven by a chain. When positioning and mounting on the sub-pallet Pf placed on the table, the vertical position of the table 61 is adjusted by the cylinder device 62 to maintain the work posture of the mounting worker in the optimum position and improve the workability. Can be improved.

The rear unloading table lifter 80 is also provided with a table 81 and a cylinder device 82 that perform the same operations as the front-side unloading table lifter 80, and are conveyed on the rear-side component conveying line Lar. When mounting the rear suspension on the rear sub-pallet Pr, the vertical position of the table 81 can be adjusted.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, a component mounting station Sd for mounting an engine, a suspension, and the like on the sub pallets Pf and Pr is provided in the middle of the pallet supply lines Lif and Lir. The work of mounting the above components on Pf and Pr can be performed before the pallets Pf and Pr are supplied to the pallet transfer line Lp, and the work of mounting the components on the base pallet was performed on the pallet transfer line. The above problems in the case can be solved.

Further, since the unloading table lifters 60 and 80 are provided in the component mounting station Sd, the vertical position of the sub-pallets Pf and Pr can be adjusted during the component mounting work, and the working posture can be maintained in a good state. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

All the drawings are for explaining an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the entire configuration of an automobile assembly line according to the above embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a pallet replacement device installed on the above assembly line. FIG. 3 is an explanatory plan view of the pallet changing device, FIG. 4 is a view taken in the direction of arrows AA in FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 is a view taken in the direction of arrows BB in FIG. 6 is a view taken in the direction of arrows CC in FIG. 3, FIG. 7 is a view taken in the direction of arrows DD in FIG. 3, and FIG. 8 is a view taken in the direction of arrows EE in FIG. Fig. 9, Fig. 9 is a view in the direction of arrows FF in Fig. 3, Fig. 10 is a view in the direction of arrows GG in Fig. 3, and Fig. 11 is an arrow in the direction of HH in Fig. 3. FIG. 12 is a side view of the overhead transporter according to the above embodiment, and FIG. 13 is a front view of the overhead transporter. 60,80 …… Unloading table lifter, C …… Dolly, La, Laf, La
r… Parts transport line, Li, Lif, Lir… Sub pallet supply line, Lo, Lof, Lor… Sub pallet unload line, Lp
… Pallet transfer line, Pf… Front sub pallet, Pr… Rear sub pallet, Sb… Sub pallet removal station, Sc… Sub pallet loading station,
Sd: Parts loading station, Zw: Sub pallet storage zone, Zf: Front sub pallet storage, Zr: Rear sub pallet storage.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Fields surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) B65G 1/00-1/20 B62D 65/00 B23Q 37/00-41/08 B23P 21/00

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] The pallet is replaced on a pallet transfer line configured to support a work-loading pallet on a trolley and to convey the work mounted on the pallet at a predetermined location. A pallet replacement device, wherein a pallet storage zone capable of storing a plurality of types of pallets in accordance with the type of the work; A pallet unloading means for unloading the pallets from the pallet storage zone to the pallet transport line, a pallet supply line for supplying the pallets discharged from the pallet storage zone, and a pallet supplied by the pallet supply line. A work transfer line for transferring and supplying the work, A pallet discharging means for discharging a pallet corresponding to the type of work to be supplied next from the pallet storage zone, and a work provided at an intermediate portion of the pallet supply line and transported by the work transport line. And a work mounting station mounted on a pallet according to the type of the pallet. 2. The work mounting station includes a table on which a pallet conveyed on the pallet supply line is placed, and a table lifter having an adjusting means for adjusting the vertical position of the table. The pallet changing device according to claim 1, wherein