JP3906899B2 - Car assembly conveyor - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an assembling / conveying apparatus that can be used in an assembling line of an automobile, in which a plurality of parts such as an engine conveyed by a floor conveyor are assembled in a lifted state from the bottom to an automobile body that is suspended and conveyed by a hanger of an overhead conveyor. It is about.
[0002]
[Prior art]
For example, in an automobile assembly line, a plurality of parts such as an engine transported by a floor conveyor are assembled in a lifted state from the bottom to an automobile body that is suspended and transported by a hanger of an overhead conveyor. For example, a front assembly such as an engine and a front suspension and a rear assembly such as a fuel tank and an exhaust muffler are assembled to an automobile body, and in some cases, an exhaust pipe or power transmission for connecting the front and rear assemblies. An intermediate assembly such as a shaft can also be assembled together.
[0003]
Therefore, the elevating table that supports the front assembly and the elevating table that supports the rear assembly are run in synchronization with the automobile body just below the conveyance path of the automobile body that is suspended and conveyed by the hanger of the overhead conveyor. Such a transport device is necessary, and various types of such transport devices have been conceived and put into practical use. However, there are merits and demerits, and none has been sufficiently satisfactory in practical use.
[0004]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
Therefore, the present invention provides an apparatus that can be used more effectively than the conventional one as an assembly conveying apparatus for assembling the front and rear assemblies to an automobile body that is suspended and conveyed by a hanger of an overhead conveyor. This means is provided with reference numerals of the embodiments described later, and is disposed above the linear assembly transport path 30 and suspends the automobile body W. A connected transport carriage train 1 having a transport overhead conveyor line 41 and a lifting table 8 that is movable along the linear assembly transport path 30 and supports the assemblies wf and wr assembled to the automobile body W so as to be movable up and down. A drive device 36 that causes the connected transport carriage train 1 to travel at the same speed as the vehicle body W, and a control device 14. The transporting apparatus for assembling an automobile provided includes a front transporting carriage 3 having a lifting table 8 for supporting a front assembly wf to be assembled to the front part of the automobile body W, and an automobile body. The rear conveyance carriage 4 provided with the lifting table 8 that supports the rear assembly wr to be assembled to the rear part of W and the plurality of front and rear conveyance carriages 3 and 4 are connected so as to be able to travel on the horizontal turn path sections 31 and 32. The transport carts 3 and 4 each include a worker boarding portion 9 and an operation panel 10 adjacent to the lifting table 8, and the control device 14 is an assembly area in the assembly transport path 30. The lift table 8 on both the front and rear transport carriages 3 and 4 is raised in conjunction with the assembly work level based on the detection signal of the coupled transport carriage train 1 passing through the entrance. And turning control, a manual control for level adjustment of the lifting table 8 on both conveyance carriage 3,4 longitudinal to each other on the basis of the operation of the operation panel 10 is configured to be.
[0005]
In carrying out the present invention having the above-described configuration, as described in claim 2, the control device 14 determines that a difference in height between the lift tables 8 on both the front and rear transport carts 3 and 4 in the coupled transport cart train 1 is in advance. when exceeding a permissible range set it can be configured to so that emergency stops the lifting table 8 that is driven vertically by the operation of the operation panel 10.
[0006]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In FIGS. 1 to 3, reference numeral 1 denotes a connected transport carriage train, two front and rear transport carriages 3 and 4, and both transport carriages. It is comprised from the connection apparatus 5 which connects 3 and 4 and integrates. Each of the transport carriages 3 and 4 has an octagonal shape in which the four corners of the substantially square shape are cut obliquely, and caster wheels 7 that roll on the floor surface 6 have a pair of left and right sides on the front end side and the rear end side, respectively On the upper surface, a lifting table 8 that supports the workpiece so as to be movable up and down is installed, and the upper surface of the carriage around the lifting table 8 forms an operator boarding portion 9. Further, the operator boarding portion 9 is provided with manual operation panels 10 of the lifting table 8 with their positions shifted in the front-rear direction on both the left and right sides of the lifting table 8.
[0007]
The lift table 8 is the same as a conventional table lifter, and includes a lift 11 that is driven in parallel by a pantograph mechanism driven by a hydraulic cylinder or the like. A work support 12 that can be adjusted in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction is provided on 11. A drive unit 13 of the lifting table 8 is mounted on the rear end portions of the transport carriages 3 and 4, and a control device for controlling the drive unit 13 and the like inside the left and right sides of the transport carriages 3 and 4. 14 is provided.
[0008]
As shown in FIGS. 3B and 4, the connecting device 5 includes a first trolley 16 to a fifth trolley 20 supported and guided by a guide rail 15 installed under the floor surface 6, and the trolleys 16 to 20. A load bar 21 that connects and integrates, a vertical connection pin 22 that connects the load bar 21 and the front ends of the transport carriages 3 and 4, and a guide means 23 for the rear ends of the transport carts 3 and 4. It is configured. Thus, each of the trolleys 16 to 20 is provided with vertical shaft rollers 16a to 20a that fit into slit-like guide grooves 24 formed on the floor surface 6 so as to be positioned directly above the guide rail 15. The load bar 21 is composed of three load bar units 25 to 27 having substantially the same length and a short load bar unit 28 at the rear end horizontally around the axis of the vertical axis rollers 16a to 20a of each trolley. The left and right side surfaces form a driven side surface 21a that is continuous from the front end protruding slightly forward from the first trolley 16 to the rear end extending slightly rearward from the fifth trolley 20. .
[0009]
The vertical connection pins 22 are provided at the center positions of the front ends of the transport carriages 3 and 4 so as to be movable up and down with respect to the floor surface. The vertical connection pins 22 of the transport carriage 3 are located below the floor surface 6. By descending, it fits into the shaft hole of the vertical shaft roller 16a of the first trolley 16 via the slit-shaped guide groove 24, and the vertical connection pin 22 of the transport carriage 4 descends below the floor surface 6. By doing so, it fits into the shaft hole of the vertical shaft roller 18 a of the third trolley 18 via the slit-shaped guide groove 24. The guide means 23 is composed of vertical shaft rollers 29 provided at the central positions near the rear ends of the respective transport carriages 3 and 4 so as to be movable up and down with respect to the floor surface. These vertical shaft rollers 29 are located below the floor surface 6. And is configured to fit into the slit-shaped guide groove 24. The vertical axis roller 29 of the transport carriage 3 is fitted in the slit-shaped guide groove 24 at a position immediately before the vertical axis roller 17a of the second trolley 17, and the vertical axis roller 29 of the transport carriage 4 is the fourth position. The trolley 19 is fitted into the slit-shaped guide groove 24 at a position immediately before the vertical shaft roller 19a.
[0010]
With the above-described configuration, the transport carts 3 and 4 are connected to the first trolley 16 and the third trolley 18 of the connecting device 5 on the lower side of the floor surface 6 through the vertical connecting pins 22 that pass through the slit-shaped guide grooves 24. If the first trolley 16 to the fifth trolley 20 (load bar 1) move forward along the guide rail 15, the guide rail 15 (slit-shaped guide groove 24) is horizontal as well as the straight path. Even in a horizontal turn path portion that curves in a straight line, it is pulled by the first trolley 16 and the third trolley 18 and moves forward along the slit-shaped guide groove 24. At this time, the rear end side of each transport carriage 3, 4 swings left and right around the vertical connecting pin 22 at the front end, and the vertical shaft roller 29 on the rear end side of each transport cart 3, 4 is slit-shaped. As a result, each of the transport carriages 3 and 4 has a posture parallel to the slit-like guide groove 24 (two front and rear positions in the horizontal turn path portion are guide grooves 24). And the forward movement along the guide groove 24.
[0011]
The vertical connection pins 22 and the vertical axis rollers 29 of the respective carriages 3 and 4 can be moved up and down by operating means not shown and described, but the vertical connection pins 22 and the vertical axis rollers 29 are moved to the floor surface 6. By holding it in a state where it is raised to a higher retreat position, each of the transport carriages 3 and 4 can be separated from the connecting device 5 and moved to any place outside the travel route.
[0012]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the connecting device 5 that connects the two transport carts 3 and 4 as described above has the front end of the load bar 21 located near the front end of the front transport cart 3, The rear end of the load bar 21 is located at a position away from the rear end of the rear transfer carriage 4 by an appropriate distance. Then, when the connected transport carriage train 1 having the same structure approaches each other, as shown in FIG. 4, the rear end 21c of the load bar 21 of the front connected transport carriage train 1 and the load bar of the rear connected transport carriage train 1 21 in the state where the front end 21b of the front and rear ends 21b overlap each other, and a predetermined distance is maintained between the transport carriages 4 and 3 of the front and rear connected transport carriage trains 1, the rear transport transport carriage train 1 is The connected conveyance carriage train 1 can be pushed through the respective load bars 21.
[0013]
As shown in FIG. 5, the circulation travel path of the coupled transport carriage train 1 having the above-described configuration is a linear assembly transport path 30 and a return path 33 connected to both front and rear ends thereof via horizontal turn path portions 31 and 32. The inlet-side horizontal turn path 31 of the assembly transport path 30 is provided with a propulsion means 34 for feeding, and the outlet side end of the assembly transport path 30 is provided with a braking device 35. The drive propulsion means 34 and the braking device 35 constitute a drive device 36 for driving the connected transport carriage train 1 to travel at a constant speed in the transport path 30 for assembly.
[0014]
The feed propulsion means 34 and the braking device 35 have basically the same configuration, and as shown in FIG. 3B, the driven side surface 21a of the load bar 21 constituting the connection means 5 of the connection transport carriage train 1 is arranged on both the left and right sides. The friction drive wheel 37 and the backup roller 38 sandwiched between the motor and the motor 39 for driving the friction drive wheel 37. The friction drive wheel 37 and the backup roller 38 (only one of the rollers in the linear path portion). However, it is supported so as to be laterally movable in a horizontal direction substantially perpendicular to the movement path of the load bar 21 and is urged toward the movement path side of the load bar 21 by a spring. It is comprised so that it may press-contact to 21a reliably.
[0015]
The friction drive wheel 37 of the braking device 35 may be driven at a slightly lower speed than the friction drive wheel 37 of the feeding propulsion means 34, or may not be driven by the motor 39 but may be given an appropriate rotational resistance by the braking device. . In addition, as a driving device for causing the connected transport carriage train 1 sent out from the outlet side horizontal turn path part 32 to travel to the position of the propulsion means 34 for feeding in the entrance side horizontal turn path part 31 via the return path 33. A propulsion means similar to the propulsion means 34 for feeding or other suitable propulsion means can be used. In this case, the return path 33 can be configured to travel the connected transport carriage train 1 at a higher speed than the travel speed in the assembly transport path 30.
[0016]
As a result of the connected transport carriage train 1 being fed into the linear assembly transport path 30 in the circulation travel path having the above-described configuration without interruption at a constant speed by the feed propulsion means 34, the assembly transport path 30 The required number of connected transport carriage trains 1 continuously travel at a constant speed in a state where the load bars 21 are continuous. On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 1, 3, and 5, an overhead conveyor line 41 including a hanger 40 that supports the automobile body W is juxtaposed directly above the linear assembly transport path 30. ing. Thus, the transport interval (interval of the hanger 40) of the automobile body W in the overhead conveyor line 41 is the same as the interval of the coupled transport carriage train 1 in the assembly transport path 30. The hanger 40 is configured to continuously travel at a speed equal to the traveling speed of each of the connected transport bogie trains 1 so that the automobile body W is located at a predetermined position directly above the cart train 1.
[0017]
Accordingly, the front assembly wf to be assembled to the front portion of the automobile body W is mounted on the lifting table 8 of the transport carriage 3 of each connected transport carriage train 1 before being sent to the assembly transport path 30, and A rear assembly wr to be assembled to the rear portion of the vehicle body W is mounted on the lift table 8, and each of the connected transport carriage trains 1 is held in a state where each of the lift tables 8 is held at the lowered level shown in FIGS. Are fed into the linear assembly transport path 30, the front assembly wf and the rear assembly wr mounted on the coupled transport carriage train 1 are positioned at predetermined positions in the front and rear of each vehicle body W transported by the overhead conveyor line 41. The vehicle travels in synchronization with the car body W. Of course, the front assembly wf and the rear assembly wr are loaded on the lifting table 8 of the transport carriages 3 and 4 in the start end region of the assembly transport path 30 by extending the linear assembly transport path 30. You may make it do. In this case, since there is no horizontal turn path after loading, an intermediate assembly that rigidly connects the front and rear assemblies wf and wr can be attached.
[0018]
Thus, the worker rides on the operator boarding portion 9 of each transport carriage 3 and 4 and further assembles parts to the front assembly wf and the rear assembly wr mounted on each lifting table 8, or both assemblies It is possible to perform work such as erection of parts between wf and wr.
[0019]
Hereinafter, a description will be given based on the flowchart shown in FIG. 6. The connected transport carriage train 1 in a state where the necessary pre-work is completed as described above is applied to the vehicle body W set in the linear assembly transport path 30. When the entrance of the assembly area of each assembly wf, wr (the vehicle body W is already being transported synchronously to a predetermined position directly above the coupled transport vehicle train 1 at this location) passes (S1), the coupled transport cart Based on the detection signal of the sensor that detects the passage of the row 1, the control device 14 of each of the transport carriages 3 and 4 is operated, and the drive unit 13 of the lift table 8 is driven based on a preset lift table automatic lift control program. The two lifting tables 8 that are controlled and at a lowering level corresponding to the part assembling work are integrated into the assembling work level for the vehicle body W directly above. It is driven upward (S2). Thereafter, an operator who is on each of the transport carts 3 and 4 presses the up button or the down button of the manual operation panel 10 disposed around the lifting table 8 (S3, S5), While the raising button or the lowering button is being pressed, each raising / lowering table 8 is driven up and down via the control device 14 and the drive unit 13 (S4, S6), and the front assembly wf mounted thereon The height of the rear assembly wr is finely adjusted up and down, and the assemblies wf and wr are assembled to the automobile body W.
[0020]
Note that the current height of each lifting table 8 is constantly monitored by a height detection sensor provided therewith, and the control device 14 detects the height of both lifting tables 8 detected by the height detection sensor. In other words, when the height of the lifting table 8 is manually adjusted by the operator on each of the transport carriages 3 and 4, the lifting table 8 is lifted. Before the height difference exceeds a certain range and the intermediate parts or the like spanned between the assemblies wf and wr on the lift tables 8 are adversely affected. An emergency stop command is issued to the drive unit 13 of the lifting table 8 on the side being operated to automatically stop the lifting drive (S8), and the situation is worked with an emergency light or buzzer provided on the manual operation panel 10 or the like. Inform the person It has become a system.
[0021]
When the connected transport carriage train 1 that has completed the assembly work of the assemblies wf and wr to the automobile body W in the assembly area in the linear assembly transport path 30 passes through the exit of the assembly area ( S9), the control device 14 of each of the transport carts 3 and 4 is operated based on the detection signal of the sensor that detects the passage of the connected transport cart train 1, and moves up and down based on a preset lift table automatic lifting control program. The drive unit 13 of the table 8 is controlled, and both the lift tables 8 at the lift level corresponding to the assembling work with respect to the automobile body W are automatically lowered to the lower limit level integrally (S10). After that, each of the empty connected transport carriage trains 1 is sent to the return path 33 via the horizontal turn path section 32 on the exit side, and the assembled automobile body W is transported by the overhead conveyor line 41 to the assembly transport path. It is sent out from the assembly conveyance path that overlaps 30 directly above.
[0022]
Note that the lifting table 8 may be lowered to the lower limit level after the assembling work based on a manual operation by the manual operation panel 10. In this case, when the connected transport carriage train 1 passes through the exit of the assembly area in the assembly transport path 30, the height of each lift table 8 is checked by the height detection sensor, and the lift table 8 is at the lower limit level. When it is not lowered to the lower limit, the control device 14 may control the drive unit 13 so as to forcibly lower it to the lower limit level.
[0023]
It should be noted that the number of the connected transfer carriages in the connected transfer carriage train 1, the configuration of the connecting device that connects the transfer carriages so that they can travel on the horizontal turn path section, or the connected transfer carriage train 1 in the assembly transfer path 30. The configuration of the driving device 36 for driving at constant speed is not limited to that of the above embodiment. Even when configured as in the above embodiment, the guide means 23 for guiding the rear end portion of each transport carriage to be located on the travel path of the trolley is, for example, a guide rail provided on the floor surface 6. Can also be used. Further, the floor surface 6 on which each transport carriage 3, 4 travels is made one step lower than the floor surface on which the actual worker walks, and at least on the left and right sides of each transport carriage 3, 4 in the assembly transport path 30. A floor surface at the same level as the worker boarding portion 9 of the transport carts 3 and 4 is formed so that the worker can safely go back and forth between the floor and the worker boarding portion 9 of the transport carts 3 and 4. It can also be configured. In this case, the distance between the front and rear transport carts 3 and 4 can be reduced as much as possible so that the operator can safely transfer between the transport carts.
[0024]
【The invention's effect】
Be one assembly for conveying system for an automatic vehicle of the present invention which can be used and carried out as described above, according to the assembling conveyor apparatus of the present invention, an assembly for conveying path straight linear travel of Assemble to an automobile body that is suspended and conveyed by an overhead conveyor line disposed above the linear assembly conveyance path on a lifting table on a plurality of front and rear conveyance carriages that constitute a connected conveyance carriage train it is supported a plurality of assemblies before and after each other, before Symbol a shall be able to carry out the assembling operation of a plurality of assemblies before and after for automobile bodies, the following effects can be expected.
[0025]
That is, the lifting table for supporting the front assembly to be assembled to the front part of the vehicle body and the lifting table for supporting the rear assembly to be assembled to the rear part of the vehicle body are respectively mounted on different transport carts. Compared with the case where a plurality of lifting tables are mounted on one long transport carriage, the length of each transport carriage is shortened in the front-rear direction, and a traverser is provided between the linear assembly transport path and the return path. Even if it is not used, each transport carriage can be made to travel on the horizontal turn path portion as it is, so that the equipment cost can be greatly reduced. In this case, the transport carts must be separated from each other by an appropriate distance in the front-rear direction so that the front and rear carts do not interfere with each other in the horizontal turn path, but the transport carts are connected and integrated with each other by the connecting device. It can be configured in the same way as a single long transport cart with respect to travel control, and the drive device and travel control system are simple compared to the case where each transport cart must be controlled separately and run synchronously. And it can be configured at low cost.
[0026]
Further, although each lift table is mounted on a different transport carriage, the lift table on each transport carriage is connected to the assembly route in the assembly transport path by automatic control of the control device. Since it can be interlocked up to the assembly work level based on the detection signal of the transport carriage train , the workability is improved compared to the case where the operator boarding each transport carriage has to perform manual operation up to this operation. This improves the risk of malfunction. Of course, in the actual assembly work, the operator boarding each transport carriage can manually adjust the level of only the lifting table that he / she is in charge of, so the work can be performed easily and efficiently. .
[0027]
In addition, according to the structure of Claim 2, when the operator on each conveyance trolley adjusts the height of a lifting table by manual operation, the difference of the height of both lifting tables exceeds a fixed range, and both lifting tables It is possible to avoid a situation where an adverse effect is caused on intermediate parts and the like that are spanned between the above assemblies .
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a side view showing a coupled transport carriage train in an assembly transport path.
FIG. 2A is a plan view of a coupled conveyance carriage train, and FIG. 2B is a partially cutaway plan view of the coupling device.
FIG. 3A is a longitudinal front view of FIG. 1, and FIG. B is a longitudinal front view showing a drive device portion.
FIG. 4 is a partially cutaway side view showing the transport carriage and the connecting device separated in the vertical direction.
FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view showing a travel path and a driving device of a coupled transport carriage train.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a control procedure by the control device.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Connection conveyance trolley train 3, 4 Conveyance trolley 5 Connection apparatus 6 Floor surface 7 Caster wheel 8 Lifting table 9 Worker boarding part 10 Manual operation panel 11 Lifting stand 12 Work support stand 13 Drive unit 14 Controller 15 Guide rails 16-20 Trolley 16a-20a Vertical axis roller 21 Load bar 21a Driven side surface 22 Vertical connection pin 23 Guide means 24 Slit-shaped guide groove 25-28 Load bar single unit 29 Vertical axis roller 30 Straight assembly conveyance path 31, 32 Horizontal turn path Part 33 Return path 34 Propulsion means 35 for feeding 35 Braking device 36 Driving device 37 Driving friction wheel 38 Backup roller 39 Motor 40 Hanger 41 Overhead conveyor line W Auto body wf Front assembly wr Rear assembly

Claims (2)

An overhead conveyor line that is disposed above the linear assembly conveyance path and that conveys the automobile body by hanging, and an assembly that is movable along the linear assembly conveyance path and that is assembled to the automobile body can be raised and lowered. A vehicle assembly assembly transport device provided with a connected transport carriage train provided with a lifting table to be supported on, a drive device for driving the connected transport train train at the same speed as the automobile body, and a control device; The connected transport carriage train includes a front transport carriage having a lifting table for supporting a front assembly to be assembled to a front portion of an automobile body, and a rear side having a lifting table for supporting a rear assembly to be assembled to a rear portion of the automobile body. Conveying carts and connecting devices that connect these front and rear conveying carts so that they can travel along the horizontal turn path. It is configured, both the transport carriage back and forth is provided with a worker riding section and the operation panel adjacent to the lifting table, the control device, the detection signal of the connection conveying carriage train passing through the entrance of the area of assembly in the conveying path for the assembly Based on this, automatic control that interlocks and raises the lifting tables on both front and rear transport carts to the assembly work level and manual control that individually adjusts the level of the lifting tables on both front and rear transport carts based on the operation panel are possible. It has been assembling conveying system of an automatic vehicle. The control device includes a lifting table that is driven up and down by operation of the operation panel when a difference in height between the lifting tables on the front and rear transport carts in the coupled transport cart row exceeds a preset allowable range. configured to cause an emergency stop, the assembly transport device for an automatic car according to claim 1.

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