JP6534175B2 - Assembly line - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an assembly line capable of changing the traveling order of a plurality of carriages transporting a workpiece.

  In recent years, in many production lines, so-called multi-product mixed flow production is performed in which workpieces of different specifications are continuously fed and the work according to the workpiece is performed for each workpiece. A typical example is an automobile assembly line, and various processes are performed on different vehicle types on one line.

  FIG. 7 shows a conventional automobile assembly line. As shown in FIG. 7, the conventional assembly line 101 includes a plurality of carriages 102 for conveying a work, a traveling path 103 for circulating the carriages 102, and a component supply station 104 for supplying components to the carriages 102. A work station 105 at which work is performed by the work robot 105a, a discharge station 106 which discharges a work performed at the work station 105 to the next process, and a truck switching station for switching (changing stages) the truck 102. And the like.

  In the assembly line 101, works corresponding to a plurality of vehicle types A to D are assembled, and the carriage 102 takes charge of only one of the vehicle types A to D. In FIG. 7, reference symbols A to D attached to the respective carriages 102 indicate vehicle types to which the carriages 102 correspond.

  In the assembly line 101, the work mounted on the carriage 102 is supplied with various parts at the parts supply station 104, and then subjected to welding and other various operations at the work station 105, and the next process is performed through the discharge station 106. It is transported to

  When the work is discharged from the discharge station 106, the empty truck 102 passes the truck switching station 107 on the way to the component supply station 104. The parts supply station 104 supplies parts in the order of a predetermined car type, and the truck switching station 107 supplies the parts in the parts supply station 104 in the order of supply of the parts, that is, the car type order and the traveling order of the cart 102. And the work of changing the traveling order of the carriage 102 (step change work) is performed.

  A three-dimensional bogie conversion device is employed as the bogie switching station 107 in the conventional assembly line 101. That is, the carriage switching station 107 includes a working robot 107a for moving the carriage 102, and a garage 107b which accommodates the carriage 102 and can be taken out in random order. The truck switching station 107 switches (changes in stage) between the truck 102 with high priority and the truck 102 with low priority based on the order of parts types determined at the parts supply station 104.

  Specifically, at the truck switching station 107, the truck 102 is lifted by the working robot 107a to be separated from the traveling path 103 and stored in the garage 107b, and the truck 102 stored in the garage 107b is moved by the working robot 107a. A switching operation of installing on the traveling path 103 is performed.

  The truck switching station 107 in the conventional assembly line 101 separates the truck 102 from the traveling path 102 by the working robot 107a and stores it in the garage 107b, and the truck 102 stored in the garage 107b by the working robot 107a Since the work to be installed at 103 is performed, it takes time to switch the carriage 102, and the work has become very complicated.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide an assembly line capable of efficiently switching the traveling order of a plurality of bogies traveling on a traveling road.

The present invention is for solving the above-mentioned problems, and comprises: a plurality of bogies for transporting a plurality of workpieces of different vehicle types according to vehicle types; and a traveling path configured annularly to circulate the bogies. In the assembly line, the traveling path includes a first traveling path for traveling the empty truck, and a second traveling path for traveling the truck on which the work is mounted and performing a predetermined operation on the workpiece. The first traveling road has a main road including a traveling rail along which the carriage, which is empty after passing through the second traveling path, travels, and a rail portion connectable to the traveling rail of the main road. And a plurality of truck switching units for moving the rail portion toward and away from the traveling rail of the main road in a predetermined direction , wherein the first traveling path includes a plurality of empty roads traveling on the main road. Order of travel of the dolly It is changed by the serial truck switching unit and said Rukoto.

  According to this configuration, since the truck switching unit has the rail portion connectable to the traveling rail of the traveling path, the truck can be made to stand by on the rail portion. In order to change the traveling order of the bogies traveling on the traveling road, the preceding low-order bogies of low priority are stopped by the rail part of the bogie switching unit, the rail part is separated from the main road, and the bogies on the rail part By waiting, a truck with lower priority can be overtaken by a truck with higher priority after that. The truck on standby can start immediately and return to the main road by connecting the rail portion to the traveling rail on the main road again. Thus, the carriage switching unit can efficiently change the traveling order of the carriage by providing the rail portion connectable to the traveling rail of the main road.

  According to the present invention, the traveling order of the plurality of bogies traveling on the traveling road can be efficiently switched.

It is a top view of the assembly line which shows one Embodiment of this invention. It is a side view of a trolley. It is a top view of the trolley | bogie switch part in an assembly line. It is a top view of the trolley | bogie switching part in an assembly line It is a top view of the trolley | bogie switching part in an assembly line It is a top view of the trolley | bogie switching part in an assembly line It is a top view which shows the conventional assembly line.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 to 6 show an embodiment of an assembly line according to the present invention. In the present embodiment, an assembly line used for mixed flow production of a car is illustrated.

  An assembly line 1 shown in FIG. 1 is for carrying a plurality of workpieces of different vehicle types and performing an assembly operation according to the vehicle type of each workpiece. The assembly line 1 can be used in any of a vehicle assembly line and a vehicle assembly line. When the assembly line 1 is used as a vehicle assembly line, parts such as side members and a roof member are assembled to a floor panel, for example, and a vehicle body including them integrally is assembled by an operation such as welding. When the assembly line 1 is used as a vehicle assembly line, various fittings are assembled to a work (vehicle body).

  The assembly line 1 includes a plurality of carriages 2 for transporting a plurality of workpieces W of different vehicle types (see FIG. 2) according to vehicle types, a traveling path 3 on which the carriages 2 travel, and two component supply stations for supplying components to the carriages 2 4a and 4b, a work station 6 for executing work by the work robot 5, a discharge station 7 for discharging the work W after the work completion, and a control panel 8 for executing traveling control of the carriage 2 and other various control .

  As shown in FIG. 2, the carriage 2 includes a carriage main body 9, wheels 10 engaged with the traveling path 3, and a jig 11 capable of supporting the work W. The truck 2 can be equipped with various jigs 11 of different forms according to the vehicle types A to D. The work W travels along the traveling path 3 in a state of being supported by the carriage 2 and is subjected to various work such as assembling of various fittings, positioning of the work W, bolt fastening, welding, sealing and the like. In the present embodiment, the bogie 2 corresponds to only one vehicle type among the plurality of vehicle types A to D, and mounts only the workpiece W corresponding to the vehicle type and its corresponding parts. In FIG. 1, reference symbols A to D attached to the respective carriages 2 indicate the types of workpieces W mounted on the carriages 2.

  The traveling path 3 is annularly configured to circulate the truck 2. The travel path 3 includes a first travel path 12 and a second travel path 13 configured in a straight line, and a first connection path 14 and a second connection path 15 that connect the first travel path 12 and the second travel path 13. And a drive device (for example, friction conveyance type) (not shown) for driving the carriage 2 so as to travel. In the present embodiment, the travel path 3 has a pair of travel rails 3a (see FIGS. 3 to 6).

  The first traveling path 12 includes a plurality of bogie switching units 16 for changing the traveling order of the bogies 2 traveling on the first traveling path 12, and direction changing units 17a and 17b capable of changing the path of the carriage 2 . The assembly line 1 can cause the plurality of bogies 2 corresponding to the plurality of vehicle types A to D to travel on the traveling path 3 in random order by changing the traveling order of the bogies 2 by the bogie switching unit 16.

  The carriage switching unit 16 is, as shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, a main body portion 18, rail portions 20a and 20b fixed on the main body portion 18, and a movable rail portion 19 for moving the main body portion 18 in a predetermined direction. And (slide rail).

  Two rail portions 20 a and 20 b are installed on the upper portion of the main body portion 18. Hereinafter, one of the two rail portions 20a and 20b is referred to as a first rail portion 20a, and the other is referred to as a second rail portion 20b. As shown in FIGS. 3-6, each rail part 20a, 20b contains two rails. The distance between the two rails in each of the rail portions 20 a and 20 b is equal to the distance between the two traveling rails 3 a in the traveling path 3. Therefore, by connecting each of the rail portions 20 a and 20 b to the traveling rail 3 a of the traveling path 3, the bogie 2 can pass through.

  When the first rail portion 20 a is connected to the travel rail 3 a of the first travel path 12, the second rail portion 20 b stands by at a position (standby position) away from the first travel path 12. When changing the traveling order of the carriage 2 traveling on the first traveling path 12, the carriage switching unit 16 mounts (stops) the carriage 2 on the first rail portion 20a and drives the main body portion 18 to move It is moved in the direction orthogonal to the first travel path 12 along the rail portion 19. As a result, the bogie 2 placed on the first rail portion 20 a stands by at a position away from the traveling rail 3 a of the first traveling path 12.

  When the first rail portion 20 a is separated from the first travel path 12, the dolly switching portion 16 causes the second rail portion 20 b to be connected to the first travel path 12 in synchronization with this. As a result, the succeeding bogie 2 can pass the second rail portion 20b and pass the bogie 2 waiting at the first rail portion 20a.

  The moving rail portion 19 has two rails, and is installed at a position below the traveling rail 3 a of the traveling path 3 so as to intersect the traveling rail 3 a. The truck switching unit 16 can reciprocate the main body 18 along the moving rail 19 by an actuator (not shown). Thereby, the bogie switching unit 16 selectively connects the first rail portion 20 a and the second rail portion 20 b to the traveling rail 3 a of the first traveling path 12.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the direction changing portions 17 a and 17 b of the first traveling path 12 are a first direction changing portion 17 a provided at one end of the first traveling path 12 and the other end of the first traveling path 12. And a second direction changing portion 17b provided. Each of the direction change portions 17a and 17b includes a turntable 21 and a rail (not shown) provided on the turntable 21 and on which the carriage 2 can travel.

  The first direction change unit 17a includes a first traveling path 12, one of the two component supply stations 4a and 4b (hereinafter referred to as a "first component supply station") 4a, and a first connection passage. Connect 14 and. The first direction changing unit 17 a can cause the cart 2 to travel along the first travel path 12 and cause the cart 2 to enter the first component supply station 4 a. Further, the first direction changing unit 17 a changes the path of the cart 2 in the direction orthogonal to the first travel path 12 by rotating the turntable 21 and guides the cart 2 to the first connection path 14.

  The second direction change unit 17 b connects the second connection path 15 and the first travel path 12. That is, the second direction changing portion 17 b is used to change the direction of the bogie 2 moving from the second connection path 15 to the first traveling path 12.

  Similar to the first travel path 12, the second travel path 13 includes direction changing portions 17 c and 17 d that change the traveling direction of the carriage 2. The direction changing portions 17 c and 17 d include a third direction changing portion 17 c provided at one end of the second traveling path 13 and a fourth direction changing portion 17 d provided at the other end of the second traveling path 13. Each of the direction changing portions 17c and 17d includes a turntable 21 and a rail portion (not shown) on which the carriage 2 can travel, similarly to the first direction changing portion 17a and the second direction changing portion 17b. The third direction change unit 17 c includes the second traveling path 13, the other component supply station (hereinafter referred to as “second component supply station”) 4 b of the two component supply stations 4 a and 4 b, and the first connection passage 14. And connect. The fourth direction changing unit 17 d changes the path of the cart 2 traveling on the second traveling path 13 and guides the cart 2 to the second connection path 15.

  The first connection path 14 is provided between the first direction changing portion 17 a of the first traveling path 12 and the third direction changing portion 17 c of the second traveling path 13. The second connection path 15 is provided between the second direction changing portion 17 b of the first traveling path 12 and the fourth direction changing portion 17 d of the second traveling path 13. The first connection path 14 and the second connection path 15 allow the cart 2 to travel in a direction orthogonal to the first travel path 12 and the second travel path 13.

  Each of the component supply stations 4a and 4b supplies the carriage 2 with the exterior components corresponding to each of the vehicle types A to D by a conveyor (not shown). For example, in the first component supply station 4a, in addition to the supply of accessories to the work W, for example, temporary assembly work is performed on the car body of the automobile and its component parts, and the work W configured by this can be supplied to the carriage 2. However, it is not limited to this. For example, a temporary assembly station of a vehicle body or its component parts may be installed on the first traveling path 12, and the temporary assembly of the vehicle body or the like may be automatically performed by the temporary assembly station to mount the work W on the carriage 2. In addition, the second component supply station 4b supplies additional accessories to the workpiece W which has been supplied with components at the first component supply station 4a.

  The first component supply station 4a is connected to one end of the first travel path 12 via the first direction changer 17a. In addition, after the first component supply station 4a receives the carriage 2 traveling on the first travel path 12 and supplies components to the work W, the carriage 2 can be sent out again to the first direction changing portion 17a. .

  The second supply station is connected to one end of the second travel path 13 via the third direction change unit 17c. Further, the second supply station 4b receives the truck 2 that has arrived at the third direction change unit 17c through the first connection path 14 and supplies parts to the work W, and then returns the truck 2 to the third direction change unit 17c. Can be sent out.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the work station 6 includes a plurality of work robots 5. In the present embodiment, a welding robot is illustrated as the working robot 5, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and each working robot 5 can execute various operations such as positioning of the workpiece W, sealer coating operation, bolt fastening operation, transport operation and the like. It is. Each work robot 5 is provided along the second travel path 13 at a position near the second travel path 13.

  The discharge station 7 is disposed adjacent to the work station 6 along the second travel path 13. At the discharge station 7, the work W is removed from the carriage 2 which has passed through the work station 6. The removed workpiece W is transported to the next process by transport means such as a conveyor.

  The control board 8 can mount various hardwares, such as CPU, ROM, RAM, HDD, a monitor, an input interface, etc., for example. The control panel 8 controls driving of the carriage 2 on the traveling path 3 such as traveling and stopping, control of various operations by the work robot 5 of the work station 6, and the turntable 21 in the first direction changing portion 17a to the fourth direction changing portion 17d. Rotation control, drive control of the carriage switching unit 16, and various other control can be executed. The control panel 8 stores data relating to the vehicle type order of parts supplied to the respective component supply stations 4a and 4b, and the traveling order (vehicle type order) relating to the bogie 2 traveling on the traveling path 3.

  Hereinafter, a method of assembling the work W by the assembly line 1 configured as described above, in particular, a method of changing the traveling order of the carriage 2 will be described.

  The assembly line 1 causes a plurality of carriages 2 to travel on the traveling path 3 and supplies components to the workpieces W at the respective component supply stations 4a and 4b according to the vehicle types A to D of the workpieces W mounted on each carriage 2 I do. Thereafter, the assembly line 1 causes the carriage 2 to enter the work station 6 and carries out the work by the work robot 5. When this operation is performed, the control panel 8 of the assembly line 1 causes the carriage 2 to enter the discharge station 7 and transport the workpiece W to the next process. The empty truck 2 from which the work W has been removed travels to the first travel path 12 through the second travel path 13 and the second connection path 15 in order to load the work W again.

  The control panel 8 recognizes the order (vehicle type order) of the vehicle types A to D related to the parts supplied to the parts supply stations 4a and 4b, and determines the traveling order (vehicle type order) of the truck 2 traveling on the traveling path 3 It also recognizes. The control panel 8 supplies each component in the order of the vehicle type of the carriage 2 when the vehicle type sequence of the carriage 2 traveling on the traveling path 3 is different from the vehicle type sequence according to the components supplied to the component supply stations 4a and 4b. The truck switching unit 16 is operated to match the vehicle type order of parts at the stations 4a and 4b.

  Hereinafter, a method of changing the traveling order of the cart 2 by the cart switching unit 16 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 6. In addition, in FIG. 3 thru | or FIG. 6, the switch operation | work of the trolley | bogie 2 is demonstrated for the convenience of explanation by exemplifying one trolley | bogie switch part 16. In FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 3, on the first traveling path 12, bogies 2A, 2B, and 2C corresponding to a vehicle type A, a vehicle type B, and a vehicle type C travel in the order of vehicle types A → B → C. That is, in the state of FIG. 3, the truck 2A in charge of the vehicle type A has already passed the truck switching unit 16 on the traveling rail 3a, and the truck 2B in charge of the vehicle type B is traveling in front of the truck switching unit 16 It is. Further, the truck 2C in charge of the vehicle type C is traveling toward the truck switching unit 16 behind the vehicle 2B according to the vehicle type B. Hereinafter, when changing the traveling order of the truck 2B according to the vehicle type B and the truck 2C according to the vehicle type C, that is, the case where the truck 2C according to the vehicle type C is overtaken by the truck 2B according to the vehicle type B will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the truck switching unit 16 connects the first rail portion 20 a to the traveling rail 3 a of the first traveling path 12. In this state, the leading carriage 2B shifts from the traveling rail 3a of the first traveling path 12 to the first rail portion 20a (see FIG. 4).

  When the truck 2B arrives at the first rail portion 20a of the truck switching unit 16, the control panel 8 detects this and stops the truck 2B on the first rail portion 20a. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 5, the control panel 8 moves the main body 18 of the carriage switching unit 16 in the right direction along the moving rail 19. Then, the carriage 2B on the first rail portion 20a moves along the moving rail portion 19 to the standby position away from the first travel path 12. Further, the second rail portion 20 b is connected to the traveling rail 3 a of the first traveling path 12 by such movement of the main body portion 18.

  Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 6, the control panel 8 causes the second rail portion 20 b to pass through the carriage 2 </ b> C according to the following vehicle type C. As a result, the truck 2C passes the truck 2 according to the vehicle type B in the standby position, and the traveling order of the trucks 2B and 2C on the first traveling path 12 is changed as described above. As shown in FIG. 6, at the rear of the truck 2C related to the vehicle type C, a truck 2D related to the vehicle type D is traveling. The control panel 8 can cause the dolly 2D according to the vehicle type D to pass the dolly 2B on standby in the dolly switching unit 16. Further, the control board 8 can also return the waiting truck 2B to the first traveling path 12 which is a main road, without causing the truck 2D to pass. Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the truck 2A related to the vehicle type A is traveling behind the truck 2D. The assembly line 1 can also cause the truck 2A to overtake the truck 2B described above and the truck 2D located forward. In this case, the control panel 8 causes the other carriage switching unit 16 (not shown in FIG. 6) to stand by for the carriage 2D, and causes the respective carriages 2B and 2D which are caused to stand by for the carriage 2A to pass.

  When returning the waiting truck 2B to the first traveling path 12, the control panel 8 moves the main body 18 of the truck switching unit 16 in the left direction along the moving rail 19 (not shown). As a result, the connection of the second rail portion 20b to the traveling rail 3a is released, and the first rail portion 20a is connected to the traveling rail 3a again. The control panel 8 causes the carriage 2B which has been on standby to start moving and to shift from the first rail portion 20a to the traveling rail 3a of the first traveling path 12.

  According to the assembly line 1 according to the present embodiment described above, since the carriage switching unit 16 has the rail portions 20a and 20b connectable to the traveling rail 3a of the traveling path 3, each rail portion 20a and 20b The truck 2 can be made to stand by at the top. That is, when changing the traveling order of the carriage 2 traveling on the traveling path 3 by the carriage switching unit 16, the leading carriage 2 with low priority is stopped by the first rail portion 20 a of the carriage switching unit 16. The first rail portion 20a is separated from the traveling rail 3a of the first traveling path 12 by the moving rail portion 19, and the truck 2 on the first rail portion 20a is made to stand by. At this time, the second rail portion 2a is connected to the traveling rail of the first traveling path 12, and the lower priority bogie 2 waiting on the first rail portion 20a is overtaken by the following high priority bogies 2 Can. If the first rail portion 20a is connected again to the traveling rail 3a of the first traveling path 12 which is a main road, the carriage switching portion 16 immediately starts the trolley 2 which has been on standby and starts on the first traveling path 12 Can be returned to Thus, the dolly switching unit 16 can efficiently change the traveling order of the dolly 2.

  As described above, in the assembly line 1 according to the present embodiment, the traveling order of the carriage 2 traveling on the traveling path 3 is efficiently changed according to the supply order of the parts at the parts supply station 4a, 4b (vehicle type order). Since it is possible, the manufacturing cost of the product assembled on the assembly line 1 can be reduced as much as possible. Furthermore, since the dolly switching unit 16 has a simple configuration for reciprocating the main body 18 via the moving rail 19, the robot for lifting the dolly 2 is not required. Therefore, the installation cost of the assembly line 1 and the maintenance cost of the truck switching unit 16 can be significantly reduced.

  The present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above-described embodiment, and is not limited to the above-described effects. The present invention can be variously modified without departing from the scope of the present invention.

  Although the above-mentioned embodiment illustrated the composition which moves body part 18 of bogie switching part 16 so that the 1st runway 12 may be crossed along movement rail part 19, it is not limited to this. For example, the carriage switching unit 16 may be provided with a lifting mechanism capable of moving the main body portion 18 up and down. With the carriage 2 placed on the rail portions 20a and 20b, the main body portion 18 can be used as the traveling rail 3a. The traveling order of the bogies 2 may be changed by raising the vehicle 2 to a position higher than that and making the other carriages 2 travel on the traveling path 3 at the lower position.

  In said embodiment, although the main-body part 18 of the trolley | bogie switch part 16 had two sets of rail parts 20a and 20b, it is not limited to this. The main body portion 18 may be provided with three or more sets of rail portions. In addition, the traveling rail 3a and the rail portions 20a and 20b may be configured by monorails, or may be configured by three or more rails.

  In the above embodiment, the direction of the carriage 2 is changed at a right angle by the direction changing portions 17a to 17d. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the assembly line 1 may not have the direction changing portions 17a to 17d. By forming a part of the traveling rail 3a in a curved shape, the traveling path 3 may have an annular structure, and the carriage 2 may travel in circulation.

  In the above embodiment, the carriage 2 travels on the traveling rail 3a and the rail portions 20a and 20b. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and a suspension type rail portion is used to lower the rail portion. Alternatively, the carriage 2 may travel.

  In the above embodiment, the carriage switching unit 16 stops the carriage 2 (2B) on the first rail unit 20a and moves the main unit 18 along the moving rail unit 19 to stand by, but It is not limited to this. The truck switching unit 16 may cause the second rail unit 20 b to stop the truck 2 and cause the truck 2 to stand by on the second rail unit 20 b. Further, not only the truck 2 can be made to stand by by the truck switching unit 16, but a component supply station or a work station may be arranged at the standby position to supply components or perform various operations on the workpiece W. . In this case, the first rail portion 20a and the second rail portion 20b are configured as a turntable, and the direction of the carriage 2 is changed in a state where the carriage 2 is stopped by the respective rail portions 20a and 20b. It is also good.

Reference Signs List 1 assembly line 2 carriage 3 traveling path 3a traveling rail 16 carriage switching portion
20a 1st rail part (rail part)
20b Second rail section (rail section)
W work

Claims (1)

In an assembly line including a plurality of carriages for transporting a plurality of workpieces of different vehicle types to a vehicle type, and a traveling path configured annularly to circulate the carriages,
The traveling path includes a first traveling path for traveling the empty truck, and a second traveling path for traveling the truck on which the work is mounted and performing a predetermined work on the workpiece.
The first traveling road has a main road including a traveling rail along which the carriage, which is empty after passing through the second traveling path, travels, and a rail portion connectable to the traveling rail of the main road. And a plurality of truck switching units for moving the rail portion so as to be able to approach / separate in the predetermined direction with respect to the traveling rail of the main road ,
Said first travel path, the assembly line running order more empty the truck traveling on the present path, characterized in be relocated by the carriage switching unit.

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