JPH0141463B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an automobile body assembly apparatus that can support a plurality of different types of objects to be assembled during automobile body assembly work on an automobile body assembly line.

In the conventional automobile body (e.g. side body assembly) assembly line 1,
As is known from the above publication, and as shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3, a shuttle bar 2 that moves up and down and reciprocates can move the workpieces processed in one work stage to the next work. They were sent to stages, and assembly work was mainly performed at each work stage. (Since both are basically the same, they will be explained below with reference to Figures 1 to 3.) That is, the first stage 3
In this case, the rear fender 12 shown in FIG. 2 is carried in with its front side facing down and set. In the second stage 4, the outer panel 13 is also carried in with its front side facing down, and after being positioned and set at an appropriate position relative to the rear fender 12, an operator 14 places both members into the portable spot welder 15. Temporarily join by welding in multiple places.
In the third stage 5, the welding robot 16 spot-welds the rear fender 12 and the outer panel 13 at all welding points. Fourth
Stage 6 is an idle stage. In the fifth stage 7, the inner panel 17 is carried onto the stage with the front side (vehicle compartment side) facing up, for example, by an autoloader (not shown).
This is the rear fender 12 and outer panel 13
After being positioned and set relative to the assembly, the worker 18 uses a portable spot welder 19 to weld at a plurality of locations to temporarily join them together. 6th, 7th,
In stages 8, 9, 10, and 11,
The outer panel 13 and the inner panel 17 are spot-welded at all welding points by welding robots 20, 21, 22, and 23 provided on both sides in the direction of line movement. In particular, Figures 2 and 3 show such an assembly line 1.
For example, when performing assembly work at stage 7
A vehicle body assembly device 24 used for temporary joining is shown. This vehicle body assembly device 24 includes a jig base 25, and an assembly 26 that is erected on the jig base 25 and includes an outer panel 13 to be assembled and a rear fender 12 joined to the outer panel 13 at its upper end. It is comprised of a plurality of receiving posts 28 having receiving portions 27, and a plurality of locating pins 29 that are inserted into the assembly 26 to position the assembly. This receiving portion 27 is located between the upper limit and the lower limit of the shuttle bar 2. However, such a conventional car body assembly device 24 can only support one type of object to be assembled, which not only makes it impossible to simultaneously produce multiple types of car bodies, but also makes it difficult to produce multiple types of car bodies at the same time. In this case, it is necessary to construct a new assembly line and discard the existing assembly line, or to stop the assembly line for a long period of time and convert or modify the vehicle body assembly equipment 24, resulting in increased equipment costs. There were problems in that it was expensive and required personnel and equipment.

This invention was made by focusing on the above-mentioned problems, and includes providing a plurality of assembly jigs corresponding to each of these on a plurality of arbitrary stages, and
Each of these assembly jigs has a receiving part that can support one type of object to be assembled, and a receiving part that can support another type of object and that can support the set of said one type of object. The above-mentioned problem is solved by providing a receiving part that is vertically, longitudinally, and/or laterally shifted from the receiving part so as not to cause any trouble.

The present invention will be explained below based on the drawings.

4, 5 and 6 are diagrams showing an embodiment of the present invention. First, to explain the configuration, in FIG. 4, 31 is an assembly line for automobile bodies (for example, side body assemblies), and this body assembly line 31 has a plurality of stages (10 in this embodiment) from upstream to downstream. are installed, and each stage, except when it becomes an idle stage, performs assembly work on the object to be assembled. In this embodiment, the vehicle body assembly line 31 is capable of assembling two different types of vehicle bodies (different in shape, size, etc.) in parallel. Reference numerals 32 and 32 are so-called lift-and-carry type shuttle bars installed along the assembly line 31 that can move up and down and reciprocate, and the assemblies that have been completed in each stage are carried to these two shuttle bars 32. They are transported all at once to the next stage on the downstream side. 33 is a first stage, and in this first stage 33, the rear fender 43 or 44 of car A or car B is carried in and set. During this setting, the rear fender of car A and that of car B are set so as to be offset by a predetermined amount in accordance with the setting positions of cars A and B in the second stage and below, which will be described later. Assuming that the rear fender carried here is the rear fender 44 of car B, after a predetermined time has elapsed, it is carried to the next second stage by the shuttle bar and set. At the same time, in this second stage 34, the outer panel 46 of car B is carried in by a carrying means (not shown) and positioned and set so as to be connected to the rear fender 44 of car B. are temporarily joined by welding at multiple locations using a portable spot welder 48. Note that this second stage 34 serves as an idle stage for the rear fender 43 of car A, and although the rear fender 43 of car A is temporarily set on this second stage 34, no work is performed on it. It only passes through this point after a predetermined period of time has elapsed. This is because, as will be described later, temporary bonding of the outer panel of car A will be performed in the next third stage. 35 is the third stage, and in this third stage 35, A
After the rear fender 43 of the car is carried in by the shuttle bar and the outer panel 45 of car A is carried in by a carrying means (not shown) and positioned and set on the rear fender 43 of car A, the worker 49 moves the portable spot welder 50 to the rear fender 43 of the car. Temporarily join by welding multiple points. Note that, contrary to the second stage 34, this third stage 35 serves as an idle stage for the rear fender 44 of car B. This is because the temporary joining of the outer panel 36 to the rear fender 44 has already been performed at the second stage 34. In this way, for example, when assembling two different types of car bodies (Car A and Car B), in this embodiment, the objects to be assembled for both Cars A and B are placed on two consecutive stages, the same number as the number of types. Install an assembly jig that can support it. In one stage, assembly work is performed on car A, but not on car B, and on the other stage, assembly work is performed on car B, but car A is not assembled.
Avoid assembling the car. Incidentally, such an assembly jig is provided not only in the second and third stages 34 and 35 as described above, but also in the fifth and sixth stages to be described later. Details of the jigs will be explained later using the jigs for the fifth and sixth stages 37 and 38 as examples. 36 is the fourth stage, which is a shared stage for cars A and B. In this fourth stage 36, the rear fenders 4 of cars A and B, which were temporarily joined by workers 47 and 49 in the second and third stages 34 and 35, respectively, are
The welding robot 53 automatically spot-welds the assemblies 51, 52 of the outer panels 3, 44 and the outer panels 45, 46 at all welding points according to the respective programs. Next, 37 is the fifth stage. This fifth stage 37 is an assembly stage for car B, and serves as an idle stage for car A. Here, the worker 54 uses a portable spot welder 55 to temporarily join the inner panel 57 to the assembly 52 of the rear fender 44 and outer panel 46 of car B, which are to be assembled, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. . As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, one assembly jig 58 provided on the fifth stage 37 includes a jig base 59 and a plurality of holder parts 67 and 66 erected on the jig base 59. Receiving post 65,
63 and the outer panels 45, 46 of the A and B cars, which are attached to the upper ends of the struts 61 of different heights for the A and B cars, similarly erected on the jig base 59, and are the objects to be assembled. and rear fender 43,4
4 and a plurality of locating pins 62 that are inserted into the assemblies 51 and 52 to position the object to be assembled. There are two types of receiving parts for the objects to be assembled, one for car A and one for car B. The receiving part 67 of the receiving post 65 for car B is the same as the receiving part 66 of the receiving post 64 for car A. In this example, they are located about 100 mm lower than the above, and are set to be offset from each other in the front-rear direction (line advancing direction) and/or in the lateral direction (perpendicular direction to the line). This is so that the object to be assembled on car A can be received in the receiving part for car A, and the object to be assembled in car B can be received in the receiving part for car B. In other words, the assembly 51 of car A, which only passes through this fifth stage 37, is once supported at a higher position so as not to interfere with the receiving post 65 for car B, and then the assembly work at the other stages is completed. The receiving portion 67 for car B is set closer to the jig base 59 than that for car A, making it easier to work with. The receiving portions 66 and 67 of the receiving posts 64 and 65 for cars A and B are both located within the range of elevation of the shuttle bar 32. Moreover, the assemblies 51 and 52 which are the objects to be assembled
The locating pins 62 for positioning the locating pins 62 in fixed positions on the respective receiving posts 64 and 65 are for the A car and the B car respectively in the longitudinal direction, that is, along the assembly line 31, and in the lateral direction, that is, the assembly line 31. The positions are shifted by 100 mm to 200 mm in the direction perpendicular to the line 31 so that they do not interfere with each other. 38 is the sixth stage. This sixth stage 38 is an assembly stage for car A, contrary to the fifth stage 37, and serves as an idle stage for car B. Therefore, the assembly jig provided on this sixth stage 38, that is, the other assembly jig, is the receiving post 64 and support post 61 for car A of the assembly jig 58 of the fifth stage 37, and the support for car B. post 65,
The structure is such that the height and position of the support pillar 61 are changed as appropriate. Here, the worker 68 temporarily joins the inner panel 56 to the assembly 51 of the rear fender 43 and outer panel 45 of car A, which is the object to be assembled, using a portable spot welder 69. Next, stages 39, 40, 41, and 42 are seventh to tenth stages, which are common stages for cars A and B, similar to the fourth stage 36. Each of these stages 39,
40, 41, 42 are welding robots 70, 71, which can automatically spot weld the outer panels 45, 46 and inner panels 56, 57 of car A or car B by switching the program pattern, respectively. 72 and 73 are installed.

In addition, when assembling three or more types of objects A, B, C, etc. in parallel, the assembly line 31
The number of stages dedicated to each object to be assembled is the same as the number of types, that is, three stages for three types, four stages for four types, and each stage is provided with a receiver that supports all types of objects to be assembled. All you need to do is set up a section. In the case of three types, as shown in FIG.
At stage 300, car C is assembled, and at stage 3, car B is assembled. In the figure, solid lines indicate objects to be assembled that are set for assembly work, broken lines indicate objects to be assembled that are not to be assembled, and L indicates a conveyance stroke (constant). Next, the operation will be explained along the assembly line 31 in FIG. 4.

If the bodies of cars A and B are to be assembled together, the rear fenders 43 and 44 of cars A and B are first set on the first stage 33. Next, the rear fenders 43, 44 of car A or car B are lifted and moved forward by the shuttle bar 32 and transported to the second stage 34. In the second stage 34, when the rear fender 44 of car B is brought in, when the shuttle bar 32 is lowered, the rear fender 44 is supported by the receiving part 67 of the receiving post 65 for car B.
And it is positioned by the locate pin 62. Next, the outer panel 46 of car B carried in by a carrying means (not shown) is positioned and set on the rear fender 44 by hand or mechanically. After that, the operator 47 points out key points of both members 44 and 46.
The parts are welded and temporarily joined using a portable spot welder 48, and when the joining is completed, they are lifted up by the shuttle bar 32 and sent to the third stage 35. Note that when the rear fender 43 of car A is brought in, this second stage 34 becomes an idle stage. That is, after the rear fender 43 of car A is supported by the receiving post 64 for car A, it is sent to the next third stage 35 by the shuttle bar 32 after a predetermined time (work time) has elapsed. In other words, the second stage 34 does not perform any work, but passes above the receiving post 67 for the B car so as not to interfere with the receiving post 65.
Now, with the shuttle bar 32, the third stage 3
The assembly 52 of the rear fender 44 and outer panel 46 of the B car sent to the stage 5 is received by the receiving post 65 for the B car provided on the third stage 35. After a predetermined period of time (work time) has passed without any work being done,
Like car A in the second stage 34, it is sent to the next fourth stage 36 above the receiving post 64 for car A. However, the rear fender 43 of car A, which was sent to the third stage 35 without any work being done on the second stage 34, was replaced in the third stage 35 with the rear fender 44 of car B in the second stage 34. After the outer panel 45 is similarly welded and temporarily joined, it is sent to the next fourth stage 36. In the fourth stage 36, the A
After the assemblies 51, 52 of the rear fenders 43, 44 and outer panels 45, 46 of the car and car B are both supported and positioned by the respective receiving posts 64, 65 and locating pins 62, the welding robot 53 Spot welding is automatically performed at all welding points by switching the respective programs built into the machine. Thereafter, the assembly 52, which is the object to be assembled for car B, is sent to the fifth stage 37 by the shuttle bar 32, and is supported by the receiving part 67 of the receiving post 65 for car B, and is also attached to the locate pin 62. It is then positioned. Next, the inner panel 57 carried in by an autoloader (not shown) is attached to the outer panel 4.
It is set to 6. Furthermore, after being welded and temporarily joined by the portable spot welder 55 by the worker 54, the sixth stage 38 is used as an idle stage and is temporarily supported by the receiving part 66 of the receiving post 64 for car A. After a predetermined time, it is sent to the seventh stage 39 without any work being done. Fourth
After being worked on stage 36, the fifth stage 37
as an idle stage for receiving post 6 for B car.
The assembly 51 of car A, which was once supported by the receiving part 67 of car A and then sent to the sixth stage 38 without any work, is carried out in the same process as the assembly 52 of car B at the fifth stage 37. After the inner panel 56 is temporarily joined by the , the inner panel 56 is sent to the seventh stage 39 . 7th to 10th stages 39, 40,
The objects to be assembled, that is, the respective assemblies 51 and 52, which are supported by receiving posts 64 and 65 for car A or car B at 41 and 42 and positioned by locating pins 62, are assembled by welding robots 70,
By switching the patterns for cars A and B in the programs incorporated in 71, 72, and 73, spot welding is automatically performed at all welding points.

As explained above, according to this invention,
It is possible to assemble multiple types of car bodies in parallel on one assembly line, and when changing models etc., it is possible to establish a new assembly line and discard the existing assembly line.
In addition, there is no need to stop the assembly line for a long period of time to replace or modify the vehicle body assembly jig, which results in lower equipment costs and avoids the problem of idle personnel and equipment.

Furthermore, in the above embodiment, if the position of the locating pin for car A or car B is shifted by 100 mm to 200 mm in the direction along the assembly line and in the direction orthogonal to the assembly line, respectively, so that they do not interfere with each other, the locating pin can be moved. Since it can be made fixed rather than movable, it also has the effect of increasing the accuracy of positioning.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a schematic plan view showing a conventional automobile body assembly line, and Fig. 2 shows a state in which the inner panel is set on the rear fender and outer panel assembly in the fifth stage of the assembly line shown in Fig. 1. The plan view shown in Fig. 3 is - in Fig. 2.
4 is a schematic plan view showing a vehicle body assembly line in which an embodiment of the automobile body assembly jig according to the present invention is installed, and FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the fifth stage of the assembly line in FIG. A plan view showing the inner panel set in the assembly of the rear fender and outer panel, Figure 6 is a view taken from the - arrow in Figure 5, and Figure 7 shows the assembly work for three types of objects to be assembled. FIG. 31...Vehicle body assembly line, 32...Shuttle bar, 33...First stage, 34...Second stage, 58...Assembly jig, 43...Rear fender (for car A) as an object to be assembled, 44...Rear fender (for car B) which is an object to be assembled, 45...Outer panel (for car A), 46...Outer panel (for car B), 56...Inner panel (for car A),
57...Inner panel (for car B), 51...Assembly to be assembled (for car A), 52...Assembly to be assembled (for car B), 66... Receiving part (A
(for cars), 67...receiving part (for cars B).

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In an automobile body assembly line that has a plurality of stages, objects to be assembled are conveyed from one stage to the next stage, and assembly work is mainly performed on these stages, any number of stages A plurality of assembly jigs are provided above to correspond to each of these, and each of these assembly jigs has a receiving part that can support one type of object to be assembled, and a receiving part that can support another type of object to be assembled. 1. An assembly device for an automobile body, characterized in that a receiving part is provided which can support the receiving part and is shifted in position in the vertical direction, longitudinal direction, and/or lateral direction with respect to the receiving part.