JPH03178860A - Attitude control device for conveyed object in overhead conveyer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To control an attitude of a conveyed objected by arranging a lift- driving means, respectively corresponding to each lift arm, in a supporting beam halfway along the extension direction of a running rail and respectively connecting an engaging member, engageable with an upper end of each lift arm, to these lift-driving means. CONSTITUTION:In a section where a car body B must be tilted to either right or left, for instance, for mounting or the like of a part to a bottom surface of the car body B halfway along the conveying direction, when a running carriage 3 arrives at that section, one of both lift-driving means 40, arranged in a supporting beam 6 and corresponding to lift arms 25, 25, is actuated, and one height position of both guide rails 38, 38 (engaging member) is made different from the other. Then the height positions of both hangers 4, 4 are provided different from each other, and in accordance with the difference height positions, the car body B is tilted to facilitate mounting or the like of parts to the car body B. Furthermore because this device is not provided under the car body B, the device is prevented from disturbing work.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION A3 Object of the Invention (1) Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to a posture control device for conveyed objects on an overhead conveyor.

(2) Prior Art Conventionally, for example, when transporting a car body as an object to be transported by an overhead conveyor in a vehicle assembly process, the car body is tilted on a hanger in order to facilitate assembly work such as the bottom of the car body. For example, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 6
It is known from Publication No. 1-5971 and the like.

(3) Problems to be Solved by the Invention In the above conventional vehicle, a lifting device for lifting the vehicle body is disposed at a position where the vehicle body is to be tilted. For this reason, even if the car body is tilted, a lifting device is required below the car body, and not only does the lifting device become an obstacle when assembling the bottom of the car body, but also the lifting device is placed at each position where the car body should be tilted. This becomes necessary and increases the cost.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides an overhead conveyor that is capable of controlling the posture of a conveyed object with a simple configuration while avoiding the presence of obstacles below the conveyed object. An object of the present invention is to provide a posture control device for a transported object.

B1 Structure of the Invention (1) Means for Solving the Problems According to the present invention, a pair of lift arms extending vertically can be raised and lowered on a traveling trolley that can run on traveling rails supported by fixed support beams. A pair of left and right hangers on which objects to be transported can be placed are fixed to the lower end of each lift arm, and each lift arm corresponds to a support beam along the direction in which the travel rail extends. Elevating and lowering driving means are provided, and engaging members that can engage with the upper ends of the respective lift arms are respectively connected to these elevating and lowering driving means.

(2) Effect According to the above configuration, by changing the relative heights of the pair of lift arms whose upper ends are respectively engaged with the engaging members along the direction in which the traveling rail extends, both lift arms are By making the lower end positions, that is, the height positions of both hangers, different from each other, it is possible to tilt the transported object, and by changing the pair of lift arms up and down while keeping their relative heights the same, the height of both hangers can be changed. The vertical position, that is, the height position of the transported object can be changed.

(3) Examples An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

First, in FIGS. 1 and 2, in a vehicle assembly factory, a vehicle body B as an object to be conveyed is conveyed by an overhead conveyor 1, and the overhead conveyor 1 is conveyed on a pair of running rails 2.2. A pair of left and right hangers 4.4 on which the vehicle body B is placed are supported by the traveling carriage 3 so as to be able to move up and down independently of each other.

A pair of running rails 2 extending along the transport direction 5 of the vehicle body B
．． 2 are fixed to the lower ends of support arms 7.7... extending vertically, and these support arms 7.7...
Each of the support beams 6 is suspended from a plurality of support beams 6 which are fixedly disposed and extend in a direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction 5 above the running rails 2.2 at positions spaced apart from each other along the conveyance direction 5.

The traveling trolley 3 is formed in a rectangular shape, and a pair of driving drive rollers 8, 8 that move over the running wheels 2, 2 are rotatably mounted at the rear of the traveling trolley 3 along the conveyance direction 5. supported by. That is, a rotating shaft 9 having a horizontal axis perpendicular to the conveying direction 5 is provided on the lower surface of the rear portion of the traveling trolley 3.
is rotatably supported, and the driving rollers 8.8 are respectively fixed to the ends of the rotating shaft 9 projecting to both sides from the traveling carriage 3. Furthermore, a driven sprocket 10 is fixedly installed in the middle part of the rotating shaft 9, and a driving sprocket 12 fixedly installed on the output shaft of a traveling motor 11 fixedly arranged on the traveling truck 3 and the driven sprocket 10 and an endless transmission chain 13 is passed between them. Further, at the front portion of the traveling trolley 3 along the conveyance direction 5, a traveling rail 2,
A pair of traveling driven rollers 14 that can be moved over the rollers 1 and 2 are supported. Furthermore, two sets of steering rollers 15, 15, 15, 15, 15, 15, 15, 15, 15, 15, 15, 15, 15, 15, 15, 15, 15, 15, 15, 15, 15, 15, 15, 15, 15, 15, 15, 15, 15, 15, 15, 15, 15, .
・are rotatably supported.

A control panel 16 for controlling the operation of the traveling motor 11 and a current collecting base 17 are disposed on the traveling trolley 3, and a current collecting brush disposed at the upper end of the current collecting base 17. 18 is in sliding contact with a power supply rail 19 that extends along the conveyance direction 5 and is supported by the support beam 6 . In addition, a pair of lateral vibration prevention rollers 21, 21 are rotatably supported at the upper end of the current collecting base 17 so as to move along both sides of the guide rail 20, which is supported by the support beam 6 in parallel with the power supply rail 19. The anti-lateral vibration rollers 21, 21 and the guide rail 20 function to prevent the current collection brush 18 from separating from the side surface of the power supply rail 19 when the traveling carriage 3 is traveling.

In such a traveling truck 3, the electric power supplied to the current collecting base 17 is controlled by the control panel 16 and supplied to the traveling motor 11, and the traveling drive rollers 8, 8 are controlled according to the operation of the traveling motor 11. Due to the rotational operation and the accompanying rotational operation of the traveling driven roller 14, the traveling bogie 3 is moved to the traveling rail 2.2.
You will be running on top. Moreover, even if the running rail 2.2 is curved, each steering roller 15, 15... is in sliding contact with the inner surface of each running rail 2.2.
The carriage 3 can be smoothly run along the running rail 2.2.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4 together, upper ends of a pair of guide tubes 22 and 22 that extend up and down on both sides along the conveyance direction 5 are fixed to the traveling carriage 3.

These guide tubes 22 have a rectangular tube shape with a rectangular cross-sectional shape, and guide holes 23 are formed in the traveling bogie 3 so as to connect to the upper ends of the guide tubes 22, respectively.

Furthermore, a plurality of reinforcing members 24 are provided between the upper end of each guide tube 22.22 and the lower surface of the traveling truck 3 in order to increase the connection strength of each guide tube 22.22 to the traveling truck 3.

A vertically extending lift arm 25 is movably inserted into each of the guide tubes 22 and each guide hole 23 .

These lift arms 25.25 are hollow square tubes with a square cross section, and each guide tube 22.2
The vertical movement within the guide tube 22 and the guide hole 23 is guided by guide rollers 26, 26, 26, 26, . That is, four openings 27 are provided at two locations spaced apart above and below each guide tube 22.22 by cutting out each corner of the guide tube 22, which has a rectangular cross section. Guide rollers 26, which partially protrude into the guide tubes 22 from the openings 27, are rotatably supported on the outer surface of each guide tube 22.
... are in sliding contact with the outer surfaces of the four corners of each lift arm 25. By these guide rollers 26, the lift arm 25 is smoothly guided in the vertical direction while avoiding center runout.

A non-ringer 4 is provided at the lower end of each lift arm 25, 25, respectively. This hanger 4 is a side arm 4 that extends horizontally along the conveyance direction 5 and has a portion near the front end along the conveyance direction 5 fixed to the lower end of the lift arm 25.
a, and a pair of hanger arms 4c, 4c that extend inward while being connected to the front and rear ends of the side arm 4a along the conveyance direction 5 via support bins 4b, respectively. Thus, the support bins 4b, 4b have vertical axes, so that each /% of the arms 4c, 4
c can be rotated between a position extending perpendicularly inward from the side arm 4a to support the vehicle body B and a position extending parallel to the transport direction 5 for loading and unloading the vehicle body B. be.

In each of the above hangers 4.4, both hanger arms 4c, 4
In c, the members 28 and 28, which receive the lower ends of both sides of the vehicle body B, that is, the side sills, are spring-biased in the direction of maintaining a horizontal posture, and are capable of tilting to the left and right in the conveying direction 5, and are also limited. It is arranged so as to be able to move to the left and right within the specified range.

5 and 6, the hanger arms 4C, which correspond to each other at the front and rear parts along the conveyance direction 5 of the hanger 4.4, have rails 29 extending in a direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction 5. Each is fixedly arranged. That is, on the hanger arm 4C, a pair of support plates 30.31 are respectively erected with an interval of 45 digits in the direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction 5, and the rail 29 is connected to the support plates 30.3.
It will be constructed over a span of 1.

A movable base 32 is movably fitted into each of the rails 29 via a plurality of bearings 33 . In addition, a support 34 is erected on each movable table 32,
A support member 28 is swingably supported at the upper end of this column 34 via a support shaft 35 having an axis parallel to the conveying direction 5. That is, the receiver member 28 is on the left when facing the conveying direction 5,
It is supported on the upper end of the support column 34 so that it can be tilted to the right. Moreover, a coil spring 36 surrounding the column 34 is interposed between the moving table 32 and the support member 28.
The spring force of the coil spring 36 biases the receiver member 28 in a direction to maintain its horizontal position. Further, V-shaped grooves 37 for positioning and fitting the lower ends of both sides of the vehicle body B are provided on the number receiver member 28, respectively.

Each lift arm 25.25 is located above the traveling trolley 3.
Guide rails 38, 38 as a pair of engaging members extending along the conveyance direction 5 to guide the upper end are arranged while being divided into sections set along the conveyance direction 5. Each of the rails 38, 38 is connected to a lifting drive means 4040 which is fixedly arranged on the support beam 6 in each divided portion thereof. These guide rails 38, 38 are basically made of rectangular tubes with a square cross section, and each of them is provided with a single slit 39 extending along the conveyance direction 5 at the center of its lower part.

On the other hand, a support member 41 that is loosely inserted into the guide rail 38.38 from the slit 39 is fixed to the upper end of each lift arm 25.25. A pair of rollers 42.42 are rotatably supported on the lower inner surface of the rail 38.38.

Therefore, when the traveling truck 3 travels along the traveling rail 2.2, each roller 42, 42 moves within the guide rail 38, and the upper end of each lift arm 25.25 is constantly engaged with the guide rail 38.38. You will be guided along the way.

7th rl! With reference also to J, the lifting drive means 40 is a hydraulic, e.g. pneumatic, cylinder having a vertical axis;
A cylinder body 40a is fixedly supported at the lower end of a support arm 43 hanging from the support beam 6. Further, a rail 44 extending vertically is fixed to the support arm 43, and an elevating member 45 that can be raised and lowered while being guided by the rail 44 is fixed to the guide rail 38. Further, the tip or upper end of a piston rod 40b that protrudes upward from the upper end of the cylinder body 40a is connected to the elevating member 45. Therefore, the guide rail 38 can be driven up and down by the lifting drive means 40, and the lower ends of the lift arms 25, 25, that is, the hanger 4.
The height position of 4 is determined. For example, conveyance direction 5
At the position where the vehicle body B should be tilted along the way, a pair of guide rails 38,
The height position of one of the hangers 4.4 can be different from the other, so that one of the two hangers 4.4 is raised to a higher position than the other. Further, at a position where the height of the vehicle body B in a horizontal position should be changed along the conveyance direction 5, both guide rails 3 at the same height position
It is also possible to change the height of 8.38 up or down.

By the way, from the lower end of each support arm 43, an operation panel 50 for controlling the elevating and lowering operation of the elevating drive means 40, that is, the extending and retracting operation, is suspended. Actuation can be controlled individually.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained.
Along the way, if there is a section where the vehicle body B should be tilted to either the left or the right, for example to attach parts to the bottom of the vehicle body B, when the traveling bogie 3 reaches that section, both lifting and lowering drives By activating one of the means 40, both guide rails 3
8. The height position of one of the 38 is made to be different from the other as shown in FIG. Then, as shown in Figure 9, the height positions of both hangers 4.4 will be different from each other, and the vehicle body B will be tilted accordingly, making it easier to attach parts to the bottom of the vehicle body B. be able to.

Moreover, since there is no device for tilting the vehicle body B below the vehicle body B, there is no problem with the work, and the hangers 4, 4 do not protrude outward when tilting the vehicle body B. Since there is no dead space, it is not necessary to provide a dead space on the side of the overhead conveyor 1.

Further, as described above, when the vehicle body B is tilted due to one of the two hangers 4 rising to a higher position than the other, the supports on which the lower ends of both sides of the vehicle body B are placed at mutually corresponding positions are the members 28. 28 can be tilted according to the inclination of the vehicle body B, and can also be moved to the left or right as the horizontal distance between the lower ends of both sides of the vehicle body B changes depending on the inclination of the vehicle body B. Accordingly, no unreasonable force is applied to the vehicle body B.

In the above embodiment, the upper end of the lift arm 25.25 is always guided by the guide rail 38.38 divided into a plurality of parts along the conveyance direction 5, and the hangers 4, 4 are moved to the guide rail 38.38.
However, under normal conditions, the hangers 4, 4 are supported by the traveling trolley 3, and the lifting drive means 40.
The elevating and lowering drive means 40.40
The lifting arms 25, 25 may be driven up and down by engaging an engaging member connected to the upper end of the lift arms 25, 25.

Effects of the C0 Invention As described above, according to the present invention, a pair of lift arms extending vertically are supported so as to be movable up and down on a regular carriage that can run on a traveling rail supported by a fixed support beam, and each lift A pair of left and right hangers on which objects to be transported can be placed are fixed to the lower ends of the arms, and lifting drive means corresponding to each lift arm are provided on the support beam along the direction in which the travel rail extends. The engaging members that can be engaged with the upper ends of the lift arms are respectively connected to the lifting driving means, so that the engaging members that are engaged with the upper ends of the lift arms can be raised and lowered by the lifting driving means. This makes it possible to change the height of the transported object from a tilted position to a horizontal position, making work easier by avoiding obstacles below the transported object. Furthermore, since the hanger does not protrude outward, no extra space is required for changing the position.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The drawings show one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1 is a side view, the second leap is a view of the ■arrow viewing pressure n11 in FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the main part of FIG. 2, and FIG. The figure is an enlarged sectional view of the line ■-■ in Figure 3. Figure 5 is an enlarged view of the V section in Figure 3. Figure 6 is an enlarged view of the Vl-■ line in Figure 5.
Figure 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line ■-■ in Figure 1. Figure 8 corresponds to Figure 2 with the pair of rift l-arms in different relative height positions. The front view, FIG. 9, is an enlarged view of the main part of FIG. 8. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1...Overhead conveyor, 2...Traveling + knoll, 3...Traveling trolley, 4...Hanger, 6...Support beam, 25...Lift arm, 38...As an engaging member Guide rail, 40... Lifting drive means, B... Vehicle body as a transported object.

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) Traveling rail (2) supported by fixed support beam (6)
, 2) A pair of lift arms (25, 25) extending vertically are supported in a movable manner on a traveling cart (3) that can run on top of the carriage (3). A pair of left and right hangers (4, 4) on which the rails (B) can be placed are respectively fixed, and each lift arm ( 25,
Lifting drive means (40, 40) respectively corresponding to 25)
are arranged therein, and engagement members (38, 38) that can be engaged with the upper ends of the respective lift arms (25, 25) are connected to the elevation drive means (40, 40), respectively. A posture control device for conveyed objects on an overhead conveyor. (2) The apparatus for controlling the posture of conveyed objects in an overhead conveyor according to item (1), wherein the elevating drive means (40) is a fluid pressure cylinder having an axis extending in the vertical direction.