JPH04133906A - Pallet switching device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enhance loading operability of works, in a pallet switching device in an assembling line, by transferring empty pallets to a pallet storage zone, and taking out pallets for the next work from the storage zone, and then by loading works on the pallets on the way they are supplied to a conveying line. CONSTITUTION:Empty subpallets Pf to Pm after assembling parts have been transferred to a vehicle conveying line at a docking station Sa are taken out at a subpallet taking-out station Sb, and then they are transferred to respective zones of a subpallet storage zone Zw. And the carriage C is moved to a subpallet loading station So. On the other hand, subpallets for the next work are supplied to a parts-loading station Sd through a supply line Li, and after parts on a parts-conveying line La have been loaded, the subpallets are transferred to the subpallet loading station Sc and are loaded on the carriage C.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention is applicable to, for example, an assembly line for assembling engines, suspensions, etc. to the body of a car. Dolly”
The present invention relates to a pallet changing device that replaces an empty pallet with a pallet (1) on which assembly parts are mounted on a conveyance line that carries pallets supported by two.

[Prior Art] For example, when assembling an engine, suspension, etc. to a vehicle body on an assembly line for vehicles such as automobiles, if only one type of vehicle is to be assembled on the line, stopping positions must be set and positioned in advance. We installed a parts supply device consisting of an overhead conveyor, etc.
By using this device to supply the above-mentioned parts to be assembled to the vehicle body conveyance line, it is possible to supply the engine, suspension, etc. to fixed positions on the vehicle body that has been brought in, and to assemble the vehicle body.

However, in a so-called mixed-flow type assembly line where the types of vehicles flowing through the line can be changed, the assembly positions of the engine, suspension, etc. to the vehicle body differ depending on the vehicle type. It is necessary to change and set each time, and there is a problem that the control mechanism for the stop position etc. becomes complicated.

As a solution to this mixed flow type assembly line, for example, Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 62-70065 discloses that the engine, suspension, etc. are mounted on a movable lid device, and the vehicle body is mounted on a hanger of an overhead type converter. A device is disclosed in which an engine and a suspension are assembled by transporting the vehicle in a suspended state, moving the lifter device described in 1 above and positioning it directly below the vehicle body. However, even in this case, there is still a problem that the top-filling lid device becomes complicated.

In addition, it is possible to mount the pallet on which the engine, suspension, etc. are positioned and mounted on a trolley, but in this case, the minute positioning of each component on the pallet can be done automatically. It is difficult to set
This process of loading parts onto the pallet must be carried out entirely manually by an operator. Therefore, the following problems may occur.

■The loading work on the pallet transport line is difficult because the scaffolding for pallets is narrow.

■ Loading operations cannot be carried out while the pallet is being transported, resulting in loss time. Furthermore, in order to prevent work from being carried out while the pallet is being transported, it is necessary to provide a safety confirmation sensor, etc., which increases costs.

■Is the work of loading parts onto the pallet performed while the operator visually confirms the position of parts to be placed on the pallet?
The working position is low and low, resulting in poor working posture.

This invention was made in view of the above-mentioned problems.
The work of loading parts onto a double-layer pallet can be done before the pallet is mounted on the trolley.In addition, to improve the working posture during this parts loading work, the trolley can be laid on the floor. A pallet transport line that transports pallets by traveling along the rails provided by the vehicle is installed near the car body transport line consisting of an overhead type transport device, and a dot is set at a location that straddles this pallet transport line and the car body transport line. A King Station is known in which the engine, suspension, etc. are assembled into the vehicle body.

According to this system, when the vehicle model is changed, the stopping position of the trolley at the docking station is adjusted by replacing the pallet with another pallet that has the positioning of mounted parts set for the vehicle model. This is no longer necessary and can be easily adapted to changing vehicle models.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] By the way, in the system provided with the pallet transport line, when mounting parts such as an engine and suspension on the pallet, the pallet is mounted directly on the pallet transport line. It is an object of the present invention to provide a pallet exchange device capable of mounting the above-mentioned parts while being attached to a cart.

"Means for Solving the Problems" Therefore, the first invention of the present application provides a pallet changing device that replaces the pallets from a conveyance line in which workpiece loading pallets are supported and conveyed on a cart. a pallet unloading means for taking out an empty pallet from the pallet storage zone and transporting it to the pallet storage zone; a pallet supplying means for unloading a pallet corresponding to the next work from the pallet storage zone and simultaneously feeding it to the conveyance line; The apparatus further includes a workpiece mounting means for mounting the next workpiece supplied from the workpiece supplying means onto a pallet corresponding to the next workpiece.

Further, the second invention of the present application is the first invention,
The workpiece mounting means described in "-" is equipped with a table repter having a table on which a pallet corresponding to the second-layer workpiece is placed, and an adjusting means for adjusting the vertical position of the table.

[Effect of the Invention] According to the first invention of the present application, a work loading means for loading the next work onto the pallet for the next work is installed in the middle of the bipedal pallet supply means. The loading operation can be carried out before the pallet is fed to the transport line, and the previous problems mentioned above can be solved.

Further, according to the second invention of the present application, in the first invention, the workpiece loading means is provided with the table lipper, so that the vertical position of the pallet can be adjusted when carrying out workpiece loading work. This allows you to maintain a good working posture.

[Example] Hereinafter, a case where an example of the present invention is applied to an assembly line for assembling parts such as an engine and a suspension to a car body will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram schematically showing the configuration of an automobile assembly line according to this embodiment. A vehicle body loading line Lb equipped with an overhead conveyor device that transports vehicle bodies before parts are assembled to a dotting station Sa where parts are assembled;
1. A vehicle body unloading line Lc that transports the vehicle body from the docking station Sa to the next process after each part is assembled.
and a pallet transport line [, p for positioning and supplying the mounted parts (engine, suspension, etc.) onto the pallet.

1. The pallet transport line Lp is configured such that, for example, a linearly transported cart C circulates in a predetermined cycle on a rail laid in a closed loop.
A pallet P (base pallet) is fixedly attached on top.

In this embodiment, a plurality of (for example, three) sub pallets Pf, Pm, and Pr can be positioned and mounted on the base pallet P. Parts such as the engine and suspension that are assembled in
, Pr.

Furthermore, on the pallet transport lines T and p, a sub-pallet take-out station Sb for taking out empty sub-pallets Pr and Pr from the base pallet P is provided on the downstream side of the docking station 9a, and the station console sb takes out the empty sub-pallets Pr and Pr. The sub pallets Pf and Pr that have been removed are transferred to the sub pallet unloading line L.

Then, the pallet is carried out toward the subpallet storage zone Zw.

In addition, the intermediate sub-pallet Pm is connected to the pallet conveyance line L.
It is designed to be carried out and stored in a sub-pallet storage zone Zm provided inside p.

Further, on the downstream side of the sub-pallet take-out station sb, there is provided a sub-pallet loading station Sc for loading the sub-pallets Pf and Pr discharged from the sub-pallet storage zone Zw corresponding to the next work onto the base pallet P. and the above-mentioned subpallet storage zone Z1.
The sub-pallets PI' and Pr stored in the sub-pallets PI' and Pr are supplied to the two-layer sub-pallet loading station Yon Sc by the sub-pallet supply line Li.

Although not specifically shown, the base pallet P attached to the trolley C''2 has a sub pallet P''
, Pm, and Pr are provided, and these positioning pins are provided in multiple sets depending on the vehicle model so that the various types of sub pallets that differ depending on the vehicle model can be positioned. Furthermore, each of the ten sub pallets Pf, Pm, and Pr is supported in a floating state by being positioned relative to the base pallet P.

In this embodiment, sub-pallets PI',
A component loading station Sd on which a set of components such as an engine and a suspension are mounted is installed for Pr, and each of the components listed in 1 is supplied to the station con S6 (by an overhead component conveying line 12a). It has become so.

Next, a replacement system for replacing the Zapu pallets Pf and Pr on the pallet transport line 7p will be described.

As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the pallet transport line l
, a sub-pallet carry-out line LO for carrying out the sub-pallets from p, a front sub-pallet carry-out line Lof for carrying out the spare front sub-pallet Pf on which the engine and front suspension are mounted, and a rear sub-pallet for mounting the rear suspension. A rear sub-pallet carry-out line Lor is provided for carrying out Pr, and these carry-out lines Lof and Lor are respectively connected to the front sub-pallet storage section Z of the sub-pallet storage zone Zw.
f and the rear sub pallet storage section Zr.

Furthermore, - the above-mentioned front and rear sub-pallets Pf and P
For example, a fuel tank is mounted on the intermediate subpallet Pm located in the middle of r.

The sub pallet take-out station sb has a pallet transport line l located downstream from the docking station Sa.
In order to load the sub-pallets Pf and Pr taken out from the base pallet ytoP on the trolley C flowing through the trolleys C onto the carry-out lines Lof and Lor, as shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 8, Front and rear Zabu pallets PI'
and tables +21 and 12r on which Pr is placed, respectively;
A common base 13 that supports both tables 12f and 12r, and a cylinder device 14 that raises and lowers the base 13.
A table repter 11 is provided.

The front sub-pallet unloading line Lof includes this table ripter 11, an unloading device 15 equipped with an unloading table 16 and a table shifter 17 with an inclined guide plate 17a, and a chain drive as shown in FIGS. 4 and 9. The front sub pallet Pr taken out from the pallet transport lines I and p at the sub pallet take-out station sb is transported to the front sub pallet by the front sub pallet unloading line Lof. It is carried out toward the pallet storage section Zf.

The rear sub pallet unloading line Lor is composed of the above-mentioned table ripter 11, an unloading device 21 including an unloading table 22 and a table shifter 23 with an inclined guide plate 23a, and a conveyor device 24, and includes a sub pallet unloading station sb. The rear sub pallet Pr taken out from the pallet transport lines l and p is carried out toward the rear sub pallet storage section Zr by the rear sub pallet carry-out line Lor.

The above-mentioned rear sub pallet storage area Zr is located on the factory floor FI,
An underground lid 25 is installed near the connection point with the rear subpallet delivery line Lor to lower the rear subpallet Pr further underground (see Figure 4). ). If the rear sub-pallet Pr for the next work is not removed from the storage zone Zrl>λ, as shown in FIG.
After moving it with the underground trapper 26, lift it up with the two-way lid 27 and remove it from the underground pallet, which will be explained in detail later.
- It is intended to be placed on the conveyor of the supply line Lir. Incidentally, the front subpallet storage section Zr is provided on the floor surface FL.

Sub pallet supply line L that supplies sub pallets Pf and Pr for the next work to the conveyor line Lp
i is provided with a front sub-pallet supply line Lif that supplies the front sub-pallet Sr and a rear sub-pallet/soto supply line Lir that supplies the rear sub-pallet, and these supply lines Lir and Lir are used for sub-pallet storage, respectively. It is connected to the front sub-pallet storage section Zr and the rear sub-pallet storage section Zr of zone Zw.

As shown in FIG. 11, the front sub-pallet storage section Zf and the rear sub-pallet storage section Zr are filled with the next workpiece based on production plan data stored in the assembly line control computer (not shown). The subpallets PI' and Pr are taken out and transported to the connection point with the subpallet supply lines Lif' and Lir, and the empty subpallets (Pf and Pr) carried out by the subpallet delivery line Lof Lor are moved to the storage location. Overhead conveyors 31f and 31r are provided, respectively.

The overhead conveyor will be explained by taking, for example, a rear sub-pallet type 3]r as shown in FIGS. 12 and 1.
As shown in FIG. 3, a pinion 34 is provided that meshes with a rack 33 fixed to a horizontal frame member 32 laid on one side of the Zabu pallet storage section Zr, and by driving this pinion 34 with a motor 35, A running wheel 36.36 is movable by running on a pair of rails 37.37 laid below the frame member 321, and a pair of opening/closing arms 42a for gripping the sub pallet Pr. An arm device M42, a lifting cylinder 45 for lifting and lowering the arm device 42, and the like are attached to the movable base 4I. Further, for example, a sensor 46 is attached to the side surface of the opening/closing arm 42, 42 as a detection means for detecting the type of subpallet.

The arm device 42 is equipped with a small cylinder 43, a link mechanism 44, etc., and when the overhead conveyor 31r stops at a predetermined position and grips the sub pallet Pr, it is used as shown in FIGS. Unloading table lifter 60 for unloading parts (engine and front suspension)
and a loading table repter 55 equipped with a table 56 that is raised and lowered by a cylinder 57, and these are connected by a conveyor device 58 equipped with a chain-driven power roller R. On the front sub-pallet Pf for the next workpiece discharged from Zf,
With the engine and front suspension positioned and mounted, it can be mounted on the base pallet l-P (that is, on the truck C) of the sub-pallet Pr wheelet conveyance line I7p.

On the other hand, near the connection point between the rear subpallet supply line Lir and the subpallet storage section Zr, the ground table repter 27 that lifts the rear subpallet Pr to the ground is installed, and the overhead conveyor 31r The rear sub pallet Pr for the next work carried by the underground table ripter 25 and underground traverser 26 is transported by the underground table ripter 27, as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. As the arm device 42 descends, each arm 42a is driven to open and close.

In addition, overhead conveyor 3 for front sub-pallets
], f are also constructed in the same manner as the rear side one 31r.

As shown in FIG. 6, a relay table repter 51 housing a relay table 52 is installed near the connection point between the sub-pallet supply line Lif on the front side and the sub-pallet storage section Zf. Machine 3
The front sub pallet Pf for the next work carried by 1f is unloaded onto the relay table 52, and then supplied to the pallet transport lines t and p by the front sub pallet supply line Lif.

As shown in FIG.
a tilting table 53 that receives the sub pallet Pf from 1;
As will be explained in detail later, after being transported and processed by the front side component transport line Laf, the parts are supplied to the pallet transport lines l and p by the rear pallet supply line Lir.

1. As shown in FIG. 7, the rear sub-pallet supply line Lir is conveyed in order from the upstream side by the above-mentioned ground-bound table repter 27 and the rear side parts conveyance line Lar as will be explained in detail later. An unloading table repter 80 for unloading parts (rear suspension), a table repter 71, and a loading table repter 75 equipped with a table 76 that is raised and lowered by a cylinder 77 are conveyor devices equipped with chain-driven power rollers R. 78, and the rear suspension is positioned and mounted on the rear sub-pallet Pr for the next work taken out from the pallet storage zone Zr.
can be mounted on the base pallet P (that is, on the cart C) of the pallet transport line Lp.

The front side unloading table repter 60 is disposed directly below the overheight conveyor (not shown) of the front side parts conveyance line Lar, and is arranged directly below the front subpallet Pf.
It is equipped with a table 61 on which the table 6I is placed, and a cylinder device 62 that raises and lowers the table 6I to adjust its vertical position. When positioning and mounting the subpallet Pf placed on the table 61 via the chain-driven power roller R, the vertical position of the table 61 is adjusted by the cylinder device 62, thereby making it easier for the mounting operator to It is possible to maintain an optimal working posture and improve work efficiency.

Further, the rear side unloading table ripter 8o is also provided with a table 81 and a cylinder device 82 that perform the same function as the two-legged Freon i side one 60, and the rear side parts conveyance line Lar When loading the rear suspension transported on the rear suspension pallet Pr, the lower position of the table 81 can be lowered.

As explained above, according to this embodiment, the above figure is a view taken along the arrow A-A in FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 is a view taken along the arrow B-B in FIG. Figure 6 is an arrow view in the CC direction of Figure 3, and Figure 7
The figure is a view taken in the direction of arrow D-D in Figure 3, and Figure 8 is a view of E in Figure 3.
-E direction, Fig. 9 is an arrow view of Fig. 3 in the F-F direction, Fig. 10 is an arrow view of Fig. 3 in the G-G direction, and Fig. 11 is a 1-1-1-1 direction, and FIG. 12 is a side explanatory view of the overhead conveyor according to the above embodiment.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory front view of the overhead conveyor.

60.80... Unloading table lipta, C... Trolley,
La Laf Lar” one part conveyance line, L i,
L i ", L ir/Zub pallet supply line, Lo
, Lof, Lor...Sub pallet unloading line, Lp...
... Pallet transfer line, Pf... Front sub pallet, Pr... Rear sub pallet, sb... Sub pallet take-out station, Sc... Sub pallet loading station, Sd... Parts loading station, Zw...
Sub pallet storage zone, Zf...Front sub pallet storage section 1. Zr...Riyazabu pallet storage department.

In the middle of the pallet supply lines Lir and Lir, a parts loading station Sd for loading engines, suspensions, etc. onto the subpallets PfPr is installed. , Pr before being supplied to the pallet transport lines t and p, and the above-mentioned problems that would occur when parts are mounted on the base pallet on the pallet transport line can be solved.

In addition, since the unloading table repter 60.80 is installed at the component loading station Sd, the lower position of the sub pallets Pf and Pr can be adjusted during component loading work, making it possible to maintain a good working posture. can.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

All drawings are for detailed explanation of the present invention.
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of the automobile assembly line according to the above embodiment, FIG. 2 is an overall configuration diagram of the pallet changing device installed on the assembly line, and FIG. 3 is a plan view of the pallet changing device described in 1. Figure, No. 413390.6 (8)

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A pallet exchange device that replaces the pallet from a conveyance line that supports and conveys a workpiece loading pallet on a trolley, and a pallet unloading means that takes out an empty pallet from the truck and transports it to a pallet storage zone. a pallet supplying means that takes out a pallet corresponding to the next workpiece from the pallet storage zone and supplies it to the above-mentioned conveyance line; A pallet changing device characterized by comprising: a workpiece loading means for loading a workpiece onto a pallet according to the invention. (2) Claim 1 characterized in that the workpiece mounting means is equipped with a table repter having a table on which a pallet corresponding to the next workpiece is placed, and an adjustment means for adjusting the vertical position of the table. The pallet changing device described.