JPH0424272B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] A. Purpose of the invention (1) Industrial application field TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to automobile assembly equipment.

(2) Prior Art A conventional automobile assembly device includes a predetermined conveyance path provided on the floor, a cart that can move on the conveyance path with a vehicle body mounted vertically on the conveyance path, and a conveyance path. A plurality of assembly jigs are respectively disposed on at least one side of the vehicle body, and a plurality of jig support mechanisms each support the jigs so as to be movable in a direction substantially perpendicular to the conveyance path relative to the vehicle body. A similar method is known, and in that case, during assembly, the car body on the truck is moved along the conveyance path together with the truck, and the truck is stopped at a predetermined position corresponding to the assembly jig, and the jig is operated. , parts are assembled onto the car body.

(3) Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, in the above-mentioned conventional device, long car bodies are transported with their longitudinal direction (vertical direction) aligned with the transport direction, so the space occupied by each car body on the transport path is limited. It is relatively long in the front-rear direction, and the work space required for each assembly process is correspondingly large in the transport direction.

In addition, in the conventional device described above, since the conveyance path runs vertically through the vehicle body when viewed from above, even if the jig support mechanism is installed in a pit recessed in the floor adjacent to the side edge of the conveyance path. It is not easy to place the corresponding jigs under the car body because they are obstructed by the transport path, and when workers move around under the car body to assemble parts from below, they are obstructed by the transport path and the work is difficult. There are problems such as poor efficiency.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an automobile assembly device that can solve all of the above-mentioned problems of conventional devices.

B. Structure of the invention (1) Means for explaining the problem According to the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, a predetermined conveyance path provided on the floor and a vehicle body are arranged sideways with respect to the conveyance path. a trolley capable of moving on the conveyance path in a state where the vehicle body is mounted such that at least one end in the longitudinal direction overhangs the conveyance path to the side; and a trolley disposed on at least one side of the conveyance path. The truck is equipped with a plurality of assembly jigs and a plurality of jig support mechanisms that support the jigs so that they can advance and retreat, respectively, along a direction substantially perpendicular to the conveyance path with respect to the vehicle body, and the vehicle body on the truck An elevating mechanism capable of elevating and lowering the vehicle is attached, and at least a part of the jig support mechanism is recessed in the floor adjacent to the side edge of the conveyance path so that an opening faces the bottom surface of the one end of the vehicle body. Installed in the pit, the corresponding jig can be reciprocated between a forward position where parts can be assembled to the vehicle body from below and a backward position where parts can be received from a parts supply section outside the pit. configured.

(2) Effect The car bodies are transported sideways on the transport path, and the space occupied by each car body on the transport path becomes relatively short in the transport direction, so the work space required for each assembly process is correspondingly reduced in the transport direction. It is shortened and space is saved.

In addition, by mounting the car body on the trolley so that it faces sideways with respect to the conveyance path, and so that at least one end of the car body in the front and back direction overhangs the conveyance path laterally, the conveyance path is The space below the above-mentioned overhang of the moving vehicle body is a space for installing a jig that corresponds to the jig support mechanism in the pit, and an employee can use the jig to remove the vehicle body. The working space for assembling parts from below is secured as wide as possible without being obstructed by the conveyance path.

Furthermore, by installing a jig support mechanism for assembling parts onto the vehicle body from below in a pit recessed in the floor adjacent to the side edge of the transport path, the installation height of the corresponding jig can be reduced. Since the height can be lowered, the relative position between the jig and the vehicle can be appropriately installed without increasing the vehicle body lifting stroke by the lifting mechanism.

(3) Embodiment An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. First, in FIG. The vehicle body 1 is placed sideways with respect to the conveyance path 41a, and the front and rear ends of the vehicle 1 are on the side of the conveyance path 41a. It is mounted so that it overhangs towards the side. A plurality of assembly positions P ₁ , P _{2 .} . . are set at intervals along the conveyance direction 3 in the conveyance path 41a.
When the traveling carriage 2 comes to a stop, parts are simultaneously assembled from both the left and right sides of the conveyance path 41a.

In FIG. 2, the traveling trolley 2 has a rectangular hollow base 4, and four wheels 5 are mounted on the lower part of the base 4.
is installed so that it can be steered. Each wheel 5 is arranged on a virtual circle 11 centered on the center of the base 4 and at each vertex position of a rectangle, and by steering these wheels 5, the direction of the traveling vehicle 2, that is, the traveling vehicle 2 The orientation of the upper vehicle body 1 can be changed arbitrarily.

In FIGS. 3 and 4, each wheel 5 is pivotally supported with a horizontal axis on a substantially U-shaped support member 12 that opens downward, and is integrally mounted on the upper part of this support member 12. A protruding support shaft 13 is rotatably supported by a support arm 14 about a vertical axis.
Furthermore, the support arm 14 is fixed to the base 4.

Two support members 1 supported on one side of the base 4
An air motor 7 is supported and fixed on the side of the wheel 2, and the output shaft 15 of this motor 7 is connected to the wheel shaft 16.
coaxially connected to the

A steering mechanism 6 is attached to each wheel 5, and each steering mechanism 6 is connected to a support shaft 1.
3, and an air cylinder 20 having a piston rod 19 connected to the other end of the swing arm 17 via a pin 18. The air cylinder 20 is
It is supported horizontally by a bracket 21 fixed to the base 4 via a pin 22.

In such a steering mechanism 6, the support shaft 13, that is, the support member 12, rotates around the vertical axis due to the expansion and contraction operation of the air cylinder 20, thereby steering the wheels 5.

The base 4 is provided with a lifting mechanism L for driving the vehicle body 1 up and down on the base 4. Next, referring also to FIGS. 5 and 6, the lifting mechanism L
To explain the specific structure, a pair of cylindrical guide posts 8 are erected at an interval larger than the width of the vehicle body 1, and a pair of receiving members 9 are movable up and down along each cylindrical guide post 8. The left and right bottom portions of the vehicle body 1 are placed on top. An elevating tube 23 is slid into each guide post 8, and a support plate 24 extending along the guide post 8 is fixed to the upper end of the elevating tube 23 protruding from the upper end of the guide post 8. The lower end of this support plate 24 A receiving member 9 is fixedly installed in each. A nut 25 is fixed to the lower end of the elevating cylinder 23 within the guide post 8, and a screw shaft 26 is screwed into the nut 25. A guide member 27 that can slide within the elevating tube 23 is fixed to the upper end of the screw shaft 26, and a first bevel gear 28 is fixed to the lower end of the screw shaft 26.

As clearly shown in FIG. 6, a groove 29 extending in the axial direction is provided on the inner surface of the guide 8 over the entire length, and a protrusion 30 that slides into the groove 29 is provided on the outer surface of the elevating tube 23. . As a result, the elevating tube 23 is prevented from rotating around the axis, but is allowed to move in the axial direction, so that the elevating tube 23 moves up and down in response to the rotating movement of the screw shaft 26.
Moreover, since the receiving member 9 is connected to the elevating cylinder 23 via the support member 24, the receiving member 9 is raised and lowered in accordance with the rotational movement of the screw shaft 26.

The lower end of the guide post 8 protrudes into the base 4, and a gearbox 31 is fitted into and fixed to the lower end of the guide post 8. A first bevel gear 28 is rotatably supported within the gearbox 31. Further, a support cylinder 32 extending inward of the base 4 is connected to the side of the gearbox 31, and a second bevel gear 33 rotatably supported by the support cylinder 32 is connected to the first gear in the gearbox 31. It meshes with the bevel gear 28.

A drive source (not shown) is mounted inside the base 4 between both guide posts 8, and a transmission shaft 34 connected to the drive source is coaxially connected to the second bevel gear 33. As a result, both receiving members 9, and thus the vehicle body 1, move up and down while maintaining a horizontal posture in response to the operation of the drive source.

In FIG. 7, at the assembly position P ₁ , a plurality of engines E, which have been assembled in advance, are placed on a tray 35 and stored in the front side of the vehicle body 1 that is being transported by the traveling trolley 2. On the rear side of the vehicle body 1, a rear suspension mount 38 is provided as a parts supply unit in which a plurality of rear suspensions S, which have been assembled in advance, are placed on a tray 37 and stored therein. will be placed.

In order to transfer the engine E on the engine stand 36 to the vehicle body 1 side, the engine transfer jig 39 as an assembly jig is placed adjacent to the engine stand 36 at a retreat position where it can receive the engine E from the engine stand 36. ,
It is arranged so as to be movable back and forth between a forward position where the engine E can be assembled to the vehicle body 1 on the traveling bogie 2 from below the front of the vehicle body 1, and on the other hand, the rear suspension S on the rear suspension mounting base 38. The car body 1
In order to transfer the rear suspension to the side, the rear suspension transfer jig 40 as an assembly jig is placed in a retracted position adjacent to the rear suspension stand 38 and capable of receiving the rear suspension S from the stand 38, and on the traveling trolley 2. It is disposed so as to be movable back and forth between a forward position where a rear suspension S can be attached to the vehicle body 1 from below.

At the assembly position P ₁ , a pit 42 is recessed in the floor surface 41 between one side edge of the conveyance path 41 a and the engine stand 36 , and the opening of this pit 42 is located above the traveling carriage 2 . The pit 42 faces the front bottom surface of the vehicle body 1, and an endless tact conveyor 43 serving as a jig support mechanism is housed in the pit 42. An endless chain 4 is attached to one turn roller 44 around which the tact conveyor 43 is wound.
A motor 46 is connected through the motor 5, and the tact conveyor 43 travels due to the operation of the motor 46. Moreover, the motor 46 can be rotated in forward and reverse directions.
The tact conveyor 43 is capable of reciprocating. The engine loading jig 3 is placed in the middle of this tact conveyor 43.
9 is fixed. The engine loading jig 39 includes, for example, a mounting table 48 provided at the upper end of a piston rod (not shown) in an air cylinder 47 that extends up and down, and a midway portion of the air cylinder 47 is fixed to the tact conveyor 43.

Therefore, the engine loading jig 39 is
The engine E is mounted on the vehicle body 1 and can be moved back and forth between the forward position and the reverse position, and in the forward position, the engine E can be lifted up to be assembled to the vehicle body 1 from below the front of the vehicle body 1. .

The rear suspension loading jig 40 is also configured in the same manner as the engine loading jig 39 described above, and is recessed in the floor surface 41 and has an opening that is connected to the vehicle body 1 on the traveling bogie 2.
It is housed in a pit 49 facing the rear bottom surface and is driven by a motor 50, and is fixedly installed in the middle of a tact conveyor 51 as a jig support mechanism.

In FIG. 8, at the assembly position _P2 , an oil filling jig 52 serving as an assembly jig is disposed on the front side of the vehicle body 1 on the traveling trolley 2 so as to be close to the vehicle body 1.
A spare tire mounting jig 5 is provided on the rear side of the vehicle body 1 as an assembly jig for mounting a spare tire T.
3 is arranged so as to be close to the vehicle body 1.

That is, at the assembly position _P2 , on the front side of the vehicle body 2 on the traveling trolley 1, a guide stand 54 serving as a jig support mechanism extending in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction 3 is fixed on the floor surface 41, and the radiator An oil filling jig 52 equipped with a nozzle 55 for filling cooling water, brake oil, power steering oil, window washer fluid, air conditioner gas, etc. is slidably placed on a guide stand 54. . Further, the spare tire mounting jig 53 is provided at the tip of an arm 57 of a robot 56 serving as a jig support mechanism, and the arm 57 is movable toward the vehicle body 1.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained. In the assembly process, the vehicle body 1 mounted on the receiving member 9 is placed sideways with respect to the conveyance path 41a, and the traveling bogie 2
The traveling carriage 2 is stopped at the assembly position _P1 , and the receiving member 9 is raised. At this assembly position _P1 , the engine loading jig 39 and the rear suspension loading jig 40 are installed from both the front and rear of the vehicle body 1.
is moved toward the car body 1, and each jig 3
9 and 40, and assemble the engine E and rear suspension S to the vehicle body 1 from below. Thereafter, each of the loading jigs 39 and 40 is returned to its original position, and the traveling trolley 2 starts traveling.

When the traveling bogie 2 reaches the assembly position _P2 , the receiving member 9 has been lowered and the bottom 1a of the vehicle body 1 has been lowered.
and the oil filling jig 52 and the spare tire mounting jig 5 with the trunk lid 1b open.
3 toward the vehicle body 1, filling with oil and fats and installing the spare tire T into the trunk.

In this manner, in the assembly process, the vehicle body 1 is transported in a horizontal position with respect to the transport path 41a,
At each assembly position P ₁ , P _{2 .} . . , components are assembled from a direction substantially orthogonal to the conveyance path 41a.

C. Effects of the Invention As described above, according to the present invention, a predetermined conveyance path provided on the floor surface and a vehicle body are conveyed so that the vehicle body is oriented sideways to the conveyance path, and at least one end of the vehicle body in the longitudinal direction is conveyed. A truck that can be moved on the conveyance path while being mounted so as to overhang the conveyance path, a plurality of assembly jigs each disposed on at least one side of the conveyance path, and these jigs attached to the vehicle body. On the other hand, the truck is provided with a plurality of jig support mechanisms that support each other so as to move forward and backward along a direction substantially perpendicular to the conveyance path, and the truck is provided with an elevating mechanism that can move the vehicle body on the truck up and down. The jig support mechanism is installed in a pit recessed in the floor adjacent to the side edge of the conveyance path so that the opening faces the bottom surface of the one end of the vehicle body, and the corresponding jig is mounted on the vehicle body. The vehicle body is configured to be able to reciprocate between a forward position where parts can be assembled from below and a backward position where parts can be received from a parts supply section outside the pit. As a result, the space occupied by each vehicle body on the conveyance path becomes relatively short in the conveyance direction, and the work space required for each assembly process is correspondingly shortened in the conveyance direction, making it possible to save space.

Moreover, by mounting the car body on the trolley so that it faces sideways with respect to the conveyance path, and in such a way that at least one end of the car body in the front and rear direction overhangs the conveyance path laterally, the conveyance path is The space below the overhang of the car body is a space for installing a jig that corresponds to the jig support mechanism in the pit, and employees can use the jig to remove the car body. The work space for assembling parts from below can be secured as wide as possible without being obstructed by the conveyance path, so even though the conveyance path is installed on the floor, it is possible to secure a work space as wide as possible when assembling parts from below to the vehicle body. Parts assembly work can be performed extremely efficiently and accurately.

Furthermore, by installing a jig support mechanism for assembling parts to the car body from below in a pit recessed in the floor, the installation height of the corresponding jig can be lowered accordingly. Even if the lifting and lowering stroke of the vehicle body by the lifting mechanism is not particularly high,
The relative position between the jig and the vehicle body can be set appropriately, and therefore the height of the assembly device from the floor can be kept low.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The drawings show one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1 is a partial plan view of an assembly device, FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway enlarged plan view of a traveling truck, and FIG. 3 is a view taken in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 2. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the - line in FIG. 3, FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the - line in FIG. FIG. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the - line in FIG. 1. E... Engine as a part, L... Lifting mechanism, S... Rear suspension as a part, 1
...Vehicle body, 2...Running trolley as a trolley, 3...
Conveyance direction, 36; 38...Engine mounting stand as parts supply unit; Rear suspension mounting stand, 39; 4
0... Engine loading jig as a jig; Rear suspension loading jig, 41... Floor surface, 41a...
Conveyance path, 42, 49... Pit, 43, 51...
Tact conveyor as jig support mechanism, 52;5
3... Oil filling jig as a jig; Spare tire mounting jig, 54; 56... Guide stand as a jig support mechanism; Robot.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A predetermined conveyance path 41a provided on the floor surface 41 and the vehicle body 1 are arranged so that the vehicle body 1 is oriented laterally with respect to the conveyance path 41a, and at least one end of the vehicle body 1 in the longitudinal direction is lateral to the conveyance path 41a. A cart 2 that can be moved on the conveyance path 41a in an overhanging state, and a plurality of assembly jigs 3 each disposed on at least one side of the conveyance path 41a.
9, 40, 52, 53 and those jigs 39, 4
0, 52, 53 to the vehicle body 1 on the conveyance path 4.
A plurality of jig support mechanisms 43, 51, 5 each supported movably in a direction substantially orthogonal to 1a.
4, 57, and the trolley 2 has a
A lifting mechanism L capable of driving the upper vehicle body 1 up and down is attached, and at least a part of the jig support mechanism 4
3 and 51 are installed in pits 42 and 49 that are recessed in the floor surface 41 adjacent to the side edge of the conveyance path 41a so that the opening faces the bottom surface of the one end of the vehicle body 1, and The jigs 39 and 40 to
It can be reciprocated between a forward position where the parts E and S can be assembled onto the vehicle body 1 from below and a backward position where the parts E and S can be received from the parts supply parts 36 and 38 outside the pits 42 and 49. An automobile assembly device characterized in that it is configured as follows.