JPH0561055B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION A. Object of the Invention (1) Industrial Application Field The present invention relates to a conveyance device for conveyed objects such as workpieces, for example, in a vehicle assembly line.
It is used to mount a painted vehicle body and transport it along a transport path in order to assemble various parts onto the vehicle body.

(2) Prior Art Conventional technology has been known to use self-propelled carts that are controlled to run on tracks as a transport device for transporting workpieces in vehicle assembly lines, etc. (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 57-66833 (see publication).

(3) Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, in the conventional system described above, the self-propelled cart is configured to run on a track laid on the work floor, so it is difficult to move the self-propelled cart smoothly at all times. In order to travel, care must always be taken to ensure that there are no obstacles on or around the track, which increases the constraints on the layout of the transport line.

The tracks occupy a large amount of space on the floor of the work site.

Self-propelled trolleys run on the floor of the work site, which increases equipment costs to ensure worker safety.

When carrying out work such as assembly from the underside of a conveyed object such as a workpiece on a self-propelled cart, the track becomes an obstacle.

There is a problem.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a conveying device with a simple configuration that solves all of these problems.

B. Structure of the Invention (1) Means for Solving the Problems In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides a conveying device in which an object is placed on a cart that runs on a work floor. The cart includes a pit recessed in the work floor, a conveyance path laid in the pit, and a floor plate that covers the open upper surface of the pit and has slits opened along the conveyance path. Consisting of a lower part accommodated in the pit and supported movably in the length direction on the conveyance path, and an upper part integrally connected to the lower part through the slit and protruding above the floor plate. The upper part supports a table on which the conveyed object can be placed, and the lower part is disposed in the pit to convey the lower part. A traveling drive mechanism is provided which can be driven to travel along the road.

(2) Effect According to the above configuration, the lower part of the bogie frame is controlled to self-propel on the conveyance path in the pit recessed in the work floor, and only the upper part of the bogie frame is connected to the floor plate covering the top surface of the opening of the pit. A table that protrudes from the slit and is supported by the upper portion above the floorboard runs along a conveyance path under the floorboard, and the conveyed items on the table are
Work such as processing and assembly can be performed. At this time, since there is no conveyance path or carriage driving device on the floorboard, it becomes easier to work, especially to work from below the conveyed object.

(3) Embodiment Hereinafter, an embodiment in which the present invention is applied as a vehicle body conveying device in a vehicle assembly line will be described with reference to the drawings.

In the following description, "front, rear" and "left, right" refer to the direction of movement of the assembly line Li.

In Figures 1 to 3, the work floor Fl in the factory
A transport pit Pi is provided along an assembly line Li for vehicle bodies Bo, and a floor plate 1 flush with the work floor Fl is laid on the open upper surface of the transport pit Pi.

As clearly shown in FIG. 3, in the middle portion of the transport pit Pi in the width direction, the transport pit Pi runs longitudinally within the transport pit Pi. A conveyance path 2 made of a rectangular tube with a square cross section is installed, and a plurality of self-propelled carts Tr are installed on this conveyance path 2.
are provided so as to straddle the conveyance path 2 at regular intervals so as to be able to run on their own. The bogie frame 4 of the self-propelled bogie Tr includes a pair of left and right side plates 5 ₁ , 5 ₂ arranged vertically parallel to each other, and a cross member that integrally connects the upper front and rear parts of the side plates 5 ₁ , 5 _{2 .} In particular, the lower portions of the side plates 5 ₁ and 5 ₂ than the floor plate 1 constitute the lower portion 4l of the bogie frame of the present invention accommodated in the pit Pi, and on the other hand, The portions of the side plates 5 ₁ and 5 ₂ above the floor plate 1 and the cross members 6 and 6 constitute an upper portion 4u of the bogie frame of the present invention that projects above the floor surface 1.

A pair of parallel slits 3, 3 on the left and right are bored in the floor surface 1 along the conveyance path 2, and the upper portion 4u of the truck frame 4 is inserted into the slits 3, 3 from its lower portion 4l. 3 and protrudes above the floorboard 1. A substantially horizontal elevating table 8 serving as a table is provided on the upper portion 4u so as to be movable up and down via an elevating mechanism 7, and a swivel table 9 is mounted on this elevating table 8 and rotates substantially horizontally around a vertical center axis V. The vehicle body Bo is positioned and supported on this swivel base 9 via a pallet Pa, which will be described later.

A plurality of self-propelled trolleys Tr... which are installed so as to be self-propelled on the transport path 2 are arranged such that the front part of the left side plate ₅₁ of each self-propelled trolley Tr,
and a bar-shaped front part extending horizontally in the front-rear direction at the rear, and rear spacing members 10 and 1.
1 are fixed, and their spacing member 10
and 11, the rear spacing member 11 of the preceding self-propelled trolley Tr and the front spacing member 10 fixed to the following self-propelled trolley Tr are abutted, respectively, so that the plurality of self-propelled trolleys Tr... A certain distance is maintained.

A large number of rolling rollers 12 are rotatably supported at the upper left and right side surfaces of the conveyance path 2 at intervals in the longitudinal direction, and these rolling rollers 12 are also rotatably supported.
A plurality of V-grooved rolling rollers 13... are rotatably supported at appropriate locations between the rollers 13..., and the plurality of rolling rollers 12... are provided on the left and right side plates ₅₁ , ₅₂ of the self-propelled cart Tr. The running rails 15, 15 are engaged in a freely running manner, and the plurality of V-grooved rolling rollers 13 are provided with running rails 16, 1 provided on the left and right side plates 5 ₁ , 5 ₂ .
6 is engaged so that it can run freely (FIG. 3). Note that the running rails 15, 15 are V-grooved rolling rollers 1.
Moreover, the vertical positions of the running rails 16, 16 are set so as not to interfere with the rolling rollers 12, respectively.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, a traveling motor 17 is supported at the bottom of the left side plate 5 ₁ that constitutes the lower portion 4l of the truck frame 4 of the self-propelled trolley Tr, and is connected to the traveling motor 17. A pinion 19 is fixed to the output end of the speed reducer 18, and this pinion 19 is meshed with a rack 20 provided on the left side of the conveyance path 2 over its entire length. Therefore, when the traveling motor 17 is driven, the pinion 19 rolls on the rack 20 to move the self-propelled trolley Tr along the conveyance path 2.
It can be run on its own along the The motor 17, speed reducer 18, pinion 19 and rack 20 cooperate with each other to drive the lower part 4l of the bogie frame along the conveyance path 2. It constitutes a drive unit Ru.

In Figures 1 to 3, the slits 3, 3 of the floorboard 1
As described above, the elevating mechanism 7 for elevating the vehicle body Bo is provided at the upper portions of the left and right side plates 5 ₁ and 5 ₂ that protrude upward through the vehicle body Bo. This elevating mechanism 7 includes a pair of left and right cross links 21, 21 whose middle portions are rotatably supported by pivots 22, 22, and the front ends of the cross links 21, 21 are
Pivots 23, 23, 24, 24 are provided at the front portions of the left and right sides of the lifting table 8 and the front portions of the left and right side plates 5 ₁ and 5 ₂ of the truck frame 4, respectively (FIG. 2), and the cross link 21 _{. _}
6, 26 (FIG. 2).
Cross member 6 and cross link 21 of bogie frame 4
An elevating cylinder 27 is connected between them, and by the telescopic operation of the elevating cylinder 27, the elevating table 8 can be moved up and down while maintaining the horizontal state. As clearly shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a locking mechanism 28 for the lifting table 8 is provided between the truck frame 4 and the cross link 21. This lock mechanism 28 is
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a locking piece 30 is provided on the bogie frame 4 and has a plurality of serrated locking teeth 29 on the upper surface, and a locking piece 30 is provided at the rear of the cross link 21 and has a plurality of locking teeth 29... A pawl piece 31 (FIG. 1) that can selectively engage with the retaining teeth 29...
(Fig. 2) It is composed of a hydraulic cylinder 33 that is driven to swing vertically around the locking piece 30, and after the locking piece 30 is fixed at the locking position as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the locking tooth 29... By selectively engaging the claw pieces 31 of the cross link 21, the lifting table 8 is prevented from descending from each lift position, and the locking piece 30 is swung downward by the operation of the hydraulic cylinder 33. , the claw pieces 31 can be disengaged from the locking teeth 29 and the elevating table 8 can be lowered.

A ball bearing 3 is mounted on the lifting table 8 so that the swivel base 9 for supporting and rotating the vehicle body Bo can freely rotate around the vertical center axis V.
4 (FIG. 2).

A drive unit 35 for rotating the swivel base 9 and telescopically operating the hydraulic cylinder 27 of the elevating mechanism 7 is supported by the left side plate ₅₁ of the bogie frame 4 of the self-propelled trolley Tr. and the swivel base 9 are interlocked by a conventionally known interlocking mechanism.

As shown in FIG. 3, a power supply device Se is provided between the right outer surface of the conveyance path 2 and the right side plate ₅₂ of the truck frame 4. This power supply device Se includes a power supply trolley 62 having multiple power supply portions 61 provided over substantially the entire length of the right outer surface of the conveyance path 2, and a trolley frame 4.
Control box 6 fixed to the right side plate 5 ₂
3 and the power supply section 6 of the power supply trolley 62
1, and a current collector 64 slidably in contact with the current collector 64.
No matter where the self-propelled trolley Tr is located with respect to the transport path 2, the current from the power supply trolley 62 is collected by the current collector 6.
Power is supplied to the control box 63 through the control box 4.

The power supply device is conventionally known (trade name: National Hytroreel), so detailed explanation will be omitted.

As clearly shown in FIG. 1, the swivel base 9 has two diametrically extending vehicle front support arms 3.
6, and a vehicle body rear support arm 37 extending substantially horizontally, and the support arms 36, 37
Pairs of left and right pallet support arms 38, 38 and 39, 39 are provided on the left and right sides of the pallet supporting arms 38, 38 and 39, 39, respectively, protruding substantially horizontally in the radial direction. The front and rear support arms 36 and 37 have a
Seats 40 and 41 are respectively provided for receiving on the bottom surface of Bo, and reference pins 42 are provided upwardly projecting from the tips of the left and right pallet support arms 38, 38 and 39, 39, respectively. and said pallet support arms 38, 38 and 3.
A vehicle body positioning pallet Pa, which will be described later, is removably supported at 9 and 39.

A brake 44 for stopping rotation of the swivel base 9 is provided on the outer periphery of the swivel base 9. This brake 44 consists of a brake piece 45 that is pressed against the outer peripheral surface of the swivel base 9, and a brake arm 46 that operates this brake piece 45.

The vehicle body positioning pallet Pa is composed of a pair of pallet halves 47 ₁ and 47 ₂ , and one pallet half 47 ₁ is attached to the pallet support arms 38 and 3 .
8 and the other pallet half 47 ₂
are supported on the pallet support arms 39, 39.

Since the pair of pallet halves 47 ₁ and 47 ₂ have the same structure, the structure of one pallet half 47 ₁ will be explained below mainly with reference to FIGS. 4 to 7.
The pallet half body 47 ₁ is formed into an elongated rectangular shape,
Reference pin holes 48, 48 into which the reference pins 42, 42 are inserted are bored at both ends thereof, and near the reference pin holes 48, 48, pin holes 49 are provided for positioning the pallet Pa to each assembly station. ，
49 is drilled. In addition, at one end of the pallet half body ₄₇₁ (left end in FIGS. 4 and 5), there is a bent extension part 50.
is integrally extended, and three vehicle body positioning pin holes 51 are bored in this bent extension part 50, and one vehicle body positioning pin 52 is inserted and fixed upward into one of them. Pin 52 is a pallet
When the car body Bo is positioned and fixed on Pa, the car body Bo
It is designed to be inserted into a pin hole h (Fig. 2) drilled in the bottom surface of the holder. Also half a palette 47
₁ (the right end in FIGS. 4 and 5) is provided with a vehicle body alignment mechanism Aj. This body alignment mechanism Aj is
The details are shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, in which a long hole 54 is bored at the rear end of the pallet half ₄₇₁ perpendicular to the longitudinal direction thereof, and a screw rod 55 is inserted along the long hole 54. is rotatably penetrated through the pallet half body 471, and both ends thereof are received by bearing members 56 and 57 fixed to both side surfaces of the pallet half body ₄₇₁ so as not to move in the axial direction. The screw rod 55 has a long hole 5.
A slider 58 that is slidably fitted into the pallet half body 47 is screwed into the slider 58, and a vehicle body pressing member 59 is fixed to the tip of the slider 58, and this member 59 is fixed onto the end of the pallet half body ₄₇₁ . It is designed to be able to slide forward and backward on the vehicle body support 60. A pair of pallet halves 47 ₁ , 47 ₂ as shown by the chain lines in FIGS. 2 and 3
When the vehicle body Bo is placed on the pallet Pa consisting of the pallet halves 47 ₁ and 47 ₂
The vehicle body alignment mechanism Aj, Aj provided at the right end of the figure)
If the screw rods 55, 55 are rotated and adjusted in the direction of the arrow a in FIG.
the vehicle body pressing members 59, 5 at the tip thereof.
9 presses and holds the side sills at the bottom of the vehicle body Bo from both sides, and works with the vehicle body positioning pins 52, 52 to move the vehicle body Bo so that the longitudinal center axis of the vehicle body Bo coincides with the longitudinal center axis of the self-propelled trolley Tr. , palette Pa
It can be fixed by holding onto the top and positioning it.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained.

When the travel motor 17 is driven by power supply control from the power supply device Se, the self-propelled trolley Tr can be self-propelled along the transport path 2. Self-propelled trolley
In the Tr, the upper lifting table 8 and the turning table 9 of the truck frame 4 protrude upward from the upper surface of the floor plate 1, and the lifting mechanism 7 lifts and lowers the lifting table 8.
can be moved up and down on the floor plate 1 together with the swivel table 9, and furthermore, the swivel table 9 can be turned on the lifting table 8 about the vertical center axis V by the operation of the drive unit 35.

On the swivel table 9 is a conveyed object, that is, a vehicle body Bo.
is positioned and supported. That is, the vehicle body Bo that has been transported by an overhead conveyor or the like is lowered onto a pallet Pa and placed there. When mounting the vehicle body, first the vehicle body positioning pins 52, 52 provided at the front part of the pallet Pa are inserted into the pin holes h, h (Fig. 2) drilled in the bottom plate of the vehicle body Bo, and then the vehicle body positioning pins 52, 52 provided at the front part of the pallet Pa are inserted into the pin holes h, h (Fig. 2) drilled in the bottom plate of the vehicle body Bo. The threaded rods 55 of the provided pair of vehicle body alignment mechanisms Aj, Aj (Figs. 6 and 7),
55 is rotated to move the sliders 58, 58 forward in synchronization, and the vehicle body is pressed by the vehicle body pressing members 59, 59.
Press and hold both sides of the lower side sill of Bo (Figure 6). As a result, the vertical center line of the car body Bo is
It is aligned with the longitudinal center line of the self-propelled trolley Tr (FIG. 3) and firmly fixed onto the pallet Pa.

The plurality of vehicle body positioning pin holes 51... (FIG. 4) provided in the pallet halves 47 ₁ and 47 ₂ are for accommodating a plurality of types of vehicle bodies Bo having different sizes.

Once the vehicle body Bo is positioned and supported on the swivel base 9 as described above, the self-propelled trolley Tr is controlled to run, and the elevating table 8 is controlled to move up and down, or the swivel base 9 is controlled to swivel to move the object to be transported, that is, the vehicle body Bo. Assembles various parts.

In addition, although the case where the conveyance apparatus of this invention was implemented in the assembly line of a vehicle was demonstrated in the said Example, it goes without saying that this invention can be applied as a general conveyance apparatus.

C. Effects of the Invention As described above, according to the present invention, there is a pit recessed in the work floor, a conveyance path laid inside the pit, and a slit that covers the open top surface of the pit and is installed along the conveyance path. Equipped with a floor plate with an opening,
The trolley is composed of a lower part that is housed in a pit and is supported movably in the length direction on the conveyance path, and an upper part that is integrally connected to this lower part through the slit and projects above the floor plate. The upper part supports a table on which objects can be placed, and the lower part is disposed in a pit between the lower part and the transport path, and the lower part is placed along the transport path. Since a traveling drive mechanism that can be driven to travel is provided, the entire conveyance path along which the trolley travels can be stored in the pit, and the open top of the pit can be shielded from the working space on the ground by the floor plate that covers the open top surface of the pit. When laying out a road, the influence and restrictions caused by obstacles on the ground can be minimized, and the degree of freedom in design can be increased. In addition, the transport path and the running drive device for the trolley are located in a pit under the floorboard, making it possible to prevent foreign objects from entering these mechanical parts and dust from adhering to them as much as possible, allowing the trolley to always run smoothly and easily. At the same time, the frequency of maintenance of the mechanical parts can be reduced.

In addition, since the top surface of the pit is covered with a floorboard, even if there is no cart on the transport path, the transport path and the space inside the pit are not exposed to the work floor side, which prevents workers from accidentally falling into the pit. In addition, there is no possibility that the pit or the conveyance path will become an obstacle for the worker to walk. In addition, when performing assembly work on the transported objects on the trolley in the work space around the trolley on the floorboard, the pit space, the conveyance path, the trolley drive device, etc. do not get in the way of the work, so the work can be done easily. It is easy to remove and can greatly contribute to improving workability, especially when working from the bottom of the conveyed object.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawings show an embodiment of the device of the present invention; FIG. 1 is a perspective view thereof, FIG. 2 is a side view thereof, FIG. 3 is a rear view along the line of FIG. 2, and FIG. The plan view of the pallet half, Figure 5, is the same as Figure 4-
A cross-sectional view of the pallet half along the line, FIG. 6, is a cross-sectional view of the pallet half along the line, FIG.
The figure is an exploded perspective view of the vehicle body alignment mechanism. Fl...Work floor, Pi...Transportation pit, Ru...
...traveling drive device, Bo...vehicle body as conveyed object,
Tr... Self-propelled trolley as a trolley, 1... Floor plate, 2
...Conveyance path, 3...Slit, 4...Dolly frame, 4
u...upper part, 4l...lower part, 8...lifting table as a table.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. Objects to be transported on a trolley Tr running on a work floor Fl.
In the conveyance device configured to carry Bo on it, a pit Pi recessed in the work floor Fl;
A conveyance path 2 laid in this pit Pi, and a conveyance path 2 that covers the open upper surface of the pit Pi.
A floor plate 1 having a slit 3 opened along the
The trolley Tr includes a lower portion 4l that is housed in the pit Pi and is supported movably in the length direction of the transport path 2, and is integrally connected to the lower portion 4l through the slit 3. The truck frame 4 includes an upper portion 4u projecting upward from the floor plate 1. The upper portion 4u supports a table 8 on which the transported object Bo can be placed, and the lower portion 4l
and the conveyance path 2, there is provided a travel drive device Ru disposed within the pit Pi and capable of driving the lower portion 4l to travel along the conveyance path 2,
Conveyance device. 2. In the conveying device according to claim 1, the traveling drive device Ru is configured to move the lower portion 4
A conveying device comprising a traveling motor 17 provided on the conveyor path 2, and a pinion 19 driven by the motor 17 and meshing with a rack 20 provided on the conveyance path 2.