JPH06285687A - Welding equipment for automotive body - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a welding equipment for an automotive body which can cope with many automotive models, in which the replacement of welding jigs at the time of changing models is quickly carried out, and in which the storage space of the jigs is efficiently laid out. CONSTITUTION:A cab side jig storage rack 6 in which plural kinds of cab side jigs 60 are stored vertically in accordance with automotive models, an elevator device 62 by which prescribed jigs are taken out from the jig storage rack, and a cab side jig holder 34 rotating to a position for receiving the cab side jigs and to a position for setting the cab side jigs in a posture to be attached for a work W are provided. Additionally, a roof jig storage rack 7 in which plural kinds of roof jigs 70 are stored vertically in accordance with automotive models, an elevator device 72 by which prescribed jigs are taken out from the jig storage rack, and a roof jig transporting device 83 by which the roof jigs taken out by the elevator device are carried to a prescribed position in a work transporting line 1 together with a roof panel are provided.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicle body welding apparatus for positioning vehicle body panel members of an automobile relative to each other and welding them.

[0002]

As is well known, when welding and assembling a vehicle body of an automobile, the basic panel members constituting the vehicle body such as a floor panel, a cab side panel and a roof panel are positioned relative to each other and the Some body panel members are welded together at a welding station. In the welding of such a vehicle body, positioning jigs corresponding to the respective panel members are required in order to mutually position the vehicle body panel members at the welding station.
Since such a positioning jig is considerably large and heavy, it is generally not easy to handle it during storage, transportation or replacement. Therefore, in order to handle the jig in these cases safely and efficiently, various measures have been conventionally made (see, for example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 4-11312).

[0003]

By the way, in recent years, with the increase in the number of vehicle types corresponding to the diversification of user's tastes, even in the vehicle body assembly line, the vehicle bodies are required for many vehicle types in one line. It is required to be able to assemble at a timing and efficiently. Therefore, even in the vehicle body welding process, it is necessary to prepare each welding jig and supply the vehicle body panel member to be welded corresponding to many vehicle types, and waste the space for storage and supply. Efficiently, and when changing the vehicle type, the necessary jigs of many kinds of stored (vehicle type) jigs can be efficiently sent to the welding station or set station for quick jig exchange. It is important to.

Therefore, the present invention is applicable to many vehicle types, and the welding jigs can be quickly replaced when the vehicle type is changed, and the storage space for these jigs can be efficiently laid out. The main purpose is to provide a welding device.

[0005]

For this reason, the vehicle body welding apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention is a vehicle body welding apparatus for positioning vehicle body panel members of an automobile relative to each other and welding the same. And a cab side panel for supplying the cab side panel to be welded to a predetermined position of the work transfer line, and a welding station provided in the middle of at least a welding means for welding the cab side panel and the roof panel in a positioned state. A supply means, a plurality of cabside jig storage racks for accommodating the cabside jigs for positioning the cabside panel above and below, and a plurality of cabside jigs from the jig storage rack. An elevator device for taking out a predetermined one of them and a cabside jig taken out by the elevator device. A cabside jig holding means that rotates to a pick-up receiving position and a set position that sets the cabside jig in a mounting posture on a work, and a roof jig for positioning the roof panel are provided according to the vehicle type. A roof jig storage rack that stores a plurality of types of roof jigs, an elevator device for taking out a predetermined one of the plurality of types of roof jigs from the jig storage rack, and a roof jig that is taken out by the elevator device. A roof jig carrying means for carrying the work to a predetermined position of the work carrying line is provided together with the panel.

A second invention of the present application is the vehicle welding apparatus according to the first invention, wherein the elevator device for taking out a predetermined cabside jig from the cabside jig storage rack is taken out. It is characterized in that the cabside jig is provided with a moving means capable of moving the cabside jig in two directions of a jig take-out direction and a delivery direction to the cabside jig holding means in a horizontal plane.

Further, a third invention of the present application is the vehicle body welding apparatus according to the first invention, wherein the elevator apparatus for taking out a predetermined cabside jig from the cabside jig storage rack is a rack shelf. While raising and lowering itself, the cabside jig holding means can move between a side of the cabside jig storage rack and a mounting position on a work.

Further, a fourth invention of the present application is, in the welding apparatus for a vehicle body according to the above-mentioned first to third inventions, that the vehicle body panel members to be welded are preliminarily combined with each other before being welded to each other. It is characterized in that a presetting means for matching is provided.

[0009]

According to the first invention of the present application, since the cab side jig storage rack and the roof jig storage rack are provided, a plurality of types of cab side jigs and roof jigs that differ depending on the vehicle type are provided. When storing the above, these can be stored up and down, and it becomes possible to store various kinds of jigs in a small space. Further, since the roof jig transfer means is provided, the roof jig taken out from the roof jig storage rack can be transferred to the work transfer line side together with the roof panel, so that efficient transfer can be performed. it can.

Further, according to the second invention of the present application, basically, the same effect as that of the first invention can be obtained. Moreover, the cabside jig taken out from the cabside jig storage rack is held in the elevator device for taking out a predetermined cabside jig from the cabside jig storage rack in the horizontal plane. Since the moving means that can move in two directions of the delivery to the means is provided, the cabside jig is taken out from the storage rack and delivered to the jig holding means without the need of providing a special device. be able to.

Furthermore, according to the third invention of the present application, basically, the same effect as that of the first invention can be obtained. Moreover, while the elevator device for taking out a predetermined cabside jig from the cabside jig storage rack elevates and lowers the rack shelf itself, the cabside jig holding means is the cabside jig. Since it is possible to move between the side of the storage rack and the mounting position on the work, the elevator device needs to move the taken out cab side jig only in the jig take-out direction in the horizontal plane. The means for moving the cab side jig can be simplified. In addition, since the number of times the cabside jig is delivered can be reduced, the jig can be replaced efficiently.

Further, according to the fourth invention of the present application,
Basically, the same effects as those of the first to third inventions can be obtained. Moreover, since the preset means is further provided, the vehicle body panel members to be welded can be combined in advance with each other before welding and engaged with each other, and work for setting each welding jig during welding. It is possible to improve the sex.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, the welding apparatus according to the present embodiment,
Basically, each body panel member that constitutes a vehicle body of an automobile, that is, a floor panel that constitutes a floor surface of the vehicle body, left and right cab side panels that constitute side portions of the vehicle body, and a roof panel that constitutes a vehicle compartment ceiling portion. By positioning and welding each other with respect to each other, the basic outer panel portion of the vehicle body is assembled. In this embodiment, in addition to the above-mentioned vehicle body panel members, the vehicle compartment and the engine room are separated from each other. The cowl / dash assembly is also welded at the same time. Further, in the present embodiment, the floor panel is supplied as an underbody with sub parts (for example, left and right side sills and reinforcements) attached to the floor panel attached. Similarly, the roof panel is supplied as a roof assembly with sub-parts such as reinforcements attached.

Further, in the above welding apparatus, even if there is a change in the vehicle type of the vehicle body to be welded, this can be dealt with, that is, one line can be used for multiple vehicle types.
It is possible to weld the vehicle body (for example, six vehicle models A to F). In the following description, those dedicated to the vehicle types A to F (for example, welding jigs) will be indicated by adding the uppercase alphabetical symbols A to F after their numbers. However, when it is not necessary to indicate the distinction between the vehicle types, the alphabetical code is not added and only the numerical code is displayed.

First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a plan view schematically showing the overall configuration of the vehicle body welding apparatus according to the present embodiment. As shown in the figure, the welding apparatus for a vehicle body sequentially receives an underbody receiving station 2 for receiving an underbody to be welded along a work transfer line 1 from an upstream side thereof, and an underbody receiving station for receiving the underbody at the receiving station 2. The underbody is provided with a cab side panel, a roof assembly and a cowl / dash assembly, and a tacking station 3 for tacking and welding the combined work W (vehicle body). Further, on the downstream side of the tacking station 3, there is provided an extra-strike station 4 for performing additional striking on each part of the work W after tack-welding, and on the downstream side of the extra-strike station 4, welding is performed. A work payout station 5 for paying out the finished work W to the next process is provided. The work payout station 5 is provided with lifting devices 51, 51 for lifting the work W after welding and placing it on the transfer device 50 for the next process. Stands 12 to 15 (stationary jigs) for placing the underbody in a positioned state are provided in the respective stations 2 to 5, and these stand 12 to 15 are
As described below, they are provided at a predetermined interval.

The work transfer line 1 is composed of a so-called plane shuttle 10 composed of one long rod member, and the plane shuttle 10 is provided with each of the stands 12 to 5 installed in each of the stations 2 to 5. 15 is provided so as to be slidable in the longitudinal direction, and each stand 1
The reciprocating operation is performed at a pitch equal to the interval between 2 and 15. The work W set in each station is carried into the next station by one pitch to the front (downstream side) of the plane shuttle 10 and placed on the stand of this station. Although not specifically shown, each of the stands 12 to 15 is provided with a large number of XYZ 3-axis positioning units that receive and position the underbody, and can position various different underbody types. It is like this. Further, each of the positioning units is provided with a positioning pin, and the positioning pins are provided so as to be retractable in the vertical direction so as to prevent mutual interference when receiving the underbody.

When the plane shuttle 10 is moved back one pitch and then driven forward one pitch again, the underbody is driven, for example, before the plane shuttle 10 is driven, for example, an elevating cylinder attached to the shuttle 10.
Lifted by (not shown) and at the same time the positioning unit
The positioning by (not shown) is released (that is, the positioning pin is removed, for example), the underbody is placed on the plane shuttle 10, and is further transported to the stand of the next station. That is, each of the above stations 2-5
Are provided at intervals equal to the pitch of the reciprocating motion of the plane shuttle 10, and the underbody (and hence the work W) located at each station moves forward by one pitch each time the plane shuttle 10 reciprocates. (Downstream side)
It is moved to and is transported to the next station. The plane shuttle 10 and the positioning unit (not shown) are the same as those well known in the prior art, and therefore detailed illustration and description of the structure thereof will be omitted.

The underbody receiving station 2 is
The work is located below a predetermined portion of an underbody supply line 20 equipped with, for example, an overhead type conveying device as a supply means for supplying an underbody to be welded, and receives a predetermined underbody from the supply line 20. Stand 12 placed along the transfer line 1
It is equipped with drop lifters 21, 21 that are lowered.

As can be seen from FIG. 2, traveling robot devices 31 and 31 are provided on the left and right sides laterally between the stand 12 of the underbody receiving station 2 and the stand 13 of the temporary attachment station 3. The robot device 31, 3
1 is, for example, an overhead type cab side panel supply line 35, 35 for supplying left and right cab side panels.
The cab side panel is received from and supplied to the tacking station 3, and spot welding can be performed at the tacking station 3. In addition, in this temporary attachment station 3, there are also two stationary welding robots 3
2, 32 are provided. Further, a cowl / dash assembly supply line 36 is laid between the traveling robot device 31 on one side and the stand 13 of the temporary attachment station 3, and the supply line 36 is provided on the floor for carrying the cowl / dash assembly. A train 37 is provided.

The tacking station 3 is a station for performing tack welding by spot welding in a state where the assembled vehicle body panel members are accurately positioned by predetermined positioning jigs. Spot welding is performed by the robot device 31 and the two stationary robots 32. Then, in the temporary attachment station 3, the underbody is accurately positioned on the stand 13 as described above, and the left and right cab side panels and the roof assembly are respectively cab side jig 60 roof as will be described later. Temporary welding is performed while the jig 70 is accurately positioned.

The additional stamping station 4 on the downstream side of the temporary tacking station 3 is a station for performing additional strikes by spot welding to each part of the vehicle body W where predetermined locations are temporarily welded, and the front and rear surfaces of the work W (vehicle body). , And the stationary welding robots 43, ..., 4 which are respectively arranged on the left and right of the work transfer line 1 and perform the additional punching on the side surfaces of the workpiece W.
3 and 3.

In this embodiment, the work W to be welded
To be able to easily respond to changes in the vehicle type (body), that is, to weld the vehicle body for multiple vehicle types (for example, 6 vehicle types A to F) on one line The cab side jig 60 and the roof jig 70 are of six types (60A-60
F and 70A to 70F) are prepared. Hereinafter, handling such as storage and transportation of the cab side jig 60, the roof jig 70, and the roof assembly will be described.

On both left and right sides of the temporary attachment station 3,
As shown in detail in FIG. 2, a cabside jig storage rack building 6 for storing a pair of left and right cabside jigs 60 (60A to 60F) is provided. The cabside jig storage rack building 6 includes left and right storage racks 61 that can store the cabside jigs 60 in three stages, and an elevator device that takes out a predetermined cabside jig 90 (for example, 90E) from the racks 61. And 62. On the other hand, a pair of cabside jig holders 33 for holding the cabside jig 60 are arranged on the side of the stand 13 of the tacking station 3, and the cabside jig holder 33 is As can be seen from FIG. 3, it is possible to move between the work transfer line 1 and the elevator device 62, and the cabside jig 60 is received at the receiving position from the elevator device 62 and attached to the work W. It can be rotated to the set position to set the posture.

Further, on the jig mounting surface of the elevator device 62, as a moving means for moving in a jig take-out direction (X direction) and a jig transfer direction (Y direction) orthogonal to the jig take-out direction in a horizontal plane. For example, chain drive type conveyor rollers 62X and 62Y are provided. In this way, by providing the conveyor rollers 62X and 62Y in the above two directions on the jig mounting surface of the elevator device 62, the cabside jig 60 can be taken out of the storage rack 61 without the need to install a special device. And cab side jig holder 3
Can be handed over to 3. The storage rack 6
Conveyor roller 63Y in the jig transfer direction for each shelf 1
Is provided.

On one side (the right side in FIG. 1) of the cab side jig storage rack building 6 on the side opposite to the work transfer line 1, there are roof jigs for storing six kinds (70A to 70F) of roof jigs 70 according to the vehicle type. The storage rack building 7 is arranged.
The roof jig storage rack building 7 is composed of left and right storage racks 71 that can store the roof jigs 70 in three stages, and an elevator device 72 that takes out a predetermined roof jig 70 from the racks 71. Above the elevator device 72, the roof jig 70 taken out by the elevator device 72 is provided.
Roof jig transfer device 8 for transferring the workpiece to the work transfer line 1
A set of traveling rails 84 for traveling the 3 runs in a direction perpendicular to the work transfer line 1. As can be seen from FIG. 4, conveyor rollers 72Y and 73Y in the Y direction are also provided on the jig mounting surface of the elevator device 72 and each shelf of the storage rack 71.

To the right of the roof jig storage rack building 7, for example, an overhead type roof supply line 81 is arranged to supply the roof assembly, and the supply line 81 and the roof jig storage rack building 7 are provided. In between, a traveling robot device 8 for loading the roof assembly
2 are arranged. From FIG. 5, the robot device 82 is
After gripping and receiving the roof assembly Wr transported by the transport train 85 of the roof supply line 81 from the back surface side, the roof assembly Wr is placed on the roof reversing positioning base 86,
Here, for example, sub-parts such as reinforcement are welded, and this is inverted and gripped from the front side. Then, the roof jig 70 is attached to the roof jig 70 held by the roof jig conveying device 83. Therefore, the roof jig 70 and the roof assembly Wr are conveyed to the set position of the work conveyance line 1 together. The roof jig transfer device 91 is provided with an elevating cylinder that moves the roof jig 70 up and down. In this way, by transporting both together by the single transport device 83, efficient transport can be performed.

As described above, according to this embodiment, since the cab side jig storage rack building 6 and the roof jig storage rack building 7 are provided, a plurality of types of cab side different depending on the vehicle type are provided. When the jigs 60 (60A to 60F) and the roof jig 70 (70A to 70F) are stored, they can be stored vertically and stored, and various kinds of jigs can be stored in a small space. . Further, the roof jig transfer device 83 transfers the roof jig 70 and the roof assembly into a single transfer device 83.
Can be carried together, and efficient carrying can be carried out.

Further, the cab side jig storage rack building 6
Since the conveyor rollers 62X and 62Y in the above two directions are provided on the jig mounting surface of the elevator device 62, the cabside jig 60 can be taken out of the storage rack 61 and cabside without the need to install a special device. Jig holder 33
Can be delivered to.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the following description, the same components as those in the first embodiment will be designated by the same reference numerals, and further description will be omitted. As shown in FIG. 6, in the present embodiment, a preset station 9 is provided on the upstream side of the temporary tacking station 3 for preliminarily combining and mutually engaging the vehicle body panel members to be welded before temporary tacking welding. Has been. Also, the first means for supplying the roof assembly is
A roof pallet 89, ..., 89 on which roof assemblies are stacked and placed is provided in place of the transport train 85 of the embodiment. The roof assembly is taken out from the roof pallet 89 ,. For mounting on the roof jig 70 held by 83, an elevating type roof loading robot 88 capable of traveling along the roof pallets 89, ..., 89 is arranged. In the second embodiment, the preset station 9 is provided,
First, except that the roof assembly supply system is different
It has the same configuration as the embodiment.

The preset station 9 is located below a predetermined portion of an overhead type underbody supply line 90 for supplying an underbody, and traveling robot devices 91 are arranged on both sides of the preset station 9. Then, the robot devices 91, 91 receive the cab side panels from, for example, overhead type cab side panel supply lines 93, 93 for supplying the left and right cab side panels, and put them into the preset station 9. In addition, the robot 91 on the right side in the drawing can also load the cowl / dash assembly placed on the pallet 94 into the preset station 9. That is, all the body panels to be welded are carried into the preset station 9.

Inside the both robots 91, a pair of left and right presetting devices 92 for performing a predetermined presetting process on predetermined positions of the loaded vehicle body panels are arranged. The presetting devices 92, 92 are for performing a bending process for forming, for example, a bending portion for engagement at a predetermined position of each of the vehicle body panel members, and are provided so as to be movable back and forth with respect to the work transfer line 1. . By thus providing the preset station 9 on the upstream side of the temporary attachment station 3 and providing the preset devices 92, 92, the body panel members to be welded can be pre-assembled and mutually engaged before welding. It is possible to improve workability when setting the welding jigs 60 and 70 during welding.

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. The third embodiment is the same as the second embodiment except for the structure of the cabside jig housing rack building and the way of moving the cabside jig holder. Figure 8
As shown in FIG. 2, in the present embodiment, in the cabside jig storage rack building 100, the side surface of each storage rack 101 has a double structure, and the inner side wall 103 to which each shelf 102 is fixed is the outer side wall 104. It is configured to be slidable vertically. Then, the elevator device is attached to the lower end side of the inner wall portion.
(Not shown) is provided. Therefore, the inner wall portion 103 and the shelves 102 are vertically moved as a whole.
Further, each shelf 102 is provided with a conveyor roller 102Y (see FIG. 7) only in the jig removal direction (Y direction).

With such a structure, an elevator apparatus is required for each storage rack 101, that is, two units are provided. As is clear from FIG. 7, a space is created between the storage racks 101, and the cab side is located in this space. The jig holder 105 can be put in. In this case, the cabside jig holder 105 enters the inside of the cabside jig storage rack building 100, and both storage racks 101
Since it can be located between them, the cabside jig 60 can be moved in the cabside jig storage rack building 100 only in the jig removing direction (Y direction), and the cabside jig 70 can be moved. To be simplified. Further, since the jig can be delivered only once, the jig can be efficiently exchanged.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view schematically showing the overall structure of a vehicle body welding apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged plan view showing a tacking station and a cabside jig storage rack building of the welding apparatus according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a front explanatory view of the temporary attachment station according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the roof jig storage rack building of the welding apparatus according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a roof loading robot of the welding device.

FIG. 6 is a plan view schematically showing the overall structure of a vehicle body welding apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged plan view showing a temporary attachment station and a cabside jig storage rack building of the vehicle body welding apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a front explanatory view of a cabside jig storage rack building of the welding apparatus according to the third embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Work transfer line 3 ... Tacking station 6,100 ... Cabside jig storage rack building 7 ... Roof jig storage rack building 9 ... Preset station 33 ... Cabside jig holder 35 ... Cabside panel supply line 31,32 ... Welding robot 60 (60A, 60B, 60C, 60D, 60E, 60F) ...
Cabside jig 61, 101 ... Storage rack 62 ... Elevator device 62X, 62Y ... Conveyor roller 70 (70A, 70B, 70C, 70D, 70E, 70F) ...
Roof jig 71 ... Storage rack 72 ... Elevator device 83 ... Roof jig transfer device W ... Work

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A welding apparatus for a vehicle body, which positions and welds vehicle body panel members to each other, the welding apparatus being provided in the middle of a work transfer line for welding at least a cab side panel and a roof panel in a positioned state. A welding station equipped with a means, a cabside panel supply means for supplying the cabside panel to be welded to a predetermined position of the work transfer line, and a cabside jig for positioning the cabside panel according to the vehicle type. And a cab side jig storage rack for storing a plurality of types of cab side jigs, an elevator device for taking out a predetermined one of the plurality of types of cab side jigs from the jig storage rack, and a cab taken out by the elevator device. Set the receiving position for receiving the side jig and the mounting position of the cab side jig to the work. Cab side jig holding means that rotates to a set position, a roof jig storage rack that stores a plurality of roof jigs for positioning the roof panel above and below according to the vehicle type, and from the jig storage rack An elevator device for taking out a predetermined one of the plurality of types of roof jigs, and a roof jig carrying means for carrying the roof jig taken out by the elevator device together with the roof panel to a predetermined position of the work carrying line. A welding device for a vehicle body characterized by being provided. 2. The welding apparatus for a vehicle body according to claim 1, wherein the elevator apparatus for taking out a predetermined cabside jig from the cabside jig storage rack has a cabside jig taken out in a horizontal plane. A welding apparatus for a vehicle body, comprising moving means capable of moving in two directions, a jig take-out direction and a delivery direction to the cab side jig holding means. 3. The welding apparatus for a vehicle body according to claim 1, wherein the elevator device for taking out a predetermined cabside jig from the cabside jig storage rack elevates and lowers a rack shelf itself, and The vehicle body welding apparatus, wherein the side jig holding means can move between a side of the cab side jig storage rack and a mounting position on a work. 4. The vehicle body welding device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the vehicle body panel member to be welded is:
A welding device for a vehicle body, which is provided with preset means for preliminarily combining and engaging with each other before welding.