JPS6145587B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an automobile production control system that mixes and produces many types of automobiles on the same line.

On the production lines of automobile manufacturers, etc., which must produce automobiles with various specifications, models, and standards according to user preferences, automobiles with various specifications, models, and standards are assembled on a common production line. ing.

By the way, on this type of automobile production line,
The work content at each work station on the line differs depending on the specifications, model, and standards of the vehicle, and at each work station, workers must determine the vehicle's specifications, model, and standards, and perform the necessary work. Must be.

When producing various automobiles with different specifications, models, standards, etc. on a common production line, as mentioned above, conventional equipment has been used to determine the specifications, models, standards, etc. of the automobiles and perform the necessary work. ,
The one shown in FIG. 1 is known.

The device shown in Figure 1 is used for parts such as the front body 1 of automobiles that are set on the line in the initial process.
As shown in Fig. 2, a barcode 2 representing vehicle model information such as applicable specifications, model, and standards is printed on the front surface, and a label 4 with a magnetic rubber plate 3 affixed to the back surface is attached by magnetic force to the front body 1. In the process of moving through each process on the line, the above-mentioned vehicle type information is read and identified by the reader 5, and these identification signals are input to the indicator 6, and the lamps 7, ......, of the indicator 6 are input. 7 and 8 and a buzzer 9 are used to issue work instructions for each process.

In the above device, when reading the barcode 2, if the label 4 on which the barcode 2 is printed is not located at a predetermined location in front of the reader 5, the reader 5 reads the barcode 2. Reading is not possible.

For this reason, it is necessary to accurately control the mounting position of the label 4 and the stopping position of the front body 1 relative to the reader 5. However, while the front body 1 moves along the line, the label 4 may be damaged due to vibration or other factors. There is a possibility that the position may be misaligned, or the position where the front body 1 is supported by the conveyor 10 or the position at which it is stopped may change in various ways, leading to misreading. Also, label 4
Since paint cannot be read if it gets on the paint, it is removed before the painting line, and there is no effective way to determine the model, specification, etc. from a car on the painting line or outfitting assembly line without an operator.

Although not shown in detail, there is also a device that directly magnetizes the car body with a magnetic head, magnetically writes car model information on the body, and reads out the above car model information with a read head to determine the car model. However, even in such a device, there is a problem in that errors in reading vehicle type information occur due to mismatch between the magnetized portions of the read head and the body.

An object of the present invention is to provide an automobile production control device that reliably provides a work signal to a work station on a line without being affected by the positional relationship between a transmitter and a receiver and with low power consumption. It is an object.

Therefore, the present invention provides a transmitter that is attached to a vehicle body and transmits a unique signal depending on the type of vehicle to be produced in the initial process or painting process of a welding assembly line, and a welding assembly to which the vehicle body is transported. A receiving device is provided at each work station of the line, painting line, and outfitting assembly line and receives a unique signal transmitted from the transmitter, and the signal from the receiving device outputs a work signal at the work station. It is equipped with a work signal output device for car body welding assembly lines, painting lines,
An automobile production control device that produces many types of automobiles through an outfitting line, wherein the receiving device includes a trigger signal transmitting device that transmits a trigger signal to the transmitter, and the transmitter is connected to a work station when the vehicle body is connected to a work station. The present invention is characterized in that it includes a trigger device that receives the trigger signal and causes the transmitter to transmit a unique signal when the trigger signal is sent.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

As schematically shown in FIG. 3, an automobile usually includes a body assembly line 14 in which a body 13 is assembled from an underbody 11, a cab side 12, etc., and a painting line 15 in which the body 13 completed on the body assembly line 14 is painted. After passing through the outfitting assembly line 18 and the test/adjustment line 19, which incorporate the engine, electrical components, seats, etc. (none of which are shown) into the painted body 16 to produce the finished product 17, the finished car is completed at the pool location 20. It will be shipped by boat 21 or other means of transportation.

In this embodiment, the above-mentioned vehicle body assembly line 1
In the initial step of step 4, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, a transmitter 22 that transmits a signal representing the vehicle model information of the vehicle is attached to an appropriate position on the underbody 11, cap side 12, or other vehicle parts using magnetic force or the like. Then, the underbody 12 receives the signal from the receiving device 24 installed at the work station of the line and moves to the work station.
A work signal output device 25 that detects vehicle type information and outputs the information from a process control computer, etc.
The work signal output device 25 outputs a work signal to be performed at the work station, and gives work instructions to the work robot 26 and the worker.

The transmitter 22 and the receiver 24 each have a fifth
It is possible to use configurations as shown in FIG. 6 and FIG.

In FIG. 5, 31 is a receiving device 24 which will be described later.
A trigger light receiving diode 32 receives a trigger light beam sent out from the battery B, and when the trigger light receiving diode 31 receives the trigger light, it supplies power from the battery B to each circuit of the receiver 22 except for the battery check circuit 33. 34 is a timing signal generation circuit that divides the output of an oscillation circuit (not shown) using a crystal oscillator or ceramic oscillator as an oscillation element 35 to generate a timing signal; 36 is a data storage section; A data signal generation circuit 38 generates a data signal in a format to be described later based on data inputted from 37. A data signal generation circuit 38 receives the output of the data signal generation circuit 36, takes timing with a pulse inputted from the timing signal generation circuit 34, and generates a data signal of a format to be described later. Infrared light emitting diode 3 at output
This is an output circuit that drives 9.

The trigger circuit 32 and the trigger light receiving diode 31 constitute a trigger device.
Although not specifically shown, the trigger circuit 32 includes an amplifier that amplifies the photocurrent output from the trigger light receiving diode 31, a Schmitt circuit that shapes the waveform of the output of the amplifier, the Schmitt circuit, and the timing signal generation circuit 34. It consists of a flip-flop that is set and reset by the output, a switching circuit that is controlled by the output of the flip-flop, and controls the power supply to each circuit, etc.
The output line 40 is connected to the anode of a light emitting diode 41 for checking the operation of the oscillator 22, whose cathode side is connected to ground through a protective resistor R.

On the other hand, the oscillation frequency of the oscillation circuit of the timing signal generation circuit 34 is, for example, 400KHz, and the timing signal generation circuit 34 outputs a pulse signal obtained by dividing the 400KHz pulse outputted from the oscillation circuit by 1/16. 38, while outputting to the data signal generation circuit 36 a pulse signal obtained by dividing the frequency of the pulse signal divided by 1/16 to 1/32, and a pulse signal obtained by dividing the frequency of the pulse signal by 1/64, respectively, Also,
The trigger circuit 32 outputs a pulse signal whose frequency is divided by 1/4 from the above pulse signal whose frequency is divided by 1/64.

The data signal generation circuit 36 receives the pulse signal inputted from the timing signal generation circuit 34 and the data input signal inputted from the data storage section 37 (for example, a signal that differs depending on the transmitter or a signal based on the specifications, model, standards, etc. of the automobile). different signals)
From this, a data signal of 64 bits per word is generated, as shown in FIG. 7a. As shown in FIG. 7b, the data signal generation circuit 36 outputs power four times from the trigger timing when the trigger circuit 32 starts supplying power to each circuit of the transmitter 22 to the time when the power supply is stopped for approximately 0.2 seconds. , the same data signal is output repeatedly to improve the reliability of reading on the receiver 24 side.

The data signal outputted from the data signal generation circuit 36 is inputted to the output circuit 38, and the seventh
As shown in Figure c, the above data signal is “High”
If so, 32 pulses are output during one bit, and the infrared light emitting diode 39 is driven by the output.

The transmitter 22 is provided with a battery check circuit 33, and if the light emitting diode 43 lights up when the battery check switch 42 is turned on, the battery B is normal.

The transmitting device 24, which receives infrared rays emitted from the infrared light emitting diode 39 and reads data signals, has a configuration as shown in FIG.

In FIG. 6, 54 is a trigger signal generation circuit that causes a trigger light emitting diode 55 to emit light, and the diode 55 always emits a signal at regular intervals. This trigger signal generating circuit 54 and a trigger light emitting diode 55 constitute a trigger signal transmitting device. Further, 51 is an infrared light receiving diode that receives infrared light emitted from the infrared light emitting diode 39 of the transmitter 22; 52 is an amplifier circuit that receives and amplifies the photocurrent output of the infrared light emitting diode 51; A control circuit 56 generates a data signal sent out from the transmitter 22 based on an input signal, determines whether or not these data signals repeatedly sent four times match, and controls the trigger signal generation circuit 54. Control circuit 5 through gate circuit 57
This is a latch circuit that latches the data signal input from 3.

The control circuit 53 is constituted by, for example, a 4-bit microcomputer, and the amplification circuit 5
As described above, the signal reproduction and data judgment operations are performed from the signals inputted from the gate circuit 57, and when the four data signals match, the data signal is inputted from the gate circuit 57 to the latch circuit 56.

The data signal latched in the latch circuit 56 is input to the process control computer 25 (work signal output device), and the computer 25 instructs the work robot 26 and the worker to perform the work according to the data signal. Output a signal. Instead of a process control computer that centrally manages various data, a work signal output circuit that outputs work signals necessary at the work station may be provided in series with the receiving device.

Transmitter 2 like the one above is used in automobile production control equipment.
2. If the receiver 24 is introduced, automobile production can be carried out as follows.

First, the transmitter 22 is connected to the underbody 11 in the initial process of the vehicle body assembly line 14 shown in FIG. The infrared light emitting diode 39 is attached to a position where the infrared light emitted from the light emitting diode 39 is received by at least the transmitting device 24 using magnetic force such as a magnet.

As described above, when the underbody 11 to which the transmitter 22 is attached moves to a certain work station, the trigger signal constantly transmitted from the transmitter 24 is transmitted to the trigger beam of the transmitter 22 attached to the underbody 11. The light receiving diode 31 receives the signal, the trigger circuit 32 operates to start supplying power to each circuit, and the data signal generating circuit 3 of the receiving device 22
6 generates the data signal shown in FIG. 7a, and the infrared light emitting diode 39 emits infrared rays modulated by the data signal as shown in FIG. 7c.

The above-mentioned infrared rays enter the infrared light receiving diode 51 of the receiving device 24, are converted into photocurrent, are inputted from the amplifier circuit 52 to the control circuit 53, and are transmitted to the transmitter 2.
The data signal sent out from the second side is reproduced and latched by the latch circuit 56.

The process control computer 25 reads out the data signal latched in the latch circuit 56, and
The work robot 26 or the worker is instructed on the work to be performed at the work station.

The body 13 completed on the body assembly line 14 is then brought to the painting line 15, and this line also issues a work signal using a signal from the transmitter 22. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, a receiving device 24 receives a transmission signal from a transmitter 22 suspended from the ceiling of the body 13, inputs it to a work signal output device 25, and a painting robot is sent from this work signal output device. 2
7 and the color change device 28 respectively.

Body 16 finished painting in this way
is brought to the outfitting assembly line 18. Also in this line, for example, as shown in Fig. 9, the body 1
A receiving device 24 receives a transmission signal from a transmitter 22 suspended from the ceiling of the tire 6, and inputs it to a work signal output device, that is, a process control computer 25, and from the process control computer 25, the tire 30 is sent to an assembly robot 29. Give a work order for loading.

As described above, the transmitter 22 is attached to the body on the car body assembly line, painting line, and outfitting assembly line.
By installing this, work instructions can be given to each line, and bodies can be produced consistently.

In the above embodiment, the infrared light emitting diode 39, infrared light receiving diode 51, trigger light emitting diode 55, and trigger light receiving diode 31, which have low directivity, are used for transmitting and receiving data signals and trigger signals. Even if the mounting position is roughly set, data signals can be transmitted and received reliably.

Further, during communication, a trigger signal transmitted from a trigger signal generating circuit 54 provided in the receiving device 24 is received by the trigger circuit 32 provided in the transmitter 22, and the circuit in the transmitter 22 is activated. It is designed to emit a unique signal depending on the item.

Therefore, the transmission of the unique signal from the transmitter 22 is as follows.
Only when necessary, there is no fear that the receiving device 24 will receive another unique signal even if the bodies are close to each other, and the desired unique signal can be reliably received.

Furthermore, since power consumption within the transmitter 22 becomes intermittent, the life of the battery B of the transmitter 22 becomes longer.

Note that radio waves can also be used to transmit and receive the data signals.

In this case, the output circuit 38 and the infrared light emitting diode 39 of the transmitter 22 are replaced with a wireless transmitter and an antenna, respectively, and the infrared receiving diode 51 and the amplifier circuit 52 of the receiving device 24 are replaced with an antenna and a wireless receiver. Just replace it with a container.

As mentioned above, if data signals are transmitted and received using radio waves, the radio waves spread and propagate more widely than infrared rays, so the mounting position of the transmitter 22 becomes more flexible, which is extremely suitable for the painting line 15, etc. It can be applied to

Further, in addition to infrared rays and radio waves, ultrasonic waves and the like can also be used for transmitting and receiving data signals.

As is clear from the detailed description above, the present invention is applied to a part of an automobile body in the initial process or intermediate painting process of a car body welding assembly line,
The signal from the transmitter, which emits a unique signal upon receiving a trigger signal from the receiver, is transmitted to the receiver at the work station using a signal transmission medium such as light or radio waves that spreads and propagates in space. , the work content at the work station is instructed, so even if the location where the transmitter is attached to the car body changes slightly, the signal can be reliably transmitted to the receiving device using the spread of the signal transmission medium. In addition, the unique signal from the transmitter is only transmitted when necessary, there is no risk that the receiving device will receive another unique signal, and the signal can be read reliably by the receiving device. , power consumption on the transmitter side can also be reduced.

Furthermore, in the present invention, even if the transport order is changed after removing defective products in order to repair defective products that have occurred on the automobile production line, each work station is provided with the receiving device 24, so that the receiving device 24 is installed at each work station. Different work can be performed on each car body, and it can be used on any line, including welding assembly lines, painting lines, and outfitting assembly lines.

Furthermore, the mounting position of the transmitter does not necessarily have to be on the surface of the vehicle body, but may be anywhere as long as the signal from the transmitter can be received. Furthermore, instead of being attached directly to the vehicle body, it may be attached to a conveyor, hanger, trolley, etc. that moves together with the vehicle body.

Furthermore, if the transmitter is magnetically attached to a part of the car body using a magnet, etc.
It can be attached and removed with one touch, which is extremely convenient in terms of automobile production control.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional automobile production control device, Fig. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a label used in the automobile production control device of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is an explanatory diagram of an automobile production line, and Fig. 4 is an illustration of a conventional automobile production control device. 5 is a block diagram of a transmitter, FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a receiver, and FIGS. 7a, b, and c respectively show the transmitter of FIG. 5. FIGS. 8 and 9 are explanatory views showing examples of a painting line and an outfitting assembly line, respectively, according to the present invention. 22... Transmitter, 24... Receiving device, 25...
Computer, 26... working robot.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A transmitter that is attached to a vehicle body and transmits a unique signal depending on the type of vehicle to be produced in the initial process or intermediate process of a welding assembly line, and a welding assembly line to which the vehicle body is transported. , a receiving device that is provided at each work station of the painting line and the outfitting assembly line and receives a unique signal transmitted from the transmitter; and a receiving device that outputs a work signal at the work station based on the signal from the receiving device. Equipped with a work signal output device, it can be used on car body welding assembly lines, painting lines,
An automobile production control device that produces many types of automobiles through an outfitting line, wherein the receiving device includes a trigger signal transmitting device that transmits a trigger signal to the transmitter, and the transmitter is connected to a work station when the vehicle body is connected to a work station. An automobile production control device comprising a trigger device that receives the trigger signal and causes the transmitter to transmit a unique signal when the trigger signal is sent.