JP2010221350A - Assembling conveying equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce a space for installing equipment in a conveying route for assembling, to shorten a cycle time, and to reduce cost. <P>SOLUTION: A return route and a plurality of drive means indispensable for a conventional closed loop route become unnecessary since a lower side conveying device 20 is reciprocally moved. Furthermore, by disposing lifters 23 and 24 below carriages 30 and 40 which are mounted with parts, by moving the lifters 23 and 24 upward in this state, and by mounting parts to the lifters 23 and 24, the parts on the carriage 30 and 40 can be mounted to the lifter 23 and 24 by the simple ascending motion of the lifters 23 and 24. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an assembling / conveying facility for assembling a component from below the conveyed object while conveying the component in synchronization with the conveyed object below the conveyed object conveyed in a suspended state.

  For example, in an automobile assembly line, the body is transported in a suspended state by an overhead conveyor, and parts such as the engine and rear axle are transported in synchronization with the body below the body, and each part is assembled from below the body. It is done. At this time, each component is placed on the lifter, and is lifted to a height that can be assembled to the vehicle body by raising the lifter.

  For example, in the assembly conveyance facility shown in Patent Document 1, a conveyance carriage (1) for conveying components is circulated on a closed loop path. Specifically, the assembly transportation path (13) for transporting the transport carriage (1) on which the parts are mounted in synchronization with the vehicle body below the overhead conveyor line (22), and the transport carriage (1) from which the parts are removed, There is provided a return path (14) for transporting in the direction opposite to the assembly transport path (13) and transporting to the entrance of the assembly transport path (13).

JP 2003-72609 A

  When the transport carriage is circulated on the closed loop path as described above, an assembly transport path and a return path need to be installed, and thus a large space for installing these is required. In addition, drive means for the assembly transport path for transporting the transport carriage in synchronization with the vehicle body and drive means for the return path for transporting the transport carriage to the entrance of the assembly transport path are provided separately. This necessitates an increase in equipment costs.

  Moreover, in the equipment of the above-mentioned patent document 1, the time until the transport carriage (1) unloaded from the assembly transport path (13) is transported again into the assembly transport path (13) via the return path (14). In addition, each component is mounted on a lifting table (6) (7) on the transport carriage (1). The mounting of the parts on the lifting table is inevitably performed by an operator or a robot arm lifting the parts, so that the mounting work takes time and the cycle time is extended.

  The problem to be solved by the present invention is to reduce the equipment space of the assembly conveyance path, to shorten the cycle time, and to reduce the cost.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides an upper transport device that transports a transported object in a suspended state, and a lower transport that can reciprocate in the same direction as the transport direction of the transported object, below the transported object. An apparatus, a lifter that is provided in the lower transfer device and supports a part to be attached to the conveyed product so as to be movable up and down, and a carry-in device that loads the component into a movement path of the lower transfer device, and is mounted on the lifter. An assembly transport facility for assembling the parts from below the transported object while transporting the parts in synchronization with the transported object, and placing a lifter below the loading device on which the parts are mounted. By ascending, an assembly transportation facility for mounting the component on a lifter is provided.

  According to the assembly and transportation facility having the above-described configuration, the lower transportation device is reciprocated to transport the parts. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide a return path unlike the conventional closed loop path, and the facility space can be reduced. In addition, since the drive device that transports the lower transport device is sufficient as one drive device that reciprocates along the same route, a plurality of drive devices are not required unlike the conventional closed loop route, and the equipment cost can be reduced.

  In addition, as described above, a lifter is disposed below the carry-in device on which the component is mounted, and the lifter is lifted in this state. Can be installed. The lifter lift operation is indispensable to lift the parts to the height of the transported goods that are suspended and transported. By using this operation to mount the parts on the lifter, a separate part transfer is performed. The process can be omitted, and cycle time and assembly cost can be reduced.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 8A, in order to transfer the component E ′ onto the lifter 123, when the carriage 130 on which the component E ′ is mounted is adjacent to the lower transfer device 120 in the work area A, The carriage 130 becomes an obstacle and the worker cannot work. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 8B, the lower transfer device 120 needs to be transferred to the outside of the work area A, and here, the carriage 130 needs to be adjacent to the lower transfer device 120. However, in this case, the conveyance path C ′ of the lower conveyance device 120 is extended, resulting in an increase in equipment cost and a cycle time required for the reciprocating movement of the lower conveyance device 120. Further, when the lower transport device 120 leaves the work area A, the parts cannot be assembled until the lower transport device 120 mounts the component E ′ and returns to the work area A again.

  On the other hand, according to the assembly and transportation facility of the present invention, when a component is mounted on the lower transport device, a lifter (lower transport device) is arranged below the carry-in device (for example, a carriage) on which the component is mounted. The access device does not prevent the worker from accessing the lifter (lower transfer device) (see FIG. 1). As a result, there is no need to take the lower transfer device out of the work area, and parts can be mounted on the lifter within the work area, so assembly work can be performed even while the parts are being mounted (for example, while lifting the lifter). The cycle time can be further shortened.

  In this case, when the parts are assembled to the conveyed product while conveying the lower conveying device in synchronization with the upper conveying device, the loading device loaded with the components to be assembled to the next conveyed item is carried into the work area. The cycle time can be further shortened.

  In addition, if a plurality of lifters are provided in the lower conveyance device and a plurality of carry-in devices for conveying the components mounted on each lifter are provided, the components to be assembled at a plurality of locations of the conveyed product are integrated into one lower conveyance device. Therefore, the facility space can be further reduced.

  As described above, according to the assembly and transportation facility of the present invention, the facility space can be reduced, the cycle time can be shortened, and the cost can be reduced.

It is a top view of assembly conveyance equipment. It is a side view of assembly conveyance equipment. (A) is the width direction sectional view of the lower conveying apparatus in a front side lifter, (b) is the width direction sectional view of the lower conveying apparatus in a rear side lifter. It is a perspective view of the cart of the front side. It is a perspective view of the cart of the rear side. It is a top view which shows the assembly process by an assembly conveyance equipment. It is a side view of assembly conveyance equipment. It is a top view which shows the reference example of assembly conveyance equipment.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  The assembly and transportation facility 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention transports a vehicle body B (see FIG. 2) as a transported object in a suspended state, and transports various parts in synchronization under the body B. , For assembling various parts from below the body B. In the illustrated example, the engine unit E is assembled to the front side portion of the body B, and the rear axle unit R is assembled to the rear side portion of the body B. In the following description, the direction in which the body B is transported (the left-right direction in FIGS. 1 and 2) is referred to as the transport direction, and the horizontal direction perpendicular to the transport direction (the vertical direction in FIG. ) Is called the width direction.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the assembly conveyance facility 1 is an overhead conveyor 10 (only a conveyance direction of the body B is indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 1) as an upper conveyance device that conveys the body B in a suspended state. The lower transfer device 20 that is mounted with the engine unit E and the rear axle unit R assembled to the body B and can be reciprocated in the transfer direction, and the engine unit E and the rear axle unit R on the movement path of the lower transfer device 20 Mainly provided are carts 30 and 40 as a loading device for loading into the toolbox and a tool box 50.

  The overhead conveyor 10 conveys the body B in a suspended state at a constant speed in a predetermined direction (from right to left in FIG. 1). In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, a rail 11 extending in the transport direction, a hanger 12 extending downward from the rail 11, and a drive unit (not shown) for moving the hanger 12 along the rail 11 are provided. Prepare. With the hanger 12 holding the body B from the side and holding it in a suspended state, the hanger 12 and the body B are conveyed downstream (right side in the figure) by driving the drive unit.

The lower transfer device 20 can reciprocate in the transfer direction. In the present embodiment, is driven by a conveyor C ₂₀ extending in the conveying direction, it is movable reciprocally between a position indicated by the position and the chain line indicated by the solid line in FIG. 1. The movable area of the lower transfer device 20 is an assembly work area A in the assembly transfer facility 1. The reciprocating movement of the lower conveyance device 20 is controlled by a control system (not shown) and is controlled to move in synchronization with the body B conveyed by the overhead conveyor 10. In other words, when the body B is being transported in the work area A, the lower transport device 20 is transported immediately below the body B and downstream at the same speed as the body B. When the body B is unloaded from the work area A, the lower transfer device 20 is retracted upstream, and the new body B is disposed at the upstream end of the work area A until the new body B is loaded into the work area A. Is done. When a new body B is carried into the work area A, it is conveyed downstream in synchronization with the body B.

  The lower transfer device 20 includes a base plate 22 and a plurality of lifters 23 and 24. Lifters 23 and 24 are arranged on the upper surface of the base plate 22 so as to be separated from each other in the transport direction. An engine unit E is mounted on the front lifter 23, and a rear axle unit R is mounted on the rear lifter 24. The distance between the lifter 23 and the lifter 24 is matched to the distance between the assembly positions of the engine unit E and the rear axle unit R to the body B (see FIG. 2).

Conveyor C ₂₀ extends in the conveying direction, is provided so as to be run in either direction in the conveying direction. In the illustrated example, the conveyor C ₂₀ are embedded in the ground, the conveying surface of the conveyor C ₂₀ (upper surface) is disposed substantially on the same plane with the ground. The lower surface of the base plate 22 is fixed to the conveying surface of the conveyor C _20, by moving the conveyor C ₂₀ in this state, the lower conveying device 20 is transported in the transport direction. Here, the “ground” means a surface on which the assembly and transportation facility 1 is installed, and includes an installation surface that is floated from the actual ground surface.

  The lifters 23 and 24 have elevating tables 23a and 24a and elevating cylinders (not shown) for elevating the elevating tables 23a and 24a. The elevating tables 23a and 24a can be moved up and down in parallel and steplessly by elevating cylinders via, for example, a pantograph mechanism, and can be stopped at an arbitrary height while being maintained horizontally. The lifters 23 and 24 are lifted and lowered by automatic control by a control system (not shown), and are set to an appropriate height according to the transport distance of the lower transport device 20. Further, the lifters 23 and 24 are provided with switches 23b and 24b for manually raising and lowering the lift tables 23a and 24a. The operator operates the switches 23b and 24b to increase the height of the lift tables 23a and 24a. Fine adjustments can be made. The lift table 23a of the front lifter 23 is provided with a support portion 23a1 that supports the carriage 30 on which the engine unit E is mounted. The lift table 24a of the rear lifter 24 directly supports the rear axle unit R. A support portion 24a1 is provided.

  The front cart 30 as a first cart is for carrying the engine unit E into the front lifter 23 and is lifted together with the engine unit E by the lift of the lifter 23. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, a rectangular top plate 31 on which the engine unit E is placed, four leg portions 32 extending downward from four corners of the top plate 31, And a wheel 33 provided at the lower end.

  A rear-side carriage 40 as a second carriage carries the rear axle unit R into the rear-side lifter 24, and is brought into a grounded state when the rear axle unit R is lifted by raising the lifter 24. After the axle unit R is transferred to the lifter 24, it can be separated from the lower transport device 20 in the transport direction. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, a frame body 41 that is substantially U-shaped when viewed from above, four leg portions 42 that extend downward from the ends and corners of the frame body 41, And a wheel 43 provided at the lower end of the leg portion 42. The frame body 41 is provided with a support portion 44 that supports each component of the rear axle unit R. As shown in FIG. 1, a frame 41 is arranged to open to the downstream side (left side in the figure) in a state where a rear cart 40 is arranged at a position where components can be transferred to the rear lifter 24. The At this time, the interval in the width direction of the frame body 41 is set to be larger than the dimension in the width direction of the lifter 24 so that the frame body 41 and the lifter 24 do not interfere with each other, and the upstream end of the lifter 24 (including the switch 24b). ) Is arranged at a position where it does not interfere with the frame body 41.

As shown in FIG. 3, the width direction interval W ₁ of the leg portions 32 of the carriage 30 and the width direction interval W ₂ of the leg portions 42 of the carriage 40 are both the width W ₀ of the lower transport device 20 (in the illustrated example). It is set to be larger than the width of the base plate 22 (W ₁ > W ₀ , W ₂ > W ₀ ). Further, the height H ₁ to the lower end of the top plate 31 of the carriage 30 and the height H ₂ to the lower end of the frame body 41 of the carriage 40 are both in a state where the lifters 23 and 24 are lowered to the lowest position. It is set to be higher than the height H ₀ of the lower transfer device 20 (the height to the upper end of the support portion 24a1 in the illustrated example) (H ₁ > H ₀ , H ₂ > H ₀ ). As described above, the lower transfer device 20 can be placed in the space formed below the top plate 31 and the frame body 41 of the carriages 30 and 40.

  The assembling / conveying facility 1 is provided with driving means for carrying the carts 30 and 40 into the work area A. As described above, when a plurality of lifters 23 and 24 are provided in the lower transport device 20, in order to mount each component on the lifters 23 and 24 only by the lifting operation of the lifters 23 and 24, a plurality of carry-in devices (Cars 30 and 40) must be arranged at predetermined intervals corresponding to the plurality of lifters 23 and 24 (see FIG. 2). At this time, if the carts 30 and 40 are carried in by separate driving means, the carts 30 and 40 can be carried into the work area while adjusting the distance between the carts 30 and 40. Therefore, for example, the carts 30 and 40 are arranged adjacent to each other (see FIG. 6 (a)), and each drive means is carried into the work area while increasing the interval between the carts 30 and 40, and the loading is completed. At that time, the distance between the carriages 30 and 40 can correspond to the distance between the lifters 23 and 24 (see FIG. 6B). As a result, the space to be secured outside the work area can be reduced, and the equipment space can be reduced.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, as a plurality of driving means for separately driving the carriages 30 and 40, a plurality of conveyors extending in the conveying direction and straddling the inside and outside of the work area A are provided. _C30 and _C40 are provided. Conveyor C ₃₀ and C _40, as well as the conveyor C ₂₀ described above, is installed embedded in the ground, the conveying surface is disposed substantially on the same plane with the ground. The conveyor C ₃₀ conveys the front cart 30 and is composed of two parallel conveyors provided in accordance with the wheel width of the front cart 30. Conveyor C ₄₀ is intended to convey the carriage 40 on the rear side, consist of two parallel conveyors arranged to fit the wheel width of the rear side of the carriage 40. In the illustrated example, the wheel width of the rear cart 40 is slightly larger than the wheel width of the front cart 30, thereby providing the conveyor C _{40 on the} outer side in the width direction of the conveyor C ₃₀ .

The tool box 50 is mounted with tools and mounting parts (screws, etc.) required for assembly, and is provided on both sides in the width direction of the lower transport device 20. The tool box 50 can be reciprocated in the conveying direction by the conveyor C ₅₀ , and as shown in FIG. 1, both sides in the width direction of the front lifter 23 and the width direction of the rear lifter 24 of the lower conveying device 20. Four units are arranged on each side, one on each side. As a result, the tool box 50 is arranged behind each of the four workers who perform attachment work from both sides in the width direction of the lifters 23 and 24. The tool box 50 is transported in synchronism with the lower transport device 20, so that necessary tools and the like can always be arranged near the operator.

  Hereinafter, an assembly procedure in the assembly conveyance facility 1 having the above-described configuration will be described. In FIG. 6, the body B is transported from right to left in the figure, and the overhead conveyor 10, the body B, the tool box 50, and the like are not shown.

First, as indicated by an arrow in FIG. 6A, the front-side carriage 30 on which the engine unit E is mounted is loaded onto the conveyor _C30 , and the rear-side carriage 40 on which the rear axle unit R is mounted is transferred to the conveyor _C30. It carried into the C ₄₀ on. At this time, the trolleys 30 and 40 are carried onto the conveyors C ₃₀ and C _{40 in} a state where they are adjacent to each other in the carrying direction (a state where they are close enough not to interfere with carrying in).

  During this time, in the work area A, the lower transport device 20 is transported downstream in synchronization with the body B, and the engine unit E and the rear axle unit R mounted on the lower transport device 20 are assembled to the body B. It has been broken.

Next, as indicated by arrows in FIG. 6B, the conveyors C ₃₀ and C ₄₀ are driven to convey the carts 30 and 40 to the downstream side, and are carried into the work area A. Truck 30 and 40, since each carried by a separate conveyor _{C 30} and _{C 40,} a carriage 30, 40 which is carried onto the conveyor _{C 30-C 40} in the adjacent state, carry while widening the interval Can do. When the carriages 30 and 40 are brought into the work area A, the engine unit E and the rear axle unit R placed on each carriage are arranged at intervals corresponding to the mounting positions on the body B. The distance between the carts 30 and 40 is set.

  Also during this time, the lower conveying device 20 is conveyed downstream in synchronization with the body B, and the assembly work of each component is continued until the lower conveying device 20 reaches the downstream end of the work area A. The assembly operation is completed (in FIG. 6B, the assembled engine unit E and rear axle unit R are missing from the lower transfer device 20). When the lower transport device 20 reaches the downstream end of the work area A, the lower transport device 20 is stopped and the lifters 23 and 24 are lowered. As a result, the lifted carriage 30 is grounded, the support portion 23a1 of the lifter 23 is separated from the top plate 31 of the carriage 30, and the empty carriage 30 and the lower transfer device 20 are separated.

When the lifter 23, 24 of the lower conveying device 20 is lowered to the lowest position, the conveyor C ₂₀ and driven in the opposite direction to the conveying direction, to retract the lower conveying device 20 to the upstream side. At this time, as shown in FIG. 6C, the empty carriage 30 separated from the lower transfer device 20 is left at the downstream end of the work area A. The empty truck 30 is conveyed into the engine assembly line by a separate transfer means (indicated by L ₁ in FIG. 6 (d)). In the assembly line L ₁ , the engine unit E is assembled and transported on the carriage 30, and the carriage 30 on which the assembled engine unit E is mounted is sequentially arranged near the upstream end of the conveyor C ₂₀ .

The lower transfer device 20 that has been retracted to the upstream end of the conveyor C ₂₀ enters under the carriages 30 and 40 (see FIG. 6C). As a result, the front lifter 23 is disposed below the engine unit E, and the rear lifter 24 is disposed below the rear axle unit R (see FIG. 2). When the lifter 23 is raised in this state, as shown in FIG. 7, the top plate 31 of the carriage 30 is supported from below by the support portion 23 a 1 provided on the upper surface of the lifting table 23 a, and the engine unit E is lifted together with the carriage 30. It is done. On the other hand, when the lifter 24 is raised, the lifting table 24a passes through the inside of the U-shaped frame 41 of the carriage 40, and only the rear axle unit R is lifted by the support portion 24a1, and the rear carriage 40 is grounded. It is said.

Then, the conveyor C ₄₀ is caused to travel in the reverse direction, the empty rear-side carriage 40 is retracted upstream, and is separated from the lower transfer device 20. The carriage 40 is transported to the tower mounting line of the rear axle unit R by separate driving means reaches to the upstream side end portion (indicated by L ₂ in FIG. 6 (d)). In the mounting line L ₂ , the truck 40 is transported while sequentially mounting the components of the rear axle unit R on the carriage 40, and the carriage 40 on which the rear axle unit R is mounted is sequentially arranged near the upstream end of the conveyor C _40. Is done.

  When a new body B is transported above the lower transport device 20 in which the parts are mounted on the lifters 23 and 24, the lower transport device 20 is transported downstream in synchronization with the body B. At the same time, the lifters 23 and 24 are further raised, and the engine unit E and the rear axle unit R are arranged at the assembly position of the body B. When the height of each component is not in the assembly position, the height is finely adjusted by the operator's switch operation. In this way, the assembly operation is performed while the body B and each component are conveyed to the downstream side in synchronization.

  By repeating the above cycle, the engine unit E and the rear axle unit R are assembled from below into the body B that is sequentially conveyed by the overhead conveyor 10.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 7, in the assembly and transportation facility 1 of the present invention, the engine E and the rear axle unit R mounted on the carriages 30 and 40 are moved on the lifters 23 and 24 only by raising the lifters 23 and 24. Therefore, a separate transfer process and transfer space can be omitted. In addition, it is not necessary to place a carriage or the like adjacent to the lower transport device 20 in order to mount the components on the lifter, and work spaces can be secured on both sides in the width direction of the lower transport device 20, so that the lifters 23 and 24 can be secured. An operator can perform the assembling work even while the parts are mounted on the upper side (that is, while the lifters 23 and 24 are being lifted). Further, by completing the loading of the carts 30 and 40 into the work area A until the lower transfer device 20 returns to the upstream end of the work area A, the wasted time is reduced. Cycle time can be shortened.

  Further, for example, when a carriage is carried in from the width direction of the work area A, the carriage may interfere with an operator in the work area A. However, as shown in FIG. By loading the carriages 30 and 40 into the work area A from the extended direction, the carriages 30 and 40 can be carried on the conveyance path of the lower conveyance device 20 without interfering with the operator.

Further, as shown in FIG. 6D, the front-side carriage 30 is transported to the exit (downstream end) of the work area A, and the rear-side carriage 40 is moved to the entrance (upstream end of the work area A). ), The engine assembly line L _{1 to} which the carriage 30 is conveyed and the rear axle mounting line L ₂ to which the carriage 40 is conveyed are arranged on the one side in the width direction of the assembly conveyance equipment 1 without intersecting each other. Therefore, the structure of each line can be simplified.

  The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, in the above-described embodiment, after the carts 30 and 40 are carried into the work area A, the lower transfer device 20 is moved backward to be submerged below the carts 30 and 40 (see FIGS. 6B and 6B). For example, the carriages 30 and 40 may be carried into the work area A and the lower transfer device 20 may be retracted at the same time.

In the above embodiment, the carriages 30 and 40 are carried into the conveyors C ₃₀ and C ₄₀ at the same time. For example, when the rear-side carriage 40 that has been emptied by transferring parts to the lifter moves backward to the upstream end (see FIG. 6D), the waiting front-side carriage 30 is placed on the conveyor _C30 . The truck 30 is carried into the work area A. During this time, the empty rear side carriage 40 is carried out from the conveyor C _40, and a new carriage 40 loaded with parts is carried onto the conveyor C ₄₀ , and this carriage 40 is carried into the work area A. Since the carriage on the front side 30 is slightly longer by the conveyor than the carriage 40 on the rear side, the cycle time can be further shortened by carrying the carriage 40 on the front side onto the conveyor as soon as possible. Can do.

1 Assembly and transport equipment 10 Overhead conveyor (upper transport device)
20 Lower transport device 23, 24 Lifter 30, 40 Carriage (loading device)
50 Toolbox B Body C ₂₀ Conveyor C ₃₀ , C ₄₀ Conveyor (drive means)
E Engine unit R Rear axle unit A Work area

Claims (4)

An upper conveyance device that conveys a conveyed product in a suspended state, a lower conveyance device that can reciprocate in the same direction as the conveyance direction of the conveyed product below the conveyed product, and a lower conveyance device, A lifter that supports a component attached to the object so as to be movable up and down, and a carry-in device that carries the component into a movement path of a lower conveyance device, while conveying the component mounted on the lifter in synchronization with the conveyance object , Assembly transportation equipment for assembling the parts from below the transported object,
Assembly transport equipment for mounting the parts on the lifter by disposing the lifter below the carry-in device on which the parts are mounted and raising the lifter in this state.   The assembly and conveyance facility according to claim 1, wherein the component is mounted on a lifter in a work area for assembling the component to the conveyed product.   3. The assembly and transportation facility according to claim 2, wherein a loading device loaded with a component to be assembled to the next conveyed product is loaded into the work area while the component is assembled to the conveyed product.   The assembly conveyance equipment according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a plurality of lifters are provided in the lower conveyance device, and a plurality of carry-in devices that convey components mounted on the lifters are provided.

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