JP3013663B2 - Method for assembling front part of vehicle body and assembly jig used for the method - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method of assembling a front part of a vehicle body in which a plurality of sub-assemblies are mounted on the front part of the vehicle body, and an assembling jig used in the assembling method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A cooling component sub-assembly composed of cooling components such as a radiator and an exterior component sub-assembly composed of exterior components such as a bumper and a headlamp are mounted on the front of a vehicle body. FIG. 7 shows an assembly line process for sequentially assembling the vehicle (as an assembly process of the vehicle, there is one described in 19th edition of Automotive Engineering, "Method of Manufacturing Automobile", published on April 20, 1980). Here, the vehicle body 1 is conveyed on the main line in the direction of arrow A in the figure, and a cooling component assembling process and an exterior component assembling process are present along the way.

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of a vehicle body front structure. A cooling component sub-assembly 3 and an exterior component sub-assembly 5 assembled in a cooling component assembling process and an exterior component assembling process, respectively, serve as a front unit. It is mounted on the vehicle body 1. As shown in FIG. 9, the cooling component subassembly 3 includes a radiator 7, a condenser 9 for an air conditioner mounted on the front side of the radiator 7, and a fan support 11 mounted on the rear side of the vehicle body. ing. The fan support 11 has two fans 13 and a reservoir tank 1.
5 are respectively attached. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 10, the exterior component sub-assembly 5 includes a radiator core support 1.
7, a bumper 19, a headlamp 21, a radiator grille 23, a hood lock 25, and a horn 27 are respectively mounted.

FIG. 11 shows a state in which the cooling component sub-assembly 3 and the exterior component sub-assembly 5 are mounted on the vehicle body 1, and FIG. 12 is a side sectional view showing a front structure thereof.

In the cooling component assembling step shown in FIG. 7, workers 29 and 31 use an assembling jig 35 on a work table 33 to connect the radiator 7, the condenser 9 and the fan support 11 shown in FIG. The cooling component sub-assembly 3 is assembled by fastening with bolts and nuts. next,
The cooling component sub-assembly 3 is carried on a receiving table 37, is mounted at a predetermined position on the front of the vehicle body by a mounting robot 39, and is automatically fastened using bolts and nuts.

In the exterior component assembling process after the cooling component sub-assembly 3 is attached to the front part of the vehicle body, the workers 41, 4
3 using the assembly jig 47 on the work table 45,
Radiator core support 17 and bumper 1 shown in FIG.
The exterior components such as the head lamp 9 and the headlamp 21 are fastened to each other with bolts and nuts to assemble the exterior component sub-assembly 5. The assembled exterior component sub-assembly 5 is transported onto the cradle 49, mounted on the front of the vehicle body by the mounting robot 51, and automatically fastened using bolts and nuts.

Both the cooling component sub-assembly 3 and the exterior component sub-assembly 5 cannot be mounted on the vehicle body 1 manually due to their weight.
, Two mounting robots 39 and 51 are required.

[0008]

However, in such a conventional process of assembling the front part of the vehicle body, a mounting robot for mounting the sub-assembly on the vehicle body is provided with a cooling robot for the cooling part sub-assembly 3 and an exterior part sub-assembly. Two units, one for the assembly 5 and the other, are required, which leads to an increase in capital investment and a rise in manufacturing costs.

Therefore, the present invention eliminates the need for a mounting robot for each sub-assembly unit.
The purpose is to reduce capital investment by using one on-board robot.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, first, a first mounting portion provided on an assembling jig on which a front unit at a front portion of a vehicle body is set is provided. A second sub-assembly is set in the front unit, and is movable to a state where the first sub-assembly is separated from and overlapped with the first mounting portion provided on the assembly jig via a movable portion. The second sub-assembly to be mounted on the front of the vehicle body after the first sub-assembly is set on the mounting portion, and the first and second sub-assemblies are set.
The second mounting portions are brought close to the front of the vehicle body in a state where they are overlapped with each other, and in this state, the first sub-assembly is mounted on the front of the vehicle body. This is an assembling method for mounting the solid body on the front of the vehicle.

Second, the assembling jig includes a first mounting portion on which a first sub-assembly to be mounted on the front of the vehicle body is set, and a mounting jig mounted on the front of the vehicle after the first sub-assembly. And a second mounting portion on which a second sub-assembly to be set is set. These first and second mounting portions are separated from each other and overlapped with each other via a movable portion. It is configured to be movable.

Third, one of the first mounting portion and the second mounting portion is provided with a component constituting a subassembly set on the other, and the first and second mounting portions are mutually connected. The configuration is such that a temporary holding function for temporarily holding in a state of being overlapped with each other is provided.

[0013]

According to the first method or the second configuration, the first sub-assembly and the second sub-assembly are set on one assembling jig, and the assembling jig is moved closer to the front of the vehicle body. After the first sub-assembly is mounted on the front of the vehicle body, the assembly jig is turned over and the second sub-assembly can be mounted on the front of the vehicle body. Therefore, a plurality of sub-assemblies are mounted on the front of the vehicle body. Only one on-board robot is needed.

According to the third configuration, the first mounting portion and the second mounting portion
The first mounting portion and the second mounting portion are overlapped with each other.
With the provisional holding function provided on either one of the mounting portions, the components constituting the sub-assembly set on the other side can be temporarily held, so that the temporary holding work by clamping or the like in the next fastening step is unnecessary. .

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an assembly process line of a vehicle body front structure in an automobile showing an embodiment of the present invention.
Here, the components of each part of the automobile are shown in FIG.
10 to FIG. 10, and the description will be made with reference to these drawings. On the main line 53, the vehicle body 1 is transported in the direction of arrow A, and during this transport, there is an assembling process of the front part of the vehicle body.

The process of assembling the front part of the vehicle body includes
57 and 59, the assembly jig 63 on the work table 61
Then, a cooling component sub-assembly 3 as a first sub-assembly is set, and an exterior component such as a bumper 19 constituting an exterior component sub-assembly 5 as a second sub-assembly is set 1 (step 1). 3), a step 2 (see FIG. 4) for fastening the set exterior parts to each other by using the bolts and nuts by the robots 65, 67 and 69 (see FIG. 4), and a cooling part sub-assembly 3 set on the assembly jig 63. And the exterior component sub-assembly 5 is mounted on the vehicle body 1 by the mounting robot 71, and in this state, the robots 73 and 75 fasten the sub-assemblies 3 and 5 to the vehicle body 1 using bolts and nuts. 5 and 6).

The work table 61 moves along the circular guide groove 79 of the floor F while being supported by the column 77. At the lower end of the column 77 in the guide groove 79, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 7, a motor 80 is mounted, and a pair of rollers 81 that roll in the side groove 79a are mounted on the motor 80. The assembly jig 63 on the work table 61
As shown in FIG. 2, there are provided two support rods 82 and 83 which can be attached to and detached from the work table 61.
An exterior component sub-assembly attachment portion 85 serving as a second attachment portion is formed on the second and second attachment portions 83, and the first exterior component sub-assembly attachment portion 85 is rotatable through a hinge portion 87 serving as a movable portion. Is provided with a cooling component sub-assembly mounting portion 89 serving as a mounting portion.

The outer component sub-assembly mounting portion 85 extends upward from a position near the bumper receiving portion 85a on which the bumper 19 is mounted and the position corresponding to the support rods 82 and 83 of the bumper receiving portion 85a. And two radiator core support portions 85b for supporting the radiator cores.
The two radiator core support supports 85b are provided with support portions 85c whose upper ends are bent horizontally and support the upper part of the radiator core support 17.

In the radiator core support support 85b on the right side in FIG. 2, two support rods 91 and 93 are formed to extend horizontally, and a hinge 87 is formed at the tip of the support rods 91 and 93. Shaft holes 91a and 93a are respectively formed.

On the other hand, the cooling component sub-assembly mounting portion 89
The rotating shaft portion 89a is inserted into the shaft holes 91a and 93a to be rotatable, and a rotating portion 89b extending horizontally from the upper end of the rotating shaft portion 89a. When the rotating portion 89b rotates about the rotation shaft portion 89a in the direction of arrow B from the state of FIG. 2, the outer component sub-assembly mounting portion 85 and the cooling component sub-assembly mounting portion 89 are separated from each other. It will move to the superimposed state.

On the upper side of the support rod 91 of the rotary shaft 89a, one of the projections 7a on the side of the radiator 7 is mounted so as to protrude to the opposite side to the exterior component sub-assembly mounting portion 85 in the superposed state. A radiator support arm 89c is formed. A radiator support arm 89d is formed on the distal end side of the rotating part 89b, which is paired with the support arm 89c, and projects in the same direction as the radiator support arm 89c and on which the other protrusion 7b on the side of the radiator 7 is mounted. I have. In addition, an upper support arm 89e that protrudes in the same direction as the radiator support arms 89c and 89d and supports the upper portion of the radiator 7 is provided at a substantially central portion of the rotating portion 89b.

Rotating portion 89b and radiator support arm 8
9c and 89d, the tip thereof abuts the headlamp 21 set on the radiator core support 17 on the side of the exterior component sub-assembly mounting portion 85 in the superimposed state to temporarily hold the headlamp 21. The headlamp temporary holding arms 89f and 89g constituting the holding function are formed to protrude. Further, the lower end of the horn 27 protruding in the same direction as the headlamp temporary holding arms 89f and 89g and set on the radiator core support 17 on the side of the exterior component sub-assembly mounting portion 85 is provided substantially at the center lower portion of the rotating portion 89b. A horn temporary holding arm 89h which forms a temporary holding function of temporarily holding the horn 27 in contact therewith is formed.

In the state shown in FIG. 2, the cooling component sub-assembly mounting portion 89 is separated from the exterior component sub-assembly mounting portion 85. At this time, a support 95 for supporting the cooling component sub-assembly mounting portion 89 is provided. Are erected on the work table 61, and a grip 95a at the upper end of the support 95 grips the radiator support arm 89d. On the other hand, the radiator core support support portion 85b on the left side in FIG.
9b and holding portions 85d and 85e for holding the radiator support arm 89d are formed respectively.

The robot 65 in the step 2 shown in FIG.
The upper arm 19a of the bumper 19 is fastened to the bumper retainer 17a of the radiator core support 17, and a rotating arm 99 is rotatably mounted on the upper end of a column 97 erected from the floor F. A fastening tool 101 projecting downward is attached to the tip of the pivot arm 99 so as to be movable in the longitudinal direction of the rotating arm 99 and movable in the vertical direction. The robot 69 mounts the lower surface of the bumper 19 on the radiator core support 1.
7 to be fastened to the lower bumper retainer 17b,
The fastening tool 105 protruding upward with respect to the guide portion 103 installed on the floor F moves in the longitudinal direction and the vertical direction of the guide portion 103. The robot 67 has a headlamp 2
1 and the horn 27 are fastened, and a guide portion 111 is provided at the upper end of two pillars 107 and 109 installed on the floor F, and is movable in the longitudinal direction with respect to the guide portion 111 and moves in the front-rear direction. A fastening tool 113 is attached as possible.

In the mounting robot 71 in the step 3 shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the support 115 on the gantry 114 can move up and down and can rotate, and the guide rail 117 on the support 115 moves in the left and right direction in FIG. Can be slid. The guide rail 117 is slid to move the guide rod 117 against the support jig 63 on the assembly jig 63 on the work table 61.
83, into the grooves 82a, 83a, transport the assembly jig 63 in the sliding direction, and mount the cooling component sub-assembly 3 and the exterior component sub-assembly 5 attached to the assembly jig 63 on the vehicle body 1. Becomes possible.

The robot 73 in the step 3 performs fastening of the upper part of the cooling component sub-assembly 3 and the exterior component sub-assembly 5 to the vehicle body 1, and turns to the upper end of the column 118 erected from the floor F. A moving arm 119 is rotatably mounted, and a fastening tool 121 that is movable in the longitudinal direction and vertically can be attached to the rotating arm 119. The robot 75 is for fastening the exterior component sub-assembly 5 on the lower side with respect to the vehicle body 1.

Next, an assembling process of the vehicle body front structure using the assembling jig 63 as described above will be described. First, the step 1 shown in FIG. 3, that is, the step of setting the cooling component sub-assembly 3 on the assembling jig 63 and the step of setting the exterior components such as the bumper 19 constituting the exterior component sub-assembly 5 will be described. At this time, the cooling component sub-assembly mounting portion 89 is
As shown in FIG. 3, it is in a state separated from the exterior component sub-assembly mounting portion 85.

After the worker 55 sets the bumper 19 on the bumper receiving portion 85a of the exterior component sub-assembly mounting portion 85,
Connect the radiator core support 17 to the lower bumper retainer 1
7b contacts the lower inner surface of the bumper 19, the upper surface of the bumper retainer 17a contacts the inner surface of the upper surface 19a of the bumper 19, and the radiator core upper 17c at the upper end.
Is set to be supported by the support portion 85c. The hood lock 25 is previously bolted to the radiator core support 17 before the setting operation. The operator 57 attaches the cooling component sub-assembly 3 assembled by fastening the radiator 7, the condenser 9 and the fan support 11 to each other with the fan support 11 on the operator 57 side. Set it in the unit 89. At this time, the radiator 7 places the projections 7a and 7b on both sides on the radiator support arms 89c and 89d, and the upper end is supported by the upper support arm 89e.

Further, the operator 59 applies the left and right headlamps 21 to the radiator core support 17 in the set state.
And the horn 27 are set, and in this state, the cooling component sub-assembly mounting portion 89 is rotated about the hinge portion 87, and the rotating portion 89b and the radiator support arm 89d are gripped by the grip portion 85.
d and 85e, respectively, and are superimposed on the exterior component sub-assembly mounting portion 85. At this time, the head lamp temporary holding arms 89f and 89g abut against the left and right head lamps 21 and the horn temporary holding arm 89h
7, the head lamp 21 and the horn 27
Is temporarily held.

When the work in the step 1 is completed, the work table 61 is driven by the motor 80 so that the work table 61 shown in FIG.
Move to the position. Here, the upper surface 19a of the bumper 19 is bolted to the bumper retainer 17a of the radiator core support 17 by the robot 65, and the lower surface of the bumper 19 is bolted to the lower bumper retainer 17b of the radiator core support 17 by the robot 69. further,
The head lamp 21 and the horn 27 are fastened by the robot 67.

When the work in the step 2 is completed, the work table 61 is driven by the motor 80 so that the work table 61 shown in FIG.
, That is, the position near the mounting robot 71 in front of the vehicle body 1 on the main line 53. At this time, the cooling component sub-assembly 3 set on the assembly jig 63
Side faces the mounted robot 71. Here, the mounting robot 71 slides the two guide rails 117 toward the work table 61 so as to increase the height thereof, and the grooves 82 of the two support rods 82 and 83 of the assembly jig 63.
a, 83a. In this state, the support 115 is raised, and then the guide rail 117 is retracted and further moved toward the vehicle body 1, whereby the cooling component sub-assembly 3
The assembly jig 63 with the exterior component sub-assembly 5 attached is located in front of the vehicle body 1.

Next, by moving the guide rail 117 toward the vehicle body 1 while moving the column 115 up and down, the cooling component sub-assembly 3 is positioned with respect to the vehicle body 1. At this time, the projection 7c at the lower end of the cooling component sub-assembly 3
Is inserted into a predetermined position on the upper surface of the front cross member 123 on the vehicle body 1 side, and the notch of the mounting portion 7d at the upper end of the cooling component sub-assembly 3 is fitted into a bolt of the mounting portion 1a of the vehicle body 1. In this state, the cooling component sub-assembly 3 is fastened by fastening a nut to the bolt of the mounting portion 1a by the robot 73.
Is fixed to the vehicle body 1.

When the cooling component sub-assembly 3 is fixed to the vehicle body 1, the guide rail 117 of the mounting robot 71 is slid to the gantry 114 to move the assembly jig 63 to the gantry 1.
14, the support 115 is rotated 180 degrees in this state, and stopped at a position where the exterior component sub-assembly 5 on the assembly jig 63 faces the vehicle body 1. And pillar 1
15 while moving the guide rail 117 up and down.
The outer component sub-assembly 5 is positioned with respect to the vehicle body 1 by being moved to the side. At this time, the mounting portions 17d at the left and right ends of the radiator core support 17 are attached to the mounting surfaces 125 of the front fender 125 of the vehicle body 1.
a. In this state, the robot 7
3, the mounting portion 17d and the mounting surface 125a are fastened by bolts, and the robot 75 is used by the three mounting holes 17e in the lower bumper retainer 17a of the radiator core support 17 and the front cross member 123 of the vehicle body 1.
Bolts using the bolt holes 123a. Finally, the mounting parts 19b at both left and right ends of the bumper 19 are bolted to the lower mounting part 125b of the front fender 125 by the robot 75, whereby the mounting of the exterior component sub-assembly 5 to the vehicle body 1 is completed.

As described above, the two sub-assemblies, the cooling component sub-assembly 3 and the exterior component sub-assembly 5, can be mounted on the vehicle body 1 by one mounting robot 71. This eliminates the need for an on-board robot, thereby preventing an increase in capital investment and reducing manufacturing costs.

When the mounting of the exterior component sub-assembly 5 on the vehicle body 1 is completed, the mounting robot 71 moves the guide rail 1
After drawing in 17, it is extended to the work table 61,
The assembly jig 63 is returned onto the work table 61, and the guide rail 117 is pulled into the gantry 114. Then, the work table 61 is returned to the position of step 1 by driving the motor 80,
In preparation for the assembly of the front structure to the next vehicle body 1. The assembled vehicle body 1 is conveyed on the main line 53 and shifts to the next work process.

[0037]

As described above, according to the first or second aspect, the first sub-assembly is mounted on the first mounting portion of one assembly jig, and the first sub-assembly is mounted on the second mounting portion. Since the second sub-assembly was set on each of the sub-assemblies, the first sub-assembly was mounted on the vehicle body, the assembly jig was turned over, and then the second sub-assembly was mounted on the vehicle body. Accordingly, a plurality of sub-assemblies can be mounted on a vehicle body, an increase in capital investment can be prevented, and manufacturing costs can be reduced.

According to the third aspect, the first mounting portion and the second mounting portion
The first mounting portion and the second mounting portion are overlapped with each other.
The temporary holding function provided on one of the mounting parts can temporarily hold the components that constitute the sub-assembly set on the other side, eliminating the need for temporary holding work such as clamping in the next fastening process. , Work efficiency can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a schematic overall configuration of an assembly process of a vehicle body front structure according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an assembly jig used in the assembly process of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an operation state of a step 1 in the assembling step of FIG. 1;

4A is a perspective view showing an operation state of a step 2 in the assembling step of FIG. 1, and FIG. 4B is a sectional view of the same.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an operation state of a step 3 in the assembling step of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing an operation state of a step 3 in the assembling step of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a schematic entire configuration of an assembly process of a vehicle body front structure showing a conventional example.

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of a vehicle body front structure.

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the cooling component sub-assembly in FIG.

FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of the exterior component sub-assembly in FIG.

11 is an external perspective view of the vehicle body front structure shown in FIG.

FIG. 12 is a side sectional view of FIG. 11;

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 3 cooling component sub-assembly (first sub-assembly) 5 exterior component sub-assembly (second sub-assembly) 63 assembly jig 85 exterior component sub-assembly attachment part (second attachment part) 87 hinge part (Movable part) 89 Cooling part sub-assembly mounting part (first mounting part) 89f, 89g Headlamp temporary holding arm (temporary holding function) 89h Horn temporary holding arm (temporary holding function)

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A first sub-assembly of the front unit is set on a first mounting portion provided on an assembly jig on which a front unit of a vehicle body is set, and provided on the assembly jig. The first mounting portion is mounted on a front portion of the vehicle body after the first sub-assembly, on a second mounting portion movable in a state of being separated from the first mounting portion and a state of being overlapped with each other via a movable portion. A second sub-assembly is set, and the first and second mounting portions are brought closer to the front of the vehicle body in a state where they are overlapped with each other,
After attaching the first sub-assembly to the front part of the vehicle body in this state,
A method of assembling a front part of a vehicle body, wherein the assembly jig is reversed and the second sub-assembly is mounted on the front part of the vehicle body. 2. A first mounting portion on which a first sub-assembly to be mounted on the front of the vehicle body is set, and a second sub-assembly mounted on the front of the vehicle body after the first sub-assembly. A second mounting portion on which a three-dimensional object is set, wherein the first and second mounting portions are relatively movable via a movable portion in a state of being separated from each other and in a state of being overlapped with each other. Assembling jig. 3. A component constituting a sub-assembly set on one of the first mounting portion and the second mounting portion, and the first and second mounting portions are overlapped with each other. 3. The assembly jig according to claim 2, further comprising a temporary holding function for temporarily holding in a combined state.