JPH04183539A - Assembling equipment utilizing truck - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To arrange the whole equipment compactly, by having a host work route part and subordinate return route part, and composing a lot of trucks freely travelably on a circulation route having a lift route part between the start and finish ends of the both route parts. CONSTITUTION:A circulation route 15 having a host work route 11 and subordinate return route 12, and a 1st lift route 13 and 2nd lift route 14 between the start and finish ends of the both routes 11, 12, is formed on the extension line of a constant route at the external part of the end of an automatic warehouse 1, and a lot of truck 16 freely travelable on the circulation route 15 are provided. A part feeding part 40 and case recovery part 43 are provided over the both side parts of the 1st lift route 13 from the end both side parts of the host work route 11 at the automatic warehouse 1 side, an assembly line 50 formed by the automatic warehouse 1, circulation route 15, part feeding part 40, etc., is provided in parallel plurally to compose an assembly equipment 60. And, a 1st transfer device 51 is provided over the upper part space of one end of the host work route 11 between each assembly lines 50 and a 2nd transfer device 56 over the other end part upper part space.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to assembly equipment using a trolley, which is used, for example, to assemble the body of an automobile.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a vehicle body assembly facility using a bogie, a structure as disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 57-209458 has been provided. In this conventional type, the carrier is allowed to run freely on an endless carrier track, and working sections are provided at a plurality of locations on the endless path.

The car body was then placed on the carrier, and various parts were assembled on the car body while the carrier was run on an endless path, and then the car body was unloaded from the carrier. Various parts are taken out from parts shelves arranged on the sides of the endless path and used for assembly.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention According to the above-mentioned conventional method, for example, when an endless path is formed in a meandering shape, the pitch between the parallel path sections becomes wide due to the presence of component shelves, making it possible to consolidate the entire equipment into a compact and intensive manner. hard. In addition, the operator has to go back and forth between the parts shelf and the carrier many times in order to transport the parts, which requires a great deal of labor, and furthermore, it is easy to assemble incorrect parts. Furthermore, replenishment of various parts must be carried out along almost the entire length of the circulation path, which is both time consuming and troublesome. Furthermore, for example, the assembly man-hours are different between the deluxe specification and the simple specification, and in this case, the simple specification also has to travel the same route as the deluxe specification, which is wasted.

The purpose of the present invention is to make the entire equipment compact, to shorten the walking distance for workers, to supply various parts easily and accurately, and to allow the trolley to run only in necessary steps. The point is that it provides assembly equipment that uses trolleys.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to achieve the above object, the assembly equipment using carts according to the present invention has a large number of carts, an upper work path section and a lower return path section, and has a plurality of carts at the beginning and end of both path sections. The cart is configured to be able to run freely on a circulation path having a lifting path between the ends, and each cart is provided with an assembly support section and a parts storage section, and a parts straining device and a parts straining device are provided outside the end of the upper working path. A parts supply section is provided to constitute one assembly line, and a plurality of these assembly lines are arranged in parallel, and an assembly transfer device is provided between adjacent lifting paths between the assembly lines.

Effects According to the configuration of the present invention, a plurality of assembly lines can be arranged with the upper work path portions closely parallel to each other by running the carts on the circulation path with the parallel portions in the vertical direction. Furthermore, various parts can be taken out from the parts storage device to the parts supply unit in a set state and supplied onto the cart that has reached the end of the upper work path part. By moving the cart between the lifting and lowering path sections at both ends, assembly work can be performed in many steps. In addition, by moving the trolley between the lifting path on the parts storage device side and the intermediate lifting path, assembly work can be performed with fewer steps. Can be left unused.

Example An embodiment of the present invention will be described below based on the drawings.

3 is an automatic warehouse that is an example of a parts storage device, and includes a pair of shelves 3 in which a large number of storage sections 2 are partitioned vertically and horizontally, and a loading/unloading device 5 that can freely run on a fixed path 4 between the two types 3. Consists of etc. Loading/unloading device 5
consists of a traveling machine body 6 supported and guided by rails, a lifting platform 8 guided by a post 7 erected from the traveling body 6, and a loading/unloading tool (
The parts case IO is received and delivered to and from the intended storage section 2 by a combination of running action, elevating movement, and clocking in and out.

Each parts case 0 contains parts and fixtures used in the work route corresponding to this automated warehouse 1 as a set. Outside the end of the automated warehouse 1 and on the extension of the fixed route 4, there is an upper work route section 11 and a lower return route section 12, and a first lifting/lowering section is provided between the start and end of both route sections 11 and 12. A circulation path 15 having a path section 13 and a second elevating path section 14 is formed, and this circulation path! A large number of carts 16 are provided that can freely run on the top of the vehicle. An intermediate lifting path section 22 is formed between the upper work path section 11 and the lower return path section 12.

The trolley 16 has a large number of wheels 17 at its lower part, and a support part 1 for a vehicle body 18, which is an example of an object to be assembled, at its upper part.
9 and a parts storage section 20 are provided. The support section 19 is provided at the center, the component storage sections 20 are provided at multiple locations around the periphery, and the remaining portion serves as a working section 21 into which an operator can freely ride. Then, the component case IO is loaded into the component storage section 20. An upper rail 31 is laid on the floor surface 30, and by placing the wheels 17 on the upper rail 31, the trolley I6 can freely run on the upper work route section 11. Further, a lower rail 33 is laid in a tunnel portion 32 formed under the floor, and by placing wheels 17 on this lower rail 33, the cart 16 can freely run on the lower return path portion 12. Of the two lifting path sections 13.14, the first lifting path section 13 on the side of the automated warehouse 1 is provided with a lifting platform 35 via a lifting device t34 consisting of, for example, a pantograph mechanism. A relay rail 3B that can be connected to and separated from the rails 31 and 33 is provided. Also, the other second elevating route section! 4 is similarly provided with a lifting device 37, a lifting table 38, and a relay rail 39, and the intermediate lifting path section 22 is also provided with a lifting device 23, a lifting table 24, and a relay rail 25.

On the automated warehouse 1 side, a parts supply section 40 is provided from both sides of the end of the upper working path section 11 to both sides of the first lifting path section 13.
and a case recovery section 43 are provided. This parts supply section 4
G is composed of a conveyor 41 and a loading robot 42, and the case collection section 43 is composed of a conveyor 44 and a collection robot 45.

One assembly line 50 is formed by the automated warehouse 1, circulation path 15, parts supply section 40, etc., and by arranging a plurality of such assembly lines 50 in parallel, the assembly equipment 6
0 is configured. At that time, the adjacent assembly line 50
In between, the traveling direction in the upper work route section 11 is set to be the opposite direction. Further, the 16 groups of bogies are moved in a backward or towed manner by various drive devices using motors, chains, rollers, etc.

A first transfer device 51 is provided between each assembly line 50 and above one end (on the automated warehouse 1 side) of the upper work path section 11 . This first transfer device 51 includes, for example, an elevating body 53 guided by a machine frame 52, a traveling body 54 provided on the side of this elevating body 53 so as to be able to freely run in the inter-line direction, and a clamp provided on this traveling body 54. It consists of a type hanger device 55 and the like. Similarly, a second transfer device 56 is provided above the other end of the upper work path portion 11, and this second transfer device 5B also includes a machine frame 52, an elevating body 53, a traveling body 54, and a hanger device 55. Consists of etc. Further, a third transfer device 57 is provided across the upper part of the intermediate elevating path section 22, and this third transfer device 57 also includes the machine frame 52, the elevating body 53, and the traveling body 5.
4, a hanger device 55, etc.

According to the above embodiment, a group of parts brought in by a truck or the like is sorted at a location corresponding to each assembly line 50, and after being stored in a parts case IO, it is stored in a corresponding automated warehouse 1. It will be placed in part 2. In the assembly line 50 in which the running direction of the upper work route section 11 is in the direction away from the automated warehouse 1, the relay rail 3 of the elevated elevator platform 35 in the first elevator route section 13
An empty trolley 16 is located on top of the rail 3B, and the relay rail 3B is connected to the upper rail 31. Further, in the automatic warehouse 1, a plurality of target component cases IO are sorted by the operation of the loading/unloading device 5 and then taken out onto the conveyor 41 of the component supply section 40. Parts case at this time! 0, either a deluxe specification or a simple specification is prepared depending on the assembly line 50. The parts cases IO on these conveyors 41 are
The loading robot 42 loads the parts into a predetermined parts storage section 20 of the truck IB. Parts case like this! 0
The trolley 1B loaded with the workpiece is moved from the relay rail 36 to the upper rail 3I, so that it travels on the upper work route section 11. Then, the vehicle body 18 is loaded onto the trolley 16 that has stopped at the starting end of the upper work route section 11. That is, the traveling body 54 of the first transfer device 51 is the trolley 16.
The hanger device 55 supporting the vehicle body 18 is lowered together with the elevating body 53, and the vehicle body 18 is stacked on the support portion 19. Note that the initial loading may be carried out using a self-propelled cart with a fork function. Then, the assembly work for the vehicle body 18 is performed while the trolley I6 is traveling on the upper work path portion 11 with the hanger device 55 raised and retracted together with the elevating body 53. This assembly work can be carried out by a worker on the trolley 16 taking out the parts and fixtures (bolts, etc.) from the parts case collection section.
The worker only walks on the work section 21. In this way, the assembly work is performed in one upper work route section 11, and at that time, in the case of the deluxe specification, the trolley 16 travels to the terminal side via the elevated elevator platform 24 of the intermediate elevator route section 22. However, even during this traveling, the intended assembly work is carried out.

Then, the vehicle body 18 on the trolley 16 that has reached the end is lifted by the second transfer device 56. As a result, the empty trolley te transfers to the relay rail 39 that has risen together with the elevator platform 38 in the second elevator route section 14, and then moves into the tunnel section 32 via the second elevator route section 14 as the elevator platform 38 descends. enter. When the lifting platform 38 reaches its lower limit, the relay rail 39 connects to the lower rail 33, and the trolley 1B travels on the lower return path section 12 in the opposite direction to the upper section, and at that time, the intermediate lifting path section 22 It travels on the descending platform 24. The trolley 16 is the first lifting path section 1.
3, and returns to the initial position by raising the elevator platform 35, and first, the empty parts case IO is recovered onto the conveyor 44 by the recovery robot 45,
Next, a new parts case is placed on the conveyor 41 by the loading robot 42! Receives supply of 0.

In an assembly line 50 adjacent to the assembly line 50 described above, the flow is in the opposite direction. That is, the empty parts case IO is collected by the collection robot 45 from the empty cart 16 that has been transferred from the terminal end of the upper working path section 11 onto the lifting platform 35 of the first lifting path section 13, and is loaded. New parts case 10 created by robot 42
is loaded. Then, the trolley 16 descends together with the lifting platform 35, travels along the lower return path section 12, and transfers onto the lifting platform 38 of the second lifting path section 14. Next, the lifting platform 38
With the carriage 16 facing the upper work path section 11 due to the rise of the vehicle body I8, the vehicle body I8 lifted by the second transfer device 56 is lowered and stacked on the support section I9 as described above. Then, the assembly work for the vehicle body 18 is performed while the trolley 16 is traveling on the upper work route ff1ll with the hanger device 55 raised and retracted. Thereafter, the vehicle body 18 is lifted by the first transfer device 51 from above the trolley 16 that has reached the terminal end of the upper work path section 11.

As a result, the empty cart 16 rides onto the lifting platform 35 of the first lifting route section 13, and thus returns to its initial state.

In this way, while moving the vehicle body I8 in a meandering manner in the work equipment in which the upper work path section 11 is closely parallel,
- It is possible to assemble parts supplied from the blade side.

Note that when the vehicle body 18 has a simple specification, the trolley 1B is moved between the two route sections 11 and 12 using the elevator platform 24 of the intermediate elevator route section 22. At that time, the component case 10 for simple use is loaded, and between the intermediate lifting path section 22 and the second lifting path section 14, both path sections 11.12 are not used, and the second lifting path section 14 is also used. Not done.

In the above embodiment, the automatic warehouse 1 is shown as a parts storage device, but this may have a configuration in which storage conveyors are arranged in multiple stages above and below.

Effects of the Invention According to the present invention having the above configuration, by running the cart on a circulation path with the parallel portions in the vertical direction, a plurality of assembly lines can be arranged with the upper work path portions closely parallel to each other. This allows the entire equipment to be compactly integrated. In addition, various necessary parts can be taken out from the parts storage device to the parts supply section in a set state, and then supplied onto the cart that has reached the starting end of the upper working path section. As a result, various parts can be easily and accurately supplied, and the worker can perform all the work on the trolley, which shortens the walking distance and reduces labor.

By moving the cart between the lifting and lowering path sections at both ends, it is possible to perform deluxe assembly work involving many steps. In addition, by moving the cart between the lifting path on the parts storage device side and the intermediate lifting path, assembly work with simple specifications using fewer steps can be performed by running the cart only in the necessary steps. The space between the intermediate lifting path and the final lifting path can be left unused, allowing for efficient assembly work.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawings show one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway side view, FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway plan view, and FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view of the whole. 1. Automatic warehouse (parts storage device), 3. Shelf, 5
...Insertion/removal device, IO...Parts case, 11@.Upper working route section, I2..Lower return route section, 13..First elevating route section, 14...Second elevating route section, 15...Circulation route , 16... Trolley, 18... Vehicle body (object to be assembled), 19
...Supporting part, 20...Parts storage part, 21...Working part, 2
2. Intermediate lifting route, 24.35.38@・lifting platform,
40・Fist parts supply department, 42・Loading robot, 43
・Φ Case recovery unit, 45・Fist recovery port pot, 50・Assembly line, 51・1st transfer device, 56・2nd transfer device, 57・3rd transfer device, 60・assembly Facility.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A large number of carts are configured to be able to run freely on a circulation route having an upper work route section and a lower return route section, and a lifting route section between the start and end of both route sections, and the upper work route section and the lower return route section. An intermediate lifting path section is formed between the lower return path section and the lower return path section, each truck is provided with an object support section and a parts storage section, and a parts storage device and a parts storage section are provided outside the end of the upper working path section. A parts supply section is provided to form one assembly line, and a plurality of these assembly lines are arranged in parallel, and a transfer device for the assembled objects is provided between adjacent lifting paths between each assembly line. Assembly equipment using a trolley.