CN1749086A - Workpiece Conveyor - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention provides a work conveying device capable of easily and certainly assembling a conveying work to an object to be assembled even if it is not provided with a particular horizontal direction movement adjustment mechanism in an assembling station. An electric hoist 20 is mounted to a trolley 10 of an overhead conveyor C arranged so as to pass through an upper part of the assembling station S and work mounting parts 21, 22 capable of detachably mounting a work W are provided on a lifting chain 20a of the electric hoist 20. At conveying of the work W by the trolley 10, the work W is retained to a raised position by winding up the lifting chain 20a of the electric hoist 20. Further, when the trolley 10 arrives at the assembling station S, the work W is descended by paying out the lifting chain 20a of the electric hoist 20.

Description

Workpiece Conveyor

technical field

The present invention relates to a work transport device for transporting workpieces to assembly stations where assembly workers stand by.

Background technique

Such a workpiece transfer device is known, for example, as disclosed in Patent Document 1 below.

Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 7-137675

In the conventional workpiece conveying device, in addition to the elevator for lifting and lowering the workpiece at the assembly station, a horizontal direction for moving the workpiece forward, backward, left, and right so that the workpiece is aligned with the object to be assembled is provided on the chassis supporting the workpiece. The mobile adjustment mechanism is therefore complex in construction and requires a great deal of effort in the installation of the device.

Contents of the invention

The present invention was made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and its object is to provide a structure that can easily and accurately assemble the transported workpiece on the assembly object without having a special horizontal movement adjustment mechanism on the assembly station. Simple and inexpensive workpiece transfer device.

In order to achieve the above object, the first feature of the present invention is that an electric hoist is installed on the overhead crane of the overhead conveyor configured through the upper part of the assembly station, and the lifting chain of the electric hoist is provided with a detachable The workpiece mounting part for installing the workpiece is configured with a power supply pole on the fixed support part of the above-mentioned overhead conveyor, which can be energized to the above-mentioned electric hoist when the above-mentioned aerial crane arrives at the above-mentioned assembly station, and when the workpiece is transported by the above-mentioned aerial crane, roll up The lifting chain of the electric hoist keeps the workpiece at the raised position, and when the above-mentioned aerial crane reaches the above-mentioned assembly station, the operation of the electric hoist due to the energization from the above-mentioned power supply pole is used to release the lifting chain to lower the workpiece.

In addition, the above-mentioned workpiece and assembly object correspond respectively to the wheel drive assembly W and the sub-frame A with the engine in the embodiment of the present invention described later, and the above-mentioned mounting part is also corresponding to the hook member in the same embodiment. 21 and the support rod 22 are corresponding.

In addition, the present invention, in addition to the first feature, has a second feature: on the above-mentioned aerial crane, an anti-swing device is provided to restrict the workpiece from surrounding at least when the electric hoist lifts the lifting chain to raise the workpiece to a predetermined lifting position. The above-mentioned lifting chain swings.

Furthermore, the present invention, in addition to the second feature, has a third feature in that: the anti-swing device is fixedly installed on the frame of the above-mentioned aerial crane, and is composed of a pair of clamping legs that clamp the workpiece in the middle and extend downward. , so that the lower ends of the pair of clamping legs expand downwards into a ハ shape.

Furthermore, the present invention, in addition to the first feature, has a fourth feature: when the above-mentioned aerial crane arrives at the above-mentioned assembly station, the movement of the aerial crane is stopped, and at the same time, the above-mentioned electric hoist is operated for a certain period of time and released for a certain length. lift chain.

Furthermore, the present invention, in addition to the fourth feature, has a fifth feature: a foot switch operated by the assembly operator is set at the above-mentioned assembly station to control the direction of energization from the above-mentioned power supply rod to the electric hoist to lift chain.

According to the first feature of the present invention, by using the extremely simple structure of installing the electric hoist on the aerial crane of the overhead conveyor, the workpiece can be kept in the raised position by being lifted by the lifting chain of the electric hoist when the workpiece is transported, In addition, the workpiece can be lowered at the assembly station through the release of the lifting chain of the electric hoist. In addition, when the lowered workpiece is aligned with the assembly object, when the workpiece is moved up and down, the electric hoist can be raised and lowered. When the chain is unwound and rolled up, and the workpiece is displaced front, back, left, and right, it is only necessary to use the flexibility of the lifting chain to move the workpiece in the desired direction. Therefore, the workpiece can be easily and accurately mounted on the object to be assembled at the assembly station without a special horizontal movement adjustment mechanism. Therefore, the workpiece conveying device has an extremely simple structure and can be provided at low cost.

In addition, since the electric hoist can be energized only when the aerial crane arrives at the assembly station, malfunction of the electric hoist during transportation can be prevented.

In addition, according to the second feature of the present invention, when the workpiece is lifted to the predetermined lifting position by the electric hoist, the anti-swing device is used to restrict its swing around the lifting chain, so that the workpiece can be prevented from being damaged by interference with other objects during transportation. Take precautions before they happen.

Furthermore, according to the third characteristic of the present invention, the anti-swing device can be simply constituted by a pair of clamp legs, and the lower ends of the two clamp legs are expanded into a "eight" shape, so it is easy to lift the workpiece when it is raised. Securely accept the workpiece between the two clamping legs.

Furthermore, according to the fourth characteristic of the present invention, when the aerial crane arrives at the assembly station, it can automatically stop the movement of the aerial crane, and make the electric hoist operate for a certain period of time, and release the work of a certain length of chain, thereby, the workpiece can be automatically The machine can be lowered to a predetermined lowering position, and the workload of the operator can be reduced.

Furthermore, according to the fifth feature of the present invention, at the assembly station, even if the assembler holds the workpiece with both hands, he can operate the foot switch with his feet to make the electric hoist move and adjust the vertical position of the workpiece. , the alignment of the workpiece with respect to the object to be assembled can be easily performed.

Description of drawings

Fig. 1 is a front view of the workpiece conveying device of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of a portion indicated by reference numeral 2 in Fig. 1 (wherein, the workpiece is shown in a state before it is lowered).

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 2 .

Fig. 4 is an enlarged front view showing a state in which a workpiece is attached to the lift chain of the electric hoist.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged front view showing a state where a workpiece is assembled to an assembly object at an assembly station.

In the figure: A-object to be assembled (sub-frame with engine); C-overhead conveyor; D-transport direction; M-assembly operator; W-workpiece; 10-air crane; 20-electric hoist; 20a -lifting chain; 21-installation part (hook member); 22-installation part (support rod); 23-anti-swing device; 24-leg clamp; 25-power supply rod; 32-foot switch.

Detailed ways

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described based on preferred embodiments of the present invention shown in the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is the front view of the workpiece conveying device of the present invention, Fig. 2 is the enlarged view of 2 parts of Fig. 1 (and the workpiece is shown in the state before falling), Fig. 3 is the enlarged sectional view of line 3-3 of Fig. 2, Fig. 4 is Fig. 5 is an enlarged front view showing a state in which a workpiece is assembled to an assembly object at an assembly station.

In FIG. 1 , a pair of left and right wheeled drive assemblies W, W, which are used to transport workpieces, are transported by an overhead conveyor C to the assembly station S where the subframe A with the engine 5 to assemble the assemblies W, W is waiting for.

First, a brief description will be given of the pair of left and right wheel drive units W, W.

As shown in Figure 4, a pair of left and right wheel drive assemblies W and W form a mutually symmetrical structure, consisting of a drive shaft 1 with uniform velocity joints 2, 2', a wheel hub 3 connected to the outer end of the drive shaft 1 and connected to the drive shaft 1. The steering knuckle 4 adjoining the hub 3 is used to support the drive shaft 1 .

Next, the overhead conveyor C will be described based on FIGS. 1 to 3 .

The overhead conveyor C is configured in a ring shape so that a plurality of trolleys 10, 10 can circulate between a not-shown workpiece mounting station and workpiece assembly station S, and a part thereof is shown in FIG. 1 .

The structure of the overhead conveyor C is composed of a frame 12 supported on the ceiling of the building and extending in the workpiece conveying direction D, and brackets 13, 13 ... These brackets 13, 13... support a pair of rails 14, 14 extending in the workpiece conveying direction, a plurality of aerial cranes 10, 10... Well-known lead screw type conveying device 15 forms.

Each aerial crane 10 is composed of a pair of front and rear chassis 17, 17 and a U-shaped frame 18 that connects the lower parts of these chassis 17, 17 to one another. 20.

A plurality of aerial cranes 10, 10..., each adjacent two vehicles 10, 10 are divided into a group, and the left wheel drive assembly W is suspended on the lifting chain 20a of the electric hoist 20 of each group of preceding aerial cranes 10 , the wheel drive assembly W on the right is suspended on the lifting chain 20a of the electric hoist 20 of the subsequent aerial crane 10 . That is, as shown in Fig. 4, the lower end of the lift chain 20a is attached with a hook member 21 that can be clamped and disengaged to hang the end of the steering knuckle 4, and a hook member 21 that can be locked is attached at a place that is slightly upward from the lower end of the lift chain 20a. The support rod 22 at the front end of the drive shaft 1 is hung detachably.

And when each wheel drive assembly W is suspended on the lifting chain 20a of the corresponding electric hoist 20, on the suspension work station not shown in the figure, the lower end of the lifting chain 20a released by the electric hoist 20 One end of the steering knuckle 4 is hung on the hook member 21 , and at the same time, the front end of the drive shaft 1 is hung on the front end of the support rod 22 so that the drive shaft 1 is horizontal. Thereafter, the lifting chain 20a of the electric hoist 20 is wound up, the wheel drive unit W is raised to a predetermined height, and the vehicle enters the transport state.

The frame 18 of the aerial crane 10 is provided with an anti-swing device 23 (FIG. 2 and FIG. 3), which restricts the assembly W from swinging around the lifting chain 20a when the wheel drive assembly W occupies the raised position of the above-mentioned predetermined height. The anti-swing device 23 is fixedly arranged on the frame 18, and consists of a pair of clamping legs 24, 24 that sandwich the drive shaft 1 and extend downwards. At the lower ends of the two clamping legs 24, 24, the The drive shaft 1 expands downwards into a "eight" shape (refer to FIG. 3 ).

On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 , a power supply pole 25 supported by the above-mentioned brackets 13, 13 ... and extending parallel to the rails 14, 14 is arranged on the upper part of the assembly station S, and the frame 18 of the aerial crane 10 A collector brush 26 is attached on the top, and the electric hoist 20 can be powered by contacting the side of the power supply pole 25 when the aerial crane 10 is located at the assembly station (S) as necessary.

In addition, at least one pair of position detection sensors 34, 34 are provided on one rail 14 to detect when the aerial cranes 10, 10 divided into groups arrive at a predetermined position of the assembly station S. A pair of position detection sensors 34, 34 are composed of a pair of limit switches 35, 35 installed on one side of the track 14 and their corresponding action plates 36 that are fixedly arranged on the frame 18 of each aerial crane 10, and are divided into groups. When the trolleys 10 and 10 arrive at the assembly station S, the action plates 36 and 36 of the two trolleys 10 and 10 make a pair of limit switches 35 and 35 act simultaneously. Since the two limit switches 35 and 35 operate simultaneously, the operation of the driving source 37 of the above-mentioned conveying device 15 stops, and at the same time, the timer 38 operates. The timer 38 is used to make the electric hoists 20, 20 of the aerial cranes 10, 10 that arrive at the assembly station S from the power supply pole 25 operate for a certain period of time, and respectively release the lifting chains 20a, 20a of a certain length. It is set as the time to lower the wheel drive units W, W to a predetermined position facing the sub-frame A with the engine 5 on the assembly pallet 31 by releasing the lifting chains 20a, 20a.

Again as shown in Figure 1, on the assembly station S, an assembly pallet 31 is movably configured on the workbench 30 arranged on the floor, and the auxiliary frame A with the engine 5 is placed on the fixed position of the assembly pallet 31, To install a pair of wheel drive assemblies W, W on it from the left and right, and there are two assembly operators M, M on the left and right sides of the workbench 30 on standby.

On the floor adjacent to the workbench 30, there is a foot switch 32 operated by the feet of each assembly operator M to control the movement of the electric hoist 20 from the above-mentioned power supply pole 25 when each aerial crane 10 arrives at the assembly station S. In the energizing direction, the lifting chain 20a is unwound and rolled up.

In addition, on the workbench 30, a pair of restart switches 39, 39 operated by two operators M and M standing on both sides are provided. Source 37 is restarted.

Next, the action of this embodiment will be described.

On the not-shown suspension work station, on the lifting chains 20a, 20a extending downward from the electric hoists 20, 20 of the aerial cranes 10, 10 divided into groups, as described above, a pair of left and right wheel drive Assemblies W, W, then, if the lifting chain 20a of the electric hoist 20, 20 is rolled up, the wheel drive assemblies W, W are raised to a specified height, then the drive shaft 1 of each wheel drive assembly W is guided into the anti-swing device 23 between a pair of clamping legs 24,24, therefore, utilizing the pair of clamping legs 24,24 can prevent the wheel drive assembly W from swinging.

Therefore, next, the transmission device 15 is activated to move the aerial cranes 10, 10 to the assembly station S. During the transportation of the wheel drive assembly W, W, the assembly W, W maintains a certain posture, and can avoid and surround The interference of other objects such as the protective frame of the overhead conveyor C prevents damage to the wheel drive components W and W before it happens.

At that time, the lower ends of the two clamping legs 24, 24 expand into a "eight" shape. Therefore, when the wheel drive assembly W, W is raised, the drive shaft 1 can be easily and reliably received between the two clamping legs 24, 24. .

In this way, a pair of wheel drive assemblies W, W are transported to the assembly station S, the collector brushes 26, 26 of the two aerial cranes 10, 10 are in contact with the power supply pole 25, and the two aerial cranes 10, 10 arrive at the working station. When the left and right sides of the platform 30 are in position, the action of the driving source 37 of the conveying device 15 is stopped by the action of a pair of position detection sensors 34, 34, and at the same time, the timer 38 is in action, so the movement of the two trolleys 10, 10 is automatically stopped. , at the same time, the two electric hoists 20, 20 automatically move for a certain period of time, and the lifting chains 20a, 20a of a certain length are released respectively, and the wheel drive assembly W, W is dropped to them on the assembling pallet 31 and the auxiliary frame A with the engine 5 Opposite specified position.

In this way, when the aerial cranes 10, 10 divided into groups arrive at the assembly station S, the movement of the aerial cranes 10, 10 is stopped, and the electric hoists 20, 20 are operated for a certain period of time, and the lifting chains 20a, 20a of a certain length are released, and the wheel Since the type drive units W, W are automatically lowered to a predetermined lowering position, it is possible to reduce the workload of the operators M, M.

If the wheel drive assembly W, W falls to the prescribed position, the two assembly operators M, M hold the wheel drive assembly W in charge of each with both hands, and take it to the right place as shown in Figure 5. The position where the auxiliary frame A with the engine is installed, and at that time, to fine-tune the up and down position of the wheel drive assembly W, use the foot switch 32 to release and roll up the lifting chain 20a of the electric hoist 20, and fine-tune the wheel drive assembly W. For the front, rear, left, and right positions of the drive assembly W, it is only necessary to use the bendability of the lifting chain 20a to move the wheel drive assembly W to a desired direction.

In particular, even if the assembly workers M hold the wheel drive unit W with both hands, they can operate the electric hoist 20 by operating the foot switch 32 with their feet to adjust the vertical position of the wheel drive unit W. Therefore, alignment of the wheel drive unit W with respect to the sub-frame A with the engine 5 can be easily performed.

In this way, at the assembly station S, even without a special horizontal movement adjustment mechanism, the wheel drive assembly W can be easily and accurately installed on the sub-frame A with the engine. As described above, since there is no special horizontal movement adjustment mechanism, the workpiece conveyance device of the present invention has a simple structure and can be provided at low cost.

In addition, since the electric hoist 20 can be energized only when the aerial crane 10 reaches the assembly station S, malfunction of the electric hoist 20 during transportation can be prevented.

After assembly, two assembling operators M, M remove the lifting chains 20a, 20a from each wheel drive unit W, and after confirming its state, the two operators M, M operate a pair of restart switches 39, 39 at the same time, thereby, The driving source 37 of the transmission device 15 is restarted, and the movement of all the trolleys 10, 10... is restarted. Hereafter, the same operation is repeated.

The subframe A with the engine assembled with the left and right wheel drive assemblies W and W is transported to other assembly stations by the movement of the assembly pallet 31, and after it is transported, the subframe A with the engine 5 is placed. The new assembly pallet 31 of.

The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, and various design changes can be made without departing from the gist thereof. For example, the workpiece conveying device of the present invention is not limited to conveying the wheel drive unit W, but can be applied to convey various workpieces.

Claims (5)

1. A workpiece conveying device is characterized in that: an electric hoist (20) is installed on the overhead crane (10) of the elevated conveyor (C) configured through the assembly station (S), the electric hoist ( 20) The lifting chain (20a) is provided with a workpiece mounting part (21, 22) that can be detachably mounted to the workpiece (W), and a power supply pole (25) is arranged on the fixed support part of the above-mentioned elevated conveyor (C), The power supply pole (25) can be energized to the above-mentioned electric hoist (20) when the above-mentioned aerial crane (10) arrives at the above-mentioned assembly station (S), and when the workpiece (W) is transported by the above-mentioned aerial crane (10), roll up The lifting chain (20a) of the electric hoist (20) keeps the workpiece (W) in the rising position, and when the above-mentioned aerial crane (10) has arrived at the above-mentioned assembly station (S), it is The electric hoist (20) is energized to act, and the lifting chain (20a) is released to lower the workpiece (W). 2. The workpiece conveying device according to claim 1, characterized in that: an anti-sway device (23) is provided on the above-mentioned aerial crane (10), and the anti-sway device (23) is rolled up at least when the electric hoist (20) The lifting chain (20a) restricts the workpiece (W) from swinging around the lifting chain (20a) when lifting the workpiece (W) to a predetermined lifting position. 3. The workpiece conveying device according to claim 2, characterized in that: the above-mentioned anti-swing device (23) is fixedly arranged on the frame (18) of the above-mentioned aerial crane (10), and is clamped by the workpiece (W) A pair of clamping legs (24, 24) extending downwards in the middle constitutes, and the lower ends of the pair of clamping legs (24, 24) expand downwards to form a "eight" shape. 4. The workpiece conveying device according to claim 1, characterized in that: when the above-mentioned aerial crane (10) arrives at the above-mentioned assembly station (S), the movement of the aerial crane (10) is stopped, and at the same time, the above-mentioned electric lifting The machine (20) moves for a certain period of time, and emits a lifting chain (20a) of a certain length. 5. The workpiece conveying device according to claim 1 or 4, characterized in that: a foot switch (32) operated by an assembly operator (M) is provided at the above-mentioned assembly station (S), and the foot switch ( 32) It is used to control the power supply direction from the above-mentioned power supply pole (25) to the electric hoist (20) so as to make the chain (20a) go up and down.

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