JP3023223B2 - Parts pallet replacement time display device for body assembly line - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a device pallet replacement time display device for a vehicle body assembly line in which a plurality of vehicle bodies are mixed and assembled.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a mass production plant for automobile bodies, a plurality of vehicle bodies are assembled while being mixed and sequentially conveyed by a conveyor. It is common practice to provide a body assembly line called a so-called mixed flow line.

[0003] In such a vehicle body assembly line, a parts pallet containing parts to be supplied to the assembly line is prepared for each vehicle type, and the transport order of the vehicle types set in accordance with the production plan is determined in advance in the control box. The data is input to the microcomputer and stored in a storage area called a vehicle type pool in the memory, and the transport order of the stored vehicle types is used as a supply order of the parts from each part pallet to the body assembly line according to this order. Components are carried out from each component pallet. When the remaining number of parts in one part pallet becomes zero, a display indicating that the part pallet is empty is displayed on the display panel, and based on this display, the operator operates a forklift to remove the empty part pallet. Is replaced with a parts pallet that is full of the parts.

[0004]

However, in this type of body assembly line, the production plan is often changed due to a change in the sales performance of the automobile, and as a result, the composition ratio of the vehicle type flowing through the body assembly line changes. become. Therefore, there is also a change in the consumption ratio of parts in the parts pallet prepared for each type of vehicle and the order of carrying them out to the vehicle body assembly line. For this reason, when one component pallet is emptied and the indication is displayed on the display panel as in the past, the replacement of the component pallet may be delayed, which may hinder the body assembly line. Was likely to come.

In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a component pallet replacement time display device capable of displaying in advance a component pallet replacement time according to a production plan.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 63-39746 discloses that by detecting a part whose stock amount in a parts storage unit has decreased to an order point, and issuing a part production instruction toward a lot process.
It is disclosed that the parts inventory is optimized.

[0007]

A component pallet replacement time display device according to the present invention detects a predetermined remaining number of components in each of a plurality of component pallets provided for each vehicle type and generates an output signal. Storage means for storing the unloading order of the parts supplied to the vehicle body assembly line, display means for displaying in advance the replacement time of each part pallet, and control means for controlling the display means. The control unit searches a predetermined range in the order of unloading the components stored in the storage unit based on an output signal of the detection unit, and the component whose remaining number is detected by the detection unit is When it is confirmed by the search that the component pallet exists within the predetermined range, the display means is controlled to display the replacement time of the component pallet in advance. Further, the detecting means includes a plurality of detecting means different from each other in the number of remaining components to be detected, and the predetermined range of the unloading order of the components searched by the control means among the contents stored in the storage means is And a plurality of different ranges according to the number of remaining components detected by the detection means.

[0008]

According to the present invention, a component pallet replacement time display device according to the present invention is provided with a predetermined part of a part delivery order stored in a storage part based on the number of remaining parts in the part pallet detected by the detection part. When the range is searched, and when the search confirms that the part is present in the predetermined range, the display means is controlled to display the replacement time of the part pallet in advance. ,
It is possible to know in advance the replacement time of the parts pallet for each type of vehicle corresponding to the production plan, thereby enabling a smooth supply of parts to the vehicle body assembly line.

[0009]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view showing a side frame assembly line of an automobile provided with a component pallet replacement time display device according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the component pallet.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, 1A to 1C are:
Parts are pallets in which side frame outer panels (hereinafter referred to as “workpieces”) 2A to 2C of vehicle types A, B, and C are accommodated for each vehicle type. Parts pallet 1A
1C, a work take-out transporter 3 for taking out the works 2A to 2C one by one from the component pallets 1A to 1C, and a line for putting the works 2A to 2C into the assembly line 5 one by one. An input transfer device 4 is provided. The work take-out transfer machine 3 includes component pallets 1A to 1
A rail 3a extending and fixed in the arrangement direction of C (the Y direction in FIG. 1); and a rail 3a movably on the rail 3a.
The frame 3b is provided to extend in a direction perpendicular to the direction (X direction in FIG. 1), and a transporter main body 3c movable on the frame 3b. The transfer machine body 3c is used for the work 2A ~
It is configured so that 2Cs can be sequentially taken out of the component pallets 1A to 1C one by one in a suspended state and can be transported to a position where the line loading transporter 4 is provided. Both transporters 3 and 4 are controlled by a transporter control panel 6.

The side frame assembling line 5 includes first to fourth assembling stations 5a to 5d.
The required parts are sequentially assembled at each of the assembly stations 5a to 5d, so that the side frames can be assembled. FIG. 1 shows only the assembly line of the left side frame, and although not shown, the same assembly line of the right side frame is provided on the right side of the assembly line 5 as well. The left and right side frames that have passed through the fourth assembly station are configured to be carried out together.

Reference numeral 7 denotes a main control box including a microcontroller. A memory area 8 called a vehicle type pool as shown in FIG. 3 is provided in a memory of the main control box 7, and is set in advance according to a production plan. The transfer order of the three types of vehicles A, B, and C on the assembly line 5 is input to the main box 7 and stored in the vehicle type pool 8. Then, the main control box 7 reads out the vehicle body transfer order stored in the vehicle type pool 8 as a work unloading order to the side frame assembly line 5, sends a command signal to the unloader control panel 6, and places the works 2A to 2C in the above order. In the side frame assembly line 5.

On the other hand, the frame of the work take-out transfer machine 3
3b, each component pallet 1A to 1A based on the moving position of the transporter main body 3c on the frame 3b at the time of taking out the work
First to third limit switches SW1, SW2, SW for detecting the number of remaining works 2A to 2C for each C.
3 are attached. FIG. 4 shows these switches SW1 to SW1.
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the operation of SW3. Switches SW1 to SW3
Is normally OFF, but is attached to the frame 3b so that it is turned ON when the transporter main body 3c moves to a position described below.

That is, for example, when four or more workpieces remain in the component pallet 1A, the transporter main body 3c of the transporter 3 for taking out the workpiece moves onto the component pallet 1A, and the last four workpieces are moved. When it reaches a position where the second or more work 2A can be taken out, the first to third switches SW1 to SW3
None of the switches SW3 are turned ON, and thus, the remaining number is recognized as 3 or more (because the remaining number after taking out one becomes 3 or more). When the transporter body 3c moves onto the parts pallet 1A again and reaches a position where the third last work 2A can be taken out, only the first switch SW1 is turned off.
N, which is recognized as 2 remaining. Similarly,
When the transfer machine main body 3c reaches a position where it can take out the penultimate work 2A, the first and second switches SW
1 and SW2 are turned on, thereby the remaining number is recognized as 1. When the transporter main body 3c reaches a position where the last work 2A can be taken out, the first to third switches SW1 to SW2 are set.
Are all turned on, and it is determined that the remaining number is zero. Similar operations are performed for the other component pallets 1B and 1C.

Further, a display panel 10 as shown in FIG. 1 is provided near the side frame assembly line 5. The display panel 10 is provided with a lamp for displaying the elapsed time until the work 2A to 2C in each of the component pallets 1A to 1C becomes empty, for each work 2A to 2C. Three yellow lamps 11 indicating that the component pallets 1A to 1C are empty, and 3 indicating that the component pallets 1A to 1C are empty in 10 minutes.
Red lamps 12 are provided, and each component pallet 1
The replacement time of A to 1C is displayed in advance.
Then, when any one of the component pallets 1A to 1C becomes empty, one of the three blue lamps 13 is turned on to indicate the replacement time of the component pallet.

When the main control box 7 receives the ON signals of the switches S1 to SW3 from the transfer machine control panel 6, the main control box 7 determines the remaining number of the component pallets of any of the three component pallets 1A to 1C. It is determined whether the information is information and whether the number of remaining works is 2 or 1, and based on the information, flows through the assembly line 5 after the present in the vehicle type pool 8 in the memory as shown in FIG. Planned area I up to the 7th car or area up to the 3rd car
Search for II. And if this search confirms that the vehicle type exists in these areas I or II,
The display panel 10 is controlled to turn on the yellow lamp 11 or the red lamp 12 for the vehicle type. Figure 5 shows the display panel 10
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a control system of FIG.

FIG. 6 shows a display panel control routine executed by the main control box 7 as described above. Note that this flowchart shows three vehicle types A,
It shows a control flow for one vehicle type after B and C (for example, A), and the vehicle type determination step is omitted.

First, in steps S1 and S2, the switch SW
It is checked whether or not 1, SW2 is turned on. Here, when it is determined that only the switch SW1 is ON, the remaining number in the component pallet is confirmed to be 2 in step S3, and the process proceeds to step S4, where the region I (the region for seven vehicles) in FIG. Is searched to determine whether the vehicle type is present in the seven vehicles included in the area I. If the vehicle type exists in the region I, the process proceeds to step S5, where the yellow lamp 11 of the vehicle type on the display panel 10 is turned on.

Next, when it is determined in steps S1 and S2 that the switches SW1 and SW2 are both ON, the process proceeds to step S6 to check whether the switch SW3 has been turned ON. When it is determined that the switch SW3 is OFF, the process proceeds to step S7, where the remaining number in the component pallet is recognized as 1, and the next step S8
To search the area II (area for three vehicles) in FIG.
It is checked whether or not the vehicle type exists among the three vehicles included in the vehicle. If the vehicle type (for example, C) does not exist in the area II, the process proceeds to step S4 to search the area I in FIG. 3. If the vehicle type exists in the area I, the yellow lamp is set in step S5. Lights 11 On the other hand, when the vehicle type (for example, A or B) exists in the area II, the process proceeds to step S9, and the red lamp 12 of the vehicle type on the display panel 10 is turned on. Further, in the determinations of steps S1, S2 and S6, all three switches SW1 to SW3 are set to O
If it is determined to be N, the number of remaining works in the component pallet is determined to be zero in step S10, and
At 11, the blue lamp 13 of the vehicle type is turned on.

As is clear from the above description, the component pallet replacement time display device according to the present embodiment not only detects the number of remaining works in the component pallets 1A to 1C but also searches the vehicle type pool 8 for a vehicle. Since the replacement time of the parts pallets 1A to 1C is displayed ahead of time after grasping the production status of each type, it is possible to know in advance the replacement time of the parts pallets of the vehicle type corresponding to the production plan, and it is possible to smoothly operate the mixed flow line. Supply of the workpieces 2A to 2C becomes possible.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view showing a side frame assembly line of an automobile provided with a component pallet replacement time display device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the component pallet of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram of a vehicle type pool stored in a memory of a main control box.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of an operation of a switch for detecting the remaining number of works in a component pallet.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a control system of the display panel.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a display panel control routine.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 1A-1C Parts pallet 2A-2C Work (side frame outer panel) 3 Work take-out transfer machine 4 Line loading transfer machine 5 Side frame assembly line 6 Transfer machine control panel 7 Main control box 8 Model pool 10 Display panel 11 Yellow lamp 12 Red lamp 13 Blue lamp

Continuation of front page (56) References JP-A-63-39746 (JP, A) JP-A-2-311223 (JP, A) JP-A-3-105457 (JP, A) JP-A-1-129903 (JP) , U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B23P 21/00 307 B23Q 41/08 B62D 65/00

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A device for replacing parts pallets in a body assembly line in which a plurality of types of vehicle bodies are mixed and assembled, wherein a predetermined remaining number of parts in each of a plurality of parts pallets prepared for the plurality of types of vehicles is provided. Detecting means for detecting the number of the components and outputting an output signal; storage means for storing the order of unloading the parts supplied to the vehicle body assembly line; display means for displaying in advance the replacement time of each part pallet; A predetermined range in the order of unloading the components stored in the storage unit is searched based on the output signal of the storage unit, and the component whose remaining number is detected by the detection unit exists within the predetermined range. Control means for controlling the display means to display the replacement time of the part pallet when the search is confirmed by the search.
The notifying means is a means for making the number of remaining parts to be detected different from each other.
Number detecting means, and
Of the parts unloading order searched by the control means
The predetermined range corresponds to the number of remaining components detected by the detection means.
A component pallet replacement time display device comprising a plurality of different ranges .