JP5743151B2 - Vehicle inspection line - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle inspection line that inspects an assembled vehicle.

  In the final process of the assembly line of the vehicle, a vehicle inspection line (also referred to as an instrument line) for inspecting the steering stability, running performance, instrument, and the like of the assembled vehicle is provided. For example, the vehicle inspection line shown in FIG. 7 includes a wheel alignment adjustment station S1 ′ that adjusts the wheel alignment of the wheels, a headlamp adjustment station S2 ′ that adjusts the optical axis of the headlamp and confirms the steering angle, and the vehicle travels straight ahead. Side slip inspection station S3 ′ for confirming the performance, drum inspection station S4 ′ for inspecting traveling performance and instruments by running the vehicle at a fixed position on the drum, brake inspection station S5 ′ for inspecting the brake, and the lower part of the vehicle A lift inspection station S6 ′ for confirming Vehicles entered into the vehicle inspection line are sequentially inspected at the stations S1 'to S6', and vehicles that pass the inspection are shipped.

  The wheel alignment adjustment station S1 'is provided with a wheel alignment adjustment device as disclosed in Patent Document 1, for example.

JP 2006-335139 A

  In the vehicle inspection line as described above, since the inspection contents are different for each inspection station, the tact time is different. However, even if the inspection of the vehicle is completed at a station with a short inspection time, the vehicle cannot be transported until the inspection of the next station is completed. It must be adjusted to the tact time. Therefore, if there is even one station that requires a lot of inspection time in the vehicle inspection line, it is necessary to match the tact time of all stations with the tact time of this station. End up.

  An example of a station having a long tact time is a wheel alignment adjustment station (see S1 'in FIG. 7). The wheel alignment adjustment station is provided with a wheel alignment adjustment device (for example, see Patent Document 1) having a function of measuring a wheel angle. After carrying the vehicle into the wheel alignment adjusting device, first, the toe angle of the front wheels is made symmetrical while measuring the wheel angle of the front wheels, and in this state, the steering position adjustment for attaching the steering to the horizontal position is performed. Then, wheel alignment adjustment which measures the wheel alignment of a wheel and adjusts the wheel alignment of a wheel based on this measurement result is performed. As described above, the tact time is increased by performing the two steps of the steering position adjustment and the wheel alignment adjustment in one station.

  Accordingly, in order to shorten the tact time of the entire vehicle inspection line and increase the productivity, it is effective to shorten the tact time of the wheel alignment adjustment station. However, since there is a limit to shortening the tact time by increasing the efficiency of the process, the actual situation is that it corresponds to the productivity required by increasing the number of vehicle inspection lines. When the number of vehicle inspection lines is increased in this way, the number of devices provided at each station is required for the number of lines, leading to an increase in equipment costs and an increase in equipment space.

  The problem to be solved by the present invention is to shorten the tact time of the entire vehicle inspection line without increasing the number of lines.

  The present invention, which has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, has a plurality of inspections in a vehicle inspection line that has a plurality of inspection stations with different inspection contents and sequentially inspects each assembled station with respect to the assembled vehicle. The station is installed on the downstream side of the steering position adjustment station, where the steering wheel is installed in a horizontal position with the toe angle of the front wheels symmetrical, and the wheel alignment of the wheel is measured. And a wheel alignment adjusting station for adjusting the wheel alignment of the wheels.

  In the vehicle inspection line of the present invention, the wheel alignment adjustment and the steering position adjustment, which were conventionally performed in one station, are performed separately in two stations. That is, another station for separating the steering position adjustment from the process performed in the conventional wheel alignment adjustment station is provided. Thereby, the tact time of the wheel alignment adjustment station is shortened, the tact time at each station is leveled, and the tact time of the entire vehicle inspection line can be shortened.

  By the way, in the vehicle inspection line, the drum inspection for performing the running performance while the vehicle is traveling at a fixed position on the drum, and whether the vehicle is actually moving backward while moving the vehicle backward, and the backlight is turned on. A back running inspection is performed to confirm. In a conventional vehicle inspection line, a drum inspection performed while the vehicle is moving forward and a back running inspection performed while the vehicle is moved backward are performed at one station.

  The drum inspection needs to be performed after adjusting the wheel alignment because it is necessary to run at a high speed (for example, 100 km / hour or more) and there are many inspection items such as confirmation of the shift state and computer learning. On the other hand, the back running inspection is not necessarily performed after the wheel alignment adjustment because the traveling speed is low and the back running and the lighting of the backlight can be confirmed. The present inventor paid attention to this point and came to the idea of separating the back running inspection from the drum inspection and incorporating it in the steering position adjusting station. Thereby, the tact time of the drum inspection station is shortened, and the tact time of the entire vehicle inspection line can be further leveled. In the above steering position adjustment station, when the vehicle is traveling backward on the drum, the toe angle of the front wheels is symmetric, and the back running inspection is performed, so that the back running inspection is performed simultaneously with the steering position adjustment. As a result, it is possible to avoid an increase in tact time due to the incorporation of the back running inspection into the steering position adjustment station.

  As described above, according to the vehicle inspection line of the present invention, the tact time at each station is leveled, thereby reducing the tact time of the entire vehicle inspection line and increasing the productivity without increasing the number of lines. Can do.

It is a mimetic diagram of a vehicle inspection line concerning one embodiment of the present invention. It is a top view of the steering position adjustment apparatus provided in the steering position adjustment station of the said vehicle inspection line. It is a side view of the said steering position adjustment apparatus. It is a top view of the angle measuring apparatus of the said steering position adjustment apparatus. It is a top view which shows a mode that the toe angle of a front wheel is measured with the said angle measuring device. It is a top view of the said steering position adjustment apparatus. It is a top view of the steering mechanism of a vehicle. It is a schematic diagram of the conventional vehicle inspection line.

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

  The vehicle inspection line according to the present invention has a plurality of inspection stations having different inspection contents, and inspection of the assembled vehicle is sequentially performed at each inspection station. As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle inspection line of this embodiment includes a steering position adjustment station S0, a wheel alignment adjustment station S1, a headlamp adjustment station S2, a side slip inspection station S3, a drum inspection station S4, a brake inspection station S5, And a lift inspection station S6. Hereinafter, each inspection station will be described focusing on the steering position adjustment station S0.

(0) Steering position adjustment station S0
In the steering position adjustment station S0, steering position adjustment for mounting the steering wheel in a horizontal position with the toe angle of the front wheels being symmetric is performed, and back travel inspection for confirming back travel and backlight lighting is performed. The steering position adjusting station S0 is provided with a steering position adjusting device shown in FIG. The steering position adjusting device includes a drum 10 on which a front wheel Wf and a rear wheel Wr (shown by a chain line in FIG. 2) are placed, a front wheel centering device 20 provided between the front wheels Wf in the vehicle width direction, and a rear wheel. A rear wheel centering device 30 provided between the vehicle width directions of Wr and an angle measuring device 40 for measuring a toe angle of the front wheel Wf are provided.

  A pair of drums 10 is provided for each wheel. Each drum 10 has a rotation axis in the vehicle width direction (vertical direction in FIG. 2), and is freely rotatable. The upper end of the drum 10 is disposed on substantially the same plane as the ground (see FIG. 3).

  The front wheel centering device 20 is for arranging the left and right front wheels Wf in a symmetrical position with respect to the center line L. The front wheel centering device 20 of the present embodiment has a pair of abutment portions 21 and 21 slidably provided along the vehicle width direction and a pair of abutment portions 21 and 21 at symmetrical positions with respect to the center line L. A slide mechanism 22 that slides in the width direction while maintaining is provided.

  The contact portion 21 is guided by a guide rail (not shown) so as to be slidable in the vehicle width direction. The contact portion 21 includes a roller 21a that contacts the front wheel Wf from the inner side in the vehicle width direction, and a support portion 21b that rotatably supports the roller 21a. In the illustrated example, a pair of rollers 21a and 21a spaced apart in the front-rear direction are provided. As shown in FIG. 3, each roller 21a is arranged such that the rotation axis is along the radial direction of the front wheel Wf. In addition, illustration of the support part 21b is abbreviate | omitted in FIG.

  The slide mechanism 22 includes a rotary shaft 22a provided on the center line L, a drive unit (not shown) that rotationally drives the rotary shaft 22a, and the contact portions 21 and 21 in the vehicle width direction by the rotation of the rotary shaft 22a. And a link mechanism for sliding. The link mechanism includes a main link 22b that can rotate around a rotation shaft 22a, and a pair of sub links 22c and 22c that connect both ends of the main link 22b and the pair of contact portions 21 and 21. When the rotary shaft 22a is driven to rotate by the drive unit, the pair of contact portions 21 and 21 approach and separate in the width direction via the main link 22b and the sub links 22c and 22c. The pair of abutting portions 21 and 21 are always arranged at symmetrical positions with respect to the center line L.

  The rear wheel centering device 30 is configured to arrange the left and right rear wheels Wr at positions symmetrical with respect to the center line L. The rear wheel centering device 30 of the present embodiment maintains a pair of contact portions 31 and 31 slidably provided in the vehicle width direction and a pair of contact portions 31 and 31 in a symmetrical position with respect to the center line L. And a slide mechanism 32 that slides in the width direction. Each contact portion 31 includes a roller 31a having a vertical rotation axis, and a support portion 31b that rotatably supports the roller 31a. The slide mechanism 32 includes a rotation shaft 32a, a main link 32b, and a pair of sub links 32c. Since the rear wheel centering device 30 has the same configuration as that of the front wheel centering device 20 except for the configuration of the roller 31a of the abutting portion 31, the redundant description is omitted. In addition, illustration of the support part 31b is abbreviate | omitted in FIG.

  The angle measuring device 40 travels the toe angle of the front wheel Wf, that is, the center line L in a plan view shown in FIG. 4B (showing a line L ′ parallel to the center line L in FIG. 4B) and the front wheel Wf. The angle θ with respect to the direction M is measured. As shown in FIG. 4A, the angle measuring device 40 of the present embodiment includes a cylinder 41, a cylinder rod 42 that can be expanded and contracted from the cylinder 41, a slide member 43 that is fixed to the tip of the cylinder rod 42, and a slide member. Rotating member 44 rotatably attached to 43, length measuring device 45 attached to slide member 43, and a pair of rollers 46 and 46 attached to rotating member 44. The slide member 43 slides in the horizontal direction orthogonal to the center line L by the expansion and contraction of the cylinder rod 42. The rotating member 44 is attached to the slide member 43 via a vertical rotating shaft 44a, and freely rotates about the rotating shaft 44a. The length measuring device 45 is provided in the slide member 43 at a position separated from the rotation shaft 44a in the horizontal direction, and the displacement of the rotation member 43 relative to the slide member 43, in the illustrated example, the horizontal displacement perpendicular to the center line L. Is to measure. Specifically, the length measuring device 45 has a pin 45a that can be expanded and contracted, and the displacement of the pin 45a from the reference position can be measured. The pair of rollers 46 and 46 are attached to the side surface of the rotating member 44 on the inner side in the vehicle width direction so as to be separated in the front-rear direction, and can be rotated along the rotation direction of the wheel. A non-contact type length measuring device may be used instead of the contact type length measuring device 45.

  Hereinafter, the steering position adjustment and the back running inspection performed using the plateau adjusting device having the above-described configuration will be described.

  First, the vehicle is carried onto the steering position adjusting device, and the wheels Wf and Wr are arranged on the drum 10. Then, the vehicle is moved backward to run on the drum 10 at a fixed position. In this state, the rotation shaft 22a of the slide mechanism 22 of the front wheel centering device 20 is rotationally driven to slide the pair of contact portions 21 and 21 outward in the width direction. Is pressed from the inside in the vehicle width direction (see FIG. 5). At the same time, the rotary shaft 32a of the slide mechanism 32 of the rear wheel centering device 30 is rotationally driven to slide the pair of contact portions 31, 31 outward in the width direction. The wheel Wr is pressed from the inside in the vehicle width direction. Thereby, the width direction positions of the left and right front wheels Wf and the rear wheel Wr are corrected by the contact portions 21 and 21 and the contact portions 31 and 31, and the left and right front wheels Wf and the rear wheel Wr are symmetrically positioned with respect to the center line L. Arranged.

  Next, the toe angle of the front wheel Wf is made symmetrical by steering operation. Specifically, the toe angle of the front wheel Wf is measured by the angle measuring device 40, and the operator operates the steering wheel while viewing the measurement result, and adjusts the toe angle of the left and right front wheels Wf to be symmetrical.

  Here, a method for measuring the toe angle of the front wheel Wf by the angle measuring device 40 will be described in detail. First, as shown in FIG. 4A, with the slide member 43 and the rotating member 44 in parallel, the pin 45a of the length measuring device 45 is brought into contact with the rotating member 44, and this state is measured by the length measuring device 45. Is set as the reference position of the pin 45a. Next, the cylinder rod 42 is extended to slide the slide member 43 inward in the vehicle width direction, and the pair of rollers 46 and 46 are brought into contact with the side surface of the front wheel Wf (see FIG. 4B). At this time, the rotating member 44 rotates around the pin 44a following the toe angle θ of the front wheel Wf. The pin 45a of the length measuring device 45 is brought into contact with the rotating member 44, and the displacement of the pin 45 from the reference position at this time is measured. Based on this amount of displacement, the amount of rotation of the rotating member 44 is measured, and the toe angle of the front wheel Wf is obtained from this measured value. Thus, the toe angle of the front wheel Wf can be obtained with a simple device by measuring the rotation angle of the rotating member 44 using the length measuring device 45 that measures the displacement in the linear direction. In FIG. 4B, the toe angle θ of the wheel Wf is exaggerated and greatly shown.

  When the toe angles of the left and right front wheels Wf are symmetric, the vehicle is stopped and the steering is attached to the horizontal position. Specifically, the operator removes one end of the steering from the steering shaft, puts the steering in a horizontal position, and attaches it again to the steering shaft. At this time, it is ideal that the steering is attached to the steering shaft 2 at a completely horizontal position (cutting angle 0 °). However, since the steering and the steering shaft are usually serrated and fitted, the phase of the serration between the two is normal. It is necessary to match. For this reason, the steering 1 may not be completely horizontal, and may be mounted on the steering shaft with a cutting angle corresponding to one pitch of serration (about 5 to 10 °) at the maximum. The state is also included in the “horizontal position”.

  While the vehicle is moving backward in the steering position adjustment described above, a reverse running inspection is performed. Specifically, it is confirmed whether or not the vehicle is actually moving backward (that is, whether or not the driving wheel is rotating backward) and whether or not the backlight is turned on. At this time, the traveling speed of the vehicle is set to a relatively low speed, for example, about 15 km / hour. As described above, the back running inspection is performed even if the toe angle of the wheels Wf and Wr is not set with high accuracy because the vehicle traveling speed is low and only a relatively simple inspection is performed. it can. Therefore, as described above, the back running inspection can be incorporated into the steering position adjustment station S0 before the wheel alignment adjustment is performed. Further, since the steering position adjustment and the back running inspection are performed at the same time, the tact time of the steering position adjusting station S0 is not extended by incorporating the back running inspection.

(1) Wheel alignment adjustment station S1
When the steering position adjustment is completed, the vehicle is unloaded from the steering position adjusting station S0 and loaded into a wheel alignment adjusting device (not shown) of the wheel alignment adjusting station S1. In the wheel alignment adjustment station S1, wheel alignment is measured and adjusted. In the present embodiment, the toe angle of the front wheel Wf is measured and adjusted using a conventional wheel alignment adjusting device. Specifically, the front wheel Wf and the rear wheel Wr of the vehicle are arranged on the drum and moved forward at a fixed position, and the toe angle of the front wheel Wf is measured in this state. The toe angle is measured using, for example, a tire image taken with a camera (not shown). Specifically, the tread pattern of the axle center height of each wheel is photographed with a camera from the front and the rear, the front and rear distances of the left and right wheels are obtained from this photographed image, and the toe angle is measured from the front and rear distances. . In addition, the toe angle can be measured by a method using a contact type length measuring device (see FIG. 4) or a non-contact type length measuring device.

  Then, the toe angle of the front wheel Wf is adjusted based on the measured toe angle. Specifically, for example, in the steering mechanism shown in FIG. 6, the rod body 6a and the rod of the tie rod 6 provided between the steering gear 3 and the knuckle 5 of the front wheel Wf with the steering 1 and the steering shaft 2 fixed. The toe angle of the front wheel Wf is adjusted to a predetermined value (for example, 0 °) by changing the screwing depth with the end member 6b and adjusting the effective length of the left and right tie rods 6. At this time, by adjusting the toe angle of the front wheel Wf in consideration of the error of the steering angle of the steering wheel 1 generated in the steering position adjusting step, the front wheel Wf is set with the steering wheel angle of the steering wheel 1 completely set to 0 °. The toe angle can be set to 0 °. In the case of a vehicle type in which the toe angle of the rear wheel Wr can be adjusted, the toe angle may be measured and adjusted in the same procedure as the front wheel Wf.

(2) Headlamp adjustment station S2
In the headlamp adjustment station S2, the optical axis of the headlamp is adjusted and the turning angle of the steering is confirmed. The turning angle of the steering is confirmed by turning the steering to the left and right to the limit, and confirming whether the turning angles of the front wheels Wf at this time are uniform.

(3) Side slip inspection station S3
In the side slip inspection performed at the side slip inspection station S3, the vehicle is traveled straight by a predetermined distance, and it is confirmed whether or not the deviation in the vehicle width direction of the vehicle at this time is within an allowable range. Thereby, the straight running performance of the vehicle is confirmed.

(4) Drum inspection station S4
The drum inspection is performed in a state where the front wheel Wf and the rear wheel Wr are arranged on the drum and the vehicle is moved forward on the drum. Specifically, the presence / absence of abnormal noise, confirmation of coincidence between the speed of the instrument and the actual speed, learning of a computer (CVT or the like), and the like are performed. In the case of AT vehicles and MT vehicles, transmission shift confirmation is also performed.

(5) Brake inspection station S5
In the brake inspection station S5, idling confirmation when the brake is released, braking inspection of the brake, parking brake confirmation, and ABS operation confirmation are performed. Checking the idling when the brake is released can be done, for example, by placing the vehicle wheel in the brake released state on the drum, measuring the resistance when the wheel is rotated by rotating the drum, and the resistance is This is done by confirming that it is within a predetermined range. The braking inspection of the brake is performed by running the vehicle on the drum and stepping on the brake, and confirming the stopping condition and the difference in braking force between the left and right wheels. The parking brake and ABS operation are also confirmed on the drum.

(6) Lift inspection station S6
In the lift inspection station S6, a lift inspection is performed in which the entire vehicle is lifted and the state of the lower portion of the vehicle is confirmed. Specifically, it is confirmed whether there is oil leakage when the brake pressure is applied, whether bolts are insufficiently tightened, or the like.

  Vehicle inspection is sequentially performed at each of the stations S0 to S6 on the vehicle inspection line. That is, when the inspection at each station is completed, the vehicles at each station are transferred to the next station all at once, and the inspection is performed at the next station. By repeating this, various inspections are sequentially performed on each vehicle. A vehicle that has passed inspection of all stations is shipped as a product.

  As described above, since the steering position adjustment is separated from the wheel alignment adjustment station S1 and another station (steering position adjustment station S0) is provided, the tact time of the wheel alignment adjustment station S1 can be shortened. Further, by separating the back running inspection from the drum inspection station S4 and incorporating it in the steering position adjustment station S0, the tact time of the drum inspection station S4 can be shortened. In this way, the tact time of each station is equalized by shortening the tact time of the wheel alignment adjustment and drum inspection, which had a long inspection time in the conventional vehicle inspection line, and the tact time of the entire vehicle inspection line is reduced. As a result, productivity is improved.

  The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, in the steering position adjusting station S0 described above, the front wheels Wf are pressed from the inner side in the vehicle width direction by the pair of contact portions 21 and 21 of the front wheel centering device 20, whereby the toe angle of the front wheels Wf can be made symmetrical. When possible, the measurement of the toe angle by the angle measuring device 40 can be omitted. Specifically, the front wheels Wf and the rear wheels Wr are pressed by pressing the front wheels Wf and the rear wheels Wr from the inside with the contact portions 21 and 21 of the front wheel centering device 20 and the contact portions 31 and 31 of the rear wheel centering device 30. And the toe angle of the front wheel Wf is left-right symmetric. While maintaining this state, the steering position adjustment is completed by removing one end of the steering wheel from the steering shaft, setting the steering wheel in a horizontal position, and mounting it again on the steering shaft.

10 drum 20 front wheel centering device 30 rear wheel centering device 40 angle measuring device L center line M traveling direction S0 steering position adjusting station S1 wheel alignment adjusting station S2 headlamp adjusting station S3 side slip inspection station S4 drum inspection station S5 brake inspection station S6 Lift inspection station Wf Front wheel Wr Rear wheel

Claims (2)

In a vehicle inspection line that has a plurality of inspection stations with different inspection contents, and that is sequentially inspected at each inspection station for assembled vehicles,
The plurality of inspection stations are provided on the downstream side of the steering position adjusting station, the steering position adjusting station for attaching the steering wheel to the horizontal position with the toe angle of the front wheel being symmetric, and measuring the wheel alignment of the wheel. A vehicle inspection line having a wheel alignment adjustment station for adjusting wheel alignment of a wheel based on a measurement result. Provided on the downstream side of the wheel alignment adjustment station is a drum inspection station for inspecting the traveling property while the vehicle is traveling forward on the drum,
2. The vehicle inspection line according to claim 1, wherein, at the steering position adjusting station, the toe angle of the front wheels is made to be bilaterally symmetric while the vehicle is traveling backward on the drum, and the back traveling inspection is performed.

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