JPS625017B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an automobile painting management system that paints various types of automobile bodies in a mixed manner on the same line.

In the painting lines of automobile manufacturers, which must paint various colors according to user preferences, many types of automobile bodies are mixed and painted on the same painting line.

By the way, in this type of automobile painting line,
When the type of car body or the color to be painted on the car body changes, it is necessary to change the location where the sealer is applied and the color of the paint depending on the unique shape of the car body. In addition to determining the type of car body by looking at the specifications pasted on the car body in advance, the operator must select a color specified in advance according to a production plan, etc., and perform the necessary work.

Not only on the car body painting line, but when producing various cars with different specifications, models, standards, etc. on the same production line, the specifications, models, standards, etc. of the cars are judged at each work station and the necessary Traditionally, the first type of equipment used to perform the work is
The one shown in the figure is known.

The device shown in Figure 1 is used for parts such as the front body 1 of automobiles that are set on the line in the initial process.
As shown in Fig. 2, a barcode 2 representing vehicle model information such as applicable specifications, model, and standards is printed on the front surface, and a label 4 with a magnetic rubber plate 3 affixed to the back surface is attached by magnetic force to the front body 1. In the process of moving through each process on the line, the above-mentioned vehicle type information is read and identified by the reader 5, and these identification signals are input to the indicator 6, and the lamps 7, ..., 7 of the indicator 6 are read. 8 and a buzzer 9 are used to issue work instructions for each process.

It is difficult to apply the above system to an automobile body painting line. This is because the label 4 is also painted and becomes unreadable.

In addition to the above-mentioned devices, there is also a device that directly magnetizes the car body with a magnetic head to magnetically write car model information onto the body, and then reads out the car model information with a read head to determine the car model. However, in such a device, it is difficult to manage the positions of the read head and the magnetized portion of the body, and there is a problem in that errors in reading vehicle type information occur due to mismatch.

The present invention was made in view of the above-mentioned problems in an automobile paint management system that paints many types of automobile bodies in the same painting line.
A transmitter that emits a unique signal depending on the type of painting is attached to the car body, and a receiving device installed at a work station on the painting line receives the signal and outputs a work signal from a work signal output device. Automotive painting that utilizes the spread of signal transmission media such as light and radio waves emitted from the transmitter to attach a transmitter to the car body to reliably send work signals to the work station of the painting line. The purpose is to provide a management device.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

As schematically shown in FIG. 3, an automobile usually has a body assembly line 14, which assembles a body 13 from an underbody 11, a cab side 12, etc.
The above body 1 completed on the body assembly line 14
3, an outfitting assembly line 18 where engines, electrical components, seats, etc. (none of which are shown) are assembled into the painted body 16 to produce a finished product 17, and a test/adjustment line 1.
9, and is shipped from the completed car pool location 20 by boat 21 or other means of transportation.

In the painting line 15, the bodies 13 transferred from the body assembly line 14 are generally sent to a pre-treatment step 101 and cleaned to remove oil and dust attached to the surface, as shown in FIG. is removed and dried in a draining and drying step 102, and then sent to an electrodeposition coating step 103 for rust prevention, where electrodeposition coating is performed, and a baking drying step 104.
Baked and dried. After that, the body 13 is sealed by applying a sealer to the joints of the body 13 in a sealer application step 105, and further, in an undercoat/side seal painting step 106, a sealer is applied to the joints of the body 13 in a sealer application step 105. After undercoat painting and side seal painting are applied to the lower part of 13, it is dried in a drying process 107, and then undergoes an intermediate coating process 108, a baking drying process 109, a top coating process 110, and a baking drying process 111, and then is reworked. What is necessary is the rework painting process 112.
After that, it is sent to the outfitting assembly line 18 shown in FIG.

In the present invention, before the body 13 is sent to the sealer application process 105, the intermediate coating process 108, and the top coating process 110, which are shown surrounded by double solid lines in FIG. The body 13 is equipped with a transmitter, which will be described later, which transmits a signal representing paint line information such as the paint color specified by
A receiving device (described later) installed at a work station of the painting line 15 receives the signal and detects the painting line information of the moving body 13, and the output is sent to a process control computer or the like. The work signal is input to the work signal output device configured, and the work signal output device outputs the work signal to be performed at the work station, and gives work commands to the sealer application robot, painting robot, etc. , the oscillator flows as shown by the dashed line in FIG.

For example, in the sealer application step 105, as shown in FIG. 5, before entering the sealer application step 105, the transmitter 22 is suspended from the ceiling (roof) portion of the body 13, and the sealing work is performed. A receiving device 24 installed in the work station receives the signal transmitted from the transmitter 22, detects the sealing information of the moving body 13, inputs the output to the work signal output device 25, and outputs the work signal. A work command is given from the device 25 to the sealer application robot 26 to perform the sealing work.

In this case, the body 13 is
The shape differs depending on the type of car, such as a door car or a four-door car, and the operation pattern of the sealer application nozzle 27 of the sealer application robot 26 also differs.

For this reason, if the sealer application robot 26 is taught the sealing operation pattern according to the vehicle type and model in advance, the sealer application robot 26 can respond to work commands from the work signal output device 25. , apply the sealer supplied from the material tank 28 to the parts of the body 13 that require sealing.

In the intermediate coating process 108 and the top coating process 110 in FIG. 4, as shown in FIG. Before starting the painting process 110, it receives a signal transmitted from a transmitter 22 suspended from the ceiling (roof) of the body 13, detects the painting information of the moving body 13, and sends the output to a work signal output device. 25, the work signal output device 25 gives a painting work command and a color change command to the painting robot 29 and color change device 30, respectively, to perform the painting work.

The transmitter 22 and the receiver 24 include:
For example, those shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, respectively, can be used.

In FIG. 7, 31 is a receiving device 24 which will be described later.
A trigger light receiving diode 32 receives the trigger light transmitted from the trigger light receiving diode 32, which supplies power from the battery B to each circuit of the transmitter 22 except for the battery check circuit 33 for a certain period of time when the trigger light receiving diode 31 receives the trigger light. 34 is a timing signal generation circuit that divides the output of an oscillation circuit (not shown) using a crystal oscillator or ceramic oscillator as an oscillation element 35 to generate a timing signal; 36 is a data storage section; A data signal generation circuit 38 generates a data signal in a format to be described later based on data inputted from 37. A data signal generation circuit 38 receives the output of the data signal generation circuit 36, takes timing with a pulse inputted from the timing signal generation circuit 34, and generates a data signal of a format to be described later. Infrared light emitting diode 3 at output
This is an output circuit that drives 9.

Although not specifically shown, the trigger circuit 32 includes an amplifier that amplifies the photocurrent output from the trigger light receiving diode 31, a Schmitt circuit that shapes the waveform of the output of the amplifier, the Schmitt circuit, and the control signal generation circuit 34. It consists of a flip-flop that is set and reset by the output, a switching circuit that is controlled by the output of the flip-flop, and controls the power supply to each circuit, and the output line 40 has a cathode connected to ground through a protective resistor R. The anode of a light emitting diode 41 for checking the operation of the transmitter 22 is connected.

On the other hand, the oscillation frequency of the oscillation circuit of the timing signal generation circuit 34 is, for example, 400KHz, and the timing signal generation circuit 34 outputs a pulse signal obtained by dividing the 400KHz pulse output from the oscillation circuit by 1/16. On the other hand, the data signal generating circuit 36 outputs a pulse signal obtained by dividing the frequency of the above pulse signal by 1/32 and a pulse signal obtained by dividing the frequency of the pulse signal by 1/64, respectively. Further, the trigger circuit 32 is outputted with a pulse signal obtained by dividing the frequency of the pulse signal into 1/4 from the above-mentioned pulse signal whose frequency was divided into 1/64.

The data signal generation circuit 36 receives the pulse signal inputted from the timing signal generation circuit 34 and the data input signal inputted from the data storage section 37 (for example, a signal that differs depending on the transmitter or a signal based on the specifications, model, standards, etc. of the automobile). different signals)
From this, a data signal of 64 bits per word is generated as shown in FIG. 9a.

As shown in FIG. 9b, the data signal generation circuit 36 outputs power four times from the trigger timing when the trigger circuit 32 starts supplying power to each circuit of the transmitter 22 to the time when the power supply is stopped for about 0.2 seconds. , repeatedly outputting the same data signal to the receiving device 24.
The aim is to improve the reliability of reading on the side.

The data signal outputted from the data signal generation circuit 36 is inputted to the output circuit 38, and is timed by the pulse inputted from the timing signal generation circuit 34 to the output circuit 38, as shown in FIG. 9c. , if the above data signal is “High”, 32 pulses are output during 1 bit,
The output drives an infrared light emitting diode 39.

The transmitter 22 is provided with a battery check circuit 33, and if the light emitting diode 43 lights up when the battery check switch 42 is turned on, the battery B is normal.

The receiving device 24, which receives infrared rays emitted from the infrared light emitting diode 39 and reads data signals, has a configuration as shown in FIG.

In FIG. 8, numeral 54 is a trigger signal generating circuit that causes a trigger light emitting diode 55 to emit light, and the diode 55 always emits a signal at regular intervals. Further, 51 is an infrared light receiving diode that receives infrared light emitted from the infrared light emitting diode 39 of the transmitter 22, 52 is an amplifier circuit that receives and amplifies the photocurrent output of the infrared light receiving diode 51, and 53 is the amplifier circuit. a control circuit 56 that reproduces the data signal sent out from the oscillator 22 based on the signal input from 52, determines whether or not these data signals sent repeatedly four times match, and controls the trigger signal generation circuit 54; is a latch circuit that latches the data signal inputted from the control circuit 53 through the gate circuit 57.

The control circuit 53 is constituted by, for example, a 4-bit microcomputer, and the amplification circuit 5
As described above, the signal reproduction and data judgment operations are performed from the signals inputted from the gate circuit 57, and when the four data signals match, the data signal is inputted from the gate circuit 57 to the latch circuit 56.

The data signal latched by the latch circuit 56 is input to the working signal output device 25, and the working signal output device 25 outputs the fifth signal in response to the data signal.
Sealer application robot 2 shown in Figures and Figure 6, respectively.
Instead of a process control computer that centrally manages various data, a work signal output device that outputs the work signals necessary for the work station may be connected to the receiving device. good.

Transmitter 22 and receiver 24 operate as follows.

The body 23 to which the transmitter 24 is attached is
As I moved to a certain painting work station,
The trigger signal that is constantly transmitted from the receiver 24 is received by the trigger light receiving diode 31 of the transmitter 22 attached to the body 13, and the trigger circuit 32 operates to start supplying power to each circuit. The data signal generation circuit 36 of the receiver 22 generates the data signal shown in FIG. 9a, and the infrared light emitting diode 39 emits infrared rays modulated by the data signal as shown in FIG. fired.

The above-mentioned infrared rays enter the infrared light receiving diode 51 of the receiving device 24, are converted into photocurrent, are inputted from the amplifier circuit 52 to the control circuit 53, and are transmitted to the transmitter 22.
The data signal sent out from the side is regenerated and latched into the latch circuit 56.

The work signal output device 25 includes the latch circuit 5 described above.
The data signal latched to the sealer robot 26 or the painting robot 29 is
to perform the work operations to be performed at that work station.

In the above embodiment, the infrared light emitting diode 39, infrared light receiving diode 51, trigger light emitting diode 55, and trigger light receiving diode 31, which have low directivity, are used for transmitting and receiving data signals and trigger signals. Even if the mounting position is roughly set, data signals can be transmitted and received reliably.

Note that radio waves can also be used to transmit and receive the data signals.

In this case, the output circuit 38 and the infrared light emitting diode 39 of the transmitter 22 are replaced with a wireless transmitter and an antenna, respectively, and the infrared receiving diode 51 and the amplifier circuit 52 of the receiving device 24 are replaced with an antenna and a wireless antenna. Just replace it with a receiver.

As mentioned above, if data signals are transmitted and received using radio waves, the radio waves spread and propagate more widely than infrared rays, so the mounting position of the transmitter 22 becomes more flexible, making it extremely suitable for the painting line 15. Can be applied.

Further, in addition to infrared rays and radio waves, ultrasonic waves and the like can also be used for transmitting and receiving data signals.

As is clear from the detailed description above, the present invention is directed to the use of light that spreads in space and propagates signals from a transmitter that is attached to a body to be painted and emits a unique signal depending on the type of painting. Since the signal transmission medium such as radio waves is used to transmit the signal to the receiving device on the side of the work station where the painting work is performed, the transmitter does not need to be installed on the surface of the car body, making it extremely useful for car painting management. This is convenient, and even if the mounting location of the transmitter on the car body changes slightly, the spread of the signal transmission medium can be used to reliably send the signal to the receiving device, and the receiving device can The signal can be read reliably.

Furthermore, if the transmitter is attached to the car body using a magnet or the like, it can be attached and removed with a single touch.
This is extremely convenient for controlling the painting of automobile bodies.

Note that the transmitter does not necessarily need to be attached to the automobile body, and may be attached to a cart or hanger for moving the body.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional automobile production control device, Fig. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a label used in the automobile production control device of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is an explanatory diagram of an automobile production line, and Fig. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional automobile production control device. The figure is an explanatory diagram of the painting line, Fig. 5 is an explanatory diagram of the sealer application process, Fig. 6 is an explanatory diagram of the intermediate coating process and top coating process, Fig. 7 is a block diagram of the transmitter, and Fig. 8 is an explanatory diagram of the receiver. 9a, b and c, respectively, are illustrations of the data signals generated by the oscillator of FIG. 7. 13...Automobile body, 22...Transmitter, 24
...Receiving device, 25...Work signal output device, 26
... Sealer application robot, 29 ... Painting robot, 30 ... Color change device, 105 ... Sealer application process, 106 ... Undercoat/side seal painting process, 108 ... Intermediate coating process, 11
0...Top coating process.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. In an apparatus in which many types of car bodies are mixed and painted on the same line, a transmitter that emits a unique signal depending on the type of paint is attached to the car body; A receiving device for receiving the above-mentioned unique signals emitted from the line is provided at the work station of the line, and a work signal output device is provided for outputting a work signal corresponding to the painting work at the work station based on the signal from the receiving device. An automobile paint management device characterized by: 2. In the automobile paint management device according to claim 1, the receiving device is provided with a detection section that detects that the automobile body has been sent to the station, and the transmitter receives a signal from the detection section. What is claimed is: 1. A paint management device for an automobile, comprising: a receiving section that receives a signal, and a transmitting section that transmits a unique signal based on a signal from the receiving section. 3. In the automobile paint management device according to claim 1 or 2, when the automobile body to which the transmitter is attached is transferred to the sealer application process,
A robot is provided with a sealer application nozzle that is instructed to operate in a pattern corresponding to the vehicle body by a signal from a work signal output device based on a signal transmitted from the vehicle body transferred to the sealer application process. An automotive paint management device featuring: 4. In the automobile paint management device as set forth in claim 1 or 2, when the automobile body to which the transmitter is attached is transferred to the top coating process, from the automobile body that has been transferred to the top coating process. A paint management device for an automobile, characterized in that it is provided with a color change device for a paint machine that can be switched by a signal from a work signal output device based on a signal transmitted.