JPH0741490B2 - Article transport method and apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for transporting articles, for example, using an assembly jig pallet for assembling a vehicle suspension, and then assembling the suspension and then assembling it to a vehicle body. The present invention relates to a transportation method and an apparatus thereof that can be applied to the case where

(Problems to be Solved by the Related Art and Invention) In assembling and assembling an assembly such as a vehicle suspension, an assembly jig pallet is used to assemble a target article on the pallet, and then the article to be assembled. Manufacturing systems that are designed to be assembled into are known.

The present applicant has previously proposed a method and apparatus for transporting articles at an assembly site as a method and apparatus applicable to assembling and transporting suspensions and the like (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 63-191522).
According to this, it is possible to improve and improve the work efficiency and the like with respect to the conventional suspension assembling method and the like. That is, according to the above-mentioned proposal, the parts mounting container and the parts assembling pallet are used, and they are connected at the starting end position of the assembly site. By transporting from the position to the terminal position, separating the component mounting container from the component assembly pallet at the terminal position and discharging the container from the transport means, it is possible to expect a great improvement in the efficiency of the assembly work.

As such, this is superior to the previous one, but there is still room for improvement in the following points.

That is, after separation from the parts mounting container described above, the assembly can be transferred to the next process together with the assembly pallet also serving as an assembly work table. Occurs. Taking the case of the vehicle rear suspension as an example, in this case, the assembled suspension is assembled to the vehicle body, but due to the layout in the factory, etc., the suspension assembly process and the suspension mounting process are distanced. When the pallets are separated from each other, the pallets are transported between them, resulting in a load on the transportation equipment. More specifically, as shown in the preceding publication, it is sufficient if there is a vehicle body conveyor immediately after the rear suspension is assembled, but if the distance is long, the pallet will attach the rear suspension to the vehicle body. Since it is also used when mounting a mount, there is a disadvantage and inconvenience in that it takes a lot of weight and a large size to transport a pallet, which is a burden on the facility. It can be said that there is room for it.

An object of the present invention is to convey an article, which allows the article to be conveyed under a smaller load even when the assembly section and the assembly place are apart from each other when the article is assembled on a pallet and further assembled to another article. A method and an apparatus therefor are provided.

(Means for Solving the Problem) In order to achieve the above object, the present invention assembles a first article having a substantially symmetrical structure on a pallet, and then assembles the first article into a second article. In the method of assembling, a component of the first article and a first jig used for assembling the first article are placed on the first pallet, and the first jig is used on the second pallet. A second jig used for assembling the first article together with a tool, and positioning the first article after assembly,
Assembling the first article by using the first jig and the second jig in a pallet assembled state in which the second pallet is positioned and fixed to the first pallet,
After the assembling, the second pallet is separated from the first pallet and conveyed by the first conveying means together with the first article to the assembling position of the second article, and the conveyed pallet. The first article placed on the second pallet is assembled to the second article, and after the assembly, the second pallet is transported to the first article assembly section by the second transporting means. , The separated first pallet is conveyed to a parts supply section of the first article by a third conveying means.

Further, according to the present invention, in a device for assembling a first article having a substantially symmetrical structure on a pallet and then assembling the assembled first article with a second article, the parts of the first article And a first pallet on which a first jig used to assemble the first article is placed, and a first pallet used to assemble the first article together with the first jig, and the first pallet used after assembling. A second pallet on which a second jig for positioning the first article is placed; and the first jig and the second pallet in a pallet assembled state in which the second pallet is positioned and fixed on the first pallet. And an assembly site for assembling the first article using the jig, and the second article is separated from the second pallet from the first pallet together with the assembled first article. Transport to assembly position There is provided an apparatus including: a conveying unit that performs the operation, and an assembling apparatus that mounts the first pallet on the second article by mounting the second pallet on which the first article is placed after the conveyance.

Embodiment An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an apparatus showing a part of an article assembling process and a carrying process according to an embodiment of the present invention. After a rear suspension of a vehicle is assembled on a pallet, the suspension is assembled to a vehicle body. It shows the case where it is applied. Further, FIGS. 2, 3, and 4 show an outline of a part of a rear suspension assembly section and a vehicle body assembly section in the manufacturing line.

As shown in FIG. 1, the present production line system has an outline,
A parts supply zone 1, a first automatic machine assembly zone 2, a first manual machine assembly zone 3, a second automatic machine assembly zone 4, a second manual machine assembly zone 5, a tightening work zone 6 using a tightening machine, and The transport zone 7 is further composed of a rear suspension mount zone 8 as shown in FIG.

In the present embodiment, among the above-mentioned zones 1 to 8, zone 1 to
6, a pallet 9 is used as a first pallet, an example of which is shown in FIG. 5, and the pallet 9 is circulated so that the zones 1 to 6 are formed into an annular line. To be done.

In the case shown, for this reason, the zones 1-4 and the zone 5,
In order to form a rectangular assembly line by connecting the six sides, roller conveyors 11 and 12 constituted by rollers 10 are arranged, and each roller conveyor 11 and 12 is provided with a pallet rotating unit 13 and 14, respectively. Has been.

Each pallet 9 on the line circulates counterclockwise in FIG. 1 by being sequentially transferred along such an annular path, and is assembled in the process. In the parts supply zone 1, the automatic machine assembly zones 2 and 4, the manual assembly zones 3 and 5, and the tightening work zone 6, the pallet 9 is tact conveyed.

The starting point of the assembling process is the pallet position with reference numeral 9 (1a) of the component supply zone 1 in FIGS. 1 and 2.
The pallet position denoted by reference numeral 9 (T) is a branch point from the transport zone 7, and here, the pallet 9 and a second pallet to be described later are separated.

In the above-mentioned component supply zone 1, in the case of the present system example, component supply by the worker and the robot is also used, and the component supply robot 15 and the control console 16 are arranged facing the position of the pallet 9 (1b). .

In the first automatic machine assembly zone 2, an automatic machine 17 and a control console 18 are arranged facing the respective positions below the pallet 9 (2a), and a second manual machine assembly zone 3 is used. Similarly in the automatic machine assembly zone 4, the pallet 9
An automatic machine 19 and a control console 20 are arranged corresponding to the positions (4a) and (4b).

The second manual assembly zone 5 is set so as to occupy almost one side in the longitudinal direction of the rectangular main assembly line,
As described later, the sub-pallet 21 as the second pallet is introduced at the starting point of the second manual assembly zone 5.

The sub-pallet 21 is positioned and fixed on the pallet 9, and the pallet 9 and the sub-pallet 21 form a pallet set. In the second manual assembly zone 5, suspension assembly is performed on the pallet set. Also, in the tightening work zone 6 in the state of the pallet assembly, the pallet 9
The tightening work is performed by the tightening machine 22 arranged corresponding to the positions (6a) and 9 (6b).

As the sub-pallet 21 introduced above, a plurality of types of sub-pallets 21 can be applied so that the rear suspensions assembled on the line can be compatible with different models even if the models are different.

FIG. 5 shows an example of the structure of the pallet 9 and the three types of sub-pallets 21 (A), 21 (B), 21 (C) that are to be positioned and fixed in the center of the pallet 9 when forming a pallet set. In the illustrated case, each is configured as follows.

The pallet 9 has a rectangular shape that is long in the carrying direction, and the assembly jigs 91 are arranged in both end side regions in the longitudinal direction of the pallet 9, and between the pair of assembly jigs 91, that is, in the longitudinal direction of the pallet 9. A sub-pallet fixing portion 93 including four mounting portions 92 for positioning and placing the sub-pallet is provided at a substantially central portion.
Further, behind the assembly jig 91 and the sub-pallet fixing portion 93, a component mounting portion 94 of the pallet 9 is formed.

This pallet 9 is not used as an assembling jig pallet as a comparative example shown in FIG. With regard to (1), it can be formed as a single pallet, and in this case, the above-mentioned placing portion 94 is made into a concave shape so that required parts can be positioned. That is, if a symmetrical rear suspension assembly, such as a drum brake, to be supplied in the parts supply zone 1 is adopted in the parts placement portion 94 on the pallet 9, the rear brake drum will be described later. , The hub unit bearing, etc. (FIG. 6) will be mounted.

Each of the sub-pallets 21 (A), 21 (B), 21 (C) corresponds to each mounting portion 92 on the pallet 9 side, and its mounting portion
There are four mounting holes 21a that fit into the projections on the upper surface of the pallet 92, so that they can be positioned and fixed to the fixing portion 93 of the pallet 9. An assembly jig 210, which constitutes another part of the rear suspension assembly jig, is mounted on each of the sub-pallets 21 (A) to 21 (C). Each sub-pallet 21 (A)
21 (C) are common to each other, but the assembling jig 210 is configured so that the shapes and dimensions of its constituent parts are different from each other in order to correspond to the described model.
For example, regarding the distance between the pair of pins 211 and 211 and the distance between the sockets 212 and 212 in the assembly jig 210, each sub-pallet 2
It can be made different from each other in 1 (A), 21 (B), and 21 (C).

A pallet device comprising a combination of the pallet 9 and the detachable sub-pallet 21 having the above-mentioned configuration is related to a rear suspension assembly jig, which is divided into two parts, a sub-pallet 21 side and a pallet 9 side. In the carrying process to the rear suspension mount zone 8 after the assembly on the pallet set and the mounting process in the zone 8, the pallet 9 side is not used, and the suspension is provided only by the sub-pallet 21. It can be placed, transported, and mounted on the vehicle body.

In addition, in addition to this, even when providing model compatibility, this can be easily realized, and when the model of the rear suspension to be assembled is different, the above-mentioned assembly that is a part of the assembly jig depending on the model. When the specifications of the jig 210 change, the entire assembly jig pallet is prepared for each model in advance, and when the model is changed, the entire assembly jig pallet is replaced as a pallet circulating through the annular assembly line. Instead, the circulating pallet 9 side is the same as it is, and the sub-pallet 21 side is the sub-pallet 21 (A) to 21 corresponding to the model as shown in FIG.
They are prepared as (C), and they can be selectively used when switching models.

The jig parts dividedly arranged on the pallet 9 and the sub-pallet 21 side, that is, the assembling jig 91 and the assembling jig 210, may be configured to correspond to the jig 901 and the jig 902 in FIG. it can.

The assembly pallet 900 shown in FIG. 7 can be applied to the pallet for assembling parts referred to in the above publication, and is the rear suspension assembly disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 63-161626 filed by the present applicant. It is a jig pallet for use when it is configured for assembling a tabble wishbone suspension.

In this product, a jig 902 as a cross beam mounting jig is arranged in the center of the pallet base, and a jig 901 as a brake drum assembly jig is arranged at both ends of the same pallet base. As for the structure of the drum assembly jig 901, a drum assembly jig base is slidably mounted on a guard rail extending in the longitudinal direction of the base, and a shaft standing on the base is attached to the base in the longitudinal direction of the base. And a support base that is rotatable in an oblique direction with respect to the longitudinal direction, and at the free end of the support base in the longitudinal direction of the base and in a direction substantially perpendicular to the surface of the base. The pivotable knuckle support is pivotally supported, so that even when the brake drum is mounted on one side and the trailing arm is mounted on the other side, the knuckle support is mounted horizontally when the brake drum is mounted. And trailing to the other side Over arm assembly of can be carried out respectively in the upright knuckle support, further,
By making the axis lines of the left and right brake drum assembly different, the bolting work of the trailing arm can be easily performed without interference with the other assembly, and the brake drum can be moved by sliding the drum assembly jig. It is possible to consistently assemble the lower arms and cross beams of these rear suspensions while adjusting the position of the assembly (FIG. 6).

That is, the pair of left and right brake drum assembling jigs 901 are centered on a positioning block a, a support base c in which a fulcrum pin b is horizontally projected to one side of the tip, an eccentric cam with a handle d, and a fulcrum pin b, respectively. A knuckle holder e pivotally supported so as to be pivotable in two directions perpendicular to, a clamping plate g which operates to tighten a portion 100c of the knuckle 100 shown in FIG. 6 by a bolt f, and a portion 100a of the knuckle 100. The receiving portion h, the hook i for fixing the portion 100b of the knuckle 100, and the like are provided, and the cross beam mounting jig 902 includes a pair of pins p that are inserted into the holes 106a of the cross beam 106 shown in FIG.
It has a pair of sockets q and the like which holds bolts inside and is supported so as to be retractable. When assembling the rear suspension, first, the knuckle 100 is fixed onto the holding body e.

That is, while the support base c is positioned in the longitudinal direction of the pallet 900 and the knuckle holder e thereon is laid horizontally, the portion 100a of the knuckle 100 is placed on the receiving portion h at the other end of the knuckle holder e. Place it on the knuckle 100 part 100b
Knuckle
The portion 100c of 100 is clamped between the clamp plate g and the knuckle holder e to fix the knuckle 100 on the holder e.

The rear brake shoe 101 is placed on the spindle 100d of the fixed knuckle 100 via a spindle ring and fixed by bolts, and the hub unit bearing 10
2. After mounting the rear brake drum 103, fit the washer and spindle nut to the spindle 100d and tighten and crimp, then press-fit the hub unit cap 104 and finally the knuckle holder e as a fulcrum pin. Rotate vertically with b as a fulcrum, stand the knuckle 100,
The trailing arm 105 will be attached to e with a nut (FIGS. 6 (A) and (B)). Do the same for the other knuckle on the other side of the brake drum, which is symmetrical.

When the eccentric cam with handle d is rotated after finishing each assembling operation of the brake drum parts, the support base c is rotationally displaced,
The axis of the brake drum is oriented in the direction of the line I-I (FIG. 6 (B)) so that the bracket surface 105a of the trailing arm 105 faces diagonally rearward. In this case, the trailing arm 105 is automatically attached. Even when done by machine
The automatic machine can tighten the nut without being interfered with by the other brake drum assembly.

Next, by adjusting the positioning block a, the assembly as described above is carried out together with the jig portion along the guard rail through the drum assembly jig base portion in the outward direction (the distance between the left and right assembly jigs 901). After moving to the brake drum assembly), the cross beam mounting jig 902 is used and the cross beam 106 and the lower arm 107 are used to assemble them with the brake drum assembly.

To assemble the cross beam 106 in this work, a bolt is fitted to the tip of the socket q of the cross beam mounting jig 902, the bolt and the pin p are passed through the hole of the cross beam 106, and then the cross beam receiving portion is formed. Then, while slightly adjusting the positions of the drum assembling jigs 901 inward and outward, the two lower arms 107, 107 are fitted between the knuckle 100 and the cross beam 106 on each side and the bolts and nuts are fixed. This can be done (Fig. 6 (C)). Then, in this state, the hydraulic pipe 108 and the like can be connected.

According to the pallet 900 described above, it is possible to provide a jig pallet which can deal with complicated assembly of the rear suspension and can be easily performed. For the brake drum assembling jig, the assembling jig 91 is arranged on the pallet 9 side, and for the assembling jig 210 for the cross beam placing jig, this is separately provided as a sub-pallet 21 different from the pallet 9 described above. This is a further improvement in that it is arranged on the side, and the pallet 9 and the sub pallet 21 can be combined / separated as the configuration of the suspension assembly pallet, and it is a double wishbone type. When assembling a suspension, the distance between pins p and p and the distance between sockets q and q shown in Fig. 7 are different depending on the model, so it cannot be used as it is, and there is a surface that lacks compatibility. To the adoption of the sub-palettes structure, and decided to change the specification of the size or the like between the pin and the socket can be easily be models corresponding with the sub-pallets 21 side.

Such a sub-pallet 21 is introduced as the second pallet at the start point of the second manual assembly zone 5, and after the introduction, the transfer zone 7 at the position of the pallet 9 (T).
Up to the branching point between and, the line parts of the second manual assembly zone 5 and the tightening work zone 6 are conveyed in a pallet assembly state.

In the line portions of the zones 5 and 6, in this embodiment, further,
A sub-pallet transport system is provided for returning the empty sub-pallet to the use start position of the second manual assembly zone 5 when the empty sub-pallet is returned after being used in the rear suspension mounting process described later. . As shown in the figure, the sub-pallet transport system in this part can be arranged along one side in the longitudinal direction of the second manual assembly zone 5 side of the annular main assembly line. In addition to the transport section 23, the sub-pallet delivery machine 24, the sub-pallet feeder 25, the control console 26, etc. can be used (first
(Fig. 2, Fig. 3, Fig. 3). Equipment such as the sub-pallet transport unit 23 provided in the suspension assembly section will be described later.

At the branch point after the rear suspension is assembled, the sub-pallet 21 and the pallet 9 are separated. The separation is performed by separating the sub-pallet 21 and the suspension from the pallet 9 in a state where the assembled suspension is placed on the sub-pallet 21, and the pallet 9 side which is in an empty state by the separation is Roller conveyor for return that forms part of the loop line
While being transferred to 12, the separated sub-pallet 21 side is transferred together with the suspension by the transfer zone 7 toward the rear suspension mount zone 8.

The equipment used in the transport zone 7 is a drop lifter 2
7, can be configured with a transport hanger 28 etc.
It is transported in the direction of arrow F along a predetermined transport path in the zone 7 and is transported to the mount zone 8 where it is mounted on the vehicle body. Even if the zones 8 are separated from each other in location, the weight of the object to be transferred is lighter, and compared with the case of transferring the suspension after the assembly is completed together with the pallet 900 of FIG. As the pallet, only the sub pallet 21 is required. Therefore, even when the transport distance along the transport path is, for example, about 200 to 300 m, the weight is reduced as described above and the transport is facilitated.

In FIG. 4 showing the rear suspension mount zone 8, the device used for assembling the assembled rear suspension to the vehicle body 29 includes a hanger 30 for the vehicle body 29, a drop lifter 31, a suspension mounting device 32, and the like.
The suspension mounting device 32 mounts the sub-pallet 21 on which the suspension is mounted. In the mounting process, the assembly to the vehicle body 29 is sent on the suspension mounting device 32 through the transfer zone 7 in the direction of arrow F. This can be done by mounting the sub-pallet 21 on which the above-mentioned rear suspension after assembly is mounted and assembling it on the vehicle body 29. Further, after such assembly, only the empty sub-pallet 21 is transported by the lifting device 28. Then, it will be transported to the suspension assembly department for return by the route of arrow R.

In the manufacturing line system according to this embodiment having the above-mentioned configuration,
When assembling the suspension on the pallet after assembling the suspension on the pallet, it is possible to provide equipment that does not apply a load even if the suspension assembly process and the suspension mounting process are separated. Easy to assemble, even if
Can be transported.

Hereinafter, in order to further specifically describe the flow in each of the zones 1 to 8, attention is focused on one pallet 9 among the pallets that circulate in the rectangular assembly line shown in FIG. Then, first, in the component supply zone 1, here, the worker mounts the knuckle 100 shown in FIG. 6 to the pair of assembly jigs 91 of the pallet 9 shown in FIG. 5 returning from the roller conveyor 12 side. Fix the clamp. Furthermore, in the zone 1, by the worker and the parts supply robot 15,
Components are supplied to the component placement portion 94 of the pallet 9. That is, the mounting portion 94 is configured to be concave and positioned, and the component mounting portion 94 includes the rear brake drum 103, the hub unit bearing 102, the spindle nut, the hub unit washer, and the hub unit cuff 104. , Trailing arm 105, lower arm 107, etc. are supplied, and the brake shoe 101 is mounted on the knuckle 100.

In the above description, the case of the drum brake component is described, but the disc brake component can be similarly applied.

Next, the pallet 9 to which the parts have been supplied is conveyed to the first automatic machine assembly zone 2, the first manual machine assembly zone 3 and the second automatic machine assembly zone 4, and the automatic machines 17, 17 ... The automatic knuckle of the brake shoe 101
Assembly to 100, supply of hub unit bearing 102, supply of hub unit washer, spindle nut tightening, spindle nut crimping, rear brake drum 103 assembly, hub unit cap 104 press fitting, trailing arm 105 assembly .

Next, the pallet 9 that has passed through the zone 4 is sent to the roller conveyor 11 side, and when it reaches the portion of the roller conveyor 11 provided with the pallet rotating unit 13, the pallet 9 is rotated upward, and then is rotated and then lowered again. , And is conveyed to the next second manual assembly zone 5.

In the parts supply zone 1, the first automatic machine assembly zone 2, the first manual machine assembly zone 3 and the second automatic machine assembly zone 4, and in the next second manual machine assembly zone 5, as described above. The pallet 9 is conveyed by tact.

Rotating the pallet 9 in the pallet rotating unit 13 is performed by the component supply zone 1, the first automatic machine assembly zone 2,
First manual assembly zone 3 and second automated machine assembly zone 4
Side line and the line of the second and manual assembly zone 5 side
This is because the direction of the 180-degree pallet 9 is changed.

That is, on each line side, the side of the assembly jig 91 and the mounting portion 93 of the pallet 9 is located on the outer peripheral side of the line (hand side when viewed from the workers of the component supply zone 1 and the manual assembly zones 3 and 5). In order to convey the pallet 9 in the roller conveyors 11 and 12 including the pallet rotating unit 14 described later, the direction of the pallet 9 is reversed.

In the line part on the side of zones 1 to 4, the sub pallet 21 is
Each of the above-mentioned operations is carried out in a state where the mounting jig 93 has not yet been introduced and therefore the assembly jig 210 used on the zones 5 and 6 side is not present in the mounting portion 93. To that extent, the tact transportation on the zone 1 to 4 side is lightened, and there is no obstruction between the pair of assembling jigs 91. In this respect also, the automatic machine 1 described above is used.
Each work by 7,19 and workers will be easier.

That is, in the automatic machine 17, since the parts have already been placed at the predetermined positions in the previous part supply zone 1, if the automatic machine 17 (robot) is taught, the predetermined parts will be taken out one by one. Can be mounted on a fixed position, or can be assembled, and for parts that cannot be automated, a work such as assembly by a worker is performed in the first manual assembly zone 3. Further, after that, the assembly by the automatic machine 19 is performed in the second automatic machine assembly zone 4. In such a work process, the structure in which the central portion of the pallet 9 is widely opened is the work of the automatic machines 17, 19. It is also extremely advantageous in terms of the work of the worker.

Then, when the pallet 9 which has been turned upside down through the roller conveyor 11 reaches the second manual assembly zone 5, the sub pallet 21 is positioned and fixed to the pallet 9. The second manual assembly zone 5 has two stages. The upper stage is the rear suspension assembling unit, and the lower stage is the sub-pallet transport unit 23 including a roller conveyor that transports the sub-pallet 21.
(Fig. 2).

The sub-pallet transport unit 23 has three rows so that a plurality of types of sub-pallets to be used can be prepared depending on the model, for example, three types of sub-pallets 21 (A), 21 (B), 21 (C) are transported. It has become. Used sub-pallet 21
(A) to 21 (C) are assembling jigs 21 as shown in FIG.
The specifications of 0 are changed as described above. For example, the sub-pallet 21 (A) may be for 4WS, the sub-pallet 21 (B) may be for 2SW, and the like.

At the starting point of the second manual assembly zone 5, there is provided a sub-pallet feeder 25 for positioning and placing the sub-pallet 21 at the center of the pallet from the sub-pallet transport unit 23,
As a result, required ones of the sub-pallets 21 (A) to 21 (C) described above are mounted on the mounting portion 93 of the pallet 9.
In this way, the sub-pallet transport unit 23 is provided in the lower part of the assembling process in the second manual assembly zone 5, so that the sub-pallet 21 can be placed on the pallet 9 in accordance with the model of suspension assembly.

Thus, after the sub-pallet 21 is positioned and fixed, the cross beam is used to assemble the suspension subsequent to the previous step before the second automatic machine assembly zone 4. In the present embodiment, the sub-pallet 21 has the model compatibility as described above, but the sub-pallet 21 is not selectively attached to the attachment portion 93 of the pallet 9 from the beginning, but is a portion of the second manual assembly zone 5. The installation jig 21
The sub pallet 21 having 0 is necessary when the cross beam 106 shown in FIG. 6 is mounted, and other parts can be mounted without the cross beam 106 in the previous step. It was a certain point.

The assembling in the second manual assembling zone 5 is performed by the pallet 9
The sub-pallet 21 is positioned and fixed on the pallet set, and the hole of the cross beam 106 shown in FIG. 6 is passed through the pin 211 attached to the sub-pallet 21, and first positioned in the central portion. Next, the lower arm 107, the brake hydraulic-related pipe, and the hose are assembled, and the cross beam 106 and the lower arm 107 are clamped and fixed by the tightening machine 22 in the tightening work zone 6.

As described above, the suspension is assembled on the pallet in which the sub-pallet 21 is positioned and fixed on the pallet 9, and after such assembly, the sub-pallet 21 is disassembled from the pallet 9 and conveyed with the suspension by the transport lifting tool 28.
The sub-pallet 21 on which the suspension is mounted is mounted on the suspension mounting device 32 and assembled to the vehicle body 29.

That is, after the rear suspension assembly on the assembly line is completed, when the pallet set reaches the pallet position indicated by reference numeral 9 (T), the sub lifter 21 on the pallet 9 is moved to the pallet 9 by the drop lifter 27 by the transfer suspender 28. Grasp and lift. In this case, the transport suspending tool 28 functions as a rear suspension transport suspending tool because the transport suspending tool 28 hoists and transports together with the assembled rear suspension.

In this way, the two are separated, and after the separation, they proceed to different processes. Of these, first, the following steps will be described by focusing on the flow of the separated sub-pallets 21. On the side of the sub-pallets 21, the rear suspension mounted on the sub-pallets 21 by the transport zone 7 is transported by the transport lifting tool 28. Transport to rear suspension mount zone 8. As described above, the transportation to the zone 8 may be a long distance, but of course, the system can be applied even if the distance is short (for example, about 30 to 40 m). In that case,
The load can be further reduced.

When it reaches the rear suspension mount zone 8, first,
The rear suspension is lowered together with the sub-pallet 21 by the drop lifter 31, and is once mounted on the rear suspension mounting device 32 in the zone 8. The zone 8
In, the vehicle body 29 to which the rear suspension should be installed
When the vehicle body 29 conveyed by the conveyor stops at the rear suspension mount position as shown in FIG. 4, the rear suspension mounting device 32 moves toward the vehicle body 29. Moving.

That is, as the vehicle body 29 stops at the rear suspension mount position for each vehicle, the mounting device 32 also moves in the direction of the vehicle body 29.

When such a movement reaches the lower rear position of the vehicle body 29, the rear suspension mounting device 32 next rises, and the mounting device 32
A nut runner (not shown) installed in the sub-pallet 21 is fitted into the lower portion of the socket 212 provided in the assembly jig 210 of the sub-pallet 21 and rotated, and a bolt (not shown) previously inserted into the socket 212 is shown. The rear suspension is fixed to the vehicle body by (No.). In this way, they are assembled and assembled.

Then, after the assembling to the vehicle body 29, only the emptied sub-pallet 21 is carried by the carrying suspender 28, and again carried to the suspension assembling section. That is, after the assembling, first, the mounting device 32 is returned to the original position which is the lower position of the drop lifter 31 in the zone 8 with the empty sub-pallet placed thereon, and then the transfer lifting tool 28 lowered by the drop lifter 31 is used. The empty sub-pallet 21 is suspended and returned to the annular assembly line side by the transport zone 7. When returned, the empty sub-pallet 21 is lowered by the drop lifter 27, and the sub-pallet delivery machine is delivered.
It is placed on each type of sub-pallet transport unit of the sub-pallet transport unit 23 by 24, transferred to the sub-pallet feeder 25 side, and used for the next assembly.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is not necessary to carry the jig jig pallet as a whole, but it is not necessary to carry a heavy pallet by providing the sub pallet 21, If the sub-pallet 21 and the rear suspension are lifted, they can be easily transported. If the sub-pallet 21 is gripped and lifted at the branch point, the entire assembled rear suspension on the sub-pallet 21 can be lifted as a unit and can be transported in a lightened state, which does not impose a load on the facility. Further, by adopting the sub-pallet structure, even if the rear suspension model is different as described above, it is possible to easily cope with this.

On the other hand, the flow on the pallet 9 side separated at the branch point is as follows. That is, the pallet 9 which has been assembled in the second manual assembly zone 5 and the tightening work zone 6 and separated from the sub-pallet 21 to become empty is moved from the branch point, that is, the position of the pallet 9 (T) to the roller conveyor 10. Proceed to the side, and is rotated by the pallet rotating unit 14 similar to the pallet rotating unit 13, that is, the direction is reversed to return to the original state,
It is returned to the original position of the component supply zone 1, that is, the pallet position indicated by reference numeral 9 (1a). Therefore, as compared to the pallet 21, the pallet 9 that is large and relatively heavy is
In this way, the pallet 9 circulates in the ring-shaped assembly line.

In the present embodiment, the case where the suspension of the vehicle is assembled and then the suspension is assembled to the vehicle body has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this.
It can be widely applied when assembling a predetermined article on a pallet and then assembling another article.

(Effect of the invention) According to the present invention, when the first article is assembled on the pallet and then the assembled first article is assembled to the second article, the load on the equipment is reduced. You can
Even if the assembling process and the assembling process are distant from each other in distance, it is possible to easily reduce the load.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall schematic view showing a part of a rear suspension assembling step and a carrying step according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an external view showing an outline of a part of the assembling part. FIG. 3 is an external view showing the outline of another part of the same, FIG. 4 is an external view showing the outline of the rear suspension body assembly part, and FIG.
FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing an example of each of pallets and sub-pallets that make up a pallet set, FIG. 6 is a schematic view of an assembled state showing a tabular wishbone suspension as an example, and FIG. 7 is a simple example shown as a comparative example. It is an explanatory view of one assembly jig pallet. 1 …… Parts supply zone, 2,4 …… Automatic machine assembly zone, 3,5
...... Manual assembly zone, 6 ...... Tightening work zone, 7 ...... Transport zone, 8 ...... Mount zone, 9 ...... Pallet, 1
3,14 …… Pallet rotating part, 15 …… Parts supply robot, 1
7,19 ...... Automatic machine, 21 ...... Sub pallet, 23 ...... Sub pallet transfer section, 24 ...... Sub pallet delivery machine, 25 ...... Sub pallet feeder, 27,31 ...... Drop lifter, 28 ...... Transport Suspension equipment, 29 …… Car body, 32 …… Rear suspension mounting device, 91 …… Assembling jig, 94 …… Parts mounting part, 210 …… Assembling jig, 211 …… Pin, 212 …… Socket.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A method of assembling a first article having a generally symmetrical structure on a pallet and then assembling the assembled first article to a second article, the method comprising: Parts of the article and a first jig used for assembling the first article are placed, and used for assembling the first article together with the first jig on a second pallet, and then assembled. A second jig for positioning the subsequent first article is placed, and the first jig and the second jig are placed in a pallet assembled state in which the second pallet is positioned and fixed on the first pallet. The jig is used to assemble the first article, and after the assembly, the second pallet is separated from the first pallet and the first article is conveyed to the second article together with the first article. Transport to the assembly position of the article The first pallet placed on the transported second pallet
Of the above-mentioned article to the second article, and after the assembling, the second pallet is conveyed to the first article assembly section by the second conveying means, and the separated first pallet is An article conveying method of conveying the first article to the parts supply department of the first article by the conveying means of No. 3. 2. The article conveying method according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of types of pallets corresponding to differences in the second article to be assembled to the first article are used as the second pallet. . 3. An apparatus for assembling a first article having a substantially symmetrical structure on a pallet and then assembling the assembled first article to a second article, the parts of the first article and the first article. A first pallet on which a first jig used to assemble the first article is placed; and a first pallet used to assemble the first article together with the first jig, and the first article after assembly. A second pallet on which a second jig for positioning is placed, and the first jig and the second jig in a pallet assembled state in which the second pallet is positioned and fixed on the first pallet. And an assembly site for assembling the first article, and assembling the second article together with the assembled first article by separating the second pallet from the first pallet. Transport to position An article transporting apparatus comprising: a means and an assembling apparatus that mounts the second pallet on which the first article is placed after the transportation and assembles the first article to the second article.