Component supply device, component supply method, and manufacturing method of motor vehicle

Abstract

To provide a component supply device which can achieve space saving with simple arrangement.SOLUTION: A component supply device 1 supplies a component M to be assembled to an object to which the component M is assembled from the component supply side to the assembly side and includes: a mounting part 10 which lifts up the component M at the component supply side; a transport part 20 which transports the component M lifted up by the mounting part 10 to the assembly side; and a discharge part 30 which moves down the component M transported to the assembly side by the transport part 20. The component supply device 1 may supply large components and a small component supply device which supplies small components stored in a component box may be disposed in a space below the transport part 20.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a parts supplying device that supplies parts to be assembled to an object one by one from a parts supplying side to an assembly side, and to a parts supplying method and automobile manufacturing method using this parts supplying device. [Background technology]

[0002] In assembly lines for automobiles, etc., the sub-process where the sub-assembly is installed is often located away from the main line, and the completed products of the sub-process must be transported to the main line. In order to eliminate the unnecessary transportation of the completed products of the sub-process, the sub-process could be directly connected to the main line, but this would limit the direction of parts supply to each adjacent sub-process to one direction, so when assembling multiple vehicle models on the same line, the number of types of parts increases, and there is insufficient space to line up pallets for all the parts, making this difficult.

[0003] Patent Document 1 describes a body part supply device in which a plurality of pallets are set at a pallet setting station, a body part identification unit corresponding to the type of body part loaded on each pallet is provided, the type of the loaded body part is detected from the body part identification unit by a body part detection means, and a traveling robot is moved in the arrangement direction of the pallets to pick up the required body part. However, there is a problem that the equipment is large-scale and costly to make the traveling robot travel to the position of the pallet on which the required body part is loaded each time, as in Patent Document 1. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 6-190758 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The present invention has been made in light of the above problems, and aims to provide a parts supply device that can achieve space saving with simple equipment, as well as a parts supply method and automobile manufacturing method using this parts supply device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The parts supply device of the present invention supplies parts to be assembled to an object from a parts supply side to an assembly side, and is equipped with a loading section that lifts the parts upward on the parts supply side, a transport section that transports the parts lifted by the loading section to the assembly side, and a discharge section that lowers the parts transported by the transport section to the assembly side.

[0007] The parts supplying method of the present invention involves arranging a plurality of part supplying devices of the present invention in a line in the direction in which the objects to be assembled flow on an assembly line in which parts are assembled to the objects to be assembled, and supplying different parts individually to the assembly line.

[0008] The automobile manufacturing method of the present invention manufactures automobiles by assembling parts to objects to be assembled on an assembly line, and multiple part supply devices of the present invention are arranged in a line in the direction in which the objects to be assembled flow on the assembly line, and supply different parts individually to the assembly line. Effect of the Invention

[0009] According to the present invention, the mounting section lifts the components upward and transports them from the component supply side to the assembly side, so that the component supply device of the present invention supplies large components, and a small component supply device that supplies small components stored in a component box can be placed in the space below the transport section. This allows large and small components to be supplied to the sub-process in the same direction, making it possible to directly connect the adjacent sub-process to the main line, and eliminating the need for extra transport of completed products from the sub-process. In addition, a path for carrying in the component boxes containing the small components can be secured below the transport section. This eliminates the need to run robots or pallets, and allows space saving with simple equipment.

[0010] In particular, in an assembly line where parts are assembled to objects to be assembled, if a plurality of the part supplying devices of the present invention are arranged in the direction in which the objects to be assembled flow and parts are supplied, a higher effect can be obtained. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a component supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] 2 is a diagram illustrating an operation of the component supplying device illustrated in FIG. [Diagram 3] 3 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the component supply device subsequent to FIG. 2. [Figure 4] 4 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the component supply device subsequent to FIG. 3. [Diagram 5] 5 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the component supply device subsequent to FIG. 4. [Figure 6] 6 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the component supplying device subsequent to FIG. 5. [Figure 7] 7 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the component supply device subsequent to FIG. 6. [Figure 8] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a modified example of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0012] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0013] (One embodiment) Fig. 1 shows the overall configuration of a component supplying device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. This component supplying device 1 is disposed, for example, near an assembly line, and supplies components M to be assembled to objects on the assembly line one by one from the component supply side to the assembly side. This component supplying device 1 includes a loading section 10 that lifts up the components M on the component supply side, a conveying section 20 that conveys the components M lifted by the loading section 10 to the assembly side, and a discharging section 30 that drops down the components M conveyed to the assembly side by the conveying section. Note that the components M are shown shaded in Fig. 1.

[0014] The mounting unit 10 is, for example, an elevator, and has a pair of mounting placement parts 11 on which the parts M are placed, and a mounting lifting means 12 for lifting the pair of mounting placement parts 11. The pair of mounting placement parts 11 are provided, for example, spaced apart in the width direction. The mechanism of the mounting lifting means 12 may be of any type, and may be configured to be driven by a cylinder, for example.

[0015] The transport section 20 has, for example, a conveyor 21 that transports the part M from the part supply side to the assembly side, a first transfer means 22 that moves the part M from the mounting section 10 to the conveyor 21, and a second transfer means 23 that moves the part M from the conveyor 21 to the discharge section 30. It is preferable that, for example, a balustrade-like holding member 24 is provided on both sides of the conveyor 21 to prevent the part M from falling. The conveyor 21 may be of any type, and can be selected according to the part M, such as a belt conveyor or a roller conveyor.

[0016] The first transfer means 22 is disposed, for example, on the side of the mounting section 10 of the conveyor 21 so as to be movable between a pulled-out state in which it is pulled out from the end of the conveyor 21 in the direction opposite to the conveying direction of the parts M, and a pulled-back state in which it is returned to the side of the conveyor 21. This makes it possible to move the parts M from the mounting section 10 to the conveyor 21 by pulling the first transfer means 22 from the pulled-back state to the pulled-out state and then returning it to the pulled-back state again.

[0017] The first transfer means 22 has, for example, a pair of transfer placement parts 22A on which the parts M are placed, and a pair of locking parts 22B disposed at the draw-out side end of the pair of transfer placement parts 22A and locking the parts M when returning to the pull-back standard state. The pair of transfer placement parts 22A and the pair of locking parts 22B are provided, for example, so as not to overlap the pair of mounting placement parts 11 in the width direction. For example, the pair of transfer placement parts 22A and the pair of locking parts 22B are provided so as to be located on the outside in the width direction with the pair of mounting placement parts 11 between them in the drawn-out state. The locking parts 22B are provided, for example, with an anti-back mechanism, and are configured to rotate to avoid hitting the parts M when moving to the drawn-out state, and to rotate in the opposite direction to return to a position to lock the parts M when moving to the draw-out side of the parts M.

[0018] The second transfer means 23 is disposed, for example, on the side of the discharge section 30 of the conveyor 21, and is configured to lift up the rear side in the transport direction of the part M transported to the discharge end of the conveyor 21, thereby moving the part M from the conveyor 21 to the discharge section 30. The second transfer means 23 is movable, for example, between a reference state in which it does not protrude from the upper surface of the conveyor 21 and a protruding state in which it partially protrudes from the upper surface of the conveyor 21. For example, a pair of rod-shaped members may be rotatably disposed at the discharge end of the conveyor 21 parallel to the transport direction and spaced apart in the width direction, and may be configured to be rotated to cause the rear side in the transport direction to protrude from the upper surface of the conveyor 21 and lift up the rear side in the transport direction of the part M transported to the discharge end of the conveyor 21.

[0019] The discharge section 30 is, for example, configured by an elevator, and has a pair of discharge placement sections 31 on which the parts M are placed, and a discharge lifting means 32 for lifting and lowering the pair of discharge placement sections 31. The pair of discharge placement sections 31 are preferably provided, for example, with a gap in the width direction, and are inclined with the part supply side higher than the assembly side. This is because the parts M can be easily moved from the conveyor 21 by sliding them.

[0020] It is preferable that the inclination angle of the discharge placement part 31 is configured to be changeable. This is to make it possible to move the part M to a placement stand (not shown) arranged nearby by increasing the inclination angle of the discharge placement part 31 after lowering the part M. The pair of discharge placement parts 31 are provided, for example, so as not to overlap with the second transfer means 23 in the width direction. For example, the pair of discharge placement parts 31 are provided so as to be located on the outer side in the width direction with the second transfer means 23 sandwiched therebetween when transferring the part M. The assembly side of the discharge placement part 31 is provided with, for example, a protrusion 33 that engages the part box M to prevent it from falling. The mechanism of the discharge lifting means 32 may be any type, and may be configured to be driven by a cylinder, for example.

[0021] Moreover, the component supplying device 1 includes, for example, a support unit 40 that supports the mounting unit 10, the transport unit 20, and the discharge unit 30. The support unit 40 has, for example, a configuration in which the upper ends of a pair of support columns 41 are connected by a columnar connecting member 42, and a space is provided below the connecting member 42.

[0022] This component supplying device 1 supplies components M, for example, in the following manner. Figures 2 to 7 show the operation of the component supplying device 1. In Figures 2 to 7 as well, components M are shown shaded. First, for example, as shown in Figure 1, the loading placement part 11 of the mounting unit 10 is lowered, and the worker places the components M to be supplied on the loading placement part 11. Next, for example, as shown in Figure 2, the first transfer means 22 is returned to the side of the conveyor 21, and the loading placement part 11 on which the components M are loaded is raised to the position of the conveyor 21 by the loading lifting means 12.

[0023] Next, as shown in FIG. 3, for example, the first transfer means 22 is pulled out from the pulled-back state to the opposite side to the conveying direction to the pulled-out state. At that time, for example, when the anti-back is activated and the locking portion 22B hits the part M, it rotates to avoid it, and when it moves to the pull-out side from the part M, it rotates in the opposite direction and returns to the position where it locks the part M. Next, as shown in FIG. 4, for example, the first transfer means 22 is pulled back from the pulled-out state to the pulled-back state. As a result, the part M is locked by the locking portion 22B and moves together with the first transfer means 22, and is transferred from the mounting portion 10 to the conveyor 21. Next, as shown in FIG. 5, for example, the conveyor 21 moves the part M from the part supply side to the assembly side. Also, for example, the discharge lifting means 32 lifts the discharge placement portion 31 to the position of the conveyor 21, and the loading lifting means 12 lowers the loading placement portion 11 to wait until the next part M is placed.

[0024] 6, for example, second transfer means 23 is rotated to project its rear side in the transport direction from the upper surface of conveyor 21, and the rear side of part M in the transport direction is lifted, thereby sliding part M from second transfer means 23 to discharge placement section 31. Next, for example, as shown in Fig. 7, discharge lifting means 32 lowers discharge placement section 31 carrying part M. Thereafter, for example, the inclination angle of discharge placement section 31 is increased to move part M to a placement table (not shown) arranged nearby.

[0025] It is preferable that a plurality of part supply devices 1 are arranged in a line in the direction in which the objects to be assembled flow on an assembly line where the part M is assembled to the object to be assembled, and that each part supply device 1 individually supplies different parts to the assembly line. The part supply device 1 can also be preferably used, for example, when manufacturing automobiles. For example, in an automobile manufacturing method in which an automobile is manufactured by assembling a part M to an object to be assembled on an assembly line, it is preferable that a plurality of part supply devices 1 are arranged in a line in the direction in which the objects to be assembled flow on the assembly line where the part M is assembled to the object to be assembled, and that automobiles are manufactured by individually supplying different parts to the assembly line.

[0026] As described above, according to this embodiment, the mounting unit 10 lifts the part M upward and transports it from the part supply side to the assembly side. Therefore, the part supply device 1 supplies large parts, and a small part supply device that supplies small parts stored in a parts box can be placed in the space below the transport unit 20. Therefore, large and small parts can be supplied to the sub-process in the same direction, and direct connection to the main line of the adjacent sub-process is possible, making it unnecessary to transport the completed products of the sub-process. In addition, a carry-in path for the parts box containing the small parts can be secured below the transport unit 20. Therefore, there is no need to run a robot or a pallet, and space saving can be achieved with simple equipment.

[0027] In particular, in an assembly line where parts M are assembled to objects to be assembled, a higher effect can be obtained by arranging a plurality of part supplying devices 1 in line in the direction in which the objects to be assembled flow in order to supply the parts M.

[0028] (Modification) In the above embodiment, the mounting unit 10, the conveying unit 20, and the discharging unit 30 are provided in one each, but the mounting unit 10, the conveying unit 20, and the discharging unit 30 may be provided in multiple units. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, the mounting unit 10, the conveying unit 20, and the discharging unit 30 may be arranged in multiple stages, and it is preferable that the conveying units 20 are arranged so that the directions in which the components M are conveyed are parallel to each other. Note that FIG. 8 shows a case in which the mounting unit 10, the conveying unit 20, and the discharging unit 30 are each provided in two stages. Specifically, for example, the support 41 is extended upward, and multiple conveying units 20 are provided at intervals in the vertical direction, and multiple mounting units 10 and multiple discharging units 30 are provided at intervals in the vertical direction corresponding to each conveying unit 20. By providing multiple mounting sections 10, conveying sections 20, and discharge sections 30 in this manner, different types of parts M can be conveyed in each mounting section 10, conveying section 20, and discharge section 30, and multiple types of parts M can be supplied by a single part supply device 1.

[0029] In addition, each mounting unit 10 or each discharging unit 30 may be moved together or individually. For example, each mounting unit 10, each transport unit 20, and each discharging unit 30 may be stacked in the vertical direction, and each mounting unit 10 or each discharging unit 30 may be moved together. Also, each transport unit 20 may be stacked with a shift in position in the left-right direction so as not to overlap in the vertical direction, and each mounting unit 10 and each discharging unit 30 may be moved individually in each stage so as not to overlap in the vertical direction. Furthermore, one mounting unit 10, one transport unit 20, and one discharging unit 30 may be stacked as one set, and the upper mounting unit 10 and discharging unit 30 in the adjacent set may be positioned above the lower transport unit 20, so that each mounting unit 10 and each discharging unit 30 may be moved individually.

[0030] Although the present invention has been described above with reference to the embodiment, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment and can be modified in various ways. For example, in the above embodiment, each component is specifically described, but the specific structure or shape of each component may be different, and the present invention may not include all of the above-mentioned components, and may include other components. [Explanation of symbols]

[0031] Reference Signs List 1...component supply device, 10...mounting section, 11...mounting placement section, 12...mounting lifting means, 20...conveying section, 21...conveyor, 22...first transfer means, 22A...transfer placement section, 22B...locking section, 23...second transfer means, 24...holding member, 30...discharge section, 31...discharge placement section, 32...discharge lifting means, 33...projection section, 40...support section, 41...pillar, 42...connecting member, M...component

Claims

1. A part supplying device that supplies a part to be assembled to an object from a part supplying side to an assembly side, a mounting section for lifting the component upward on a component supply side; a conveying unit that conveys the part lifted by the mounting unit to an assembly side; a discharge section that lowers the part that has been transported to the assembly side by the transport section; A component supplying device comprising:

2. The conveying unit is a conveyor for conveying the parts from a part supply side to an assembly side; a first transfer means disposed on the mounting section side of the conveyor so as to be movable between a pulled-out state in which the first transfer means is pulled out from an end of the conveyor in a direction opposite to the component transport direction and a pulled-back state in which the first transfer means is returned to the conveyor side, and which moves the component from the mounting section to the conveyor by returning from the pulled-out state to the pulled-back state; a second transfer means disposed on the discharge portion side of the conveyor and configured to move the component from the conveyor to the discharge portion by lifting a rear side of the component in a transport direction; 2. The parts supply device according to claim 1, further comprising:

3. 3. A component supplying method comprising: disposing a plurality of the component supplying devices according to claim 1 or 2 in line in a direction in which the objects to be assembled flow in an assembly line in which the parts are assembled to the objects to be assembled; and supplying different parts individually to the assembly line.

4. A method for manufacturing an automobile in which a part is assembled to an object to be assembled in an assembly line, comprising:

3. A method of manufacturing an automobile, comprising: disposing a plurality of the part supply devices according to claim 1 or 2 in line in a direction in which the objects to be assembled flow on the assembly line; and supplying different parts individually to the assembly line.

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