Vehicle door assembly device and assembly method

Abstract

To improve an assembling property when a vehicle door in a state that an opening portion of a vehicle body is opened is assembled to the vehicle body.SOLUTION: An assembling device for assembling a door opening / closing an opening portion of a vehicle body to the vehicle through a hinge, includes a material handling jig that holds the door, and a working robot that supports the material handling jig to carry the door to the opening portion of the vehicle body. The material handling jig is equipped with a trestle, a door holder that holds the door, and a slide rail that is provided on the trestle and guides the movement of the door holder when positioning the door to the vehicle body. The material handling jig is further equipped with a mechanism that slides the door holder on the slide rail when positioning the door with respect to the vehicle body.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to the assembly of a vehicle door. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes a method of attaching a door to a vehicle body with hinges. This document describes that two hinges, one above and one below, are fixed to the vehicle body, and the door is tilted and attached to the vehicle body using the upper screw hole of the two screw holes, one above and one below, between the door and the upper hinge as a reference hole. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2010-208526 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, when a door is held from its inner side by a material handling jig and assembled to the vehicle body in an open position, there is a problem that an overhanging force acts on the material handling jig, hindering smooth assembly.

[0005] In order to accommodate variations in the vehicle body position and position the door relative to the vehicle body, it is preferable for the material handling jig to support a door holder that holds the door on a stand so that it can slide freely using slide rails. This means that the door holder (door) is positioned on the vehicle body while sliding relative to the stand.

[0006] On the other hand, in the case of a door that opens and closes with a hinge, the door is usually tilted toward the inner side when the vehicle opening is closed, so when the door is assembled to the vehicle in the open position, the door held by the door holder from the inner side is tilted toward the outer side. Therefore, an overhang force (moment load) acts on the slide rail of the material handling jig, and the sliding on the slide rail becomes difficult. As a result, the positioning of the door holder (door) relative to the vehicle body is deteriorated, which may lead to poor assembly or damage to the material handling jig, the door, etc.

[0007] In particular, from the standpoint of reducing the size and weight of the material handling jig, and thus the size and weight of the robot that supports the material handling jig, if the height of the material handling jig's stand is made lower than the door holder and the position of the slide rail is lowered, the deterioration in the sliding performance of the slide rail due to the above-mentioned overhang force becomes noticeable.

[0008] The problem of deterioration of the sliding properties of the slide rail also occurs when the door is held from the outer side and assembled to the vehicle body in the closed position, because in the closed position the door is tilted toward the inner side and an overhanging force from the door acts on the slide rail.

[0009] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned points, and its object is to solve the problem of deterioration of the sliding performance of the slide rail due to the above-mentioned overhang force generated when assembling a vehicle door, and to improve the ease of assembling the door. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] The present invention has been developed by examining the problem of the deterioration of the sliding properties of the slide rail through various experiments, and has found that under certain conditions, the door holder slides smoothly on the slide rail even if a relatively large overhang force is applied to the slide rail. This is the case when the door holder is forcibly slid on the slide rail in advance. In other words, the reason why the door holder does not slide smoothly on the slide rail when the door is positioned on the vehicle body is that the overhang force continues to act on the slide rail and the sliding surfaces of both are in a state of being stuck to each other. If the door holder is forcibly slid to release the stuck state, the door holder will slide relatively smoothly on the slide rail when the door is positioned on the vehicle body.

[0011] Therefore, in the present invention, when positioning the door relative to the vehicle body, the door holder is forcibly slid along the slide rail in advance.

[0012] The vehicle door assembly device disclosed herein is an apparatus for assembling a door that opens and closes an opening of the vehicle body via a hinge to a vehicle body, and includes a material handling jig that holds the door, and a work robot that supports the material handling jig and transports the door to the opening of the vehicle body, the material handling jig includes a stand, a door holder that holds the door, and a slide rail that is provided on the stand and guides the movement of the door holder when the door is positioned on the vehicle body, and further includes a mechanism for sliding the door holder on the slide rail before positioning the door relative to the vehicle body, the slide rail extending in the vertical direction of the vehicle body, and the material handling jig includes a floating cylinder that holds the door holder floating on the stand when positioning the door in the height direction relative to the vehicle body, The door holder and the base are connected by the floating cylinder, The door holder protrudes above the base, and a lower portion of the door holder is slidably supported on the base by the slide rail. Before the mechanism positions the door with respect to the vehicle body and before the mechanism floats and holds the door holder on the base, the mechanism operates the floating cylinder to move the door holder on the slide rail. Forced up and down on the standSlide it.

[0013] The vehicle door assembling method disclosed herein is a method for assembling a door that opens and closes an opening of the vehicle body via a hinge to a vehicle body by using a material handling tool, the material handling tool including a frame, a door holder that holds the door, and a slide rail that is provided on the frame and guides the movement of the door holder when the door is positioned on the vehicle body, the method including the steps of: holding the door in the door holder; moving the frame to position the door so that it is in an installation posture relative to the vehicle body; and positioning the door relative to the vehicle body while sliding the door holder on the slide rail. and a step of fixing the frame to the vehicle body in the positioned state, and a step of connecting the door to the vehicle body by the hinge, and further comprising a step of sliding the door holder on the slide rail before the step of positioning the door on the vehicle body, the slide rail extending in a vertical direction, the door holder protruding above the frame, and a lower portion of the door holder being slidably supported on the frame by the slide rail, and the material handling jig includes a floating cylinder that holds the door holder floating on the frame when the door is positioned in a height direction relative to the vehicle body, The door holder and the base are connected by the floating cylinder, Before the step of positioning the door relative to the vehicle body and before the step of floatingly holding the door holder on a stand, the floating cylinder is operated to hold the door holder on the slide rail. Forced up and down on the stand Slide it.

[0014] According to the assembly device and the assembly method, when the door is positioned relative to the vehicle body, the door holder slides on the slide rail in advance. This releases the door holder from being stuck to the slide rail even if an overhang force from the door acts on the slide rail. This allows the door holder to slide smoothly on the slide rail when the door is positioned relative to the vehicle body, and allows the door to be smoothly positioned relative to the vehicle body.

[0016] The fact that the slide rail extends in the vertical direction means that the door is positioned in the height direction relative to the vehicle body using this slide rail. In this case, the height of the door is adjusted while applying a force to the door holder that counterbalances the load of the door holder and the door. If the door holder is fixed to the slide rail at this time, the door holder will not slide on the slide rail even if the counterbalancing force is applied to the door holder, so the door height cannot be adjusted. In contrast, with the assembly device, the door holder is slid on the slide rail in advance to release the fixation, so that when the counterbalancing force is applied to the door holder, the door holder holding the door will be in a floating state where it slides up and down on the slide rail with a small force. Therefore, the door height can be adjusted (positioned) smoothly.

[0018] That is, the floating cylinder applies a force to the door holder that offsets the load of the door and the door holder, and holds the door holder floating. The door holder slides on the slide rail in advance, which releases the door holder from its attachment to the slide rail, improving the floating ability of the door holder by the floating cylinder. This allows the door to be smoothly positioned relative to the vehicle body. Also, since the floating cylinder is used to release the door from its attachment, there is no need to provide a dedicated device for this purpose.

[0020] From the viewpoint of reducing the size and weight of the material handling jig, and thus the size and weight of the robot supporting the material handling jig, if the height of the material handling jig's stand is made lower than the door holder to lower the position of the slide rail, the overhang force applied to the slide rail increases. Even in this case, this assembly device allows the door holder to slide on the slide rail in advance to release the fixation, so that the door height can be adjusted (positioned) smoothly. In other words, the door height can be adjusted by smoothly sliding the door holder up and down without increasing the size and weight of the material handling jig. Effect of the Invention

[0021] According to the present invention, even if an overhang force from the door acts on the slide rail that guides the movement of the door holder when positioning the door on the vehicle body, the door holder is slid on the slide rail in advance, so that the door holder slides smoothly on the slide rail when positioning the door relative to the vehicle body, and the door can be smoothly positioned relative to the vehicle body. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0022] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the right rear part of the vehicle body. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a front view of the vehicle door as viewed from the inner surface side. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a hinge of a vehicle door. [Figure 4] FIG. [Diagram 5] FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 1 shows a hinge clamp device. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of a door holder. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the structure of a door holder. [Figure 9] 2 is a perspective view showing a material handling jig holding a vehicle door and a vehicle body. FIG. [Figure 10] 1 is a perspective view showing a vehicle body and a material handling jig holding a vehicle door after being positioned. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0023] Hereinafter, the preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following preferred embodiments are merely illustrative in nature and are not intended to limit the present invention, its applications, or its uses.

[0024] 1 shows the right rear portion of a vehicle body 1. This vehicle body 1 is provided with hinge fastening portions 13 for fastening door hinges (described later) at two locations spaced apart in the vertical direction of the vehicle body (vertical direction in the drawing). This vehicle body 1 is provided with an opening 12 that is opened and closed by a vehicle door. Below this opening 12, a body reference hole 14 is provided.

[0025] In Fig. 2, the forward-opening rear vehicle door 2 is shown from the inner surface side. This vehicle door 2 is a door provided at the rear right side of the vehicle body. Two hinge mounting parts 23 spaced apart in the vertical direction of the vehicle body (vertical direction in the figure) are provided at the right end of the vehicle door 2 in the figure. A hinge 21 shown in Fig. 3 is fixed to this hinge mounting part 23. By fastening the hinge fixed to the vehicle door 2 to the hinge fastening part 13 of the vehicle body 1, the vehicle door is assembled so that the opening 12 of the vehicle body 1 can be opened and closed via the hinge 21. Two door reference holes 22 spaced apart in the vertical direction are provided at approximately the center in the left-right direction of the inner surface of the vehicle door 2.

[0026] 3 shows the hinge 21. The hinge 21 includes a door-side hinge member 211, a vehicle-body-side hinge member 212, and a hinge pin 213. The door-side hinge member 211 is a member that is fixed to a hinge mounting portion 23 of the vehicle door 2. The vehicle-body-side hinge member 212 is a member that is screwed to a hinge fastening portion 13 of the vehicle body 1. The door-side hinge member 211 and the vehicle-body-side hinge member 212 are rotatably connected by the hinge pin 213.

[0027] 4 and 5 show a material handling jig 3 for gripping the vehicle door 2. The vehicle door assembly device according to this embodiment includes the material handling jig 3, a work robot (an arm 7 of the work robot is shown in FIG. 9) that supports the material handling jig 3 and transports the vehicle door 2 to an opening 12 of the vehicle body 1, and a control device that controls the operation of the material handling jig 3 and the work robot. The work robot positions the vehicle door 2 held by the material handling jig 3 in the opening 12 of the vehicle body 1 in an open position in which the hinge fastening portion 13 is exposed on the outer surface of the vehicle body (the outer surface in the vehicle width direction).

[0028] In the following description of the material handling jig 3, the front of the vehicle body, the rear of the vehicle body, and the vehicle width direction are directions in the position of the material handling jig 3 during assembly in Fig. 10. In addition, in the description of the material handling jig 3, the inside of the vehicle width direction is the vehicle body 1 side in Fig. 10, and the outside is the opposite side to the vehicle body 1. The material handling jig 3 is composed of a door holder 31 and a stand 32. The door holder 31 is a member for gripping the vehicle door 2 from its inner surface side. The stand 32 is a member for mounting to an arm of a robot. The door holder 31 is provided so as to protrude upward from the stand 32. The door holder 31 and the stand 32 are connected by a floating cylinder 4. The floating cylinder 4 holds the door holder 31 floating relative to the stand 32. In addition, the vehicle door 2 held by the door holder 31 can be moved in the vertical direction of the vehicle body via the drive of the floating cylinder 4 as necessary.

[0029] The door holder 31 is composed of a holding main frame 311 and a holding subframe 312. The holding main frame 311 is a substantially rectangular frame extending in the vertical direction of the vehicle body. The holding subframe 312 is a member extending in the vehicle width direction. Both ends of the holding subframe 312 are fixed to both sides of the holding main frame 311 in the vehicle width direction. The holding main frame 311 is provided with three holding subframes 312 spaced apart in the vertical direction of the vehicle body. The door holder 31 is provided with a door positioning means for positioning each of a plurality of positions of the door relative to the door holder 31. The door holder 31 is also provided with a jig positioning means for positioning the material handling jig 3 relative to the vehicle body 1 so that the door is in an open position.

[0030] A door reference pin 314 that protrudes toward the inner surface of the vehicle door 2 by the operation of a cylinder device 3141 is provided on the holding subframe 312 that is located at the top and center in the vertical direction of the vehicle body. The door reference pin 314 is inserted into the door reference hole 22 of the vehicle door 2, whereby the vehicle door 2 is positioned relative to the door holder 31.

[0031] The door holder 31 is provided with two door support / fall prevention devices 315. The door support / fall prevention device 315 is composed of a door support member 3151 that enters a service hole opened on the inner surface of the vehicle door 2, and a door support drive cylinder 3152 that moves the door support member 3151 in and out of the service hole. The door support / fall prevention devices 315 are arranged at intervals in the vertical direction of the vehicle body. The upper door support / fall prevention device 315 is fixed to a connection point between the holding main frame 311 and the uppermost holding subframe 312 on the left side in the figure. The lower door support / fall prevention device 315 is fixed to the lowermost holding subframe 312. The door support member 3151 of these door support / fall prevention devices 315 is directed toward the vehicle door 2 side.

[0032] A body reference pin 313 is provided on the inside in the vehicle width direction (left side in FIG. 4) at the lower end in the vertical direction of the vehicle body of the holding main frame 311, which protrudes from the holding main frame 311 toward the inside in the vehicle width direction by the operation of a cylinder device 3131. This body reference pin 313 is inserted into the body reference hole 14 of the vehicle body 1, and functions as a jig positioning means for positioning the material handling jig 3 relative to the vehicle body 1 so that the vehicle door 2 is in an open position.

[0033] Two door end clamp devices 316 are provided at an interval in the vertical direction of the vehicle body on the outer side of the door holder 31 in the vehicle width direction (on the right side in FIG. 4). The door end clamp device 316 includes a clamp member 3161 and a clamp cylinder device 3162 for driving the clamp member 3161. The door end clamp device 316 functions as a door positioning means by clamping the front flange of the vehicle door 2 from the inner side and the outer side with the clamp member 3161. The door end clamp device 316 is fixed to the door holder 31, and the clamp member 3161 protrudes from the door holder 31 toward the outer side in the vehicle width direction.

[0034] Two hinge clamp devices 5 serving as door positioning means are provided on the inner side in the vehicle width direction of the door holder 31 (on the left side in FIG. 4). The number of the hinge clamp devices 5 corresponds to the number of the hinges 21 fixed to the vehicle door 2.

[0035] 6 shows the hinge clamp device 5 that grips the hinge 21. The hinge clamp device 5 is composed of a hinge clamp base 51, a fixed abutment member 52, a movable abutment member 53, and a drive cylinder 534. The hinge clamp base 51 is fixed to the door holder 31. In this way, the hinge clamp device 5 is fixed to the door holder 31.

[0036] The fixed abutment member 52 is a rod-shaped member extending in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body (left-right direction in the figure). A base end of the fixed abutment member 52 is fixed to the hinge clamp base 51. When the hinge clamp device 5 holds the hinge 21, the tip end of the fixed abutment member 52 is abutted against the vehicle body side hinge member 212 of the hinge 21 from the front side of the vehicle body (left side in the figure).

[0037] The movable abutment member 53 is rotatably supported by a support bracket 531 fixed to the hinge clamp base 51 via a pin 532 in the vehicle width direction. A drive cylinder 534 is pivotally supported on the support bracket 531 via a pin 533 in the vehicle width direction. The movable abutment member 53 is rotated by the operation of the drive cylinder 534. The movable abutment member 53 is rotated by the operation of the drive cylinder 534. The rotating movable abutment member 53 is brought into contact with the vehicle body side hinge member 212 of the hinge 21 from the rear side of the vehicle body (the right side in the figure). By rotating the movable abutment member 53, the movable abutment member 53 and the fixed abutment member 52 work together to clamp the vehicle body side hinge member 212 of the hinge 21 from the front-rear direction of the vehicle body.

[0038] As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the stand 32 is composed of a horizontal rectangular base member 321 and a rectangular vertical frame 322 that stands up from the base member 321. Slide rails 6 are fixed to the vertical frame portions on both sides of the vertical frame 322 in the vehicle width direction. The base member 321 is supported by an arm 7 of the working robot. The arm 7 is actuated to enable movement.

[0039] A body clamp device 323 is provided at an end of the base member 321 on the inner side in the vehicle width direction (left side in FIG. 4). The body clamp device 323 has a clamp member 3231 and a body clamp drive cylinder 3232. The clamp member 3231 is driven by the operation of the body clamp drive cylinder 3232. When the vehicle door 2 is assembled to the vehicle body 1, the lower side of the opening 12 of the vehicle body 1 in the vehicle vertical direction is clamped by the clamp member 3231 of the body clamp device 323.

[0040] 7, the door holder 31 is attached to the vertical frame 322 so as to be slidable in the up-down direction of the vehicle body (the direction perpendicular to the plane of the paper in the figure). A slide rail 6 extending in the up-down direction of the vehicle body along the vertical frame 322 is provided on the side of the vertical frame 322 facing the door holder 31. In addition, a block 61 having a substantially C-shaped cross section is provided on the side of the door holder 31 facing the vertical frame 322. This block 61 is fixed to the door holder 31 via a joint member 62.

[0041] As shown in Fig. 8, two slide rails 6 are provided on the vertical frame 322 with a gap therebetween in the vehicle width direction. A block 61 is fitted to the slide rail 6 so as to be able to slide. Two blocks 61 are provided for each slide rail 6 with a gap therebetween in the vertical direction of the vehicle body. The block 61 and the joint member 62 are provided on the lower part of the door holder 31, and the lower part of the door holder 31 is slidably supported by the slide rail 6 on the frame 32 via the block 61 and the joint member 62.

[0042] The operation of the material handling jig 3 by the control device will now be described.

[0043] When the material handling jig 3 grips the vehicle door 2, the door reference pins 314 of the door holder 31 are inserted into the door reference holes 22 of the vehicle door 2. The side of the vehicle door 2 opposite the hinge portion is clamped by a door end clamp device 316 of the door holder 31. Furthermore, the hinge 21 of the vehicle door 2 is clamped by a hinge clamp device 5. As a result, the vehicle door 2 is positioned and held relative to the material handling jig 3. If the vehicle door 2 held by the material handling jig 3 falls, the service hole portion opening on the inner surface of the vehicle door 2 is hooked on the door receiving member 3151 of the door receiving / fall prevention device 315.

[0044] The body reference pin 313 of the material handling jig 3 is inserted into the body reference hole 14 of the vehicle body 1, and the vehicle body 1 is clamped by the body clamp device 323, thereby positioning the vehicle body 1 and the material handling jig 3. The vehicle door 2 is also positioned relative to the material handling jig 3 by the positioning means at the six locations described above. Therefore, the vehicle door 2 is positioned relative to the vehicle body 1 via the material handling jig 3.

[0045] The control device has a mechanism for operating the floating cylinder 4 to slide the door holder 31 up and down a predetermined amount relative to the frame 32 before inserting the body reference pin 313 into the body reference hole 14 of the vehicle body 1, and then causing the floating cylinder 4 to bring the door holder 31 holding the vehicle door 2 into a floating state on the frame 32.

[0046] <Vehicle door assembly method> The procedure for assembling the vehicle door 2 to the vehicle body 1 will now be described.

[0047] 9 shows the material handling jig 3 holding the vehicle door 2, and the vehicle body 1. The material handling jig 3 grips the vehicle door 2 as described above.

[0048] The vehicle door 2 held by the material handling jig 3 is transported to the opening 12 of the vehicle body 1 by the operation of the work robot, and is positioned in the opening 12 in an open position. After the door holder 31 is forcibly slid up and down a predetermined amount relative to the frame 32 by the operation of the floating cylinder 4, a cylinder pressure that offsets the load of the vehicle door 2 and the door holder 31 is applied to the floating cylinder 4, and the vehicle door 2 and the door holder 31 are held floatingly on the frame 32. In this state, the body reference pin 313 of the material handling jig 3 is inserted into the body reference hole 14 of the vehicle body 1. Due to the floating holding, the door holder 31 slides up and down on the slide rail 6 to absorb the variation in the vehicle body position, and the vehicle door 2 is positioned on the vehicle body 1. After this positioning, the vehicle body 1 is clamped by the body clamp device 323 of the material handling jig 3, and the positions of the vehicle body 1 and the material handling jig 3 are fixed as shown in FIG. 10. The time from when the floating cylinder 4 forcibly slides the door holder 31 to when the body reference pin 313 is inserted into the body reference hole 14 in the floating held state is about 1 second. This time is preferably 10 seconds or less, and more preferably 5 seconds or less.

[0049] The vehicle door 2, which has been positioned in an open position relative to the vehicle body 1 via the material handling jig 3, has its hinge 21 screwed to the hinge fastening portion 13 of the vehicle body 1 from outside the vehicle body. In this way, the vehicle door 2 is assembled to the vehicle body 1.

[0050] <Effects of material handling equipment> When the vehicle door 2 is held by the material handling jig 3, an overhanging force (moment load) from the vehicle door 2 acts on the slide rail 6 of the material handling jig 3. If this overhanging force continues to act, the sliding surfaces of the slide rail 6 and the door holder 31 become, so to speak, stuck to each other. This makes it difficult for the door holder 31 to slide smoothly on the slide rail 6.

[0051] Therefore, in the above embodiment, when the vehicle door 2 is positioned relative to the vehicle body 1, the floating cylinder 4 is operated in advance to slide the door holder 31 up and down on the slide rail 6. As a result, even if an overhang force from the vehicle door 2 acts on the slide rail 6 and the door holder 31 is fixed to the slide rail 6, the fixation is released. Therefore, when the body reference pin 313 is inserted into the body reference hole 14 in a state in which the door holder 31 holding the vehicle door 2 is held floating on the mount 32, the block 61 of the door holder 31 smoothly slides on the slide rail 6 of the mount 32. That is, the vehicle door 2 can be smoothly positioned relative to the vehicle body 1.

[0052] In addition, in the above embodiment, since the floating cylinder 4 is used to release the adhesion between the door holder 31 and the slide rail 6, there is no need to provide a dedicated device for releasing the adhesion.

[0053] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, from the viewpoint of reducing the size and weight of the material handling jig 3 and thus reducing the size and weight of the robot supporting the material handling jig 3, the height of the base 32 of the material handling jig 3 is made lower than the door holder 31, and the position of the slide rail 6 is made lower. In this case, the overhang force from the vehicle door 2 acting on the slide rail 6 increases. Even in this case, the door holder 31 is slid on the slide rail 6 in advance to release the fixation between the door holder 31 and the slide rail 6, so that the vehicle door 2 can be smoothly positioned. In other words, the door holder 31 can be smoothly slid to position the vehicle door 2 without increasing the size and weight of the material handling jig 3. [Explanation of symbols]

[0054] 1. Vehicle body 2 Car Door 3 Material handling fixtures 31 Door Holder 32 Mounting stand 4 Floating Cylinder 6 Slide rail

Claims

1. An assembly device for assembling a door that opens and closes an opening in a vehicle body via a hinge to a vehicle body, A material handling tool for holding the door; a work robot that supports the material handling tool and transports the door to the opening of the vehicle body, The material handling jig includes a stand, a door holder that holds the door, and a slide rail that is provided on the stand and guides the movement of the door holder when the door is positioned on the vehicle body, The door holder is configured to slide on the slide rail before the door is positioned relative to the vehicle body. The slide rail extends in the vertical direction of the vehicle body, the material handling jig includes a floating cylinder that floats and holds the door holder on the frame when positioning the door in a height direction relative to the vehicle body, The door holder and the base are connected by the floating cylinder, The door holder protrudes upward from the base, The lower portion of the door holder is slidably supported on the base by the slide rail, An assembly device characterized in that the mechanism operates the floating cylinder to forcibly slide the door holder up and down on the slide rail relative to the frame before positioning the door relative to the vehicle body and before floatingly holding the door holder on the frame.

2. A vehicle door assembly method for assembling a door that opens and closes an opening in a vehicle body via a hinge to a vehicle body using a material handling jig, comprising: The material handling tool is A stand; A door holder for holding the door; a slide rail that is provided on the frame and guides the movement of the door holder when the door is positioned on the vehicle body, retaining the door in the door holder; moving the frame to position the door in a mounting position relative to the vehicle body; positioning the door relative to the vehicle body while sliding the door holder on the slide rail; a step of fixing the frame to the vehicle body in the positioned state; and connecting the door to the vehicle body by the hinge. The method further includes a step of sliding the door holder on the slide rail before the step of positioning the door on the vehicle body, The slide rail extends in a vertical direction, The door holder protrudes upward from the base, The lower portion of the door holder is slidably supported on the base by the slide rail, The material handling jig includes a floating cylinder that floats and holds the door holder on the frame when positioning the door in a height direction relative to the vehicle body, The door holder and the base are connected by the floating cylinder, A vehicle door assembling method, characterized in that, before the step of positioning the door relative to the vehicle body and before the step of floatingly holding the door holder on a frame, the floating cylinder is operated to forcibly slide the door holder up and down on the slide rail relative to the frame.

Images