Part installation machine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9944336-B2
Application number	US-201514914232-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 18, 2015
Priority date	Jun 25, 2014
Publication date	Apr 17, 2018
Grant date	Apr 17, 2018

Abstract

A part installation machine, when having entered a part installation work area, operates a separation/coupling device to bring a drive carriage section and a part mounting carriage section from a coupled state into a separated state. The part installation machine also operates an engagement device such that the part mounting carriage section is engaged with a transfer system and transported by the transfer system. In this state, the part installation machine controls a travelling speed of the drive carriage section such that a relative position detected by a relative position detection device is maintained within a predetermined range.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A self-propelled part installation machine on which a part is mounted in a part mounting area, and which travels while matching with a movement path of a transfer system in a part installation work area located downstream of the part mounting area, and is capable of installing the part in an installation target body transferred by the transfer system,
the part installation machine including a drive carriage section capable of traveling along a given travel path, a part mounting carriage section on which the part is mounted, and a coupling device which brings the drive carriage section and the part mounting carriage section into a coupled state, wherein
the drive carriage section is capable of transporting the part mounting carriage section, with the drive carriage section and the part mounting carriage section brought into the coupled state by the coupling device,
the coupling device is configured to bring the drive carriage section and the part mounting carriage section into a driving force separated state in which a driving force of the drive carriage section is not transmitted to the part mounting carriage section,
the part mounting carriage section is provided with an engagement device which engages the part mounting carriage section with the transfer system in the part installation work area,
the drive carriage section is provided with a relative position detection device which detects a relative position between the drive carriage section and the part mounting carriage section in a travelling direction when the part mounting carriage section is in the separated state, and
the part installation machine is provided with a control device which, when the part installation machine enters the part installation work area, operates the coupling device to bring the drive carriage section and the part mounting carriage section from the coupled state into the separated state, and operates the engagement device so that the part mounting carriage section is engaged with the transfer system and is transported by the transfer system, and in this state, the control device controls a travelling speed of the drive carriage section such that the relative position detected by the relative position detection device is maintained within a predetermined range.

2. The part installation machine of claim 1 , wherein
the coupled state is a drive coupling state in which the drive carriage section and the part mounting carriage section are coupled to each other so that the drive carriage section and the part mounting carriage section travel in an integral manner using a driving force of the drive carriage section, and
the driving force separated state is a non-drive coupling state in which the drive carriage section and the part mounting carriage section are coupled to each other in a manner that does not transmit the driving force of the drive carriage section to the part mounting carriage section.

3. The part installation machine of claim 2 , wherein
the travel path is a looped path, and
after recoupling of the drive carriage section and the part mounting carriage section by the coupling device, the part installation machine is carried into the part mounting area again.

4. The part installation machine of claim 3 , wherein
the transfer system has, in the part mounting area, a plurality of suspension sections each of which hangs the installation target body, and
the part installation machine has a part lift mechanism which lifts the part from under the installation target body hanging from the suspension section to install the part in the installation target body.

5. The part installation machine of claim 4 , wherein
in the case where the part is installed in a rear portion, in a transfer direction, of the installation target body, the drive carriage section transports the part mounting carriage section by towing a front side, in the transfer direction, of the part mounting carriage section, and
in the case where the part is installed in a front portion, in the transfer direction, of the installation target body, the drive carriage section transports the part mounting carriage section by pushing a rear side, in the transfer direction, of the part mounting carriage section.

6. The part installation machine of claim 2 , wherein
the transfer system has, in the part mounting area, a plurality of suspension sections each of which hangs the installation target body, and
the part installation machine has a part lift mechanism which lifts the part from under the installation target body hanging from the suspension section to install the part in the installation target body.

7. The part installation machine of claim 6 , wherein
in the case where the part is installed in a rear portion, in a transfer direction, of the installation target body, the drive carriage section transports the part mounting carriage section by towing a front side, in the transfer direction, of the part mounting carriage section, and
in the case where the part is installed in a front portion, in the transfer direction, of the installation target body, the drive carriage section transports the part mounting carriage section by pushing a rear side, in the transfer direction, of the part mounting carriage section.

8. The part installation machine of claim 1 , wherein
the travel path is a looped path, and
after recoupling of the drive carriage section and the part mounting carriage section by the coupling device, the part installation machine is carried into the part mounting area again.

9. The part installation machine of claim 8 , wherein
the transfer system has, in the part mounting area, a plurality of suspension sections each of which hangs the installation target body, and
the part installation machine has a part lift mechanism which lifts the part from under the installation target body hanging from the suspension section to install the part in the installation target body.

10. The part installation machine of claim 9 , wherein
in the case where the part is installed in a rear portion, in a transfer direction, of the installation target body, the drive carriage section transports the part mounting carriage section by towing a front side, in the transfer direction, of the part mounting carriage section, and
in the case where the part is installed in a front portion, in the transfer direction, of the installation target body, the drive carriage section transports the part mounting carriage section by pushing a rear side, in the transfer direction, of the part mounting carriage section.

11. The part installation machine of claim 1 , wherein
the transfer system has, in the part mounting area, a plurality of suspension sections each of which hangs the installation target body, and
the part installation machine has a part lift mechanism which lifts the part from under the installation target body hanging from the suspension section to install the part in the installation target body.

12. The part installation machine of claim 11 , wherein
in the case where the part is installed in a rear portion, in a transfer direction, of the installation target body, the drive carriage section transports the part mounting carriage section by towing a front side, in the transfer direction, of the part mounting carriage section, and
in the case where the part is installed in a front portion, in the transfer direction, of the installation target body, the drive carriage section transports the part mounting carriage section by pushing a rear side, in the transfer direction, of the part mounting carriage section.

Assignees

• Mazda Motor

Inventors

• Ogawa Masaki
• Nagata Shimpei
• Chen Yingchuan
• Okamoto Akira
• Nishimura Masato
• Sekiraku Akira
• Suzuki Naruyuki
• Tanaka Masaru
• Yamada Katsuhiro
• Kamimoto Takayuki
• Nishihara Tatsuyoshi
• Kusuda Shouji

Classifications

• B62D65/18 Primary

  Transportation, conveyor or haulage systems specially adapted for motor vehicle or trailer assembly lines {(conveyors and haulage in general B65G)} · CPC title

• Y10T29/53365

  Multiple station assembly apparatus · CPC title