Weighty object mounting systems

• US 4,734,979 A
• Filed: 12/24/1986
• Issued: 04/05/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 12/25/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
• Inventors: Sakamoto, Shunji, Watanabe, Tuyoshi, Okamizu, Shigeo, Munenaga, Yukio
• Primary Examiner(s): Rosenbaum, Mark
• Assistant Examiner(s): HAN, FRANCES CHIN
• Application Number:
  US06/945,961
• Time in Patent Office: 468 Days
• Field of Search: 29/33 K, 29/430, 29/469, 29/703, 29/709, 29/711, 29/712, 29/714, 29/720, 29/791, 29/822, 29/823, 29/824, 414/590, 414/744 R, 901/7, 901/10, 901/46, 198/339.1, 198/409, 198/468.4
• US Class Current: 29/822
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 21/004 the units passing two or more work-stations whilst being composed
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 2700/50 Other automobile vehicle parts, i.e. manufactured in assembly lines
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 65/18 Transportation, conveyor or haulage systems specially adapted for motor vehicle or trailer assembly lines conveyors and haulage in general B65G
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49829 Advancing work to successive stations [i.e., assembly line]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53052 including position sensor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53061 Responsive to work or work-related machine element
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53087 with signal, scale, illuminator, or optical viewer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53539 including work conveyor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53548 and work carrying vehicle

Abstract

A weighty object mounting system includes a mounting table provided in a mounting station established in an assembly line for supporting a weighty object placed thereon to be mounted on a transportable object transported into the mounting station, a lifting device for lifting the mounting table to move the weighty object thereon into a mounting position provided on the transportable object, a position adjusting device for shifting the position of the mounting table so as to compensate for misalignments arising between the transportable object and the weighty object, a mounting table releasing device operative to cause the position adjusting device to make the mounting table movable in a plane along the direction of transportation of the transportable object in the mounting station, and a positioning device attached to the mounting table and having a tapered portion provided for engaging with a receiving portion provided on the transportable object when the mounting table ascends. A sensor is also provided for detecting such a condition that the tapered portion of the positioning device comes into engagement with the receiving portion of the transportable object, and the mounting table releasing device is controlled by a controller to operative in response to a detection output from the sensor.

Claims

1. A weighty object mounting systen for use in an assembly line comprising;

mounting table means provided in a mounting station established in the assembly line for supporting a weighty object placed thereon to be mounted on a transportable object which is held by a movable support member and transported into the mounting station,

lifting means for causing said mounting table means to ascend for moving the weighty object placed thereon upward into a mounting position provided on the transportable object,

position adjusting means for shifting the position of said mounting table means so as to compensate for misalignments arising between the transportable object and the weighty object in the mounting station,

mounting table releasing means provided in relation to said position adjusting means and operative to cause said position adjusting means to make said mounting table means movable in a plane along the direction of transportation of the transportable object into the mounting station,

positioning means attached to said mounting table means and having a tapered portion for engaging with a receiving portion provided on the transportable object when said mounting table means ascends,

sensing means for detecting such a condition that the tapered portion of said positioning device comes into engagement with the receiving portion of the transportable object, and

control means operative to cause said mounting table releasing means to operate in response to a detection output from said sensing means.

2. A weighty object mounting system according to claim 1, wherein said mounting table means comprises a first slidable member operative to move forward and backward in relation to the transportable object in the mounting station and a second slidable member operative to move right and left in relation to the transportable object in the mounting station.

3. A weighty object mounting system according to claim 2, wherein said mounting table means further comprises a rotary member operative to rotate about an axis elongating up and down.

4. A weighty object mounting system according to claim 2, wherein said mounting table releasing means is engaged with said first and second slidable members for permitting each of said first and second slidable members to move independently forward and backward in relation to the transportable object and right and left in relation to the transportable object in the mounting station, respectively.

5. A weighty object mounting system according to claim 4, wherein said control means is operative further for causing said lifting means to lift said mounting table means by a predetermined distance after the detection output from said sensing means is obtained and then to prevent said mounting table releasing means from operating.

6. A weighty object mounting system according to claim 1, wherein said position adjusting means comprises an optical position sensor provided for detecting a stop position of the transportable object in a positioning station established to be adjacent to the mounting station at the upper course of the assembly line, positional error detecting means for obtaining errors in position of the transportable object in the mounting station based on a detection output of said optical position sensor, and adjusting means for adjusting the position of said mounting table means in response to the errors in position obtained by said positional error detecting means.

7. A weighty object mounting system according to claim 1, wherein said control means is operative further to cause said lifting means to lift additionally said mounting table means by a predetermined distance after the weighty object placed on said mountng table means is moved into the mounting position provided on the transportable object.

8. A weighty object mounting system according to claim 1, wherein said mounting table means comprises a table top member for supporting a pallet positioned thereon, said pallet being provided with the weighty object positioned thereon and provided also with fixing means attached thereto for use in fixing the weighty object to the transportable object in the mounting station, and driving means attached to said table top member for engaging with said fixing means to drive the same.