Automatic assembly apparatus

• US 4,783,904 A
• Filed: 11/20/1987
• Issued: 11/15/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Kimura, Akira
• Primary Examiner(s): Eley, Timothy V.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HAN, FRANCES CHIN
• Application Number:
  US07/123,270
• Time in Patent Office: 361 Days
• Field of Search: 29/23 P, 29/709, 29/711, 29/771, 29/783, 29/786, 29/787, 29/799, 29/822, 29/823, 901/7, 901/15, 901/41, 198/465.2
• US Class Current: 29/786
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 21/004 the units passing two or more work-stations whilst being composed
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/5196 Multiple station with conveyor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53048 Multiple station assembly or disassembly apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53365 Multiple station assembly apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53378 including converging conveyors
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53383 and means to fasten work parts together
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53435 including assembly pallet
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53543 including transporting track

Abstract

An automatic assembly apparatus has a first conveyor for transporting trays carrying parts to be assembled, a second conveyor for transporting pallets on which the parts are to be assembled and which extends parallel to the first conveyor, a stocking station positioned between the first and second conveyors and at which a plurality of the trays can be accommodated, a working station adjacent to the second conveyor, a pusher arm for moving trays from the first conveyor to the stocking station, and a root mounted between the first and second conveyors for carrying the trays from the stocking station to parts supplying stations adjacent the working station, and for assembling, on pallets transported to and from the working station by the second conveyor, parts removed by the robot from trays situated at the parts supplying stations, whereby a plurality of parts can be assemled by a single robot and it is possible to automatically and efficiently assemble the parts even in cases of relatively small scale production.

Claims

1. An automatic assembly apparatus comprising:

first conveyor means for transporting trays carrying parts along a predetermined path;

second conveyor means for transporting pallets on which said parts are to be assembled along a path extending parallel with said path of the first conveyor means;

means defining a stocking section between said first and second conveyor means and at which a plurality of said trays can be accommodated in a row extending substantially at right angles from one side of said path of said first conveyor means towards said second conveyor means;

means for moving said trays from said first conveyor means to said stocking station including a pusher arm reciprocable from an idle position at the other side of said path of the first conveyor means across the latter and along the direction of said row;

means defining a working station adjacent to said second conveyor means;

means for defining parts supplying stations adjacent said second conveyor means near to said working station;

robot means mounted between said first and second conveyor means and being operative for carrying said trays from said stocking station to said parts supplying stations and for assembling, on said pallets transported to and from said working station by said second conveyor means, said parts from said trays situated at said parts supplying stations, said robot means including arm means supported, at one end, for rotary movements about a vertical axis between said first and second conveyor means and being horizontally extendible to have a reach, at its other end, encompassing said stocking station, working station and parts supplying stations, and tool means selectively positioned at said other end for operating on said trays and parts, respectively;

parts supplying means disposed adjacent said first conveyor means for supplying parts to said trays transported by said first conveyor means; and

means for detecting said trays on said first conveyor means and for causing actuation of said means for moving the trays from said first conveyor means to said stocking station.

2. An automatic assembly apparatus comprising:

first conveyor means for transporting trays carrying parts along a predetermined path;

second conveyor means for transporting pallets on which said parts are to be assembled along a path extending parallel with said path of the first conveyor means;

means defining a stocking station between said first and second conveyor means and at which a plurality of said trays can be accommodated in a row extending substantially at right angles from one side of said path of said first conveyor means towards said second conveyor means;

means defining a working station adjacent to said second conveyor means;

means for moving said trays from said first conveyor means to said stocking station including a pusher arm reciprocable from an idle position at the other side of said path of the first conveyor means across the latter and along the direction of said row;

means for defining parts supplying stations adjacent said second conveyor means near to said working station; and

robot means mounted between said first and second conveyor means and being operative for carrying said trays from said stocking station to said parts supplying stations and for assembling, on said pallets transported to and from said working station by said second conveyor means, said parts from said trays situated at said parts supplying stations.