Apparatus for aid in attaching work

• US 5,088,176 A
• Filed: 02/26/1991
• Issued: 02/18/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fuji Jukogyo KK (Subaru Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Fuji Jukogyo KK (Subaru Corp.)
• Inventors: Koga, Michitaka
• Primary Examiner(s): Eley, Timothy V.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MARTIN, CHARLES
• Application Number:
  US07/660,742
• Time in Patent Office: 357 Days
• Field of Search: 29/822, 29/823, 29/824, 29/791, 29/795, 29/429, 29/430, 29/831
• US Class Current: 29/430
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 19/10 Aligning parts to be fitted together
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 65/16 the sub-units or components being exterior fittings, e.g. bumpers, lights, wipers , exhausts
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49829 Advancing work to successive stations [i.e., assembly line]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53543 including transporting track
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53548 and work carrying vehicle

Abstract

In attaching a work to a car body, the work (W) set on a work support unit (9) is positioned relative to the car body (1) in such a way that positioning pins (10) erected on a jig (8) are inserted into gauge holes (1a) formed in a lower surface of the car body (1), whereby an operator can attach the work (W) without carrying it up.

Claims

1. An apparatus for aid in attaching a work;

comprising an assembly line along which a car body is suspendedly conveyed by a hanger, a truck which is disposed so as to be movable sideways of and along said assembly line, a synchronous motion unit which is installed on said truck and which moves said truck in synchronism with said car body being conveyed, in engagement with said hanger, a pole which is mounted on said truck so as to be horizontally turnable, a jig table which is secured to said pole through a parallel link mechanism so as to be vertically movable, a jig which is installed on said jig table through a position regulation unit so as to be horizontally movable, a work support unit which is installed on said jig and which positions said work so as to be placed on a predetermined position of said jig, positioning pins which are erected on said jig and which are respectively inserted into gauge holes formed in said car body, so as to position said jig relative to said car body, an air cylinder which is spanningly interposed between said pole and said parallel link mechanism and which fulfills a balancing actuator function of holding said jig table in a balanced state in correspondence with a weight of said work, and a rotation driver which drives and rotates said pole horizontally so as to permit said jig table to move between the work placement position and a work attachment position of a lower surface of a car.

2. An apparatus for aid in attaching a work as defined in claim 1, wherein said synchronous motion unit includes an air cylinder which is mounted on said truck, and a protrusive piece which is protracted and retracted by extending and shortening said air cylinder of said synchronous motion unit.

3. An apparatus for aid in attaching a work as defined in claim 1, wherein said position regulation unit includes support portions which are protrudingly erected on said jig table and which have at their top parts rotatable balls for supporting said jig from below so as to be movable;

a first guide which is mounted on said jig in order to guide said jig in parallel with a conveyance direction of said car body, as well as a first roller which is mounted on an intermediate member so as to roll within said first guide; and

a second guide which is mounted on said jig table in order to guide said jig in a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of said car body, as well as rollers which are mounted on said intermediate member so as to roll within said second guide.

4. An apparatus for aid in attaching a work as defined in claim 1, wherein said work support unit includes support members which are erected on said jig in order to support said work from below, and pins which are erected on said jig and are inserted into gauge holes formed in flanges of said work, in order to position said work relative to said jig.

5. An apparatus for aid in attaching a work as defined in claim 1, wherein said rotation driver includes an air cylinder which is spanningly interposed between said pole and said truck.