Working line

• US 5,160,011 A
• Filed: 05/02/1990
• Issued: 11/03/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Sato, Yutaka, Takeshima, Akira, Yoshiji, Takeo, Yoshioka, Teruo
• Primary Examiner(s): Olszewski, Robert P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): GASTINEAU, CHERYL
• Application Number:
  US07/517,798
• Time in Patent Office: 916 Days
• Field of Search: 198/345.3, 198/346.1, 198/345.1, 198/346.2, 198/456.3, 198/465.1
• US Class Current: 198/345.3
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 7/1426 with work holders not rigidly fixed to the transport devices B23Q7/005, B23Q7/035 take precedence

Abstract

A working line having a plurality of work stations arranged in series and a free-flow transport conveyor for transporting workpieces to the work stations. An outer frame supporting the conveyor extends over the work stations. A jig base is provided in each of the work stations and is inserted into a framed space of the outer frame. A jig is provided on each of the jig base supporting and positioning each of the workpieces on the transport conveyor at the respective work station. The transport conveyor includes a main transport conveyor on the outer frame, a plurality of pallets riding on the main transport conveyor, and a return conveyor supported on the outer frame under the transport conveyor for returning empty pallets to a starting end of the line. The transport conveyor and return conveyor comprise, respectively, a pair of right and left conveying members provided in parallel to each other on both lateral sides thereof. The outer frame includes a plurality of supporting frames in portal shape provided at a predetermined pitch along the working line, a pair of right and left guide members for the transport conveyor extendedly provided between upper portions of the supporting frames for guiding the conveying members of the transport conveyor, and a pair of right and left guide members for the return conveyor extendedly provided between lower portions of the supporting frames for guiding the conveying members of the return conveyor.

Claims

1. A working line having a plurality of work stations arranged in series and a free-flow transport conveyor means for transporting work pieces to said work stations, wherein:

an outer frame to support said conveyor means is formed extending over a plurality of said work stations;

a jig base is provided in each of said work stations and is inserted into a framed space of said outer frame;

a jig is provided on each jig base for supporting and positioning each of the work pieces on said transport conveyor means at the respective work station; and

wherein said transport conveyor means includes a main transport conveyor on said outer frame,

a plurality of pallets sized to ride on said main transport conveyor, each for carrying one or more of the work pieces, and

a return conveyor for returning empty pallets from a terminal end of said working line to a starting end thereof, said return conveyor being supported on said outer frame under said transport conveyor, and

wherein said framed space in said outer frame is formed between said transport conveyor and said return conveyor;

wherein said transport conveyor and said return conveyor comprise, respectively, a pair of right and left conveying members provided in parallel to each other on both lateral sides thereof;

said outer frame comprises a plurality of supporting frames in portal shape provided at a predetermined pitch in the longitudinal direction of the working line, a pair of right and left guide members for said transport conveyor extendedly provided between upper portions of said supporting frames for guiding said conveying members of the transport conveyor, and a pair of right and left guide members for said return conveyor extendedly provided between lower portions of said supporting frames for guiding said conveying members of the return conveyor; and

said framed space is provided between said guide members for said transport conveyor and said guide members for said return conveyor.

2. A working line according to claim 1 wherein those portions of the guide members for the transport conveyor which are located above said jig base are separable from said outer frame.

3. A working line having a plurality of work stations arranged in series and a free-flow transport conveyor means for transporting work pieces to said work stations, wherein:

an outer frame to support said conveyor means is formed extending over a plurality of said work stations;

a jig base is provided in each of said work stations and is inserted into a framed space of said outer frame;

a jig is provided on each jig base for supporting and positioning each of the work pieces on said transport conveyor means at the respective work station;

wherein said transport conveyor means comprises a pair of right and left conveying members employed to convey each of the workpieces on a pallet;

said jig base is arranged to be inserted into a framed space formed in said outer frame under said transport conveyor means;

swing arms are provided on said jig base and are swingable upwards and downwards about a supporting shaft, said supporting shaft being provided outside one of said conveying members in parallel thereto;

said jig supporting the pallet is mounted on said swing arms so as to be positioned between said pair of conveying members;

locating pins for positioning the pallet are provided on said jig and are movable above and below the upper surface of said jig;

claw pieces are pivotally provided at the rear upper portion of said jig such that said claw pieces are pushed downwards by the pallet when the pallet passes thereover and are projected upwards after the pallet has passed thereover; and

a stopper member is provided movably upwards and downwards at the front of said jig, said stopper member having a resilient operation such that, when said stopper member contacts the front end of the pallet, said stopper member pushes the pallet backwards until the rear end of the pallet contacts said claw pieces.