Method of assembling vehicle parts

• US 5,347,700 A
• Filed: 03/19/1993
• Issued: 09/20/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
• Inventors: Tominaga, Osamu, Shimanaka, Hiroshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramsey, Kenneth J.
• Application Number:
  US08/034,846
• Time in Patent Office: 550 Days
• Field of Search: 228/101, 228/49.8, 29/430
• US Class Current: 29/430
• 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: B23Q 7/1442 using carts carrying work holders
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 65/02 Joining sub-units or components to, or positioning sub-units or components with respect to, body shell or other sub-units or components
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/41805 characterised by assembly
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/37555 Camera detects orientation, position workpiece, points of workpiece
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/50125 Configurable fixture, jig
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/50362 Load unload with robot
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/50376 Workholder receives also parts to be assembled with work
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49829 Advancing work to successive stations [i.e., assembly line]

Abstract

In an automobile parts assembling line, parts pallets carried by a self-running pallet carriage are transferred onto self-running work carriages loaded with fundamental vehicle works of various vehicle models and a specific set of parts on the parts pallet are assembled to a specific model of fundamental work on the primary self-running carriage one after another while the self-running work carriage is self-running along an assembling station. During assembling of the parts, the self-running pallet carriage is returned to a pallet unloading station adjacent to the assembling station and is loaded with an empty parts pallet from the self-running work carriage which continues on carrying the fundamental vehicle work with the specific parts having been assembled thereto.

Claims

1. An automobile parts assembling method in which different parts are assembled to fundamental works of different models of vehicles, said method comprising the steps of:

loading sets of parts for various vehicle models onto parts pallets placed on secondary self-running carriages lined up in a row, each said secondary self-running carriage being self-running along a parts loading station;

transferring each parts pallet from said secondary self-running carriage onto a primary self-running carriage with a fundamental work of a specific vehicle model placed thereon, for which said set of parts in said each parts pallet are assembled, at a pallet transfer station adjacent to said parts loading station;

assembling a specific said set of parts loaded on said parts pallet on said primary self-running carriage to a specific said fundamental work on said primary self-running carriage one after another while said primary self-running carriage is self-running along an assembling station;

returning said secondary self-running carriage with said parts pallet unloaded to a pallet unloading station adjacent to said assembling station;

unloading said unloaded parts pallet from said primary self-running carriage and reloading it onto said secondary self-running carriage at said pallet unloading station; and

returning said primary self-running carriage to said pallet transfer station after unloading said fundamental work with said set of parts assembled thereto.

2. An automobile parts assembling method as defined in claim 1, and further comprising the step of returning said secondary self-running carriage onto which said parts pallet has been reloaded at said pallet unloading station to the rear extremity of said row of secondary self-running carriages.

3. An automobile parts assembling method as defined in claim 2, and further comprising the step of preparatory machining said fundamental work placed on said primary self-running carriage at a preparatory machining station adjacent to said pallet transfer station opposite to said parts loading station.

4. An automobile parts assembling method as defined in claim 1, wherein said fundamental work is a chassis frame of a vehicle body.

5. An automobile parts assembling method as defined in claim 1, wherein said fundamental work is an engine block.