Wire harness assembly line and wheeled worktables

• US 6,446,743 B2
• Filed: 12/29/2000
• Issued: 09/10/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Autonetworks Technologies, Ltd. (Sumitomo Corporation), Sumitomo Electric Industries Limited (Sumitomo Corporation), Sumitomo Wiring Systems Limited (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Autonetworks Technologies, Ltd. (Sumitomo Corporation), Sumitomo Electric Industries Limited (Sumitomo Corporation), Sumitomo Wiring Systems Limited (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Inventors: Suzuki, Toshiaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson, Brian L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): FISCHMANN, BRYAN R
• Application Number:
  US09/750,053
• Publication Number:
  US 20010026750A1
• Time in Patent Office: 620 Days
• Field of Search: 180/167, 180/168, 180/169, 180/14.1, 700/228, 318/587, 901/1, 901/50, 701/23, 701/24, 701/25, 701/26, 701/27, 701/28, 198/346.2, 198/468.2, 198/750.11, 153/401
• US Class Current: 180/168
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 13/01227 using a layout board

Abstract

Each of the wheeled worktables 1, which is isolated from the others, travels self-dependently with drive of the motor M and the sensor (optical recognition device) 5 is provided on each wheeled worktable 1 while the optical recognition tape T as the recognition object for the sensor 5 is attached to the predetermined conveyance passage on the floor 11 for inducement of the wheeled worktables 1. Since the modification of the conveyance passage to meet any need of increase or decrease of the wheeled worktables is carried out only by reattachment of the optical recognition tape T, the passage can be modified into any form by a simple operation without generation of useless spaces between the adjoining wheeled worktables 1 and, without any mechanical restraint on the wheeled worktables, replacement of the wheeled worktables 1 for any increase or decrease in the wheeled worktables do not require such labor and time for dismounting from and remounting on the chain as in the case of the assembly line driven with the endless chain.

Claims

1. A wire harness assembly line, comprising:

a predetermined conveyance passage defined by one or more objects; and

a plurality of wheeled worktables, wherein a bottom surface of each wheeled worktable defines a rectangle whose center line is parallel to a traveling direction of the wheeled worktable, while an isosceles triangle whose base and height are equal is defined such that a symmetry axis of the triangle overlaps a center line of said rectangle with the base of the triangle including a longitudinal midpoint of said rectangle,

each wheeled worktable comprising;

a sensor that detects the predetermined conveyance passage by sensing the one or more objects that define the predetermined conveyance passage;

a driving wheel that steers the wheeled worktable along the predetermined conveyance passage detected by the sensor, the driving wheel being disposed at a vertex of said isosceles triangle; and

trailing wheels that are respectively disposed at other vertices of the isosceles triangle, revolving surfaces of the trailing wheels being always in a direction parallel to the traveling direction of the wheeled worktable.

2. A wheeled worktable for use in an assembly line, comprising:

a base;

a plurality of wheels rotatably attached to the base, the plurality of wheels including a driving wheel and a plurality of trailing wheels, the trailing wheels being provided on a line that passes through a longitudinal midpoint of the wheeled worktable, as seen in plan view;

a motor that drives the driving wheel; and

a sensor that senses one or more objects that define a predetermined conveyance passage;

wherein one of the plurality of wheels steers the wheeled worktable along the predetermined conveyance passage defined by the one or more objects sensed by the sensor.

3. The wheeled worktable according to claim 2, wherein the driving wheel and two of the trailing wheels are located at positions together defining a triangle whose base and height are equal.

4. The wheeled worktable according to claim 3, wherein the triangle is an isosceles triangle.

5. The wheeled worktable according to claim 3, wherein a ratio of the height of the triangle, as measured in a longitudinal direction of the wheeled worktable, to a length of the worktable is about 3:

14.

6. The wheeled worktable according to claim 2, wherein the trailing wheels always rotate in planes parallel to a traveling direction of the wheeled worktable.

7. The wheeled worktable according to claim 2, wherein said sensor is an optical sensor that optically recognizes the one or more objects.

8. The wheeled worktable according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of wheels further comprises auxiliary wheels that stably support the wheeled worktable, each auxiliary wheel rotating about an axis parallel to the base and being mounted on a wheel base that is freely rotatable about an axis orthogonal to the base.

9. The wheeled worktable according to claim 2, wherein the sensor is a magnetic sensor and the one or more objects are magnetically recognizable objects.

10. The wheeled worktable according to claim 2, further comprising an operation chart board for assembling a wire harness.

11. A wire harness assembly line, comprising:

a plurality of wheeled worktables according to claim 2; and

the predetermined conveyance passage, defined by one or more objects recognizable by the sensor of each wheeled worktable.

12. A wheeled worktable for use in an assembly line, comprising:

a base;

a plurality of wheels rotatably attached to the base, the plurality of wheels including a driving wheel and two trailing wheels, the driving wheel and trailing wheels located at positions defining a triangle, wherein a ratio of the height of the triangle, as measured in a longitudinal direction of the wheeled worktable, to a length of the worktable is about 3;

14;

a motor that drives the driving wheel; and

a sensor that senses one or more objects that define a predetermined conveyance passage;

wherein one of the plurality of wheels steers the wheeled worktable along the predetermined conveyance passage defined by the one or more objects sensed by the sensor.

13. The wheeled worktable according to claim 12, wherein the triangle is an isosceles triangle.

14. The wheeled worktable according to claim 12, wherein the trailing wheels are provided on a line that passes through a longitudinal midpoint of the wheeled worktable, as seen in plan view.

15. The wheeled worktable according to claim 12, wherein the trailing wheels always rotate in planes parallel to a traveling direction of the wheeled worktable.

16. The wheeled worktable according to claim 12, wherein said sensor is an optical sensor that optically recognizes the one or more objects.

17. The wheeled worktable according to claim 12, wherein the plurality of wheels further comprises auxiliary wheels that stably support the wheeled worktable, each auxiliary wheel rotating about an axis parallel to the base and being mounted on a wheel base that is freely rotatable about an axis orthogonal to the base.

18. The wheeled worktable according to claim 12, wherein the sensor is a magnetic sensor and the one or more objects are magnetically recognizable objects.

19. The wheeled worktable according to claim 12, further comprising an operation chart board for assembling a wire harness.

20. A wire harness assembly line, comprising:

a plurality of wheeled worktables according to claim 12; and

the predetermined conveyance passage, defined by one or more objects recognizable by the sensor of each wheeled worktable.