Wire harness assembly line and wheeled worktables
First Claim
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.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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.
-
Citations
20 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. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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.
-
Specification