Conveying operation method and conveying operation device

• US 7,845,483 B2
• Filed: 07/24/2007
• Issued: 12/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Adachi, Masakazu, Noguchi, Sumio, Yamamuro, Hideya, Takahashi, Mitsugu
• Primary Examiner(s): Crawford; Gene
• Assistant Examiner(s): JONES, YOLANDA RENEE
• Application Number:
  US11/782,276
• Publication Number:
  US 20080023295A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,232 Days
• Field of Search: 198/346.3, 198/346, 198/343.1, 198/342.2, 198/345.1, 198/345.2, 198/349
• US Class Current: 198/346.3
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 21/004 the units passing two or more work-stations whilst being composed
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 21/008 the assembling machines or tools moving synchronously with the units while these are being assembled
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 2700/50 Other automobile vehicle parts, i.e. manufactured in assembly lines
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 7/007 Flying working devices
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/0093 co-operating with conveyor means
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/39102 Manipulator cooperating with conveyor

Abstract

A conveying operation method and device that can continue an operation on a workpiece to prevent reduction in production efficiency in conveying a workpiece and performing an operation on the workpiece even if conveyance of the workpiece is stopped during the operation on the workpiece. The workpiece is conveyed by a workpiece conveying device, a movable stand is moved in synchronization with the workpiece conveying device in operation areas along a conveying path, and an operation is performed on the workpiece by an operation device provided on the movable stand. When movement of the workpiece conveying device is stopped, the movable stand stops in synchronization with the workpiece conveying device to continue the operation on the workpiece and complete one cycle operation. When non-normal operation is performed on the workpiece, the workpiece is retracted to a position different from the conveying path while being supported by the movable stand.

Claims

1. A conveying operation method for conveying a workpiece and performing a predetermined operation on the workpiece, comprising:

an operation area conveying step of conveying said workpiece by a workpiece conveying means which holds the workpiece in a predetermined position, and moving a movable stand in synchronization with said workpiece conveying means over an operation area provided along a conveying path of the workpiece by said workpiece conveying means;

a workpiece support step of supporting the workpiece separately from the workpiece conveying means by a workpiece support means provided on said movable stand in said operation area conveying step; and

an operation step of performing a predetermined operation on the workpiece supported by said workpiece support means by an operation means mounted on said movable stand,

wherein said operation step includes;

a conveying time operation step of completing the predetermined operation on the workpiece with the movable stand being moved in synchronization with the movement of the workpiece conveying means in the operation area; and

a stop time operation step of stopping the movable stand in synchronization with said workpiece conveying means and completing the predetermined operation on the workpiece when the movement of said workpiece conveying means is stopped at an arbitrary position in the operation area and said conveying time operation step is suspended.

2. The conveying operation method according to claim 1, wherein said movable stand includes a drive motor that drives the movement in the operation area in said operation area conveying step, and

torque of said drive motor is controlled in accordance with a moving speed of the workpiece conveying means in the conveying time operation step and the stop time operation step.

3. The conveying operation method according to claim 1, wherein said workpiece conveying means is circulated in said conveying path formed in an endless manner,

a plurality of operation areas in which different operations are performed on the workpiece are provided along said conveying path, and

said operation step is independently performed for each operation area.

4. The conveying operation method according to claim 1, further comprising:

a retraction step of retracting the workpiece support means supporting the workpiece from a position on the conveying path of the workpiece by said workpiece conveying means to a different position with a relative arrangement between said workpiece support means and said operation means being maintained in said operation area; and

a different operation step of performing a different predetermined operation on the workpiece supported by said workpiece support means by said operation means when the workpiece support means is retracted to said different position in said retraction step.

5. The conveying operation method according to claim 1, wherein after the stop time operation step is completed, the workpiece is transferred to the workpiece conveying means and the movable stand is returned to a leading end side of the operation area.

6. The conveying operation method according to claim 1, wherein the movable stand and the workpiece conveying means are mechanically connected by a connecting means, and a moving speed of the workpiece conveying means is controlled based on a change of a load received by the movable stand from the workpiece conveying means via the connecting means.

7. A conveying operation device for conveying a workpiece and performing a predetermined operation on the workpiece, comprising:

a workpiece conveying means which holds the workpiece in a predetermined position for conveying the workpiece;

an operation area provided over a predetermined distance along a conveying path of the workpiece by said workpiece conveying means;

a movable stand that is moved in synchronization with said workpiece conveying means along the conveying path of the workpiece by said workpiece conveying means in said operation area;

a workpiece support means provided on said movable stand for supporting the workpiece separately from said workpiece conveying means;

an operation means provided on said movable stand for performing a predetermined operation on the workpiece supported by said workpiece support means;

a movable stand driving means for moving said movable stand over said operation area;

movable stand driving control means for controlling the movable stand driving means so that a moving speed of the movable stand by said movable stand driving means matches with a moving speed of the workpiece conveying means; and

an operation control means for completing the predetermined operation on the workpiece by the operation means in said operation area when said movable stand is moved along the conveying path of the workpiece by said workpiece conveying means,

wherein when the movement of said workpiece conveying means is stopped in an arbitrary position of said operation area during the operation by said operation means, said movable stand driving control means stops the movable stand in synchronization with the workpiece conveying means, and said operation control means completes the predetermined operation performed by the operation means in said operation area.

8. The conveying operation device according to claim 7, wherein said movable stand driving means is a drive motor, and

the movable stand driving control means controls torque of said drive motor to control the movement of the movable stand in accordance with the moving speed of the workpiece conveying means.

9. The conveying operation device according to claim 7, wherein said workpiece conveying means is circulated in said conveying path formed in an endless manner,

a plurality of operation areas in which different operations are performed on the workpiece are provided along said conveying path, and

said movable stand is independently provided for each operation area.

10. The conveying operation device according to claim 7, further comprising retraction means provided on said movable stand for retracting the workpiece support means supporting the workpiece from a position on the conveying path of the workpiece by said workpiece conveying means to a different position with a relative position between said workpiece support means and said operation means being maintained, and

said operation control means performs a different predetermined operation on the workpiece supported by said workpiece support means when said retraction means retracts the workpiece support means to said different position.

11. The conveying operation device according to claim 7, wherein after movement of said workpiece conveying means is stopped in the arbitrary position of said operation area during the operation by said operation means and said operation control means has completed the predetermined operation performed by the operation means in said operation area, the workpiece is transferred to the workpiece conveying means and the movable stand is returned to a leading end side of the operation area.

12. The conveying operation device according to claim 7, wherein the movable stand and the workpiece conveying means are mechanically connected by a connecting means, and the moving speed of the workpiece conveying means is controlled based on a change of a load received by the movable stand from the workpiece conveying means via the connecting means.