JP2000335740A - How to transfer motorcycles - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Problem] To automatically transfer a motorcycle from a hanger of an overhead conveyor to a pallet of a floor conveyor. The A motorcycle V which is supported on the hanger H of the overhead conveyor C ₂ when it transfer via the drop lifter DL on the pallet 101 of the floor conveyor C _3, a motorcycle supported by the hanger H to drop lifter DL The front-rear position of the motorcycle V is adjusted by the cylinder 65 according to the model data of the motorcycle V, and the descending distance of the motorcycle V by the motor 77 is adjusted according to the model data. Is correctly positioned with respect to the clamp device 109 provided on the pallet 101. As a result, not only can the motorcycle V be transferred without human intervention, but also one type of pallet 101 can be applied to a plurality of types of motorcycles V, which can contribute to cost reduction. .

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a clamp device in which a motorcycle supported on a hanger of an overhead conveyor is transferred onto a pallet of a floor conveyor by a transfer device, and a tire of a rear wheel of the motorcycle is provided on the pallet. To a method for clamping with.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional motorcycle assembly line includes an overhead conveyor and a floor conveyor.
While supporting the power unit and main frame assembly on the overhead conveyor hanger and transporting it,
A body of a motorcycle is formed by assembling a front fork unit having front wheels and a rear fork unit having rear wheels. The motorcycle is transferred from a hanger of an overhead conveyor to a pallet of a floor conveyor by a transfer device, and a rear wheel tire is clamped by a clamp device provided on the pallet to be self-supporting, and a seat rail unit, a fuel tank, Parts such as a steering wheel and a cowling are assembled.

A transfer apparatus for transferring the body of a four-wheeled vehicle from an overhead conveyor to a floor conveyor is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No.
It is publicly known from Japanese Patent Publication No. 0-183425.

[0004]

By the way, when the motorcycle is transferred from the hanger of the overhead conveyor to the pallet of the floor conveyor, the tire of the rear wheel of the motorcycle is correctly positioned with respect to the clamp device provided on the pallet. Although it is necessary, since the shape and dimensions of the motorcycle are different depending on the type of the motorcycle, the positioning operation needs to be performed manually, and there is a problem that much labor and time are required.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to automate the work of transferring a motorcycle from a hanger of an overhead conveyor to a pallet of a floor conveyor.

[0006]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a motorcycle supported on a self-propelled hanger of an overhead conveyor is mounted on a floor conveyor by a transfer device. A method for transferring a motorcycle, wherein the motorcycle is mounted on a pallet and clamps a rear tire of the motorcycle on a clamp device provided on the pallet, and the front-rear position of the motorcycle supported by the transfer device is determined by the motorcycle. Adjusting the lowering distance of the transfer device supporting the motorcycle based on the model data, and clamping the rear tires of the motorcycle transferred on the pallet. And a step of clamping the motorcycle.

[0007] According to the above configuration, when the motorcycle is transferred from the overhead conveyor hanger to the pallet of the floor conveyor, the front-rear position and the descending distance of the motorcycle supported by the transfer device are included in the model data of the motorcycle. It is possible to correctly position the rear tires of the motorcycle with respect to the pallet clamping device and clamp them securely without manual intervention. It can be applied to motorcycles and contribute to cost reduction.

According to the invention described in claim 2,
In addition to the configuration of claim 1, the step of adjusting the position of the motorcycle in the front-rear direction includes positioning a center of a tire of a rear wheel of the motorcycle at a center in a front-rear direction of a clamp device provided on a pallet. There is proposed a motorcycle transfer method.

According to the above construction, the center of the tire of the rear wheel of the motorcycle is positioned at the center in the front-rear direction of the clamp device provided on the pallet, so that the tire can be securely clamped at the center in the front-rear direction of the clamp device. it can.

The second conveyor C ₂ of the embodiment corresponds to the overhead conveyor of the present invention, the third conveyor C ₃ of the embodiment corresponds to the floor conveyor of the present invention, and the drop lifter DL of the embodiment corresponds to the present invention. Corresponding to the transfer device.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described based on embodiments of the present invention shown in the accompanying drawings.

1 to 23 show an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is an overall side view of a motorcycle, FIG. 2 is a plan view of a motorcycle assembly line, and FIG. 3 is a side view of a second conveyor. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 4-4 in FIG. 3, FIG. 5 is a side view of the second transfer station, FIG. 6 is a view in the direction of arrow 6 in FIG. 5, and FIG. 7 is line 7-7 in FIG. FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of a main part of FIG. 5,
9 is a view showing a state where the hanger of the second conveyor is removed from FIG. 8, and FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along line 10-10 of FIG.
1 is a plan view of a third conveyor, and FIG. 12 is 12-1 in FIG.
13 is a sectional view taken along line 13-13 of FIG. 11, FIG. 14 is an enlarged view of a main part of FIG. 12, and FIG.
FIG. 16 is a sectional view taken along line 16-16 of FIG. 14, FIG. 17 is an explanatory view corresponding to FIG. 16, FIG. 18 is a sectional view taken along line 18-18 of FIG. 16, and FIG. FIG. 20 is a plan view of the station, FIG.
19 is a view in the direction of arrow 21 in FIG. 19, FIG. 22 is a view in the direction of arrow 22 in FIG. 19, and FIG. 23 is an operation explanatory view corresponding to FIG.

FIG. 1 shows a motorcycle V assembled on the assembly line of the present embodiment.
Power unit PU in which engine E and transmission T are integrated, front fork unit FUf in which front wheel Wf is integrated, rear fork unit FUr in which rear wheel Wr is integrated, main frame F, radiator R, exhaust pipe EP and muffler M Exhaust unit EU, seat rail unit SU, fuel tank F
T, steering handle SH, front cowl Cf, main cowl Cm, rear cowl Cr and the like.

As shown in FIG. 2, the motorcycle assembly line includes a first conveyor C _{1 in} which pallets circulate along a rectangular path, and a second conveyor C _{2 in} which hangers circulate along an oval path. When, and a third conveyor C ₃ Metropolitan the pallet is moved along a straight path. Third conveyor C ₃ is a backward housed in the forward and the floor bottom surface extending along the floor top surface is superimposed in the vertical direction, the pallet circulates a rectangular path in the vertical plane.

The power unit PU assembled on a sub-line (not shown) passes through the lower surface of the floor to the first conveyor C.
Conveyed to _one power unit supply station S ₁
Where it is supplied to the first on the pallet conveyor C _1. The pallet equipped with the power unit PU is the first conveyor C
The upper ₁ moves in the clockwise direction, the main frame by a plurality of assembly stations S ₂ provided on the moving path F, the radiator R, the front dummy frame DFf and the rear dummy frame DFr are assembled. The front dummy frame DFf and the rear dummy frame DFr are shown in FIG.

A first conveyor C ₁ comprising a floor conveyor
And a second conveyor C ₂ comprising an overhead conveyor
In the first transfer station S ₃ which bets are overlapped vertically, the main frame F in the power unit PU, the front dummy frame DFf and the rear dummy frame DFr
The assembled sub-assembly is transferred from the first conveyor C ₁ of the pallet to a second conveyer C ₂ hangers.
The pallet became subassembly Te delivered to the second conveyor C ₂ hangers empty, the back to the power unit supply station S ₁ to move the first conveyor C ₁ upward in the clockwise direction.

[0017] The second hanger conveyor C _2, the front dummy frame DF that was previously attached to the power unit PU
The sub-assembly is suspended and supported via the rear f and the rear dummy frame DFr, and moves counterclockwise along an oblong path. The moving path of the hanger is provided with a plurality of assembly stations S _4, in the assembly station S _4, the front fork unit FUf subassembly, rear fork unit FUR, motorcycle exhaust unit EU and the like are assembled V body is formed.

A second conveyor C ₂ composed of an overhead conveyor and a third conveyor C ₃ composed of a floor conveyor
In the second transfer station S ₅ the bets are overlapped vertically, the vehicle body is already provided with a front wheel Wf and the rear wheels Wr, second
From the hanger conveyor C ₂ is transferred to the pallet of the third conveyor C _3. The hanger became the vehicle Te passed to a third pallet conveyor C ₃ emptied and returned to the first transfer station S ₃ by moving the second conveyor C ₂ on the counterclockwise direction.

While the pallet of the third conveyor C ₃ moves along the straight forward path while supporting the vehicle body, first, the dummy frame separation station S ₆ removes the unnecessary front dummy frame DFf and rear dummy frame DFr. After the removal, a plurality of subsequent assembly stations S
₇ , the seat rail unit SU and the fuel tank F
T, steering handle SH, front cowl Cf, main cowl Cm, rear cowl Cr and the like are assembled to complete motorcycle V.

The completed motorcycle V is a third conveyor C ₃
Of after the completion inspection, such as the appearance at the first complete inspection station S ₈ provided in the terminal, it is discharged from the getting-off station S ₉ continuing to the end of the third conveyor C ₃ to the second completion inspection station S _10, the second engine, brake, completion inspection, such as the headlight is performed at the completion inspection station S _10.

The disembarkation station S ₉ has a platform P that is one step higher than the surrounding floor surface.
Its motorcycle V a worker rides at the start travels to the second completion inspection station S ₁₀ down the slope P ₁ platform P by gravity. Pallet emptied by discharging the motorcycle V is returned to the second transfer station S ₅ through the return path of the third conveyer C ₃ disposed on the lower surface of the floor.

The getting off station S₉Platform
The slope P on the front₁Other than left and right slope
P_Two, P_TwoAnd the first completion inspection station S
₈When an abnormality is found in the motorcycle, the motorcycle V is moved to the left
Right slope P_Two, P_TwoTo the side via the
Or a preliminary completion inspection station S on the right side_Ten′,
S _Ten'.

Next, the second conveyer C ₂ structure is described with reference to FIGS.

The self-propelled hanger H of the second conveyor C ₂
Are supported by upper support rails 42 and lower support rails 43 connected by stays 41 arranged at predetermined intervals. The hanger H includes a carriage 44 extending in the front-rear direction along the lower surface of the lower support rail 43, and running wheels 45, 45 provided at the front and rear of the carriage 44 roll on the upper surface of the lower support rail 43. . Further, at a position near the center of the bogie 44, one drive wheel 47 which is in contact with the upper surface of the lower support rail 43 and is rotationally driven by the motor 46, and two guide wheels which are in contact with the lower surface of the lower support rail 43 4
8, 48 are provided. Therefore, by driving the drive wheels 47 by the motor 46, the hanger H can travel by itself along the lower support rail 43.

A pair of left and right pivots 50, 50 extending in the front-rear direction are rotatably supported by a pair of front and rear brackets 49, 49 fixed to the lower surface of the carriage 44. Front support arms 53, 53 from the front and rear ends of the pivots 50, 50, respectively.
And the rear support arms 54, 54 hang down,
Roller support shafts 55 project left and right from both sides adjacent to the front support arms 53. At the front ends of the pair of left and right pivots 50, 50, interlocking gears 56 meshing with each other are provided.
56 are provided, so that the two pivots 50, 50 rotate in conjunction in opposite directions by the same angle.

The front to the lower end of the support arm 53, 53 engageable with the supporting portion 5 in the front dummy frame DFf assembled in the first assembly station S ₂ of the conveyor C ₁
3 _1, 53 ₁ are provided, the rear portion to the lower end of the support arm 54, 54 engageable with the supporting portion 54 ₁ in the rear dummy frame DFr assembled in the assembling station S ₂ of the first conveyor C _1, 54 ₁ is provided. To support different types of motorcycles V, the rear support arms 54, 54 are provided.
The support portions 54 ₁ , 54 ₁ can be vertically adjusted by inserting and removing the pins 51, 51, and the pins 52, 52
It is possible to adjust the position in the front-rear direction by inserting and pulling out.
Guide rollers 5 are provided at the ends of the roller support shafts 55, 55.
7, 57 are provided.

Next, the structure of the drop lifter DL provided in the second transfer station S ₅ based on FIGS. 5-10.

The drop lifter DL of the second transfer station S ₅ includes a plurality of guide rollers 59 on a guide post 58.
, And a lift frame 60 supported so as to be able to move up and down via the..., And the lift frame 60 is connected to a motor 77 by a chain 76 and is driven to move up and down. The upper and lower support rails 42 ′ and 43, which fit into the lift frame 60 at the cuts between the upper support rail 42 and the lower support rail 43 and form a part of the upper and lower support rails 42 and 43. 'Is provided.

A guide member 62 is supported on one side surface of the upper elevating support rail 42 'via a pair of front and rear brackets 61. A slide plate 64 is mounted on a guide rail 63 fixed to the side surface of the guide member 62. It is slidably supported. A positioning cylinder 65 provided at the rear end of the guide member 62 is connected to the slide plate 64, so that the front and rear positions of the slide plate 64 with respect to the guide member 62 can be adjusted by driving the positioning cylinder 65 to expand and contract. Can be.

A pair of front and rear clamp arms 66 and 67 are pivotally supported on the side surface of the slide plate 64, and the clamp arms 66 and 67 are connected by a link 68. Accordingly, when one clamp arm 67 is driven by a clamp cylinder 69 provided at the front end of the slide plate 64, the two clamp arms 66, 67 open and close in conjunction with each other, and the right and left sides of the carriage 44 of the hanger H are moved from both sides. One of the engaged projections 70, 70 protruding in the direction can be clamped.

When the motorcycle V is transferred from the hanger H of the second conveyor C ₂ to the pallet 101 of the third conveyor C ₃ , the driving amount of the motor 77 for raising and lowering the lift frame 60 of the drop lifter DL and the positioning cylinder 65
Is controlled according to the model data of the motorcycle V stored in advance.

The pair of side plates 71, 71 fixed to the lift frame 60 via the bracket 78 are formed with arc-shaped guide grooves 71 ₁ , 71 _1.
1, 71 swinging frame 72 ₁ is supported via the guide roller 73 .... The swing frame 72 is connected to a swing cylinder 74 supported by the bracket 78 and swings along the guide grooves 71 ₁ , 71 ₁ . Swing frame 72
A guide rail 75 extending in the front-rear direction is provided on the inner side surface of the roller hanger H. The guide rail 75 has roller support shafts 55, 5 protruding from the carriage 44 of the hanger H to the left and right sides.
One of the guide rollers 57, 57 provided at the tip of 5 is engageable.

Next, a third structure of the conveyor C ₃ will be described with reference to FIGS. 11 to 18.

As shown in FIGS. 11 to 13, the third conveyor C ₃ is composed of a number of rectangular plate-shaped pallets 10 independent of each other.
Each pallet 101 has four wheels 103 which are supported by brackets 102 provided on the lower surface thereof.
, Are supported on the two traveling rails 104, 104 so as to be able to travel. A plurality of pallets 101 are in contact with each other at a front end and a rear end, and a friction roller (not shown) which is connected to a driving source and rotates is connected to a pallet 101 at the rear end.
The thrust is applied to the left and right sides of the pallet 101 so that the thrust is sequentially transmitted to the front pallets 101. The traveling pallets 101 are on the floor 10.
5, and the pallet 101 and the floor 105 are flush with each other in this state.

On the upper surface of the pallet 101, a motorcycle V
A front support plate 107 on which the front wheel Wf is mounted, and a clamp device 10 for supporting the rear wheel Wr and clamping the tire 108 of the rear wheel Wr to make the motorcycle V self-standing.
And a rear support plate 110 provided with 9,109. Square tubular guide members 111 are fixed to two front and rear positions on the lower surface of the pallet 101.
Four guide rollers 112 are provided at the upper and lower ends of 11, 111, respectively. Guide rod 11 fixed to lower surfaces of front support plate 107 and rear support plate 110
3 and 113 are supported by guide rollers 112. At the lower ends of the front and rear guide rods 113, 113, guide rollers 114f, 114r are provided, respectively. The guide rollers 114f, 114r are provided on the upper surfaces of two guide rails 115f, 115r disposed between the left and right running rails 104, 104. The rollers 114f and 114r are respectively supported.

The heights of the guide rails 115f and 115r are individually changed along the longitudinal direction. Therefore, as the pallets 101 move, the guide rails 115f and 115r move.
Front support plate 107 together with guide rods 113, 113 guided by guide rollers 114f, 114r by 115r.
And the rear support plate 110 moves up and down. This makes it possible to arbitrarily change the height for pallets 101 of the motorcycle V which is supported on the front support plate 107 and the rear support plate 110, depending on the type of parts to be assembled in each set with the station S ₇ The workability can be improved by changing the height and the front and rear posture of the motorcycle V.

The front support plate 107 and the rear support plate 1
Since a space is formed between the upper surface of the pallet 101 and the upper surface of the pallet 101 so that the operator can insert his / her feet, the operator can easily approach the motorcycle V, and the workability can be further improved.

Next, based on FIGS. 14 to 18, a pair of clamping devices 109, 109 provided on the rear support plate 110 will be described.
The structure of will be described. Left and right clamping devices 109, 109
Has a symmetrical structure with respect to the center line L of the pallet 101, and one of them will be described below.

A side plate 121 is fixed on the upper surface of the rear support plate 110 in parallel with the center line L. Two front and rear guide rods 122, 122 are slidably supported by the side plate 121. The guide rods 122, 122 are urged outward (in the direction away from the center line L) by springs 123, 123 contracted between the guide rods 122, 122, and clamp the tire 108 of the rear wheel Wr at the inner end thereof. Is fixed.

A cylindrical lock bar 125 is slidably supported at the center of the side plate 121. The inner end of the lock bar 125 is fixed to the clamp plate 124, and the guide roller 1 is fixed to the outer end.
26 are provided. A lock arm 129 is pivotally supported by a bracket 127 fixed to the upper surface of the rear support plate 110 via a fulcrum pin 128 via a fulcrum pin 128, and a V groove 129 ₁ formed at the tip of the lock arm 129 (see FIG. 18).
Abuts on the peripheral surface of the lock bar 125. Rock bar 12
5 and the lock arm 129 (see FIGS. 16 and 17) are set to an acute angle slightly smaller than 90 °, and the lock arm 129 is compressed by a spring 130 between the side plate 121 and an arrow a. Biased in the direction.
The lock arm 129 is integrally provided with an unlock lever 131 extending obliquely outward and rearward. The clamp device 109 having the above structure is protected by being surrounded by the cover 132 and the guard bar 133 so as not to contact the leg of the worker. On the rear upper surface of the rear support plate 110, a tire pressing roller 136 is rotatably supported by a pair of left and right brackets 134, 134 via a support shaft 135.

[0041] In Thus, the second in the second transfer station S ₅
When transferring the motorcycle V in the third pallet 101 of the conveyor C ₃ from the hanger H of the conveyor C _2, the front wheel W
f and the rear wheel Wr are placed on the front support plate 107 and the rear support plate 110, respectively. At this time, the pallet 10
The clamp plates 124 of the left and right clamp devices 109 provided in 1 are located at the amplifier lamp positions shown in FIG. From this state, the guide rollers 12 of the left and right clamping devices 109, 109 are driven by a clamping driving device to be described later.
6, 126 are pressed in the direction of arrow b by the same distance, a pair of clamp plates 124,
Reference numeral 124 moves in the direction of the arrow b, and clamps both side surfaces of the tire 108 of the rear wheel Wr of the motorcycle V as shown in FIG. When the lock bars 125, 125 move in the direction of the arrow b, the lock arms 129, 129 are moved by the frictional force acting between the lock bars 125, 125 and the V-grooves 129 ₁ , 129 ₁ of the lock arms 129, 129.
Fulcrum pins 128,128 against the resilience of 30,130
The lock bars 125, 125 are slightly swung around in the direction of the arrow a '.
Slip with respect to 29 ₁ , 129 _{1 and} can freely move in the direction of arrow b.

Guide roller 12 by clamp driving device
6 and 126 are released, the springs 123 and 1 are released.
Clamp plates 124, 124 and lock with elasticity of 23
The bars 125, 125 try to return in the direction of arrow b ',
The input in the direction of arrow a is urged by the springs 130 and 130
Lock arm 129, V groove 129 of 129₁, 129 ₁
Bites into the lock bars 125, 125,
-125, 125 cannot move in the direction of arrow b ',
As shown in FIG.
Locked in the locked position.

Next, the structure of the table lifter TL provided in the second transfer station S ₅ based on FIGS. 5 to 7 and 19 to 21.

As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the table lifter TL in the second transfer station S ₅ was vertically movably supported on two guide posts 81, 81 via a plurality of guide rollers 82 ... A lift frame 83 is provided. The lift frame 83 is connected to a motor 85 by a chain 84 and is driven to move up and down. The lift table 86 which is supported by the lift frame 83, the third conveyor C ₃ for the outward travel beginning and return of the lifting travel rail 104 can be connected to the end of the running rail 104, 104 of the rail 104, 104 ' , 104 '. On the upper surface of the lift table 86, rails 104 ', 1
A stopper 79 for stopping the pallet 101 that has entered the 04 'at a predetermined position is provided.

[0045] the upper surface of the lift table 86, the positioning device 80 for positioning and clamping the engaged projection 70 'provided on the lower surface of the third conveyor C ₃ of the pallet 101 which is carried onto the lift table 86 from the backward path Provided.
The structure of the positioning device 80, the clamp arm positioning the second hanger H of the conveyor C ₂ 66,6
7, the structure is the same as the structure of the link 68 and the clamping cylinder 69 (see FIG. 9), and the duplicate description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIGS. 19 to 21, on the upper surface of the lift table 86, a clamp driving device 87 for operating the clamp devices 109 of the pallet 101 supported by the lift table 86 in a clamped state is provided. Can be The driving device 87 for the clamp is a lift table 8
6 and a pair of drive arms 90 _L , 90 _R slidably supported by the guide rails 88, 88 via sliders 89.
, A pinion 91 simultaneously meshing with racks 90 ₁ , 90 ₁ formed so as to face both drive arms 90 _L , 90 _R , and a cylinder 92 for driving one drive arm 90 _L forward and backward. Drive arm 90 _L, 90 pressing portion 90 ₂ of the _R of the tip, 90 _2, of the pair of clamping device 109, 109 provided on the pallet 101 guide roller 1
26 and 126 so as to be able to abut.

The floor 10 to which the lift table 86 fits
Four pillars 93, 93; 94, 9 on the front, rear, left and right of the opening 5
4 is erected. Lower photoelectric sensors 95a, 95a comprising a pair of light emitters and light receivers are attached to the left and right front columns 93, 94, respectively.
95b, and upper photoelectric sensors 96a, 96b comprising a pair of light emitters and light receivers. Similarly, lower photoelectric sensors 95a, 95b each comprising a pair of light emitters and light receivers are provided on the right and left columns 93, 94, respectively. Upper photoelectric sensors 96a and 96b each comprising a pair of a light emitter and a light receiver are provided. In addition, photoelectric sensors 98a and 98b including a pair of light emitters and light receivers via a pair of left and right stays 97 and 97 at positions adjacent to the rear side edge of the opening of the floor 105.
Is provided.

The maximum vehicle width (the width of the main frame F or the width of the power unit PU) of the portion where the rider of the motorcycle V straddles is about 600 mm regardless of the model, and the height of the maximum vehicle width portion is the model. 700mm to 8
In view of the difference in the range of 00 mm, the distance between the left photoelectric sensors 95a, 96a; 95b, 96b and the right photoelectric sensors 95a, 96a; 95b, 96b is set to, for example, 700 mm to 740 mm. Also, the lower photoelectric sensors 95a and 95 measured from the upper surface of the pallet 101
a; 95b, 95b are set to, for example, 700 mm, and the heights of the upper photoelectric sensors 96a, 96a; 96b, 96b are set to, for example, 800 mm.

Next, the operation of the embodiment of the present invention having the above configuration will be described.

The empty pallets 101 returned to the second transfer station S ₅ through the return path of the third conveyer C ₃ provided on the lower surface of the floor 105, upper lifting table 86 of the table lifter TL in the lowered position When the positioning device 80 enters the pallet 1 and stops by the stopper 79,
7, the pallet 101 is positioned on the lift table 86 by clamping the engaged projection 70 'on the lower surface of the pallet 101 (FIG. 7).
reference). Subsequently, the motor 85 of the table lifter TL operates to move the lift frame 83 up along the guide posts 81, 81, and the pallet 101 supported by the lift table 86 stops at a height that is flush with the floor 105 ( See FIG. 6). At this time, the pair of clamping devices 109, 109 provided on the pallet 101 are at the unclamping position,
Further, the clamp driving device 8 provided on the lift table 86
7 is also in the inoperative position where the pair of drive arms 90 _L and 90 _R are open (see FIG. 20).

On the other hand, the hanger H of the second conveyor C ₂ for suspending and supporting the motorcycle V is moved to the second transfer station S.
₅ and stops on the upper lift support rail 42 'and the lower lift support rail 43' of the drop lifter DL, the clamp cylinder 69 provided on the slide plate 64 of the drop lifter DL extends, and the clamp arm 66, The closing projection 67 is driven to clamp the engaged projection 70 of the hanger H between the clamp arms 66 and 67. As a result, the hanger H is fixed to the slide plate 64 (see FIG. 8).

Subsequently, the positioning cylinder 65 expands and contracts in accordance with the model data of the motorcycle V stored in advance, and the slide plate 64 is slid in the front-rear direction with respect to the guide rail 63 so that the hanger H with respect to the drop lifter DL The front and rear positions are adjusted, and the center (axle) of the rear wheel Wr of the motorcycle V supported on the hanger H is moved downward to the pallet 1
01 is located immediately above the center in the front-rear direction (the center of the guide rod 113) of the pair of left and right clamp devices 109, 109.

Subsequently, the motor 7 of the drop lifter DL
7, the lift frame 60 descends along the guide post 58, and the front wheel Wf of the motorcycle V supported by the hanger H is placed on the front support plate 107 of the pallet 101, and the rear wheel Wr is palletized. 101 rear support plate 1
It is placed between the right and left clamping devices 109 on 109 (see FIGS. 5 and 6). At this time, the drop lifter D is selected according to the motorcycle V model data stored in advance.
Since the operation amount of the L motor 77 is controlled, when the lift frame 60 descends and stops, the height of the lower ends of the front wheel Wf and the rear wheel Wr of the motorcycle V is changed to the pallet 101.
The height of the upper surfaces of the front support plate 107 and the rear support plate 110 can be correctly matched.

The pallet 10 in this manner, the third conveyor C ₃ a motorcycle V from the second conveyor C ₂ hanger H
When the motorcycle V is transferred to the pallet 101, the front-rear position and the descending distance are adjusted in accordance with the model data of the motorcycle V, so that the motorcycle V can be accurately transferred onto the pallet 101 without the need for an operator. The motorcycle V can be mounted, and the motorcycle V can be prevented from being damaged.
In particular, the center of the rear wheel Wr of the motorcycle V is
Are positioned at the center in the front-rear direction of the pair of left and right clamp devices 109, 109 provided in the
109 can more reliably clamp the rear wheel Wr.

The motorcycle V is transferred onto the pallet 101.
Then, the cylinder 92 of the clamp driving device 87 is
0 to the state shown in FIG.
90 _LTo the center line L of the pallet 101
When moved, the rack 90₁, 90₁And pinion 91
Through the other drive arm 90_RIs the pallet 101
To the center line L in the opposite direction,
90_L, 90_RAre driven closer together. So
In the process, both drive arms 90_L, 90_RIs a pair of clans
Guide rollers 126, 126 of
Press the clamp plates 124, 124 after the motorcycle V
The wheel Wr is driven to a position where it comes into contact with both side surfaces of the tire 108.
You. As a result, as described above, the clamping devices 109, 1
09 lock bars 125, 125 are lock arms 12
9, 129 and locked tire 108
The pushed motorcycle V stands on the pallet P by itself.

As described above, the pair of drive arms 90 _L , 9
0 Since the rack 90 _1, 90 ₁ of _R was meshed with a common pinion 91, is moved only by both of the drive arm 90 _L, 90 _R by the same distance for driving one of the drive arm 90 _L, their pressing the guide rollers 126, 126 of the pair of clamping devices 109, 109 can be pressed by equal distance in part 90 _2, 90 _2. As a result, the motorcycle V
Even if the thickness of the tire 108 differs depending on the model,
Always (see FIG. 19) center line L on it is possible to clamp, the worker and the motorcycle V be working from the left and right sides of the third conveyor C ₃ without positional deviation that tire 108 in the lateral direction The workability can be improved by making the distance of the work uniform. In addition, since the pair of clamp devices 109 can be driven by the common cylinder 92, the number of parts can be reduced.

At the end of the third conveyor C ₃ , the unlock levers 131,
When the 131 abuts on an unlocking member (not shown) and swings in the direction of arrow a 'in FIG.
The lock arms 129, 129 which are integral with the base 31 swing in the direction of arrow a ', and the V-grooves 129 of the lock arms 129, 129
₁ , 129 ₁ (see FIG. 18) and lock bars 125, 12
5 is released from the engagement with the spring 123.
The resilient force causes the clamp plates 124, 124 to move together with the lock bars 125, 125 in the direction of the arrow b '.
Of the tire 108 of the rear wheel Wr is released.

As described above, when the motorcycle V stands on the pallet 101 by the clamp devices 109, 109, the swing cylinder 74 of the drop lifter DL is moved to the position shown in FIG.
23, the guide rail 75 swings upward along the arc-shaped guide grooves 71 ₁ , 71 ₁ . As a result, one of the rollers 57 engaged with the guide rail 75 is pressed upward, and the left and right roller support shafts 55, 55 interlocked via the interlocking gears 56, 56 together with the pivot 5
0, 50 rotate in opposite directions, so that the pivots 50, 5
The support portions 53 ₁ , 53 ₁ ; 54 ₁ , 5 of the front support arms 53, 53 and the rear support arms 54, 54 fixed to 0.
4 ₁ releases the front dummy frame DFf and the rear dummy frame DFr are flared outwardly.

When the front support arms 53, 53 and the rear support arms 54, 54 release the motorcycle V, the rear wheels Wr are securely clamped by the clamp devices 109, 109, so that the motorcycle V is properly self-standing. Is confirmed as follows. That is, the front lower photoelectric sensors 95a, 95a and the rear lower photoelectric sensor 95b,
95b and the front upper photoelectric sensor 96
a, 96a and rear upper photoelectric sensors 96b, 96b
If the passage of light between the left and right photoelectric sensors 98a and 98b is not blocked by the vehicle body of the motorcycle V and the passage of light between the left and right photoelectric sensors 98a and 98b is blocked by the rear wheel Wr of the motorcycle V It can be confirmed that V is correctly independent.

If the motorcycle V is tilted to one of the left and right, the front and rear lower photoelectric sensors 95a, 95a,
The passage of light between 95a or between upper photoelectric sensors 96a, 96a is blocked. If the motorcycle V does not exist or is completely overturned, the passage of light between the front lower photoelectric sensors 95a and 95a and the rear lower photoelectric sensors 95b and 95b, and the front upper photoelectric sensor Since the passage of light between the sensors 96a, 96a and the rear upper photoelectric sensors 96b, 96b is not blocked, an abnormality cannot be detected, but in this case, the passage of light between the left and right photoelectric sensors 98a, 98b. Is no longer blocked by the rear wheel Wr, so that an abnormality can be detected.

As described above, the photoelectric sensors 95a, 95b;
By using 6a and 96b, it is possible to reliably detect the fall of the body of the motorcycle V without looking at the worker. In addition, since a contact type sensor such as a limit switch is not used, the vehicle body is not damaged by contact with the sensor, and detection can be performed without any problem even if the vehicle shape or size changes according to the model. Can be.

In the embodiment, the photoelectric sensors 95a, 95a
b; Although the optical axes of 96a and 96b are arranged in the vehicle length direction of the motorcycle V, the same effects can be obtained by arranging the optical axes in the vertical direction. In place of the photoelectric sensors 95a and 95b using light, 96a and 96b, non-contact sensors using other detecting means such as laser light, ultrasonic waves, and millimeter waves can be employed.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various design changes can be made.

[0064]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, when the motorcycle is transferred from the overhead conveyor hanger to the pallet of the floor conveyor, the front-rear direction of the motorcycle supported by the transfer device. Since the position and the descending distance are adjusted according to the model data of the motorcycle, the tires of the rear wheels of the motorcycle can be correctly positioned with respect to the pallet clamping device without any manual operation, and can be securely clamped. Instead, one type of pallet can be applied to a plurality of types of motorcycles, which can contribute to cost reduction.

According to the second aspect of the present invention,
Since the center of the tire of the rear wheel of the motorcycle is positioned at the center in the front-rear direction of the clamp device provided on the pallet, the tire can be reliably clamped at the center in the front-rear direction of the clamp device.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall side view of a motorcycle.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a motorcycle assembly line.

FIG. 3 is a side view of a second conveyor.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 4-4 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a side view of a second transfer station.

FIG. 6 is a view in the direction of arrows in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of a main part of FIG. 5;

FIG. 9 is a view showing a state where a hanger of a second conveyor is removed from FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along line 10-10 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 11 is a plan view of a third conveyor.

FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken along line 12-12 of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a sectional view taken along line 13-13 of FIG. 11;

FIG. 14 is an enlarged view of a main part of FIG. 12;

FIG. 15 is a sectional view taken along line 15-15 of FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a sectional view taken along line 16-16 of FIG. 14;

FIG. 17 is an operation explanatory view corresponding to FIG. 16;

18 is a sectional view taken along line 18-18 of FIG.

FIG. 19 is a plan view of a second transfer station.

FIG. 20 is an operation explanatory view corresponding to FIG. 19;

FIG. 21 is a view taken in the direction of arrow 21 in FIG. 19;

FIG. 22 is a view taken in the direction of arrow 22 in FIG. 19;

FIG. 23 is an operation explanatory view corresponding to FIG. 22;

[Explanation of symbols]

C ₂ Second conveyor (overhead conveyor) C ₃ Third conveyor (floor conveyor) DL Drop lifter (transfer device) H Hanger V Motorcycle Wr Rear wheel 101 Pallet 108 Tire 109 Clamping device

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Toshio Yamada 1-13-1 Aoihigashi, Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka Prefecture Inside Honda Motor Co., Ltd. Hamamatsu Plant (72) Inventor Kazuyoshi Horikawa 1-1-13 Aoihigashi Higashiyama, Shizuoka Prefecture No. 1 Inside Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Hamamatsu Works (72) Inventor Isamu 1-1-13 Aoi Higashi, Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka Prefecture Inside Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Hamamatsu Works (72) Inventor Naoki Hamamatsu Shizuoka Prefecture 1-13-1 Aoihigashi F-term in Honda Motor Co., Ltd. Hamamatsu Factory 3F044 AA01 AB03 BB02 CD12 CD19

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A motorcycle (V) supported on a self-propelled hanger (H) of an overhead conveyor (C ₂ ) is transferred onto a pallet (101) of a floor conveyor (C ₃ ) by a transfer device (DL). On the rear wheel (W) of the motorcycle (V).
r) A method of transferring a motorcycle in which a tire (108) is clamped by a clamp device (109) provided on a pallet (101), and the motorcycle (V) supported by the transfer device (DL) in the front-rear direction. Adjusting the position based on the model data of the motorcycle (V), adjusting the descent distance of the transfer device (DL) supporting the motorcycle (V) based on the model data, 101) The tire (108) of the rear wheel (Wr) of the motorcycle (V) transferred on the
A method of transferring a motorcycle, the method comprising: clamping in step 9). 2. The step of adjusting the position in the front-rear direction of the motorcycle (V) includes the step of: clamping a center of a tire (108) of a rear wheel (Wr) of the motorcycle (V) on a pallet (101). The motorcycle transfer method according to claim 1, wherein the motorcycle is positioned at the center in the front-rear direction of (109).