Conveyors: power-driven – Conveyor system for moving a specific load as a separate unit – System includes a load supported by a conveyor portion which...
Patent
1992-06-24
1994-05-31
Dayoan, D. Glenn
Conveyors: power-driven
Conveyor system for moving a specific load as a separate unit
System includes a load supported by a conveyor portion which...
198583, B65G 2106
Patent
active
053161254
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to assembly line structures, and more particularly to an assembly line structure which can cope with a change or modification in the production plan and the like with a high flexibility.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The workload and the number of processes required to assemble a product differ depending on the product. For this reason, it is desirable that the assembly line has a structure such that the assembly operation can easily be changed.
FIG. 1 shows an example of a conventional line. In FIG. 1, an assembly line 1 includes a conveyer body part 1a having a total length L.sub.1 which is set to a length corresponding to the operation order which is initially planned for the product to be assembled, and traverse parts 1b and 1c which are integrally formed on a starting end and a finishing end of this conveyer body part 1a. An assembly area part 1a-1 and a pallet return conveyer part 1a-2 are arranged in parallel in the conveyer body part 1a. 2-1 through 2-n denote operators, and a pallet 3 which is an assembly jig is transported as indicated by an arrow 4.
There are cases where the product being assembled is changed due to a change in the production plan or the like. In such cases, no particular problem occurs if the number of processes required to assemble the new product is smaller than the number of processes required to assemble the product of the initial production plan. However, if the number of the processes is greater, there is a problem in that the existing assembly line 1 cannot be used. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to provide a novel and useful assembly line structure in which the problem described above is eliminated.
This and other objects of the present invention are attained by an assembly line for assembling a product by a series of operations, comprising a conveyer body unit which has at least an assembly area for carrying out a predetermined process with respect to the product to be assembled and forms a minimum unit which takes charge of a part of the series of operations, and a conveyer body assembly which is formed by connecting an arbitrary number of conveyer body units greater than or equal to two.
According to the present invention, the length of the assembly line can be changed arbitrarily because the conveyer body assembly is formed by the conveyer body units, and it is possible to cope with the change in the number of processes, the change in the product to be assembled and the like with a high flexibility. In addition, the cost of equipment can be reduced because it copes with the change in the production plan or the like by appropriately changing the existing assembly line, without having to set up a new assembly line from the beginning.
Other objects and further features of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a conventional assembly line;
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the principle of a present invention;
FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the change in an assembly line structure;
FIG. 4 is a front view showing an embodiment of the assembly line structure according to the present invention;
FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view along a line V--V in FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 is a front view of one conveyer body unit in FIG. 4;
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a transport surface of one conveyer body unit of FIG. 6;
FIG. 8 is a left side view showing one conveyer body unit of FIG. 6;
FIG. 9 is a partial enlarged cross sectional view along a line IX--IX in FIG. 7;
FIG. 10 is a front view of a starting end traverse unit of the assembly line of FIG. 4;
FIG. 11 is a plan view of the unit shown in FIG. 10;
FIG. 12 is a left side view of the unit shown in FIG. 10;
FIG. 13 is a front view showing a finishing end traverse unit of the assembly line of FIG. 4;
FIG. 14 is a plan view of the unit shown in
REFERENCES:
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patent: 4787496 (1988-11-01), Prodel et al.
patent: 5012917 (1991-05-01), Gilbert et al.
patent: 5103964 (1992-04-01), Sticht
patent: 5205026 (1993-04-01), Sticht
Ishijima Shizuo
Matsushima Hidetoshi
Noguchi Yoshinori
Dayoan D. Glenn
Fujitsu Limited
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