JP7166978B2 - Side member manufacturing method and side member assembly line - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a side member of an automobile and a side member assembly line.

Automobile side members are assembled by welding parts such as reinforcements and inner panels to outer panels. For example, Patent Literature 1 shows an example of an assembly line for side members W. As shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 9, the side member W of Patent Document 1 includes an outer panel W1, an outer stiffener W2 welded thereto, a front pillar inner W3, a center pillar inner W4, and a rear inner W5. , the front pillar inner W3 and the center pillar inner W4, an outer stiffener W2 is arranged. Therefore, if the front pillar inner W3 and the center pillar inner W4 are welded to the outer panel W1 first, these parts interfere with welding of the outer stiffener W2 to the outer panel W1. Therefore, it is necessary to weld the front pillar inner W3 and the center pillar inner W4 to the outer panel W1 after welding the outer stiffener W2 to the outer panel W1.

Therefore, for example, in Patent Document 1, a second work station for setting the outer stiffener W2 to the outer skin W1, a third work station for welding the outer stiffener W2 to the outer skin W1, a front pillar inner W3 and a center pillar inner to the outer skin W1. A fourth work station for setting W4 and a fifth work station for welding the front pillar inner W3 and the center pillar inner W4 to the outer skin W1 are arranged in series and configured to work in order. Therefore, in Patent Document 1, it becomes necessary to transport each part to the second and fourth work stations, and a transport line for transporting the parts and a stock area for stocking the transported parts are required, which complicates the assembly line. There was a problem.

In addition, as a method for solving such problems, for example, Patent Document 2 discloses a provisional assembly in which an outer panel, an inner part, and an intermediate part are temporarily assembled in the same state as a finished product and transported to a welding station. describes an assembly line in which the inner parts are removed from the temporary assembly at the welding station, the outer panel and the intermediate parts are welded together, and then the inner parts are reattached to the outer panel and the outer panel and the inner parts are welded together. However, in this assembly line, there is a problem that the inner parts cannot be removed from the temporary assembly at the welding station and cannot be welded while they are being reattached, which is disadvantageous in terms of cycle time. Furthermore, since it takes time to attach the inner component again after welding the intermediate component to the outer panel, there is a problem that the intermediate component and the inner component cannot be welded in one process. Therefore, it is necessary to provide a first welding station for welding the intermediate parts and a second welding station for welding the inner parts. is also required.

Japanese Patent No. 4475783 Japanese Patent No. 5536592

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a side member manufacturing method and a side member assembly line that can shorten the assembly time and save space.

A side member manufacturing method of the present invention is for assembling a side member having an outer panel, an inner component welded to the outer panel, and an intermediate component disposed between the outer panel and the inner component and welded to the outer panel. An outer panel carrying-in procedure for carrying an outer panel into a welding station, an inner parts carrying-in procedure for carrying an inner part into an inner parts carrying-in position provided with an interval from the welding station, and a welding station from outside the inner parts carrying-in position and the inner parts loading position. an intermediate part welding procedure for welding and fixing the intermediate part to the outer panel carried into the welding station, an inner part proximity procedure for moving the inner part carried into the inner part carrying-in position to the welding station, an intermediate part welding procedure, and After the inner part proximity procedure, an inner part welding procedure of welding and fixing the inner part to the outer panel to which the intermediate part is welded is included.

A side member assembly line of the present invention is for assembling a side member having an outer panel, an inner part welded to the outer panel, and an intermediate part disposed between the outer panel and the inner part and welded to the outer panel. An outer panel carrying-in means for carrying an outer panel into a welding station, an inner-parts carrying-in means for carrying an inner part into an inner-parts-carrying-in position spaced apart from the welding station, and welding from the outside of the inner-parts-carrying-in position. Intermediate component loading means for loading the intermediate component at an intermediate component loading position provided between the station and the inner component loading position while the intermediate component is inclined with respect to the outer panel, and the intermediate component loaded at the intermediate component loading position parallel to the outer panel. an intermediate part erecting means for bringing the inner part into a state of being in a state; an inner part approximating means for moving the inner part carried into the inner part carrying-in position to the welding station; and welding means for welding and fixing the inner part to the fixed outer panel.

According to the present invention, the inner component is carried into the inner component carrying-in position spaced apart from the welding station, and the intermediate component is carried in from the outside of the inner component carrying-in position provided between the welding station and the inner component carrying-in position. Since the intermediate part is carried into the position while being inclined with respect to the outer panel, the inner part and the intermediate part can be carried in so that the carrying-in paths do not overlap. In addition, the intermediate component carried into the intermediate component carrying-in position is welded and fixed to the outer panel carried into the welding station in a parallel state with respect to the outer panel, and the inner component carried into the inner component carrying-in position is moved to the welding station, and the intermediate component is fixed to the outer panel. Since the parts are welded and fixed to the outer panel, the intermediate part and the inner part can be welded and fixed in order while the outer panel is fixed to the welding station. Therefore, there is no need to transport the outer panel between the welding fixation of the intermediate part and the welding fixation of the inner part, and the transportation time can be reduced. be able to.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It is a figure showing schematic structure of the side member assembly line which concerns on one embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which decomposes and represents the structure of the side member assembled with the side member assembly line shown in FIG. It is a figure showing 1 procedure in the manufacturing method of the side member which concerns on one embodiment of this invention. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a procedure following FIG. 3; FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a procedure following FIG. 4; FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a procedure following FIG. 5; FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a procedure following FIG. 6; FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a procedure following FIG. 7; FIG. 11 is a perspective view of another side member;

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a side member assembly line 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention, (A) is a schematic configuration diagram seen from above, and (B) is a view from outside the inner parts loading position. (C) is a schematic configuration diagram seen from the rear side in the conveying direction. FIG. 2 shows an exploded configuration of the side member 10 assembled on the side member assembly line 100. As shown in FIG. This side member assembly line 100 has an outer panel 11, an inner component 12 welded to the outer panel 11, and an intermediate component 13 disposed between the outer panel 11 and the inner component 12 and welded to the outer panel 11. It is for assembling the side member 10 . In this embodiment, a center pillar inner 12A, a wheel house 12B, and a front pillar inner 12C are welded and fixed as the inner parts 12, and a reinforcement is welded and fixed as the intermediate part 13. FIG. In FIG. 1, the outer panel 11, the inner part 12, and the intermediate part 13 are represented by rectangular shapes, the inner part 12 is given a satin finish, and the intermediate part 13 is shaded, for the sake of clarity. is doing.

The side member assembly line 100 includes, for example, an outer panel carrying means 111 for carrying the outer panel 11 into the welding station 110, an outer panel holding means 112 for holding the outer panel 11 carried into the welding station 110, and an inner part 12 to the welding station 110. Inner component loading means 121 for loading into an inner component loading position 120 provided with an interval, inner component holding means 122 for holding the inner component 12 transported to the inner component loading position 120, and outside of the inner component loading position 120. An intermediate component carrying-in means 131 is provided for carrying the intermediate component 13 in an inclined state with respect to the outer panel 11 into an intermediate component carrying-in position 130 provided between the welding station 110 and the inner component carrying-in position 120 .

For example, the outer panel carrying-in means 111 supports the outer panel 11 in an upright state (upright state; so-called vertical placement) by the outer panel supporting portion 111A, and the outer panel supporting portion 111A is shown in the figure along the outer panel guiding means 111B such as rails and grooves. It is configured to be moved by a drive means that does not. The outer panel holding means 112 is composed of, for example, a jig, and is configured to hold the outer panel 11 in an upright state by means of an NC-controlled pin clamp or vacuum pad.

For example, the inner component carrying-in means 121 supports the inner component 12 in an upright state by the inner component supporting portion 121A, and moves the inner component supporting portion 121A along the inner component guiding means 121B such as rails and grooves to a drive means (not shown). It is configured to be moved by The inner component holding means 122 is composed of, for example, a jig, and is configured to hold the inner component 12 in an upright state by means of an NC-controlled pin clamp or vacuum pad.

The outer panel carrying-in means 111 and the inner component carrying-in means 121 are, for example, arranged in parallel with an interval therebetween. Also, the outer panel holding means 112 and the inner component holding means 122 are configured to hold the outer panel 11 and the inner component 12 so that they face each other, for example. The outer panel holding means 112 is arranged to hold the outer panel 11 from the outside of the outer panel 11, that is, from the side opposite to the inner component 12 with respect to the outer panel 11, for example, in the direction in which the outer panel 11 and the inner component 12 face each other. there is For example, the inner component holding member 122 is arranged to hold the inner component 12 from the outside of the inner component 12, that is, from the opposite side of the outer panel 11 with respect to the inner component 12 in the direction in which the outer panel 11 and the inner component 12 face each other. is set.

For example, the intermediate component carrying-in means 131 supports the intermediate component 13 with an intermediate component support portion 131A with respect to the outer panel 11 in an inclined state, more specifically, in a laid-down state (so-called horizontal placement), and supports an intermediate component such as a rail or a groove. The intermediate component support portion 131A is configured to be moved along the component guide means 131B by drive means (not shown). It is preferable that the intermediate component carrying-in means 131 is configured to carry in the intermediate component 13 in a laid down state below the inner component holding means 122 . That is, regarding the vertical positional relationship between the intermediate component carrying-in means 131 and the inner component holding means 122 , the intermediate component carrying-in means 131 is preferably positioned below the inner component holding means 122 . This is because the carrying-in route for the intermediate component 13 and the carrying-in route for the inner component 12 are shifted in the vertical direction so that they do not overlap.

Note that the outer side of the inner component loading position 120 when the intermediate component 13 is loaded by the intermediate component loading means 131 means that the outer panel 11 loaded into the welding station 110 and the inner component 12 loaded into the inner component loading position 120 face each other. In terms of direction, it means outside the inner component loading position 120 , i.e., on the opposite side of the welding station 110 with respect to the inner component loading position 120 .

The side member assembly line 100 also includes an intermediate component erecting means 132 for making the intermediate component 13 carried into the intermediate component loading position 130 parallel to the outer panel 11, and an inner component 12 carried into the inner component loading position 120. to the welding station 110, and welding means for welding and fixing the intermediate component 13 to the outer panel 11 at the welding station 110 and welding and fixing the inner component 12 to the outer panel 11 to which the intermediate component 13 is welded. 113.

The intermediate component erecting means 132 is configured by, for example, a jig, and changes the intermediate component 13 from a tilted state to a parallel state with respect to the outer panel 11 . It is configured to hold in position for welding. The inner component proximity means 123 is configured, for example, to move the inner component holding means 122 that holds the inner component 12 along proximity guide means 123A such as rails and grooves by driving means (not shown). Moreover, the inner component proximity means 123 is preferably configured to move the inner component holding means 122 from the inner component loading position 120 to the welding station 110 above the intermediate component loading means 131 . The welding means 113 is composed of, for example, a plurality of welding robots, and is preferably capable of simultaneously welding a plurality of welding points on the intermediate part 13 or a plurality of welding points on the inner part 12 respectively.

The side member assembly line 100 further includes an assembly unloading means 140 for unloading the side member 10 in which the intermediate part 13 and the inner part 12 are welded to the outer panel 11, for example. The assembly unloading means 140 includes, for example, a first assembly moving means 141 for moving the assembled side member 10 from the welding station 110 to the inner parts loading position 120, and an assembly for unloading the side members 10 from the inner parts loading position 120. It is preferable to have a second moving means 142 .

The assembly first moving means 141 uses, for example, the inner part holding means 122 and the inner part approximating means 123, and when the inner part holding means 123 is returned from the welding station 110 to the inner part loading position 120, the inner part holding means It is preferably configured to hold the assembled side member 10 by 123 and move it from the welding station 110 to the inner component loading position 120 . That is, it is preferable that the inner component holding means 122 and the inner component approximating means 123 have the function of the assembly moving means 141 . This is because using these makes it possible to eliminate the need for new jigs and shorten the time required to bring back the assembled side member 10 . For example, the second assembly moving means 142 supports the side member 10 in an upright state by using the inner part support portion 121A, and includes an assembly guiding means 142A such as a rail or groove extending the inner part guiding means 121B. , the inner component support portion 121A is moved by a driving means (not shown).

In the side member assembly line 100, the outer panel loading means 111, the welding means 113, the inner parts loading means 121, the inner parts proximity means 123, the intermediate parts loading means 131, the intermediate parts erecting means 132, and the assembly unloading means 140 are For example, the driving is controlled by a control means (not shown), and the assembly work is automatically performed as described below.

3 to 8 show the procedure for assembling the side member 10 on the side member assembly line 100. FIG. First, for example, as shown in FIG. The part 13 is carried in with the part 13 tilted with respect to the outer panel 11, more specifically, in a laid down state (intermediate part carrying-in procedure). At this time, it is preferable that the intermediate component carrying-in means 131 carries in the intermediate component 13 in a state where it is laid down below the inner component holding means 122 . This is because the carrying-in path for the intermediate part and the carrying-in path for the inner part are shifted up and down so that they do not overlap.

Next, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, the outer panel carrying-in means 111 carries the outer panel 11 in an upright state into the welding station 110, and the outer panel holding means 112 holds the outer panel 11 in an upright state (outer panel carrying-in). procedure). Further, for example, the inner component 12 is carried into the inner component carrying position 120 spaced apart from the welding station 110 by the inner component carrying means 121 in an upright state, and the inner component 12 is raised by the inner component holding means 122. (Inner parts loading procedure). At this time, it is preferable that at least part of the outer panel carrying-in procedure and the inner parts carrying-in procedure are performed in parallel. This is because the assembly time can be shortened. As a result, the outer panel 11 and the inner component 12 are held in an upright state so as to face each other with the intermediate component 13 carried into the intermediate component carrying-in position 130 interposed therebetween.

Subsequently, for example, as shown in FIG. 5, the intermediate component 13 carried into the intermediate component carrying-in position 130 is placed in a state parallel to the outer panel 11 by the intermediate component erecting means 132, more specifically, in an upright state. Then, the intermediate component 13 is held in a position to be welded to the outer panel 11 carried into the welding station 110, and the intermediate component 13 is welded and fixed to the outer panel 11 by the welding means 113 (intermediate component welding procedure). In FIG. 5, the intermediate component 13 is shown in a position slightly separated from the outer panel 11 so that the intermediate component 13 in an upright state can be seen, but originally, it is held in close contact with the outer panel 11 . Further, for example, as shown in FIG. 6, the inner component 12 carried into the inner component loading position 120 is moved to the welding station 110 by the inner component proximity means 123 (inner component proximity procedure). At this time, it is preferable to perform at least a part of the intermediate part welding procedure and the inner part proximity procedure in parallel. This is because the assembly time can be shortened. Thereby, the inner part is held in a position to be welded to the outer panel 11 to which the intermediate part 13 is welded.

After the intermediate part welding procedure and the inner part proximity procedure, for example, as shown in FIG. 7, the inner part 12 is welded and fixed to the outer panel 11 to which the intermediate part 13 is welded and fixed by the welding means 113 (inner part welding procedure). . Thereby, the side member 10 is assembled. At this time, it is preferable to perform the above-described procedure for carrying in the intermediate component so as to be parallel at least partially with the procedure for welding the inner component. This is because it is possible to shorten the time until entering the assembly procedure for assembling the next side member 10 and increase the number of assemblies per unit time. In addition, in the intermediate component carrying-in procedure, since the intermediate component 13 is brought in with the intermediate component 13 laid down below the inner component holding means 122, the intermediate component 12 is carried in without abutting against the inner component holding means 122 holding the inner component 12. can be done. Furthermore, in parallel with the inner component welding procedure at least partially, for example, the next outer panel 11 is supplied to the rear end side of the outer panel carrying-in means 111, and the next outer panel 11 is supplied to the rear end side of the inner component carrying-in means 121. of inner parts 12 are supplied.

After the inner part welding procedure, for example, as shown in FIG. Move to loading position 120 (assembly first moving procedure). In this case, it is preferable to use the inner part holding means 122 and the inner part proximity 123 as the assembly first moving means 141, since the time required to carry the side member 10 can be shortened. In addition, in the assembly first movement procedure, the intermediate component 13 has been carried into the intermediate component carrying-in position 130, but since it is laid down below the inner component holding means 122, the assembly first movement The means 141 can move without contacting the intermediate part 13 .

After the first assembly moving procedure, the second assembly moving means 142 unloads the side member 10 from, for example, the inner component carrying-in position 120 (second assembly moving procedure). At this time, the next outer panel 11 is carried in by the above-described outer panel carrying-in procedure, and the next inner part 12 is carried in by the above-mentioned inner parts carrying-in procedure so as to be parallel at least partially with this assembly second movement procedure. is preferred. This is because the assembly time can be shortened.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the inner component 12 is carried into the inner component loading position 120 spaced apart from the welding station 110, and the welding station 110 and the inner component are loaded from the outside of the inner component loading position 120. Since the intermediate part 13 is carried into the intermediate part carrying-in position 130 provided between the position 120 and being inclined with respect to the outer panel 11, the carrying-in paths of the inner part 12 and the intermediate part 13 are arranged so as not to overlap each other. can be brought in. In addition, the intermediate component 13 carried into the intermediate component carrying-in position 130 is welded and fixed to the outer panel 11 carried into the welding station 110 in a state parallel to the outer panel 11, and the inner component 12 carried into the inner component carrying-in position 120 is fixed. Since the intermediate part 13 is moved to the welding station 110 and welded and fixed to the outer panel 11 to which the intermediate part 13 is welded and fixed, the intermediate part 13 and the inner part 12 can be welded and fixed in order while the outer panel 11 is fixed to the welding station 110 . can be done. Therefore, it is not necessary to transport the outer panel 11 between the welding fixation of the intermediate part 13 and the welding fixation of the inner part 12, so that the transportation time can be reduced and the assembly can be performed in one process, thus saving space. can be improved.

In addition, since the side member 10 having the intermediate part 13 and the inner part 12 fixed by welding to the outer panel 11 is moved from the welding station 110 to the inner part loading position 120 and carried out from the inner part loading position 120, the inner part holding means 122 and the inner part approximating means 123 can be used, there is no need to provide a new jig, and the time required to replace the side member 10 can be shortened.

Further, the outer panel carrying-in procedure and the inner parts carrying-in procedure are at least partially carried out in parallel, the intermediate parts welding procedure and the inner parts proximity procedure are at least partially carried out in parallel, and the inner parts welding procedure and the intermediate parts carrying-in procedure are carried out. and are performed in parallel at least in part, the assembly time can be shortened.

Although the present invention has been described above with reference to the embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments and can be variously modified. For example, in the above embodiment, the inner part 12 is the center pillar inner 12A, the wheel house 12B, and the front pillar inner 12C, and the intermediate part 13 is the reinforcement. The component 13 is not limited to the above as long as it is a component that is welded while being superimposed on the outer panel 11 .

Furthermore, in the above embodiment, each component has been specifically described, but the specific configuration of each component may be different. In addition, it may not include all of the components described above, or may include other components.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10... Side member 11... Outer panel 12... Inner part 12A... Center pillar inner 12B... Wheel house 12C... Front pillar inner 13... Intermediate part 100... Side member assembly line 110... Welding station 111... Outer panel loading means 111A Outer panel supporting portion 111B Outer panel guiding means 112 Outer panel holding means 113 Welding means 120 Inner component loading position 121 Inner component loading means 121A Inner component supporting portion 121B Inner component guide means 122 Inner component holding means 123 Inner component proximity means 123A Proximity guide means 130 Intermediate component loading position 131 Intermediate component loading means 131A Intermediate component support portion 131B Intermediate component Guiding Means 132 Intermediate Part Erecting Means 140 Assemblies Unloading Means 141 First Assemblies Moving Means 142 Second Assemblies Moving Means 142A Assemblies Guiding Means

Claims (3)

A side member manufacturing method for assembling a side member having an outer panel, an inner part welded and fixed to the outer panel, and an intermediate part disposed between the outer panel and the inner part and welded and fixed to the outer panel,
an outer panel loading procedure for loading the outer panel into a welding station;
an inner component loading procedure for loading the inner component into an inner component loading position spaced apart from the welding station;
an intermediate component loading step of loading the intermediate component from the outside of the inner component loading position into an intermediate component loading position provided between the welding station and the inner component loading position in a state in which the intermediate component is tilted with respect to the outer panel;
an intermediate component welding procedure of placing the intermediate component carried into the intermediate component loading position in a state parallel to the outer panel and fixing the intermediate component by welding to the outer panel carried into the welding station;
an inner component proximity procedure for moving the inner component carried into the inner component carrying-in position to the welding station;
and an inner part welding step of welding and fixing the inner part to the outer panel to which the intermediate part is welded after the step of welding the intermediate part and the step of adjoining the inner part. a first assembly moving step of moving the side member, to which the intermediate component and the inner component are welded and fixed to the outer panel after the inner component welding procedure, from the welding station to the inner component loading position;
2. The method of manufacturing a side member according to claim 1, further comprising: a second assembly movement procedure for unloading the side member from the inner component carrying-in position after the assembly first movement procedure. A side member assembly line for assembling a side member having an outer panel, an inner part welded and fixed to the outer panel, and an intermediate part disposed between the outer panel and the inner part and welded and fixed to the outer panel,
outer panel loading means for loading the outer panel into the welding station;
inner component loading means for loading the inner component into an inner component loading position spaced apart from the welding station;
intermediate component carrying-in means for carrying the intermediate component from outside the inner component carrying-in position to an intermediate component carrying-in position provided between the welding station and the inner component carrying-in position while the intermediate component is inclined with respect to the outer panel;
intermediate component erecting means for setting the intermediate component carried into the intermediate component carrying-in position to a state parallel to the outer panel;
inner component proximity means for moving the inner component carried into the inner component carrying-in position to the welding station;
and welding means for welding and fixing the intermediate component to the outer panel in the welding station, and welding and fixing the inner component to the outer panel to which the intermediate component is welded.

Images