Patent Publication Number: US-2007111647-A1

Title: Apparatus for supplying small part for manufacturing vehicle

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
      This application claims priority to and the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2005-0108116 filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Nov. 11, 2005, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      (a) Field of the Invention  
      The present invention relates to a vehicle, and in particular, to an apparatus for supplying a small part for manufacturing a vehicle.  
      (b) Description of the Related Art  
      In general, a vehicle includes a body and a chassis. Among them, the body is completed by combining a plurality of parts during passing through manufacturing lines.  
      In addition, a plurality of robots is used on the manufacturing lines. Such a robot holds a part provided to a selected jig, and it mounts the part to a selected portion of the body. In particular, such a part can be divided into large parts, middle parts, and small parts according to size.  
      However, because of the small size thereof, small parts are directly loaded to the jig by a worker.  
      Therefore, the worker is permanently stationed to the jig, and fatigue of the worker may become increased by a repeated action for loading.  
      In addition, since a next process is performed when the worker pushes a button after loading the small part to the jig, a start time of the next process may vary according to capability of the worker. Consequently, productivity may become lowered.  
      The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the invention and therefore it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known in this country to a person of ordinary skill in the art.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      Embodiments of the present invention provide an apparatus for supplying a small part for manufacturing a vehicle having advantages of automatically supplying a small part to a jig.  
      An apparatus for supplying a small part for manufacturing a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a stage on which a plurality of small parts are disposed; a first transferrer transferring the plurality of small parts loaded on the stage to a leading edge of the stage; a stopper which is disposed on the leading edge of the stage and which sequentially stops the plurality of small parts transferred by the first transferrer; a second transferrer transferring a first small part positioned at the stopper of the plurality of small parts; and a jig on which the first small part transferred by the second transferrer is loaded.  
      In a further embodiment according to the present invention, length of the stage is determined to accommodate the plurality of small parts at the same time and width of the stage is determined corresponding to a length of the plurality of small parts.  
      In another further embodiment according to the present invention, the stage includes guiders, with a predetermined height, respectively disposed on left and right edges with respect to a length direction thereof.  
      In another further embodiment according to the present invention, the first transferrer includes a body disposed on the ground and a vibration generator, one end of which is disposed on the body and the other end of which is disposed on the stage, so as to vibrate the stage.  
      In another further embodiment according to the present invention, the first transferrer further includes a supporting member disposed on the stage so as to keep a leading edge of the stage higher than a tailing edge of the stage.  
      In another further embodiment according to the present invention, the stopper is a bracket with a predetermined height disposed on the leading edge of the stage.  
      In another further embodiment according to the present invention, the second transferrer includes: a first sensor detecting whether the first small part is stopped at the stopper; a holding part holding the first small part when the first small part is detected by the first sensor; a second sensor detecting whether any small part of the plurality of small parts is already loaded to the jig; and an unloading part unloading the first small part held by the holding part when there is no small part detected by the second sensor.  
      In another further embodiment according to the present invention, the holding part is an electromagnet.  
      In another further embodiment according to the present invention, the unloading part includes: a motor disposed between the leading edge of the stage and the jig; a lifter, one end of which is disposed on a spindle of the motor so as to be rotated by the motor and the other end of which is.disposed on the electromagnet so as to lift the electromagnet; and a switch cutting off an electric power which is being input to the electromagnet when the first small part held by the electromagnet is positioned to the jig after the lifter is rotated by the motor.  
      In another further embodiment according to the present invention, the lifter includes a cylinder fixed on the spindle of the motor and a piston, one end of which is inserted into the cylinder and the other end of which is fixed to the electromagnet. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing an apparatus for supplying a small part for manufacturing a vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view taken in the rear direction of the apparatus for supplying a small part for manufacturing a vehicle of  FIG. 1 .  
       FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view showing a first transferrer of the apparatus for supplying a small part for manufacturing a vehicle of  FIG. 1 .  
       FIG. 4  shows a state in which a small part is transferred forward by vibration, in an apparatus for supplying a small part for manufacturing a vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 5  shows a state in which a holding part is descending so as to hold a small part, in an apparatus for supplying a small part for manufacturing a vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 6  shows a state in which a holing part is lifting, in an apparatus for supplying a small part for manufacturing a vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 7  is a side view of  FIG. 6 .  
       FIG. 8  shows a state in which a holding part is rotating, in an apparatus for supplying a small part for manufacturing a vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 9  is a side view of  FIG. 8 .  
       FIG. 10  shows a state in which a small part is being loaded to a jig from a holding part, in an apparatus for supplying a small part for manufacturing a vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 11  is a block diagram showing a relation between a first sensor and an electromagnet, and between a second sensor and a switch, in an apparatus for supplying a small part for manufacturing a vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS  
      With reference to the accompanying drawings, the present invention will be described in order for those skilled in the art to be able to implement the invention. As those skilled in the art would realize, the described embodiments may be modified in various different ways, all without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention.  
                               Description of Reference Numerals Indicating       Primary Elements in the Drawings                                                100: stage        L: length of stage             W: width of stage   110: guider           300: first transferrer   310: body           330: vibration generator   350: supporting member           500: stopper   700: the second transferrer           710: first sensor   730: holding part           750: second sensor   770: unloading part           900: jig                      
 
      An apparatus for supplying a small part for manufacturing a vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIGS.  1  to  3 , includes a stage  100 , a first transferrer  300 , a stopper  500 , a second transferrer  700 , and a jig  900 .  
      First, with reference to  FIG. 1 , the stage  100  will hereinafter be described in detail.  
      The stage  100  is where a plurality of small parts P are loaded thereon. In more detail, the stage  100  is provided with a length L thereof determined to accommodate the plurality of small parts P at the same time, and a width W thereof determined corresponding to the length of the plurality of small parts P.  
      In addition, the stage  100  may include guiders  110 , with predetermined height, respectively disposed on left and right edges with respect to a length direction thereof. Such guiders  110  may prevent the small parts P from falling from the stage  100  when the small parts P move on the stage  100 .  
      With reference to FIGS.  1  to  3 , the first transferrer  300  will hereinafter be described in detail.  
      The first transferrer  300  transfers the plurality of small parts P loaded on the stage  100  to a leading edge of the stage  100 . In more detail, the first transferrer  300  may include a body  310  disposed on the ground, and a vibration generator  330 .  
      One end of the vibration generator  330  is disposed on the body  310  and the other end of the vibration generator  330  is disposed on the stage  100 , such that the vibration generator  330  vibrates the stage  100 . As an example, the vibration generator  330  vibrates the stage  100  left and right and it also vibrates the stage  100  up and down.  
      In addition, in a case that the vibration generator  330  is positioned to a rear side of the stage  100 , the small parts P are aligned and transferred toward the leading edge of the stage  100  by vibration.  
      In addition, the first transferrer  300  may further include a supporting member  350  disposed to the stage  100  so as to keep a leading edge of the stage  100  higher than a tailing edge of the stage  100 .  
      If the vibration is generated, the small parts P loaded on the stage  100  can smoothly move due to such a supporting member  350 . In particular, such a supporting member  350  may be made of a vibration-absorbing material. However, if the supporting member  350  is made of a material with rigidity, a separate vibration-absorbing member  370  may be disposed between the supporting member  350  and the stage  100 .  
      Meanwhile, the stopper  500 , as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , is disposed on the leading edge of the stage  100  so as to stop the small parts P transferred by the first transferrer  300 . As an example, the stopper  500  may be a bracket with a predetermined height disposed on the leading edge of the stage  100 .  
      With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the second transferrer  700  will hereinafter be described in detail.  
      The second transferrer  700  transfers a first small part (refer to “P 1 ” in  FIG. 4 ) positioned at the stopper  500  of the plurality of small parts P. In more detail, the second transferrer  700  may include a first sensor  710 , a holding part  730 , a second sensor  750 , and an unloading part  770 .  
      The first sensor  710  detects whether the first small part P 1  is stopped at the stopper  500 .  
      The holding part  730  holds the first small part P 1  when the first small part P 1  is detected by the first sensor  710 . As an example, the holding part  730  may be an electromagnet.  
      The second sensor  750  detects whether any small part of the plurality of small parts P is already loaded to the jig  900 .  
      The unloading part  770  unloads the first small part P 1  held by the holding part  730  (hereinafter, called an “electromagnet”) when there is no small part detected by the second sensor  750 . In more detail, the unloading part  770  may include a motor  780 , a lifter  790 , and a switch (refer to “ 771 ” in  FIG. 11 ).  
      The motor  780  is disposed between the stage  100  and the jig  900 . In more detail, the motor  780  is mounted to a first frame  783  fixed to the ground between the stage  100  and the jig  900 .  
      One end of the lifter  790  is disposed on a spindle  781  of the motor  780  so as to be rotated by the motor  780 , and the other end thereof is disposed on the electromagnet  730  so as to lift the electromagnet  730 . In more detail, the lifter  790  may include a cylinder fixed on the spindle  781  of the motor  780 , and a piston  793 . One end of the piston  793  is inserted into the cylinder and the other end thereof is fixed to the electromagnet  730 .  
      The switch  771  cuts off an electric power which is being input to the electromagnet  730 , when the first small part P 1  held by the electromagnet  730  is positioned to the jig  900  after the lifter  790  is rotated by the motor  780 . Such a switch  771 , as shown in  FIG. 11 , is controlled by the second sensor  750  and the controller (refer to “ 200 ” in  FIG. 11 ).  
      Meanwhile, the jig  900  is where the first small part P 1  transferred by the second transferrer  700  is disposed to. In more detail, the jig  900  is disposed on a second frame  910 , and a robot (not shown) transfers the first small part P 1  therefrom to a next line.  
      An operation of an apparatus for supplying a small part for manufacturing a vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will hereinafter be described with reference to FIGS.  4  to  11 .  
       FIG. 4  shows a state in which a small part is transferred forward by a vibration, in an apparatus for supplying a small part for manufacturing a vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 5  shows a state in which a holding part is descending so as to hold a small part, in an apparatus for supplying a small part for manufacturing a vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 6  shows a state in which a holing part is lifting, in an apparatus for supplying a small part for manufacturing a vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 7  is a side view of  FIG. 6 .  FIG. 8  shows a state in which a holding part is rotating, in an apparatus for supplying a small part for manufacturing a vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 9  is a side view of  FIG. 8 .  
       FIG. 10  shows a state in which a small part is being loaded to a jig from a holding part, in an apparatus for supplying a small part for manufacturing a vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 11  is a block diagram showing a relation between a first sensor and an electromagnet, and between a second sensor and a switch, in an apparatus for supplying a small part for manufacturing a vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  
      First, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the plurality of small parts P loaded at the same time to the stage  100  are transferred toward the leading edge of the stage  100  by an operation of the vibration generator (refer to “ 330 ” in  FIG. 3 ). During the transfer of the small parts P toward the leading edge of the stage  100 , the small parts P are aligned by up/down and left/right vibrations of the vibration generator  330 .  
      Second, as shown in  FIGS. 5 and 11 , when the first small part P 1  is detected as being at the stopper  500  by the first sensor  710 , the piston  793  and the electromagnet  730  are descended by the cylinder  791  to which a control signal of the controller  200  is transmitted.  
      Third, as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the electromagnet  730  holding the first part P 1  is lifted by the cylinder  791 .  
      Fourth, as shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , when a small part is not detected as being on the jig  900  by the second sensor  750 , the electromagnet  730  is rotated by the motor  780  to which a control signal of the controller  200  is transmitted, and thereby, the first small part P 1  is positioned to the jig  900 .  
      Fifth, as shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11 , the electric power which is being input to the electromagnet  730  is cut off by the switch  771 , and thereby, the first small part P 1  is loaded on the jig  900 .  
      As has been explained, an apparatus for supplying a small part for manufacturing a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention may have the following advantages.  
      According to the embodiment of the present invention, a small part can be automatically supplied to a selected position. Consequently, productivity can become improved compared to manual supply.  
      In addition, according to the embodiment of the present invention, although a plurality of small parts are loaded on a stage at the same time, the small parts can be aligned and transferred toward a leading edge of the stage by up/down and left/right vibration of a vibration generator.  
      While this invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be practical exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.