WO2008155479A1

WO2008155479A1 - Linear movement module provided with multiple stops which can be moved by rotation

Info

Publication number: WO2008155479A1
Application number: PCT/FR2007/051486
Authority: WO
Inventors: Alexandru Grosu; Philippe Rocton
Original assignee: Renault S.A.S
Priority date: 2007-06-21
Filing date: 2007-06-21
Publication date: 2008-12-24

Abstract

The invention relates to a linear movement module (20, 30, 40) comprising a frame, a carriage mounted on the frame such that it can be moved linearly with respect to the frame, and an actuator for moving the carriage (24, 34, 44), the carriage being able to move between an initial rest position, in which it butts against one end of the frame, and a plurality of stopped use positions, characterized in that it comprises a rotatable support (25, 35, 45) mounted inside the frame and having an axis parallel to the direction of movement of the carriage, the rotatable support supporting on its periphery a plurality of stops (26, 36, 46) arranged at different positions each corresponding to a use position of the carriage, the rotatable support being mounted such that the carriage can engage with one stop at a time by rotating said support. The invention also relates to a corresponding motor vehicle assembly line tool and to the use thereof.

Description

MODULE LINEAR MOVEMENT WITH STOPS MULTIPLE D ¹ RELOCATABLE SAVES BY ROTATION

The invention relates to a linear displacement module provided with multiple stops movable by rotation, a tool of a motor vehicle assembly line provided with such a module and the use of this tool, in particular for the implementation of in geometric conformation of a sheet metal part on a motor vehicle assembly line.

A motor vehicle assembly line requires the use of movable supports for the movement of tools, in particular for moving the positioning tools of the sheet metal parts to be assembled, also known as geometric configuration tools.

These mobile supports must be able to ensure a great diversity of positioning in a fixed reference (X, Y, Z) with respect to the assembly station, in order to allow their use for the assembly of vehicles of different ranges or models, thus ensuring a flexibility in the assembly.

Such a diversity of positions can currently be obtained by means of supports that can be moved linearly along the three axes of the fixed reference frame by means of numerical controls. An infinity of stop positions can then be obtained for each of the displacement axes. Such supports are however very expensive, especially since it is generally not necessary to have an infinity of stop positions, when only a number of 5 to 10 stop positions for each axis can be used. sufficient to provide flexibility to meet almost 100% of the current mobile positioning diversity requirements for motor vehicle assembly lines.

Another less expensive solution consists in using, for the positioning of the movable supports, movements or combinations of movements with electric or pneumatic control between two fixed stops, ensuring a very small number of positions. stops for each axis, which does not allow sufficient flexibility of the assembly line.

There is therefore currently no mobile support to obtain a number of stops positions greater than 10 along an axis, in a simple manner and for a reasonable cost.

The aim of the invention is to overcome these drawbacks by proposing a linear displacement module making it possible to provide at a lower cost a limit number of stop positions compatible with the requirements required for motor vehicle assembly lines and ranging from 5 to 10. for most sheet metal applications, and can be increased up to 16 stop positions if needed.

For this purpose, a first object of the invention relates to a linear displacement module comprising a frame, a carriage mounted on the frame so as to be linearly movable relative to the frame and a cylinder for moving the carriage, the carriage being movable. between an initial position of rest in which it abuts against one end of the frame, and a plurality of stop positions of use, characterized in that it comprises a rotatable support mounted inside the frame, axis parallel to the direction of movement of the carriage, the rotary support supporting on its periphery a plurality of stops disposed at different positions each corresponding to a position of use of the carriage, the rotatable support being mounted so that the carriage can come into operation. taken with a stop at a time by rotation of said support. The module according to the invention has the following advantages:

- Possibility of ensuring a number of stopping positions of the carriage greater than 5: it is sufficient to adapt the dimensions of the rotary support, depending on the number of stops;

- simplicity of realization and development; - ease of use and maintenance.

Advantageously, each stop is removable and / or movable.

The stop positions of the carriage of the linear module according to the invention can thus easily be adapted to each new range or new model of a motor vehicle, and this for a very low cost.

Each stop position of the carriage corresponds to the working position of an abutment fixed to the end of a support bar having a length appropriate to a stopping position of the carriage, each bar being fixed on the rotary support, parallel to the tax thereof.

Each stop position of the carriage then corresponds to a support bar of a specific length. Advantageously, the module is equipped with a means for driving the rotary support.

This driving means can be actuated by a control device.

According to the variants, the drive means may be an electric motor or a pneumatic cylinder, or may comprise a rack engaged with a toothed pinion integral with rotation of the rotary support.

The module may also be equipped with means for detecting the position of the rotary support. The invention also relates to a tool of a motor vehicle assembly line comprising a mobile support provided with at least one linear displacement module according to the invention.

For example, it is possible to produce a tool whose movable support comprises three linear displacement modules according to the invention for a displacement along each of the three axes of a reference frame.

Of course, it is also possible to combine one or more linear displacement modules according to the invention with one or more rotation devices (not shown).

The invention also relates to the use of a tool according to the invention for the geometric conformation of a sheet metal part on a motor vehicle assembly line.

The linear displacement module or the combination of several linear displacement modules according to the invention makes it possible to ensure the need for positioning accuracy of a geometry reference required for a tool of this type.

Such a tool can for example be used in assembly lines of sheet metal welding manual, automated or robotic. The invention is now described with reference to the accompanying non-limiting drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a perspective representation of a tool equipped with three linear displacement modules according to the invention; FIG. 2 is a perspective representation of the rotary support, bearing stops in the working position, of each of the modules of FIG.

FIG. 1 shows a tool 10 of a motor vehicle assembly line comprising a mobile support provided with three linear displacement modules 20, 30, 40 according to the invention (FIG. 2), intended respectively for the movement of the tool along the X, Y,

Z of a fixed repository.

More specifically, it is a tool for positioning a reference frame geometric conformation of a sheet metal part on a motor vehicle assembly line. For this purpose it supports at least one positioning element and maintenance on the geometry reference

11 of the sheet metal part (not shown).

Each linear displacement module 20, 30, 40 comprises a frame 21, 31, 41 equipped with rails 22, 32, 42, a carriage 23, 33, 43 slidably mounted on the rails (FIG. 1) and a jack 24, 34 , 44 of movement of the carriage (fig.2).

In the example shown, the carriages 23 and 33 slide by means of pads on two rails 22, 32 of the frames 21, 31 respectively. These carriages are in the form of plates. The carriage 43 for displacement along the Z axis has a generally parallelepiped shape supporting the positioning element and maintenance on the geometry reference 11. This carriage 43 slides relative to the frame 41 by means of four rails 42, located at each corner of the frame. Of course, one could provide a carriage sliding on two rails in this direction.

Each carriage 23, 33, 43 is mounted linearly movable between an initial position of rest in which it abuts against one end of the frame, and a plurality of stop positions of use. According to the invention, each frame 21, 31, 41 comprises a rotatable support 25, 35, 45 mounted inside the frame, with an axis parallel to the axis of the rails.

This rotary support 25, 35, 45 supports on its periphery a plurality of stops 26, 36, 46 arranged at different positions each corresponding to a use position of the carriage. Each support is mounted so that the carriage can engage with a stopper at a time by rotation of said support. For this purpose, each trolley is equipped with an element (not visible) engaging with a stop, this element being fixed on the underside of the carriage, and penetrating the frame through a slot 13 (shown only in Figure 1 for the frames 21 and 31). In the example shown, each abutment 26, 36, 46 is formed of a longitudinal bar of square section, one end of which is pressed against one end of the rotary support, and the other end of which is free, the face of the latter forming a stop to block the movement of the carriage. Each bar is fixed to the support in its longitudinal direction, parallel to the axis of the rotary support.

Thus, at each stop position of a carriage, there is a stop 26, 36, 46 having a specific length.

Each stop is mounted in abutment against one end (flange) 25a, 35a, 45a of the rotary support which carries it. Such an arrangement ensures positioning in accordance with the needs for stop accuracy of the rotational movement of the abutment holder support, with respect to the abutment having a fixed position on the linear axis carriage.

Alternatively, the stop may be fixed on the end of a longitudinal bar of square section, the other end is pressed against the flange of the rotary support.

The stopping accuracy of each linear axis carriage is ensured by the adjustable position with shims.

Of course, other forms of abutments and attachment of the stops to the rotary support can be envisaged, provided that the stop can block the linear displacement of the carriage to maintain it in a specific stop position.

Each stop is removably attached to the rotatable support, which allows easy replacement of a stop if it is necessary to provide a new stop position of a carriage.

In the example, each stop is fixed on the rotary support by means of several screws.

Moreover, each rotary support is equipped with a drive means. It may be a gear motor with an electric motor, in particular an electric geared motor, or a pneumatic cylinder. In the case of an electric motor, the shaft of the latter can directly drive the axis of the rotary support in rotation.

In the example shown using a command provided by a pneumatic cylinder, the drive means comprises a rack 27, 37, 47 meshing with a toothed pinion (not shown) integral in rotation with the rotary support.

The movement of the rack can be obtained by means of a cable connected to a control lever (not shown). The different rotational positions of the rotary support can then be identified at the control lever. This solution has the advantage of being simple and inexpensive to implement.

Automation of the movement of the rack can also be considered.

It is also possible to provide a means for detecting the position of the rotary support.

Preferably, this detection means will be coupled to the rotation control device of the rotary support. It can be for example a system of cams and inductive detectors, cams 28, 38, 48 being mounted at one end of the rotary support and inductive sensors 29, 39, 49 detecting the position of the cams to deduce the angular position of the rotary support.

In the example, these cams and detectors are placed at the end 25b, 35b, 45b on the side of the rotary support opposite the end 25a, 35a, 45a against which the stops are supported. The embodiment described with reference to the figures has the advantage of being simple and inexpensive to implement, in particular for a cable control of the rotation of the rotating supports.

Of course, other embodiments of the elements described can be envisaged without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

A linear displacement module (20, 30, 40) having a frame (21, 31, 41), a carriage (23, 33, 43) mounted on the frame so as to be linearly movable relative to the frame and a carriage displacement cylinder (24, 34, 44), the carriage being movable between an initial position of rest in which it is in abutment against one end of the frame, and a plurality of stop positions of use, characterized in that it comprises a rotatable support (25, 35, 45) mounted inside the chassis, with an axis parallel to the direction of movement of the carriage, the rotary support supporting on its periphery a plurality of stops (26, 36, 46) arranged at different positions each corresponding to a position of use of the carriage, the rotatable support being mounted so that the carriage can engage with a stop at a time by rotation of said support.

2. linear displacement module according to claim 1, characterized in that each stop is removable and / or movable.

3. Linear displacement module according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that each stop is fixed to the end of a support bar having a suitable length at a stop position of the carriage, each support bar being fixed on the rotating support, parallel to the axis of the latter.

4. Linear displacement module according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it is equipped with a drive means of the rotary support.

5. linear displacement module according to claim 4, characterized in that the drive means is an electric motor.

6. linear displacement module according to claim 4, characterized in that the drive means is a pneumatic cylinder.

7. linear displacement module according to claim 4, characterized in that the drive means comprises a rack (27, 37, 47) engaged with a toothed pinion integral in rotation with the rotary support.

8. Linear displacement module according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it is equipped with detection means (28, 29;

38, 39; 48, 49) of the position of the rotary support.

9. Tool of a motor vehicle assembly line comprising a mobile support provided with at least one linear displacement module according to one of claims 1 to 8.

10. Use of a tool according to claim 9 for the geometric conformation of a sheet metal part on a motor vehicle assembly line.