Control system for automotive vehicle component assembly lines

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. In an automotive vehicle component assembling system having at least one series of assembling lines used in common for assembling various model, standards and specifications of the vehicle components,

a system for controlling one of said assembling lines comprising:

a first means for obtaining information and instructions in relation to the vehicle component to be assembled in order and at a given interval and generating an electric signal representative of the obtained information and instructions of the vehicle component to be assembled;

a second means for receiving said electric signal fed from said first means and converting the electric signal into photoelectrically sensible sign which is printed on a label;

a third means for sticking said label onto a part of said vehicle component and for reading said sign on the label to convert the same to the electric signal fed back to the first means for confirmation, and

a fourth means for reading said sign on the label and obtaining necessary information and instructions and for converting the obtained information and intructions into a control signal for identifying a part of the vehicle component to be picked up and for controlling assembling operations performed in said one assembling line.

2. In an automotive vehicle component assembling system having at least one series of assembling lines in common for assembling various models, standards and structures of the vehicle components,

a system for controlling the assembling system comprising:

a first means for obtaining information and instructions with respect to the vehicle component to be assembled from a medium fed thereto in order and at a given interval, which medium contains the information and instructions of the vehicle component to be assembled and is in a form of punched card, said first means converting the obtained information and instructions into an electric signal;

a second means for receiving said electric signal from said first means and for converting the electric signal into photoelectrically sensible sign which is printed onto a label;

a third means for sticking said label onto a part of said vehicle component and for reading said sign on the label to convert the same to the electric signal to be fed back to the first means; said third means including means for comparing the read sign with the electric signal generated in the first means to check whether both of signals are matched together; and

a fourth means for reading said sign on the label and for converting the obtained information and instructions from said sign into a control signal for identifying a specific part of the vehicle component and for controlling assembling operations of each individual assembling line.

3. In an automotive vehicle component assembling system having at least one series of assembling lines in common for assembling various models, standards and specifications of the vehicle component,

a system for controlling the assembling system comprising:

a first means for reading information and instructions relating to the vehicle compartment to be assembled from a punched tape sequentially fed thereto and including the information and instruction of the vehicle component to be assembled in order and at a given interval, said first means generating an electric signal representative of the read information and instructions of the vehicle component;

a second means responsive to said electric signal derived from said first means for converting said electric signal to a bar-code sign which is printed onto a label adapted to be magnetically fitted onto a part of the vehicle component; said second means generating an electric signal representative of the information and instructions read from the bar-code sign, means for feeding the electric signal generated by the second means back to the first means; said first means including means for comparing electric signals generated in the first and second means for confirmation;

a third means for magnetically picking up and sticking the label onto the part of the vehicle component and for reading the bar-code sign on the label to generate an electric signal; means for feeding back the electric signal generated by the third means to said first means; said first means including means for comparing the electric signals generated in the first and third means; and

a fourth means provided in each individual assembling line to read out the information and instructions of the vehicle component to be assembled for identifying the specific part of the vehicle component and for controlling the assembling operation performed in each individual assembling line.

4. A control system as recited in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said sign also includes an information of product number to be applied to the vehicle component.

5. A control system as recited in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said sign can be read by means of a photoelectrical process.

6. A control system as recited in claim 5, wherein said signs is contained on a label which can be stuck on the parts of the vehicle component.

7. A control system as recited in claim 5, wherein each assembly line obtains information and/or instructions from said signs before entering the vehicle component to be assembled thereinto.

8. A control system as recited in claim 7, in each assembly line, said photoelectrically sensitive signs being converted into electric control signals for electrically controlling picking up parts, supplying the same into the line and performing assembling operation.

9. A control system as recited in claims 8, wherein said first means comprises a reader for reading the information and instruction for controlling said assembly lines and a code printer 670 receiving information and/or instruction and converting the same into a sign to be printed.

10. A control system as recited in claim 9, wherein said printer prints a specific bar code comprising a plurality of thick lines and thin lines in combination, containing necessary information and/or instructions on a label to be stuck on one of the parts of the vehicle component.

11. A control system as recited in claims 1, 2 or 3, wherein said sign 666 is contained on a label 666 which can be stuck on the parts of the vehicle component.

12. A control system as recited in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein each assembly line obtains information and/or instructions from said signs before entering the vehicle component to be assembled thereinto.

13. A control system as recited in claim 12, in each assembly line, said signs being converted into control signals for automatically controlling picking up parts, supplying the same onto the line and performing assembling operation.

14. A control system as recited in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein are provided various instruction papers 530 containing information with respect to required operation and signs 664 containing information for designating one of the instruction papers therefrom.

15. A control system as recited in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said third means comprises a reader provided upstream of each assembly line and reading said code, and a controller associated with said reader to generate control signals for controlling selection of necessary parts and controlling assembling operation.

16. A control system as recited in any one of claim 15, wherein said label is provided with a magnetic member on the back thereof so as to magnetically attract to the parts of vehicle component.

17. A control system as recited in claim 16, wherein said magnetic member is magnetic rubber.

18. A control system as recited in claim 1, 2 or 3, where, between said first line and said second line, there is provided a point constabling means on which each vehicle body to be assembled is selectively forwarded to a series of assembly lines performing designated assembling operation.

19. A control system as recited in claim 18, wherein said point constabling means includes a reader for reading said code contained on the vehicle body so as to select series of assembly lines, which the vehicle body is forwarded.

20. A control system as recited in claim 1, 2 or 3, between said second line and said third line, there is provided a product number impressing means comprising a plurality of numbering rollers each having a plurality of models defining numbers or letters and an actuating means for impressing the numbering rollers on to the vehicle body.

21. A control system as recited in claim 20, wherein said product number impressing means includes a reader for reading a code contained on the vehicle body, and is controlled by information or instruction with respect to the product number contained on the code.

22. A control system as recided in claim 20, wherein said product number impressing means comprises:

a numbering element having said numbering rollers and the actuating means for impressing the numbering rollers onto the vehicle body;

a hoisting means connected with the numbering element for moving the numbering element up and down; and

a driving means to rotate the numbering element with respect to the vehicle body.

23. A control system as recited in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said series of assembly lines includes a line for performing special treatment which is required on the vehicle body of special models, standards and/or specifications.

24. In an automotive vehicle component assembling system having at least one series of assembling lines in common for assembling various models, standards, specifications of the vehicle component,

a method for controlling the assembling line comprising:

obtaining information and instructions from a medium containing all the information and instructions therein; feeding the medium in sequence and deriving the information and instructions in order of the vehicle component to be assembled and at a given interval;

generating an electric signal representative of the derived information and instructions with respect to the vehicle component to be assembled;

converting the electric signal into a bar-code sign which is photoelectrically sensible; printing the bar-code sign onto a magnetically stickable label;

sticking the label onto a part of the vehicle component which is identified by the information and instructions in the bar-code sign;

reading out the information and instructions from the bar-code sign in each individual assembling line and converting the read out information and instructions into a control signal for identifying parts to be assembled to the designated vehicle component and controlling the assembling operation performed in the assembling line.

25. A method as set forth in claim 24, further comprising (a) generating an electric signal representing the information and instructions read out from the bar-code sign, and (b) comparing the signal representing information and instructions from the bar-code sign with the signal representing the information and instructions obtained from said medium for confirmation, said steps (a) and (b) being performed between the steps sticking the label onto the part of the vehicle component and reading out the information and instructions in each individual assembling line.

26. A method as set forth in claim 24 or 25, wherein said method further comprises selecting an assembling line according to the information and instructions requiring the special treatment.

27. An automotive vehicle body assembling system comprising:

a first means for obtaining information and instructions identifying a model, standard and specification of the vehicle body to be assembled and for identifying the parts forming the identified vehicle body, which information and instructions relating to the vehicle body to be assembled are contained in a dynamic tape medium sequentially fed to said first means and containing the information and instructions in order of assembling of the vehicle body and at a given interval, said first means including means for converting the obtained information and instructions to a photoelectrically sensible bar-code sign, means for printing the bar-code sign onto a label, said first means generating an electric signal representative of the information and instructions of the vehicle body, said electric signal identifying a floor assembly for the identified vehicle body, said electric signal containing bar-code information to be stuck to the printed label;

a second means for feeding the floor assembly containing the label to a series of assembly lines including a body assembly line and a body finishing line;

a third means provided in the body assembly line, which third means reads out the information and instructions contained in the bar-code and generates a control signal for identifying parts to be assembled to the floor assembly and for controlling the assembling operation performed in the body assembly line; and

a fourth means provided in the body finishing line for reading out the information and instructions from said bar-code and generating a control signal for identifying the parts to be assembled to the body assembly fed thereto and for controlling the assembling operation performed in the body finishing line.

28. A system as set forth in claim 27, wherein said system comprises a plurality of series of assembling lines each of which comprises a floor assembly line, a body assembly line and a body finishing line, said second means including means for selecting one of the series of the assembling lines based on the information and intructions obtained from the bar-code.

29. A system as set forth in claim 28, wherein said system has only one floor assembly line which acts as a common line for the plurality of series of assembling lines, said second means including a junction for selectively feeding a partially assembled automobile as derived from the floor assembly line to the designated series of the assembling lines.

30. A system as set forth in claim 29, wherein said junction comprises a movable element movable responsive to a control signal representative of the identification of the designated series of assembling lines, means for reading the identification from the bar-code sign on the label, said movable element connecting the floor assembly line to the trailing assembling lines identified by the bar-code.

31. A system as set forth in claim 27, wherein a product number indication means is provided downstream of the body assembly line, said product number indication means reading out the information relating to the product number from said bar-code on the label and generating a control signal representative of the designated product number, and a numbering device impressing the designated product number in response to the control signal representative of the designated product number.

32. A system as set forth in claim 31, wherein said numbering device generates an electric signal representative of the product number to be impressed and said product number indication means includes means for comparing the fed back signal from said numbering device with the designated product number read from the bar-code sign on the label.

33. A system as set forth in claim 31 or 32, wherein said numbering device comprises a numbering element having a plurality of numbering rolls co-axially aligned to one another and an actuator for impressing the numbering rolls onto the vehicle body, a hoisting means connected with the numbering element for moving the numbering element up and down, and a driving means for rotating the numbering rolls according to the identification of the product number represented by the control signal.

34. A system as set forth in claim 27, wherein said system further includes means for confirming the assembled vehicle body with the specific model, standard and specification given by the bar-code sign on the label downstream of the body finishing line.

35. A method of controlling the assemblage of automobiles in an assembly system including in series a floor assembly line, a body assembly line, a special treatment line and a body finishing line, different parts for different automobile models being stored at the floor and body lines, comprising preparing a sign for each automobile, said sign including machine readable indicia associated with different parts from the floor and body assembly lines to be included in a particular automobile, as well as from the body finishing line and operations to be performed at the special treatment line; at the floor assembly line securing the sign to a common part of each automobile assembled in the assembly system, reading the machine readable indicia at the floor assembly line from the sign on the common part of a particular automobile to derive a first control signal, responding to the first control signal to select which parts are to be assembled on the particular automobile at the floor sub-assembly line, assemblying the parts selected at the floor assembly line onto the part containing the sign, conveying the automobile as partly assembled at the floor assembly line to the body assembly line; reading the machine readable indicia at the body assembly line from the sign on the common part of the particular automobile to derive a second control signal, responding to the second control signal to select which parts are to be assembled on the particular automobile at the body assembly line, assemblying the parts selected at the body assembly line onto the partly assembled automobile conveyed to the body assembly line, conveying the automobile as partly assembled at the body assembly line to the special treatment line; reading the machine readable indicia at the special treatment line from the sign on the common part of the particular automobile to derive a third control signal, responding to the third control signal to select which treatments are to be performed on the particular automobile at the special treatment line, performing the selected treatment at the special treatment line, conveying the automobile as partly assembled at the special treatment line to the body finishing line; reading the machine readable indicia at the body finishing line from the sign on the common part of the particular automobile to derive a fourth control sign, responding to the fourth control signal to select which parts are to be assembled on the particular automobile at the body finishing line, and assemblying the parts selected at the body finishing line onto the partly assembled automobile conveyed to the body finishing line.

36. The method of claim 35 wherein the assembly system includes N body assembly lines, where N is an integer greater than one, a separate special treatment line for each of the body assembly lines, a separate body assembly finishing line for each of the special treatment lines, each of the body assembly lines, the special treatment line and body assembly finishing line being controlled in response to the signals read from the sign on the particular automobile, and a device for routing of the partially assembled automobiles conveyed from the floor assembly to selected ones of the N body assembly lines; the method further comprising reading the machine readable indicia from the sign on the common part of a certain automobile to derive a fifth control signal, and controlling the routine device in response to the fifth control signal to convey the certain automobile to one of the N body assembly lines.

37. The method of claim 35 further comprising reading the machine readable indicia from the common part to derive an indicia indicating signal while the particular partially assembled automobile is at the floor assembly line and prior to other parts assembled on the common part at the floor assembly line, writing the indicia onto the sign in response to a sixth signal derived from a storage medium, and enabling parts to be assembled on the common part only in response to the fifth and sixth signals indicating that the indicia written on the sign and in the storage medium being for the same operations at the floor and body assembly lines, at the special treatment line and at the equipment assembly line.

38. The method of claim 35 further comprising conveying the automobile as assembled at the body finishing line to a further section of the assembly line, reading the indicia from the sign on the common part of the particular automobile at the further section to derive a further signal, and controlling an operation on the particular automobile at the further section.

39. The method of claim 38 wherein the further section is a section for printing a human readable label and for affixing the label to a part of the automobile.

40. The method of claim 38 wherein the further section is an interior assembly section.

41. A method of assemblying automobiles on an assembly system including plural assembly lines through which a particular automobile passes in series, there being provided at a first of the assembly lines a common part of every automobile being assembled, different other parts being applied to the common part at the first assembly line, different further parts and steps being applied to and performed on a partially completed automobile at the other assembly lines, the method comprising preparing a sign for each automobile to be assembled, said sign including machine readable indicia associated with parts to be assembled and operations to be performed at the first and other assembly lines, at the first assembly line securing the sign to the common part of each automobile assembled in the system; at each assembly line where parts are assembled: reading the machine readable indicia from the sign on the common part of a particular automobile to derive a control signal, responding to the control signal to select which parts are to be assembled on the particular automobile at the assembly line, assemblying the parts selected at the assembly line onto the partially assembled automobile at the assembly line; at each assembly line where an operation is performed: reading the machine readable indicia from the sign on the common part of the particular automobile to derive an additional control signal, and performing selected operations on the particular automobile in response to the additional control signal.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to an system for and method of assembling automotive vehicle components. The invention particularly relates to a system for and method of controlling assembling of automotive vehicle components, in which at least one series of assembly lines is used in common for assembling various models and/or specifications of vehicles. More specifically, the invention relates to a system for and method of controlling an assembling system having at least one assembly line for vehicle bodies used as a common assembly line for assembling various models and/or specifications of vehicle bodies.

In automotive vehicle factories, series common assembly lines are used for assembling various models and/or specifications of automotive vehicle components. For example, in lines for assembling various models and/or specifications of vehicle bodies, there is a series including at least a common floor assembly line, a body assembly line and a body assembly finishing line for assembling various models and/or specifications of vehicle bodies. Generally, the series of assembly lines includes a special treatment line for vehicle bodies having special specifications. Such vehicle body assembling systems have used instruction papers containing information and instructions for selecting the line to be used, necessary parts, and processing procedures in accordance with production schedules or plans for the automotive vehicle components. The instruction papers are delivered to each assembly line in the system. On each line, workers sequentially arrange the respective parts which are applied to respective models and specifications of vehicle bodies, according to the instructions in the instruction papers, and operate assembling machines employed in the line to carry out the assembling operations. After finishing the assembling operation required in the line, the workers select the next line to process each specified model and vehicle body specifications and send the vehicle thereto according to the instruction papers.

However, in such system, where the workers of each assembly line previously arrange the parts to be assembled into the vehicle body in order, according to the instructions contained in the instruction paper, it is necessary to check the model and vehicle body specifications forwarded from the prior line, to see whether or not the model of the vehicle body forwarded is correct relative to the instructions.

Thereafter, the assembling operation is performed in accordance with the instructions contained in the instruction paper. After completing the required assembling operation, the workers in the line again check the assembly to confirm that the correct parts are being assembled and that the operations are correct. The assembly is then forwarded to succeeding lines, selected according to the instruction papers. Such checking must be made in each of the assembly lines, resulting in inefficiency of assembling system of the vehicle bodies.

Further, in the vehicle body assembly lines, there may often arise a necessity to force a body of unexpected models and specifications out of the order contained in the instruction papers into the line. Such necessity may arise, for example, by a new and special order from the customer. In such a situation, the special order vehicle body is often assembled prior to standard models and specifications of vehicle bodies to comply with the customer's request. Such special vehicles are thus entered into the assembly lines out of the order defined in the instruction papers. In this case the workers are required to visually detect or find such a vehicle body, before directing it into the assembling operation.

When the workers detect or find the aforementioned special models and specifications for the vehicle body, they must arrange respective parts to be applied thereto and perform the assembling operation in accordance with the procedure or specification designated in the specific vehicle body. In this case, serious confusion may occur to each assembly line. Further, if some assembly lines neglect to detect or find that the vehicle bodies are not of the instructions in the instruction papers and continue the assembling operation according to the instruction papers, unacceptable vehicle bodies may be produced.

To avoid such mis-assembling, that the workers of each line must detect the models and specifications of the vehicle bodies to be assembled and compare the same with that designated in the instruction papers for confirmation. Thereafter, each part to be assembled in the line is selected and used in the assembling operation, according to the specification and procedures included in the instruction papers.

In such conventional systems, it is required for each worker to possess an ability to distinguish the models of the vehicle bodies which are forwarded, in practice, to the assembly line one by one. It is difficult to distinguish slight differences in specifications of the vehicle bodies, at a glance. As a result, the assembling operation may be rather slow, resulting in inefficiency and low-productivity of the assembly line. The level of the labor skill must also be higher in order to reliably distinguish and recognize the various types of informations. Serious problems may arise due to the lack and high cost of skilled laborers.

In such a conventional system, since, distinguishing of the models and/or specification of the vehicle bodies relies upon the ability of human labor, the workers' energy might be unnecessarily exhausted. This may also cause possible mistakes in distinguishing the models and specifications of the body and of assembling operations.

In recent years, there has been provided a centralized computer control system for assembly lines, such a system being called a "tracking system". In this system, the instruction papers are replaced by instructions and information derived from the computer.

Information relative to the order of the vehicle bodies to be worked on by the assembly lines, models and specifications of respective bodies, necessary parts, order of processing and so on are supplied to the computer. The computer generates information and instruction signals which are fed to the respective areas.

To provide sufficient and sucessful controlling operations, large, high capacity computers are required which may significantly increase the cost of the assembly facilities. Further, employment of large computers may also require incidental facilities, for example an air-conditioning system.

Although the computerized controlling system for assembly lines can reduce the responsibility of the workers and can raise reliability of operation, it is still complicated with the computer system to keep track of changes in the order of assembling the bodies which may be caused by forcing in or taking out a body unexpectedly. Namely, if the necessity for forcing in or taking out of a special model, standard and/or specifications of the vehicle body arises, the instruction or information signal should be fed back to the computer to correct stored information therein. Therefore, the computer in the prior system cannot respond to a change in a given order according to a previous input order.

By using a larger or more complicated computer system for controlling the assmbly lines, it may be possible to improve efficiency of the assembling operation. However, one can also expected increased costs for the computer itself and its facilities, as well as complicated operation. Further, in such a computerized controlling system, if there is some accident or damage even at one terminal of the system, the accident or damage affects the whole system. Furthermore, if damage, accident or malfunction occurs inside the computer, all the assembly lines are stopped.

The present invention removes the aforementioned disadvantages or inconveniences in the prior control systems by including all the necessary information and instructions with respect to a model standard and/or specifications of the vehicle body on the respective vehicle bodies, thereby making it possible to respond easily to any change of a given order for performing an assembling operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a system for and method of controlling automotive vehicle component assembly lines capable of responding to any change and accurately controlling the respective assembly lines.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a control system and method for a vehicle component assembling system capable of supplying necessary information and instructions for assembling vehicle components without being adversely influenced by any change in a given order.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a control system and method for reducing or saving expenses for a vehicle component assembling system.

To accomplish the above-mentioned objects, there is provided, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a system and method for controlling an automotive vehicle component assembling system having one or more assembly lines which is used in common for assembling various models, standard and/or specifications of vehicle components. The assembly lines can be floor assembly lines, body assembly lines and/or additional equipment assembly lines. The control system comprises a first means for converting information and instructions relating to various models, standard and/or specifications of vehicles into a sign. A second means attaches said sign onto one part of the vehicle componet. A third means obtains necessary information and instructions from said sign and converts the sign into control signals for controlling assembling operations in the line.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be more fully understood from the detailed description given below, and from the accompanying description of one preferred embodiment of the present invention, which however, is not to be taken as limitative of the present invention in any way, but is for the purpose of elucidation and explanation only.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram for the a general construction of a vehicle body assembling system;

FIG. 2 is a schematic exploded perspective view of parts assembled into a floor assembly in the floor assmbly line of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic exploded perspective view of parts assembled to the floor assembly in the body assembly line in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a schematic exploded perspective view of parts assembled to the body assembly in the additional equipment assembly line of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an illustration of an arrangement of each line and sections comprising a control system according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention for a vehicle body assembling system;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged partial illustration of a labelling section of the control system of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view of the labelling section of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a partly sectioned schematic side elevational view of a printing and a sticking device in the labelling section of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged front elevational view of a label applied in a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged schematic illustration of a point switching means of FIG. 5 for selectively connecting tracks of series of assembly lines;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged schematic illustration of the body assembly line of FIG. 5;

FIG. 12 is a schematic perspective view of the body assembly line of FIG. 5;

FIG. 13 is a schematic perspective view of a numbering section of FIG. 5;

FIG. 14 is an enlarged side elevational view of a numbering device of FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a partial, sectional side elevational view of the numbering device of FIG. 13;

FIG. 16 is a partial perspective view of the special treatment line of FIG. 5;

FIG. 17 is a schematic illustration of the additional equipment assembly line in FIG. 5; and

FIG. 18 is a schematic perspective view of a checking section.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings, particularly to FIG. 1, there is schematically illustrated a general vehicle body assembling system. The assembling system has a plurality of assembly lines through which the various models, standard and/or specifications of vehicle bodies are assembled. The assembling system generally comprises two series of a first floor assembly line 100 in which, generally, floor members of the vehicle bodies are assembled into a floor assembly (as shown in FIG. 2), a second body assembly line 200 in which, generally, main body members of the vehicle bodies are assembled to the floor assembly and into a body assembly (as shown in FIG. 3) and a third body assembly finishing line 300 in which additional parts of the vehicle bodies are assembled to the body assembly, (as shown in FIG. 4) thus completing the assembling process.

It should be noted that, in the present application, respective assembly lines 100,200 and 300 are organized in a known manner. Therefore, that the organization and construction of each assembly line 100,200 and 300 are not essential features with respect to the invention. In the present specification, since each of lines 100,200 and 300 is a part of a known vehicle body assembling system, each assembly line 100,200 or 300 may not be illustrated in detailed construction and operation; thus the construction and operation of each line should not be understood to cause any limitation on this application.

As shown in FIG. 1, at the downstream end of the floor assembling line 100, there are provided separate lines I, II diverging from a junction 400. The vehicle bodies are selectively forwarded to one of the series of lines I, II through point switching means 400 of a conveyor; selection of line I or II corresponds to models and/or specifications so as to be assembled into the vehicle body as designated. While FIG. 1 includes two series of assembly lines, it should be understood that two lines are shown merely as an example to illustrate the invention. The number of lines may be increased or decreased as desired.

Between the body assembly line 200 and the body assembly finishing line 300, there is provided, in series, a line 500 in which is performed special treatment, for example forming apertures for bodies of special models and/or specifications. As shown in FIG. 2, in the floor assembly line 1, front body member 10, front floor panel 12 rear floor panel 14 and side members 16 are assembled into a floor assembly 18. The floor assembly 18 is shown in FIG. 3. The respective parts of the floor assemblies 18 vary corresponding to the models and/or specifications of vehicles. Each part is checked for appropriateness to the specified model, specifications and/or standard of the vehicle body to be assembled. In practice such checking is performed before and after the assembling operation for each part in the floor assembly 18.

The floor main assembly 18 is forwarded through a conveyor line of respective series I, II to the body assembly line 200. The floor assembly 18 is selectively forwarded through the conveyor lines of the series I, II corresponding to the model and/or specifications of vehicle to be assembled. As shown in FIG. 3, body side panels 20, 21, roof panel 22, real panel 24, cowl assembly 26 and parcel-shelf 28 are assembled to the floor assembly 18 in the body assembly line 200 in the series. The body side panels 20, 21 roof panel 24, cowl assembly 26 and parcel-shelf 28 comprise, together with the floor assembly 18, a body assembly 29. The cowl assembly 26 is often assembled with the dash box member, as a subassembly. The main body assembly 29, shown in FIG. 4, is assembled in the body assembly line 200, where the illustrated parts are assembled together with the body assembly 18. On the body assembling line 200, respective parts assembled to the floor assembly 18, to form the body assembly 29, are varied according to the models and/or specifications of the vehicles. At the second line 200, each part assembled to the floor assembly 18 is checked for the model and/or specifications of the vehicle body to be assembled before being assembled together with the body side panels 20, 21 into the main body assembly 29.

The main body assembly 29 is forwarded through the line 500 to the body assembly finishing line 300. As shown in FIG. 4, on the body assembly finishing line 300, a front fender member 30, a pair of front door members 32, a pair of rear door members 34, a hood member 36 and a trunk lid member 38 are assembled to the main body assembly 29 of the vehicle body.

Thus, a vehicle body of a specified model and specification is assembled through a series of assembly lines.

If the vehicle body requires special treatment in accordance with the specifications, the special treatment according to an instruction contained in the specification is performed in the line 500. In this line, special treatment, for example forming apertures at specified positions or assembling special equipment, is performed.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 to 18, in which are illustrated a preferr