APPARATUS AND METHOD OF INSTALLING WORKPIECE

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an apparatus of installing a workpiece, holding and conveying a workpiece without making a robot hand of a workpiece conveyor interfere with a member to be installed despite a slight difference in position, and conveying the workpiece without providing a grip on the workpiece, and also to provide a method of installing the workpiece. SOLUTION: The apparatus of installing a workpiece is equipped with: a plurality of claw members 12 mounted on a three-dimensionally movable gripping mechanism 5, movable in a horizontal direction and capable of gripping an outer circumferential surface 1b so as to be opened between themselves; and an open/close actuator 14 for horizontally driving the plurality of claw members 12 in conjunction with one another. The claw member 12 has a holding surface 12b for holding the outer circumferential surface 1b of the workpiece 1 and a supporting surface 12c for supporting a horizontal bottom 1c. The member to be installed 2 has: a fitting portion 2a having a guide tapered surface 2b at the upper end and fitting with the outer circumferential surface 1b of the workpiece 1; a bottom supporting portion 2c for supporting the bottom 1c of the workpiece 1; and a notched groove 2d provided to prevent the workpiece 1 from interfering with the plurality of claw members 12 until it vertically lowers to a position where its bottom 1c is mounted on a bottom supporting portion 2c. COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT