JP2001246488A - Manufacturing method for container - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a manufacturing method for a container capable of preventing generation of weld defects without giving highly precise gap control and adjusting laser conditions. SOLUTION: The container 11 with a hermetically sealed space inside is manufactured by abutting a base member 14 made of a nontransparent resin and formed like a box having an opening, on a cover member 12 made of a transparent resin and formed in a manner covering the opening of the base member 14, and then by welding both members to each other in the joining faces. In this case, a compressing load is imparted in a state shat both members are superimposed with each other; a laser beam, passed through a mask 54 and shaped corresponding to the joining faces of both members, is irradiated from the cover member 12 side to the joining faces of both members; and, as a result, both members are welded simultaneously to each other in the entire circumference of the joining faces. Consequently, generation of weld defects are prevented without giving highly precise gap control and adjusting laser conditions.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a container made of a resin material and having a space inside.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Some containers made of a resin material and having a space therein are manufactured by joining a pair of members and welding or bonding the joint surfaces.

Here, as a method of welding the joining surfaces of both members, one member is formed of a resin material (hereinafter, referred to as a transparent resin) that easily transmits laser light, and the other member is hardly transmitted by laser light. It is formed of a resin material (hereinafter referred to as a non-transmissive resin), and a laser beam is irradiated from the side of the member formed of the transmissive resin, so that a joining surface of the two members (the transparent resin and the non-transparent resin) is formed in a circumferential shape. A welding method is employed.

[0004] This welding method is a method of continuously welding a welding portion by moving a laser beam or both members to perform welding. In addition, in order to ensure airtightness or waterproofness of a welded portion, welding is performed. This is a circumferential welding method that draws a closed trajectory in which the start point and the end point coincide.

[0005] In such a conventional continuous welding method, distortion of members accumulates as welding progresses due to heat generated by a laser, expansion of a molten portion, generation of gas during welding, and the like. At the end point (start point) of the above, welding defects such as floating at the joint of the two members are likely to occur, and it may not be possible to ensure the airtightness or waterproofness of the welded portion. In particular, when there is a portion where a gap equal to or more than a predetermined value exists on the joint surface between the two members before welding, it is often impossible to ensure airtightness or waterproofness of the welded portion due to welding defects. Therefore, conventionally, in order to ensure the airtightness or waterproofness of the welded portion, it is necessary to prevent the occurrence of welding defects by performing the gap management between the two superposed members with high accuracy.

Further, in the conventional circumferential welding method as described above, the starting point and the ending point are welded twice, so that welding defects are more likely to occur. Therefore, conventionally,
In order to secure the airtightness or waterproofness of the welded portion, it was necessary to prevent the occurrence of welding defects by adjusting the laser conditions at the end point.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In consideration of the above facts, the present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a container made of a pair of resin materials and having a space therein by laser welding a joining surface of both members. It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for manufacturing a container capable of preventing occurrence of welding defects without performing high-precision gap management on a surface and adjusting laser conditions during welding.

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of manufacturing a container, comprising: a base member formed of a resin material and formed in a box shape having an opening; and an opening of the base member formed of a resin material. And a cover member joined so as to cover the container, wherein one of the base member and the cover member is formed of a resin material that easily transmits laser light, and the other is formed of a laser. A mask formed of a resin material that does not easily transmit light, and a mask that transmits the laser light over a predetermined range is provided on a side of one of the members formed of the resin material that easily transmits the laser light, The cover member is superimposed on the opening, and the laser light is simultaneously transmitted through the mask over the entire periphery of the joint surface between the base member and the cover member. It shines melting the relevant section and, coupling the cover member and the base member, and wherein a.

In the method of manufacturing a container according to the first aspect, the laser light transmitted through the mask is irradiated from the side of the member formed of a resin material that easily transmits the laser light to the joint surface of the two members. The laser light is absorbed by a resin material that is difficult to transmit the laser light at the joint surface between the two members, and is melted. This heat of fusion is transmitted to the resin material that easily transmits laser light and also melts the resin material that easily transmits laser light, so that both members formed of resin materials having different laser light transmission characteristics are joined at the joint surface. Is done.

Here, since the joining surfaces of the two members are simultaneously melted over the entire circumference, distortions due to the progress of welding, which are observed in circumferential welding, and defects caused by welding the same portion twice are considered. No uniform welding surface can be obtained.

Therefore, in the method for manufacturing a container according to the first aspect, occurrence of welding defects can be prevented without performing high-precision gap management between the base member and the cover member and adjusting laser conditions during welding. it can.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for manufacturing a container.
2. The method for manufacturing a container according to claim 1, wherein a protrusion is provided on one of the base member and the cover member over the entire periphery of a joint surface between the base member and the cover member, and a laser is provided on the protrusion. 3. Irradiating light.

In the method for manufacturing a container according to the second aspect, since the projection is provided on one of the resin material of the base member and the cover member, the projection having a small cross-sectional area is closely attached to the mating member. Become. For this reason, when a projection is provided on a member formed of a resin material that does not easily transmit laser light, the molten projection is crushed and the welding area is increased, so that a strong welding surface can be obtained. on the other hand,
When a protrusion is provided on a member formed of a resin material that easily transmits laser light, the protrusion sinks into a molten portion of the resin material that is difficult to transmit the laser light, and then the protrusion is difficult to transmit the laser light. By welding with the heat transferred from the melting portion, a strong welding surface can be obtained.

Therefore, in the method for manufacturing a container according to the second aspect, the occurrence of welding defects can be reliably prevented without performing high-precision gap management between the base member and the cover member.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for manufacturing a container.
The method of manufacturing a container according to claim 2, wherein the projection is sharpened toward a tip.

In the method of manufacturing a container according to the third aspect, since the projection provided in the second aspect is sharpened toward the tip, the projection having a smaller cross-sectional area is brought into close contact with the counterpart member. . For this reason, when a projection is provided on a member formed of a resin material that does not easily transmit laser light, the molten protrusion is easily crushed, and a projection is formed on a member formed of a resin material that easily transmits laser light. In this case, the protrusion easily sinks into the melted portion of the resin material that does not easily transmit the laser light, and a strong welding surface can be obtained even when the energy of the irradiated laser light is small.

Therefore, in the method for manufacturing a container according to the third aspect, the occurrence of welding defects can be more reliably prevented without performing a high-precision gap management between the base member and the cover member.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of manufacturing a container.
The method for manufacturing a container according to claim 2 or 3, wherein a groove is formed in the other member corresponding to the protrusion and into which the protrusion is inserted when the base member and the cover member are overlapped. Features.

In the method for manufacturing a container according to the fourth aspect, the grooves corresponding to the projections provided in the second or third aspect are provided in the mating resin, so that the projections are crushed during welding or transmit laser light. It is possible to obtain a welded surface with high dimensional accuracy and a container with high dimensional accuracy without distortion, in which sinking of the resin material, which is difficult to perform, into the molten portion is limited.

Therefore, in the method for manufacturing a container according to the fourth aspect, the occurrence of welding defects can be more reliably prevented without performing high-precision gap management between the base member and the cover member.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of manufacturing a container.
The method for manufacturing a container according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a predetermined compressive load is applied in a state where the cover member is overlapped with the opening of the base member. .

In the method for manufacturing a container according to the fifth aspect, a predetermined compressive load is applied in a state where the base member and the cover member are overlapped, so that the joining surfaces of the two members are securely adhered. In particular, when a protrusion is provided on one member,
The protrusion is crushed or the protrusion sinks into the melted portion. For this reason, the heat transfer from the molten portion of the resin material that does not easily transmit the laser light to the resin material that easily transmits the laser light is reliably performed, and a stronger and better welded surface can be obtained.

Further, even if a gap is formed in the joint surface between the two members, the resin which is apt to transmit the laser light to the molten portion of the member formed of the resin material which does not easily transmit the laser light in the portion where there is no gap. When the member made of the material sinks, the gap is eliminated as a whole, and a good welding surface can be obtained.

Therefore, in the method for manufacturing a container according to the fifth aspect, occurrence of welding defects can be more reliably prevented without performing high-precision gap management between the base member and the cover member.

[0025]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS (Construction of Container) FIGS. 1 and 2 show the construction of a container 11 manufactured by a method for manufacturing a container according to an embodiment of the present invention. Container 11
A base member 14 made of a non-transparent resin and formed in a box shape having an opening;
And a cover member 12 formed so as to cover the opening portion, and a space is formed inside by joining both members by welding at the joining surface. Here, the welding line 16 at the joint surface between the base member 14 and the cover member 12 is formed in a circumferential shape so as to draw a closed trajectory in order to ensure the airtightness or airtightness of the container (see FIG. 2). . (Configuration of Laser Welding Apparatus) FIG. 1 shows the overall configuration of a YAG laser welding apparatus 10 applied to a method of manufacturing a container according to an embodiment of the present invention. The YAG laser welding device 10 includes a cover member 1
The joining surface between the base member 14 and the base member 14 is laser-welded.

The YAG laser welding apparatus 10 comprises a laser oscillator 20 for oscillating YAG laser light, an output mirror 30 for outputting laser light, a processing optical system 50, and a welding portion 80 for welding. .

In the processing optical system 50, a mask 54 is provided on the optical path of the laser beam. Here, as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the mask 54 includes a transmitting portion 54A that transmits laser light and an opaque portion 54B that does not transmit laser light. That is, the mask 54 body is made of a material (transmitting material) that transmits laser light, such as glass or acrylic resin, and a part of the transmitting material is processed into ground glass so as to diffuse the laser light. Opaque portion 54 corresponding to the shape of the welding location
B is formed. As a result, the mask 54 allows a part of the laser beam to pass therethrough, and the cover member 12 and the base member 14
It is possible to output a circumferential laser beam corresponding to the shape of the joint surface with the laser beam.

The processing optical system 50 is different from the mask 54 described above, as shown in FIG.
A mask 55 in which a non-transmissive portion 55B corresponding to the shape of the welding portion is formed by attaching a metal plate or the like to a part of a transmissive material so as to reflect or absorb the laser light on a part of the surface of A It is good also as a structure.

Further, a condensing lens 56 for condensing the laser light output from the mask 54 on the joint surface between the cover member 12 and the base member 14 is provided. Thereby, the joint surface between the cover member 12 and the base member 14 can be simultaneously irradiated with the laser beam over the entire periphery.

In the welded portion 80, a platen 82 on which the cover member 12 is placed is provided on the base member 14, and a predetermined jig (not shown) is applied to the cover member 12 and the base member 14 placed on the platen 82. Is applied. The jig (not shown) has a structure in which even if the height of the cover member 12 placed on the base member 14 is reduced by welding, the compression load can be maintained by a spring or a weight.

Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described.

The YAG laser welding apparatus 1 having the above-described configuration.
In the case of manufacturing the container 11 according to 0, the cover member 12 is placed on the base member 14 on the surface plate 82 of the welding portion 80, and both members are fixed by a jig (not shown) and a predetermined compressive load is applied. . Further, the cover member 12 and the base member 14
The mask 54 is selected according to the shape of the joining surface with the mask, and is attached to a predetermined position.

The laser light output from the laser oscillator 20 to the processing optical system 50 is guided to the mask 54,
4 transmits a part of the laser light to form a circumferential laser light corresponding to the shape of the joint surface between the cover member 12 and the base member 14, and the condenser lens 56 converts the laser light into the cover member 12 and the base member 14. Focus on the joint surface of.

The circumferential laser beam passes through the cover member 12 fixed to the welded portion 80 and extends around the entire joint surface of the base member 14 fixed below the cover member 12 with the cover member 12. Irradiation at the same time. When the laser light is applied, the base member 14 is first melted by absorbing the laser light at the joint surface between the cover member 12 and the base member 14, and the heat of fusion is transmitted to the cover member 12 so that the cover member 12 is also melted. Is done.

Thus, the joining surfaces of the cover member 12 and the base member 14 are simultaneously welded over the entire periphery. Here, before welding, the cover member 12 and the base member 1
Even if there is a portion having a gap on the joint surface with the gap 4, the cover member 12 sinks into the fused portion of the base member 14 by the action of the compressive load in the portion where there is no gap, so that the gap is eliminated as a whole. , A good welding surface can be obtained. Therefore, occurrence of welding defects can be prevented without performing high-precision gap management at the joint surface between the cover member 12 and the base member 14.

Further, since the joining surfaces of the cover member 12 and the base member 14 are simultaneously welded over the entire circumference, there is no start point and end point of welding, so that laser conditions are not adjusted during welding, and welding defects are eliminated. Can be prevented.

Although the above embodiment employs a YAG laser, another type of laser may be employed as long as it can oscillate laser light having a laser oscillation wavelength in the near infrared region.

In the above embodiment, the laser beam is irradiated from above. However, if the laser beam is irradiated from the side of the member formed of the transparent resin, the laser beam is irradiated only in a limited direction. Instead, for example, laser light may be irradiated from the side or from below. Further, as long as the structure is such that the laser beam is irradiated from the member side formed of the transparent resin, the base member may be formed of the transparent resin and the cover member may be formed of the non-transparent resin.

Further, in the above embodiment, the mask 5
Although the shape of the circumferential laser light passing through 4 is rectangular, it may be, for example, a circle, an ellipse, or an irregular shape as long as the shape corresponds to a welding line that draws a closed trajectory.

As described above, in the method of manufacturing a container according to the present embodiment, the welding can be performed without performing high-precision gap management at the joint surface between the cover member 12 and the base member 14 and adjusting the laser conditions during welding. The occurrence of defects can be prevented.

Further, the cover member 12 and the base member 1
By providing one or both of the projection and the groove on the joint surface of No. 4, it is possible to reliably prevent the occurrence of welding defects. (Modification of Base Member and Cover Member) In the above embodiment, the base member 14 and the cover member 1 before welding are provided.
Although the joining surface with the second member is a flat surface, it may have a shape shown in a modified example described below.

FIG. 4 shows the cover member 12 and the base member 14.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an example of the shape of a bonding surface with the substrate.

As shown in FIG. 4A, the base member 14 may be provided with a projection 14A at the joint surface between the cover member 12 and the base member 14 before welding. The projection 14A has a circumferential shape similar to the welding line 16 shown in FIG. 2, and has a configuration in which the projection 14A is irradiated with laser light.

In this case, the projection 1 is irradiated with the laser beam.
Since 4A is melted and crushed by the compressive load, a wide welding surface can be obtained.

As shown in FIG. 4B, the cover member 12 may be provided with a projection 12A on the joint surface between the cover member 12 and the base member 14 before welding. The projection 12A has a circumferential shape similar to the welding line 16 shown in FIG. 2, and has a configuration in which a laser beam is applied to a position where the tip of the projection 12A contacts the base member 14.

In this case, the base member 1
The protrusion 12A is melted by the heat transmitted from the melted portion of the base member 14 in a state where the protrusion 12A sinks into the melted portion of No. 4, whereby a strong welding surface can be obtained.

Therefore, FIG. 4A or FIG.
In the configuration shown in FIG.
Without performing high-precision gap management at the joint surface with
Generation of welding defects can be reliably prevented.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4 (C), the base member 14 may be provided with a sharp projection 14B toward the tip at the joint surface between the cover member 12 and the base member 14 before welding. The projection 14B has a circumferential shape similar to the welding line 16 shown in FIG. 2, and has a configuration in which the projection 14B is irradiated with laser light.

In this case, since the cross-sectional area of the protrusion in the direction of the compressive load is reduced, the molten protrusion 14B is reliably crushed by the compressive load even when the energy of the irradiated laser beam is small, and a wide welding surface is obtained. be able to.

As shown in FIG. 4 (D), the cover member 12 may be provided with a sharp projection 12B toward the tip at the joint surface between the cover member 12 and the base member 14 before welding. The projection 12B has a circumferential shape similar to the welding line 16 shown in FIG. 2, and has a configuration in which a laser beam is applied to a position where the tip of the projection 12B contacts the base member 14.

In this case, since the cross-sectional area of the projection in the direction of the compressive load is reduced, the energy of the laser beam to be irradiated is small, and even when the melting portion of the base member 14 is shallow, the projection 1 can be formed.
2B surely sinks into the fusion zone of the base member 14, and a strong welding surface can be obtained.

Therefore, FIG. 4 (C) or FIG. 4 (D)
In the configuration shown in FIG.
Without performing high-precision gap management at the joint surface with
Generation of welding defects can be more reliably prevented.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4E, a projection 14A is provided on the base member 14 at the joint surface between the cover member 12 and the base member 14 before welding, and the cover member 12 corresponds to the projection 14A. A configuration in which a groove 12C into which the projection 14A enters when both members are overlapped may be provided.
The projections 14A and the grooves 12C are connected to the welding lines 16 shown in FIG.
The projection 14A is irradiated with laser light similarly to the above. Here, before welding, the height of the projection 14A is larger than the depth of the groove 12C. For this reason, when the projection 14A is melted, it is crushed by a compressive load. The protrusion 14A
The depth of the groove 12C is determined so as to appropriately limit the amount of crushing. Further, the projection provided on the base member 14 may be a projection 14B that is sharp toward the tip.

In this case, the protrusion 14A or the protrusion 14B
Is melted by laser irradiation and crushed by a compressive load. The amount of crushing is limited by the depth of the groove 12C. This makes it possible to obtain a welded surface with high dimensional accuracy without distortion.

As shown in FIG. 4 (F), a sharp projection 12B is provided on the cover member 12 at the joint surface between the cover member 12 and the base member 14 before welding, and the projection 12B is formed on the base member 14. A configuration may be provided in which a groove 14C is provided corresponding to 12B and into which the projection 12B is inserted when both members are overlapped. The protrusion 12B and the groove 14C have a circumferential shape like the welding line 16 shown in FIG. 2, and have a configuration in which the bottom surface of the groove 14C is irradiated with laser light. Here, before welding, the height of the projections 12B is greater than the depth of the grooves 14C. For this reason, the protrusion 12B sinks into the molten portion of the base member 14 due to the compressive load. The depth of the groove 14C is determined so as to appropriately limit the amount of the protrusion 12B sinking into the fusion zone of the base member 14. Further, the protrusion provided on the cover member 12 may be a protrusion 12A that is not sharp toward the tip.

In this case, the bottom of the groove 14C is melted by laser irradiation, and the protrusion 12A or the protrusion 12B sinks into the melted portion due to a compressive load. The amount of sinking is limited by the depth of the groove 14C. . Thereby, a welding surface with high dimensional accuracy and a container with high dimensional accuracy can be obtained without distortion.

Therefore, FIG. 4 (E) or FIG. 4 (F)
In the configuration shown in FIG.
Without performing high-precision gap management at the joint surface with
The occurrence of welding defects can be more reliably prevented. (Modification of Laser Welding Apparatus) Y in the above embodiment
In the AG laser welding apparatus 10, the dichroic mirror 5
Although the mask 54 is provided between the lens 2 and the condenser lens 56, the mask 92 may be directly mounted on the cover member 12 as in a YAG laser welding device 90 shown in FIG. . In this case, the mask 92 may be integrated with a holding jig for applying a compressive load to the cover member 12 and the base member 14.

In this case, the configuration is not limited to the configuration in which the mask 92 is directly mounted on the cover member, but the configuration in which the mask 92 is disposed at a predetermined position between the condenser lens 56 and the cover member 12. There may be.

Further, in the YAG laser welding device 10 and the YAG laser welding device 90 in the above embodiment,
Although the configuration includes the dichroic mirror 52, as shown in an example in FIG.
May not be provided.

[0060]

As described above, according to the method for manufacturing a container according to the present invention, when a container made of a pair of resin materials and having a space inside is manufactured by laser-welding the joining surface of the two members, both members are manufactured. This has an excellent effect that the occurrence of welding defects can be prevented without performing high-precision gap management at the joint surface and adjusting laser conditions during welding.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic system diagram showing an overall configuration of a YAG laser welding apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2A is a plan view and FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view of a base member and a cover member according to the embodiment of the present invention.

3A is a plan view, FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view, and FIG. 3C is a cross-sectional view of a modified example of the mask according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4A shows a case where a projection is provided on a base member, and FIG. 4B shows a case where a projection is provided on a cover member, in a joint surface between a base member and a cover member according to an embodiment of the present invention;
(C) corresponds to the case where the projection provided on the base member is sharpened toward the tip, (D) corresponds to the case where the projection provided on the cover member is sharpened toward the tip, and (E) corresponds to the projection provided on the base member. (F) is a cross-sectional view illustrating a case where a groove is provided in the cover member, and FIG.

FIG. 5 is a schematic system diagram showing an overall configuration of a YAG laser welding device according to a modification of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 illustrates a YA according to a second modification of the embodiment of the present invention.
It is a schematic system diagram showing the whole composition of a G laser welding device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 10 YAG laser welding device 12 cover member (transparent resin material) 12A protrusion 12B protrusion (sharp) 12C groove 14 base member (non-transparent resin material) 14A protrusion 14B protrusion (sharp) 14C groove 16 welding line 20 laser oscillator 50 processing optical system 54 Mask 54A Transmission part (mask) 54B Non-transmission part (mask) 55 Mask 80 Welding part 90 YAG laser welding equipment 92 Mask 100 YAG laser welding equipment

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A space formed of a box-shaped base member made of a resin material and having an opening, and a cover member made of a resin material and joined to cover the opening of the base member. In the method for manufacturing a container, one of the base member and the cover member is formed of a resin material that easily transmits laser light, and the other is formed of a resin material that hardly transmits laser light; A mask that transmits light over
The laser light is provided on one side formed of a resin material that easily transmits the laser light, the cover member is superimposed on an opening of the base member, and the laser light is transmitted through the mask to the base member and the base member. A method for manufacturing a container, comprising: irradiating the base member with the cover member by irradiating the base member with the cover member at the same time by irradiating the entire periphery of the joint surface with the cover member. 2. A method according to claim 1, wherein a protrusion is provided on one of the base member and the cover member over the entire periphery of the joint surface between the base member and the cover member, and the protrusion is irradiated with laser light. The method for producing a container according to claim 1, wherein 3. The method for manufacturing a container according to claim 2, wherein the projection is sharpened toward a tip. 4. The other member has a groove corresponding to the protrusion and into which the protrusion is inserted when the base member and the cover member are overlapped. Manufacturing method of container. 5. The production of a container according to claim 1, wherein a predetermined compressive load is applied in a state in which the cover member is overlapped on the opening of the base member. Method.