JP2003275883A - Method of butt joining plate material - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide the butt joining method of plate members by which the plate members can be accurately butt-joined, which is rich in a versatile applicability because the method is independent of the shape of the plate members, and which makes it possible to perform welding at low cost. <P>SOLUTION: Pressing plates 28a to 28c are displaced in the arrow X2 direction, and a reference plate member W1 is pushed to butt positioning members 14a and 14b with a load within the elastic limit of the reference plate member W1. Then the pressing plates 28a to 28c are displaced in the arrow X1 direction to release the load applied to the reference plate member W1. Thereafter, the reference plate member W1 is welded with plate member W2 to be buttes. The plate member which is formed by joining the reference plate member W1 with the plate member to be butted W2 is removed from a butt joining apparatus 10 to be provided to other processes such as a press work, etc. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a plate member which joins the abutting portions by abutting the reference side plate member against a reference member defining a joining line and then abutting the abutting side plate member on the reference side plate member. A butt joining method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in automobiles or the like, in order to reduce the weight of a vehicle body or improve the safety against collision, blank materials (plate materials before pressing) having different thicknesses and strengths are butted to each other A tailored blank material, which is welded by laser or the like, is used.

In the prior art, for example, in the butting of a tailored blank material, as shown in FIG. 7, first, the reference side plate material 1 is pressed against the positioning member 3 with the load F by the pressing means 5. This load F is set to be relatively large in order to secure the positional accuracy of the reference side plate member 1 with respect to the positioning member 3. On the other hand, in the reference side plate member 1, since the opening 4 is formed on the side of the reference line (hereinafter referred to as the butt reference line) L1 that defines the butt portion, the rigidity of the portion A near both ends of the opening 4 is It is lower than other parts. That is, when the reference side plate 1 is abutted against the positioning member 3 with a relatively large load F, the part A is deformed from the butt reference line L1 toward the butt side plate 2 by a distance G.

In this state, as shown in FIG. 8, the butt side plate member 2 is pressed by the pressing machine 6 with a predetermined force, and the reference side plate member 1 and the butt side plate member 2 come into contact with each other.

By the way, as described above, the reference side plate member 1
Since the part A is deformed by the distance G, the reference side plate material 1 and the butt side plate material 2 are actually the butt reference line L1.
However, since they are butted at the butt line L2 (L1 + G), there is a gap 7 having a distance G at both ends of the reference side plate material 1 and the butt side plate material 2.
If both are welded in the presence of, the sufficient strength cannot be obtained.

Therefore, a method has been proposed in which the gap 7 is filled with a filler and then welded. According to this method, however, the presence of the filler swells the joint portion, which interferes with the press working performed after the joint. There is a problem that affects.

Further, in JP-A-8-206881, in butt welding of thin plates, the end edge portion of the non-reference side work is adsorbed and held by an adsorbing device composed of a vacuum or a magnet so as to abut against the reference side work. The related art is disclosed. However, when the suction device is a vacuum, the work itself on the non-reference side may be deformed due to the suction force of the vacuum. Further, there is a problem that the suction force of vacuum is reduced due to the influence of heat during welding. Furthermore, when the adsorption device is a magnet, maintenance such as component replacement is required due to the decrease in magnetic force, and the shape of the magnet must be adjusted to the shape of the workpiece, so the range of use of the device is limited to some extent. Will end up.

Further, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-155084 discloses a conventional technique for suppressing the gap between the metal sheets to be welded by changing the contact pressure depending on the portion when pressing the metal sheets in the joining surface direction. Has been done. Furthermore, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-128582 discloses a conventional technique in which a gap in a joint portion is eliminated by bending a plate material. However, in any of the above-mentioned conventional techniques, the device configuration is complicated, and there is a concern that the manufacturing cost of the device will increase. In addition, since the device is dedicated to the shape of the plate material, the range of use is limited and it cannot be said that the device is versatile.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and can butt-join plate members with each other with high accuracy, and does not depend on the shape of the plate members. It is an object of the present invention to provide a butt-joining method for plate materials that is versatile and that can perform welding at low cost.

[0010]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention butts a reference side plate member against a reference member defining a joining line and then abuts the abutting side plate member on the reference side plate member. A butt-joining method for joining plate members by joining the butt portions, the step of abutting the reference side plate member against the reference member with a load within the elastic limit of the reference side plate member, and a step of releasing the load. , A step of holding the position of the reference side plate material in a state where the load is released, a step of abutting the abutting side plate material to the reference side plate material, and a state of abutting the abutting side plate material to the reference side plate material In, a step of holding the position of the butting side plate material, and a step of joining the butting parts of the two plate materials in a state where the reference side plate material and the butting side plate material are held. It characterized Mukoto (the invention according to claim 1).

According to the present invention, the reference side plate member is abutted against the reference member with a load within the elastic limit (a range in which no permanent strain occurs), and then the load is released. Deformation is not maintained as permanent set,
Upon opening, it immediately returns to its original shape. Therefore, since the straightness of the joining line is maintained well, the reference side plate member and the butt side plate member are butt-welded and welded satisfactorily without causing a gap, and for example, the quality of the tailored blank member is kept good. You can

Further, since the reference side plate member and / or the butt side plate member are held along the plate thickness direction in the vicinity of the butt portion during the joining step (the invention according to claim 2), Even if one or both of the plate materials have a warp, the two plate materials are well butted and welded without causing a step or the like.

[0013]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION A method for butt-joining plate materials according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, by showing preferred embodiments in relation to an apparatus for carrying out the method.

As shown in FIG. 1, a plate material butt-joining apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment includes a base table 12 arranged substantially horizontally, and a substantially central portion of an upper surface thereof has a
A pair of positioning members 14 spaced apart in the Y direction by a predetermined distance.
a and 14b are arranged. The positioning members 14a, 1
4b is generally formed in a prismatic shape, but may be in a cylindrical shape. Arrow X of the positioning members 14a, 14b
Near a reference line L3 connecting the faces (front end faces) oriented in one direction, substantially U-shaped support columns 16 and 18 stand in parallel with the reference line L3 so as to sandwich the pair of positioning members 14a and 14b. It is set up.

A plurality of (for example, two) first holding means are provided on the column 16 so as to approach and separate from the reference side plate W1 so that the position of the reference side plate W1 positioned on the reference line L3 is not displaced. 20a and 20b are provided. The first holding means 20a, 20b are holding plates 22a, 22b for holding the reference side plate W1 by advancing and retracting in the plate thickness direction (arrow Z direction), and the holding plates 22a, 2b, 2b, 2b.
2b is constituted by actuators 24a to 24d such as air cylinders which drive the 2b so as to be displaceable in the arrow Z direction. The tip of a rod (not shown) that moves forward and backward under the driving action of the actuators 24a and 24b is connected to the holding plate 22a, and the tip of the rod that moves forward and backward under the driving action of the actuators 24c and 24d is the holding plate 22b.
Connected to.

A plurality (for example, three) is provided at a portion separated from the reference line L3 in the direction of the arrow X1 by the reference side plate material W1 or more.
The first pressing means 26a, 26b and 26c are arranged so as to be parallel to each other. The first pressing means 26
a to 26c are pressing plates 28a to 28c for pressing the other end side of the reference side plate material W1 and the pressing plates 28a to 28c, respectively.
It is composed of actuators 30a to 30c such as an air cylinder that drives c to be displaceable in the direction of arrow X.

A plurality of (for example, two) second holders for holding the vicinity of the reference line L3 of the butting side plate W2 on the support column 18 so that the position of the butting side plate W2 positioned on the reference line L3 does not shift. Means 32a, 32b are provided. The second holding means 32a, 32b are holding plates 34a, 34b for advancing and holding the abutting side plate W2 in the plate thickness direction (arrow Z direction), respectively, and the holding plates 34a, 34b are shown by arrow Z. And actuators 36a to 36d such as air cylinders that are displaceably driven in any direction. The tip of a rod (not shown) that moves forward and backward under the driving action of the actuators 36a and 36b is connected to the holding plate 34a, and the actuators 36c and
The leading end of the rod that moves forward and backward under the driving action of 36d is connected to the holding plate 34b.

A plurality of (for example, two) second pressing means 38a, 38b are arranged in parallel with each other at a portion separated from the reference line L3 in the direction of the arrow X2 by a distance of the abutting side plate material W2 or more. . The second pressing means 38a, 3
Reference numerals 8b denote pressing plates 40a and 40b for pressing the other end side of the butt side plate material W2, and the pressing plates 40a and 40b.
The actuators 42a and 42b are composed of air cylinders or the like that drive b in a displaceable direction in the direction of arrow X.

A laser gun 44 for outputting a laser for joining the reference side plate material W1 and the abutting side plate material W2 is provided at a predetermined position in a plane perpendicular to the base table 12 including the reference line L3. The laser gun 44 moves in the arrow Y direction along the reference line L3.

The plate material butt-joining device 10 according to the present embodiment is basically constructed as described above. Next, using the plate material butt-joining device 10, both plate materials W1 and W2 are joined. A method of butt-joining the two will be described below.

First, on the base table 12 (see FIG. 1), as shown in FIG. 2, the reference side plate material W1 is positioned by the positioning members 14a and 14b and the first pressing means 26a to 26c.
And the abutting side plate W2 is set between the positioning members 14a and 14b and the second pressing means 38a and 38b. The reference line L is attached to the reference side plate W1.
The opening S1 is formed in the substantially central portion on the 3 side, and the opening S is also formed in the substantially central portion on the reference line L3 side in the butting side plate material W2.
2 is formed.

In FIG. 3, the first holding means 20a, 2
0b (see FIG. 1) indicates that the holding plates 22a and 22b are indicated by arrow Z2.
The reference side plate material W1 to the base table 12
Hold at a low pressure so that it does not float up. On the other hand, the first pressing means 26a to 26c are the actuators 30a to 3c.
The pressing plates 28a to 28c are displaced in the arrow X2 direction under the driving force of 0c, and the reference side plate material W1 is pressed against the positioning members 14a and 14b by the load F.

This load F is a force within the elastic limit of the reference side plate W1 (a range in which no permanent strain occurs), and in order to secure the positional accuracy of the positioning members 14a and 14b and the reference side plate W1. It is set relatively strong within the elastic limit.

In this case, since the opening S1 is formed, the portions A at both ends of the opening S1 of the reference side plate W1 are formed.
The rigidity in the vicinity is lower than that in the surrounding area.

Therefore, the reference side plate material W1 is moved to the positioning member 1 with the load F set relatively strong within the elastic limit.
When it abuts against 4a and 14b, the vicinity of the portion A having low rigidity is deformed in the direction of arrow X2.

Next, as shown in FIG. 4, the first pressing means 26a to 26c displace the pressing plates 28a to 28c in the direction of the arrow X1 under the driving action of the actuators 30a to 30c so that the reference side plate member W1 is moved. The applied load F is released. When the load F is applied (see FIG. 3), the part A of the reference side plate W1 is deformed, but the load F is applied within the elastic limit of the reference side plate W1, so the load F is released. Then, the deformation of the part A returns to the original shape without permanent deformation. Therefore, the straightness of the side of the reference side plate material W1 on the butt-joining side is favorably maintained.

After the load F is released and the reference side plate material W1 returns to its original shape, the holding plates 22a and 22b are lowered in the direction of arrow Z2 under the driving action of the actuators 24a to 24d, and the reference side plate material W1 is It is firmly fixed and held so as not to be displaced when it is abutted with the abutting side plate material W2.

Then, as shown in FIG. 5, the pressure plates 40a and 40b are driven by the actuators 42a and 42b.
Is displaced in the direction of the arrow X1, the butting side plate W2 is butted against the reference side plate W1, and the actuator 3
The holding plates 34a and 34b are lowered in the direction of arrow Z2 under the driving action of 6a to 36d, and firmly fixed and held so that the abutting side plate W2 is not displaced when abutting against the reference side plate W1.

After the above preparation steps, as shown in FIG. 6, while the laser gun 44 irradiates the laser, the arrow Y
The reference side plate W1 and the butt side plate W
Welding with 2 is performed.

When the joining of the reference side plate W1 and the butt side plate W2 is completed, the holding plates 22a and 22b are raised in the direction of arrow Z1 under the driving action of the actuators 24a to 24d to release the fixed holding of the reference side plate W1. Then, the pressing plates 40a, 4a are driven by the actuators 42a, 42b.
0b is displaced in the direction of arrow X2, and the holding plates 34a, 34 are driven by the actuators 36a-36d.
b is moved up in the direction of arrow Z1 to release the fixed holding of the butt side plate material W2.

Finally, the plate material produced by joining the reference side plate material W1 and the butt side plate material W2 is removed from the butt joining apparatus 10 and subjected to other steps such as press working.

That is, through the steps described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 5, laser welding is performed in a state where the reference side plate material W1 and the abutting side plate material W2 are satisfactorily abutted on the reference line L3 without causing a gap. Done. Therefore, even if the reference-side plate material W1 and the butt-side plate material W are, for example, tailored blank materials, good welding quality can be maintained.

Further, the positioning member 14 for the reference side plate W1
Since the abutting against a and 14b is performed by applying the load F within the elastic limit to the reference side plate material W1, and then releasing the load F, the first pressing means 26a to 26c are the parts of the plate material to be pressed. No complicated adjustment is required to change the load F by this, and as a result, the structure of the device is simplified and the versatility of the device is improved because it does not depend on the shape of the plate material to be welded.

Furthermore, the reference side plate W1 is held near the reference line L3 by the first holding means 20a, 20b, while the butt side plate W2 is held near the reference line L3 by the second holding means 32a, 32b. Even if there is a warp, the two are satisfactorily butted and welded without causing a step or the like.

[0035]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to perform the butt-joining of the plate materials with each other with high accuracy, and since the plate materials do not depend on the shape of the plate materials, the versatility of the apparatus is high and the welding can be performed at low cost. It becomes possible to do.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective explanatory view of a butt jointing apparatus for plate materials according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a butt joint method of plate materials by the apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a method of butt-joining plate materials by the apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a butt joint method of plate materials by the apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a butt joint method of plate materials by the apparatus.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a butt-joining method of plate materials by the apparatus.

FIG. 7 is a plan view illustrating a butt joining method for plate materials according to a conventional technique.

FIG. 8 is a plan view illustrating a butt joining method for plate materials according to a conventional technique.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Butt joining apparatus 12 ... Base tables 14a, 14b ... Positioning members 16, 18 ... Struts 20a, 20b ... First holding means 22a, 22b
... Holding plates 24a to 24d ... Actuators 26a to 26c
... First pressing means 28a to 28c ... Pressing plates 30a to 30c
... Actuators 32a, 32b ... Second holding means 34a, 34b
... Holding plates 36a to 36d ... Actuators 38a and 38b
... second pressing means 40a, 40b ... pressing plates 42a, 42b
… Actuator 44… Laser gun

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Toshiyuki Horiko             1-10-1 Shinsayama, Sayama City, Saitama Prefecture             Engineering Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Hitoshi Arai             1-10-1 Shinsayama, Sayama City, Saitama Prefecture             Engineering Co., Ltd. F term (reference) 4E068 BE02 CE09 DA14 DB01

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A butt-joining method of plate materials for joining a butt portion by abutting a reference side plate member against a reference member defining a joining line and then abutting the abutting side plate member on the reference side plate member. A step of abutting the reference side plate material against the reference member with a load within an elastic limit of the reference side plate material, a step of releasing the load, and a position of the reference side plate material being held in a state where the load is released. And a step of abutting the abutting side plate member against the reference side plate member, a step of holding the position of the abutting side plate member in a state of abutting the abutting side plate member against the reference side plate member, and the reference side And a step of joining the abutting portions of the two plate materials in a state where the plate material and the abutting side plate material are held, the method of abutting and joining the plate materials. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the reference side plate member and / or the butt side plate member are held along the plate thickness direction in the vicinity of the butt portion during the joining step. Butt joining method of plate materials.