JP2013081976A - Welding method and device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a yield ratio from dropping while suppressing a running cost.SOLUTION: Welding equipment 1 includes a vacuum chamber 100 which keeps the inside thereof in a vacuum atmosphere, an X-axial welding unit 200 and a Y-axial welding unit 300 which weld a workpiece 10 in the vacuum chamber 100, and a buffer station 400 which functions as an internal cooling unit and cools the workpiece 10 in the vacuum chamber 100.

Description

  The present invention relates to a welding method and apparatus suitable for seam welding.

  Electronic parts such as a crystal resonator are manufactured by seam welding a lid serving as a lid to an opening of a package (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 to 3). Seam welding is performed by pressing a roller electrode against the contact portion between the package and the lid, and rolling while applying a pulsed voltage.

  Such seam welding is performed under nitrogen gas filled with nitrogen gas in the chamber, or under a vacuum atmosphere in which the chamber is kept in a vacuum atmosphere (substantially vacuum). Thereby, air can be prevented from entering the package.

JP 2009-147097 A JP 2009-147288 A JP 2010-194544 A

  When seam welding is performed in a vacuum atmosphere, there is no heat transfer due to convection, so heat is accumulated in the package by applying a voltage. For this reason, the carrier which conveys a package at the time of welding may bend or extend, or each member such as a chamber may be deformed. In addition, there is a problem that defective products are generated due to heat and yield is reduced.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a welding method and apparatus for preventing the yield from decreasing while preventing thermal deformation of the apparatus itself.

  The above-mentioned object is achieved by the following means based on the earnest research of the present inventors.

  (1) The present invention comprises: a vacuum chamber that keeps its interior in a vacuum atmosphere; a welding unit that welds a workpiece in the vacuum chamber; and an internal cooling unit that cools the workpiece in the vacuum chamber. It is a welding apparatus characterized by providing.

  (2) In the present invention, the internal cooling unit also accommodates a supply pipe for sending a refrigerant from the outside to the inside of the vacuum chamber, and a refrigerant sent by the supply pipe, The welding apparatus according to (1), further comprising: a refrigerant tank that moves heat generated during welding of the metal and a recovery pipe that recovers from the tank to the outside of the vacuum chamber. .

  (3) The present invention is also the welding apparatus according to (1) or (2), further including an external cooling unit that cools the vacuum chamber from the outside.

  (4) The present invention also provides an X-direction welding unit that welds a plurality of workpieces arranged in a matrix in the X direction and a Y direction perpendicular to the X direction as the welding unit along the X direction, A Y-direction welding unit that welds a plurality of workpieces along the Y direction, and the internal cooling unit is welded after one of the X-direction welding unit and the Y-direction welding unit, and the other The welding apparatus according to any one of (1) to (3) above, wherein the welding station is a buffer station that cools the plurality of workpieces before being welded in step (1).

  (5) In the present invention, the X direction welding unit further includes first Y direction offset means for offsetting the plurality of workpieces in the Y direction, and is offset in the Y direction by the first Y direction offset means. The plurality of workpieces are welded, and the Y-direction welding unit includes second Y-direction offset means for offsetting the plurality of workpieces in the Y direction, and is offset in the Y direction by the second Y-direction offset means. The welding apparatus according to (4), wherein the plurality of workpieces are welded.

  (6) The present invention also provides a conveyance path for linearly conveying the plurality of workpieces in the X direction from loading to unloading with respect to the vacuum chamber across both the X-direction welding unit and the Y-direction welding unit. The welding apparatus according to (5) above, comprising:

  (7) In the present invention, the X-direction welding unit is the first Y-direction offset means, and the plurality of works arranged on the work tray are placed together with the work tray, A movable first Y-direction positioning carrier, an X-direction welding head movable in the X-direction above the first Y-direction positioning carrier, and parallel to the Y-direction with respect to the X-direction welding head An X-direction welding roller that is rotatably arranged around the Y-axis and is movable in the X direction together with the X-direction welding head, thereby moving the X-direction welding head to move the X-direction welding roller. In addition to welding while moving, the first Y-direction positioning carrier is moved to switch the rows of the plurality of workpieces to be welded. Is a second Y-direction offset means, wherein the plurality of works arranged on the work tray are placed together with the work tray and are movable in the Y direction, and the second Y-direction positioning carrier, Above the second Y-direction positioning carrier, a Y-direction welding head that is movable in the X-direction, and the Y-direction welding head is disposed so as to be rotatable about an X-axis parallel to the X-direction, And a Y-direction welding roller that is movable in the X direction together with the Y-direction welding head, thereby moving the second Y-direction positioning carrier and moving the plurality of workpieces, and welding the Y-direction welding. The welding apparatus according to (6), wherein a head is moved to switch the row of the plurality of workpieces to be welded.

  (8) In the present invention, the X-direction welding head moves in a Z direction perpendicular to the X direction and the Y direction with respect to the X direction welding head base and the X direction welding head base. A possible first Z-direction movable member, and the X-direction welding roller disposed on the first Z-direction movable member so as to be rotatable about the Y-axis and supplying an electric current to the X-direction welding roller. An X-direction welding roller holding portion, and the first Z-direction movable member has thermal conductivity, thermal radiation, and insulation, so that welding generated by the X-direction welding roller. The heat is transmitted to the first Z-direction movable member via the X-direction welding roller holding portion, and at the same time, heat is radiated to the outside from the surface (hymen) of the first Z-direction movable member, and the X-direction welding roller is held. For X direction welding head The over scan, characterized in that it is insulated by the first Z-direction movable member, a welding apparatus according to (7).

  (9) The welding apparatus according to (8), wherein the first Z-direction movable member is made of a material having a thermal conductivity of 170 W / (m · K) or more. .

  (10) The welding apparatus according to (8) or (9), wherein the first Z-direction movable member is made of a material having a heat emissivity of 0.8 or more. is there.

(11) In the present invention, the first Z-direction movable member is made of a material having an insulation resistance value of 10 ³ Ω · cm or more, according to any one of the above (8) to (10). Welding equipment.

  (12) The welding device according to any one of (8) to (11), wherein the first Z-direction movable member is made of ceramics.

  (13) The present invention is also the welding apparatus according to (12), wherein the ceramic is silicon carbide or aluminum nitride.

  (14) In the present invention, the Y-direction welding head includes a Y-direction welding head base, a second Z-direction movable member movable in the Z direction with respect to the Y-direction welding head base, A Y-direction welding roller holding portion disposed on the second Z-direction movable member and rotatably holding the Y-direction welding roller around the X-axis, and supplying a current to the Y-direction welding roller, The second Z-direction movable member has thermal conductivity, thermal radiation, and insulation, so that the welding heat generated by the Y-direction welding roller can be applied to the Y-direction welding roller holding portion. Then, it is transmitted to the second Z-direction movable member and simultaneously radiated from the surface of the second Z-direction movable member to the outside, and the Y-direction welding roller holder and the Y-direction welding head base are By the second Z-direction movable member Characterized in that it is insulated, a welding apparatus according to any one of (7) to (13).

  (15) In the present invention, the X-direction welding unit may be configured such that the X-direction welding head is spaced apart from the first Y-direction positioning carrier and the first proximity position adjacent to the first Y-direction positioning carrier. When it is disposed so as to be movable between one spaced position and is located at the first proximity position, it moves in the X direction together with the X direction welding head to push the work tray, and the plurality of work trays together with the plurality of work trays. It is a welding apparatus in any one of said (7) thru | or (14) characterized by including the 1st conveyance finger which conveys a workpiece | work in the said X direction.

  (16) In the present invention, it is also preferable that the X-direction welding unit moves the X-direction welding roller by moving the X-direction welding head when the first transport finger is located at the first separation position. The welding apparatus according to (15), wherein welding is performed.

  (17) In the present invention, the Y-direction welding unit may be configured such that the Y-direction welding head is separated from the second Y-direction positioning carrier and the second proximity position near the second Y-direction positioning carrier. When it is disposed so as to be movable between two spaced positions and is located at the second proximity position, it moves in the X direction together with the Y-direction welding head to push the work tray, and the plurality of work trays together with the plurality of work trays. It is a welding apparatus in any one of said (7) thru | or (16) characterized by including the 2nd conveyance finger which conveys a workpiece | work in the said X direction.

  (18) In the present invention, it is also preferable that the Y-direction welding unit moves the Y-direction welding head to perform welding when the second transport finger is located at the second separation position. The welding apparatus according to (16) or (17), wherein the welding apparatus is switched.

  (19) In the present invention, the X-direction welding unit further includes a first support mechanism that supports or releases the work tray placed on the first Y-direction positioning carrier, and the Y-direction. The welding unit includes a second support mechanism for supporting or releasing the work tray placed on the second Y-direction positioning carrier, according to the above (7) to (18), It is a welding apparatus in any one.

  (20) In the present invention, the first support mechanism is disposed so as to be movable in the Y direction, and a first abutting member against which the work tray moved in the Y direction abuts, and the first Y direction positioning. When the first pushing member that moves in the Y direction together with the carrier and pushes the work tray that hits the first abutting member in the Y direction, and the first abutting member moves in the Y direction, A first urging member that urges the first abutting member in a restoring direction, and the second support mechanism is arranged to be movable in the Y direction, and the workpiece moved in the Y direction. A second abutting member against which the tray abuts, a second pressing member that moves in the Y direction together with the second Y-direction positioning carrier, and pushes the work tray that abuts against the second abutting member in the Y direction; Said A second urging member that urges the second abutting member in a direction to be restored when the two abutting member moves in the Y direction. It is a welding device.

  (21) In the present invention, the X-direction welding unit further includes a first replacement carrier on which the replacement X-direction welding roller is mounted and movable in the Y direction together with the first Y-direction positioning carrier. The X-direction welding roller disposed on the X-direction welding head and the replacement X-direction welding roller placed on the first exchange carrier are automatically replaced, and the Y-direction welding unit is The Y-direction welding roller mounted on the Y-direction welding head is provided with the second Y-direction positioning roller on which the replacement Y-direction welding roller is mounted and movable in the Y-direction together with the second Y-direction positioning carrier. The welding apparatus according to any one of (7) to (20) above, wherein the replacement Y-direction welding roller placed on the second replacement carrier is automatically replaced. is there

  (22) The present invention also provides a welding step for welding workpieces in a vacuum chamber that keeps the inside of the chamber in a vacuum atmosphere, and cooling for cooling the workpieces before or after the welding step or simultaneously with the welding step. A welding method, comprising: a step.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to achieve an excellent effect of preventing the yield from being lowered while preventing thermal deformation of the device itself.

It is a top view of the welding apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention, and shows the downward direction of the said welding apparatus. It is a top view of a welding device and shows the upper part of a welding device. It is a rear view of a welding apparatus. It is a right view of a welding apparatus, and shows an upstream X direction welding unit. It is a right view of a welding apparatus, and shows the Y direction welding unit of a downstream. It is a perspective view of a 1st support mechanism. It is a perspective view of a 2nd support mechanism. It is an enlarged front view of a X direction welding head. It is an enlarged side view of a X direction welding head. It is an enlarged front view of a Y direction welding head. It is an enlarged side view of a Y direction welding head. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of a buffer station. It is an external appearance perspective view which shows an external cooling unit. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the seam welding by a welding apparatus. It is a figure explaining the procedure which welds a some workpiece | work along a X-axis direction for every row | line | column of a X-axis direction in a X direction welding unit. It is a figure explaining the procedure which welds a some workpiece | work along the Y-axis direction for every row | line | column of a Y-axis direction in a Y direction welding unit.

  Hereinafter, an example of an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following description, directions are described with reference to the X, Y, and Z axes shown in the drawings. The X and Y axes are horizontal axes perpendicular to each other, and the Z axis is a vertical axis perpendicular to the X and Y axes. The X-axis direction in the figure is the X direction according to the present invention, the Y-axis direction is the Y direction according to the present invention, and the Z-axis direction is the Z direction according to the present invention, but the present invention is limited to this. It is not a thing. In each of the drawings, illustration of some components is omitted as appropriate, and the drawings are simplified.

  FIG. 1A is a plan view of a welding apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and shows a lower part of the welding apparatus 1. FIG. 1B is a plan view of the welding apparatus 1 and shows an upper part of the welding apparatus. FIG. 2 is a rear view of the welding apparatus 1. FIG. 3A is a right side view of the welding apparatus 1 and shows an upstream X-direction welding unit 200. FIG. 3B is a right side view of the welding apparatus 1 and shows the downstream Y-direction welding unit 300. In FIG. 1 to FIG. 3 and other drawings described below, a part of the cross section is shown as a cross section, and a cross section is shown by hatching.

  A welding apparatus 1 shown in these drawings is installed in a line for manufacturing electronic components, and is used when seam welding is performed on a workpiece 10 in a vacuum atmosphere. The work 10 is arranged on the work tray 20 in a state where a lid serving as a lid is placed on the opening of the package or in a temporarily attached state. On the work tray 20, a plurality of recesses for accommodating the work 10 are formed in a matrix in the X and Y axis directions, and the plurality of works 10 are arranged in a matrix in the X and Y axis directions.

  The welding apparatus 1 welds a plurality of workpieces 10 arranged on the workpiece tray 20 together while being conveyed in the X-axis direction as a whole. Specifically, the welding apparatus 1 includes a vacuum chamber 100 that keeps the inside in a vacuum atmosphere, an X-direction welding unit 200 that welds along the X-axis direction on the upstream side in the vacuum chamber 100, and a downstream side in the vacuum chamber 100. A Y-direction welding unit 300 for welding along the Y-axis direction on the side, a buffer station 400 for temporarily waiting for the workpiece 10 being welded in the middle flow in the vacuum chamber 100, and an external cooling unit 500 for cooling the vacuum chamber 100 from the outside. A preparation chamber (load lock) 600 arranged in parallel on the upstream side of the vacuum chamber 100, an extraction chamber (unload lock) 700 arranged in parallel on the downstream side of the vacuum chamber 100, and the workpiece 10 in the vacuum chamber 100. The upstream transfer unit 800 for sending in and the work 10 being sent out from the vacuum chamber 100 The side conveying unit 900, and a control unit (not shown), and the like.

  Each part of these welding apparatuses 1 is controlled centrally by the control unit. The control unit includes a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, and the like, and executes various controls. The CPU is a so-called central processing unit, and implements various functions (for example, a function for counting the number of weldings) by executing various programs. The RAM is used as a work area for the CPU. The ROM stores a program executed by the CPU.

  As will be described in detail later, the control unit having such a configuration determines the replacement timing of the X-direction welding roller 240 based on the number of weldings, and at the replacement timing, replaces the X-direction welding roller 240 with the X-direction welding roller for replacement. Control to replace 292. Similarly, the control unit determines the replacement timing of the Y-direction welding roller 340 based on the number of times of welding, and controls to replace the Y-direction welding roller 340 with the replacement Y-direction welding roller 392 at the replacement timing.

  The vacuum chamber 100 includes a chamber body 110 that is a substantially hexahedral box-shaped container, a vacuum pump 120, and an atmosphere release valve 130. The chamber body 110 has a first opening 112 communicating with the preparation chamber 600 on the upstream side wall and a second opening 114 communicating with the take-out chamber 700 on the downstream side wall. The 1st opening 112 is opened and closed by the upstream partition door 615 of the preparation chamber 600 mentioned later. The second opening 114 is opened and closed by a downstream partition door 715 of the take-out chamber 700 described later. In the vacuum chamber 100 in which the first opening 112 and the second opening 114 are closed, the air pressure in the chamber body 110 is controlled to an arbitrary pressure from atmospheric pressure to a vacuum atmosphere by the operation of the vacuum pump 120. The air release valve 130 is used during maintenance. In the chamber body 110, a beam 116 is formed along the X-axis direction in order to dispose an X-direction welding head moving mechanism 260 and a Y-direction welding head moving mechanism 360 described later. Further, a support material 118 extending in the Y-axis direction from the beam 116 is formed in the chamber body 110 in order to dispose a first Z-direction moving mechanism 270 and a second Z-direction moving mechanism 370, which will be described later. .

  The X-direction welding unit 200 welds a plurality of workpieces 10 arranged in a matrix along the X-axis direction for each row in the X-axis direction. Specifically, the X-direction welding unit 200 includes a first Y-direction positioning carrier 205 on which a plurality of workpieces 10 are placed together with the work tray 20, and a first Y-direction positioning carrier 205 that moves the first Y-direction positioning carrier 205 in the Y-axis direction. A Y-direction positioning carrier moving mechanism 210, a first support mechanism 220 for supporting and releasing the work tray 20 on the first Y-direction positioning carrier 205, a pair of X-direction welding rollers 240 and three (two The X-direction welding head 230 having a pair of first conveying fingers 250, an X-direction welding head moving mechanism 260 for moving the X-direction welding head 230 in the X-axis direction, and the X-direction welding constituting the X-direction welding head 230 A pair of first Z-direction movable members 268 disposed so as to be movable in the Z-axis direction with respect to the head base 231, and the first Z-direction A pair of X-direction welding roller housings 269 that are detachably disposed on the movable member 268 and rotatably support the X-direction welding roller 240, and move the X-direction welding roller 240 in the Z-axis direction, etc. A first Z-direction moving mechanism 270 that moves the finger 250 in the Z-axis direction and a first exchange carrier 290 on which a replacement X-direction welding roller 292 is placed are provided.

  The first Y-direction positioning carrier 205 functions as a first Y-direction offset unit that offsets a plurality of workpieces 10 conveyed in series in the X-axis direction by a first conveyance finger 250 described in detail later in the Y-axis direction. The X direction welding unit 200 welds a plurality of workpieces 10 offset in the Y axis direction by the first Y direction positioning carrier 205. Specifically, the first Y-direction positioning carrier 205 is disposed on the upstream bottom surface in the chamber body 110 so as to be linearly movable in the Y-axis direction. The first Y-direction positioning carrier moving mechanism 210 is disposed on the upstream bottom surface in the chamber body 110 as a power source for the first Y-direction positioning carrier 205. Specifically, the first Y-direction positioning carrier moving mechanism 210 includes two first Y-direction positioning carrier rails 211 arranged in parallel to each other along the Y-axis direction, and these two first Y-direction positioning directions. Two pairs of first Y-direction positioning carrier sliders 212 that linearly move in the Y-axis direction along the positioning carrier rail 211, a first Y-direction positioning carrier drive shaft 213 having a screw formed on the outer peripheral surface, A pair of first Y-direction positioning carrier drive shaft bearings 214 and 215 that rotatably support the first Y-direction positioning carrier drive shaft 213, and a first Y-direction positioning that is screwed to the first Y-direction positioning carrier drive shaft 213. A carrier nut 216 and a first Y-direction positioning carrier position control motor 217 connected to the first Y-direction positioning carrier drive shaft 213 are provided. To have.

  The first Y-direction positioning carrier rail 211 constitutes a basic portion of the first Y-direction positioning carrier moving mechanism 210 and also constitutes a basic portion of the first support mechanism 220 described in detail later. That is, the rail for the first Y-direction positioning carrier 205 and the rail for the first bumping member 221 that will be described in detail later are integrally formed. The two pairs of first Y-direction positioning carrier sliders 212 carry the first Y-direction positioning carrier 205, and the first Y-direction positioning carrier 205 is aligned with the two first Y-direction positioning carrier rails 211. Enables linear movement in the Y-axis direction. The first Y-direction positioning carrier drive shaft 213 is disposed in parallel between the two first Y-direction positioning carrier rails 211. One end of the first Y-direction positioning carrier drive shaft 213 passes through the side wall of the chamber body 110 and is exposed to the outside, and is connected to the first Y-direction positioning carrier position control motor 217. One first Y-direction positioning carrier drive shaft bearing 214 is disposed on the bottom surface in the chamber body 110. The other first Y-direction positioning carrier drive shaft bearing 215 is a magnetic fluid seal or the like, and is disposed in a penetrating portion in the side wall of the chamber body 110 to seal the penetrating portion. This first Y-direction positioning carrier drive shaft bearing 215 makes it possible to keep the inside of the chamber body 110 in a vacuum atmosphere while the first Y-direction positioning carrier drive shaft 213 is rotating and stopped. The first Y-direction positioning carrier nut 216 is fixed to the lower surface of the first Y-direction positioning carrier 205, and is driven by the first Y-direction positioning carrier position control motor 217. With the rotation, the first Y-direction positioning carrier 205 is linearly moved in the Y-axis direction. The first Y-direction positioning carrier drive shaft 213 and the first Y-direction positioning carrier nut 216 constitute a so-called ball screw having a ball at the screwing portion, and reduce resistance due to sliding.

  Here, the structure of the first support mechanism 220 will be described in detail. FIG. 4A is a perspective view of the first support mechanism 220.

  The first support mechanism 220 shown in this figure is disposed on the lower side on the upstream side in the chamber body 110. Specifically, the first support mechanism 220 includes a first abutting member 221 that can move in the Y-axis direction when the work tray 20 that has moved in the Y-axis direction together with the first Y-direction positioning carrier 205, and a first Y-direction member Two first Y-direction positioning carrier rails 211 that also serve as the positioning carrier moving mechanism 210, and a pair of first protrusions that linearly move in the Y-axis direction along these two first Y-direction positioning carrier rails 211 When the contact member slider 222, the first pressing member 223 that moves in the Y-axis direction together with the first Y-direction positioning carrier 205 and pushes the work tray 20, and the first contact member 221 move in the Y-axis direction, A first urging member 224 that urges the first abutting member 221 in the restoring direction, and a first abutting member 221 that is urged by the first urging member 224. It includes a first stopper 225 which restricts the movement range of restoring direction.

  The first abutting member 221 is disposed on the side of the work tray 20 along the X-axis direction so as to face the first pushing member 223. When the first pressing member 223 moves a predetermined amount in the Y-axis direction, the first abutting member 221 sandwiches the work tray 20 together with the first pressing member 223 and supports it on the first Y-direction positioning carrier 205. . The pair of first abutting member sliders 222 includes a first abutting member 221, and the first abutting member 221 is arranged in the Y-axis direction along the two first Y-direction positioning carrier rails 211. Enables linear movement. The first pushing member 223 is disposed on the first Y-direction positioning carrier 205 along the X-axis direction so as to face the first bumping member 221. When the first pushing member 223 moves a predetermined amount in the Y-axis direction, the work tray 20 is sandwiched with the first abutting member 221 and supported on the first Y-direction positioning carrier 205.

  Here, the structure of the X-direction welding head 230 will be described in detail. FIG. 5A is an enlarged front view of the X-direction welding head 230. FIG. 5B is an enlarged side view of the X-direction welding head 230.

  The X-direction welding head 230 includes a base X-direction welding head base 231 and a pair of Y-direction rails arranged parallel to each other along the Y-axis direction with respect to the front surface of the X-direction welding head base 231. 232, two linear motor type Y-direction sliders 233 that linearly move in the Y-axis direction along the pair of Y-direction rails 232, and the two pairs of Y-direction sliders 233 along the Z-axis direction. A pair of first Z-direction rails 234 arranged in parallel to each other, and two linear motor-type first Z-direction sliders 235 that linearly move along the pair of first Z-direction rails 234 in the Z-axis direction; A pair of first Z-direction movable members 268 which are attached to the two pairs of first Z-direction sliders 235 and are movable in the Z-axis direction, and are arranged at the lower ends of the pair of first Z-direction movable members 268. The pair of X-direction welding roller holding portions 236, the pair of X-direction welding roller housings 269 detachably disposed on the pair of X-direction welding roller holding portions 236, and the pair of X-direction welding roller housings 269. And a pair of X-direction welding rollers 240 on which a rotation shaft 237 for the X-direction welding roller is rotatably supported.

  Returning to FIGS. The X-direction welding head 230 is disposed on the beam 116 in the chamber main body 110 so as to be linearly movable in the X-axis direction above the first Y-direction positioning carrier 205. The X-direction welding head moving mechanism 260 is disposed above the first Y-direction positioning carrier 205 as a power source for the X-direction welding head 230. Specifically, the X-direction welding head moving mechanism 260 includes two welding head rails 261 disposed in parallel to each other along the X-axis direction on the side surface of the beam 116 so as to penetrate the support material 118. Two pairs of X-direction welding head sliders 262 that linearly move in the X-axis direction along the two welding head rails 261, an X-direction welding head drive shaft 263 having a screw formed on the outer peripheral surface, and the X A pair of X direction welding head drive shaft bearings 264 and 265 that rotatably support the direction welding head drive shaft 263, an X direction welding head nut 266 that is screwed to the X direction welding head drive shaft 263, and X direction welding An X-direction welding head position control motor 267 connected to the head drive shaft 263.

  The welding head rail 261 constitutes a basic portion of the X-direction welding head moving mechanism 260 and also constitutes a basic portion of a Y-direction welding head moving mechanism 360 described later. That is, a rail for the X-direction welding head 230 and a rail for a Y-direction welding head 330 described later are integrally formed. The two pairs of X-direction welding head sliders 262 fix the X-direction welding head 230 and allow the X-direction welding head 230 to linearly move in the X-axis direction along the two welding head rails 261. . The X-direction welding head drive shaft 263 is disposed in parallel between the two welding head rails 261 on the upstream side in the chamber body 110. One end of the X-direction welding head drive shaft 263 passes through the side wall of the chamber body 110 and is exposed to the outside, and is connected to the X-direction welding head position control motor 267. One X-direction welding head drive shaft bearing 264 is disposed on the side surface of the support member 118 in the chamber body 110. The other X-direction welding head drive shaft bearing 265 is a magnetic fluid seal or the like, and is disposed in a penetrating portion on the side wall of the chamber body 110 to seal the penetrating portion. The X-direction welding head drive shaft bearing 265 makes it possible to keep the inside of the chamber body 110 in a vacuum atmosphere while the X-direction welding head drive shaft 263 is rotating and stopped. The nut 266 for the X direction welding head is fixed to the back surface of the base 231 for the X direction welding head. As the X direction welding head drive shaft 263 driven by the X direction welding head position control motor 267 rotates, The X direction welding head 230 is linearly moved in the X axis direction. The X-direction welding head drive shaft 263 and the X-direction welding head nut 266 constitute a so-called ball screw having a ball at the screwing portion, and reduce resistance due to sliding.

The first Z-direction movable member 268 is disposed so as to be movable in the Z-axis direction with respect to the front surface of the X-direction welding head base 231. The first Z-direction movable member 268 is made of a material having thermal conductivity, thermal radiation, and insulation, and enhances heat dissipation performance of heat generated by seam welding. The welding heat generated by the X-direction welding head 230 is transmitted to the first Z-direction movable member 268 via the X-direction welding roller holding portion 236, and at the same time, is dissipated from the surface of the first Z-direction movable member 268 to the outside. Is done. Further, the X direction welding roller holding portion 236 and the X direction welding head base 231 are insulated by the first Z direction movable member 268. In addition, it is preferable to set the area of the front surface of the first Z-direction movable member 268 as large as possible to improve the heat dissipation performance. Specifically, the first Z-direction movable member 268 is provided with a heat radiating surface 268A having a predetermined area, and the area of the heat radiating surface is preferably 3 cm ² or more, preferably 5 cm ² or more.

The material of the first Z-direction movable member 268 preferably has a thermal conductivity of 170 W / (m · K) or more. The material of the first Z-direction movable member 268 preferably has a heat emissivity of 0.8 or more, that is, close to 1. The material of the first Z-direction movable member 268 preferably has an insulation resistance of 10 ³ Ω · cm or more. Furthermore, the material of the first Z-direction movable member 268 preferably has rust prevention and light weight. Ceramics are suitable for the material of the first Z-direction movable member 268, among which silicon carbide or aluminum nitride is more suitable. The heat emissivity of the ceramic to be employed is preferably 0.8 or more and 1.0 or less, and more preferably 0.93 or more and 0.95 or less. That is, the heat emissivity of ceramics is higher than 0.02 to 0.1 of the heat emissivity of aluminum or 0.5 to 0.9 of the heat emissivity of iron. Silicon carbide has a heat conductivity of 170 W / (m · K), a heat emissivity of 0.8 to 1.0, and an insulation resistance of 10 ³ Ω · cm to 5 × 10 ⁶ Ω · cm. It is as follows. Aluminum nitride has a thermal conductivity of 170 W / (m · K) or more and 230 W / (m · K) or less, a thermal emissivity of 0.93, and an insulation resistance of 10 ¹³ Ω · cm or more. Silicon carbide and aluminum nitride satisfy all of the above preferred conditions.

  The X-direction welding roller holding portion 236 is disposed at the lower end of the first Z-direction movable member 268 and rotatably holds the X-direction welding roller 240, and supplies current to the X-direction welding roller 240. Welding with the directional welding roller 240 is possible.

  The X-direction welding roller housing 269 contains a conductive paste for energization interposed between the X-direction welding roller 240 and the X-direction welding roller housing 269. The X-direction welding roller housing 269 is configured integrally with the X-direction welding roller 240 and can be replaced integrally with the X-direction welding roller 240.

  The pair of X-direction welding rollers 240 can be rotated about the Y-axis relative to the surface along the Y-axis of the X-direction welding head base 231, can be moved in the Z-axis direction, and can be attached and detached. The X-direction welding head base 231 can be moved in the X-axis direction. Further, the pair of X-direction welding rollers 240 can be moved in the Y direction by the Y-direction slider 233 so that the distance between them can be adjusted. Specifically, the pair of X-direction welding rollers 240 moves in the Z-axis direction above the first exchange carrier 290, which will be described in detail later, so that the X-direction welding roller for replacement is integrated with the X-direction welding roller housing 269. The roller 292 is automatically exchanged. The pair of X-direction welding rollers 240 constitutes a welding electrode and performs seam welding on the workpiece 10. That is, the pair of X-direction welding rollers 240 rolls while applying a pulsed voltage to the workpiece 10, thereby performing seam welding on the workpiece 10. For this reason, the pair of X-direction welding rollers 240 must be insulated from the X-direction welding head base 231, but the insulation is realized by the first Z-direction movable member 268 having insulation properties.

  The first Z-direction moving mechanism 270 includes a first Z-direction moving drive shaft 271 disposed along the X-axis direction so as to penetrate the X-direction welding head 230, and the first Z-direction moving drive shaft 271. A pair of first Z-direction moving drive shaft bearings 272 and 273 and a predetermined first direction of the first Z-direction moving drive shaft 271 (for example, a first Z-direction moving position control motor). A power conversion mechanism (not shown) for the X-direction welding roller that converts a rotational force in the left direction as viewed from the 274 side into a moving force in the Z-axis direction of the pair of X-direction welding rollers 240; The rotational force of the movement drive shaft 271 in the predetermined second direction (for example, the right direction when viewed from the first Z-direction movement position control motor 274 side) is applied in the Z-axis direction of the three first conveying fingers 250. Power converter for the first transfer finger that converts to a moving force (Not shown) and the X-direction welding roller interval for changing the distance between the first Z-direction movement position control motor 274 connected to the first Z-direction movement drive shaft 271 and the pair of X-direction welding rollers 240 A change mechanism (not shown) and an X-direction welding roller interval changing position control motor (not shown) connected to the X-direction welding roller interval changing mechanism are provided.

  A spline shaft is employed as the first Z-direction moving drive shaft 271. One end of the first Z-direction moving drive shaft 271 passes through the side wall of the chamber body 110 and is exposed to the outside, and is connected to the first Z-direction moving position control motor 274. One of the drive shaft bearings 272 for moving in the first Z direction is disposed on the side surface of the support member 118 in the chamber body 110. The other first Z-direction moving drive shaft bearing 273 is a magnetic fluid seal or the like, and is disposed in a penetrating portion in the side wall of the chamber body 110 to seal the penetrating portion. The first Z-direction moving drive shaft bearing 273 makes it possible to keep the inside of the chamber body 110 in a vacuum atmosphere while the first Z-direction moving drive shaft 271 is rotating and stopped. The power conversion mechanism for the X-direction welding roller is disposed in the X-direction welding head 230, and a predetermined first of the first Z-direction movement drive shaft 271 driven by the first Z-direction movement position control motor 274. The X-direction welding roller 240 is linearly moved in the Z-axis direction in accordance with the rotation in the direction (for example, the left direction when viewed from the first Z-direction movement position control motor 274 side). The X direction welding roller interval changing mechanism and the X direction welding roller interval changing position control motor are disposed in the X direction welding head 230. The X-direction welding roller interval changing mechanism is driven by the X-direction welding roller interval changing position control motor, and changes the interval between the pair of X-direction welding rollers 240 in the Y-axis direction.

  The three first transfer fingers 250 function as transfer means for transferring the plurality of workpieces 10 in series in the X-axis direction. These three first conveying fingers 250 are arranged with respect to the X-direction welding head 230 so as to be spaced apart from each other along the X-axis direction and movable in the Z-axis direction. At the same time, it is movable in the X-axis direction. Specifically, the three first transfer fingers 250 are separated from the first Y-direction positioning carrier 205 by a predetermined distance and separated from the first Y-direction positioning carrier 205 by a predetermined distance. It moves in the Z-axis direction between the first separation positions. Further, when the three first conveying fingers 250 are located at the first proximity position, the two first of them are sandwiched between the front and rear of the work tray 20 and moved together with the X-direction welding head 230 in the X-axis direction. The work tray 20 is pushed, and the several workpiece | work 10 is conveyed in the X-axis direction with the said work tray 20. FIG. On the other hand, the three first transport fingers 250 do not push the work tray 20 when positioned at the first separation position. The pair of first conveying fingers 250 keeps the distance between them in the X-axis direction constant.

  The power conversion mechanism for the first conveying finger described above is disposed in the X-direction welding head 230, and includes a first Z-direction moving drive shaft 271 driven by the first Z-direction moving position control motor 274. The first transport finger 250 is linearly moved in the Z-axis direction in accordance with rotation in a predetermined second direction (for example, rightward as viewed from the first Z-direction moving position control motor 274 side).

  The first exchange carrier 290 is fixed to one end of the first Y-direction positioning carrier 205 in the Y-axis direction and can move in the Y-axis direction together with the first Y-direction positioning carrier 205. On the first replacement carrier 290, a plurality of X-direction welding roller holders 294 that hold the replacement X-direction welding rollers 292 are placed along the Y-axis direction. On the plurality of X-direction welding roller holding bases 294, a pair of replacement X-direction welding rollers 292 are respectively placed along the Y-axis direction.

  The Y-direction welding unit 300 welds a plurality of workpieces 10 arranged in a matrix along the Y-axis direction for each column in the Y-axis direction. Specifically, the Y-direction welding unit 300 includes a second Y-direction positioning carrier 305 on which a plurality of workpieces 10 are placed together with the work tray 20, and a second Y-direction positioning carrier 305 that moves the second Y-direction positioning carrier 305 in the Y-axis direction. A Y-direction positioning carrier moving mechanism 310, a second support mechanism 320 that supports or releases the work tray 20 on the second Y-direction positioning carrier 305, a pair of Y-direction welding rollers 340, and a pair of second A Y-direction welding head 330 having a conveying finger 350, a Y-direction welding head moving mechanism 360 that moves the Y-direction welding head 330 in the X-axis direction, and a Y-direction welding head 330 that is movable in the Z-axis direction. The second Z-direction movable member 368 provided and the Y-direction welding roller detachably disposed on the second Z-direction movable member 368 A second Z-direction in which a pair of Y-direction welding roller housings 369 that rotatably hold 40 and the Y-direction welding roller 340 are moved in the Z-axis direction, etc., and the second transport finger 350 is moved in the Z-axis direction. A moving mechanism 370 and a second replacement carrier 390 on which a replacement Y-direction welding roller 392 is placed are provided.

  The second Y-direction positioning carrier 305 functions as second Y-direction offset means for offsetting a plurality of workpieces 10 conveyed in series in the X-axis direction by a second conveyance finger 350 described in detail later in the Y-axis direction. The Y-direction welding unit 300 welds a plurality of workpieces 10 that are offset in the Y-axis direction by the second Y-direction positioning carrier 305. Specifically, the second Y-direction positioning carrier 305 is disposed on the downstream bottom surface in the chamber body 110 so as to be linearly movable in the Y-axis direction. The second Y-direction positioning carrier moving mechanism 310 is disposed on the downstream bottom surface in the chamber body 110 as a power source for the second Y-direction positioning carrier 305. Specifically, the second Y-direction positioning carrier moving mechanism 310 includes two second Y-direction positioning carrier rails 311 arranged in parallel to each other along the Y-axis direction, and these two second Y-direction positioning directions. Two pairs of second Y-direction positioning carrier sliders 312 that linearly move in the Y-axis direction along the positioning carrier rails 311, a second Y-direction positioning carrier drive shaft 313 having a screw formed on the outer peripheral surface, A pair of second Y-direction positioning carrier drive shaft bearings 314 and 315 that rotatably support the second Y-direction positioning carrier drive shaft 313, and a second Y-direction positioning screwed to the second Y-direction positioning carrier drive shaft 313. A carrier nut 316, and a second Y-direction positioning carrier position control motor 317 connected to the second Y-direction positioning carrier drive shaft 313. To have.

  The second Y-direction positioning carrier rail 311 constitutes a basic portion of the second Y-direction positioning carrier moving mechanism 310 and also constitutes a basic portion of the second support mechanism 320 described in detail later. That is, the rail for the second Y-direction positioning carrier 305 and the rail for the second bumping member 321 described in detail later are integrally formed. The two pairs of second Y-direction positioning carrier sliders 312 mount the second Y-direction positioning carrier 305, and the second Y-direction positioning carrier 305 is along the two second Y-direction positioning carrier rails 311. Enables linear movement in the Y-axis direction. The second Y-direction positioning carrier drive shaft 313 is disposed in parallel between the two second Y-direction positioning carrier rails 311. One end of the second Y-direction positioning carrier drive shaft 313 passes through the side wall of the chamber body 110 and is exposed to the outside, and is connected to a second Y-direction positioning carrier position control motor 317. One second Y-direction positioning carrier drive shaft bearing 314 is disposed on the bottom surface in the chamber body 110. The other second Y-direction positioning carrier drive shaft bearing 315 is a magnetic fluid seal or the like, and is disposed in a penetrating portion in the side wall of the chamber body 110 to seal the penetrating portion. The second Y-direction positioning carrier nut 316 is fixed to the lower surface of the second Y-direction positioning carrier 305 and is driven by the second Y-direction positioning carrier position control motor 317. With this rotation, the second Y-direction positioning carrier 305 is linearly moved in the Y-axis direction. The second Y-direction positioning carrier drive shaft 313 and the second Y-direction positioning carrier nut 316 constitute a so-called ball screw having a ball at the screwing portion, and reduce resistance due to sliding.

  Here, the structure of the second support mechanism 320 will be described in detail. FIG. 4B is a perspective view of the second support mechanism 320.

  The second support mechanism 320 shown in this figure is disposed on the lower downstream side in the chamber body 110. Specifically, the second support mechanism 320 includes a second abutting member 321 that can move in the Y-axis direction when the work tray 20 that has moved in the Y-axis direction together with the second Y-direction positioning carrier 305, and a second Y-direction member Two second Y-direction positioning carrier rails 311 that also serve as the positioning carrier moving mechanism 310, and a pair of second protrusions that linearly move in the Y-axis direction along these two second Y-direction positioning carrier rails 311 When the contact member slider 322, the second pressing member 323 that moves in the Y-axis direction together with the second Y-direction positioning carrier 305 and pushes the work tray 20, and the second contact member 321 move in the Y-axis direction, A second urging member 324 that urges the second abutting member 321 in the restoring direction, and a second abutting member 321 that is urged by the second urging member 324. It includes a second stopper 325 which restricts the movement range of restoring direction.

  The second abutting member 321 is disposed on the side of the work tray 20 along the X-axis direction so as to face the second pressing member 323. When the second pressing member 323 moves a predetermined amount in the Y-axis direction, the second bumping member 321 sandwiches the work tray 20 together with the second pressing member 323 and supports it on the second Y-direction positioning carrier 305. . The pair of second abutting member sliders 322 includes a second abutting member 321, and the second abutting member 321 is arranged in the Y-axis direction along the two second Y-direction positioning carrier rails 311. Enables linear movement. The first pushing member 323 is disposed on the second Y-direction positioning carrier 305 along the X-axis direction so as to face the second bumping member 321. When the second pushing member 323 moves a predetermined amount in the Y-axis direction, the work tray 20 is sandwiched together with the second abutting member 321 and supported on the second Y-direction positioning carrier 305.

  Here, the structure of the Y-direction welding head 330 will be described in detail. FIG. 5C is an enlarged front view of the Y-direction welding head 330. FIG. 5D is an enlarged side view of the Y-direction welding head 330.

  The Y-direction welding head 330 includes a base Y-direction welding head base 331 and a pair of X-direction rails arranged parallel to each other along the X-axis direction with respect to the front surface of the Y-direction welding head base 331. 332, two linear motor type X-direction sliders 333 that linearly move in the X-axis direction along the pair of X-direction rails 332, and the two pairs of X-direction sliders 333 along the Z-axis direction. A pair of second Z-direction rails 334 arranged in parallel to each other, and two pairs of second Z-direction sliders 335 of a linear motor type that linearly moves along the pair of second Z-direction rails 334 in the Z-axis direction; A pair of second Z-direction movable members 368 attached to the two pairs of second Z-direction sliders 335 and movable in the Z-axis direction, and arranged at the lower ends of the pair of second Z-direction movable members 368. The pair of Y-direction welding roller holding portions 336, a pair of Y-direction welding roller housings 369 detachably disposed on the pair of Y-direction welding roller holding portions 236, and the pair of Y-direction welding roller housings 369. And a pair of Y-direction welding rollers 340 on which a Y-direction welding roller rotating shaft 337 is rotatably supported.

  Returning to FIGS. The Y-direction welding head 330 is made of a material having high thermal conductivity such as silicon carbide or aluminum nitride, and has a high heat dissipation capability. The Y-direction welding head 330 is disposed above the second Y-direction positioning carrier 305 so as to be linearly movable in the X-axis direction on the beam 116 in the chamber body 110. The Y-direction welding head moving mechanism 360 is disposed above the second Y-direction positioning carrier 305 as a power source for the Y-direction welding head 330. Specifically, the Y-direction welding head moving mechanism 360 includes two welding head rails 261 that also serve as the X-direction welding head moving mechanism 260, and a straight line in the X-axis direction along the two welding head rails 261. Two pairs of Y-direction welding head sliders 362 that move, a Y-direction welding head drive shaft 363 having a screw formed on the outer peripheral surface, and a pair of Y directions that rotatably support the Y-direction welding head drive shaft 363 Welding head drive shaft bearings 364 and 365, Y direction welding head nut 366 screwed to Y direction welding head drive shaft 363, and Y direction welding head position control motor connected to Y direction welding head drive shaft 363 367.

  The two pairs of Y-direction welding head sliders 362 fix the Y-direction welding head 330 and allow the Y-direction welding head 330 to linearly move in the X-axis direction along the two welding head rails 361. . The Y-direction welding head drive shaft 363 is disposed in parallel between the two welding head rails 261 on the downstream side in the chamber body 110. One end of the Y-direction welding head drive shaft 363 passes through the side wall of the chamber body 110 and is exposed to the outside, and is connected to a Y-direction welding head position control motor 367. One Y-direction welding head drive shaft bearing 364 is disposed on a side surface of the support member 118 in the chamber body 110. The other Y-direction welding head drive shaft bearing 365 is a magnetic fluid seal or the like, and is disposed in a penetrating portion in the side wall of the chamber body 110 to seal the penetrating portion. The Y-direction welding head drive shaft bearing 365 makes it possible to keep the inside of the chamber body 110 in a vacuum atmosphere while the Y-direction welding head drive shaft 363 is rotating and stopped. The Y-direction welding head nut 366 is fixed to the back surface of the Y-direction welding head base 331, and as the Y-direction welding head drive shaft 363 driven by the Y-direction welding head position control motor 367 rotates, The Y direction welding head 330 is linearly moved in the X axis direction. The Y-direction welding head drive shaft 363 and the Y-direction welding head nut 366 constitute a so-called ball screw having a ball at the screwing portion, and reduce resistance due to sliding.

The second Z-direction movable member 268 is disposed so as to be movable in the Z-axis direction with respect to the front surface of the Y-direction welding head base 331. The second Z-direction movable member 368 is made of a material having thermal conductivity, thermal radiation, and insulation, and enhances heat dissipation performance of heat generated by seam welding. The welding heat generated in the Y-direction welding head 330 is transmitted to the second Z-direction movable member 368 via the Y-direction welding roller holding portion 336, and at the same time, is dissipated from the surface of the second Z-direction movable member 368 to the outside. Is done. Further, the Y direction welding roller holding portion 336 and the Y direction welding head base 331 are insulated by the second Z direction movable member 368. In addition, it is preferable to set the area of the front surface of the second Z-direction movable member 368 as large as possible to improve the heat dissipation performance. Specifically, the second Z-direction movable member 368 is provided with a heat radiating surface 368A having a predetermined area, and the area of the heat radiating surface is preferably 3 cm ² or more, preferably 5 cm ² or more. The material of the second Z-direction movable member 368 preferably has the same physical property values as the material of the first Z-direction movable member 268. Ceramics are suitable for the material of the second Z-direction movable member 368, and among these, silicon carbide or aluminum nitride is more suitable.

  The Y-direction welding roller holding portion 336 is disposed at the lower end of the second Z-direction movable member 368 and rotatably holds the Y-direction welding roller 340, and supplies current to the Y-direction welding roller 340. Enables welding with direction welding roller 340.

  The Y direction welding roller housing 369 contains a conductive paste for energization interposed between the Y direction welding roller 340 and the Y direction welding roller 340. The Y-direction welding roller housing 369 is configured integrally with the Y-direction welding roller 340 and can be replaced with the Y-direction welding roller 340 integrally.

  The pair of Y-direction welding rollers 340 are disposed around the surface along the X-axis of the Y-direction welding head base 331 so as to be rotatable about the X-axis, movable in the Z-axis direction, and detachable. The Y-direction welding head base 331 is movable in the X-axis direction. Further, the pair of Y-direction welding rollers 340 are moved in the X direction by the X-direction slider 333 so that the distance between them can be adjusted. Specifically, the pair of Y-direction welding rollers 340 move in the Z-axis direction above the second exchange carrier 390, which will be described in detail later, so that the Y-direction welding roller for replacement is integrated with the Y-direction welding roller housing 369. The roller 392 is automatically exchanged. The pair of Y-direction welding rollers 340 constitute welding electrodes and perform seam welding on the workpiece 10. That is, the pair of Y-direction welding rollers 340 are welded to the workpiece 10 by rolling while applying a pulse voltage to the workpiece 10. For this reason, the pair of Y-direction welding rollers 340 need to be insulated from the Y-direction welding head base 331, but the insulation is realized by the second Z-direction movable member 368 having insulation.

  The second Z-direction moving mechanism 370 includes a second Z-direction moving drive shaft 371 disposed along the X-axis direction so as to penetrate the Y-direction welding head 330, and the second Z-direction moving drive shaft 371. A pair of second Z-direction moving drive shaft bearings 372 and 373 and a second Z-direction moving drive shaft 371 in a predetermined first direction (for example, a second Z-direction moving position control motor). A power conversion mechanism (not shown) for the Y-direction welding roller that converts a rotational force in the left direction as viewed from the side of 374 into a moving force in the Z-axis direction of the pair of Y-direction welding rollers 340; The rotational force of the moving drive shaft 371 in a predetermined second direction (for example, rightward when viewed from the second Z-direction moving position control motor 374 side) is applied to the Z-axis direction of the pair of second transport fingers 350. Power converter for second transfer finger that converts to moving force (Not shown), the second Z-direction movement position control motor 374 connected to the second Z-direction movement drive shaft 371, and the Y-direction welding roller interval for changing the distance between the pair of Y-direction welding rollers 340 A change mechanism (not shown) and a Y-direction welding roller interval changing position control motor (not shown) connected to the Y-direction welding roller interval changing mechanism are provided.

  A spline shaft is employed as the second Z-direction moving drive shaft 371. One end of the second Z-direction moving drive shaft 371 is exposed to the outside through the side wall of the chamber body 110 and is connected to the second Z-direction moving position control motor 374. One of the second Z-direction moving drive shaft bearings 372 is disposed on the side surface of the support member 118 in the chamber body 110. The other second Z-direction moving drive shaft bearing 373 is a magnetic fluid seal or the like, and is disposed in a penetrating portion in the side wall of the chamber body 110 to seal the penetrating portion. The second Z-direction moving drive shaft bearing 373 makes it possible to keep the inside of the chamber body 110 in a vacuum atmosphere while the second Z-direction moving drive shaft 371 is rotating and stopped. The Y-direction welding roller power conversion mechanism is disposed in the Y-direction welding head 330 and has a predetermined first Z-direction movement drive shaft 371 driven by a second Z-direction movement position control motor 374. The Y-direction welding roller 340 is linearly moved in the Z-axis direction along with the rotation in the direction (for example, the left direction when viewed from the second Z-direction movement position control motor 374 side). The Y direction welding roller interval changing mechanism and the Y direction welding roller interval changing position control motor are disposed in the Y direction welding head 330. The Y-direction welding roller interval changing mechanism is driven by the Y-direction welding roller interval changing position control motor, and changes the interval between the pair of Y-direction welding rollers 340 in the X-axis direction.

  The pair of second transport fingers 350 function as transport means for transporting the plurality of workpieces 10 in series in the X direction. The pair of second conveying fingers 350 are arranged with respect to the Y-direction welding head 330 so as to be spaced apart from each other along the X-axis direction and movable in the Z-axis direction, together with the Y-direction welding head 330. It can move in the X-axis direction. Specifically, the pair of second transport fingers 350 are arranged in a second proximity position that is close to the second Y-direction positioning carrier 305 to a predetermined interval, and the second Y-direction positioning carrier 305 is spaced apart from the second Y-direction positioning carrier 305 to a predetermined interval. It moves in the Z-axis direction between two spaced positions. Further, when the pair of second transport fingers 350 are located at the second proximity position, the front and rear of the work tray 20 are sandwiched, and the Y-direction welding head 330 moves in the X-axis direction to push the work tray 20. A plurality of workpieces 10 are conveyed along with the workpiece tray 20 in the X-axis direction. On the other hand, the pair of second transport fingers 350 does not push the work tray 20 when positioned at the second separation position. The pair of second conveying fingers 350 keeps the distance between them in the X-axis direction constant.

  The welding apparatus 1 includes three (two pairs) first transport fingers 250 in the first welding unit 200 as transport means for transporting the plurality of workpieces 10 in series in the X-axis direction. Although the welding unit 300 includes a pair of second conveying fingers 350, the present invention is not limited to this. That is, the welding apparatus 1 may include four (three pairs) conveying fingers on one of the first welding unit 200 or the second welding unit 300 as the conveying means.

  The power conversion mechanism for the second transport finger described above is disposed in the Y-direction welding head 330, and the second Z-direction movement drive shaft 371 is driven by the second Z-direction movement position control motor 374. The second transport finger 350 is linearly moved in the Z-axis direction in accordance with rotation in a predetermined second direction (for example, rightward as viewed from the second Z-direction movement position control motor 374 side).

  The second exchange carrier 390 is fixed to one end of the second Y-direction positioning carrier 305 in the Y-axis direction, and can move in the Y-axis direction together with the second Y-direction positioning carrier 305. On the second exchange carrier 390, a plurality of Y-direction welding roller holding bases 394 for holding the replacement Y-direction welding roller 392 are placed along the X-axis direction. On the plurality of Y-direction welding roller holding bases 394, a pair of replacement Y-direction welding rollers 392 are respectively placed along the X-axis direction.

  Here, the structure of the buffer station 400 will be described in detail. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the buffer station 400.

  The buffer station 400 shown in FIGS. 1 and 6 includes the X-direction welding unit 200 itself or the workpiece 10 located in the X-direction welding unit 200, and the Y-direction welding unit 300 itself or the workpiece located in the Y-direction welding unit 300. 10 is arranged to avoid interference. The buffer station 400 is an internal cooling unit that cools a plurality of works 10 together with the work tray 20 after being welded by the X direction welding unit 200 and before being welded by the Y direction welding unit 300 in the vacuum chamber 100. Functions as a unit. Specifically, the buffer station 400 includes a transport table 415 having a transport surface 410 disposed along the X-axis direction below a range in which the first transport finger 250 and the second transport finger 350 can move, and a transport surface. A pair of side guides 420, 430 disposed along the X-axis direction on the side of 410, a supply pipe 440 that feeds the refrigerant into the inside of the transfer table 415, and a circulation that circulates the refrigerant inside the transfer table 415 A pipe 445 for recovery, a recovery pipe 450 for recovering the refrigerant from the transfer table 415, an internal cooling heat exchanger 460, and an internal cooling pump 470.

  The transport table 415 is integrally provided with a leg portion 412 that stands upright and a transport surface 410 that extends in the horizontal direction from the upper end of the leg portion 412. The transfer table 415 has a circulation pipe 445 extending inside. The circulation pipe 445 is continuous with the supply pipe 440 and the recovery pipe 450, flows the refrigerant sent from the supply pipe 440, and sends it out to the recovery pipe 450. The transfer table 415 (including the workpiece 10 and the work tray 20 received on the transfer table 415) is cooled by the refrigerant flowing through the circulation pipe 445. In addition, the conveyance stand 415 functions as a tank for the refrigerant that includes the circulation pipe 445 and accommodates the refrigerant, and moves the heat generated when the workpiece 10 is welded to the refrigerant.

  The conveyance surface 410 receives the work tray 20 that is conveyed on the first Y-direction positioning carrier 205 by the first conveyance finger 250. The received work tray 20 is cooled by the transport table 415 cooled by the refrigerant, and then sent out to the second Y-direction positioning carrier 305 by the second transport finger 350. The pair of side guides 420 and 430 guide the work tray 20 on the transport surface 410 in the X-axis direction. The supply pipe 440 and the recovery pipe 450 respectively connect the circulation pipe 445 and the internal cooling pump 470 disposed outside the chamber body 110. The supply pipe 440 sends the refrigerant from the internal cooling pump 470 to the circulation pipe 445. The recovery pipe 450 recovers the refrigerant that has flowed through the circulation pipe 445 to the internal cooling pump 470 via the internal cooling heat exchanger 460. The internal cooling heat exchanger 460 and the internal cooling pump 470 are disposed outside the chamber body 110. The internal cooling heat exchanger 460 cools the heat-generated refrigerant that is used for cooling. The internal cooling pump 470 circulates the refrigerant. Water or the like is used as the refrigerant.

  Here, the structure of the external cooling unit 500 will be described in detail. FIG. 7 is an external perspective view of the external cooling unit 500.

  The external cooling unit 500 shown in this figure is disposed on the outer surface of the chamber body 110. The external cooling unit 500 absorbs heat radiated by workpiece welding and eventually cools the workpiece 10 and the like. Specifically, the external cooling unit 500 includes a jacket 510 serving as a refrigerant tank, a pair of external cooling pipes 520 and 530, an external cooling heat exchanger 540, and an external cooling pump 550. Yes.

  The jacket 510 is formed in a U-shape and has a thickness of about several millimeters. The jacket 510 has a pair of external cooling pipes 520 and 530 connected to both ends. The pair of external cooling pipes 520 and 530 connect the jacket 510 and the external cooling pump 550, respectively. One external cooling pipe 520 sends the refrigerant from the external cooling pump 550 to the jacket 510. The other external cooling pipe 530 recovers the refrigerant circulated through the jacket 510 to the external cooling pump 550 via the external cooling heat exchanger 540. The external cooling heat exchanger 540 is used for cooling and cools the heat-generated refrigerant. The external cooling pump 550 circulates the refrigerant. Water or the like is used as the refrigerant.

  The preparation chamber 600 has a function of feeding a plurality of workpieces 10 from the atmosphere to the vacuum chamber 100 while keeping the vacuum chamber 100 in a vacuum atmosphere. Specifically, the charging chamber 600 includes a charging chamber main body 610 that is a substantially hexahedral box-shaped container, a vacuum pump 620 for the charging chamber main body, and an atmosphere release valve 630 for the charging chamber main body. The charging chamber main body 610 is provided with an external opening 612 for a charging chamber main body that communicates with the outside on the upstream side wall, and includes an external door 613 for the charging chamber main body that opens and closes the external opening 612 for the charging chamber main body. . The charging chamber body 610 is formed with a charging chamber body communication port 614 that communicates with the vacuum chamber 100 through the first opening 112 on the side wall on the vacuum chamber 100 side. An upstream partition door 615 that opens and closes is provided. In the charging chamber 600 with the charging chamber body external opening 612 and the charging chamber body communication port 614 closed, the operation of the charging chamber body vacuum pump 620 changes the air pressure in the charging chamber body 610 from atmospheric pressure to a vacuum atmosphere. Control to any pressure up to. The charging chamber 600 can be configured to also serve as the vacuum pump 120 as the charging chamber main body vacuum pump 620, and the charging chamber main body vacuum pump 620 can be omitted.

  The take-out chamber 700 has a function of sending a plurality of workpieces 10 from the vacuum chamber 100 to the atmosphere while keeping the vacuum chamber 100 in a vacuum atmosphere. Specifically, the take-out chamber 700 includes a take-out chamber main body 710 that is a substantially hexahedron box-shaped container, a vacuum pump 720 for the take-out chamber main body, and an air release valve 730 for the take-out chamber main body. The extraction chamber body 710 is provided with an extraction chamber body external opening 712 that communicates with the downstream side wall, and includes an extraction chamber body external door 713 that opens and closes the extraction chamber body external opening 712. . The extraction chamber main body 710 is formed with an extraction chamber main body communication port 714 communicating with the vacuum chamber 100 through the second opening 114 on the side wall on the vacuum chamber 100 side. A downstream partition door 715 that opens and closes is provided. The extraction chamber 700 in a state in which the external opening 712 for the extraction chamber body and the communication port 714 for the extraction chamber body are closed is operated by the vacuum pump 720 for the extraction chamber body to change the air pressure in the extraction chamber body 710 from the atmospheric pressure to the vacuum atmosphere. Control to any pressure up to. The take-out chamber 700 can also be configured to serve as the vacuum pump 120 as the take-out chamber main body vacuum pump 720, and the take-out chamber main body vacuum pump 720 can be omitted.

  The upstream transport unit 800 includes an upstream first transport mechanism 810, an upstream second transport mechanism 820, and an upstream third transport mechanism 830, which are arranged in order from the upstream side. The upstream first transport mechanism 810 is disposed in the vicinity of the external door 613 for the preparation chamber main body on the outer bottom surface of the preparation chamber main body 610 and conveys the work tray 20 from the outside to the inside of the preparation chamber main body 610. Specifically, the upstream first transport mechanism 810 includes a plurality of upstream first transport rollers 812 arranged continuously in the X-axis direction. Each of the plurality of first upstream conveying rollers 812 is arranged to be rotatable about the Y axis, and conveys the work tray 20 in the X axis direction. The upstream second transport mechanism 820 is disposed on the inner bottom surface of the preparation chamber body 610 and transports the work tray 20 from the preparation chamber body 610 toward the chamber body 110. Specifically, the upstream second transport mechanism 820 includes a plurality of upstream second transport rollers 822 disposed continuously in the X-axis direction. Each of the plurality of second upstream-side transport rollers 822 is disposed so as to be rotatable about the Y-axis, and transports the work tray 20 in the X-axis direction. The upstream third transport mechanism 830 is disposed near the first opening 112 on the inner bottom surface of the chamber body 110 and transports the work tray 20 from the upstream in the chamber body 110 toward the middle stream. Specifically, the upstream third transport mechanism 830 includes a plurality of upstream third transport rollers 832 arranged continuously in the X-axis direction. Each of the plurality of upstream third transport rollers 832 is disposed so as to be rotatable about the Y axis, and transports the work tray 20 in the X axis direction.

  The downstream transport unit 900 includes a downstream first transport mechanism 910, a downstream second transport mechanism 920, and a downstream third transport mechanism 930, which are sequentially arranged downstream. The downstream first transport mechanism 910 is disposed in the vicinity of the second opening 114 on the inner bottom surface of the take-out chamber main body 710 and transports the work tray 20 from the middle flow in the chamber main body 110 toward the downstream. Specifically, the downstream first transport mechanism 910 includes a plurality of downstream first transport rollers 912 arranged continuously in the X-axis direction. The plurality of downstream first transport rollers 912 are arranged so as to be rotatable around the Y axis, and transport the work tray 20 in the X axis direction. The downstream second transport mechanism 920 is disposed on the inner bottom surface of the take-out chamber body 710 and transports the work tray 20 from the inside to the outside of the take-out chamber body 710. Specifically, the downstream second transport mechanism 920 includes a plurality of downstream second transport rollers 922 arranged continuously in the X-axis direction. The plurality of downstream-side second transport rollers 922 are each disposed so as to be rotatable about the Y-axis, and transport the work tray 20 in the X-axis direction. The downstream third transport mechanism 930 is disposed in the vicinity of the extraction chamber body external door 713 on the outer bottom surface of the extraction chamber body 710 and transports the work tray 20 so as to move away from the outside of the extraction chamber body 710. Specifically, the downstream third transport mechanism 930 includes a plurality of downstream third transport rollers 932 that are continuously disposed in the X-axis direction. Each of the plurality of downstream third transport rollers 932 is disposed so as to be rotatable about the Y axis, and transports the work tray 20 in the X axis direction.

  In this welding apparatus 1, in the X-direction welding unit 200, the first Y-direction positioning carrier 205 is moved in the Y-axis direction and the X-direction welding head 230 is moved in the X-axis direction, so that the matrix is placed on the work tray 20. A pair of X-direction welding rollers 240 can be arranged on an arbitrary workpiece 10 arranged in a shape. In the Y-direction welding unit 300, the second Y-direction positioning carrier 305 is moved in the Y-axis direction and the Y-direction welding head 330 is moved in the X-axis direction, so that the Y-direction welding unit 300 is arranged in a matrix on the work tray 20. A pair of Y-direction welding rollers 340 can be disposed on any workpiece 10.

  Next, the procedure of seam welding by the welding apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the procedure of seam welding by the welding apparatus 1.

  First, the plurality of workpieces 10 arranged on the workpiece tray 20 are fed into the vacuum chamber 100 (step S100). The plurality of workpieces 10 fed into the chamber body 110 are welded along the X-axis direction for each row in the X-axis direction in the X-direction welding unit 200 (step S200). Then, it is determined whether or not it is time to replace the X-direction welding roller 240 (step S210), and if it is time for replacement (YES in step S210), replacement is performed (step S220). Thereafter, during transfer from the X direction welding unit 200 to the Y direction welding unit 300, the plurality of workpieces 10 are cooled in the buffer station 400 (step S300). In the Y-direction welding unit 300, the plurality of workpieces 10 are welded along the Y-axis direction for each row in the Y-axis direction (step S400). Then, it is determined whether or not it is time to replace the Y-direction welding roller 340 (step S410), and if it is time for replacement (YES in step S310), replacement is performed (step S420). Thereafter, the plurality of workpieces 10 after welding are sent out from the vacuum chamber 100 to the atmosphere (step S500).

  Next, a detailed procedure of step S100, that is, a procedure of feeding a plurality of workpieces 10 arranged on the work tray 20 into the vacuum chamber 100 will be described. In this procedure, the vacuum chamber 100, the preparation chamber 600, and the upstream transfer unit 800 operate.

  The upstream side partition door 615 and the downstream side partition door 715 are closed in advance and the inside of the chamber body 110 is sealed, and then the vacuum pump 120 is operated to decompress the inside of the chamber body 110 and keep it in a vacuum atmosphere. First, the charging chamber main body external door 613 is opened, and the plurality of transport rollers 812 and 822 are driven to rotate. As a result, the plurality of workpieces 10 placed on the conveyance rollers 812 and 822 move in the X-axis direction together with the work tray 20 and are conveyed into the preparation chamber main body 610 via the external opening 612 for the preparation chamber main body. . Then, after closing the charging chamber main body external door 613 and sealing the charging chamber main body 610, the charging chamber main body vacuum pump 620 is operated to reduce the pressure in the charging chamber main body 610 and maintain a vacuum atmosphere. Next, the upstream partition door 615 is opened and the plurality of transport rollers 822 and 832 are driven to rotate. As a result, the plurality of workpieces 10 placed on the transport rollers 822 and 832 move in the X-axis direction together with the work tray 20, and the inside of the chamber main body 110 passes through the charging chamber main body communication port 614 and the first opening 112. It is conveyed to. Thereafter, the upstream partition door 615 is closed, and the inside of the chamber body 110 is sealed.

  Next, a detailed procedure of step S200, step S210, and step S220, that is, a procedure of welding a plurality of workpieces 10 along the X-axis direction for each row in the X-axis direction in the X-direction welding unit 200, etc. 9 will be used for explanation. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a procedure for welding a plurality of workpieces 10 along the X-axis direction for each row in the X-axis direction in the X-direction welding unit 200.

  First, the first transport finger 250 is moved upward in the Z-axis direction to be positioned at the first separation position. Then, the X-direction welding head 230 is moved to the upstream side in the X-axis direction and the first transport finger 250 is moved to the upper side of the third transport roller 832 on the upstream side, and then the first transport finger 250 is moved downward in the Z-axis direction. To be positioned at the first proximity position. Next, the X-direction welding head 230 is moved downstream in the X-axis direction to move the first conveying finger 250 downstream in the X-axis direction, and the plurality of workpieces 10 together with the work tray 20 are positioned in the first Y-direction positioning carrier 205. Carry up. Further, the first transport finger 250 is moved upward in the Z-axis direction to be positioned at the first separation position, and the X-direction welding roller 240 is moved in the Z-axis direction to move to a desired weldable height. Thereby, the preparation for welding in the X direction welding unit 200 is completed.

  When the preparation is completed, first, the X-direction welding head 230 is moved in the X-axis direction, the X-direction welding roller 240 is moved in the X-axis direction, and the first row of the plurality of workpieces 10 is moved along the X-axis direction. Welding is performed (see FIG. 9A). Then, after the first Y-direction positioning carrier 205 is moved by one line in the Y-axis direction (see FIG. 9B), the X-direction welding head 230 is moved in the direction of turning back in the X-axis direction, and the X-direction welding roller 240 is moved. Is moved in the direction of turning back in the X-axis direction, and the second row of the plurality of workpieces 10 is welded along the X-axis direction (see FIG. 9C). Thereafter, similarly, after moving the first Y-direction positioning carrier 205 by one line in the Y-axis direction (see FIG. 9D), the X-direction welding head 230 is moved in the direction of folding back in the X-axis direction to perform X-direction welding. The roller 240 is moved in the direction of folding back in the X-axis direction, and the plurality of workpieces 10 are welded along the X-axis direction for each row in the X-axis direction (see FIG. 9E). As described above, the X-direction welding unit 200 performs welding while moving the X-direction welding head 230 and moving the X-direction welding roller 240 and moving the first Y-direction positioning carrier 205 to perform welding. Switch 10 rows. Further, when the first transport finger 250 is located at the first separation position, the X-direction welding unit 200 performs welding while moving the X-direction welding head 230 and moving the X-direction welding roller 240. In the X-direction welding unit 200 in the present embodiment, the X-direction welding head 230 is relatively moved in a folded manner with respect to the plurality of workpieces 10, but may be relatively moved in a three-letter shape. .

  After the end of welding in the X-direction welding unit 200, 1 is added to the number of times of welding in the X-axis direction. It is determined whether it is time to replace the X-direction welding roller 240 based on whether the number of weldings after the addition has reached a predetermined number (for example, 25,000 times). If the predetermined number of times has been reached, the X-direction welding roller 240 is replaced with a replacement X-direction welding roller 292.

  The first transport finger 250 positioned above the first Y-direction positioning carrier 205 is moved downward in the Z-axis direction to be positioned at the first proximity position. Then, the X-direction welding head 230 is moved to the downstream side in the X-axis direction, the first transport finger 250 is moved to the downstream side in the X-axis direction, and the plurality of workpieces 10 are transported onto the transport surface 410 together with the work tray 20. As a result, the plurality of workpieces 10 are taken over by the buffer station 400.

  Next, a detailed procedure of step S400, step S410, and step S420, that is, a procedure for welding a plurality of workpieces 10 along the Y-axis direction for each row in the Y-axis direction in the Y-direction welding unit 300, etc. 10 will be used for explanation. FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining a procedure for welding a plurality of workpieces 10 along the Y-axis direction for each row in the Y-axis direction in the Y-direction welding unit 300.

  First, the second transport finger 350 is moved upward in the Z-axis direction to be positioned at the second separation position. Then, after the Y-direction welding head 330 is moved to the upstream side in the X-axis direction and the second transfer finger 350 is moved above the transfer surface 410, the second transfer finger 350 is moved downward in the Z-axis direction to make the second Place it in close proximity. Next, the Y-direction welding head 330 is moved downstream in the X-axis direction, the second transport finger 350 is moved downstream in the X-axis direction, and the plurality of workpieces 10 together with the work tray 20 are aligned with the second Y-direction positioning carrier 305. Carry up. Further, the second conveying finger 350 is moved upward in the Z-axis direction to be positioned at the second separation position, and the Y-direction welding roller 340 is moved in the Z-axis direction to move to a desired weldable height. Thereby, the preparation for welding in the Y direction welding unit 200 is completed.

  When the preparation is completed, first, the second Y-direction positioning carrier 305 is moved in the Y-axis direction to move the plurality of workpieces 10 in the Y-axis direction, and the first row of the plurality of workpieces 10 is along the Y-axis direction. Welding (see FIG. 10A). Then, after moving the Y-direction welding head 330 by one row in the X-axis direction (see FIG. 10B), the second Y-direction positioning carrier 305 is moved in the direction of folding back in the Y-axis direction to move the plurality of workpieces 10. The second row of the plurality of workpieces 10 is welded along the Y-axis direction (see FIG. 10C). Thereafter, similarly, after the Y-direction welding head 330 is moved by one row in the X-axis direction (see FIG. 10D), the second Y-direction positioning carrier 305 is moved in the direction of folding back in the Y-axis direction, and a plurality of workpieces are moved. 10 is moved in the direction of folding back in the Y-axis direction, and a plurality of workpieces 10 are welded along the Y-axis direction for each row in the Y-axis direction (see FIG. 10E). Thus, the Y-direction welding unit 300 moves the second Y-direction positioning carrier 305 to perform welding while moving the plurality of workpieces 10, and moves the Y-direction welding head 330 to weld the plurality of workpieces 10 to be welded. Switch the column. Moreover, when the 2nd conveyance finger 350 is located in the 2nd separation position, the Y direction welding unit 300 moves the Y direction welding head 330, and switches the row | line | column of the some workpiece | work 10 to weld. In the Y-direction welding unit 300 in the present embodiment, the Y-direction welding head 330 is relatively moved in a zigzag manner with respect to the plurality of workpieces 10, but may be relatively moved in a river shape. .

  After the end of welding in the Y-direction welding unit 300, 1 is added to the number of weldings in the Y-axis direction. It is determined whether it is time to replace the Y-direction welding roller 340 based on whether or not the number of weldings after the addition has reached a predetermined number (for example, 25,000 times). If the predetermined number of times has been reached, the Y-direction welding roller 340 is replaced with a replacement Y-direction welding roller 392.

  The second transport finger 350 positioned above the second Y-direction positioning carrier 305 is moved downward in the Z-axis direction to be positioned at the second proximity position. Then, the Y-direction welding head 330 is moved downstream in the X-axis direction, the second transport finger 350 is moved downstream in the X-axis direction, and the plurality of workpieces 10 together with the work tray 20 are placed on the downstream first transport roller 912. Transport to. As a result, the plurality of workpieces 10 are taken over by the downstream transport unit 900.

  Next, a detailed procedure of step S500, that is, a procedure of sending a plurality of welded workpieces 10 from the vacuum chamber 100 to the atmosphere will be described. In this procedure, the vacuum chamber 100, the take-out chamber 700, and the downstream transfer unit 900 operate.

  First, after the extraction chamber body external door 713 is closed and the extraction chamber body 710 is sealed, the extraction chamber body vacuum pump 720 is operated to decompress the inside of the extraction chamber body 710 and maintain a vacuum atmosphere. Then, the downstream partition door 715 is opened, and the plurality of transport rollers 912 and 914 are rotationally driven. As a result, the plurality of workpieces 10 placed on the transport rollers 912 and 914 move in the X-axis direction together with the workpiece tray 20, and the extraction chamber main body 710 is connected via the second opening 114 and the extraction chamber main body communication port 714. Conveyed in. Next, the atmosphere release valve 730 for the take-out chamber main body is operated to increase the pressure inside the take-out chamber main body 710, and after maintaining the atmospheric pressure, the external door 713 for the take-out chamber main body is opened and a plurality of transfer rollers 914 and 916 are moved. Rotation drive. Accordingly, the plurality of workpieces 10 placed on the conveyance rollers 914 and 916 move in the X-axis direction together with the work tray 20 and are conveyed to the outside of the extraction chamber main body 710 via the external opening 712 for the extraction chamber main body. . Thereafter, the downstream partition door 715 is closed, and the take-out chamber body 710 is sealed.

  Next, the path of heat generated by seam welding will be described using the X-direction welding unit 200 as an example.

  The heat generated by the seam welding on the workpiece 10 and the X direction welding roller 240 moves to the X direction welding roller housing 269. The heat that has moved to the X direction welding roller housing 269 moves from the X direction roller housing 269 to the first Z direction movable member 268. The heat that has moved to the first Z-direction movable member 268 is conducted through the first Z-direction movable member 268 and diffuses to the front surface of the first Z-direction movable member 268. The heat diffused to the front surface of the first Z-direction movable member 268 radiates in the vacuum atmosphere and is released to the outside of the vacuum chamber 100.

  As described above, the welding apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment cools the workpiece 10 in the vacuum chamber 100, the X-direction welding unit 200 and the Y-direction welding unit 300 for welding the workpiece 10 in the vacuum chamber 100. A buffer station 400 functioning as an internal cooling unit.

  For this reason, seam welding can be completed in the vacuum chamber 100 maintained in a vacuum atmosphere, and the production capacity can be improved. Further, the running cost can be reduced as compared with the case where the seam welding is performed in the chamber filled with nitrogen gas and the nitrogen gas is consumed. Furthermore, when a problem occurs in the chamber filled with nitrogen gas, it is necessary to sufficiently refill the nitrogen gas and lower the dew point after eliminating the problem. As a result, there is a problem that it takes a long time and the production capacity of the electronic component is reduced. However, since nitrogen gas is not required, there is no such problem. And in the buffer station 400, the workpiece | work 10 can be cooled and it can prevent that a defective product generate | occur | produces with a heat | fever and a yield falls. Further, if no heat countermeasure is taken, the first Y-direction positioning carrier 205 and the second Y-direction positioning carrier 305 may be warped or extended, or each member such as the chamber body 110 may be deformed. By taking measures against heat in the station 400, deformation of each member can be prevented.

  The welding apparatus 1 further includes an external cooling unit 500 that cools the vacuum chamber 100 from the outside on the outer surface of the chamber body 110. For this reason, it is possible to further prevent the yield from decreasing due to the generation of defective products due to heat. Further, it is possible to further prevent the first Y-direction positioning carrier 205 and the second Y-direction positioning carrier 305 from being warped and extended, and the members such as the chamber body 110 from being deformed.

  The X-direction welding unit 200 includes a first Y-direction positioning carrier 205 as first Y-direction offset means for offsetting the plurality of workpieces 10 in the Y-axis direction. A plurality of workpieces 10 to be offset are welded. The Y-direction welding unit 300 includes a second Y-direction positioning carrier 305 that offsets the plurality of workpieces 10 in the Y-axis direction, and welds the plurality of workpieces 10 offset in the Y-direction by the second Y-direction positioning carrier 305. . For this reason, the plurality of workpieces 10 are welded only by movement that is offset in the Y-axis direction in the process of being conveyed in series in the X-axis direction. That is, there is no waste in the movement of the plurality of workpieces 10. As a result, the time required for welding can be shortened, the production capacity can be further improved, and the space can be saved.

  And the conveyance path which conveys the some workpiece | work 10 linearly to an X-axis direction from the carrying in with respect to the vacuum chamber 100 to carrying out over both the X direction welding unit 200 and the Y direction welding unit 300 is provided. For this reason, there is no waste in the movement of the plurality of workpieces 10. As a result, the time required for welding can be shortened, the production capacity can be further improved, and the space can be saved.

  Furthermore, the X-direction welding unit 200 includes a first Y-direction positioning carrier 205 that can move in the Y-axis direction, and an X-direction welding head 230 that can move in the X-axis direction above the first Y-direction positioning carrier 205. The X-direction welding head 240 is provided with an X-direction welding roller 240 that is rotatable about the Y-axis. The X-direction welding unit 200 moves the X-direction welding head 230 to perform welding while moving the X-direction welding roller 240, and also moves the first Y-direction positioning carrier 205 to weld a plurality of workpieces 10 to be welded. Switch lines. For this reason, a plurality of workpieces 10 arranged in a matrix in the X and Y axis directions can be efficiently bundled along the X axis direction for each row in the X axis direction and welded in a short time.

  Next, the Y-direction welding unit 300 includes a second Y-direction positioning carrier 305 movable in the Y-axis direction, and a Y-direction welding head 330 movable above the second Y-direction positioning carrier 305 in the X-axis direction. The Y-direction welding head 330 is provided with a Y-direction welding roller 340 that is rotatably arranged around the X-axis. The Y-direction welding unit 300 moves the second Y-direction positioning carrier 305 to perform welding while moving the plurality of workpieces 10, and moves the Y-direction welding head 330 to align the plurality of workpieces 10 to be welded. Switch. For this reason, a plurality of workpieces 10 arranged in a matrix in the X and Y axis directions can be efficiently bundled and welded in a short time for each column in the Y axis direction along the Y axis direction.

  The X-direction welding head 230 includes an X-direction welding head base 231, a first Z-direction movable member 268 that can move in the Z-axis direction with respect to the X-direction welding head base 231, and the first Z-direction welding member 268. An X-direction welding roller holding portion 236 that is disposed on the direction-movable member 268 and holds the X-direction welding roller 240 rotatably around the Y-axis, and supplies current to the X-direction welding roller 240. .

  And the 1st Z direction movable member 268 has insulation. For this reason, in order to insulate the X direction welding head 230 from the X direction welding roller 240, it is not necessary to interpose an insulator between the X direction welding roller housing 269 and the first Z direction movable member 268. Without such an insulator, the heat generated from the X-direction welding roller 240 by seam welding does not hinder the movement from the X-direction welding roller housing 269 to the first Z-direction movable member 268. The first Z-direction movable member 268 has thermal conductivity. For this reason, the heat moved from the X direction welding roller housing 269 to the first Z direction movable member 268 can be diffused to the front surface of the first Z direction movable member 268. Further, the first Z-direction movable member 268 has thermal radiation. For this reason, the heat diffused to the front surface of the first Z-direction movable member 268 can be radiated, and as a result, heat can be prevented from being accumulated in the X-direction welding roller 240 and the X-direction welding roller housing 269. That is, the heat dissipation performance can be improved. As a result, it is possible to prevent the conductive paste interposed between the X-direction welding roller 240 and the X-direction welding roller housing 269 from being melted and flowing out to the outside, and thus preventing the X-direction welding roller 240 from being energized. it can. As a result, the welding apparatus 1 can be used continuously for a long time.

  Similarly, the Y-direction welding head 330 includes a Y-direction welding head base 331, a second Z-direction movable member 368 movable in the Z-axis direction with respect to the Y-direction welding head base 331, and the second A Y-direction welding roller holding portion 336 that is disposed on the Z-direction movable member 368 and holds the Y-direction welding roller 340 so as to be rotatable about the X axis, and supplies current to the Y-direction welding roller 340. Yes. The second Z-direction movable member 368 has thermal conductivity, thermal radiation, and insulation. For this reason, the same effect as the 1st Z direction movable member 268 is produced.

  The X-direction welding head 230 includes not only the X-direction welding roller 240 but also a first transport finger 250 that transports the plurality of workpieces 10 in the X-axis direction. Further, the Y-direction welding head 330 includes not only the Y-direction welding roller 340 but also the second conveyance finger 350 that conveys the plurality of workpieces 10 in the X-axis direction. For this reason, the power of the X-direction welding roller 240 and the Y-direction welding roller 340 can be shared with the power for transporting the workpiece 10, and thus the structure for transporting the workpiece 10 can be simplified. Further, since the workpiece 10 is linearly conveyed only in the X-axis direction, the layout of the entire line including the welding apparatus 1 can be arranged linearly, and an efficient layout can be achieved.

  Furthermore, the X direction welding unit 200 includes a first support mechanism 220 that supports the work tray 20 placed on the first Y direction positioning carrier 205. Further, the Y-direction welding unit 300 includes a second support mechanism 320 that supports the work tray 20 placed on the second Y-direction positioning carrier 305. For this reason, it can prevent that the work tray 20 and the workpiece | work 10 slip | deviate during welding, and can perform seam welding accurately.

  Next, the first support mechanism 220 is disposed so as to be movable in the Y-axis direction, and a first abutting member 221 against which the work tray 20 moved in the Y-axis direction together with the first Y-direction positioning carrier 205, and the first Y The first pushing member 223 that moves in the Y-axis direction together with the direction positioning carrier 205 and pushes the work tray 20 and the first abutting member in a direction to be restored when the first abutting member 221 moves in the Y-axis direction. A first urging member 224 that urges 221. Therefore, the work tray 20 can be automatically sandwiched and supported by the movement of the first Y-direction positioning carrier 205 on which the work tray 20 is placed in the Y-axis direction. That is, it is possible to reliably support the work tray 20 with a simple configuration.

  The X-direction welding unit 200 includes a first replacement carrier 290 on which a replacement X-direction welding roller 292 is placed. The first exchange carrier 290 is movable in the Y-axis direction together with the first Y-direction positioning carrier 205. The Y-direction welding unit 300 includes a second replacement carrier 390 on which a replacement Y-direction welding roller 392 is placed. The second exchange carrier 390 can move in the Y-axis direction together with the second Y-direction positioning carrier 305. For this reason, the power of the first Y-direction positioning carrier 205 and the second Y-direction positioning carrier 305 can be used as power for moving the replacement X-direction welding roller 292 and the replacement Y-direction welding roller 392. The structure for moving the X-direction welding roller 292 for replacement and the Y-direction welding roller 392 for replacement can be simplified.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and technical idea thereof.

  That is, in the above embodiment, the plurality of workpieces 10 after being welded along the X-axis direction by the X-direction welding unit 200 and before being welded along the Y-axis direction by the Y-direction welding unit 300, Although cooling is performed at the buffer station 400, the present invention is not limited to this, and a plurality of pieces after welding along the Y-axis direction and before welding along the X-axis direction are performed. The workpiece 10 may be cooled by the buffer station 400. Moreover, what is necessary is just to provide the welding unit which welds the workpiece | work 10 in the vacuum chamber 100, and the internal cooling unit which cools the workpiece | work 10 in the vacuum chamber 100, and the timing of cooling is not specifically limited. That is, according to the present invention, the cooling step for cooling the workpiece 10 may be performed before or after the welding step for welding the workpiece 10, or may be performed simultaneously with the welding step for welding the workpiece 10. For example, as the welding unit, one unit having the functions of the X-direction welding unit 200 and the Y-direction welding unit 300 is provided, and before or after welding with the welding unit, or at the same time as welding with the welding unit, the workpiece 10 is You may make it weld. Alternatively, only one of the X-direction welding unit 200 and the Y-direction welding unit 300 is provided as the welding unit, and the workpiece 10 is welded before or after welding with the welding unit or simultaneously with the welding unit. You may do it.

  In the above embodiment, the first and second Z-direction movable members 268 and 368 are not only made entirely of a material having thermal conductivity, thermal radiation, and insulation, A part thereof may be made of a material having thermal conductivity, thermal radiation, and insulation. In this case, it is important that at least a part of the roller is interposed at the contact portion of the roller holding portion to recover the heat of the roller holding portion while ensuring insulation. It is also preferable that at least a part of the surface has a certain degree of surface (hymen) facing any one of the inner walls of the vacuum chamber. This is because the heat recovered from the roller holding portion can be radiated to the inner wall of the vacuum chamber using this surface as a heat dissipation surface.

  The welding apparatus of the present invention can be used in the field of manufacturing electronic equipment, electronic components or other various articles, or physical distribution.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Welding apparatus 10 Work 20 Work tray 100 Vacuum chamber 200 X direction welding unit 205 1st Y direction positioning carrier 220 1st support mechanism 221 1st bump member 223 1st pushing member 224 1st biasing member 230 X direction welding head 231 X-direction welding head base 236 X-direction welding roller holding portion 240 X-direction welding roller 250 First transport finger 268 First Z-direction movable member 290 First exchange carrier 292 Replacement X-direction welding roller 300 Y-direction welding unit 305 Second Y-direction positioning carrier 320 Second support mechanism 321 Second bump member 323 Second pressing member 324 Second biasing member 330 Y-direction welding head 331 Y-direction welding head base 336 Y-direction welding roller holding portion 340 Y-direction Welding roller 350 Second transporting finger 368 second Z-direction movable member 390 second exchange carrier 392 for replacement in the Y direction welding roller 400 buffer station 415 carrying table 440 supply pipe 450 collection piping 500 external cooling unit

Claims (22)

A vacuum chamber that keeps its interior in a vacuum,
A welding unit for welding workpieces in the vacuum chamber;
An internal cooling unit for cooling the workpiece in the vacuum chamber,
Welding equipment. The internal cooling unit is
A supply pipe for feeding a refrigerant from the outside to the inside of the vacuum chamber;
A refrigerant tank that contains the refrigerant sent by the supply pipe and moves heat generated during welding of the workpiece to the refrigerant;
A recovery pipe for recovering from the tank to the outside of the vacuum chamber,
The welding apparatus according to claim 1. An external cooling unit for cooling the vacuum chamber from the outside is provided,
The welding apparatus according to claim 1 or 2. As the welding unit,
An X-direction welding unit for welding a plurality of works arranged in a matrix in the X direction and a Y direction perpendicular to the X direction along the X direction;
A Y direction welding unit for welding the plurality of workpieces along the Y direction,
The internal cooling unit is a buffer station that cools the plurality of workpieces after being welded by one of the X-direction welding unit and the Y-direction welding unit and before being welded by the other. To
The welding apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The X direction welding unit includes first Y direction offset means for offsetting the plurality of workpieces in the Y direction, and welding the plurality of workpieces offset in the Y direction by the first Y direction offset means,
The Y direction welding unit includes second Y direction offset means for offsetting the plurality of workpieces in the Y direction, and welding the plurality of workpieces offset in the Y direction by the second Y direction offset means. Characterized by
The welding apparatus according to claim 4. A conveyance path for linearly conveying the plurality of workpieces in the X direction from loading to unloading with respect to the vacuum chamber over both the X direction welding unit and the Y direction welding unit is characterized.
The welding apparatus according to claim 5. The X-direction welding unit is
A first Y-direction positioning carrier that is the first Y-direction offset means, wherein the plurality of works arranged on the work tray are placed together with the work tray and are movable in the Y direction;
An X-direction welding head movable above the first Y-direction positioning carrier in the X direction;
An X-direction welding roller that is rotatably arranged around the Y-axis parallel to the Y-direction with respect to the X-direction welding head, and is movable in the X-direction together with the X-direction welding head,
The X-direction welding head is moved to perform welding while moving the X-direction welding roller, and the first Y-direction positioning carrier is moved to switch the rows of the plurality of workpieces to be welded. ,
The Y-direction welding unit is
The second Y-direction offset means, wherein the plurality of works arranged on the work tray are placed together with the work tray and are movable in the Y direction;
Above the second Y-direction positioning carrier, a Y-direction welding head movable in the X direction;
A Y-direction welding roller that is rotatably arranged around the X-axis parallel to the X-direction with respect to the Y-direction welding head, and that is movable in the X-direction together with the Y-direction welding head,
Welding while moving the second Y-direction positioning carrier to move the plurality of workpieces, and moving the Y-direction welding head to switch the row of the plurality of workpieces to be welded,
The welding apparatus according to claim 6. The X-direction welding head is
A base for the X direction welding head;
A first Z-direction movable member movable in a Z direction perpendicular to each of the X direction and the Y direction with respect to the X-direction welding head base;
An X-direction welding roller holding portion that is disposed on the first Z-direction movable member and holds the X-direction welding roller rotatably around the Y-axis, and supplies current to the X-direction welding roller. ,
The first Z-direction movable member has thermal conductivity, thermal radiation, and insulation,
The welding heat generated by the X-direction welding roller is transmitted to the first Z-direction movable member through the X-direction welding roller holding portion, and at the same time is radiated to the outside from the surface of the first Z-direction movable member, and The X-direction welding roller holding portion and the X-direction welding head base are insulated by the first Z-direction movable member,
The welding apparatus according to claim 7. The first Z-direction movable member is made of a material having a thermal conductivity of 170 W / (m · K) or more,
The welding apparatus according to claim 8. The first Z-direction movable member is made of a material having a heat emissivity of 0.8 or more,
The welding apparatus according to claim 8 or 9. The first Z-direction movable member is made of a material having an insulation resistance value of 10 ³ Ω · cm or more,
The welding apparatus according to claim 8. The first Z-direction movable member is made of ceramics,
The welding apparatus according to claim 8. The ceramic is silicon carbide or aluminum nitride,
The welding apparatus according to claim 12. The Y-direction welding head is
A Y-direction welding head base;
A second Z-direction movable member movable in the Z direction with respect to the Y-direction welding head base;
A Y-direction welding roller holding portion that is disposed on the second Z-direction movable member and holds the Y-direction welding roller rotatably around the X-axis, and supplies a current to the Y-direction welding roller. ,
The second Z-direction movable member has thermal conductivity, thermal radiation, and insulation,
The welding heat generated by the Y-direction welding roller is transmitted to the second Z-direction movable member through the Y-direction welding roller holding portion, and simultaneously radiated from the surface of the second Z-direction movable member to the outside. The Y-direction welding roller holding part and the Y-direction welding head base are insulated by the second Z-direction movable member,
The welding apparatus according to any one of claims 7 to 13. The X-direction welding unit is
The X direction welding head is movably disposed between a first proximity position adjacent to the first Y direction positioning carrier and a first separation position spaced from the first Y direction positioning carrier. A first transport finger that moves in the X direction together with the X-direction welding head to push the work tray and transports the plurality of workpieces in the X direction together with the work tray when positioned at one close position; Characterized by
The welding apparatus according to any one of claims 7 to 14. The X-direction welding unit is
When the first conveying finger is located at the first separation position, welding is performed while moving the X-direction welding roller by moving the X-direction welding head,
The welding apparatus according to claim 15. The Y-direction welding unit is
The Y-direction welding head is movably disposed between a second proximity position adjacent to the second Y-direction positioning carrier and a second separation position spaced apart from the second Y-direction positioning carrier. A second conveying finger that moves in the X direction together with the Y-direction welding head to push the work tray and conveys the plurality of workpieces in the X direction together with the work tray when located at two adjacent positions; Characterized by
The welding apparatus according to any one of claims 7 to 16. The Y-direction welding unit is
When the second conveying finger is located at the second separation position, the Y-direction welding head is moved to switch the plurality of workpieces to be welded,
The welding apparatus according to claim 16 or 17. The X-direction welding unit is
A first support mechanism for supporting the work tray placed on the first Y-direction positioning carrier or releasing it;
The Y-direction welding unit is
The second tray is provided with a second support mechanism that supports the work tray placed on the second Y-direction positioning carrier or releases the work tray.
The welding apparatus according to claim 7. The first support mechanism includes:
A first abutting member disposed so as to be movable in the Y direction and against which the work tray moved in the Y direction abuts;
A first pressing member that moves in the Y direction together with the first Y-direction positioning carrier and pushes the work tray that has hit the first abutting member in the Y direction;
A first urging member that urges the first abutting member in a restoring direction when the first abutting member moves in the Y direction;
The second support mechanism is
A second abutting member disposed so as to be movable in the Y direction and against which the work tray moved in the Y direction abuts;
A second pressing member that moves in the Y direction together with the second Y-direction positioning carrier and pushes the work tray that hits the second abutting member in the Y direction;
A second urging member that urges the second abutting member in a restoring direction when the second abutting member moves in the Y direction,
The welding apparatus according to claim 19. The X-direction welding unit is
The X-direction welding roller for replacement is placed, and includes a first replacement carrier movable in the Y direction together with the first Y-direction positioning carrier,
Automatically exchanging the X-direction welding roller disposed in the X-direction welding head and the X-direction welding roller for replacement placed on the first exchange carrier;
The Y-direction welding unit is
The Y-direction welding roller for replacement is placed, and includes a second exchange carrier movable in the Y direction together with the second Y-direction positioning carrier,
The Y-direction welding roller disposed in the Y-direction welding head and the Y-direction welding roller for replacement placed on the second exchange carrier are automatically exchanged,
The welding apparatus according to any one of claims 7 to 20. A welding step of welding workpieces in a vacuum chamber that keeps its interior in a vacuum atmosphere;
A cooling step of cooling the workpiece before or after the welding step or simultaneously with the welding step,
Welding method.

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