JP2013163188A - Electrode inspection apparatus for spot welding - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily assemble a compact camera module in a short period of time, and to eliminate positional deviation of a camera with respect to first and second frames.SOLUTION: A camera module 4 includes: a mirror 6; first and second frames 40a, 40b arranged on both sides of the mirror 6; cameras 7 arranged between the first and second frames 40a, 40b and at the sides of the mirror 6; camera holders 70 having housing recesses 70c for housing the cameras 7; and a pair of flexible clips 9. The camera module 4 is assembled by bending both the clips 9 such that respective engaging parts 9a are engaged with the respective engagement recesses 41c, thereby fixing in place the first frame 40a, the camera holders 70, and the second frame 40b, and by pressing the cameras 7 via protrusions 9b means of the elastic force of the clips 9 while the first and second frames 40a, 40b are arranged at both the sides of camera holders 70, with the cameras 7 housed in the housing recesses 70c the openings of which face outward.

Description

  The present invention relates to an electrode inspection apparatus for spot welding used in, for example, an automobile production line.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an automobile production line, a spot welding electrode inspection apparatus is used in order to appropriately manage an electrode mounted and held at the tip of a spot welding gun. For example, an electrode inspection apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a measurement reference plate having an electrode fixing hole for inserting and fixing the electrode tip and a camera module. The camera module includes a mirror that projects a front end surface of an electrode, first and second frames disposed on both sides of the mirror, and a camera disposed on a side of the mirror between the first and second frames. And a camera holder having a housing recess for housing the camera, and the first and second frames are arranged on both sides of the camera holder with the housing recess opening for housing the mirror facing outward. It is like that. Then, with the measurement reference plate assembled to the camera module so that the electrode fixing hole corresponds to the mirror, the tip of the electrode is inserted and fixed in the electrode fixing hole, and the tip surface of the electrode is photographed by the camera via the mirror. And it is comprised so that it may be determined whether the front end surface of the said electrode is suitable for use.

International Publication No. 2011/052308 (paragraphs 0070-0079, FIGS. 15-18)

  By the way, in the camera module, if the position of the camera is deviated with respect to the first and second frames, the position of the image captured by the camera varies, and accordingly, the determination of the electrode inspection apparatus is erroneously determined. There is a fear. Therefore, it is necessary to firmly fix the camera to the first and second frames when assembling the camera module. However, Patent Document 1 does not disclose any means for fixing each component in the camera module.

  Here, as a general means for fixing each part of the camera module, joining with an adhesive and fastening with a screw can be considered. However, when parts are joined to each other with an adhesive, it is necessary to work while paying attention to the protrusion of the adhesive, and the work is complicated. On the other hand, when each part is fastened to each other with screws, it is necessary to provide a plurality of fastening points for each part. Therefore, the camera module may be enlarged due to the fastening part and assembled by fastening work of a plurality of fastening parts. It takes a long time to complete the operation.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a point, and an object of the present invention is to allow a small camera module to be easily assembled in a short time, and in addition, the first and first cameras can be assembled in a state where the camera module is assembled. An object of the present invention is to provide an electrode inspection apparatus for spot welding in which the position of the camera does not shift with respect to two frames.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is characterized in that a plurality of parts are sandwiched and fixed by a pair of clips.

  That is, in the first invention, a measurement reference plate having an electrode fixing hole for inserting and fixing the tip of the electrode for spot welding, and a camera module, the camera module includes a mirror that projects the tip surface of the electrode, A first and second frame disposed on both sides of the mirror; a camera that is disposed between the first and second frames on the side of the mirror and that captures an electrode tip surface projected on the mirror; and A camera holder having an accommodating recess for accommodating, and a pair of flexible strip-like clips, wherein the first and the first are arranged on both sides of the camera holder with the accommodating recess opening accommodating the camera facing outward. In a state in which two frames are arranged, both the clips are bent and the end portions are engaged with the first and second frame edges, respectively, so that the first frame, the camera holder, and the second frame are engaged. And is assembled by pressing the camera in the middle of the clip by the elastic force of the clip, and the measurement reference plate is assembled to the camera module so that the electrode fixing hole corresponds to the mirror. The electrode tip is inserted and fixed in the electrode fixing hole, and the tip surface of the electrode is photographed by the camera through the mirror to determine whether the tip surface of the electrode is suitable for use. It is characterized by being.

  According to a second aspect, in the first aspect, a projection is provided on the camera holder side of the clip halfway portion.

  According to a third invention, in the first or second invention, the camera module supports both side edges of the mirror, and a pair of support frames fixed between the first and second frames. It is characterized by having.

  In the first invention, the clip sandwiches the first and second frames so that the first frame, the camera holder, and the second frame are integrated, and the first frame, the camera holder, and the second frame are integrated. The middle part of the clip presses the camera against the camera holder. Therefore, by using a clip as a fixing means between the parts of the camera module, the camera holder can be fixed to the first and second frames and the camera can be fixed to the camera holder at a time. It takes less time to assemble the camera module than when using screws. Moreover, since it is not necessary to provide each component with a fastening portion for fixing the first frame, the camera holder, and the second frame to each other, the camera module can be reduced in size. Furthermore, since the camera is always pressed against the camera holder by the elastic force of the clip when the camera module is assembled, the position of the camera is not relative to the first and second frames during use of the electrode inspection apparatus. This will not cause an erroneous determination of the electrode inspection device.

  In the second invention, in the assembled state of the camera module, the protrusion tip of the clip comes into contact with the camera, so that the elastic force of the bent clip is reliably transmitted to the camera by the protrusion, and the camera holder is further strengthened. Can be fixed to.

  In the third invention, when the first and second frames are sandwiched by the clip, not only the camera holder but also the two support frames that support the mirror are fixed together in a state of being sandwiched between the first and second frames. Therefore, by using the clip for assembling the camera module, when the first frame, the camera holder and the second frame are fixed, the mirror can be assembled to the first and second frames at the same time. It is easier to assemble.

It is a perspective view of the electrode inspection apparatus for spot welding which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing in the AA of FIG. It is sectional drawing in the BB line of FIG. It is a disassembled perspective view of a camera module. It is the figure which extracted the camera module part of FIG. 2, and shows the state just before assembling a camera module. It is the figure which extracted the camera module part of FIG. 2, and shows the state immediately after assembling a camera module.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The following description of the preferred embodiment is merely exemplary in nature.

  FIG. 1 shows a spot welding electrode inspection apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this electrode inspection apparatus 1, in the welding gun G used when welding steel plates by spot welding, whether or not the tip surfaces of the pair of electrodes 10 respectively mounted and held on the gun tip portions facing vertically are suitable for use. The case 2 is provided with a flat rectangular parallelepiped metal case 2, and the surface of the case 2 is positioned so that the middle of the case 2 in the direction intersecting the longitudinal direction of the case 2 is located upward. It is gently curved.

  One side in the longitudinal direction of the case 2 has a substantially semicircular shape, and as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a substantially circular recess 2a is formed in the upper and lower surfaces of the case 2, respectively. A circular case opening 2b is formed in the center of the through hole.

  A substantially disk-shaped metal measurement reference plate 3 is detachably attached to each of the recesses 2a, and an electrode fixing hole 3a for inserting and fixing the tip side of the electrode 10 in the center of the measurement reference plate 3. Is formed through.

  The electrode fixing hole 3a is reduced in diameter while being gently curved toward the front side in the insertion direction of the electrode 10 so as to face the case opening 2b with the measurement reference plate 3 attached to the recess 2a. It has become.

  Further, on the periphery of the electrode fixing hole 3a of the measurement reference plate 3, an annular ridge 31 that can be inserted into the case opening 2b is projected toward the case 2 to constitute a thick portion, A plurality of grooves 31 a extending in the radial direction are formed in the distal end surface of the annular protrusion 31 in the circumferential direction.

  A camera module 4 having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape extending in a direction horizontally intersecting with the longitudinal direction of the case 2 is accommodated inside one side in the longitudinal direction of the case 2, and the camera module 4 has a skeleton of the camera module 4. A resin module body 40 is provided.

  The module main body 40 is divided into a first frame 40a located on the upper side and a second frame 40b located on the lower side at a substantially central position in the vertical direction.

  The first frame 40 a includes a plate-like frame 41 extending in the horizontal direction, and a substantially circular depression 41 a is formed in the central portion of the upper surface of the plate-like frame 41. Engaging recesses 41c extending in the longitudinal direction of the case 2 are respectively formed in the upper surfaces of both end portions.

  A circular module opening 41b is formed through the center of the recess 41a, and the module opening 41b faces the electrode fixing hole 3a of the measurement reference plate 3 so as to face the case opening 2b. Communicated with.

  A pair of projecting plates 43 are arranged in parallel at a position sandwiching the module opening 41b of the plate-shaped frame 41, and the lower end edge of each projecting plate 43 has a halved shape that is recessed upward. Recesses 43a are respectively formed.

  On the lower surface of the plate-like frame 41, a shielding plate 41d protrudes along the periphery of the module opening 41b on one side in the longitudinal direction of the plate-like frame 41, and the lower end edge of the shielding plate 41d is as shown in FIG. In addition, the case 2 is gently curved so that the center in the longitudinal direction is located upward.

  Since the second frame 40b has the same structure as the first frame 40a as shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the same reference numerals as those of the first frame 40a are used, and detailed description is omitted. To do.

  The module body 40 is assembled with the tips of the protruding plates 43 of the first and second frames 40a and 40b aligned so that the shielding plate 41d is in a point-symmetrical position in a side view. When the module body 40 is assembled, the upper and lower projecting plates 43 form the bridge frames 42 that bridge the plate frames 41, and the upper and lower halved recesses 43a form the circular through holes 44. It has come to be.

  In the center of the module main body 40 and between the bridging frames 42, mirrors 6 having mirror surfaces on both sides are inclined and the mirror surfaces of the mirrors 6 are inserted and fixed in the electrode fixing holes 3a. Further, the front end surface of each electrode 10 is projected.

  A pair of resin support frames 60 that support both side edges of the mirror 6 are disposed on both sides of the mirror 6 in the longitudinal direction of the case 2.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the support frame 60 includes a plate portion 61 having a substantially rectangular plate shape, and an annular frame portion 62 projecting outward from the outer peripheral edge of the plate portion 61.

  In the upper half portion of the plate portion 61, slits S1 and S2 extending in a V shape are formed, and in the lower half portion, inverted V-shaped slits S3 and S4 are formed on an extension line of the slits S1 and S2. The slits S1 to S4 form an X shape.

  A substantially triangular cutout 61a is formed at the center of the lower half portion of the plate portion 61. A pair of flexible rod-shaped protrusions is provided between the cutout 61a and the slits S3 and S4. 61b extends upward from the lower end edge of the cutout portion 61a so as to approach each other, and the tip portion has a substantially circular shape.

  In the slits S1 and S4, the side edge of the mirror 6 is fitted, and the side edge of the mirror 6 is fitted in the slits S1 and S4. Is bent so as to widen the slit S4, and the mirror 6 is pressed against the edge portion forming the slit S4 by a resilient force.

  In the embodiment of the present invention, the mirror 6 is inserted into the slits S1 and S4. However, the mirror 6 may be inserted into the slits S2 and S3.

  Camera holders 70 are disposed between the first and second frames 40a and 40b and on both sides of the mirror 6, respectively.

  The camera holder 70 includes a holder main body portion 70a having a substantially box shape, and a cylindrical portion 70b projecting from the holder main body portion 70a toward the mirror 6. The camera holder 70 includes the holder holder 70a. An accommodation recess 70c that opens to the side of the main body 70a opposite to the cylindrical portion 70b is formed.

  The accommodation recess 70 c accommodates a CMOS type camera 7, and the camera 7 captures the tip surface of the electrode 10 projected on the mirror 6.

  On the mirror 6 side of the holder main body 70a, an illumination plate 73 provided with a plurality of white LEDs 73a for illuminating the tip surface of the electrode 10 projected on the mirror 6, and milky white that diffuses light emitted from the white LEDs 73a A resin diffusion plate 74 is arranged in order.

  The illumination plate 73 and the diffusion plate 74 are formed with through holes 73b and 74b corresponding to the cylindrical portion 70b, respectively, and the illumination plate 73 and the diffusion plate 74 are externally fitted to the cylindrical portion 70b. It has become.

  Flexible strip-shaped resin clips 9 are attached to both ends of the module main body 40 in the longitudinal direction.

  At the upper and lower ends of the clip 9, engaging portions 9 a that are folded back in a substantially J shape are formed on the camera holder 70 side, respectively, and a protrusion 9 b is provided on the camera holder 70 side in the middle of the clip 9. Has been.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the camera module 4 is in a state where the pair of support frames 60 support the mirror 6, and the illumination plate 73 and the diffusion plate 74 are externally fitted to the cylindrical portion. In the state in which the camera 7 is housed in the housing recess 70c, both the upper and lower sides of the pair of camera holders 70 with the opening of the housing recess 70c facing outward and the pair of support frames 60 disposed between the camera holders 70 The first and second frames 40a and 40b are arranged on the same, and both the clips 9 are bent to engage the engaging portions 9a with the engaging recesses 41c at the edges of the first and second frames 40a and 40b, respectively. The first frame 40a, the camera holder 70, the support frame 60, the illumination plate 73, the diffusion plate 74, and the second frame 40b are fixed together, and the elasticity of the clip 9 is fixed. It is adapted to be assembled by pressing the camera 7 more projections 9b.

  On the upper surface side and the lower surface side of the module body 40, annular light source fixing plates 5 extending along the outer peripheral portion of the recessed portion 41a are respectively disposed, and positions corresponding to the respective grooves 31a of the light source fixing plate 5 Are respectively attached with blue LEDs 5a.

  The light emitted from the blue LED 5a passes through each of the grooves 31a and illuminates the peripheral edge of the tip of the electrode 10 fixed to the electrode fixing hole 3a from the radial direction.

  Further, a panel-shaped protective cover 8 made of a transparent resin is provided on the upper surface side and the lower surface side of the module main body 40, respectively.

  The protective cover 8 includes a concave cover body 81 that fits into the case opening 2b and the recess 41a, and an overhanging portion 82 that projects outward from the periphery of the open end of the cover body 81. The projecting portion 82 is sandwiched between the measurement reference plate 3 and the case 2.

  A control device (not shown) is connected to each camera 7, and the control device processes an image of the tip surface of each electrode 10 photographed by each camera 7 through the mirror 6, and the processing result. Is compared with a preset installation value to determine whether or not the tip surface of each electrode 10 is suitable for use.

  Next, assembly of the camera module 4 will be described.

  First, as shown in FIG. 5, both side edges of the mirror 6 are inserted into the slits S <b> 1 and S <b> 4 of the support frames 60, respectively.

  Next, the illumination plate 73 and the diffusion plate 74 are sequentially fitted onto the cylindrical portion 70b of the camera holder 70, and the camera 7 is accommodated in the accommodation recess 70c.

  Then, the pair of support frames 60 are disposed between the pair of camera holders 70 with the opening of the housing recess 70c facing outward, and the first and first sides are arranged on both upper and lower sides of the camera holders 70 and the support frames 60. Two frames 40a and 40b are arranged.

  Thereafter, both the clips 9 are bent to engage the engaging portions 9a with the engaging recesses 41c of the first and second frames 40a and 40b, respectively, so that the first frame 40a, the camera holder 70, the support frame 60, The illumination plate 73, the diffusion plate 74, and the second frame 40b are fixed. Then, as shown in FIG. 6, the projection 9b presses the camera 7 by the elastic force of the clip 9, and the camera module 4 is completed.

  As described above, according to the embodiment of the present invention, the clip 9 sandwiches the first and second frames 40a and 40b so that the first frame 40a, the camera holder 70, and the second frame 40b are integrated, and the first frame 40a, The projection 9b of the clip 9 presses the camera 7 against the camera holder 70 in a state where the camera holder 70 and the second frame 40b are integrated. Therefore, by using the clip 9 as a means for fixing the parts of the camera module 4, the camera holder 70 can be fixed to the first and second frames 40 a and 40 b and the camera 7 can be fixed to the camera holder 70 at a time. The camera module 4 does not take much time to assemble as in the case of using an adhesive or a screw. In addition, since it is not necessary to provide fastening parts for fixing the first frame 40a, the camera holder 70, and the second frame 40b to each part, the camera module 4 can be reduced in size. Further, since the camera 7 is always pressed against the camera holder 70 by the elastic force of the clip 9 in the assembled state of the camera module 4, the first and second frames 40a and 40b are used during the use of the electrode inspection apparatus 1. On the other hand, the position of the camera 7 is not shifted, and erroneous determination of the electrode inspection apparatus 1 is not caused.

  In addition, since the tip of the protrusion 9b of the clip 9 comes into contact with the camera 7 in the assembled state of the camera module 4, the elastic force of the bent clip 9 is reliably transmitted to the camera 7 by the protrusion 9b. The camera 7 can be fixed more firmly.

  Further, when the clip 9 sandwiches the first and second frames 40a and 40b, not only the camera holder 70 but also both support frames 60 that support the mirror 6 are sandwiched between the first and second frames 40a and 40b. It is fixed integrally. Therefore, when the clip 9 is used for assembling the camera module 4, when the first frame 40a, the camera holder 70, and the second frame 40b are fixed, the mirror 6 is also assembled to the first and second frames 40a, 40b. It can be performed simultaneously, and the camera module 4 can be assembled more easily.

  In the embodiment of the present invention, the protrusion 9b is provided in the middle of the clip 9. However, when the camera module 4 is assembled without providing the protrusion 9b in the middle of the clip 9, the clip without the protrusion 9b is provided. A structure in which the middle part of 9 abuts on the camera 7 may be adopted.

  Further, in the embodiment of the present invention, the both end edges of the mirror 6 are supported by the pair of support frames 60, and then the both first and second frames 40a, 40b are sandwiched between the first and second frames 60a, 40b. The mirror 6 is assembled to the two frames 40a and 40b, but after both the support frames 60 that do not support the mirror 6 are sandwiched between the first and second frames 40a and 40b, The mirror 6 may be fitted into the slits S1 and S4 from the side, and the mirror 6 may be assembled to the first and second frames 40a and 40b.

  The present invention is suitable, for example, for an electrode inspection apparatus for spot welding used in an automobile production line.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Electrode inspection apparatus for spot welding 3 Measurement reference plate 3a Electrode fixing hole 4 Camera module 6 Mirror 7 Camera 9 Clip 9b Protrusion 10 Electrode 31 Annular ridge 40a 1st frame 40b 2nd frame 60 Support frame 70 Camera holder 70c Housing recessed part G welding gun

Claims (3)

A measurement reference plate having an electrode fixing hole for inserting and fixing the tip of the electrode for spot welding, and a camera module;
The camera module includes a mirror that projects the tip end surface of the electrode, first and second frames disposed on both sides of the mirror, and a mirror disposed between the first and second frames on the side of the mirror. A camera recess for receiving the camera, the camera for shooting the electrode tip surface projected on the camera, a camera holder having a receiving recess for receiving the camera, and a pair of flexible strips. In a state where the first and second frames are arranged on both sides of the camera holder with the opening facing outward, both the clips are bent to engage each end with the first and second frame edges. The first frame, the camera holder and the second frame are fixed, and the camera is pressed in the middle of the clip by the elastic force of the clip.
In the state where the measurement reference plate is assembled to the camera module so that the electrode fixing hole corresponds to the mirror, the tip of the electrode is inserted and fixed in the electrode fixing hole, and the tip surface of the electrode is passed through the mirror to An electrode inspection apparatus for spot welding, which is configured to take a picture with a camera and determine whether or not the tip surface of the electrode is suitable for use. In the electrode inspection apparatus for spot welding according to claim 1,
An inspection apparatus for spot welding, wherein a protrusion is provided on the camera holder side of the clip halfway portion. In the electrode inspection apparatus for spot welding according to claim 1 or 2,
The camera module includes a pair of support frames that respectively support both side edges of the mirror and are fixed by being sandwiched between the first and second frames. .

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