JP3114439B2 - Welding equipment - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a welding apparatus used for performing spot welding on a panel, for example, in an automobile assembly line, and is particularly installed adjacent to a robot having a stud welding gun. The present invention relates to a welding device suitable for the above.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as the above-mentioned welding apparatus, for example, there has been one shown in FIG.

[0003] As shown in FIG.
Is a gauge post 102a, 102b for mounting and positioning the panel P1, clamps 103a, 103b for fixing the panel P1, cylinders 104a, 104b for holding and releasing the clamp 103, and a panel P1. Gun 105a for performing spot welding by
105b and the welding guns 105a and 105b by the panel P1.
The base 106 is provided with a slide mechanism (not shown) for contacting / separating the panel P1. When spot welding is performed using the welding apparatus 101, the panel P1 is placed on the gauge posts 102a and 102b and positioned. After the panel P1 is gripped and fixed by the clamps 103a and 103b, the welding gun 105a,
105b is brought into contact with the panel P1 to perform spot welding in this step.

[0004]

However, in the conventional welding apparatus 101 described above, the gauge post 102
Since the panel P1 is placed on the a and 102b in a state of being laid down and positioning is performed, when the panel P1 is deep, the operator is forced to lean forward. As a result, the work of attaching the panel P1 is complicated and hard for the operator.

Also, gauge posts 102a and 102b, cylinders 104a and 104b,
Since most of the welding guns 105a and 105b, the brackets and the slide mechanisms (not shown) are located at substantially the same level, there is a possibility that they may interfere with each other and maintenance becomes difficult in some cases. Have.

Further, in the case where spot welding is performed in the same step before or after the welding step using the welding apparatus 101, a different welding apparatus from the welding apparatus 101 is used in the same step. Therefore, in addition to requiring a large number of transformers for the welding gun, if the difference between the panel set accuracy of these welding devices is large, there is a problem that the welding accuracy of the panel P1 is adversely affected. Has been a conventional problem.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems. It is possible to easily set a panel having a large depth and to cause interference between components. It is an object of the present invention to provide a welding apparatus that can perform welding without any additional steps, can further improve the maintainability, and can perform welding in two steps in one step.

[0008]

According to the present invention, there is provided a panel mounting base having a plurality of clamps, supported on a horizontal axis, and rotatable about the horizontal axis, and rotating the panel mounting base. Mounting base driving means for standing up and lying down,
A first step welding gun that performs welding on the panel on the panel mounting base in the upright state of the panel mounting base, and a first step that performs welding on the panel on the panel mounting base in the reclining state of the panel mounting base. A lower electrode for stud welding, which is provided with a two-step welding gun, and which can be welded by a stud welding gun provided on a robot installed adjacent to and separate from the second step welding gun, is provided on the panel mount. And a cable having a power supply unit having one end connected to the lower electrode and the other end connected to a power supply, and in a state where the panel mounting base is lying down,
It is characterized in that it is configured to enable simultaneous welding by the second step welding gun and the stud welding gun of the robot, and the configuration of this welding device is a means for solving the above-mentioned conventional problems.

[0009]

In the welding apparatus according to the present invention, when the panel mounting base is turned upright by the operation of the mounting base driving means, even if the panel is deep, the panel mounting base is provided. Will be performed in a standing posture without forcing the operator to lean forward, and since the panel will be set substantially along the car line, the set workability will be improved.

[0010] After the first step welding is performed on the panel held by the plurality of clamps on the panel mounting base by the first step welding gun, the panel mounting base is operated by operating the mounting base driving means. When the panel is rotated to lie down, the panel moves to the welding position in the second step, and the welding in the second step is performed by the welding gun in the second step at this position. In addition, when power is supplied via a cable to the lower electrode for stud welding provided on the panel mount in a state where the panel mount is lying down, the lower electrode is installed adjacent to and separate from the second step welding gun. In other words, the second step welding gun and the robot stud welding gun can be simultaneously welded in a state where the panel mounting base is lying down. Since the cable is also located on the panel mount, the cable is prevented from being bent or twisted when the panel mount is rotated. As a result, the service life of the cable is extended. .

At this time, positioning components such as a gauge post for positioning the panel are disposed on the panel mounting base, and a height difference between the welding position in the first step and the welding position in the second step is provided. That is, since the first-step welding gun and the second-step welding gun are arranged vertically displaced, for example, even if a mechanism for moving each welding gun is provided, these mechanisms are also displaced vertically. As a result, a series of welding operations are performed without interference between the components such as the first and second process welding guns, and also the maintainability is improved. .

Further, in the welding apparatus according to the present invention,
Since the welding in one step is performed in one step, the number of transformers of the welding gun is almost halved, and the welding accuracy is determined only by the setting accuracy of one panel mounting stand.

[0013]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIGS. 1 to 14 show an embodiment of a welding apparatus according to the present invention. In this embodiment, the welding apparatus according to the present invention is used in an assembly process of a hood ridge and a member in an automobile body assembly line. Shows the case of adoption.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the welding apparatus 1 comprises a base 2 installed on a base E, and a horizontal shaft 4 supported by a bearing 3a of a frame 3 provided on the base 2.
A panel mounting base 5 which is rotatable by connecting a protruding piece 5a thereto, a mounting base driving cylinder 6 as mounting base driving means for rotating the panel mounting base 5, and a plurality of mounting bases as a first step welding gun. (4 in this embodiment, 2 in FIG.
), A spot welding gun 8 as a second step welding gun, and a plurality of spot welding guns 9a.
To 9d.

FIGS. 5 to 12 show the panel mounting table 5.
As shown in the figure, a plurality of clamps 10a to 10h and a plurality of locate pins 11 each movable in the axial direction.
a to 11i, a plurality of vehicle type detection sensors 12a to 12e and a gauge are provided, and a plurality of clamps 10a to 10h are sequentially arranged from the back side to the front side in FIG. The hood ridge F and the member M are clamped at gauge contact positions Ga to Gh indicated by virtual lines, respectively.

The mounting table drive cylinder 6 is provided with a base 2
2 is rotatably supported via a cylinder shaft 15 which is parallel to the horizontal shaft 4 and the tip of the cylinder rod 6a is attached to the right end (the upper end in FIG. 1) of the panel mounting base 5 in FIG. By pivotally connecting to the projection 5b provided,
As shown in FIG. 1, when the rod 6a of the mounting base drive cylinder 6 is pushed out, the panel mounting base 5 is erected, and when the rod 6a is retracted, the panel mounting base 5 is laid down.

In this case, shock absorbers 16a and 16b are provided on the front and upper surfaces of the frame 3, respectively. When the panel mounting base 5 stands up and lays down by the rod pushing / pulling-out operation of the mounting base driving cylinder 6, The block 5c provided on the panel mounting base 5 side,
5d so as to reduce the impact. Also,
Proximity switches 17a and 17b are provided near the shock absorbers 16a and 16b, respectively. When the panel mount 5 stands up, the approach of the block 5c is detected and the rod pushing operation of the mount drive cylinder 6 is stopped. At the same time, when the panel mounting base 5 is lying down, the approach of the detecting projection 5e provided on the block 5d is detected, and the rod retracting operation of the mounting base driving cylinder 6 is also stopped. Further, a stopper 18 comprising a cylinder 18a and a toggle clamp 18b is provided at the left end of FIG. 1 of the base 2, and a stopper 19 also comprising a cylinder 19a and a toggle clamp 19b is provided on the upper surface of the frame 3. The stoppers 18 and 19 regulate the return rotation of the panel mounting base 5 which is standing or lying down.

The spot welding gun 7a of the spot welding guns 7a and 7b is an arm 2 having a central portion pivotally connected to a bracket 20 provided at the left end of the base 2 in FIG.
1 is slidably attached to one end (the left end in FIG. 1). The other end of the arm 21 (the right end in FIG. 1) and the rod 22a of the cylinder 22 provided on the bracket 20 are pivotally connected to each other, so that the spot welding gun 7a It is rotatable. In addition, the spot welding gun 7b is
1 and above the spot welding gun 7a, and performs welding simultaneously with the spot welding gun 7a.

On the other hand, the spot welding gun 8 and the plurality of spot welding guns 9a to 9d are supported by a stand 23 provided on the right side of the base 2 in FIG. The spot welding gun 8 is attached to one end (left end of FIG. 1) of an arm 25 having a central portion pivotally connected to a bracket 24 provided on the left end of the stand 23 in FIG. 1, and the other end of the arm 25 (right end in FIG. 1). ) And the rod 26a of the cylinder 26 provided on the bracket 24, the spot welding gun 8 is operated by the operation of the cylinder 26 so that the spot welding gun 8
Is rotatable with respect to. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the plurality of spot welding guns 9a to 9d are mounted on a slide plate 27 movable on rails 23a provided on the stand 23, and fixed to the right end of the stand 23 in FIG. By connecting the tip of the rod 28a of the cylinder 28 to the slide plate 27, these spot welding guns 9a to 9d move on the rail 23a by the rod pushing and pulling operation of the cylinder 28 in the direction of the arrow in FIG. To move to.

As shown schematically in FIG. 13, the welding apparatus 1 is arranged two by two with a material handling robot R in between, and a hood ridge F and a member assembled by welding. The material handling robot R transfers the assembled product of M to the next process.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, a material handling robot R is provided with a robot hand RH.
2 and 14, a lower electrode 31 for stud welding and one end are connected to the lower electrode 31, and a power supply plate is connected to the other end of the panel mounting base 5, as shown in FIGS. G (power supply unit) 33 is provided. That is, when the mounting base drive cylinder 6 is pulled into the rod and the panel mounting base 5 is brought into the state shown in FIG. Through the lower electrode 3
By supplying power to the stud welding gun 1 and the plurality of spot welding guns 9a to 9d, welding is performed by the stud welding gun 30 at the same time. In this case, since the cable 32 is provided on the panel mounting base 5 side as described above, when the panel mounting base 5 rotates, the cable 3
No bending or twisting occurs in the cable 2 and the life of the cable 32 is extended.

Next, a procedure for welding the hood ridge F and the member M by the welding apparatus 1 will be described.

First, the panel mounting base 5 is turned upright by the rod pushing-out operation of the mounting base drive cylinder 6, and the gauge contact positions Ga to Gh of the hood ridge F and the member M are set at predetermined positions of the panel mounting base 5. After the plurality of locating pins 11a to 11i are inserted through the hood ridge F and the member M, the hood ridge F and the member M are gripped by the plurality of clamps 10a to 10h.

At this time, the setting of the hood ridge F and the member M with respect to the panel mounting base 5 is performed in a standing posture without forcing the operator to lean forward, and in addition, the worker is substantially set along the car line. Since the setting is performed in the state, the setting operation is simple.

Next, a clamp 10a is attached to the panel mounting base 5.
Food ridge F and member M gripped at 10 to 10 h
The first step welding is performed by positioning the spot welding guns 7a and 7b at the first step welding point.

Next, the panel mounting base 5 is rotated clockwise in FIG. 1 to lie down as shown in FIG. 2 by the rod pull-in operation of the mounting base driving cylinder 6, and then the spot as shown in FIG. The welding gun 8 is positioned at the second step welding point of the hood ridge F and the member M by the operation of the cylinder 26, and the plurality of spot welding guns 9a to 9d are pushed on the rail 23a by the rod pushing operation of the cylinder 28 in FIG. The hood ridge F and the member M are similarly moved to the left to be positioned at the second step welding point of the hood ridge F and the member M, and the welding of the second step is performed. At the same time, FIG.
As shown in FIG.
By stud welding gun 30 of the material handling robot R by sandwiching the 3, it intends row welding for a given welding point. In this case, the cable 32 is mounted on the panel.
Since it is provided on the table 5 side, the rotation of the panel mounting table 5
At times, bending or twisting of the cable 32 may occur.
And the life of the cable 32 is extended.
It will be.

During this time, the positioning components such as the gauge posts are arranged on the panel mounting table 5, and there is a height difference between the welding position in the first step and the welding position in the second step. , Spot welding guns 7a, 7b and spot welding gun 8, a plurality of spot welding guns 9a to 9d
Are displaced from each other in the vertical direction, and the cylinder 22 for rotating the spot welding gun 7a and the cylinder 28 for moving the plurality of spot welding guns 9a to 9d are also displaced in the vertical direction. A series of welding operations is performed without interference between components such as the spot welding guns 7a and 7b, the spot welding gun 8, and the plurality of spot welding guns 9a to 9d, and maintenance is easy.

After the welding in the second step is completed, the plurality of spot welding guns 9a to 9d are moved rightward in FIG. 1 along the rails 23a by the rod retracting operation of the cylinder 28, followed by the clamp 10a. Release the gripping of the material handling robot R
The assembly of the hood ridge F and the member M is transported to the next step by the robot hand RH.

Therefore, in the welding apparatus 1, since the welding in two steps is performed in one step, the transformers of the spot welding guns 7a and 7b, the spot welding gun 8 and the plurality of spot welding guns 9a to 9d are formed. The number is
The welding in the two steps is performed in approximately half as compared with the case where the welding is performed by separate welding devices, and the material handling is also performed.
By the stud welding gun 30 of the dring robot R
However, since welding is performed, the cost of welding is reduced.
Will be reduced is achieved, in addition, so that the welding accuracy is determined only by the panel mount 5 single set accuracy.

In the embodiment described above, the cylinder 22
, The spot welding gun 7a is connected to the hood Ridge F
And the member M is positioned at the first step welding point. For example, the hood ridge F and the member M are set on the panel mounting base 5 at the same time as the first step welding point of the hood ridge F and the member M. Can be inserted into the spot welding gun 7a. In this case, the number of cylinders 22 can be reduced.

Further, the detailed configuration of the welding apparatus according to the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the welding apparatus according to the present invention is adopted in the assembly process of the hood ridge and the member in the vehicle body assembly line is shown, but the invention is not limited to this.

As described above, in the welding apparatus according to the present invention, since the above-described configuration is employed, the two-step welding can be performed in one step, and the panel has a large depth. However, since the panel can be mounted on the panel mounting base in a standing posture without taking a forward leaning posture, it is possible to improve the set workability, and without impairing the maintainability, and A series of welding operations can be performed without causing interference between components such as the first and second process welding guns. In addition, the transformer of the welding gun can be reduced and welding accuracy can be improved. In addition, a stud welding gun provided on a robot installed adjacent to and separate from the second step welding gun while minimizing wear of a cable for supplying power to the lower electrode. Extremely excellent effect that the welding can be performed also by is provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory side view of a welding apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention in a state where a panel mounting base is erected.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory side view of the welding device shown in FIG. 1 in a state where a panel mounting base is laid down;

FIG. 3 is an explanatory side view showing a situation where the welding device shown in FIG. 1 is arranged side by side with a material handling robot.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory plan view of a spot welding gun in the welding apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged explanatory view of a clamp in the welding device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged explanatory view of a clamp in the welding apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged explanatory view of a clamp in the welding apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged explanatory view of a clamp in the welding apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged explanatory view of a clamp in the welding apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 (a) is an enlarged explanatory view of a clamp in the welding apparatus shown in FIG. 1; (B) It is explanatory drawing which looked at the clamp shown in FIG.10 (a) from the right direction.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged explanatory view of a clamp in the welding device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged explanatory view of a clamp in the welding apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 13 is an explanatory view of the arrangement of the welding device shown in FIG. 1;

14 is an explanatory view of a positional relationship between a lower electrode for stud welding on a panel mounting base of the welding apparatus shown in FIG. 1 and a power supply gun on a base.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory side view showing a conventional welding device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Welding apparatus 4 Horizontal axis 5 Panel mounting base 6 Mounting base drive cylinder (mounting base drive means) 7a, 7b Spot welding gun (first step welding gun) 8 Spot welding gun (second step welding gun) 9a-9b Spot welding Gun (second step welding gun) 10a to 10h Clamp 30 Stud welding gun 31 Lower electrode 32 Cable 33 Feeding plate (feeding part) F Hood ridge (panel) M Member (panel) R Material handling robot TR Welding transformer (power supply)

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B23K 11/11 B23K 37/047 B62D 65/00

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A panel mounting base having a plurality of clamps and supported on a horizontal axis and rotatable about the horizontal axis, and a mounting base for rotating the panel mounting base to stand up and lie down. A driving means, a first step welding gun for performing welding on a panel on the panel mounting base in the upright state of the panel mounting base, and a panel on the panel mounting base in a lying state of the panel mounting base. A stud welding gun which is provided with a second step welding gun for performing welding, and which can be welded to the panel mounting base by a stud welding gun provided on a robot which is separately installed adjacent to the second step welding gun; And the lower electrode of
A cable provided with a power supply unit having one end connected to the lower electrode and the other end connected to a power source is provided. In a state where the panel mount is lying down, simultaneous welding by the second step welding gun and the stud welding gun of the robot is performed. A welding device characterized by being made possible.