JP3257321B2 - Mash seam 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 seam welding apparatus for seam welding two plate-like works, and more particularly, to overlapping the ends of two works, and using the overlapped portion as an electrode. The present invention relates to a mash seam welding device for welding while crushing with a mash.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A general mash seam welding apparatus comprises a left and right clamp means having upper and lower clamp plates for holding a plate-like work, and an overlap of ends of the work held by the left and right clamp means, respectively. Welding means for crushing and welding the joining portion with the electrode, wherein the welding means is supported on a U-shaped carriage and is moved along the overlapping portion of the work end.

[0003] In this type of mash seam welding, when a force in the opening direction acts on two workpieces due to the pressing force of the electrodes, and the clamping force by the clamping means is insufficient, the two workpieces are clamped between the upper and lower clamp plates. Work move in the opening direction mutually, and it becomes difficult to secure a desired overlapping margin. For this reason, conventionally, a large number of cylinder devices as clamping force generating means are installed, and a large pressing force (several tons to several tens tons) is applied to the entire upper and lower clamp plates to increase the clamping force. .

[0004]

However, according to the measures for installing a large number of cylinder devices as the clamping force generating means, the clamping means becomes complicated and large,
Inevitably increases installation space and equipment costs,
In addition, there is a problem that large power is required when it is desired to move the clamp means while fixing the installation position of the welding means.

[0005] For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 4-288909 discloses a method in which a punch for punching is provided on a clamp plate, and a punch is made in a steel plate work by the punch during clamping, and the work is locked by the punch. Mash seam welding equipment is described, but in this equipment,
Since the product must be perforated, its use is limited.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems. It is an object of the present invention to perform special processing such as drilling a workpiece without making the clamping means complicated and large. It is possible to easily and surely perform clamping without using a space, thereby reducing installation space, reducing equipment costs, and expanding the range of use.

[0007]

Means for Solving the Problems According to the present invention, in order to solve the above problems, left and right clamping means having upper and lower clamp plates for holding a plate-like work can be slid in a welding direction.
And within the sliding range of the left and right clamp means,
The welding means for welding while crushing the overlapped portion of the end of the work held by each clamp means with the electrode is fixed.
And setting, in the vicinity of the electrode of the welding means, characterized in that fixedly provided a pressing means for pressing the upper clamping plate of said clamping means.

In the present invention, the pressurizing means includes an operating rod having a roller at a lower end capable of contacting the upper clamp plate of the clamp means, and an urging means for urging the operating rod toward the upper clamp plate. Can be provided.

[0009]

In the mash seam welding device configured as described above, the force in the opening direction acting on the two workpieces is large.
In addition, the movement of the two workpieces in the opening direction is restricted by intensively pressing the vicinity of the electrode of the welding means by the pressing means. Further, when the pressurizing means has a structure having an operating rod and a biasing means, the movement of the operating rod can absorb a variation in the thickness of the work.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In FIGS. 1 to 3, reference numeral 1 denotes a first base having a pair of left and right support frames 2 and 3 extending in parallel in a welding direction A, and reference numeral 4 denotes a longitudinal direction of the first base 1. The second frame is arranged near the center so as to intersect with the second frame. The support frames 2 and 3 of the first frame 1 are supported by the second frame 4 at the center. On each support frame 2, 3 of the first gantry 1, a rail 5
Are mounted and fixed at predetermined intervals, respectively, and the rails 5 on each of the pair of rail bases 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b are provided with a plate-like work W1, Left and right clamp devices 8 and 9 for respectively holding W2 are slidably mounted via slide guides 10.

Each of the clamp devices 8 and 9 includes a lower clamp plate 1 supported on a rail 5 via the slide guide 10.
1 and an upper clamp plate 12 superimposed on the lower clamp plate 11. As shown in FIG. 3, the upper clamp plate 12 is inserted upward from a plurality of (two in this case) clamping cylinders 13 fixed to the lower surface of the lower clamp plate 11 to pass therethrough. It is supported by an extended piston rod 14. On the other hand, a guide rod 15 extends downward from the upper clamp plate 12 through the lower clamp plate 11, and the guide rod 15 is supported by a slide bearing 16 provided on the lower clamp plate 11. The plurality of cylinders 13 operate synchronously, and the operation of the cylinder 13 causes the upper clamp plate 12 to approach and separate in parallel with the lower clamp 11, and the plate-like works W1, W2 are held therebetween. Will be done. The two plate-shaped works W1 and W2 are sandwiched between the clamp devices 8 and 9 with their one ends slightly overlapped. The clamping force (clamping force) of each of the clamping devices 8 and 9 is a small value of about several hundred Newtons.

Racks 17 and 18 are integrally provided on the lower surface of the lower clamp plate 11 of the left and right clamp devices 8 and 9 so as to reach between the pair of rail bases 6a and 6b and 7a and 7b. Each pair of rail bases 6a and 6b, 7a and 7b
Between them, pinions 19 and 20 are arranged so as to mesh with the racks 17 and 18, respectively. The left and right pinions 19, 20 extend in a direction intersecting the welding direction A and are non-rotatably mounted on a common rotary shaft 21 rotatably supported by the rail bases 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b. I have.
An output shaft 23 of a motor 22 fixedly mounted on the second gantry 4 is operatively connected to one end of the rotating shaft 21. When the rotating shaft 21 rotates left or right by the operation of the motor 22, The rotation is converted into motion by the pinions 19 and 20 and the racks 17 and 18 and transmitted to the left and right slide devices 8 and 9, and the left and right slide devices 8 and 9 reciprocate in the welding direction A. Become like

On the other hand, the columns 24, 2
A support plate 25 is provided via the support plate 4, and an upper unit 27 of a welding device (welding means) 26 is provided at a central portion in the longitudinal direction of the support plate 25. The upper unit 27 includes an air cylinder 28 fixed on the support plate 25 and a bracket 3 attached to a lower end of a piston rod 29 extending downward from the air cylinder 28.
And a disc-shaped upper electrode 31 interposed therebetween. The upper electrode 31 is attached to the bracket 30 so as to be rotatable around a horizontal axis orthogonal to the welding direction A, and is supplied with electric power from a welding power source (not shown). The upper electrode 31 is formed of the two plate-like works W described above.
It is positioned just halfway between the left and right clamping devices 8 and 9 so as to be directed to the overlapping portion of 1 and W2.

Further, below the upper unit 27, a lower unit 32 constituting the welding device 26 is provided. The lower unit 32 includes a support member 33 arranged upright in the second gantry 4 and a lower electrode 34 rotatably mounted on the support member 33 so as to face the upper electrode 31.
And The lower unit 32 is provided in a fixed position. When the left and right clamping devices 8 and 9 advance in the welding direction A from the original position shown in FIG. The overlapped portion of W1 and W2 rides on the lower electrode 34.

The support plate 25 on the second gantry 4 is provided with a pair of pressurizing devices 35a, 35a on the left and right sides in proximity to the upper unit 27 of the welding device 26, respectively.
b and 36a, 36b are provided. Each pressurizing device 35
a, 35b, 36a, and 36b extend vertically in the support plate 25 and are fixed to the guide cylinder 37. The guide cylinder 37 is slidably and non-rotatably disposed via a sleeve 38 in the guide cylinder 37. An operating rod 40 having a rotatable 39 and an air cylinder 41 fixed to the upper end of a guide cylinder 37 are provided. The operating rod 40 is supported by a piston rod 42 of the air cylinder 41.
By supplying and discharging compressed air into the air cylinder 41, the operating rod 40 expands and contracts with respect to the guide cylinder 37, and the roller 39 at the lower end thereof engages with the upper clamp plate 12 of the left and right clamp devices 8 and 9. The position is determined between a possible pressing position (solid line position) and a standby position (dot-dash line position) where the upper clamp plate 12 cannot be engaged.

Here, the left and right pressing devices 35a, 35
Each pair of 5b, 36a, 36b is arranged along the welding direction A, one of which 35a and 36a is behind the upper unit 27 of the welding device 26 with respect to the welding direction A, and the other 35b and 36b is the upper unit 27. Are disposed at opposing positions with respect to.

Hereinafter, the operation of the seam welding apparatus configured as described above will be described.

At the time of seam welding, the left and right clamping devices 8 and 9 are previously positioned at the original positions (the positions shown in FIG. 2), and the upper clamp plate 12 is raised by the operation of the clamping cylinder 13 at that position. Upper and lower clamp plates 12 and 1
Leave 1 open. Then, the workpieces W1 and W2 are placed on the lower clamp plates 12 of the left and right clamp devices 8 and 9 using positioning means (not shown) such that their tips are slightly overlapped with each other. Upon completion, the upper clamp plate 12 is lowered by the operation of the cylinder 13,
Each work W1, W2 between the upper and lower clamp plates 12 and 11
Sandwich. At the same time, each pressurizing device 35a,
Compressed air is supplied to the air cylinders 41 of 35b, 36a, and 36b to extend the operating rod 40, and the roller 39 is positioned at a pressing position where the roller 39 can be engaged with the upper clamp plate 12. The upper electrode 31 is moved downward by the operation of the air cylinder 28 of the upper unit 27 of the welding device 26, and the upper electrode 31 is brought into contact with the lower electrode 34 at a predetermined pressure.

Next, the operation of the motor 22 causes the rotation shaft 21 to rotate.
Is rotated to transmit power to the left and right clamping devices 8, 9 via the pair of pinions 19, 20 and the pair of racks 17, 18, and synchronize the left and right clamping devices 8, 9 with each other. It is moved in the welding direction A at a predetermined speed (for example, 60 to 120 m / min). Then, during the movement, first, the rollers 39 of the rear pressing means 35a and 36a in the welding direction A roll on the upper surface of the upper clamp plate 12, and then the front pressing means in the welding direction A. The rollers 39 of 35b and 36b roll on the upper surface of the upper clamp plate 12. At this time, the operating rod 40 is slightly shortened, and a cushion pressure corresponding to the air pressure in the air cylinder 41 is applied to the upper clamp plate 12, whereby the upper clamp plate 12 is pressed against the lower clamp plate 11 with a strong force. .

The upper and lower clamp plates 8 and 9 of the left and right clamp devices 8 and 9 are driven at the timing when the rollers 39 of the pressing means 35 b and 36 b on the front side in the welding direction A are on the upper surface of the upper clamp plate 12. The overlapped portion of the two plate-like works W1 and W2 sandwiched between 12 and 11
6 between the upper electrode 31 and the lower electrode 34. At this time, a predetermined electric power is supplied to the upper electrode 31 from a welding power supply (not shown), so that the overlapping portion of the works W1 and W2 is rapidly heated, and the upper and lower electrodes 3 are heated.
The mash seam welding is continuously crushed by receiving the pressing force of 1, 34, and the mash seam welding continuously proceeds.

At the time of the above welding, two works W1,
Although a force in the opening direction acts on W2, each pressing device 35a, 35
Since the rollers 39 of b, 36a and 36b intensively press the vicinity of the upper electrode 31 via the upper clamp plate 12, the two works W1 and W2 do not move in the opening direction mutually, As a result, mash seam welding proceeds at a desired overlap margin, and desired welding quality is secured.
When the welding of the overlapped portions of the works W1 and W2 is completed, the upper electrode 31 of the welding device 26 and the rollers 39 of the pressing devices 35a, 35b, 36a and 36b are returned to the standby position, and the motor 22 The left and right clamp devices 8, 9 are returned to their original positions by the rotation of
This completes a series of mash seam welding.

According to the above embodiment, each work W1, W2
Of the pressing devices 35a, 35b, 36a, 3
6b, the clamping force generated by the clamping devices 8 and 9 itself is small, and accordingly, the clamping cylinder 13 can be small and the number thereof can be minimized (two each). It will be enough. This means that the weight of the clamping devices 8, 9 is significantly reduced, and therefore the welding device 26 as in this embodiment.
In a case where the position is fixed and the clamping devices 8 and 9 are moved, the power cost is greatly reduced. By the way, in the conventional general mash seam welding device, the clamp device is fixed in position and the welding device is moved by the U-shaped carriage, so the moving part becomes heavy and the power cost increases, for example, an automobile panel. When applied to a mass production line that performs welding, the power cost becomes a large cost burden.

In the above embodiment, since the operating rod 40 of each of the pressurizing devices 35a, 35b, 36a, 36b is urged in the clamping direction by the air / air cylinder 41, the thickness of the workpieces W1, W2 varies. Even if there is, you can follow this smoothly.

In the above embodiment, the pressing device 3
Although two 5a, 35b, 36a, and 36b are provided corresponding to the left and right clamping devices 8, 9, the number is arbitrary, and one for each of the left and right clamping devices 8, 9. One or three or more can be provided. Further, in the above embodiment, each of the pressurizing devices 35a, 35b, 36a, 36b
Is urged in the clamping direction by the air-air cylinder 41, but the structure of these pressurizing devices is arbitrary. For example, a spring may be used instead of the air-air cylinder 41, or the urging means may be used. omitted to, it may also be provided a rod positioned fixedly with just a roller 39
No.

[0026]

As described above in detail, according to the mash seam welding apparatus according to the present invention, the vicinity of the electrode of the welding means is intensively pressed by the pressing means via the upper clamp plate. Since the movement of the two workpieces in the opening direction is restricted, it is not necessary to form the clamp means in a complicated and large-sized manner, so that the installation space can be reduced and the equipment cost can be reduced. In addition, since it is not necessary to make a hole in the work, the applicable range can be expanded. Welding equipment
The position is fixed and the clamp device is moved.
As a result, power costs are greatly reduced. Further, when the pressure means has a configuration having an operating rod and a biasing means,
It can smoothly follow the variation in the thickness of the work, and the use value is improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing a partial cross section of the entire structure of a seam welding apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line BB of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front view showing the structure of a clamp device as a part of the seam welding device as a partial cross section.

[Explanation of symbols]

1, 2 base 5 rail 8, 9 clamp device (clamp means) 10 slide guide 11 lower clamp plate 12 upper clamp plate 13 clamping cylinder 17 rack 19, 20 pinion 22 motor 26 welding device 27 cylinder 31 upper electrode 34 lower electrode 35a , 35b, 36a, 36b Pressing device (pressing means) 39 Roller 40 Operating rod 41 Cylinder W1, W2 Work

Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-5-212549 (JP, A) JP-A-60-188692 (JP, U) JP-A 63-11179 (JP, U) JP-A 53-35118 (JP , U) J. 57-36385 (JP, Y2) (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B23K 11/06

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A left and right clamp means having upper and lower clamp plates for holding a plate-like work can be slid in a welding direction.
And within the sliding range of the left and right clamp means,
The welding means for welding while crushing the overlapped portion of the end of the work held by each clamp means with the electrode is fixed.
A mash seam welding apparatus, wherein a pressure means for pressing an upper clamp plate of the clamp means is fixed near an electrode of the welding means . 2. The pressure means includes an operating rod having a roller at a lower end capable of contacting an upper clamp plate of the clamp means, and an urging means for urging the operating rod toward the upper clamp plate. The seam welding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: