JP5877085B2 - Electrode inspection device for spot welding - Google Patents

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, an electrode inspection apparatus for spot welding that inspects an electrode 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 flat rectangular parallelepiped inspection apparatus main body, the inspection apparatus main body accommodates a mirror and a camera, and has an electrode fixing hole for inserting and fixing the electrode. It is formed at a position corresponding to the mirror. In addition, a transparent protective cover is interposed between the mirror and the electrode fixing hole, and the protective cover allows dust generated in the production line to enter the inspection apparatus main body from the electrode fixing hole. Is preventing. Further, the electrode inspection apparatus includes a control device connected to a camera, and the control device uses an electrode tip surface photographed by a camera through a mirror in a state where the electrode tip is inserted and fixed in the electrode fixing hole. It is comprised so that it may determine whether it suits.

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

  By the way, in the electrode inspection apparatus as disclosed in Patent Document 1, when dust or the like adheres to the protective cover and becomes dirty, the protective cover is reflected in the image of the electrode front end surface photographed by the camera. Since the determination of the electrode inspection apparatus may be erroneous determination, it is necessary to periodically replace the protective cover.

  Here, regarding replacement of the protective cover, it is conceivable that a replacement cycle is set in advance, and when the replacement cycle is reached, the production line is stopped and the worker replaces the protective cover. However, the degree of contamination of the protective cover may vary due to environmental changes in the production line, etc. If the protective cover is not dirty during the set replacement cycle, the production line will be shut down and the operating rate will be lowered. On the other hand, if the protective cover becomes too dirty before the set replacement cycle, erroneous determination may occur frequently.

  The present invention has been made in view of such points, and the object of the present invention is to prevent erroneous determination due to contamination of the protective cover, and to reduce the operating rate of the production line as much as possible by replacing the protective cover. An object of the present invention is to provide an electrode inspection apparatus for spot welding that is not allowed.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention uses a control means for determining whether or not the electrode tip surface is suitable for use, and determines whether or not the protective cover is suitable for use. Features.

  That is, in the first invention, the mirror and the camera are accommodated, and an electrode fixing hole for inserting and fixing the spot welding electrode is formed at a position corresponding to the mirror, and a transparent protective cover is formed between the mirror and the electrode fixing hole. The inspection apparatus body interposed between the opening and closing means, the opening and closing means for opening and closing the electrode fixing hole outside the protective cover, connected to the camera and the opening and closing means, and outputs a shooting operation signal to the camera, Control means for outputting an opening / closing operation signal to the opening / closing means, the control means outputting an opening operation signal to the opening / closing means to open the electrode fixing hole, and inserting and fixing the electrode into the electrode fixing hole The imaging operation signal is output to the camera, and the electrode tip surface is imaged by the camera via the mirror, and the image of the imaged electrode tip surface is processed and processed. The result is compared with a preset value of the electrode tip surface to determine whether the electrode tip surface is suitable for use or not, while a closing operation signal is output to the opening / closing means to close the electrode fixing hole. , Outputting a shooting operation signal to the camera, shooting the protective cover with the camera via the mirror, processing the captured image of the protective cover, processing results and preset values of the protective cover , And whether or not the protective cover is suitable for use is determined.

  According to a second invention, in the first invention, the opening / closing means is provided so as to be slidable in a direction intersecting an electrode insertion direction with respect to the electrode fixing hole, and the electrode fixing hole is opened and closed by a sliding operation. It is characterized by switching to.

  According to a third invention, in the second invention, the opening / closing means has an accommodation space for accommodating the inspection apparatus main body from one end side thereof to at least a region including the electrode fixing hole, and the electrode fixing hole A slidable cover case having a corresponding opening formed therein, the cover case configured to move to a position corresponding to the electrode fixing hole and a position deviating from the electrode fixing hole by a sliding operation. It is characterized by.

  In the first invention, since it is determined whether or not the protective cover is suitable for use by using the control means for determining whether or not the electrode tip surface is suitable for use, the operator can enter the protective cover without entering the production line. It becomes possible to grasp the degree of dirt. Therefore, it is possible to replace the protective cover at an appropriate timing to prevent erroneous judgment due to excessive contamination of the protective cover, and to minimize the need to stop the production line due to replacement of the protective cover. It is possible to prevent a decrease in the operating rate. Also, if the protective cover is photographed in a state where the electrode fixing hole is covered with the opening / closing means, the captured image becomes clear because the opening / closing means becomes the background even if the protective cover is transparent. Becomes accurate and erroneous determination can be reliably prevented. Further, since the opening and closing means covers the electrode fixing hole, it becomes difficult for dust or the like to enter the inspection apparatus main body through the electrode fixing hole, so that the progress of dirt on the protective cover can be delayed, and the replacement cycle of the protective cover can be reduced. It can be extended to increase the operating rate of the production line.

  In the second invention, since the electrode insertion direction with respect to the electrode fixing hole and the sliding direction of the opening / closing means intersect each other, when the opening / closing means changes the electrode fixing hole from the closed state to the open state, the electrode is changed to the electrode fixing hole. The electrodes and the opening / closing means do not contact each other even if they are close to each other. Therefore, the time from when the opening / closing means opens the electrode fixing hole to when the electrode is inserted into the electrode fixing hole can be shortened, and dust or the like enters the inspection apparatus main body through the electrode fixing hole. It becomes difficult and the progress of the dirt on the protective cover can be delayed.

  In the third invention, since the cover case covers at least the region including the electrode fixing hole of the inspection apparatus body, a part or all of the outer shape of the inspection apparatus body can be protected by the cover case. In addition, since the electrode fixing hole is opened and closed using a cover case that protects the outer shape of the inspection apparatus main body, there is no need to add a member for opening and closing the electrode fixing hole in addition to the cover case, which is simple and cost effective. The structure can be suppressed.

It is a perspective view of the electrode inspection apparatus for spot welding which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention, and shows the state just before test | inspecting an electrode. It is a perspective view of the electrode inspection apparatus for spot welding which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention, and shows the state which is test | inspecting a protective cover. It is sectional drawing in the AA of FIG. It is sectional drawing in the BB line of FIG. FIG. 3 is a view corresponding to FIG. 1 according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a view corresponding to FIG. 2 according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

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.
Embodiment 1 of the Invention
1 and 2 show a spot welding electrode inspection apparatus 1 according to Embodiment 1 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. This is the same inspection.

  The electrode inspection apparatus 1 includes a flat rectangular parallelepiped inspection apparatus main body 2 and a cover case 5 that protects the inspection apparatus main body 2. The belt-like attachment portions 2a extending along the longitudinal direction of the main body 2 are raised, and the attachment portions 2a are fixed to a fixed side (not shown) of the production line, so that the electrode inspection apparatus 1 is fixed to the production line. It is designed to be attached to the side.

  One end side in the longitudinal direction of the inspection apparatus main body 2 has a substantially semicircular shape, and the other end in the longitudinal direction has a linear shape. A substantially rectangular parallelepiped camera module 4 extending in parallel to the other longitudinal end of the main body 2 is accommodated (see FIGS. 3 and 4).

  A panel-shaped transparent resin protective cover 8 and a disk-shaped metal measurement reference plate 3 are sequentially arranged on the upper and lower sides of the camera module 4, respectively. An electrode fixing hole 3a for inserting and fixing the electrode 10 is formed through.

  A rectangular plate-like mirror 6 corresponding to each of the electrode fixing holes 3a is inclined at the center of the camera module 4, and the mirror 6 has mirror surfaces on both sides, and each surface has the measurement reference plate 3 as described above. The tip of the electrode 10 fixed to each of the electrode fixing holes 3a is projected.

  Cameras 7 are respectively disposed on both sides of the mirror 6 of the camera module 4 so that the front end surfaces of the electrodes 10 projected on the mirror 6 are photographed from the front.

  A concave cover main body 81 is formed at the center of the protective cover 8, and the cover main body 81 is interposed between the mirror 6 and the electrode fixing hole 3a.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the cover case 5 has a flat rectangular parallelepiped shape corresponding to the outer shape of the inspection apparatus main body 2, and connects the panel-like upper wall 51 and lower wall 53 and their peripheral edges. A side wall 52 is included.

  One end in the longitudinal direction of the cover case 5 is closed, and a side opening 5a is formed at the other end in the longitudinal direction. The inspection apparatus main body 2 is connected to the inside of the cover case 5 from the side opening 5a. A housing space S for housing is formed by the upper wall 51, the side wall 52, and the lower wall 53 (see FIGS. 3 and 4).

  In each central portion of the upper wall 51 and the lower wall 53, substantially rectangular cover openings 51a, 53a are formed so as to penetrate therethrough, and the side wall 52 on the long side of the cover case 5 has a longitudinal direction of the cover case 5. A pair of guide portions 52a that are elongated and open to the side openings 5a are formed (see FIG. 3).

  Then, the side opening 5a of the cover case 5 is made to correspond to one end in the longitudinal direction of the inspection apparatus main body 2, and the opening portion of each guide portion 52a is made to correspond to each attachment portion 2a. By sliding the inspection apparatus main body 2 side (in the direction of the arrow X2 in FIG. 2), the inspection apparatus main body 2 is accommodated in the accommodation space S while the mounting portions 2a are guided by the guide portions 52a. Yes.

  That is, the cover case 5 is slidable in a direction intersecting the insertion direction of the electrode 10 with respect to the electrode fixing hole 3a, and the inspection apparatus body 2 is moved into the housing space S by the sliding operation of the cover case 5. To come in and out.

  The cover case 5 is slid to the other end in the longitudinal direction of the inspection apparatus main body 2 (in the direction of the arrow X2 in FIG. 2) and accommodates the inspection apparatus main body 2 in the accommodation space S. In the lower wall 53, one end side in the longitudinal direction of the cover case 5 becomes a position where the opening of each electrode fixing hole 3a is closed, and the electrode fixing hole 3a is closed. The cover openings 51a and 53a in the upper wall 51 and the lower wall 53 are fixed to the electrodes in a state in which a part of the inspection apparatus body 2 comes out of the accommodation space S by sliding in the direction of the arrow X1 in FIG. The electrode fixing hole 3a is opened corresponding to the hole 3a.

  That is, the cover openings 51a and 53a of the cover case 5 are configured to move to a position corresponding to the electrode fixing hole 3a and a position away from the electrode fixing hole 3a by the sliding operation of the cover case 5. Yes.

  A drive unit 50 is provided between the inspection apparatus main body 2 and the upper wall 51, and the drive unit 50 and the cover case 5 constitute an opening / closing mechanism (opening / closing means) 9.

  Although not shown, the drive unit 50 includes a rack, a pinion, and a drive motor. The drive unit 50 drives the cover case 5 to slide in the longitudinal direction of the inspection apparatus body 2 with respect to the inspection apparatus body 2. It is supposed to be.

  A control device (control means) 11 is connected to the camera 7 and the drive unit 50, and the control device 11 outputs a shooting operation signal to the camera 7 and slides the cover case 5 to the drive unit 50. An opening / closing operation signal is output.

  The control device 11 outputs an opening operation signal for sliding the cover case 5 to one end side of the inspection apparatus main body 2 to the drive unit 50 to open the electrode fixing hole 3a, and the electrode 10 is inserted into the electrode fixing hole 3a. In a state in which is inserted and fixed, a photographing operation signal is output to the camera 7 so that the tip surface of the electrode 10 is photographed by the camera 7 via the mirror 6.

  Further, the control device 11 processes the image of the tip surface of the electrode 10 photographed by the camera 7, compares the processing result with a preset value of the tip surface of the electrode 10, and determines that the tip surface of the electrode 10 is It is configured to determine whether it is suitable for use.

  On the other hand, the control device 11 outputs a closing operation signal for sliding the cover case 5 to the other end side of the inspection apparatus main body 2 to the driving unit 50 to close the electrode fixing hole 3a, and to perform an imaging operation on the camera 7. A signal is output and the protective cover 8 is photographed by the camera 7 through the mirror 6.

  The control device 11 processes the image of the protective cover 8 photographed by the camera 7, compares the processing result with a preset value of the protective cover 8, and the protective cover 8 is suitable for use. It is configured to determine whether or not.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment of the present invention, it is determined whether or not the protective cover 8 is suitable for use by using the control device 11 that determines whether or not the tip surface of the electrode 10 is suitable for use. Can grasp the degree of contamination of the protective cover 8 without entering the production line. Accordingly, the protective cover 8 can be replaced at an appropriate timing to prevent erroneous determination of the electrode inspection apparatus 1 due to excessive contamination of the protective cover 8, and the stop of the production line due to the replacement of the protective cover 8 is minimized. It is possible to prevent a reduction in the operating rate of the production line due to the replacement of 8.

  Further, when the protective cover 8 is photographed in a state where the electrode fixing hole 3a is covered with the cover case 5, the photographed image becomes clear because the cover case 5 becomes the background even if the protective cover 8 is transparent. The image analysis of the control device 11 is accurate, and erroneous determination can be reliably prevented.

  Further, since the cover case 5 covers the electrode fixing hole 3a, dust or the like hardly enters the inspection apparatus main body 2 through the electrode fixing hole 3a. It is possible to increase the operating rate of the production line by extending the replacement period of the cover 8.

  In addition, since the insertion direction of the electrode 10 with respect to the electrode fixing hole 3a and the sliding direction of the cover case 5 intersect each other, when the cover case 5 changes the electrode fixing hole 3a from the closed state to the open state, the electrode 10 Even if it is close to the electrode fixing hole 3a, the electrode 10 and the cover case 5 do not contact each other. Therefore, it is possible to shorten the time from when the cover case 5 opens the electrode fixing hole 3a to when the electrode 10 is inserted into the electrode fixing hole 3a, and further, dust or the like passes through the electrode fixing hole 3a. It becomes difficult to enter the main body 2 and the progress of the dirt on the protective cover 8 can be delayed.

  Further, since the cover case 5 covers the entire inspection apparatus main body 2, the entire outer shape of the inspection apparatus main body 2 can be protected by the cover case 5. Furthermore, since the electrode fixing hole 3a is opened and closed using the cover case 5 that protects the outer shape of the inspection apparatus main body 2, there is no need to add a member for opening and closing the electrode fixing hole 3a in addition to the cover case 5, and it is simple. In addition, a structure with reduced cost can be achieved.

In the first embodiment of the present invention, the entire inspection apparatus main body 2 has a structure that can be accommodated in the accommodation space S. What is necessary is just the structure which the space S accommodates.
<< Embodiment 2 of the Invention >>
5 and 6 show a spot welding electrode inspection apparatus 1 according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. In the second embodiment, only the structure of the opening / closing mechanism 9 is different from that of the first embodiment, and the other parts are the same as those of the first embodiment. Therefore, only the parts different from the first embodiment will be described below.

  An air cylinder 12 extending along the longitudinal direction of the inspection apparatus body 2 is disposed on one of the long side surfaces of the inspection apparatus body 2 in the second embodiment.

  The air cylinder 12 includes a cylinder body 12a having a cylindrical shape, and a rod 12b extending and contracting along the inspection apparatus body from one longitudinal end of the cylinder body 12a. It is fixed to the inspection apparatus main body 2.

  A substantially U-shaped cover plate 13 that is bifurcated to extend in a direction intersecting the longitudinal direction of the inspection apparatus body 2 is attached to the tip of the rod 12b, and one of the bifurcated portions of the cover plate 13 is the inspection portion. The other side is located on the front side of the apparatus main body 2 and the rear side of the inspection apparatus main body 2.

  The opening / closing mechanism 9 according to the second embodiment includes the air cylinder 12 and the cover plate 13, and the cover plate 13 extends on one end side in the longitudinal direction of the inspection apparatus main body 2 by extending the rod 12 b ( The inspection apparatus main body is slid in the direction of arrow X4 in FIG. 6 and moved to a position where the opening of each electrode fixing hole 3a is closed to close each electrode fixing hole 3a, while the rod 12b contracts. 2 is moved to the position where the electrode fixing holes 3a are opened by sliding to the other end in the longitudinal direction (arrow X3 direction in FIG. 5) to open the electrode fixing holes.

  The control device 11 is connected to the air cylinder 12 and outputs an opening / closing signal for sliding the cover plate 13 to the air cylinder 12.

  As described above, according to the second embodiment of the present invention, the electrode inspection apparatus 1 having the opening / closing mechanism 9 having a simpler structure than that of the first embodiment can prevent erroneous detection due to contamination of the protective cover 8 and can be produced by replacing the protective cover 8. It is possible to reduce the line availability as much as possible.

  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 2 Inspection apparatus main body 3a Electrode fixing hole 5 Cover case 6 Mirror 7 Camera 8 Protective cover 9 Opening / closing mechanism (opening / closing means)
10 electrode 11 control device (control means)
51a, 53a Cover opening

Claims (3)

Inspection in which a mirror and a camera are accommodated and an electrode fixing hole for inserting and fixing a spot welding electrode is formed at a position corresponding to the mirror, and a transparent protective cover is interposed between the mirror and the electrode fixing hole The device body;
Opening and closing means for opening and closing the electrode fixing hole outside the protective cover;
A controller connected to the camera and the opening / closing means, outputting a shooting operation signal to the camera, and outputting an opening / closing operation signal to the opening / closing means;
The control means outputs an opening operation signal to the opening / closing means to open the electrode fixing hole, and outputs a photographing operation signal to the camera in a state where the electrode is inserted and fixed in the electrode fixing hole. The surface of the electrode is photographed by the camera via the mirror, the image of the photographed electrode tip surface is processed, and the processing result is compared with a preset value of the electrode tip surface to use the electrode tip surface. On the other hand, a closing operation signal is outputted to the opening / closing means to close the electrode fixing hole, a photographing operation signal is outputted to the camera, and the protective cover is photographed by the camera through the mirror. And processing the captured image of the protective cover and comparing the processing result with a preset value of the protective cover to determine whether or not the protective cover is suitable for use. Have Preparative spot welding electrode inspection device according to claim. In the electrode inspection apparatus for spot welding according to claim 1,
The opening / closing means is provided so as to be slidable in a direction intersecting the electrode insertion direction with respect to the electrode fixing hole, and is configured to switch the electrode fixing hole between an open state and a closed state by a sliding operation. Electrode inspection device for spot welding. In the electrode inspection apparatus for spot welding according to claim 2,
The opening / closing means has a housing space for housing the inspection apparatus main body from one end side to a region including at least the electrode fixing hole, and a slidable cover in which an opening corresponding to the electrode fixing hole is formed. An electrode inspection for spot welding, comprising a case, wherein the cover case is configured to move to a position corresponding to the electrode fixing hole and a position deviating from the electrode fixing hole by a sliding operation. apparatus.

Images