JP7192187B2 - Torch body retention system for welding torch - Google Patents

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a welding torch used for performing consumable electrode gas shielded arc welding, for example, and a torch body holding system provided with the same.

In consumable electrode gas-shielded arc welding, automatic welding using welding robots and traveling carts, and semi-automatic welding methods operated by workers are adopted. During welding operations such as automatic welding, the wire feeding device feeds the welding wire toward the welding torch, and electric power and shielding gas are supplied to the welding torch.

2. Description of the Related Art In a welding apparatus for automatic welding provided with a manipulator such as an articulated robot, a welding torch is provided at the wrist of the manipulator. A welding torch has a torch body with an internal receiving space for passing a welding wire. The welding wire is passed through, for example, a tubular wire guide, and advanced inside the torch body while being guided by this wire guide. Then, it passes through a power feeding tip arranged at the tip of a torch body (welding torch) and is fed out from an opening at the tip of the welding torch. A technology related to a welding robot equipped with a welding torch is described in Patent Document 1 below, for example.

A torch body is detachably attached to a welding torch provided at the tip of a welding robot. The torch body is, for example, inserted into a block member having a split-shaped cylindrical inner surface, and tightened with screws at both ends of the split-shaped cylindrical inner surface to reduce the diameter of the cylindrical inner surface, thereby being pressed and held by the block member. In such a configuration, when the torch body is attached or detached for maintenance or the like, it is necessary to use a tool to turn the screw. In addition, there are cases where the tip of the welding torch is welded to the work (workpiece) and the torch body may be removed. rice field.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-306072

The present invention has been devised under such circumstances, and a main object of the present invention is to provide a welding torch in which the torch body can be easily attached and detached and which is suitable for improving maintainability. .

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention employs the following technical means.

A welding torch provided by a first aspect of the present invention includes a torch body, a first gas supply port for supplying a first compressed gas, and a second gas supply for supplying a second compressed gas. The pressure of the first compressed gas supplied from the first gas supply port presses and holds the torch body, and the pressure of the second compressed gas supplied from the second gas supply port presses and holds the torch body. a pressing mechanism for releasing the pressure applied to the torch body.

In a preferred embodiment, the pressing mechanism includes a first drive section that is moved by the pressure of the first compressed gas; a second driving portion that presses the outer peripheral surface of the torch body with an increased pressing force received from the compressed gas.

In a preferred embodiment, the contact portion of the first driving portion with the second driving portion is wedge-shaped, and the second driving portion is driven by the pressure of the first compressed gas. As the drive moves, it moves in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction in which the first drive moves.

In a preferred embodiment, the pressing mechanism has a gas containing chamber for containing a gas, and the first driving section communicates the gas containing chamber with the first gas supply port. a piston that is partitioned into a storage section and a second gas storage section that communicates with the second gas supply port, and that is movable while maintaining a gas-tight state between the first gas storage section and the second gas storage section; have.

In a preferred embodiment, the pressing mechanism includes a biasing member that applies a biasing force to the first drive section in a direction in which the first drive section is moved by the pressure of the first compressed gas. include.

In a preferred embodiment, an additional biasing member is provided to impart a biasing force to the second driving portion in a direction away from the torch body.

A torch body retention system for a welding torch provided by a second aspect of the present invention comprises: a welding torch according to the first aspect of the present invention; a compressed gas supply for supplying compressed gas to the welding torch; Switchable between a first state in which the first compressed gas is supplied from the compressed gas supply source to the welding torch and a second state in which the second compressed gas is supplied from the compressed gas supply source to the welding torch. A gas supply switching means and a control section for controlling the operation of the gas supply switching means are provided.

In a preferred embodiment, the gas supply switching means comprises a channel switching valve, a first gas channel having one end connected to the gas supply source and the other end connected to the channel switching valve; a second gas flow path having one end connected to the first gas supply port and the other end connected to the flow path switching valve; and a second gas flow path having one end connected to the second gas supply port and the other end connected to the flow path. a third gas flow path connected to the path switching valve, wherein the flow path switching valve communicates the first gas flow path and the second gas flow path when in the first state; The third gas flow path is opened, the first gas flow path and the third gas flow path are communicated when in the second state, and the second gas flow path is opened.

According to the present invention, the pressing mechanism presses and holds the torch body by the pressure of the first compressed gas supplied from the first gas supply port, and presses and holds the torch body by the pressure of the second compressed gas supplied from the second gas supply port. to release the pressure on the torch body. According to such a configuration, for example, when performing maintenance on the torch body (welding torch), the torch body can be attached and detached simply by switching the supply destination of the compressed gas to either the first gas supply port or the second gas supply port. It is possible. Therefore, the attachment and detachment of the torch body can be performed easily and quickly without using a tool or the like, and maintenance of the torch body (welding torch) can be improved.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the detailed description given below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a schematic diagram showing a welding robot to which a welding torch according to the invention is attached; FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a torch body holding system for a welding torch configured with a welding torch according to the present invention; FIG. It is a figure which represented typically the structure of the flow-path switching valve. It is a perspective view showing an example of a welding torch concerning the present invention. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VV of FIG. 4, showing a state in which the torch body is pressed and held; FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VI-VI of FIG. 5; FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view along line VII-VII of FIG. 5; FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 5 showing a state in which pressure on the torch body is released; FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 6 showing a state in which pressure on the torch body is released;

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an example in which a welding torch according to the present invention is attached to a welding robot, and is a schematic diagram of the welding robot. A welding robot B1 shown in the figure is, for example, an articulated robot having a plurality of arms 1, and a welding torch 2 is attached to its tip. A welding wire is supplied to the welding torch 2 by a wire feeder (not shown). The welding wire is fed, for example, through a power cable 3 toward a power supply tip provided inside the tip side of the welding torch 2 , and sent out from an opening at the tip of the welding torch 2 . Electric power and shielding gas are supplied to the welding torch 2 . Electric power is supplied from the power supply device through the power cable, and this electric power is supplied to the welding wire through the power supply tip inside the welding torch 2 . Shielding gas is supplied from a gas cylinder, flows inside the welding torch 2, and is ejected to the outside from an opening at the tip of the welding torch 2. As shown in FIG.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a torch body holding system for a welding torch configured with the welding torch 2. As shown in FIG. A torch body holding system A1 of this embodiment includes a welding torch 2, a compressed gas supply source 4, a flow path switching valve 5, gas flow paths 61 to 63, and a controller .

As shown in FIGS. 4 to 7, the welding torch 2 includes a support block 21, a torch body 22, a first gas supply port 23, a second gas supply port 24, and a pressing mechanism 25. The support block 21 is a member to which the torch body 22 is attached, and is fixed to the tip of the arm 1 of the welding robot B1 (see FIG. 1). The support block 21 has mounting holes 211 into which the torch body 22 can be inserted.

The torch body 22 has a tubular shape, and is formed by, for example, joining a plurality of tubular members by appropriate means such as brazing, press-fitting, or screwing. A base end portion of the torch body 22 is inserted into the mounting hole 211 .

The first gas supply port 23 is an opening for introducing the first compressed gas, and is provided in the support block 21 . The second gas supply port 24 is an opening for introducing a second compressed gas, and is provided in the support block 21 . Details of the first gas supply port 23, the second gas supply port 24, and the first and second compressed gases will be described later.

The pressing mechanism 25 shown in FIGS. 5 to 7 and the like is for detachably attaching the torch body 22 to the support block 21, and presses and holds the torch body 22 by the pressure of the first compressed gas. and a state in which the pressure on the torch body 22 is released by the pressure of the second compressed gas. In this embodiment, the pressing mechanism 25 includes a first driving section 26 , a second driving section 27 , a gas storage chamber 28 and a biasing member 29 .

The first drive section 26 has a shaft 261, a piston 262 provided at the base end of the shaft 261, and a tip member 263 provided at the tip of the shaft 261, and is moved by the pressure of compressed gas. be.

The piston 262 is arranged in the gas storage chamber 28 . The gas storage chamber 28 is a space formed inside the support block 21 and is partitioned into a first gas storage portion 281 and a second gas storage portion 282 by a piston 262 in a gas-tight state. The first gas storage portion 281 communicates with the first gas supply port 23 , and the second gas storage portion 282 communicates with the second gas supply port 24 . The piston 262 is movable in the axial direction of the shaft 261 (vertical direction in FIGS. 5 and 6, direction X) while maintaining the gas seal state between the first gas storage portion 281 and the second gas storage portion 282. is. With such a configuration, when the first compressed gas is supplied to the inside of the support block 21 through the first gas supply port 23, the pressure of the first compressed gas causes the piston 262 (the first driving section 26) to move. moves in the direction in which the volume of the first gas storage portion 281 increases (downward in FIGS. 5 and 6, one side in the direction X). Further, when the second compressed gas is supplied to the inside of the support block 21 through the second gas supply port 24, the pressure of the second compressed gas causes the piston 262 (the first driving section 26) to move the second gas. It moves in the direction in which the capacity of the accommodating portion 282 increases (see FIGS. 8 and 9, the upper direction X in the drawings, the other side).

The tip member 263 shown in FIG. 5 is a member that contacts the second drive section 27 . In this embodiment, the tip member 263 is wedge-shaped. A portion of the distal end member 263 that comes into direct contact with the second driving portion 27 is an inclined surface 264 that is inclined with respect to the direction X in which the first driving portion 26 moves. The inclination angle α of the inclined surface 264 with respect to the direction X is, for example, approximately 1 to 10°, preferably approximately 3 to 7°.

The biasing member 29 shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 is housed in the first gas containing portion 281 of the gas containing chamber 28 and is in contact with the piston 262 . The biasing member 29 applies a biasing force to the first driving portion 26 in a direction (downward in FIGS. 5 and 6) in which the first driving portion 26 is moved by the pressure of the first compressed gas. For example, a compression coil spring.

The second driving portion 27 presses the outer peripheral surface of the torch body 22 as the first driving portion 26 moves. The second drive portion 27 is inserted into a housing space formed inside the support block 21 and is slidable in the direction Y in FIG. 5 (horizontal direction in the figure). The direction Y in which the second drive section 27 moves is substantially perpendicular to the direction X in which the first drive section 26 moves. As shown in FIG. 7 , a portion 271 of the second drive portion 27 that contacts the outer peripheral surface of the torch body 22 has a substantially semi-cylindrical inner surface shape and surface-contacts with the outer peripheral surface of the torch body 22 .

As can be understood from FIGS. 5 to 7, the second driving portion 27 includes a cylindrical portion 272 extending in the direction Y in which the second driving portion 27 moves, and a pair of protrusions projecting from the side surfaces of the cylindrical portion 272. It has parts 273 and 273 . As shown in FIG. 5 , a portion of the second driving portion 27 that directly contacts the distal end member 263 (inclined surface 264 ) of the first driving portion 26 is an inclined surface 274 . The inclination angle of the inclined surface 274 with respect to the direction X is substantially the same as the inclination angle α of the inclined surface 264 of the first driving section 26 described above. As a result, the inclined surface 274 of the second driving portion 27 and the inclined surface 264 of the first driving portion 26 come into surface contact.

As shown in FIG. 7 , biasing members 291 and 291 are interposed between the support block 21 and the projecting portions 273 and 273 of the second driving portion 27 in this embodiment. The biasing member 291 applies a biasing force to the second driving portion 27 in a direction away from the torch body 22 (rightward in FIG. 7), and is, for example, a compression coil spring. The urging member 291 having such a configuration corresponds to the "additional urging member" according to the invention.

Returning to FIG. 2, the compressed gas supply source 4 is a gas source for supplying the welding torch 2 with compressed gas (first and second compressed gases). The type of gas supplied from the compressed gas supply source 4 is not particularly limited, but examples include inert gases such as nitrogen and argon, air, and the like. From the viewpoint of cost, the compressed gas is preferably compressed air. The compressed air can be easily supplied from, for example, an air compressor provided in a facility where the welding robot B1 is installed.

The gas channels 61 to 63 connect the channel switching valve 5 to the compressed gas supply source 4, the first gas supply port 23, or the second gas supply port 24. As shown in FIG. Specifically, the gas channel 61 has one end connected to the compressed gas supply source 4 and the other end connected to the channel switching valve 5 . The gas flow path 62 has one end connected to the first gas supply port 23 of the welding torch 2 and the other end connected to the flow path switching valve 5 . The gas flow path 62 is a flow path for supplying the welding torch 2 with the first compressed gas. The gas flow path 63 has one end connected to the second gas supply port 24 of the welding torch 2 and the other end connected to the flow path switching valve 5 . The gas flow path 63 is a flow path for supplying the welding torch 2 with a second compressed gas.

The channel switching valve 5 is for switching between a state (first state) in which the first compressed gas can be supplied to the welding torch 2 and a state (second state) in which the second compressed gas can be supplied. be. FIG. 3 schematically shows the configuration of the flow path switching valve 5. As shown in FIG. The flow path switching valve 5 has a first passage 51 and a second passage 52 . The first passage 51 has one end connected to the gas flow path 61 and the other end connected to one of the gas flow paths 62 and 63 . One end of the second passage 52 is open to the outside, and the other end is connected to one of the gas flow paths 62 and 63 .

When supplying the first compressed gas to the welding torch 2 in the flow path switching valve 5 configured as described above, as shown in FIG. are brought into communication. As a result, the compressed gas (first compressed gas) is supplied to the welding torch 2 (first gas container 281 ) through the gas flow path 61 , the flow path switching valve 5 , the gas flow path 62 , and the first gas supply port 23 . is supplied. At this time, the gas flow path 63 is opened to the outside through the second passage 52 . Further, when supplying the second compressed gas to the welding torch 2, the gas flow path 61 and the gas flow path 63 are communicated through the first passage 51 as shown in FIG. 3(b). As a result, the compressed gas (second compressed gas) is supplied to the welding torch 2 (second gas container 282 ) through the gas flow path 61 , the flow path switching valve 5 , the gas flow path 63 , and the second gas supply port 24 . is supplied. At this time, the gas flow path 62 is opened to the outside through the second passage 52 . The passage switching valve 5 and the gas passages 61, 62, 63 configured as described above constitute the "gas supply switching means" referred to in the present invention. A pressure regulating valve or the like is provided in the gas flow path 61 and the gas flow path 62 so that the pressure of the compressed gas (first compressed gas or second compressed gas) supplied to the welding torch 2 can be adjusted as appropriate. may

The control unit 7 controls switching between a state in which the first compressed gas can be supplied to the welding torch 2 (first state) and a state in which the second compressed gas can be supplied (second state). . For example, the control unit 7 controls the switching operation of the flow path switching valve 5 according to the operator's input operation. Note that the control unit 7 may have a function of stopping the supply of the compressed gas from the compressed gas supply source 4 .

In this embodiment, when welding is performed using the welding robot B1 (welding torch 2), the first compressed gas can be supplied to the welding torch 2 via the gas flow path 62 and the first gas supply port 23. state. At this time, as shown in FIG. 5, in the welding torch 2, the piston 262 (first drive section 26) moves in the direction in which the volume of the first gas storage section 281 increases (see FIG. 5) due to the pressure of the first compressed gas. down in the direction X one side). As the first driving portion 26 moves, the second driving portion 27 moves leftward in FIG. 5 and presses the outer peripheral surface of the torch body 22 . The torch body 22 is backed up by a support block 21 on the opposite side across the axis from the portion pressed by the second driving portion 27 across the axis. Thereby, the torch body 22 is pressed and held by the support block 21 and the second driving section 27 .

In this embodiment, the tip member 263 of the first driving portion 26 that contacts the second driving portion 27 is wedge-shaped. Therefore, in the second driving portion 27 , the pressing force that the first driving portion 26 receives from the first compressed gas is increased to press the outer peripheral surface of the torch body 22 . The pressure applied to piston 262 (first drive unit 26) by the first compressed gas is, for example, approximately 0.2 to 0.5 MPa (megapascal). Further, the force with which the second driving portion 27 presses the outer peripheral surface of the torch body 22 is, for example, about 3 to 16 kN (kilonewtons).

On the other hand, when the torch body 22 is removed for maintenance or the like, by switching the channel switching valve 5, the second compressed gas can be supplied to the welding torch 2 through the gas channel 63 and the second gas supply port 24. state. Here, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, in the welding torch 2, the pressure of the second compressed gas moves the piston 262 (first drive section 26) in the direction in which the volume of the second gas storage section 282 increases. (Upward in the drawing, the other side of direction X). Then, the pressure on the outer peripheral surface of the torch body 22 by the pressing mechanism 25 (the first driving section 26 and the second driving section 27) is released, and the torch body 22 can be removed.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

The welding torch 2 of this embodiment includes a torch body 22 , a first gas supply port 23 , a second gas supply port 24 and a pressing mechanism 25 . The pressing mechanism 25 presses and holds the torch body 22 by the pressure of the first compressed gas supplied from the first gas supply port 23 , and presses the torch by the pressure of the second compressed gas supplied from the second gas supply port 24 . The pressure on the body 22 is released. According to such a configuration, when performing maintenance on the torch body 22 (welding torch 2), for example, the torch can be It is possible to attach and detach the body 22 . Therefore, the attachment and detachment of the torch body 22 can be performed easily and quickly without using a tool or the like, and the maintainability of the torch body 22 (welding torch 2) can be improved.

The pressing mechanism 25 includes a first driving section 26 and a second driving section 27 . The first drive part 26 is moved by the pressure of the first compressed gas. In the second driving portion 27 , the pressing force that the first driving portion 26 receives from the first compressed gas is increased to press the outer peripheral surface of the torch body 22 . Thereby, the reliability of the holding state of the torch body 22 can be improved.

The tip member 263 of the first drive section 26 that contacts the second drive section 27 is wedge-shaped, and the second drive section 27 moves in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction X in which the first drive section 26 moves. Move to Y. According to such a configuration, due to the slope effect of the tip member 263 (contact portion), the pressing force that the first driving section 26 receives from the first compressed gas is appropriately increased, and the second driving section 27 causes the torch body to move. 22 is pressed. Therefore, when the torch body 22 is attached, the torch body 22 is more accurately held by the pressure of the compressed gas (first compressed gas).

The pressing mechanism 25 has a gas storage chamber 28 , and the first driving section 26 has a piston 262 arranged in the gas storage chamber 28 . The piston 262 partitions the gas storage chamber 28 into a first gas storage portion 281 communicating with the first gas supply port 23 and a second gas storage portion 282 communicating with the second gas supply port 24 . The piston 262 can move while maintaining a gas seal state between the first gas storage portion 281 and the second gas storage portion 282 . According to such a configuration, the pressures of the first and second compressed gases act on both sides of the reciprocating piston 262, so that the structure of the pressing mechanism 25 can be avoided from becoming complicated, and the pressing mechanism can 25 can be made smaller.

In this embodiment, the pressing mechanism 25 includes an urging member 29 . The biasing member 29 applies a biasing force to the first driving portion 26 in a direction in which the first driving portion 26 is moved by the pressure of the first compressed gas. According to such a configuration, even if the supply of the first compressed gas through the first gas supply port 23 is suddenly stopped, the biasing member 29 pushes the first driving part 26 and the torch body 22 is pushed. is maintained, and safety is enhanced.

The welding torch of this embodiment includes biasing members 291, 291 shown in FIG. Each biasing member 291 applies a biasing force to the second driving section 27 in a direction away from the torch body 22 . According to such a configuration, when the state of pressing and holding the torch body 22 is switched to the state of releasing the pressure on the torch body 22 , the second driving section 27 is accurately separated from the torch body 22 . As a result, it is possible to improve workability when removing the torch body 22 .

In the torch body holding system A<b>1 of this embodiment, the compressed gas (first and second compressed gases) supplied to the pressing mechanism 25 is supplied from the common compressed gas supply source 4 . The compressed gas supplied from the compressed gas supply source 4 can be switched between a state of supplying the first compressed gas to the pressing mechanism 25 and a state of supplying the second compressed gas by the channel switching valve 5 . The operation of the flow path switching valve 5 is controlled by the controller 7 . According to such a configuration, it is possible to appropriately supply either the first or second compressed gas to the pressing mechanism 25 while avoiding complication of the overall configuration of the torch body holding system A1.

In the present embodiment, as described above with reference to FIG. 3, when supplying the first compressed gas to the welding torch 2, the gas flow path 63 for supplying the second compressed gas to the welding torch 2 includes: It is open to the outside via a channel switching valve 5 . Further, when supplying the second compressed gas to the welding torch 2, the gas flow path 62 for supplying the first compressed gas to the welding torch 2 is opened to the outside via the flow path switching valve 5. . According to such a configuration, it is possible to prevent the residual pressure from being generated in the accommodation space of each compressed gas when the gas supply of each of the first and second compressed gases is stopped. As a result, the pressing mechanism 25 (the first drive section 26 and the second drive section 27) of the welding torch 2 can be driven smoothly and appropriately, and the maintainability of the torch body 22 (the welding torch 2) can be further improved.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments. subsumed in

In the above embodiment, the case where the biasing member 29 that applies a biasing force in the direction in which the first driving section 26 is moved by the pressure of the first compressed gas to the first driving section 26 has been described. A configuration without such a biasing member 29 may be employed.

A1 Torch body holding system B1 Welding robot X direction Y direction 1 Arm 2 Welding torch 21 Support block 211 Mounting hole 212 Key groove 213 Key member 22 Torch body 221 Key groove 23 First gas supply port 24 Second gas supply port 25 Pressing mechanism 26 first driving portion 261 shaft 262 piston 263 tip member (contact portion)
264 Inclined surface 27 Second driving part 271 Part 272 that contacts the outer peripheral surface of the torch body Cylindrical part 273 Protruding part 274 Inclined surface 28 Gas storage chamber 281 First gas storage part 282 Second gas storage part 29 Biasing member 291 Attached biasing member (additional biasing member)
3 Power cable 4 Compressed gas supply source 5 Flow path switching valve 51 First passage 52 Second passage 61 Gas flow path (first gas flow path)
62 gas channel (second gas channel)
63 gas channel (third gas channel)
7 control unit

Claims (4)

a torch body; a first gas supply port for supplying a first compressed gas; a second gas supply port for supplying a second compressed gas; a pressing mechanism for pressing and holding the torch body by the pressure of one compressed gas, and releasing the pressure on the torch body by the pressure of the second compressed gas supplied from the second gas supply port. a welding torch;
a compressed gas supply for supplying compressed gas to the welding torch;
Switchable between a first state in which the first compressed gas is supplied from the compressed gas supply source to the welding torch and a second state in which the second compressed gas is supplied from the compressed gas supply source to the welding torch. gas supply switching means;
a control unit that controls the operation of the gas supply switching means,
The gas supply switching means includes a channel switching valve, a first gas channel having one end connected to the gas supply source and the other end connected to the channel switching valve, and one end connected to the first gas supply. a second gas flow path connected to the port and having the other end connected to the flow path switching valve; and a second gas flow path having one end connected to the second gas supply port and the other end connected to the flow path switching valve. a third gas flow path,
The flow path switching valve has a first path connected at one end to the first gas flow path and having the other end connected to one of the second gas flow path and the third gas flow path, and one end open to the outside. a second flow path having the other end connected to the other of the second gas flow path and the third gas flow path,
The flow path switching valve communicates the first gas flow path and the second gas flow path through the first passage when in the first state, and communicates the third gas flow path through the second passage. The gas flow path is open to the outside, the first gas flow path and the third gas flow path are communicated via the first passage when in the second state, and the gas flow path is communicated via the second passage. opening the second gas flow path to the outside ,
The pressing mechanism includes a first drive section that is moved by the pressure of the first compressed gas, and a pressing force that the first drive section receives from the first compressed gas as the first drive section moves. a second driving part that is increased and presses the outer peripheral surface of the torch body,
A contact portion of the first driving portion with the second driving portion is wedge-shaped,
the second driving section moves in a direction substantially perpendicular to the moving direction of the first driving section as the first driving section moves due to the pressure of the first compressed gas;
The welding torch further comprises a support block to which the torch body is attached;
The support block has a mounting hole into which the base end of the torch body can be inserted,
A torch body holding system for a welding torch, wherein a portion of the second driving portion that contacts the outer peripheral surface of the torch body has a substantially semi-cylindrical inner surface shape and surface-contacts with the outer peripheral surface of the torch body. The pressing mechanism has a gas storage chamber for storing gas,
The first drive section divides the gas storage chamber into a first gas storage section communicating with the first gas supply port and a second gas storage section communicating with the second gas supply port, and 2. A torch body holding system for a welding torch according to claim 1 , comprising a piston movable while maintaining a gas seal between the first gas containing portion and the second gas containing portion. 3. The pressing mechanism includes a biasing member that applies a biasing force to the first driving section in a direction in which the first driving section is moved by the pressure of the first compressed gas. A torch body retention system for a welding torch as described in . 4. A torch body holding system for a welding torch as set forth in any one of claims 1 to 3 , comprising an additional biasing member for biasing said second drive portion away from said torch body.

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