JPH03193272A - Welding torch nozzle cleaning device for automatic welding equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obviate the need to align a welding torch with a nozzle cleaning part by tilting the nozzle cleaning part to a specified angle by a driving part in the orientation of a nozzle of the welding torch. CONSTITUTION:The nozzle cleaning part 8 and an atomization part 9 on the welding torch nozzle cleaning device for automatic welding equipment are moved in the X and Z directions by sliders 10 and 11 and tilts to the specified angle by a motor 15 and consequently, the need to align the welding torch with the nozzle cleaning part 8 is eliminated only by arranging it at the specified position and teaching work and the operating time for aligning can be omitted and the rate of operation of the automatic welding equipment is improved.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a welding torch nozzle cleaning device for an automatic welding device that automatically and timely removes welding spatter adhering to the nozzle portion of a welding torch.

[Prior art] Generally, in consumable electrode type gas-shielded arc welding work, the ultimate challenge is to minimize the generation of spatter, but there is currently no means to solve this problem. This will also reduce the operating rate of automatic welding equipment such as arc welding robots that perform welding work.

However, although this will reduce the operating rate, if the spatter that continues to adhere to the nozzle of the welding torch is not removed, it will lead to insufficient shielding and eventually defects in the weld bead, which will require extra repair welding work to correct. Become.

Therefore, Japanese Patent Publication No. 63-13794 (hereinafter referred to as "prior art") discloses a technology for removing spatter from the nozzle of a welding torch installed at the end of the arm of an arc welding robot that performs welding work. There is.

In this conventional technology, a nozzle cleaning device is installed at a fixed part of automatic welding equipment, and a series of operations such as sensing and automatic welding as well as several processes for cleaning the torch nozzle part are incorporated into the program of the control means. The interior of the torch nozzle can be safely and automatically cleaned without any direct intervention by a person.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the conventional welding torch nozzle cleaning device of an automatic welding device, the welding torch and its nozzle cleaning device are paired, and a pair of left and right welding torches are opposed to each other at a fillet weld joint. When using the above-mentioned conventional technology in an automatic welding device that performs welding by being arranged and movable in the direction of the welding torch, if a pair of nozzle cleaning devices is provided at one location, the welding torch is moved to clean the nozzle. The range of movement must be increased. Therefore, if the positions of the nozzle cleaning devices are separated from each other, the time taken to move the welding torch to that position will be added to the nozzle cleaning time, which will reduce the operating rate of the automatic welding device. , which attempts to solve such problems,
It is possible to clean multiple nozzles with one cleaning section without having to provide a pair of cleaning sections for each welding torch, and it also eliminates the need to align the welding torch with the cleaning section position when cleaning nozzles, and provides teachings for positioning. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a welding torch nozzle cleaning device for automatic welding equipment, which saves work and operating time and improves the operating rate.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, a welding torch nozzle cleaning device (claim 1) of an automatic welding device of the present invention includes a nozzle cleaning section for cleaning the inside of a nozzle of a welding torch; The present invention is characterized by comprising a drive unit capable of tilting the nozzle cleaning unit at a predetermined angle so as to align the nozzle cleaning unit with the orientation direction of the nozzle.

Further, a welding torch nozzle cleaning device (claim 2) of an automatic welding apparatus according to the present invention includes a nozzle cleaning portion storing a nozzle cleaning container storing one granular powder, and a rotating device that rotationally drives the nozzle cleaning container. It is characterized by being composed of a drive section.

Further, the welding torch nozzle cleaning device (claim 3) of the automatic welding apparatus of the present invention includes a spraying section that sprays a spatter adhesion prevention liquid onto the nozzle, and a spraying section that sprays either the nozzle cleaning section or the spraying section of the nozzle. a first slide section that moves the nozzle cleaning section and the spray section to match the position; and a second slide section that moves the nozzle cleaning section and the spray section in the directional direction of the nozzle cleaning section. It is characterized by

[Function] In the above-mentioned welding torch nozzle cleaning device for an automatic welding device of the present invention (claim 1), when cleaning the nozzle, the posture of the nozzle cleaning section is tilted at a predetermined angle by the drive section so as to match the orientation direction of the nozzle. This eliminates the need to align the welding torch with the orientation direction of the nozzle cleaning section as in the past.

In addition, in the apparatus of claim 2, the nozzle cleaning container is rotated by the bright spot drive unit while the nozzle to be cleaned is inserted into the nozzle cleaning container, thereby causing the granular powder in the nozzle cleaning container to Welding spatter inside the nozzle is removed.

Furthermore, in the apparatus of claim 3, the position of the nozzle cleaning section/spraying section is switched by the first slide section, the nozzle cleaning section is matched with the nozzle position of the welding torch, and the nozzle cleaning section is switched by the second slide section. By moving, the nozzle cleaning section is placed at the position of the welding torch and nozzle cleaning is performed, while the spray section is brought into alignment with the nozzle position of the welding torch by the first slide section and moved by the second slide section. , the eruption part is placed at the position of the welding torch,
By spraying the spatter adhesion prevention liquid from this spraying part to the nozzle, it is possible to suppress welding spatter from adhering inside the nozzle.

[Embodiments of the Invention] Hereinafter, a welding torch nozzle cleaning device for an automatic welding device as an embodiment of the present invention will be explained with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway side view of the device, and FIG. A plan view, FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the basic configuration and control system of this embodiment, FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the device of this embodiment, and FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the book during nozzle cleaning. FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing the nozzle cleaning container of the embodiment, and a side view showing an example of an automatic welding device to which the device of the embodiment is applied.

First, the configuration of an automatic welding apparatus to which the apparatus of this embodiment is applied will be briefly explained with reference to the sixth drawing. In FIG. 6, 1 is a workpiece consisting of a lower plate 1a and a vertical plate 1b, and the automatic welding device of this embodiment is capable of welding a pair of left and right welds between the lower plate 1a and the vertical plate 1b simultaneously from the left and right sides. It is configured with torches 2a and 2b. These welding torches 2a, 2b are arranged opposite to the left and right fillet weld lines 1c, ld,
Each welding torch 2a, 2b is controlled by a slide drive mechanism 3a, 4a; ab, 4b, respectively, in the upright direction (XA, XB) and the lower direction (ZAI Ze) of the fillet weld joint.
). In addition, welding torches 2a, 2
b and slide drive mechanism 3a.

4a; 3b, 4b are entirely attached to a gate-shaped frame 5, and are movable in the vertical direction Z and the horizontal direction X by slide drive mechanisms 6 and 7, respectively.

In addition, during welding, after positioning the welding torches 2a, 2b by the slide drive mechanisms 3a, 4a; Fillet welding is automatically performed from the left and right sides at the same time.

In contrast to such an automatic welding device, the welding torch nozzle cleaning device of this embodiment is constructed as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, welding torch 2 of automatic welding equipment
A nozzle cleaning section 8 for cleaning the inside of the nozzle 2A (see FIG. 5) of a and 2b (see FIG. 6) and a spraying section 9 for spraying spatter adhesion prevention liquid to the nozzle 2A are provided in parallel. , these nozzle cleaning section 8 and spraying section 9 are
Slider (first slide part) 10. Second slider (second slide part) 11. Via the arm portion 12 and end plate 13.

It is attached to a gate-shaped frame 5 (see FIG. 6).

Here, the nozzle cleaning section 8, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5,
When cleaning the nozzle 2A, which stores granular powder 8a such as sand, the nozzle cleaning pot (nozzle cleaning container) 8b into which the nozzle 2A is inserted relative to the nozzle cleaning pot 8b and the nozzle cleaning pot 8b are
It is composed of a motor (rotation drive unit) 8c that rotates around an axis.

In this embodiment, when the pot 8b is rotationally driven by the motor 8C, the granular powder 8a in the pot 8b is also rotated, and the spatter in the nozzle 2A inserted into the pot 8b is removed. .

Further, the spraying section 9 receives compressed air from an air supply source (not shown) and sprays the spatter adhesion prevention liquid together with the compressed air.

Further, the arm portion 12 is moved vertically by a motor 14.
The second slider 11 at the tip of the arm portion 12 is driven to rotate around a horizontal β-axis by a motor 15° pinion 16 and a rack 17.

The rotation around the α-axis by the motor 14 is for positioning the nozzle cleaning section 8 and the spray section 9 within the movement range of the welding torches 2a and 2b of the automatic welding device during nozzle cleaning.

The motor 15 is provided on the tip side of the arm portion 12 and rotates the pinion 16, and as the pinion 16 rotates, its rotational force is transmitted to the rack 17 attached to the second slider 11 side and meshing with the pinion 16. being the second
A slider 11, a first slider 10 on the distal side of the slider 11, and a nozzle cleaning section 8. The entire spray section 9 is β
It is designed to be tilted around an axis. In other words, motor 15. The pinion 16 and the rack 17 constitute a drive unit that can tilt the nozzle cleaning unit 8 at a predetermined angle in order to align the nozzle cleaning unit 8 with the orientation direction of the nozzles 2A of the welding torches 2a, 2b.

In this embodiment, air motors operated by compressed air are used as the motors 14 and 15.

Furthermore, the first slider 10 is connected to an air supply source (not shown).
It is driven by an air cylinder 10a that operates by receiving compressed air from the nozzle cleaning section 8 and the spray section 9.
is moved in the Y direction to align either the nozzle cleaning section 8 or the spraying section 9 with the position of the nozzle 2A. The second slider 11 is also an air cylinder ll which operates by receiving compressed air from an air supply source (not shown).
a to move the nozzle cleaning section 8 and the spraying section 9 in the Z direction, that is, in the directional direction of the nozzle cleaning section 8.

Now, the control panel 18 for controlling such a nozzle cleaning device is constructed as shown in FIG. 3. In other words, while communicating with the automatic welding device (robot) via the external input/output device 18b, the control flow shown in FIG.
A control section 18a is provided which operates in accordance with the above-mentioned second slider (nozzle cleaning pot lifting/lowering device) 11. Motor (nozzle cleaning pot swinging device) 14, 15. Motor (nozzle cleaning pot rotating device) 8c, squirting unit (spatter adhesion prevention liquid spraying device) 9. A first slider (nozzle cleaning unit positioning device) 10 is controlled.

With the above-described configuration, the apparatus of this embodiment can control the welding torch 2a of an automatic welding apparatus as shown in FIG. 6 by inputting a nozzle cleaning command to the control unit 18a.

The nozzle 2A of Nozzle 2b is cleaned as follows.

First, in an automatic welding device (robot), one welding torch 2a (or 2b) is moved by the slide drive mechanism 3a.
, 4a (or 3b, 4b) to a predetermined cleaning position, and the other welding torch 2b (or 2a) is moved by the slide drive mechanism 3b, 4b (or 3).
After positioning the nozzle 2 to a position where it does not interfere with the cleaning device by steps a and 4a (step Sl), move the nozzle 2 to the nozzle cleaning section 8.
A cleaning start command is transmitted (step S2).

In order to clean the nozzle 2A, the nozzle cleaning section 8 is positioned at a cleaning position by the motor 14 and the first slider 10, and is tilted at a predetermined angle by the motor 15 so as to match the pointing direction of the nozzle 2A. Step S
3). After that, while rotating the nozzle cleaning pot 8b of the nozzle cleaning unit 8 by the motor 8c (step S4).
, the nozzle cleaning pot 8c is raised to the position of the nozzle 2A by the second slider 11 (step S5), and the state in which the nozzle 2A is inserted into the nozzle cleaning pot 8c is maintained for a preset cleaning time (step S5). S6)
. When the predetermined cleaning time has elapsed, the nozzle cleaning pot 8c is lowered to the lower limit position by the second slider 11 (step S7), and the rotation of the nozzle cleaning pot 8c is stopped (step S8).

Next, by using the first slider 10, the jetting part 9 is placed in place of the nozzle cleaning part 8 at a position facing the nozzle 2A, and after spraying the spatter adhesion prevention liquid onto the nozzle 2A (step S9), the robot Communicate the completion of nozzle cleaning of welding torch 2a (or 2b) (step 5IO)
.

Hereinafter, in the same procedure as steps 81 to S10 described above,
After cleaning the nozzle 2A of the other welding torch 2b (or 2a) (step 5ll).

The robot returns to the pre-start position to resume welding work, and the nozzle cleaning device returns to the standby position (step 512).
).

As described above, in the welding torch nozzle cleaning device of the automatic welding apparatus of this embodiment, the nozzle cleaning section 8 and the jetting section 9 are moved in the Y and Z directions by the slider 10.11, and are tilted at a predetermined angle by the motor 15. Therefore, welding torch 2a
, 2b at a predetermined position, it is no longer necessary to align the welding torches 2a, 2b with the cleaning part position when cleaning the nozzle as in the past, and the teaching work and operating time for positioning can be omitted, and automatic The operating rate of welding equipment is greatly improved. In other words, with memory regeneration type arc welding robots, teaching work for nozzle cleaning is almost unnecessary, and with automatic numerical control welding equipment,
There is no need to enter troublesome numerical values for nozzle cleaning.

Further, it is possible to clean a plurality of nozzles (two nozzles in this embodiment) with one nozzle cleaning section 8 without providing a pair of cleaning sections for each welding torch 2a, 2b.

Further, in the nozzle cleaning device of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the nozzle 2A is cleaned while tilting and rotating the nozzle cleaning pot 8b of the nozzle cleaning unit 8 at a predetermined angle. In the body 8a, nozzle cleaning is reliably carried out at part A in FIG. Furthermore, even if the number of granular powders 8a decreases, the total weight of the granular powders 8a becomes lighter, so that the granular powders 8a are always placed in the A part due to the rotational force around the γ axis.
can be reached and the nozzle can be cleaned reliably.

Therefore, it is not necessary to strictly control the amount of the single granular powder 8a, which has the advantage of reducing the burden on the operator.

Moreover, the Z-direction movement stroke of the second slider 11 can be reduced, and the nozzle cleaning device itself can be configured compactly.

In the above embodiment, the nozzle cleaning unit 8 used was one in which the granular powder 8a was stored in the nozzle cleaning pot 8b and the pot 8b was rotated by the motor 8c. Without limitation, other nozzle cleaning means may be applied.

Further, in the above embodiment, the case where the device of the present invention is applied to an automatic welding device having a pair of left and right welding torches 2a and 2b as shown in FIG. 6 has been described, but the device of the present invention is limited to this. The present invention is also applicable to memory regeneration type arc welding robots as shown in the prior art.

[Effects of the Invention] As detailed above, according to the welding torch nozzle cleaning section Wi (claim #I) of the automatic welding apparatus of the present invention, the nozzle cleaning section is configured to be tilted at a predetermined angle by the drive section. Therefore, it is possible to clean multiple nozzles with one cleaning section, and there is no need to align the welding torch to the cleaning section position when cleaning nozzles, saving teaching work and operating time for positioning, and saving time on automatic welding equipment. The operating rate can be significantly improved.

In addition, since the nozzle cleaning container is configured to clean the nozzle while being rotated by the rotary drive unit (claim 2), the nozzle can be cleaned reliably and the amount of the granular powder can be removed. Since the nozzle can be cleaned reliably without strict management, it also has the effect of reducing the burden on the operator.

Furthermore, by switching the positions of the spraying part and the nozzle cleaning part by the first and second slide parts (claim 3).
In addition to nozzle cleaning, spatter adhesion prevention liquid can also be sprayed onto the nozzle, which has the effect of suppressing spatter adhesion to the nozzle.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 to 6 show a welding torch nozzle cleaning device for an automatic welding device as an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway side view thereof, FIG. 2 is a plan view thereof, Third
The figure is a block diagram showing the basic configuration and control system of this embodiment, and FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the apparatus of this embodiment. FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing the nozzle cleaning container of this embodiment during nozzle cleaning, and FIG. 6vA is a side view showing an example of an automatic welding device to which the device of this embodiment is applied. In the figure, 1 - workpiece, 1a - lower plate, 1 b - standing plate, lc, ld - fillet weld line, 2A - nozzle, 2a, 2b
-m-Welding torch, 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b---slide drive mechanism, 5-frame, 6.7-slide drive mechanism, 8-nozzle cleaning section, 8a-granular powder, 8b-nozzle cleaning pot ( Nozzle cleaning container), 8cm motor (rotation drive unit), 9-spraying unit, 10-first slider (first slide unit), 10a air cylinder, 11-second slider (
2nd slide part), 1la-air cylinder, 12-arm part, 13-end plate, 14-motor, 15-motor (drive part), 16-pinion, 17-rack, 18-control panel, 18a-control Part, 18 b - External input/output devices. Patent Appearance Kobe Steel, Ltd.

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) A nozzle cleaning section for cleaning the inside of the nozzle of a welding torch of an automatic welding device, and a drive capable of tilting the nozzle cleaning section at a predetermined angle to align the nozzle cleaning section with the orientation direction of the nozzle of the welding torch. A welding torch nozzle cleaning device for an automatic welding device, characterized in that it is provided with a welding torch nozzle cleaning device. (2) The automatic welding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the nozzle cleaning section is comprised of a nozzle cleaning container storing granular powder and a rotation drive section that rotationally drives the nozzle cleaning container. welding torch nozzle cleaning device. (3) A spraying section for spraying the spatter adhesion prevention liquid onto the nozzle is provided, and the nozzle cleaning section and the spraying section are arranged so that either the nozzle cleaning section or the spraying section matches the position of the nozzle. Claim 1 or Claim 2, characterized in that it is provided with a first slide part that moves the nozzle cleaning part and a second slide part that moves the nozzle cleaning part and the spray part in the orientation direction of the nozzle cleaning part.
A welding torch nozzle cleaning device for the automatic welding equipment described.