JPH0357344Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a welding device for automatically welding objects to be welded, such as automobile bodies, on a production line.

(Prior art) Conventionally, when welding the welding part of an object to be welded, such as the rocker part and wheel house part of an automobile body, that is, the welding location on the back side of an automobile body, the object to be welded has been rotated so that the welding position is facing upward or sideways. This makes it possible to use a dedicated multi-welding device with a large number of welding guns adapted to each welding area. When welding a large number of automobile bodies of the same type using dedicated multi-welding equipment, cycle time is shortened and productivity is improved, which is a great benefit.

(Problem to be solved by the invention) However, when welding the welding part of an automobile body, that is, the wheel house part and the rocker part, which can only be welded from below, it is necessary to rotate the workpiece to obtain the welding position. equipment is required,
In addition, when welding a wide variety of items in small quantities, it is necessary to change equipment to rotate the equipment accordingly, and to change the settings of the welding gun each time the type of body changes, which reduces productivity. Therefore, it is difficult to apply dedicated multi-welding equipment to a wide variety of parts to be welded in small quantities. Further, since the dedicated multi-welding device has a large number of welding guns, the main body of the device is large and complicated, requiring a large installation area, and maintenance is also troublesome.

On the other hand, in order to respond to the production of a wide variety of low-volume vehicle models, it is sufficient to place articulated welding robots at positions corresponding to the welding points of the workpieces. However, there are disadvantages in that the welding equipment is large-scale, expensive, and requires a large operating space.

The purpose of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems, and to provide a highly practical automatic welding device that can perform welding without changing the welding position, has an extremely simple configuration, and can be adapted to high-mix, low-volume production.

(Means for Solving the Problems) As a means for solving the above problems, an automatic welding device according to the present invention is provided with two first position indexing devices that move independently in the X-axis direction. 1st
Each of the position indexing devices is provided with a second position indexing device that moves in the Y-axis direction, and each of the second position indexing devices is provided with a third position indexing device that moves in the Z-axis direction. , a drive shaft that stands upright and rotates in the Z-axis direction is provided on one side of the third position indexing device; a welding gun unit that stands upright in the Z-axis direction is provided at the tip of a bracket provided on the drive shaft; A bracket in the Z-axis direction is provided on the other side of the position indexing device, a welding gun unit that can swing within the ZX plane is provided on the bracket, and an indexing cylinder is provided for moving the welding gun unit upward from the XY plane. It is characterized by the fact that it has been provided.

(Function) Since the present invention is constructed as described above, when welding a part with a wide variety of complex shapes, such as an automobile body that is continuously transported, from the bottom, it can be used as follows. Do it.

That is, since the first position indexing device is separated into two parts, it is possible to weld a wide variety of small quantities with different lengths (in the X direction).

Next, for a wide variety of welding locations in the XY plane of the workpiece, a drive shaft that stands upright and rotates in the Z-axis direction is provided on one side of the third position indexing device; Since the welding gun unit is installed at the tip of the bracket and stands upright in the Z-axis direction, the angle of the electrode tip of the welding gun unit is finely adjusted along a virtual circle drawn with the drive shaft as the center and the bracket as the radius. By holding the welding location at right angles from below by the electrode tip and by the organic relationship with the second position indexing device, it becomes possible to handle a wide variety of welding with different widths (in the Y direction).

In addition, since the welding gun unit is designed to move upward from the XY plane for a wide variety of welding points in the ZX plane of the workpiece, even if the welding points are in the vertical direction of the workpiece, Also, even if the welding part is curved and the angle of the welding part changes, the angle of the welding gun unit can be finely adjusted and positioned using the index cylinder, and the welding part of the workpiece can be lowered with the electrode tip. Due to the organic relationship with the third position indexing device, which is held at right angles from the sides, it becomes possible to cope with a wide variety of welding with different height (Z direction) angles.

In this way, the separate and independent first position indexing device can handle a wide variety of lengthwise directions, and the welding gun unit can handle a wide variety of workpieces on the XY plane, as well as a wide variety of workpieces on the ZX plane. It becomes possible to deal with a wide variety of objects to be welded by the organic relationship between the correspondence and the first, second, and third position indexing devices.

(Example) An example of the present invention is shown below in Figures 1 and 2.
This will be explained based on the diagram.

1 and 2 are X-axis position indexing devices which are first position indexing devices, and drive shafts 3 and 4 are respectively connected to the X-axis position indexing devices 1 and 2 as indicated by the arrows in the figure.
They are arranged coaxially with each other in the AA′ direction.
The drive shafts 3 and 4 have bases 5 and 6, respectively.
It is installed so that it can be moved horizontally in the AA′ direction. 7,
Reference numeral 8 denotes a drive unit for the X-axis position indexing devices 1 and 2, and by operating the drive units 7 and 8, the bases 5 and 6 are moved.
The bases 5 and 6 can be moved in the direction AA', and the bases 5 and 6 can be stopped and fixed at desired positions in the direction AA'.

9 and 10 are Y-axis position indexing devices which are second position indexing devices, and these Y-axis position indexing devices 9 and 1
0, the drive shafts 11 and 12 are respectively aligned in the direction of the arrow BB' in the figure, that is, the X-axis position indexing device 1,
It is arranged so as to be movable in the horizontal direction perpendicular to 2. Reference numerals 13 and 14 are drive parts for the Y-axis position indexing devices 9 and 10. By operating the drive parts 13 and 14, the drive shafts 11 and 12 are driven by the X-axis position indexing devices 1 and 10.
The drive shafts 11 and 12 can be moved in the BB' direction relative to the drive shaft 2 and can be stopped and fixed at desired positions in the BB' direction.

Reference numerals 15 and 16 indicate brackets that extend upwardly and are fixed at appropriate positions on the drive shafts 11 and 12. On top of these brackets 15 and 16, there are provided a Z-axis position indexing device 17, which is a third position indexing device. 18 are fixed respectively. This Z-axis position indexing device 17,
18, drive shafts 19 and 20 are respectively arranged in the CC' direction in the figure, that is, the Y-axis position indexing devices 9 and 1.
It is disposed so as to be movable in the vertical direction perpendicularly intersecting the drive shafts 11 and 12 of 0. 21 and 22 are driving parts of the Z-axis position indexing devices 17 and 18, and the driving part 2
1, 22, the drive shafts 19, 2
0 is relative to the Y-axis position indexing device 9,10
It is configured to move in the CC' direction and stop and fix the drive shafts 19, 20 at desired positions in the CC' direction.

Reference numeral 23 denotes a bracket fixed in place of one Z-axis position indexing device 17, and the bracket 23 has an S-axis position indexing device 2 which is a fourth position indexing device.
4 is fixed. This S-axis position indexing device 2
4 is attached with a drive shaft 25, and the drive shaft 25 is rotatably provided in the turning direction (in the XY plane) shown by the arrow EE' in FIG.

26 is a drive section of the S-axis position indexing device 24, and by operating the drive section 26, the drive shaft 25 is moved.
The drive shaft 25 is configured to rotate in the EE' direction and to be able to stop and fix the drive shaft 25 at a desired rotational position in the EE' direction. A bracket 27 is fixed to the drive shaft 25 of the S-axis position indexing device 24, and a welding gun unit 28 that stands upright in the Z-axis direction is fixed to the tip of this bracket 27.

Therefore, the drive shaft 25 of the S-axis position indexing device 24 is rotated in the EE' direction by the drive section 26, and stopped and fixed at a predetermined rotational position, so that the welding gun unit 28 also rotates in the EE' direction. It is designed to be stopped and fixed at a predetermined rotational position.

29 is a balance cylinder fixed to the Z-axis position indexing device 17;
is the nutcle 30 stuck to the piston rod.
The bracket 31 is fixed to the upper end of the drive shaft 19 of the Z-axis position indexing device 17.

32 is a bracket fixed in place on the drive shaft 20 of the other Z-axis position indexing device 18; 33 is a welding gun unit; this welding gun unit 33 is attached to the bracket 32 via a hinge pin 34 in the direction of arrow DD' in FIG. Turning direction indicated by (in the ZX plane)
It is swingably mounted on the

Reference numerals 35 and 36 are stoppers for suppressing the rotation of the welding gun unit 33, and are mounted at appropriate positions on the bracket 32 so as to be freely adjustable in position. 37 is bracket 3
The index cylinder 37 is rotatably attached to the proper position of the index cylinder 2 by a hinge pin 38.
is the nutcle 39 that is stuck to the piston rod.
The welding gun unit 33 is connected to the welding gun unit 33 via a hinge pin 40.

Therefore, the welding gun unit 33 rotates in the DD' direction as the piston rod of the indexing cylinder 37 expands and contracts, and comes into contact with the stoppers 35 and 36, so that the rotation angle of the welding gun unit 33 is indexed. ing.

Reference numeral 41 denotes a balance cylinder fixed to the Z-axis position indexing device 18. The balance cylinder 41 is connected to a bracket 43 via a knuckle 42 fixed to its piston rod. It is fixed to the upper end of the shaft 20. W is the object to be welded, here it is a car body having a rocker part and a wheel house part, and
indicates the welding point between the rocker part and the wheel house part on the car body.

The operation of the embodiment configured as above will be explained. First, the drive shafts 7 and 8 of the X-axis position indexing devices 1 and 2 are operated to move the bases 5 and 6 in the AA' direction, and the AA' corresponding to the welding point X mark on the desired workpiece W is moved. Welding gun unit 28,
Stop and fix 33. Next, the drive shafts 13 and 14 of the Y-axis position indexing devices 9 and 10 are operated to move the drive shafts 11 and 12 in the BB' direction, so that the BB' corresponding to the welding point X mark on the desired workpiece W is moved. The welding gun units 28 and 33 are stopped and fixed at the position in the direction.

The reason why the welding gun units 28 and 33 can be stopped and fixed independently at predetermined positions depending on the type and size of the workpiece W is that the first position indexing device is divided into two parts. This is because they are separated. At this time, the pair of electrode tips of the welding gun units 28 and 33 are positioned directly below the welding point X mark on the workpiece W to be welded.

Therefore, if the welding surface at the welding point marked X can be held at right angles between a pair of electrode tips in that state, welding can be performed in the following manner.

That is, in the above state, the drive parts 21 and 22 of the Z-axis position indexing devices 17 and 18 are activated to raise the drive shafts 19 and 20 in the C direction, and the welding surface of the welding point marked X is moved by the pair of electrode tips. After raising the welding gun units 28, 33 to a height position where they can hold the welding gun units 28, 33, and positioning the welding gun units 28, 33 at that position,
3 to weld the workpiece W using a pair of electrode tips.
Welding is performed by holding the welding point X mark.

When the welding at the welding location marked X on the workpiece W is completed, the drive unit 2 of the Z-axis position indexing devices 17 and 18
1 and 22 again to lower the drive shafts 19 and 20 in the C' direction, and move the welding gun units 28 and 33 to their original height positions. Welding gun unit 2
When 8,33 descends to its original height position, X again
Drive parts 7, 8 and Y of shaft position indexing devices 1, 2
The drive parts 13 and 14 of the shaft position indexing devices 9 and 10 are operated to move the welding gun units 28 and 33 to the position corresponding to the next welding point X mark on the workpiece W to be welded.

On the other hand, when the welding gun units 28 and 33 are moved to the position corresponding to the welding point X mark on the workpiece W, the welding surface of the welding point marked X is held at right angles by the pair of electrode tips of the welding gun units 28 and 33. If this is not possible, welding can be performed using the following procedure.

First, welding by the welding gun unit 28 will be explained. When the drive section 26 of the S-axis position indexing device 24 is activated to rotate the drive shaft 25, a virtual circle is drawn with the radius of the bracket 27 provided on the drive shaft 25. The welding gun unit 28, which is installed upright on the bracket 27 in the Z-axis direction, is rotated in the EE' direction, and the pair of electrode tips of the welding gun unit 28 welds the welding surface of the welding point marked X on the workpiece W at right angles. The welding gun unit 28 is indexed to a position where it can be held, and the welding gun unit 28 is
position at that rotational position. After positioning the welding gun unit 28 at the above rotational position, move the welding gun unit 28 to the C position in the same manner as described above.
Welding is performed by raising the workpiece W in the direction and positioning it at a predetermined height position, operating the welding gun unit 28, and pinching the welding point X mark on the workpiece W from below with a pair of electrode tips.

Next, welding by the welding gun unit 33 will be explained. If the piston rod of the index cylinder 37 is shortened, the welding gun unit 33
Since the electrode tip of the welding gun unit 33 can be placed in the XY plane, the electrode tip of the welding gun unit 33 is oriented horizontally, and welding is performed by holding the welding point X mark in the vertical direction of the workpiece W at right angles. If the welding part is not vertical but curved as shown in Figure 1, the welding angle will differ depending on the welding point X mark, and the welding gun unit 33 will be
Since it is movable upward from the plane, the piston rod of the indexing cylinder 37 is extended to change the angle of the welding gun unit 33 within the ZX plane.
The welding gun unit 33 is positioned at an angle that allows the pair of electrode tips of the welding gun unit 33 to hold the welding surface of the welding point marked X on the workpiece W at right angles from below the workpiece. Welding gun unit 3
3 at the above-mentioned angular position, actuate the drive section 22 of the Z-axis position indexing device 18 to move the drive shaft 20
is moved in the direction C, and welding is performed by holding the welding point X mark on the workpiece W at right angles between a pair of electrode tips of the welding gun unit 33.

Hereinafter, in this way, the welding point X of the workpiece W
The marks are sequentially welded, and when all the welding at the desired welding location marked X is completed, the welding gun units 28, 33 are returned to their original positions by the operation opposite to that described above, and one welding cycle is completed.

(Effects of the invention) As explained above, according to the invention, the first position indexing device is separated into two parts, so it is possible to weld a wide variety of welds with different lengths (in the X direction) in small quantities.

A drive shaft that stands upright and rotates in the Z-axis direction is provided on one side of the third position indexing device, and a welding gun unit that stands upright in the Z-axis direction is provided at the tip of the bracket provided on the drive shaft, so that the rotation of the drive shaft This makes it possible to adequately handle a wide variety of welding locations in the XY plane of the workpiece from below.

Furthermore, since the welding gun unit moves upward from the XY plane, it
A wide variety of welding locations within the ZX plane can be adequately addressed from below.

As a result, the separate and independent first position indexing device can handle a wide variety of lengthwise directions, the welding gun unit can handle a wide variety of XY planes, and a ZX plane. Due to the organic relationship between the first, second, and third position indexing devices, it is possible to handle a wide variety of welding locations on the workpiece, welding can be performed without changing the welding posture, and it is extremely simple. With this configuration, it is possible to obtain a highly practical automatic welding device that can handle high-variety, low-volume production.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figure 1 is a front view showing one embodiment of the present invention;
The figure is a plan view of FIG. 1, 2... X-axis position indexing device (first position indexing device), 9, 10... Y-axis position indexing device (second position indexing device), 17, 18... Z-axis position Indexing device (third position indexing device), 25...
...Drive shaft, 27... Bracket, 28, 33...
Welding gun unit, 32... Bracket, 37...
...index cylinder.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] two first position indexing devices that move independently in the X-axis direction; each of the first position indexing devices includes a second position indexing device that moves in the Y-axis direction; Each of the two position indexing devices is provided with a third position indexing device that moves in the Z-axis direction, one of the third position indexing devices is provided with a drive shaft that stands upright and rotates in the Z-axis direction, A welding gun unit that stands upright in the Z-axis direction is provided at the tip of a bracket provided on the drive shaft, a bracket in the Z-axis direction is provided on the other side of the third position indexing device, and the bracket is movable in the ZX plane. An automatic welding device comprising a welding gun unit and an indexing cylinder for moving the welding gun unit upward from an XY plane.