JPH10146682A - Welding equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide friction welding equipment capable of friction welding of a plate-shaped work made of non-ferrous metal such as aluminum. SOLUTION: A work holding member 13 to support first and second works W1, W2 in a condition where the surfaces to be joined of the works are joined with each other is provided in an attachably/detachably exchanging manner on a support table 11 integrated with a frame, work fixing devices 25A, 25B to fix the first and second works W1, W2 to the work holding member 13 in an immobile manner are provided, a working head 43 which is provided with a turnable welding tool 55 having a probe 55P to generate the friction heat in the surfaces to be joined of the fixed first and second works W1, W2 and movable in the direction along the joined surfaces is provided, and the working head is provided in an inclined manner so that a tip part of the probe 55P is preceded in the advancing direction. A positioning stopper to position the surface to be joined of one work to the prescribed position is provided.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a welding apparatus for performing friction welding of a plate-like work made of a non-ferrous metal such as aluminum and its alloys and copper and its alloys. The present invention relates to a welding apparatus of a type in which a probe is rotated while entering a joint surface between a work and a second work, and frictional heat is generated between the joint surface between the probe and the work by the rotation of the probe.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a prior example of the present invention, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.
No. 05090.

[0003]

In the above prior art, the probe is caused to enter the joint surface of the first and second workpieces to be welded while rotating, thereby generating frictional heat between the probe and the workpiece. The welding surface is softened and welded by frictional heat. In the prior example, welding can be performed by horizontally butting the first and second works, but it is difficult to weld the work in an L-shape or a T-shape, for example.

[0004]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and the invention according to claim 1 has a structure in which a first table to be welded is mounted on a support table integrated with a frame. , A work holding member for supporting the joint surface of the second work in a joined state is detachably provided, and
A work fixing device for fixing the second work to the work holding member in an immovable state is provided.
A welding tool provided with a probe for generating frictional heat on the joining surface of the workpiece, the machining tool being rotatably driven and capable of moving in a direction along the joining surface.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the processing head is provided so as to be tiltable so that the tip of the probe precedes in the traveling direction.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, the work holding member comprises a vertical plane and a horizontal plane for supporting one work vertically and supporting the other work horizontally. This is a configuration including:

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect, a positioning stopper for positioning the joining surface of one of the workpieces at a predetermined position is provided on the workpiece supporting surface of the workpiece holding member. It is provided so as to be movable to a position where it can contact with the work and a position where contact is avoided.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a welding apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes left and right side frames 3L and 3R, and the upper portions of the side frames 3L and 3R are the front and rear upper portions. The lower portions are integrally connected by lower beams 9, and are integrally connected by beam members 5 and 7.

A support table 11 is provided on the lower beam 9.
A work holding member 13 that supports the first and second plate-shaped works W1 and W2 to be welded in a joined state is provided on the support table 11 in a detachable manner. ing. Further, before and after the support table 11, there are provided auxiliary tables 15R and 15F for horizontally supporting the works W1 and W2.

Further, positioning stoppers 17 for positioning the joining surface of the first work W1 at a predetermined position are provided at a plurality of positions on the front side of the support table 11. More specifically, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, notches 19 are provided at a plurality of positions in the left-right direction of the front auxiliary table 15F.
The positioning stopper 17 is attached via a pin 23 to a bracket 21 attached to the support table 11 corresponding to the notch 19.

As shown in FIG. 3, the positioning stopper 17 has a positioning position on the work support surface of the work holding member 13 at which the first work W1 can be brought into contact, and an auxiliary table 15F with the pin 23 as an axis. It is provided so as to be rotatable so as to be immersed from the upper surface thereof and to be moved to an avoidance position where contact with the work is avoided.

Therefore, the positioning stopper 17
Work W1 in the state where is positioned at the positioning position.
Abut on each other, the joint surface of the work W1 can be accurately positioned at a predetermined position.

First and second work fixing devices 25A and 25B are provided to fix the first and second works W1 and W2 on the work holding member 13 in an immobile state.

More specifically, brackets 27 are attached to a plurality of portions in the left-right direction below the rear beam member 7, and each bracket 27 has a pressing pad 29 for pressing the first work W1. A bell crank-shaped pressing arm 31 provided at the lower end is rotatably mounted via a pin 33. The upper part of each pressing arm 31 is appropriately connected to a piston rod 35P reciprocally provided on a pressing cylinder 35 mounted on each bracket 27.

By pressing the upper part of the pressing arm 31 with the piston rod 35P of the pressing cylinder 35, the first work W1 is pressed against the work holding member 13 by the lower end of the pressing arm 31. It can be fixed.

The second work fixing device 25B is mounted on the beam member 5 on the front side. That is, at a plurality of portions of the beam member 5 in the left-right direction, the pressing pad 2
An L-shaped pressing arm 37 provided with a support 9 is supported via a guide member 39 so as to be vertically movable. A vertically movable piston rod 41P of the plurality of pressing cylinders 41 mounted on the beam member 5 is appropriately connected to each pressing arm 37.

Therefore, by operating the pressing cylinder 41, the work holding member 1 is moved by the pressing arm 37.
The second work W2 on the third work 3 can be pressed and fixed in an immobile state.

A processing head 43 for performing friction welding of the joining surfaces of the first and second works W1 and W2 is provided so as to be movable in the left-right direction along the joining surfaces.

More specifically, a guide member 45 extending in the left-right direction is attached to the beam member 7, and a slide member 47 is supported on the guide member 45 so as to be able to reciprocate in the left-right direction. And this slide member 47
The left and right side frames 3
Ball screw 5 rotatably supported at both ends by L and 3R
1 is screwed. The ball screw 51 is connected to a servomotor (not shown) mounted on the side frame 3R, and the moving speed and the moving position of the slide member 47 in the left-right direction are the speed and the position of the servomotor as an example of a position detector. Rotary encoder (not shown)
Can be detected by

The processing head 43 is mounted on the slide member 47 so as to be slightly rotatable in the left-right direction. A spindle 53 having a lower end protruding downward is supported by the processing head 43 so as to be rotatable and vertically movable. The lower end of the spindle 53 holds the first and second workpieces W1 and W2. A welding tool 55 having a probe 55P for generating frictional heat between the welding surface and the welding surface is detachably mounted.

The welding tool 55 is made of, for example, tool steel or cemented carbide having a higher hardness than works W1 and W2 made of non-ferrous metal such as aluminum or its alloy or copper or its alloy. In this configuration, a small-diameter probe 55P having a length substantially equal to the plate thickness of the work is protruded from the central portion of the lower surface of the shank portion having the diameter.

In the above configuration, the work W1 is moved to the auxiliary table 15 with the positioning stopper 17 positioned at the positioning position as shown in FIG.
The workpiece W1 is positioned on the workpiece holding member 13 at a predetermined position (vertically below the welding tool 55 provided on the processing head 43) by being placed on the R and abutting against the positioning stopper 17 for positioning. it can.

After positioning the work W1 as described above, the pressing cylinder 35 in the work fixing device 25A is used.
When the upper portion of the pressing arm 31 is pressed by the piston 35P, the work W1 is pressed and fixed in an immovable state by the pressing pad 29 provided at the lower end of the pressing arm 31.

After pressing and fixing the work W1, the positioning stopper 17 is moved to the avoidance position, and the auxiliary table 15F
The work W2 is positioned on the work W2 by placing the work W2 thereon and abutting the joint surface of the work W2 on the joint surface of the work W1. Thereafter, by operating the pressing cylinder 41 of the work fixing device 25B, the work W2 is immovably fixed on the auxiliary table 15F by the pressing arm 37.

The state in which the joining surfaces of the first and second works W1 and W2 are joined may be such that both joining surfaces may be in contact with each other or may be slightly separated from each other.

As described above, after the joining surfaces of the works W1 and W2 are joined to each other and the works W1 and W2 are fixed in an immovable state, the spindle 53 provided in the machining head 43 is rotated by the motor M, Is lowered, and the lower end of the probe 55P of the welding tool 55 provided at the lower end of the spindle 53 is brought into contact with the joining portion of the joining surface, so that the relative rotation of the welding tool 55 with respect to the workpieces W1 and W2 generates frictional heat. The work W1,
Part of the bonding surface of W2 is softened.

After a part of the joining surface of the works W1 and W2 is softened, the probe 55P of the welding tool 55 is immersed in the softened portion, and the lower surface of the large-diameter shank portion of the welding tool 55 is used to form the work W1 and W2. When the processing head 43 is moved in the left-right direction along the joining surface while holding the upper surface and the softened portion in a pressed state, the softening due to the frictional heat between the rotation of the probe 55P and the joining surfaces of the workpieces W1 and W2. The region moves gradually along the joining surface.

The softened metal at the joint surface between the works W1 and W2 is moved by the rotation of the probe 55P while being agitated to the rear side in the moving direction of the probe 55P and solidified, so that the joint surface between the works W1 and W2 is welded. Things.

As described above, when the welding tool 55 moves along the joining surface while pressing the upper surfaces of the workpieces W1 and W2 with the lower surface of the large-diameter shank portion, the welding tool 55 is moved forward in the moving direction. The resistance of the work may increase due to the swelling of the work. In this case, the welding tool 55 is slightly inclined such that the front side in the moving direction of the lower surface of the shank portion of the welding tool 55 is higher.

In this embodiment, since the machining head 43 is provided so as to be slightly rotatable (tiltable) in the left-right direction with respect to the slider member 47 movable in the left-right direction, the shank portion of the welding tool 55 is provided. It is easy to make the state in which the front side of the lower surface in the moving direction is slightly inclined so that the processing head 43 can be moved in the left and right direction while being slightly inclined in the left and right direction (moving direction). Things.

That is, in this example, the work W1,
The welding tool 55 can be held in a slightly inclined state such that the leading end side is ahead of the moving direction with respect to W2. Therefore, when welding the joint surface by frictional heat between the joint surface of the workpieces W1 and W2 and the probe 55P of the welding tool 55, resistance due to the swelling of the workpiece on the front side in the moving direction of the welding tool 55 can be suppressed. Things.

FIG. 4 shows the positioning stopper 17 described above.
This example shows a modification of the support table 1.
A plurality of suitable actuators 57, such as small air cylinders, are provided in 1 and a positioning stopper 59 provided so as to be able to protrude and retract from the upper surface of the work holding member 13 is vertically moved by the actuator 57. .

According to the above configuration, the plurality of positioning stoppers 59 can be quickly moved in and out of the upper surface of the work holding member 13, and the first and second positioning stoppers 59 can be moved onto the work holding member 13.
The second workpieces W1 and W2 can be positioned efficiently.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show the first and second works W1,
This shows a work holding member that is convenient when welding W2 into an L-shape or T-shape. That is, the work holding member 13 includes a vertical surface 13V that vertically supports the first work W1 and a horizontal upper surface 1V that horizontally supports the second work W2.
3H is divided into two members 13A and 13B, and the first work W1 is vertically held and fixed by both members 13A and 13B.

The probe 5 in the welding tool 55
5P rotates at a position indicated by an arrow 55P to generate frictional heat between the workpieces W1 and W2,
By moving P left and right (in the direction perpendicular to the paper in FIGS. 5 and 6) in a state where it is immersed in the softened portions of the workpieces W1 and W2, friction welding of the workpieces W1 and W2 is performed as described above. Is what you do.

In the case shown in FIG.
The tip of the probe 55P at the point (1) penetrates the second work W2 and reaches the first work W1.

As will be understood from the above, according to the present embodiment, the work holding member 13 is appropriately attached to and detached from the support table 11 in accordance with the welding shape of the works W1 and W2, so that various welding shapes can be obtained. It is possible to correspond to.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show still another example of the work holding member. 7 and 8, on the support table 11, an adjustment holding member 61 extending in the left-right direction (upward and downward direction in FIG. 7) is provided so as to be adjustable in the front-rear direction (left-right direction in FIG. 8). The tightening and holding member 63 is provided so as to be movable in the front-rear direction, which is a direction in which the tightening and holding member 63 approaches and separates from the adjusting and holding member 61.

In order to adjust the position of the adjustment holding member 61 in the front-rear direction, in this embodiment, adjustment screws 65 are horizontally mounted in the front direction at a plurality of positions in the left and right direction of the adjustment holding member 61. The screw 65 is screwed to a nut member 69 rotatably supported by a front bracket 67F fixed to the support table 11.

Therefore, by rotating each nut member 69, the position of the adjustment holding member 61 can be adjusted in the front-rear direction.

A plurality of work support members 7 for supporting the first work W1 are provided at a plurality of positions in the left-right direction of the adjustment holding member 61.
1 is provided so that the vertical position can be adjusted. That is, vertical grooves 73 are formed at a plurality of positions of the adjustment holding member 61, and the base of the work support member 71 is screwed into a vertical adjustment screw 75 rotatably disposed in the groove 73. .

Therefore, the work supporting member 71 can be adjusted up and down by rotating each of the up and down adjustment screws 75, and even if the size of the work W1 in the vertical direction is various, the upper surface of the work W1 can be adjusted. For example, adjustment holding member 6
It can be adjusted so as to match the upper surface of the first or the like or to appropriately protrude from the upper surface.

The tightening and holding member 63 functions to clamp and fix the work W1 between the adjusting and holding member 61. The front surface of the tightening and holding member 63 is capable of receiving the work supporting member 71. A groove 77 is formed, and a wedge member 79 is fixed to the rear surface.

A slide plate 83 integrally provided with a movable wedge member 81 slidably in contact with the wedge member 79 between the tightening and holding member 63 and a rear bracket 67 R fixed to the rear side of the support table 11. Is arranged. In order to reciprocate the slide plate 83, the rear bracket 67
Piston rod 85 provided on cylinder 85 attached to R
P is connected to the slide plate 83 via a connecting member 87.

Therefore, the cylinder 85 is operated,
By moving the tightening and holding member 63 toward the adjustment and holding member 61 via the wedge members 81 and 79, the adjustment and holding member 61 is moved.
And the workpiece W1 can be clamped and fixed therebetween.

In this example, even if the thickness of the work W1 changes by adjusting the adjustment holding member 61 back and forth, the work head 43 is provided with a position to be welded on the work W1. Positioning can be performed corresponding to the probe 55P of the tool 55, and the first and second
Can be easily coped with when welding the workpieces W1 and W2 into an L-shape or a T-shape.

FIGS. 9 and 10 show a second example of the welding apparatus. In the welding device 101 according to the second example, portions having the same functions as those of the configuration of the welding device 1 described above are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be omitted.

The structure of this second example, which is significantly different from that of the first example, is that the slide member 47A is a C-shaped frame, and the processing head 43 is mounted on the slide member 47A so as to be slightly inclined in the left-right direction. The lower part of the slide member 47A is movably supported in the left-right direction by a left-right guide member 45 attached to the front side of the lower beam 9, and a ball screw 51 for moving the slide member 47A in the left-right direction is connected to the lower beam. 9 is provided on the front side.

The pressing arm 37A of the second work fixing device for pressing and fixing the second work W2 on the work holding member 13 in an immovable state has an upper part bent in a substantially "W" shape. Bell crank and none
It is pivotally attached to a bracket (not shown) fixed to the lower beam 9 via a pin 103 so as to be vertically rotatable, and the upper side of the pressing arm 37A is connected to the path line of the work W2 (the upper surface position of the work holding member 13). ). A pressing cylinder 41A for rotating the pressing arm 37A is attached to the lower beam 9, and a piston rod 41AP of the pressing cylinder 41A is connected to a lower end of the pressing arm 37A via a pin 105. .

The welding apparatus 1 according to the second example having the above configuration
01, similarly to the welding device 1 of the first example described above,
The first and second works W1, W2 are placed on the work holding member 13.
Of the welding tool 55 attached to the spindle 53 of the processing head 43 and the joining surface of the workpieces W1 and W2, and frictional heat is generated between the probe 55P and the workpiece W1. , W2 can be welded.

[0051]

As will be understood from the above description, the invention according to the first aspect is characterized in that the joint surfaces of the first and second workpieces to be welded are placed on a support table integrated with the frame. A work holding member for supporting the joined work is detachably provided, and a work fixing device for fixing the first and second works to the work holding member in an immovable state is provided. A welding tool provided with a probe for generating frictional heat on the joining surface of the second workpiece so as to be rotatable and provided with a working head movable in a direction along the joining surface. 1, A probe of a welding tool is brought to the position of the joint surface of the second work, and frictional heat is generated between the joint surface and the probe by rotation of the probe, and the joint surface is softened by the frictional heat and can be welded. so That.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the machining head is provided so as to be tiltable so that the tip of the probe precedes the traveling direction. When the upper surface of the work is moved by pressing the lower surface of the shank portion, the lower surface is inclined so that the front side in the moving direction is slightly higher, so that the occurrence of the work bulge on the front side in the moving direction can be suppressed, and the resistance can be reduced. It is possible to perform the movement with restraining.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, the work holding member comprises a vertical surface for supporting one work vertically and a horizontal surface for supporting the other work horizontally. And the first and second
When welding the workpieces in the L-shape or T-shape, the first and second works can be accurately positioned at right angles.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the invention, a positioning stopper for positioning the joining surface of one of the workpieces at a predetermined position is provided on the workpiece supporting surface of the workpiece holding member. Since it is provided so as to be movable to a position where it can be brought into contact with the work and to a position where the work is avoided, the joining surface of the first and second works is always fixed to the welding tool provided in the machining head. It can be positioned accurately.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory perspective view of a welding device according to an example of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory side sectional view of the welding device of the same.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a positioning stopper.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a second example of a positioning stopper.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing a second example of the work holding member.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing a modification of the second example of the work holding member.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory plan view showing another form of the work holding member.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory side sectional view showing another embodiment of the work holding member.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory perspective view showing a second example of the welding apparatus.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory side sectional view showing a second example of the welding apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 welding device 11 support table 13 work holding member 17 positioning stopper 25A, 25B work fixing device 31, 37 pressing arm 35, 41 pressing cylinder 43 working head 47 slide member 53 spindle 55 welding tool 55P probe

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A work holding member for supporting a joint surface of a first work and a second work to be welded on a support table provided integrally with a frame, the work holding member being detachably provided,
A work fixing device for fixing the first and second works to the work holding member in an immovable state is provided, and a probe for generating frictional heat on a joint surface of the fixed first and second works is provided. A welding apparatus comprising: a welding tool provided so as to be rotatable for driving; and a processing head capable of moving in a direction along the joining surface. 2. The welding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing head is provided so as to be tiltable so that a tip portion of the probe precedes in a traveling direction. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein
A welding apparatus, wherein the work holding member has a configuration including a vertical surface and a horizontal surface for supporting one work vertically and supporting the other work horizontally. 4. The invention according to claim 1, wherein
A positioning stopper for positioning the joining surface of one of the workpieces at a predetermined position is provided so as to be movable between a position on the workpiece supporting surface of the workpiece holding member where the workpiece can contact the workpiece and a location where the contact is avoided. Welding equipment characterized by the above-mentioned.