JPH11320144A - Laser welding machine, automatic welding device, protection cover quality judgement method of laser welding machine and welding quality judgement method of laser welding machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To send only an article of good quality to the next processing flow by carrying out the judgement of a protection cover. SOLUTION: A laser oscillator 21 generates a laser 24. The laser 24 is condensed at a focus point of a lens 26 installed to a laser irradiation head 22 and a laser welding is carried out against the first and the second work 13, 18. The laser irradiation head 22 is equipped with a protection lens 27 to protect the lens 26 from scatterings during the welding. The second optical fiber 31 is arranged at a position slightly apart from an optical path of the laser 24. When there is no stain and the like on the protection cover 27, the laser 24 does not irradiate a solar battery 32 via the second optical fiber 31. When there are stains and the like on the protection cover 27, a part of the laser 24 irradiates the solar battery 32 via the second optical fiber 31.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a laser welding machine, an automatic welding apparatus, a method for judging the quality of a protective cover in a laser welding machine, and a method for judging the quality of welding in a laser welding machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In conventional welding, so-called laser welding, in which a laser oscillated from a laser oscillator is spot-irradiated onto a work through a laser irradiation head to perform welding, is known. A laser irradiation head used for laser welding is provided with a lens for focusing a laser oscillated from a laser oscillator. Then, by condensing the laser at the focal point of the lens, the work is spot-welded to the work by applying the laser to the work. The laser irradiation head is provided with a protective cover for preventing the lens from being stained or damaged.

[0003]

However, if the protective cover provided on the laser irradiation head is soiled or damaged, the laser which should be focused on the lens focus is scattered, and the laser effective for the work cannot be obtained. It is no longer irradiated. As a result, poor welding of the work may occur, and the work with the poor welding may be sent to the next process. Therefore, conventionally, in order to prevent welding from being performed in a state in which the protective cover is dirty or damaged, the protective cover has been periodically visually inspected. However, if the protective cover is stained or cracked before the inspection is performed, the effective laser is not irradiated to the work as described above, and a work with poor welding is generated, and quality control cannot be sufficiently performed. Was.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a laser welding machine, an automatic welding apparatus, a method for determining the quality of a protective cover in a laser welding machine, a laser welding machine, and a laser welding machine capable of sending only non-defective products to the next process by determining the quality of a protective cover. An object of the present invention is to provide a method for determining the quality of welding in a machine.

[0005]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a laser generating means for generating a laser, and a laser generated by the laser generating means is irradiated on a workpiece. Laser irradiating means for welding the work, wherein the laser irradiating means includes a lens for condensing the laser generated by the laser generating means and irradiating the work with a laser, and a protective cover for protecting the lens. A laser welding machine comprising: a detection unit configured to detect a light amount of the laser scattered by the protection cover; and a determination unit configured to determine whether the protection cover is good or bad based on the light amount of the laser detected by the detection unit. The gist is a welding machine.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an automatic welding apparatus comprising: the laser welding machine according to the first aspect; and a work selecting means for selecting a work after laser welding based on a result of the determination by the determining means. This is the gist.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a laser generating means for generating a laser, and a laser irradiating means for irradiating the work with the laser generated by the laser generating means and welding the work. The irradiating means is a lens for condensing the laser generated by the laser generating means and irradiating the work with a lens, and a pass / fail determination method of a protective cover in a laser welding machine including a protective cover for protecting the lens. The gist of the present invention is a method of determining the quality of a protective cover in a laser welding machine that detects the amount of laser light scattered by the protective cover and determines the quality of the protective cover based on the detected amount of laser light.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided a laser generating means for generating a laser, and a laser irradiating means for irradiating the work with the laser generated by the laser generating means and welding the work. The irradiating means is a method for judging the quality of welding in a laser welding machine including a lens for condensing the laser generated by the laser generating means and irradiating the work with a laser, and a protective cover for protecting the lens. The gist of the invention is a method of determining the quality of welding in a laser welding machine that detects the amount of laser light scattered by a protective cover and determines the quality of welding based on the detected amount of laser light.

(Function) In the first aspect of the present invention, the laser generated by the laser generating means is focused on the focal point of the lens by the lens provided in the laser irradiating means, and is irradiated on the work. Here, the laser irradiation means is provided with a protective cover for preventing the lens from being stained or damaged. When the light amount of the laser scattered by the protective cover is detected by the detecting means, the quality of the protective cover is determined by the determining means based on the light amount of the laser detected by the detecting means.

For example, when the protective cover has no or little dirt or breakage, the laser is not scattered by the dirt or the like, or even if scattered, the laser does not adversely affect welding. Accordingly, the amount of laser light detected by the detecting means is reduced, and the work is irradiated with an effective laser, so that the protective cover is determined to be non-defective. Further, when dirt or the like increases on the protective cover, the laser scattered by the dirt or the like increases. Therefore, the amount of laser light detected by the detection means increases, and the work is not irradiated with an effective laser.
The protective cover is determined to be defective.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the work after the laser welding is selected by the work selecting means based on the judgment result of the judging means. According to the third aspect of the present invention, the light amount of the laser scattered by the protective cover is detected, and the quality of the protective cover is determined based on the detected light amount of the laser.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the amount of laser light scattered by the protective cover is detected, and the quality of welding is determined based on the detected amount of laser light.

[0013]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view showing an automatic welding apparatus 1 for performing spot welding by laser. In FIG. 1, an automatic welding device 1 includes a first conveyor 2
A first work supply part 3, a second work supply part 4, a laser welding part 5, and a sorting part 6 are provided from the upstream side (left side in the figure) to the downstream side. The first conveyor 2 includes a belt conveyor, a roller conveyor, and the like. The first conveyor 2 is driven by a drive motor (not shown) and travels in the direction of the arrow in FIG. On the first conveyor 2, a plurality of tables 2a each having a mounting surface are fixed at equal intervals.

A first work supply unit 3 is arranged on one side of the most upstream part of the first conveyor 2. The first work supply unit 3 includes a first work supply device 11 and a second conveyor 12. A first work 13 as a plurality of works is accommodated in the first work supply device 11, and the first works 13 are conveyed by a second conveyor 12 driven by a drive motor (not shown), It is supplied on the table 2a of the first conveyor 2.

A second work supply unit 4 is arranged downstream of the first work supply unit 3. The second work supply unit 4 is
A work supply device 16 and a third conveyor 17 are provided. The second workpiece supply device 16 accommodates a plurality of second workpieces 18 as workpieces.
Are transported by a third conveyor 17 driven by a drive motor (not shown), and are supplied one by one onto the table 2a to which the first work 13 is supplied.

A laser welding part 5 is arranged downstream of the second work supply part 4. As shown in FIG. 2, the laser welding unit 5 as a laser welding machine includes a laser oscillator 21, a laser irradiation head 22, and a laser detecting unit 23. A laser oscillator 21 as a laser generating means is configured to generate a laser beam (hereinafter, simply referred to as a laser) 24. The laser oscillator 21 is connected to the laser irradiation head 22 via the first optical fiber 25. The laser irradiation head 22 as a laser irradiation unit includes a lens 26 and a protective cover 27.

The lens 26 is for condensing the laser 24 generated by the laser oscillator 21, and the laser irradiation head 22 is positioned so that the focal point of the lens 26 coincides with the surface of the second work 18. I have. Therefore, when the first conveyor 2 advances in the direction of the arrow in FIG.
The work 18 is melted by the light energy of the laser 24, and the first work 13 and the second work 18 are integrated by laser welding. Also, protective cover 2
7 is a scattered object generated at the time of welding (for example, work 13,
18 to protect the lens 26 from the evaporation of the substance contained in the lens 18).

The laser detecting section 23 as a detecting means has a second
An optical fiber 31, a solar cell 32, and a waveform measuring device 33 are provided. The second optical fiber 31 is arranged at a position slightly shifted from the optical path of the laser 24 irradiated from the laser irradiation head 22. A solar cell 32 is arranged at a position facing the tip of the second optical fiber 31. The solar cell 32 is for converting light energy into electric energy (voltage), and is configured such that a voltage value varies depending on the intensity of light applied to a light receiving surface of the solar cell 32. The solar cell 32 is electrically connected to the waveform measuring device 33 via the first harness.

The waveform measuring device 33 includes a microcomputer (MC) and a memory (not shown). Then, the same memory is welded using a protective cover 27 having no or little dirt or damage, and a laser 24 is effectively irradiated on the first and second works 13 and 18,
Voltage data as a reference value when the first and second works 13 and 18 are welded normally is stored in advance.
That is, in the same memory, the voltage data at the time of welding when the solar cell 32 is not irradiated with the laser 24 or the irradiation does not adversely affect welding is stored in advance.

In the present embodiment, the voltage data as the reference value includes the electromotive force V1 when t1 has elapsed from the start of welding and t2 when welding has been performed when welding is performed using the protective cover 27 with little contamination. The potential difference ΔV1 from the electromotive force V2 when (t1 <t2) has elapsed. The potential difference ΔV1 is
ΔV1 = ΔV2−α. Where ΔV
Reference numeral 2 denotes an electromotive force V when t1 has elapsed from the start of welding when welding is performed using the protective cover 27 free from dirt and the like.
3 and a potential difference between the electromotive force V4 when t2 (t1 <t2) has elapsed from the start of welding. Α is a value determined by an experiment and taking into consideration a safety factor and the like.

MC as determination means of the waveform measuring device 33
Is configured to compare the electromotive force generated in the solar cell 32 in accordance with the amount of light irradiated at the time of welding with voltage data stored in a memory in advance. That is, the MC of the waveform measuring instrument 33
Is the potential difference ΔV3 between the electromotive force V5 when t1 has elapsed from the start of welding and the electromotive force V6 when t2 has elapsed from the start of welding, in the electromotive force generated in the solar cell 32 during welding.
The voltage data ΔV1 stored in the memory in advance is compared.

If the potential difference .DELTA.V3 is greater than or equal to .DELTA.V1, there is no or little dirt or damage to the protective cover 27.
It is considered that there is no or little. Therefore, ΔV3 becomes Δ
When V1 is greater than or equal to V1, the amount of the laser 24 irradiated to the solar cell 32 decreases, and the first and second
The works 13 and 18 are irradiated with an effective laser 24. As a result, the MC of the waveform measuring device 33 outputs a pass / fail judgment signal indicating that the protection cover 27 is a non-defective product to the selection unit 6.

Here, the MC of the waveform measuring device 33 indicates that the first and second workpieces 13 and
Since the effective laser 24 has been irradiated to 18, the welding at this time is determined to be good. Therefore, the pass / fail judgment signal indicating that the protective cover 27 is a non-defective product is
It is also a good or bad judgment signal indicating that welding at this time is good.

When ΔV 3 is smaller than ΔV 1, it is considered that the laser 24 scattered by the dirt or the like has increased because dirt or the like has increased on the protective cover 27.
Therefore, when ΔV3 is smaller than ΔV1, the solar cell 3
The amount of the laser 24 irradiated to the first and second workpieces 1 and 2 increases, and the amount of the laser 24 contributing to welding decreases.
The effective laser 24 is no longer radiated to 3,18. As a result, the MC of the waveform measuring device 33 outputs a pass / fail judgment signal indicating that the protection cover 27 is defective to the selection unit 6.

Here, when the protective cover 27 is defective, the laser 24 to be irradiated on the first and second works 13 and 18 is irradiated on the solar cell 32, and the first and second works 13 and 18 are irradiated. It is considered that the effective laser 24 is not irradiated. Therefore, when the protective cover 27 is defective, the MC of the waveform measuring device 33 determines that the welding at this time is defective. That is, the pass / fail judgment signal indicating that the protective cover 27 is defective is also a pass / fail judgment signal indicating that welding at this time is defective.

A screening section 6 is arranged downstream of the laser welding section 5. The sorting unit 6 as a work sorting unit includes a sorting machine 41, a sorting machine control unit 42, a good product pallet 43, and a defective product pallet 44. The sorter control unit 42 is connected to the waveform measuring device 33 via a second harness 45. Therefore, the pass / fail judgment signal output from the MC of the waveform measuring device 33 is input to the sorter control unit 42 via the second harness 45.

The sorting machine 41 is connected to a sorting machine control section 42 via a third harness 46, and is connected to the sorting machine control section 42.
Is controlled by the The arm 41a of the sorting machine 41 is supported by a hydraulic means, a pneumatic means, a motor, and the like (not shown) so as to be able to expand and contract with respect to the shaft 41b, and is rotatable 360 degrees around the shaft 41b. A gripper 41c is formed at the end of the arm 41a in the sorter 41, and the workpiece 4 after laser welding is formed.
After gripping the pallet 7, the work 47 is placed on one of the non-defective pallet 43 and the defective pallet 44.

That is, the sorting machine control unit 42 sends a pass / fail judgment signal from the MC of the waveform measuring device 33 via the second harness 45 indicating that the work 47 after laser welding is a non-defective product (the protective cover 27 is a non-defective product). Upon input, a non-defective signal is output. When the non-defective signal is input to the sorting machine 41 via the third harness 46, the sorting machine 41
The work 47 is placed on the non-defective pallet 43.

Further, the sorting machine control section 42 includes a second harness 4
When a pass / fail judgment signal indicating that the workpiece 47 after the laser welding is a defective product (the protective cover 27 is defective) is input from the MC of the waveform measuring device 33 via 5, the defective product signal is output. It has become. Then, when the defective product signal is input to the sorter 41 via the third harness 46,
The sorter 41 places a work 47 on a pallet 44 for defective products.

Further, the sorting machine control section 42 includes an alarm lamp,
An alarm means 48 such as a buzzer is provided. Then, when the pass / fail judgment signal indicating that the work 47 is a defective product (the protective cover 27 is defective) is input, the sorter control unit 42 drives the alarm means 48 to instruct the worker to attach the protective cover 27 to the protective cover 27. It tells you that dirt and damage has increased.

Next, the operation of the automatic welding apparatus 1 configured as described above will be described. A first work 13 is supplied from a first work supply device 11 onto a table 2 a provided on a first conveyor 2 of the automatic welding device 1. And the first
As the conveyor 2 proceeds downstream, the second work 18 is supplied from the second work supply device 16 onto the table 2a to which the first work 13 has been supplied. When the first conveyor 2 proceeds further downstream, spot welding by the laser 24 is performed on the first and second works 13 and 18 by the laser welding part 5.

Here, the second optical fiber 31 is the laser 24
Is located at a position slightly shifted from the optical path. Therefore, the protective cover 27 provided on the laser irradiation head 22
If there is no or little dirt or damage, there is no or little laser 24 scattered by the dirt or the like. As a result, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the light amount of the laser 24 irradiated to the solar cell 32 decreases, and the first and second works 13 and 18 are irradiated with the effective laser 24. That is, since the light amount of the laser 24 applied to the solar cell 32 is small, the potential difference ΔV3 in the electromotive force generated in the solar cell 32 during welding is larger than or equal to ΔV1.

Therefore, in the MC of the waveform measuring device 33, the work 47 after welding to the sorter control section 42 is a non-defective product (the protective cover 2).
7 is a non-defective product.
As a result, the sorting machine control section 42 outputs a good signal to the sorting machine 41, and the sorting machine 41 converts the work 47 into the good pallet 4
Place on 3

When dirt or the like increases on the protective cover 27, the laser 24 scattered by the dirt or the like increases. Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a large amount of scattered light (laser 24) is transmitted through the second optical fiber 31 to the solar cell 32.
And the laser 24 contributing to welding is reduced, so that the first and second works 13 and 18 are not irradiated with the effective laser 24. That is, since a large amount of scattered light (laser 24) is applied to the solar cell 32, the potential difference ΔV3 becomes Δ
It becomes smaller than V1.

Accordingly, the MC of the waveform measuring instrument 33 outputs a pass / fail judgment signal to the sorting machine control section 42 indicating that the work 47 after welding is a defective product (the protective cover 27 is defective). As a result, the sorting machine control section 42 outputs a defective product signal to the sorting machine 41, and the sorting machine 41 places the work 47 on the pallet 44 for defective products. That is, the work 47 after welding.
Are sorted into non-defective products and defective products.

Next, various characteristics of the automatic welding apparatus 1 will be described. FIG. 6 shows the relationship between the time t and the electromotive force V generated in the solar cell 32 when laser welding is performed using a non-defective protective cover 27 (having no or little dirt or damage). FIG. 7 shows the relationship between the time t and the electromotive force V generated in the solar cell 32 when laser welding is performed using the defective protective cover 27 (with increased dirt and damage). . 6 and 7, the welding time is T1.

When a good protective cover 27 is used, the laser 2 scattered due to dirt on the protective cover 27 is used.
4 is absent or reduced. That is, the number of the lasers 24 irradiated to the solar cell 32 via the second optical fiber 31 arranged at a position slightly deviated from the optical path of the lasers 24 is reduced or reduced. Therefore, the solar cell 32 has the second
A part of the arc light generated by the melting of the work 18 (for example, the arc light reflected on the protective cover 27 and the like) and a small amount of scattered light (laser 24) are irradiated. Here, when there is little laser 24 scattered due to contamination of the protective cover 27, etc., although there is scattered light,
Even if the scattered light is removed, the light amount of the laser 24 necessary for satisfactory welding is satisfied. Therefore, the amount of light when the laser 24 scattered by dirt or the like is small is an amount that does not adversely affect welding.

In FIG. 6, t starts from the start of welding (t = 0).
The potential difference between the electromotive force V7 when 1 has elapsed and the electromotive force V8 when t2 has elapsed from the start of welding is ΔV4. In the figure, since the light quantity of the laser 24 applied to the solar cell 32 is small, the potential difference ΔV4 is larger than or equal to ΔV1.

When a defective protective cover 27 is used, the amount of the laser 24 scattered due to dirt or scratches on the protective cover 27 increases, and the amount of the laser 24 contributing to welding decreases. It will have an adverse effect.
Accordingly, the solar cell 32 is irradiated with a part of the arc light generated by melting the second work 18 at the time of welding and a large amount of scattered light (laser 24). As a result, a larger electromotive force is generated in the solar cell 32 than when the non-defective protective cover 27 is used.

In FIG. 7, t starts from the start of welding (t = 0).
The potential difference between the electromotive force V9 when 1 has elapsed and the electromotive force V10 when t2 has elapsed from the start of welding is ΔV5. In the figure, since the light quantity of the laser 24 applied to the solar cell 32 is large, the potential difference ΔV5 in the voltage from the solar cell 32 is smaller than ΔV1.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the following effects can be obtained. (1) In the present embodiment, the second optical fiber 31 is disposed at a position slightly shifted from the optical path of the laser 24. Therefore, when the protective cover 27 is free from dirt or the like, the laser 24 is not irradiated to the solar cell 32 or even if irradiated, does not adversely affect welding. Further, when dirt or the like increases on the protective cover 27, a large amount of scattered light (laser 24) is transmitted through the second optical fiber 31 to the solar cell 32.
Is irradiated. Then, the electromotive force generated in the solar cell 32 was input to the waveform measuring device 33 via the first harness 34, and the quality of the protective cover 27 was determined by the MC of the waveform measuring device 33. That is, the quality of the protective cover 27 was determined by the second optical fiber 31, the solar cell 32, the first harness 34, and the waveform measuring device 33.

In this embodiment, when the protective cover 27 is free from dirt or the like, the protective cover 27 is determined to be good and welding is continued. If the protection cover 27 becomes dirty, the protection cover 27 is determined to be defective and welding is stopped. That is, when dirt or the like increases on the protective cover 27, the first and second works 13, 18 are removed.
Therefore, the welding was determined to be defective because the effective laser 4 was not irradiated. Therefore, when the pass / fail judgment of the protection cover 27 is performed, the pass / fail judgment of the welding is performed at the same time, so that the pass / fail of the protection cover 27 and the pass / fail of the welding can be simultaneously known.

Also, the second optical fiber 31, the solar cell 32,
Since the quality of the protective cover 27 is determined by the first harness 34 and the waveform measuring device 33, expensive components such as a CCD (charge coupled device) sensor need not be used, and the quality of the protective cover 27 is relatively inexpensive. It is possible to make a judgment and a judgment on the quality of welding.

(2) In this embodiment, the potential difference ΔV3 in the electromotive force generated in the solar cell 32 and the voltage data ΔV stored in the memory in advance are calculated by the MC of the waveform measuring device 33.
1 and a pass / fail judgment signal is output to the sorter control unit 42. Then, the work 47 after welding is sent to the sorter control unit 42.
When a pass / fail judgment signal indicating that the product is a non-defective product (the protective cover 27 is a non-defective product) is output, the sorting machine control unit 42 outputs a non-defective product signal to the sorting machine 41, and the sorting machine 41 converts the work 47 into a good product It was set on the pallet 43.

The work 4 after welding is sent to the sorter control unit 42.
When a pass / fail judgment signal indicating that 7 is a defective product (protective cover 27 is defective) is output, the sorter control unit 42 outputs a defective product signal to the sorter 41, and the sorter 41 47 is placed on the defective pallet 44. That is, the work 47 after welding was sorted into non-defective products and defective products. Therefore, only non-defective products can be sent to the next process.

The embodiment of the present invention may be modified as follows. In the above embodiment, the solar cell 32 constituting the detection means
However, instead of the solar cell 32, a photodiode, a phototransistor, or the like constituting a detecting unit may be used. In this case, the laser 2 scattered through the second optical fiber 31 to the photodiode and the phototransistor
When the laser beam 4 is irradiated, the scattered light energy of the laser 24 is converted into electric energy (current). In this case, the effects described in (1) and (2) in the embodiment can be obtained.

In the above-described embodiment, the quality of the protective cover 27 and welding is determined by arranging the second optical fiber 31 at a position slightly deviated from the optical path of the laser 24. It may be configured. That is, the second optical fiber 31 is omitted, and the scattered laser 24 is directly applied to the solar cell 32, the photodiode, the phototransistor, and the like. In this case, in addition to the effects described in (1) and (2) in the above-described embodiment, an effect that the cost can be reduced by omitting the second optical fiber 31 is obtained.

Further, in the above embodiment, the light quantity of the laser 24 scattered by the protection cover 27 is detected, and the quality of the protection cover 27 is determined based on the detected light quantity of the laser, and the quality of the welding is determined. However, the following may be performed. That is, the light amount of the laser 24 scattered by the protective cover 27 may be detected, and only the quality of the welding may be determined based on the detected light amount of the laser. In such a case, the effect described in (2) in the embodiment can be obtained.

Alternatively, the light amount of the laser 24 scattered by the protective cover 27 may be detected, and only the quality of the protective cover 27 may be determined based on the detected light amount of the laser. In this case, the quality of the protective cover can be known by detecting the amount of the laser 24 scattered by the protective cover 27.

Next, technical ideas other than those described in the claims which can be understood from the embodiment and the other examples will be described below together with their effects. (1) In the laser welding machine according to (1), the detecting means includes an optical fiber disposed at a position deviated from an optical path of a laser irradiated from the laser irradiating means, and a laser via the optical fiber. And a waveform measuring instrument electrically connected to the solar cell.

Therefore, according to the invention described in (1), since the detecting means is composed of the optical fiber, the solar cell, and the waveform measuring device, expensive parts such as a CCD (charge coupled device) sensor are used. It is not necessary to use it, and an effect is obtained that the amount of laser light scattered by the protective cover can be detected relatively inexpensively. In the above embodiment, the second
The optical fiber 31 forms an optical fiber.

[0052]

As described above in detail, according to the first to third aspects of the present invention, the quality of the protective cover can be known by detecting the amount of laser light scattered by the protective cover.

According to the invention described in claim 2, according to claim 1
In addition to the effects of the invention described above, only non-defective products can be sent to the next step. According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the quality of welding can be known by detecting the amount of laser light scattered by the protective cover.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view showing an automatic welding device.

FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of a laser welded part when a good protective cover is used.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing an optical path of a laser when a good protective cover is used.

FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view of a laser welded part when a defective product protective cover is used.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing an optical path of a laser when a protective cover for a defective product is used.

FIG. 6 is a characteristic diagram showing a relationship between a time when laser welding is performed using a good protective cover and an electromotive force generated in a solar cell.

FIG. 7 is a characteristic diagram showing a relationship between a time when laser welding is performed using a protective cover for a defective product and an electromotive force generated in a solar cell.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Automatic welding apparatus, 5 ... Laser welding part as a laser welding machine, 6 ... Sorting part as a work selection means, 13 ... 1st work as a work, 18 ... 2nd work as a work, 21 ... Laser generation means As a laser oscillator, 22
... Laser irradiation head as laser irradiation means, 23 ... Laser detection unit as detection means, 24 ... Laser, 26 ... Lens, 27 ... Protective cover, 33 ... Waveform measuring instrument, MC ... Microcomputer as judgment means, 47 ... Work after laser welding.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A laser generating means (21) for generating a laser (24), and a laser (2) generated by the laser generating means (21).
4) a laser irradiation means (22) for irradiating the work (13, 18) with the work (13, 18) and welding the work (13, 18); ), A laser (24) provided with a lens (26) for condensing and irradiating the work (13, 18) with the laser (24) and a protective cover (27) for protecting the lens (26). A laser (24) scattered by said protective cover (27).
Detecting means (23) for detecting the light amount of the laser light; and determining means (33) for determining whether the protective cover (27) is good or bad based on the light amount of the laser (24) detected by the detecting means (23). Laser welding machine. 2. A laser welding machine according to claim 1, and a work selection means (6) for selecting a work (47) after laser welding based on a result of the judgment by said judgment means (33).
Automatic welding equipment equipped with 3. A laser generating means (21) for generating a laser (24), and a laser (2) generated by said laser generating means (21).
4) a laser irradiation means (22) for irradiating the work (13, 18) with the work (13, 18) and welding the work (13, 18); ), A laser (24) provided with a lens (26) for condensing and irradiating the work (13, 18) with the laser (24) and a protective cover (27) for protecting the lens (26). In the method of judging pass / fail of a protective cover in a machine, a laser (24) scattered by the protective cover (27)
And a pass / fail judgment method for the protection cover in the laser welding machine, wherein the pass / fail judgment of the protection cover (27) is performed based on the detected light quantity of the laser (24). 4. A laser generating means (21) for generating a laser (24), and a laser (2) generated by the laser generating means (21).
4) a laser irradiation means (22) for irradiating the work (13, 18) with the work (13, 18) and welding the work (13, 18); ), A laser (24) provided with a lens (26) for condensing and irradiating the work (13, 18) with the laser (24) and a protective cover (27) for protecting the lens (26). In the method for judging the quality of welding in a machine, a laser (24) scattered by the protective cover (27).
A method for judging the quality of welding in a laser welding machine, wherein the quality of welding is determined based on the detected light quantity of the laser (24).