WO2009136425A1

WO2009136425A1 - Magazine for miniature chip

Info

Publication number: WO2009136425A1
Application number: PCT/JP2008/001156
Authority: WO
Inventors: 中島利夫; 蕗澤武夫
Original assignee: 新光機器株式会社; 有限会社ピュア・アンド・クール
Priority date: 2008-05-08
Filing date: 2008-05-08
Publication date: 2009-11-12
Also published as: JPWO2009136425A1; JP5178825B2

Abstract

A magazine for miniature chips which stores a plurality of miniature chips and can supply miniature chips one by one. In the top face of a magazine block (11), a storing portion (11a) is formed wherein a plurality of miniature chips (302) are slidably arranged and stored, and the front end of the storing portion (11a) is made to serve as a supply portion (11b). A pushing mechanism (12 to 19) for pushing out the miniature chips (302) stored in the storing portion (11a) to the supply port (11b) and supplying them to the supply port (11b) one by one is also provided in the magazine. On the top face of a jaw portion (11h) of the magazine block (11), guide members (5, 6) are provided which protrude above the storing portion (11a) from both sides immediately in the back of the supply port (11b). Since the miniature chips (302) are guided by the guide members (5, 6), they can be supplied to the supply port (11b) without any inclination.

Description

Bean chip magazine

The present invention relates to a bean chip magazine for storing bean chips to be fitted to the tip of the tip base of a spot welder.

Conventionally, spot welding is widely used as a means for welding metal members, in which an electric current is passed while the metal members are crimped and the metals are melted and joined by the resistance heat. An automated welding line for spot welding an automobile body is composed of a robot with a welding gun and a jig for fixing and moving a member to be welded. Alternatively, the automated welding line includes a fixed welding gun and a robot that holds the member to be welded and moves the member to be welded to the fixed welding gun.

As shown in FIG. 6, the welding gun is obtained by fitting a cap chip 195 into mounting

portions

190 a and 191 a formed at the tips of opposing

arms

190 and 191. In the process of welding with the welding gun attached to the robot, the robot is operated to move the opposing

arms

190 and 191 to the welding locations 252 of the members to be welded 250 and 251, and the cap tip 195 moves the members to be welded. The members to be welded 250 and 251 are welded by applying an electric current while crimping 250 and 251. Alternatively, in the process of welding with a fixed welding gun, the members to be welded 250 and 251 are moved by the robot between the opposing

arms

190 and 191, and the welding spot 252 of the members to be welded 250 and 251 is moved with the cap chip 195. The members to be welded 250 and 251 are welded by passing an electric current while crimping.

In the welding gun as shown in FIG. 6, since the dimension α from the base of the mounting portion 190a to the tip of the cap tip 195 is large, when the member 255 is in the vicinity of the member to be welded 250, the arm 190 and the cap The tip 195 does not enter between the member to be welded 250 and the member 255, and the members to be welded 250 and 251 cannot be welded. Therefore, in such a welding location, a tip base 301 as shown in FIG. 7 is used instead of the arm 190.

A bean chip 302 is attached to the tip of the chip base 301. FIG. 8 shows a detailed view of the chip base 301, and FIG. 9 shows a detailed view of the bean chip 302. As shown in FIG. 8, the chip base 301 has a plate shape, and since the mini chip 302 is attached to the mounting hole 301 a formed to communicate with the tip of the chip base 301, the tip of the chip base 301 and the mini chip 302 are attached. The abutment portion 302a has a small thickness β, and the bean tip 302 can be moved to the welding location 252 even in a narrow location where there is a member 255 adjacent to the welded member 250. The

members

250 and 251 can be welded.

If spot welding is performed for a certain level or more, the contact portion 302a of the mini chip 302 and the tip shape of the cap chip 195 are deformed and worn, making it difficult to ensure the welding quality. Therefore, when a certain processing time or a certain number of welding points is exceeded, it is necessary to remove the mini chip 302 and the cap chip 195 and replace them with new ones or polished ones.

Conventionally, the automated welding line is stopped, the operator enters the automated welding line, an electrode tip removal tool as shown in Patent Document 1 is inserted into the tip of the arm 191, the cap tip 195 is removed, The bean chip 302 was removed by hitting the mounting portion 302b of the bean chip 302 from the mounting hole 301a of the chip base 301. However, it is very dangerous for the operator to enter the automated welding line because the operator enters the movable range of the robot arm. In addition, in order for the operator to enter the automated welding line, it is necessary to stop the automated welding line, which causes a problem that production efficiency deteriorates. Furthermore, recently, since many of the materials to be welded have been subjected to rust prevention treatment with a chemical treatment agent, the wear of the bean chip 302 and the cap chip 195 tends to be fast and the replacement frequency tends to increase. However, in each case, stopping the automated welding line and replacing the bean chip 302 or the cap chip 195 has a problem that the production efficiency is greatly deteriorated.

Therefore, a cap chip removing device for a welding machine as shown in Patent Document 2 has been proposed. The cap removing device of the welding machine includes a fixed claw inserted into the distal end of the arm 191, a movable claw rotatably attached to the base end of the fixed claw, and a rotational force to the movable claw. And a rotation mechanism for providing When the cap chip 195 is removed, the cap arm 191 is detached from the arm 191 by moving the robot arm, inserting the tip of the arm 191 into the fixed claw and the movable claw, and releasing the movable claw from the fixed claw. .

When using the cap chip removing device of the welding machine shown in Patent Document 2, the cap chip to be replaced is stored in a magazine rack for chip changer as shown in Patent Document 3. The magazine rack for chip changer shown in Patent Document 3 is configured to house a plurality of cap chips 195 inside a block-shaped rack body and to sequentially feed them to a supply port. If this magazine rack for chip changer is installed in the vicinity of the robot arm, the welding arm is operated by the robot arm, and the mounting portion 190a of the arm 191 after the cap chip 195 is removed is supplied to the magazine rack for chip changer. If it is inserted into the mouth, the cap chip 195 can be automatically attached to the arm 191. As described above, by using the cap chip removing device of the welding machine shown in Patent Document 2 and the magazine rack for the chip changer as shown in Patent Document 3, the cap chip is attached to the arm 191 of the welding gun of the automated welding line. 195 can be automatically detached.

However, the cap removal device of the welding machine as shown in Patent Document 2 can remove the cap chip 195 but cannot remove the mini chip 302, so that even one mini chip 302 is included in the automated welding line. In the conventional process, the automated welding line is stopped, the operator enters the automated welding line, the bean chip 302 is removed from the chip base 301, and the new bean chip 302 is attached to the chip base 301. Since it was installed, the problem that the worker was exposed to danger and the problem that the production efficiency of the automated welding line was greatly deteriorated could not be solved. For this reason, there has been a demand for the development of a spot welding tip magazine for storing a bean tip together with the bean tip removing device.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-123565 PCT / JP2004 / 011688 JP 2006-68787 A

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-described problems and provide a bean chip magazine that can store a plurality of bean chips and sequentially supply them to a supply port.

The invention according to claim 1, which has been made to solve the above-described conventional problems, has a storage portion in which a plurality of bean chips are slidably arranged and housed in a recessed manner on the upper surface in the front-rear direction. Magazine block with the front end of the supply port,
The bean chip stored in the storage unit is pushed out to the supply port side, and sequentially has an extrusion mechanism that supplies the supply port,
From the front end of the magazine block to the position immediately after the supply port, the upper surface of the magazine block is cut downward, forming a jaw,
A guide member is provided on the upper surface of the jaw portion so as to protrude upward from the storage portion from both sides immediately after the supply port.

The invention described in claim 2
An extrusion member is slidably disposed in the storage unit,
A pulley is arranged in front of the magazine block,
A spiral spring is arranged behind the magazine block,
Wrap the middle of the wire around the pulley and connect the spiral spring and the bean chip extrusion member because of the wire,
The push-out mechanism is configured to pull the push-out member toward the supply port side by the urging force of the spiral spring.

The invention described in claim 3 is characterized in that, in the invention described in claim 2, a bobbin having a bobbin shape is rotatably attached to the magazine block, and a spiral spring is wound around the bobbin.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the second or third aspect of the present invention, a guide pin projects from the pushing member, and the guide pin is formed in the magazine block along the storage portion. It is characterized by being configured to slide together.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a magazine block in which a storage portion for slidably arranging and storing a plurality of bean chips is recessed in the upper surface in the front-rear direction, and the front end of the storage portion is a supply port; A push-out mechanism for extruding the bean chips stored in the unit to the supply port side and sequentially supplying the chip to the supply port; the upper surface of the magazine block is lowered downward from the front end of the magazine block to the position immediately after the supply port Further, it is characterized in that a jaw is formed by notching.
For this reason, while storing a plurality of bean chips, it becomes possible to sequentially supply bean chips, and by moving a welding gun in an automated welding line, it becomes possible to automatically attach bean chips to the chip base, Stopping the automated welding line, the operator enters the automated welding line, there is no need to attach a mini chip to the tip base, and the worker is exposed to danger, and the production efficiency of the automated welding line is greatly deteriorated It becomes possible to solve the problem of letting go.
In addition, since the guide member is provided on the upper surface of the jaw portion so as to protrude from the side immediately behind the supply port to the storage portion, the bean chip is guided by the guide member, and the supply port is not tilted. It becomes possible to supply to.

The invention according to claim 2 is the invention according to claim 1, wherein the push-out member is slidably disposed in the storage portion, the pulley is disposed in front of the magazine block, and the rear of the magazine block. The spiral spring is arranged, the middle of the wire is wound around the pulley, the spiral spring and the bean chip pushing member are connected with the wire, and the pushing member is energized by the urging force of the spiral spring. The extrusion mechanism is configured to be pulled toward the supply port side.
Thus, by reversing the energizing direction of the spiral spring by the pulley, it becomes possible to provide the spiral spring on the opposite side of the supply port. It is possible to prevent interference with the camera.
Further, even when the number of bean chips in the storage portion is reduced, the urging force of the spiral spring is almost constant, so the force with which the bean chip is pressed against the end of the storage portion by the pushing member is almost constant. It is possible to prevent the bean chip from dropping from the supply port.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, a bobbin having a bobbin shape is rotatably attached to the magazine block, and a spiral spring is wound around the bobbin.
For this reason, the movement of the spiral spring becomes smooth, the movement of the pushing member within the storage portion also becomes smooth, and the bean chip can be securely held in the storage portion.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the second or third aspect of the present invention, a guide pin projects from the pushing member, and the guide pin is formed in the magazine block along the storage portion. It is characterized by being configured to slide together.
For this reason, since the guide pin slides into the guide groove, the pushing member slides smoothly without swinging between both ends of the storage portion, and the chip can be reliably held in the storage portion.

It is a top view of the magazine of a bean chip which shows an embodiment of the invention. It is a side view of the magazine of a bean chip which shows an embodiment of the invention. It is a front view of the bean chip magazine showing an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 2. It is a bean chip supply state figure. It is explanatory drawing of spot welding. It is explanatory drawing of spot welding. It is explanatory drawing of a chip base. It is explanatory drawing of a bean chip.

Explanation of symbols

2 Cover plate 3 Bottom plate 5 Guide member 5a Guide piece 6 Guide member 6a Guide piece 7 Fastening member 11 Magazine block

11a Storage portion

11b Supply port

11f Cavity portion

11g Guide groove

11h Jaw portion 11i Bobbin storage portion 12 Extrusion member 13 Pulley 13a Winding Part 14 Pulley 14a Winding part 15 Spiral spring 16 Wire 17 Guide pin 18 Guide pin 19 Bobbin 50 Bean chip magazine 190 Arm 190a Mounting part 191 Arm 191a Mounting part 195 Cap chip 250 Welded member 251 Welded part 252 Welded part 255 Member 301 Chip base 301a Mounting hole 301b Cooling water channel 302 Bean chip 302a Abutting portion 302b Mounting portion

(Description of bean chip and chip base)
The bean chips 302 stored in the bean chip magazine 50 of the present invention will be described. As shown in (1) of FIG. 9, the mini chip 302 includes a cylindrical contact portion 302a and a mounting portion 302b formed below the contact portion 302a. The outer diameter of the attachment portion 302b is smaller than the outer diameter of the contact portion 302a, and is tapered so that the outer diameter becomes smaller toward the lower end. In addition, as shown in (2) of FIG. 9, the bean chip 302 may have a shape in which both sides of the contact portion 302a are cut off.

The chip base 301 to which the bean chip 302 is attached will be described. As shown in FIG. 8, the chip base 301 has a plate shape. The tip of the chip base 301 is thinner than the other parts. A mounting hole 301 a is formed in communication with the tip of the chip base 301. The mounting hole 301a has a tapered shape such that the inner diameter increases toward the abutting portion 302a side of the mini chip 302. The taper angle of the mounting hole 301a and the taper angle of the mounting portion 302b are the same angle. The bean chip 302 is attached to the chip base 301 by inserting the fitting part 302b of the bean chip 302 into the attachment hole 301a of the chip base 301 and fitting it. In the chip base 301, a cooling water channel 301b is formed from the base end side to the vicinity of the mounting hole 301a. The tip of the chip base 301 is cooled by the cooling water flowing through the cooling water channel 301b, so that the mini chip 302 is cooled.

(Spot welding tip magazine structure)
Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 is a top view of a bean chip magazine 50 of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a side view of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a front view of FIG. FIG. 4 is a cross section taken along the line AA. The bean chip magazine 50 of the present invention mainly comprises a magazine block 11, a pushing member 12, a pulley 13, a pulley 14, a spiral spring 15, a wire 16, a bobbin 19, a cover plate 2, and a bottom plate 3.

The magazine block 11 has a vertically long block shape. On the upper surface of the magazine block 11, a storage portion 11a is formed in a concave shape in the longitudinal direction (front-rear direction). The front end of the storage portion 11a is a supply port 11b. The width dimension of the storage part 11a is slightly larger than the contact part 302a width dimension γ (shown in FIG. 9) of the mini chip 302. Further, the depth of the storage portion 11a is slightly larger than the height dimension δ (shown in FIG. 9) of the bean chip 302. The bean chips 302 are slidably arranged and stored in the storage portion 11a with the mounting portion 302b facing upward. As shown in FIG. 2, a jaw portion 11 h is formed from the front end of the magazine block 11 to a position immediately after the supply port 11 b, with the upper surface of the magazine block 11 being notched downward.

On the upper surface of the magazine block 11, a cover plate 2 for closing the storage portion 11a is disposed. The cover plate 2 prevents foreign matter from entering the storage portion 11a and prevents the bean chip 302 stored in the storage portion 11a from tilting or dropping off.

The cover plate 2 is not disposed above the jaw portion 11h. For this reason, the supply port 11b is not closed by the cover plate 2, but opens upward. As shown in FIG. 2, the bean chip 302 located in the supply port 11b and the attachment part 302b of the bean chip 302 immediately behind the bean chip 302 are exposed from the storage part 11a. The bean chip 302 located at the supply port 11b and the abutting portion 302a of the bean chip 302 immediately after the bean chip 302 are completely stored in the storage unit 11a.

As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 4, a hollow portion 11f is formed on the side of the storage portion 11a of the magazine block 11 along the storage portion 11a. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the cavity 11f is also formed in front of the supply port 11b and further communicates with a guide groove 11g described later. In the present embodiment, the hollow portion 11f is open to the lower side. A bobbin storage portion 11i is formed at the rear end of the hollow portion 11f.

As shown in FIG. 2, a guide groove 11g communicating with the storage portion 11a is formed in the longitudinal direction of the storage portion 11a on the side surface of the magazine block 11 (the side opposite to the side where the hollow portion 11f is formed). Are formed along. In other words, the guide groove 11g is formed on the side wall of the storage portion 11a.

As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, a bottom plate 3 that closes the cavity 11 f is attached to the bottom surface of the magazine block 11.

The pushing member 12 is slidably disposed in the storage portion 11a. The extrusion member 12 has a block shape.

A guide pin 17 and a guide pin 18 project from the side surface of the extrusion member 12. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the guide pin 17 is inserted into the guide groove 11g. The guide pin 18 is inserted into the guide groove 11 g and protrudes from the side surface of the magazine block 11. By configuring in this way, the guide pins 17 and 18 slide on the guide groove 11g, and the pushing member 12 slides smoothly between the both ends of the storage portion 11a without swinging. .

A pulley 13 and a pulley 14 are arranged in front of the magazine block 11. In this embodiment, the pulley 13 and the pulley 14 are arrange | positioned in the cavity part 11f ahead of the supply port 11b. The pulley 13 and the pulley 14 have a substantially cylindrical shape, and the winding

portions

13a and 14a are formed in a recessed shape over the entire circumference. The pulley 13 and the pulley 14 are rotatably attached to the magazine block 11 and the bottom plate 3.

A bobbin 19 is disposed in the bobbin storage portion 11i. In other words, the bobbin 19 is disposed behind the magazine block 11. The bobbin 19 has a bobbin shape and is rotatably attached to the magazine block 11 and the bottom plate 3. A spiral spring 15 is wound around the bobbin 19. The spiral spring 15 is formed by forming a metal plate having elasticity in a spiral shape. Since the spiral spring 15 is elastic, even if the tip of the spiral spring 15 is pulled, it is wound into a spiral shape and restored to its original shape.

The tip of the spiral spring 15 is connected to one end of the wire 16 by a fastening member 7. The middle of the wire 16 is wound around the pulley 13 and the pulley 14, and the other end of the wire 16 is connected to the push member 12. In the present embodiment, the other end of the wire 16 is connected to the guide pin 17. With this configuration, the spiral spring 15 is configured to pull the pushing member 12 toward the supply port 11b with the wire 16.

The guide member 5 and the guide member 6 are attached to the upper surface of the jaw portion 11h of the magazine block 11 so as to face each other. The guide member 5 is formed with a guide piece 5a that protrudes from the side immediately behind the supply port 11b to the storage portion 11a. Similarly, the guide member 6 is formed with a guide piece 6a that protrudes from the side immediately after the supply port 11b to the storage portion 11a. The dimension between the guide piece 5a and the guide piece 6a is larger than the outer diameter of the mounting portion 302b of the mini chip 302. For this reason, the mini chip 302 can pass between the guide piece 5a and the guide piece 6a.

The interval between the guide member 5 and the guide member is gradually increased toward the front so that the tip of the chip base 301 can enter the jaw portion 11h of the magazine block 11.

(Operation of the present invention)
When the bean chip 302 is stored in the bean chip magazine 50 of the present invention, first, the guide pin 18 is slid backward to slide the pushing member 12 backward. Then, since a space is formed between the supply port 11b of the storage portion 11a and the pushing member 12, the bean chips 302 are placed and stored in this space with the mounting portion 302b facing up. When the guide pin 18 is released, the pushing member 12 is pulled toward the supply port 11b by the restoring force (biasing force) of the spiral spring 15. The bean chip 302 stored in the storage unit 11a is held by being pushed against the front end of the storage unit 11a by the pushing member 12.

The front end of the chip base 301 is positioned above the jaw portion 11h of the magazine block 11 so that the mounting hole 301a of the chip base 301 and the supply port 11b coincide with each other in the front-rear / width direction. When the chip base 301 is moved downward from this state, the mounting portion 302b of the mini chip 302 exposed from the supply port 11b is attached to the mounting hole 301 of the chip base 301.
The bean chip 302 is attached to the chip base 301 by entering into a.

When the chip base 301 is moved upward (state of FIG. 5A), the bean chip 302 attached to the chip base 301 is pulled out from the supply port 11b (state of FIG. 5B), and the extrusion member 12 slides toward the supply port 11b, the pushing member 12 pushes the bean chip 302 stored in the storage portion 11a toward the supply port 11b, and the bean chip 302 is supplied to the supply port 11b (FIG. 5). (C) state). At this time, as shown in FIGS. 5A to 5C, the

guide pieces

5a and 6a guide the mounting portion 302b of the bean chip 302, so that the bean chip 302 is not tilted and the supply port 11b. To be supplied.

If the

guide members

5 and 6 are not provided, as shown in FIGS. 5X to 5Y, when the bean chip 302 attached to the chip base 301 is pulled out from the supply port 11b, the bean chip is extracted. The bean chip 302 immediately after 302 is lifted and tilted (the states (X) and (Y) in FIG. 5), and the bean chip 302 is supplied to the supply port 11b in the tilted state ((Z in FIG. 5). ), The bean chip 302 cannot be attached to the chip base 301. In the present invention, since the

guide members

5 and 6 having the

guide pieces

5a and 6a projecting upward from the storage portion 11a from both sides immediately after the supply port 11b are provided, the bean chip 302 is not inclined and the supply port 11b is tilted. To be supplied.

Even when the number of electrode tips in the storage portion 11a is reduced, the urging force of the spiral spring 15 is almost constant. Therefore, the mini chip 302 is pressed against the front end of the storage portion 11a and securely held. It has become so.

By reversing the urging direction of the spiral spring 15 by the

pulleys

13 and 14, the spiral spring 15 can be provided on the opposite side of the supply port 11b, and the periphery of the supply port 11b does not become large and interferes with the welding gun. There is nothing to do.

If the welding gun is not a welding gun attached to a robot arm but a welding gun fixed to an automated welding line, the mini chip magazine 50 of the present invention is attached to the robot for use. When attaching the bean chip 302 to the chip base 301, the robot is operated to move the supply port 11b of the spot welding chip magazine 50 to the attachment hole 301a of the chip base 301 and project from the supply port 11b. The mounting part 302 b of the chip 302 is inserted into the mounting hole 301 a of the chip base 301 so that the mini chip 302 is attached to the chip base 301. As described above, even when the number of electrode tips in the storage portion 11a is reduced, the biasing force of the spiral spring 15 is almost constant, so that the bean tip 302 is pressed against the front end of the storage portion 11a. Even if the magazine 50 of the bean chips 3 is moved by the robot (even if the supply port 11b is opened downward), the bean chips 302 are removed from the supply port 11b. There is no dropout.

Although the present invention has been described above in connection with the most practical and preferred embodiments at the present time, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed herein. However, the invention can be changed as appropriate without departing from the spirit or concept of the invention which can be read from the claims and the entire specification, and a magazine for minichips with such changes is also understood to be included in the technical scope. There must be.

Claims

A magazine block (11a) in which a plurality of miniature chips (302) are slidably arranged and housed is recessed in the upper surface in the front-rear direction, and the front end of the housing portion (11a) is a supply port (11b) (11) and
An extrusion mechanism that pushes the bean chips (302) stored in the storage unit (11a) to the supply port (11b) and sequentially supplies them to the supply port (11b);
From the front end of the magazine block (11) to the position immediately after the supply port (11b), the upper surface of the magazine block (11) is cut downward to form a jaw (11h),
The bean chip is characterized in that a guide member (5, 6) is provided on the upper surface of the jaw (11h) so as to protrude from the side immediately behind the supply port (11b) to the storage (11a). magazine.
The push member (12) is slidably disposed in the storage portion (11a),
A pulley (13, 14) is arranged in front of the magazine block (11),
A spiral spring (15) is arranged behind the magazine block (11),
Wrap the middle of the wire (16) around the pulley (13, 14), and connect the spiral spring (15) and the bean chip pushing member (12) with the wire (16),
The bean chip magazine according to claim 1, wherein an extrusion mechanism is configured to pull the pushing member (12) toward the supply port (11b) by the biasing force of the spiral spring (15). .
3. The bean chip according to claim 2, wherein a bobbin (19) having a bobbin shape is rotatably attached to the magazine block (11) and a spiral spring (15) is wound around the bobbin (19). magazine.
Guide pins (17, 18) are projected from the pushing member (12), and the guide pins (17, 18) are formed in the magazine block (11) along the storage portion (11a). 4. The bean chip magazine according to claim 2, wherein the bean chip magazine is configured to slide together.