A parallel common welding production line and method

Abstract

The application provides a parallel shared welding production line and method, relates to the field of vehicle part welding production lines, and aims to solve the problem that current parallel production lines are inconvenient to combine. Two welding lines are arranged in parallel on a welding island and simultaneously run, welding and transfer equipment is shared, equipment complexity is reduced, and production efficiency is ensured. Two pressing lines are arranged on a pressing island, pressing positions are shared, and the two pressing lines are operated at different times, the mold replacement frequency of the pressing positions is reduced, and production efficiency is ensured.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of vehicle component welding production lines, and more specifically to a parallel shared welding production line and method. Background Technology

[0002] In the welding production line of vehicle parts, in order to reduce the floor space and the number of equipment, parts with similar structures and similar processing procedures can be processed on the same production line. Different parts can be processed by changing fixtures, adjusting production parameters, and switching production cycles.

[0003] However, if the design, manufacturing process, and quality control standards of the production line cannot meet the production needs of all components, then sharing the production line may result in the quality of some models failing to meet the expected standards. If the welding process of the production line can only meet the requirements of some models, then the quality and strength of the weld points may be affected, thus affecting the safety performance of the vehicle. Frequent switching of the production line to produce different models may lead to untimely equipment adjustments or upgrades, thus affecting production efficiency and product quality. If the production line needs to produce two models simultaneously, then frequent tool changes or equipment parameter adjustments may be required, which will not only increase production costs but may also lead to extended production time, thus affecting delivery time. In the production process of the left and right front doors of the vehicle, although the quality and strength requirements of their weld points are the same, the pressing molds for the left and right front doors are different during the edge-wrapping process after spot welding, making it impossible to simply merge the production lines. Using two separate welding production lines makes it difficult to control the number of equipment in the workshop, resulting in excessive floor space and difficulty in adapting to the distribution of other production lines in the workshop. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to address the shortcomings of existing technologies by providing a parallel shared welding production line and method. Two welding lines are arranged in parallel on the welding island and operate simultaneously, sharing welding and transfer equipment to reduce equipment complexity and ensure production efficiency. Two pressing lines are arranged on the pressing island, sharing pressing positions and operating at staggered times to reduce the frequency of mold replacement at the pressing positions and ensure production efficiency.

[0005] The first objective of this invention is to provide a parallel shared welding production line, which adopts the following solution: include: The welding island includes a first welding line and a second welding line in parallel. The first welding line and the second welding line are each provided with multiple welding positions. The welding positions of the first welding line and the second welding line share a welding robot. The ends of the first welding line and the second welding line are respectively provided with a part-loading position to output the welded transfer parts. The pressing island includes a first pressing line and a second pressing line, and each has a loading position, a gluing position, a pressing position, an auxiliary welding position and a unloading position arranged in sequence. The loading position and the unloading position are connected by a material car transfer unit. The first pressing line and the second pressing line share the pressing position, and the first pressing line and the second pressing line operate at different times.

[0006] Furthermore, a reference plane is set between the first welding line and the second welding line, and the first welding line and the second welding line are arranged symmetrically with respect to the reference plane, and a common welding robot is located between the first welding line and the second welding line.

[0007] Furthermore, the first welding line includes a first clamp and a second clamp arranged in sequence, with a transfer robot respectively downstream of the first clamp and the second clamp, and a first welding position is provided between the first clamp of the first welding line and the first clamp of the second welding line, with two first welding robots spaced apart at the first welding position.

[0008] Furthermore, at the same time, the two first welding robots at the first welding position process workpieces on different welding lines.

[0009] Furthermore, the lower part position and the upper part position are respectively provided with positioning structures for matching material carts, and the positioning structures are identical.

[0010] Furthermore, the glue application station is equipped with a transfer robot and a glue application robot, and a transfer station is provided between the glue application station and the press station. The movement trajectory of the transfer robot covers the glue application station, the loading station and the transfer station.

[0011] Furthermore, a transfer robot is provided between the pressing position and the auxiliary welding position. The transfer robot is equipped with a pre-welding component for grabbing the pressing parts output from the pressing position and performing pre-welding.

[0012] Furthermore, the unloading position is equipped with a rotary fixture, which has two clamping stations arranged opposite to each other. The relative positions of the clamping stations and the unloading position can be adjusted by rotation.

[0013] A second objective of this invention is to provide a manufacturing process for a parallel shared welding production line as described in the first objective, comprising: The first and second welding lines respectively acquire workpieces and perform parallel multi-step welding processes. The welded intermediate parts are then output to the material car through the lower part station. During the processing of the welding island, the same welding robot welds the workpieces on the first welding line and the workpieces on the second welding line respectively. The material cart carries the transfer parts and enters the upper part position of the pressing island; The first or second pressing line obtains the intermediate parts, which are then sequentially glued at the gluing station, pressed at the press station, and welded at the auxiliary welding station before being conveyed to the off-line station.

[0014] Furthermore, the first and second pressing lines operate at different times, and the pressing molds at the press positions are changed during the switching process.

[0015] Compared with the prior art, the advantages and positive effects of this invention are: To address the current issue of the inconvenience of merging parallel production lines, two welding lines are arranged in parallel on the welding island and run simultaneously, sharing welding and transfer equipment to reduce equipment complexity and ensure production efficiency. Two pressing lines are arranged on the pressing island, sharing pressing positions and running at staggered times to reduce the frequency of mold replacement at the pressing positions and ensure production efficiency. Attached Figure Description

[0016] The accompanying drawings, which form part of this invention, are used to provide a further understanding of the invention. The illustrative embodiments of the invention and their descriptions are used to explain the invention and do not constitute an improper limitation of the invention.

[0017] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the parallel shared welding production line in Embodiments 1 and 2 of the present invention.

[0018] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the welding island in the parallel shared welding production line in Embodiments 1 and 2 of the present invention.

[0019] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the press-fit island in the parallel shared welding production line in Embodiments 1 and 2 of the present invention.

[0020] Among them, 1. Unloading position, 2. Fourth fixture, 3. Third welding robot, 4. Sixth transfer robot, 5. Auxiliary welding position, 6. Fifth transfer robot, 7. Pressing position, 8. Fourth transfer robot, 9. Third loading position, 10. Third fixture, 11. Loading position, 12. Third transfer robot, 13. Transfer position, 14. Unloading position, 15. Second transfer robot, 16. Second welding robot, 17. Second loading position, 18. Second fixture, 19. First transfer robot, 20. First fixture, 21. First loading position, 22. First welding position, 23. First welding robot. Detailed Implementation

[0021] Example 1 In a typical embodiment of the present invention, such as Figures 1-3 As shown, a parallel shared welding production line is presented.

[0022] The parallel shared welding production line will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0023] like Figure 1As shown, the parallel shared welding production line includes a welding island and a pressing island. The welding island has a first welding line and a second welding line arranged in parallel. The welding stations of the first welding line and the second welding line share a welding robot. The end of the first welding line has a first unloading position 14, and the end of the second welding line has a second unloading position 14, which outputs the workpiece after preliminary welding. The pressing island includes an loading position 11, a glue application position, a press position, an auxiliary welding position 5, and an unloading position 1 arranged in sequence. The loading position 11 includes a first loading position 11 connecting to the first unloading position 14 and a second loading position 11 connecting to the second unloading position. The unloading position 1 includes a first unloading position 1 for outputting the left front door component and a second unloading position 1 for outputting the right front door component. The workpieces input into the pressing island through the first loading position 11 and the second loading position 11 are processed respectively.

[0024] like Figure 2 As shown, the welding island is described in detail. A reference plane is set between the first welding line and the second welding line. The first welding line and the second welding line are arranged symmetrically with respect to this reference plane. The components of the first welding line and the second welding line are the same. In this embodiment, the first welding line is used as an example for description.

[0025] The first welding line includes a first fixture 20 and a second fixture 18 arranged sequentially. A first transfer robot 19 is provided downstream of the first fixture 20. The first transfer robot 19 connects the first fixture 20 and the second fixture 18 and transfers the workpiece on the first fixture 20 to the second fixture 18. A second transfer robot 15 is provided downstream of the second fixture 18. The second transfer robot 15 connects the second fixture 18 and the first unloading position 14 and transfers the workpiece on the second fixture 18 to the first unloading position 14.

[0026] The first fixture 20 and the second fixture 18 are both dual-station rotary fixtures. One side of the first fixture 20 is the first loading position 21, and the other side corresponds to the first welding position 22. The first welding position 22 can perform the first welding process on the workpiece. One side of the second fixture 18 is the second loading position 17, and the other side corresponds to the second welding position. The second welding position can perform the second welding process on the workpiece.

[0027] The first welding position 22 is located between the first clamp 20 of the first welding line and the first clamp 20 of the second welding line. The first welding position 22 is equipped with two first welding robots 23 that are spaced apart. The two first welding robots 23 can weld the workpieces facing the first clamp 20 toward the first welding position 22.

[0028] It should be noted that the workpiece entering the welding island from the first loading position 21 needs to be welded at multiple positions at the first welding position 22, and the welding positions are distributed at different curved surfaces of the workpiece. Therefore, in this embodiment, two first welding robots 23 are configured to perform multi-angle and multi-directional welding on the workpiece on the first fixture 20, reducing the clamping and posture adjustment of the workpiece and improving welding efficiency.

[0029] In addition, it should be noted that at most one of the two first welding robots 23 can weld the workpiece on the same fixture. For example, while one first welding robot 23 is welding the workpiece held by the first fixture 20 of the first welding line, the other first welding robot 23 can be welding the workpiece held by the first fixture 20 of the second welding line. This reduces the problem of interference that may occur when two first welding robots 23 weld the same workpiece at the same time.

[0030] like Figure 2 As shown, the first clamp 20 is a rotary clamp including two first clamping stations, symmetrically arranged with respect to its rotation center. The relative positions of the first clamping stations with respect to the first loading station 21 and the first welding station 22 are switched by rotation. When one of the first clamping stations faces the first loading station 21, it carries the workpiece to be processed; the other first clamping station faces the first welding station 22, carrying the workpiece to be welded by the two first welding robots 23 on the first welding station 22.

[0031] The first clamp 20 is capable of rotation, and its rotation angle can be controlled to adjust the position of the workpiece it carries. After the workpiece is welded by the first welding robot 23, the first clamp 20 is rotated to move the workpiece after the first welding process toward the first transfer robot 19. The first transfer robot 19 grabs the workpiece after the first welding process and transfers it to the second clamp 18 for clamping. The second clamp 18 then clamps the workpiece after the first welding process for the second welding process.

[0032] It should be noted that during the process of the first transfer robot 19 grabbing the workpiece and transferring it to the second fixture 18, the workpiece is driven to perform supplementary welding. After the supplementary welding is completed, the workpiece is loaded onto the second fixture 18.

[0033] The second welding position is located between the second clamp 18 of the first welding line and the second clamp 18 of the second welding line. The second welding position is equipped with a second welding robot 16, which can weld the workpiece facing the second clamp 18 toward the second welding position.

[0034] It should be noted that the workpiece entering the second welding position from the first welding position 22 needs to select a welding torch according to the workpiece specifications at the second welding position. Therefore, in this embodiment, the second welding robot 16 at the second welding position is equipped with a variety of welding torches to adapt to workpieces of different specifications, reduce the number of welding robots, reduce system complexity, thereby reducing interference and collision problems and improving welding efficiency.

[0035] In addition, it should be noted that the second welding robot 16 can weld the workpieces on the corresponding second fixtures 18 of the first welding line and the second welding line respectively. For example, when the second welding robot 16 welds the workpiece held by the second fixture 18 of the first welding line, the second fixture 18 of the second welding line can be loaded or unloaded, so that the second welding robot 16 can alternately weld the workpieces of the first welding line and the workpieces of the second welding line, thereby improving the working efficiency of the second welding robot 16.

[0036] like Figure 2 As shown, the second clamping fixture 18 is a rotary fixture including two second clamping stations, symmetrically arranged with respect to its rotation center. The relative positions of the second clamping stations with respect to the second loading station 17 and the second welding station are switched by rotation. When one of the second clamping stations faces the second loading station 17, accessories are installed onto the workpiece after the first welding process. The other second clamping station faces the second welding station, where the workpiece and the accessories installed at the second loading station 17 are welded by the second welding robot 16. This connects the workpiece after the first welding process and the accessories installed at the second loading station 17, resulting in the workpiece after the second welding process, i.e., the transfer part.

[0037] The second clamp 18 is capable of rotation, and the position of the workpiece it carries can be adjusted by controlling its rotation angle. After the workpiece is welded by the second welding robot 16, the second clamp 18 is rotated to move the transfer component toward the second transfer robot 15. The second transfer robot 15 grabs the transfer component and transfers it to the first unloading position 14.

[0038] Understandably, the second transfer robot 15 corresponding to the second welding line grabs the transfer part on the second fixture 18 and transfers the transfer part to the second unloading position 14.

[0039] like Figure 1As shown, the welding island and the pressing island are transferred via a material cart. After the material cart is positioned at the first unloading position 14 or the second unloading position 14, it receives and temporarily stores the transfer parts grasped by the second transfer robot 15. Multiple transfer parts can be arranged sequentially on the same material cart. The material cart carries the transfer parts and transfers them to the first loading position 11 or the second loading position 11 of the pressing island. The transfer parts output from the first unloading position 14 at the end of the first welding line are transferred to the first loading position 11 via the material cart, and the transfer parts output from the second unloading position 14 at the end of the second welding line are transferred to the second loading position 11 via the material cart.

[0040] The positioning structures of the first unloading position 14, the second unloading position 14, the first loading position 11, and the second loading position 11 are the same as those of the matching material cart, which enables the material cart to be accurately positioned and ensures the gripping efficiency of the corresponding robot.

[0041] The pressing island contains, in sequence, a gluing station, a transfer station 13, a pressing station 7, an auxiliary welding station 5, and an accessory station. After being glued at the gluing station, the transfer parts are transported to the transfer station 13, and then sequentially enter the pressing station 7, the auxiliary welding station 5, and the accessory station. After the accessory station installs the auxiliary accessories, it enters the first unloading station 1 or the second unloading station 1, and outputs the processed and welded left and right front door panels.

[0042] When working on the pressing island, considering that the pressing mold replacement time of pressing position 7 is relatively long, the pressing process corresponding to the production of the left front door and the pressing process corresponding to the production of the right front door are executed at different times.

[0043] Based on the processing flow of the transfer parts on the first loading position 11 within the pressing island, it is defined as the first pressing line, and the processing flow of the transfer parts on the second loading position 11 within the pressing island is defined as the second pressing line. The first pressing line and the second pressing line operate at staggered times.

[0044] like Figure 3 As shown, the gluing station is located between the first loading station 11 and the second loading station 11. The gluing station is equipped with a third transfer robot 12 and a gluing robot. The third transfer robot 12 grabs the transfer parts on the material cart of the first loading station 11 or the material cart of the second loading station 11, moves the transfer parts to the gluing robot for gluing, and then places them in the transfer station 13.

[0045] During the pressing process on the first pressing line, the third transfer robot 12 grabs and transfers the workpieces on the first loading position 11 material cart. After switching to the second pressing line to perform the pressing process, the third transfer robot 12 grabs and transfers the workpieces on the second loading position 11 material cart.

[0046] Two third clamps 10, belonging to the first and second pressing lines respectively, are located on either side of the transfer station 13. One side of the third clamp 10 is the third loading position 9, and the other side corresponds to the transfer station 13. The transfer station 13 can temporarily support the transferred parts after gluing. Between the transfer station 13 and the pressing station 7, a fourth transfer robot 8 is provided, which can install the accessories on the third clamps 10 onto the transferred parts after gluing on the transfer station 13, and transfer them together to the pressing station 7.

[0047] The third clamp 10 is a rotary clamp including two third clamping stations, symmetrically arranged with respect to its rotation center. The relative positions of the third clamping stations with respect to the third loading station 9 and the third welding station are switched by rotation. When one of the third clamping stations faces the third loading station 9, the parts are loaded onto the third clamping station; the other third clamping station faces the transfer station 13, and the parts it carries are grasped by the fourth transfer robot 8 and transferred to the transfer unit on the transfer station 13, where they are bonded together to obtain a transfer unit with the parts bonded together.

[0048] The third clamp 10 can rotate, and the position of the component it carries can be adjusted by controlling its rotation angle. After the intermediate part and the component are bonded together, the fourth transfer robot 8 is controlled to transfer them to the pressing position 7.

[0049] During the pressing process on the first pressing line, the fourth transfer robot 8 picks up and transfers the parts on the third fixture 10 corresponding to the first pressing line. After switching to the second pressing line to perform the pressing process, the fourth transfer robot 8 picks up and transfers the parts on the third fixture 10 corresponding to the second pressing line.

[0050] like Figure 2 As shown, the pressing station 7 can press the transfer parts with the accessories bonded on them. Since the transfer parts and accessories corresponding to the first pressing line and the second pressing line are different, the pressing station 7 can switch different pressing molds and carry out the production of the corresponding pressing line after switching the pressing mold.

[0051] After the intermediate parts and accessories are processed at the pressing position 7, a pressing part is obtained; a fifth transfer robot 6 is provided between the pressing position 7 and the auxiliary welding position 5. The fifth transfer robot 6 is equipped with a pre-welding component. After the fifth transfer robot 6 positions and grabs the pressing part, the pre-welding component pre-welds the pressing part, and then the pressing part is transferred to the auxiliary welding position 5.

[0052] The auxiliary welding station 5 includes an auxiliary welding machine. The fifth transfer robot 6 places the press-fit parts on the auxiliary welding machine for welding. The welding process includes gas shielded welding and single-sided welding.

[0053] A sixth transfer robot 4 is provided between the auxiliary welding station 5 and the accessory station. The sixth transfer robot 4 transfers the workpiece after auxiliary welding to the accessory station. The accessory station is equipped with a fourth clamp 2.

[0054] like Figure 2 As shown, the first pressing line and the second pressing line are respectively provided with corresponding auxiliary welding positions 5 and accessory positions. A third welding robot 3 is provided between the fourth clamp 2 of the accessory position of the first pressing line and the fourth clamp 2 of the accessory position of the second pressing line. The first pressing line and the second pressing line share the pressing position 7, the fifth transfer robot 6, the sixth transfer robot 4 and the third welding robot 3.

[0055] The fourth clamp 2 includes two rotary clamps with fourth clamping stations, symmetrically arranged relative to their rotation center. Rotation allows for switching the relative positions of the fourth clamping stations with respect to the fourth loading station and the third welding robot 3. When one of the fourth clamping stations faces the fourth loading station, accessories, such as hinges, are loaded onto the press-fitted parts that have undergone auxiliary welding. The other fourth clamping station faces the third welding robot 3, where the press-fitted parts with the accessories are welded by the third welding robot 3 to obtain either the left front door component or the right front door component.

[0056] The fourth clamp 2 is capable of rotation, and by controlling its rotation angle, the position of the press-fitted parts and the left or right front door components carried on it can be adjusted.

[0057] During the pressing process of the first pressing line, the fifth transfer robot 6 picks up the pressed parts and transfers them only to the auxiliary welding position 5 corresponding to the first pressing line. The sixth transfer robot 4 transfers the pressed parts after auxiliary welding to the fourth clamping position of the fourth clamp 2 corresponding to the first pressing line, so that the fourth clamping position moves to the fourth loading position to load the parts.

[0058] After switching to the second pressing line to perform the pressing process, the fifth transfer robot 6 picks up the pressed parts and transfers them only to the auxiliary welding position 5 corresponding to the second pressing line. The sixth transfer robot 4 transfers the pressed parts after auxiliary welding to the fourth clamping position of the fourth clamp 2 corresponding to the second pressing line, so that the fourth clamping position moves to the fourth loading position to load the parts.

[0059] like Figure 3 As shown, the component position also serves as the off-line position 1. After the third welding robot 3 finishes welding the press-fitted parts, it obtains the left front door component or the right front door component. The fourth clamp 2 drives the left front door component or the right front door component to rotate to the side of the first loading position 21. At this time, the fourth loading position serves as the off-line position 1, and the completed left front door component or right front door component is unloaded and transferred to the next processing stage.

[0060] Example 2 In another typical embodiment of the present invention, such as Figures 1-3 As shown, a production process for a parallel shared welding production line is presented.

[0061] The parallel shared welding production line as described in Example 1 includes the following steps: The first and second welding lines respectively acquire workpieces and perform parallel multi-step welding processes. The welded intermediate parts are then output to the material car through the lower part position 14. During the processing of the welding island, the same welding robot welds the workpieces on the first welding line and the workpieces on the second welding line respectively. The material cart carries the transfer parts and enters the upper part position 11 of the pressing island; The first or second pressing line obtains the intermediate parts, which are then sequentially glued at the gluing station, pressed at the press station, and welded at the auxiliary welding station 5 before being conveyed to the downstream station 1.

[0062] The first and second pressing lines operate at staggered times, and the pressing molds at the press positions are changed during switching.

[0063] For the specific working process of each component, please refer to the description in Example 1, which will not be repeated here.

[0064] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the invention. Various modifications and variations can be made to the present invention by those skilled in the art. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A parallel shared welding production line, characterized in that, include: The welding island includes a first welding line and a second welding line in parallel. The first welding line and the second welding line are each provided with multiple welding positions. The welding positions of the first welding line and the second welding line share a welding robot. The ends of the first welding line and the second welding line are respectively provided with a part-loading position to output the welded transfer parts. The first welding line includes a first fixture and a second fixture arranged in sequence. A transfer robot is provided downstream of the first fixture and the second fixture respectively. A first welding position is provided between the first fixture and the first fixture of the first welding line. The first welding position has two first welding robots distributed at intervals. The two first welding robots can weld the workpiece on the side of the first fixture facing the first welding position. At the same time, the two first welding robots at the first welding position process workpieces on different welding lines; The pressing island includes a first pressing line and a second pressing line, and is provided with a loading position, a gluing position, a press position, an auxiliary welding position and a unloading position arranged in sequence. The loading position and the unloading position are connected by a material car transfer unit. The first pressing line and the second pressing line share the press position, and the first pressing line and the second pressing line operate at different times. A transfer robot is set up between the pressing position and the auxiliary welding position. The transfer robot is equipped with a pre-welding component, which is used to grab the pressing parts output from the pressing position and perform pre-welding. The first welding line corresponds to the welding of the left front door component, and the second welding line corresponds to the welding of the right front door component. When the pressing island is working, the pressing process corresponding to the production of the left front door and the pressing process corresponding to the production of the right front door are executed at different times to reduce the frequency of pressing mold replacement at the pressing position.

2. The parallel shared welding production line as described in claim 1, characterized in that, A reference plane is set between the first welding line and the second welding line. The first welding line and the second welding line are arranged symmetrically with respect to the reference plane, and a common welding robot is located between the first welding line and the second welding line.

3. The parallel shared welding production line as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The lower and upper parts positions are each equipped with a positioning structure for matching material carts, and the positioning structures are identical.

4. The parallel shared welding production line as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The gluing station is equipped with a transfer robot and a gluing robot. There is a transfer station between the gluing station and the press station. The movement trajectory of the transfer robot covers the gluing station, the loading station and the transfer station.

5. The parallel shared welding production line as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The unloading position is equipped with a rotary fixture, which has two clamping stations arranged opposite to each other. The relative positions of the clamping stations and the unloading position can be adjusted by rotation.

6. A production process for a parallel shared welding production line as described in any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that, include: The first and second welding lines respectively acquire workpieces and perform parallel multi-step welding processes. The welded intermediate parts are then output to the material car through the lower part station. During the processing of the welding island, the same welding robot welds the workpieces on the first welding line and the workpieces on the second welding line respectively. The material cart carries the transfer parts and enters the upper part position of the pressing island; The first or second pressing line obtains the intermediate parts, which are then sequentially glued at the gluing station, pressed at the press station, and welded at the auxiliary welding station before being conveyed to the off-line station.

7. The production process of the parallel shared welding production line as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The first and second pressing lines operate at staggered times, and the pressing molds at the press positions are changed during switching.

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