An integrated welding and drilling system and operation method for vehicle roofs

Abstract

This invention discloses an integrated welding and drilling system and method for vehicle roofs. The system includes a control unit, a robot unit, a positioning fixture, a spot welding unit, and a drilling unit. The robot unit includes a robot and a tool changer. The positioning fixture includes a welding positioning clamping mechanism and a drilling positioning mechanism. The spot welding unit includes a spot welding gun fixedly connected to the tool changer. The drilling unit includes an electric spindle gun and a manual drilling gun, located on either side of the spot welding gun. During operation, the system adjusts the positioning fixture to clamp and support different types of roofs. The control unit controls the robot to move the spot welding gun to the welding area for welding. After welding, the tool changer rotates to switch tools for drilling. After the operation is completed, the robot resets. This system integrates welding and drilling functions, enabling automated, high-precision welding and drilling of vehicle roofs, achieving flexible production operations.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the technical field of vehicle parts processing equipment, and more specifically, relates to an integrated welding and drilling system and operation method suitable for vehicle roofs. Background Technology

[0002] A car roof consists of the roof itself, an outer roof panel, and an inner roof panel. During production, these three components need to be welded together and holes drilled at designated locations. The welding process generally includes forming and welding the outer and inner roof panels, as well as repair welding of the roof. For the drilling process, vehicle manufacturers typically perform the drilling operation in the stamping workshop or use dedicated punching equipment in the welding workshop. Currently, automotive technology is maturing rapidly, and the pace of vehicle model updates is accelerating. When processing new car roof samples or in small batches, using welding or stamping production lines would require upgrading existing lines, which is costly and disrupts production schedules. Therefore, in the sample stage, manual welding is generally used, with punching equipment used for drilling.

[0003] For example, a patent application with publication number CN211915179U discloses a guide rail drilling device, including a worktable. Longitudinal slide rails are welded to both sides of the top of the worktable. A frame-shaped sliding body is slidably connected to the top of the longitudinal slide rails through a longitudinal slider. The power input end of the longitudinal slider is connected to the power output end of the longitudinal displacement motor. The frame-shaped sliding body includes a longitudinal slider, a frame-shaped support, and a transverse slide rail. For example, a patent application with publication number CN111069413A discloses a galvanized steel sheet drilling device, including a cabinet. The upper surface of the cabinet is provided with a conveying platform for conveying galvanized steel sheets, and an electric spark drilling machine is provided at the upper end. A drop structure is provided on the right side of the conveying platform. A collection device is provided directly below the drop structure, including a base plate, a threaded rod, a limiting rod, a drive block, and a protective box. Two sets of support rods are provided on the top of the base plate, and a first bearing is provided on each of the two sets of support rods. A T-shaped rod is provided in the middle of the two sets of first bearings, and an L-shaped plate is provided at the top of the T-shaped rod. A hydraulic cylinder is provided at the short side of the L-shaped plate, and a punch is provided at the bottom output end of the hydraulic cylinder. The protective box is hollow inside and has an installation port at the bottom. Connecting rings are provided at the bottom ends of the left and right walls of the protective box.

[0004] The aforementioned traditional drilling equipment mostly includes a guide rail worktable and a cabinet conveyor platform, employing EDM or hydraulic cylinder punching methods. This results in high equipment costs, complex structures, and limited versatility. Furthermore, when used in conjunction with manual welding production, the car roof requires multiple handling and transfers between workstations, leading to low production efficiency and poor processing accuracy. Therefore, there is an urgent need for a system suitable for welding and drilling vehicle roofs, integrating welding and drilling functions into one unit to automate high-precision welding and drilling of vehicle roofs, achieving flexible production operations. Summary of the Invention

[0005] To address the problem that existing welding and drilling equipment cannot be adapted to the flexible and high-precision operation of various vehicle roof models, this invention provides an integrated welding and drilling system and operation method suitable for vehicle roofs to solve this problem.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides an integrated welding and drilling system suitable for vehicle roofs, comprising a robot unit including a robot and a tool quick-change disc disposed at the robot's axis, the bottom of which is fixedly provided with a U-shaped frame; a positioning fixture for clamping the roof, including a welding positioning clamping mechanism for clamping and positioning the welding parts, and a drilling positioning mechanism for precisely positioning and supporting the openings; a spot welding unit for welding the roof, including a welding torch holder and a spot welding torch fixedly connected to the tool quick-change disc; and a drilling unit for drilling holes in the roof. It includes an electric spindle gun and a manual drilling gun, both fixed on the tool quick-change disc and located on either side of the spot welding gun; and a control unit, which is communicatively connected to each functional unit; after the top cover arrives, the positioning fixture is adjusted so that the welding positioning clamping mechanism and the drilling positioning mechanism clamp and support the corresponding parts of the top cover; according to the adjustment parameters, the control unit controls the robot to move the spot welding gun to the part to be welded for welding operation. After completion, the tool quick-change disc rotates to switch the working tools, moving the electric spindle gun and the manual drilling gun to the corresponding drilling part for drilling operation, realizing flexible production operation.

[0007] Furthermore, the electric spindle gun is vertically fixed to one side of the U-shaped frame via an electric spindle connecting seat; the electric spindle connecting seat is a Z-shaped support, one end of which is fixedly connected to one side of the U-shaped frame with bolts, and the other end is fixedly connected to the hoop on the electric spindle gun with bolts.

[0008] Furthermore, the electric spindle gun is equipped with an anti-splash device to block the iron filings generated during processing. The anti-splash device includes an adjusting bracket, a steel brush bracket, and an annular steel wire brush.

[0009] Furthermore, the adjusting bracket is an L-shaped bracket, including a first vertical plate and a first horizontal plate. The first horizontal plate is fixed to the other end of the electric spindle connecting seat by bolts, and the first vertical plate has an adjusting groove. The steel brush bracket is an L-shaped bracket, including a second vertical plate and a second horizontal plate. The second vertical plate has a screw hole, and the steel brush bracket is fixed to the adjusting bracket by bolts passing through the adjusting groove on the first vertical plate and threadedly connecting to the screw hole on the second vertical plate. One end of the second horizontal plate is fixedly connected to the second vertical plate, and the other end is provided with a fixing ring seat. The annular steel wire brush is fixedly disposed in the fixing ring seat.

[0010] Furthermore, the manual drilling gun is vertically fixed to the other side of the U-shaped frame via a fixing box; the fixing box includes an upper box body and a lower box body that are fastened together, and the two are fastened together and then fixed together as one unit by bolts.

[0011] Furthermore, the fixing box is also equipped with a locking mechanism to lock and fix the manual drilling gun. The locking mechanism includes a positioning groove, a locking block, and a locking bolt. The positioning groove is fixedly installed on the lower box body and has three sets. The three sets of positioning groove openings are respectively aligned with the head, tail, and handle of the manual drilling gun. The width of the locking block is adapted to the width of the positioning groove, and one end of the locking block slides linearly along the positioning groove to press the manual drilling gun. The locking bolt is threadedly connected to the positioning groove, and its screw passes through the positioning groove and is rotatably connected to the other end of the locking block.

[0012] Furthermore, the drilling positioning mechanism includes a drill sleeve, a drill sleeve pressure block, and a support block; the drill sleeve pressure block and the support block are respectively located at the top and bottom of the drilling point on the vehicle roof. The drill sleeve pressure block presses down on the top of the drilling point, and the support block supports the bottom of the drilling point. The two work together to clamp and fix the drilling point on the vehicle roof.

[0013] Furthermore, a drill sleeve is fixedly provided on the drill sleeve pressure block, and the drill sleeve is located directly above the drilling point; an inverted funnel-shaped inner hole is provided on the support block, and a scrap collection box is provided directly below the inner hole.

[0014] Furthermore, it also includes a safety identification unit that isolates the work site, which includes telescopic grilles, scanners, and safety fences.

[0015] In another aspect of the invention, a method for operating an integrated welding and drilling system suitable for vehicle roofs is also provided, comprising the following steps:

[0016] S100: Adjust the corresponding welding and drilling parameters according to the vehicle roof model;

[0017] S200: Select the appropriate spot welding gun and drilling tool and install them on the robot unit;

[0018] S300: Adjust the position of the positioning fixture to fit the corresponding vehicle roof model;

[0019] S400: The vehicle roof is placed on the positioning fixture upon entry;

[0020] S500: The control unit controls the corresponding pneumatic module to provide power to the welding positioning and clamping mechanism and the drilling positioning mechanism, so that the welding positioning and clamping mechanism can clamp and fix the top cover, the outer plate of the top cover and the inner plate; and the drilling positioning mechanism can clamp and support the drilled part.

[0021] S600: The workers leave the site and the work area is sealed off. The control unit controls the corresponding functional units to perform self-tests.

[0022] S700: The control unit controls the robot to carry the spot welding gun to the top cover to perform spot welding operations, and then resets after completion;

[0023] S800: The control unit controls the robot to adjust the drilling station by rotating the tool quick-change disc according to the top cover model and drilling requirements, and selects the corresponding drilling tools to perform drilling operations on the top cover.

[0024] S900: After drilling is completed, the robot resets and waits for the next task cycle.

[0025] In summary, compared with the prior art, the above-described technical solutions conceived by this invention can achieve the following beneficial effects:

[0026] 1. The integrated welding and drilling system of the present invention achieves integrated welding and drilling functions by providing a tool quick-change disc at the end of the robot axis, and a U-shaped frame on the tool quick-change disc for mounting and fixing the spot welding gun, electric spindle gun, and manual drilling gun. A positioning fixture is provided, including a welding positioning clamping mechanism and a drilling positioning mechanism. These two mechanisms are adjusted to their positions on the positioning plate according to the vehicle roof model, clamping and supporting the corresponding parts of the vehicle roof, thus adapting to various types of vehicle roofs. By adjusting the corresponding welding and drilling parameters, the control unit can control the robot to automatically complete the precise welding and drilling tasks on the vehicle roof, driving the spot welding gun, electric spindle gun, and manual drilling gun. This achieves flexible production operations, greatly reduces production costs, avoids multiple handling and transfer of the car roof to different workstations, and improves production efficiency.

[0027] 2. The integrated welding and drilling system of the present invention uses a fixing box to vertically fix a manual drilling gun to the outside of a spot welding gun. The upper and lower boxes press and limit the sides of the manual drilling gun, and a locking mechanism presses and locks the head, tail, and handle of the manual drilling gun. This allows different types of manual drilling guns to be firmly fixed in the fixing box, preventing drilling vibration from causing the manual drilling gun to shift and reducing accuracy. It also improves the versatility of the drilling tools and reduces their cost. The manual drilling gun can be used with different drilling tools in conjunction with an electric spindle gun to complete drilling operations on vehicle roofs. It can also serve as a backup; in case of failure of the electric spindle gun and its control unit, it can automatically drill quickly without disrupting production, greatly shortening downtime and facilitating maintenance.

[0028] 3. The welding and drilling integrated system of the present invention uses a self-made programming drilling control program in the PLC control cabinet of the control unit, which enables a single robot to perform spot welding and drilling functions, reducing production equipment, lowering production costs, and creating a compact layout.

[0029] 4. The welding and drilling integrated system of the present invention, wherein the control unit utilizes the interactive communication between the PLC control cabinet and the robot unit, has simple wiring, simple programming, and fast action response, and realizes stable and high-precision operation of the robot production line.

[0030] 5. The integrated welding and drilling system of the present invention can adapt to the welding and drilling requirements of multiple vehicle models, including the positioning fixture, spot welding gun, and drilling unit. It can be used by multiple vehicle models and has a high degree of flexibility.

[0031] 6. The integrated welding and drilling system of the present invention, by providing an anti-splash device, a chip collection box, and an inverted funnel-shaped inner hole on the support block, avoids chip splashing everywhere and causing pollution to the working environment, and can centrally store the waste generated during processing, reducing the intensity of subsequent cleaning operations.

[0032] 7. The integrated welding and drilling system of the present invention, by providing a safety identification unit including a telescopic grille, a scanner and a safety fence, isolates the work site from the external environment, avoids personnel from accidentally entering and causing injury during the operation, and protects the safety of personnel and equipment. Attached Figure Description

[0033] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an integrated welding and drilling system for vehicle roofs according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0034] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the tool quick-change disc in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0035] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the anti-splash device in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0036] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the fixing box in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0037] Figure 5 This is an exploded view of the fixing box in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0038] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the welding and drilling operations in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0039] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the positioning fixture in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0040] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the drilling and positioning mechanism in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0041] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the control principle of the integrated welding and drilling system in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0042] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the operation process of the integrated welding and drilling system in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0043] In all the accompanying drawings, the same reference numerals denote the same technical features, specifically:

[0044] 1-Control unit, including: 11-PLC control cabinet;

[0045] 2-Robot unit, including: 21-Robot, 22-Robot control cabinet, 23-Tool quick change panel;

[0046] 3-Positioning fixture, including: 31-Welding positioning and clamping mechanism, 32-Drilling positioning mechanism, 321-Drill bushing, 322-Drill bushing pressure block, 322.1-Inner hole, 323-Support block, 33-Scrap collection box;

[0047] 4-Security identification unit, including: 41-Retractable grille, 42-Scanner, 43-Security fence;

[0048] 5-Auxiliary accessory unit;

[0049] 6-Spot welding unit, including: 61-Spot welding control cabinet, 62-Spot welding gun, 63-Welding gun storage rack, 64-Welding gun clamp, 65-Grinding tool;

[0050] 7- Drilling unit, including: 71- Drilling control cabinet, 72- Electric spindle gun, 73- Electric spindle connector, 74- Drill tool, 75- Anti-splash device, 751- Adjusting bracket, 752- Steel brush bracket, 753- Circular steel wire brush, 76- Manual drilling gun, 77- Fixing box, 771- Upper box body, 772- Lower box body, 773- Locking block, 774- Locking bolt. Detailed Implementation

[0051] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this invention clearer, the invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative and not intended to limit the invention. Furthermore, the technical features involved in the various embodiments of this invention described below can be combined with each other as long as they do not conflict with each other.

[0052] like Figure 1-10As shown, this invention provides an integrated welding and drilling system for vehicle roofs, including a control unit 1, a robot unit 2, a positioning fixture 3, a spot welding unit 6, and a drilling unit 7. The robot unit 2 includes a robot 21 and a tool quick-change disc 23 located at the axis end of the robot 21. The positioning fixture 3 includes a welding positioning clamping mechanism 31 for clamping and positioning the welding area, and a drilling positioning mechanism 32 for precisely positioning and supporting the opening. The spot welding unit 6 includes a welding torch holder 64 and a spot welding torch 62 fixedly connected to the tool quick-change disc 23. The drilling unit 7 includes an electric spindle torch 72 and a manual drilling torch 76, both fixed to the tool quick-change disc 23 and located on either side of the spot welding torch 62. Both can be loaded with different types of drill bits to drill holes in the vehicle roof, avoiding downtime for drill bit replacement. When the system of the present invention is operating, it adjusts the corresponding welding and drilling parameters according to the different vehicle roof model information. After the roof arrives at the site, the positioning fixture 3 is adjusted so that the welding positioning clamping mechanism 31 and the drilling positioning mechanism 32 clamp and support the corresponding parts of the roof, thereby avoiding the roof from shifting under force and ensuring processing accuracy. According to the adjusted parameters, the control unit 1 controls the robot 21 to move the spot welding gun 62 to the part to be welded for welding operation. After completion, the tool quick change plate 23 rotates to switch the working tools, and moves the electric spindle gun 72 and the manual drilling gun 76 to the corresponding drilling part for drilling operation. After the operation is completed, the robot 21 resets. The system of the present invention integrates welding and drilling functions into one, and performs automated high-precision welding and drilling on vehicle roofs, realizing flexible production operation.

[0053] like Figure 1 As shown in the embodiment of the present invention, the control unit 1 includes a PLC control cabinet 11, which serves as the main control unit of the workstation. It communicates with other functional units via a bus, adjusts the corresponding welding and drilling parameters according to the different vehicle roof model information, and controls other functional units to complete the work tasks in sequence according to the timing.

[0054] The robot unit 2 includes a robot 21, a robot control cabinet 22, and a tool change tray 23. The robot 21 is a six-axis robot with six independent degrees of freedom, enabling precise motion control within this six-degree-of-freedom space. The robot control cabinet 22 is communicatively connected to the control unit 1, receiving control commands from the control unit 1 to control the robot 21 to move along a specified trajectory and complete corresponding control actions. The tool change tray 23 is located at the axis end of the robot 21, and by rotating it at a corresponding angle, the appropriate working tool can be switched and aligned with the working area. Furthermore, a U-shaped frame is fixedly installed at the bottom of the tool change tray 23, the interior of which is used to clamp and fix a spot welding gun 62, and electric spindle guns 72 and manual drilling guns 76 are fixedly installed on both sides respectively.

[0055] like Figure 1 ,7 As shown, the positioning fixture 3 includes a welding positioning clamping mechanism 31 and a drilling positioning mechanism 32, both of which are fixed to the positioning plate. The positioning plate has multiple sets of fixing holes to accommodate different models of vehicle roofs. By fixing the welding positioning clamping mechanism 31 and the drilling positioning mechanism 32 to the corresponding holes with bolts, the different models of vehicle roofs can be clamped, fixed, and supported, thereby achieving flexible production operations for roofs of multiple vehicle models.

[0056] The welding positioning and clamping mechanism 31 is a conventional plate clamping mechanism that can clamp and fix the top cover, the outer plate of the top cover and the inner plate, so as to cooperate with the spot welding gun 62 for precise forming welding.

[0057] The drilling positioning mechanism 32 includes a drill sleeve 321, a drill sleeve clamping block 322, and a support block 323. The drill sleeve clamping block 322 and the support block 323 are located at the top and bottom of the drilling area on the vehicle roof, respectively. The drill sleeve clamping block 322 presses down on the top of the drilling area, and the support block 323 supports the bottom of the drilling area. Together, they clamp and fix the drilling area on the vehicle roof, preventing vibration during drilling from causing the vehicle roof to shift and resulting in hole position deviation. Furthermore, to prevent drill bit deviation, a drill sleeve 321 is fixedly mounted on the drill sleeve clamping block 322. The drill sleeve 321 is located directly above the drilling area. It controls the position and size of the cutting tool and guides the tool's feed direction, meeting the technical requirements for drilling holes with high form and position tolerances and on inclined or curved surfaces. Furthermore, the drill sleeve 321 is made of GCr15 material, with a hard chromium plating and a quenching hardness of HRC61-64, exhibiting high hardness and wear resistance. The drill sleeve hole diameter is designed according to the drilling requirements of the sheet metal. Furthermore, to facilitate the smooth fall of the drilled waste, an inverted funnel-shaped inner hole 323.1 is provided on the support block 323. The diameter of the inner hole 323.1 is 1-2 mm larger than the diameter of the drilled hole. Preferably, an iron filings collection box 33 is also provided directly below the inner hole 323.1. The iron filings collection box 33 is fixed to the top of the positioning plate and is used to store and collect the fallen waste, preventing iron filings from splashing everywhere and causing environmental pollution. During operation, the iron filings collection box 33 can be checked and cleaned periodically according to the production situation to prevent waste from overflowing.

[0058] like Figure 1As shown in this embodiment of the invention, a safety identification unit 4 is provided to isolate the work area and prevent personnel from accidentally entering and causing injury during the operation. The safety identification unit 4 includes a telescopic grille 41, a scanner 42, and a safety fence 43. The safety fence 43 isolates the work area from the outside, with an entrance / exit on one side for personnel or raw materials to enter. The telescopic grille 41 is located at the entrance / exit, and extends to block the entrance / exit to prevent unauthorized personnel from entering. It retracts to create a path for personnel or raw materials to enter the safety fence 43. The scanner 42 scans personnel or raw materials entering the area. It is communicatively connected to the control unit 1 and uploads the scanning results to the control unit 1. When the control unit 1 determines that personnel or raw materials have accidentally entered the area during system operation, it controls the robot unit 2 to stop operation and issue an alarm to prevent personnel from being injured, thus protecting the safety of personnel and equipment.

[0059] like Figure 1 As shown, in this embodiment of the invention, an auxiliary accessory unit 5 is also provided, including cable trays, water and air devices, pipeline packages, robot bases, etc., for assisting in the installation, connection and cleaning of other functional units in the system.

[0060] like Figure 1-2 As shown in the embodiment of the invention, the spot welding unit 6 includes a spot welding control cabinet 61, a spot welding gun 62, a welding gun storage rack 63, a welding gun clamping frame 64, and a grinder 65. The spot welding control cabinet 61 is located outside the safety fence 43 and is communicatively connected to the control unit 1. The control unit 1 transmits control commands, adjusts welding parameters, and controls parameters such as the welding speed, arc voltage, and welding current of the spot welding gun 62. The welding gun clamping frame 64 clamps and fixes the spot welding gun 62. Its outer side is fixedly connected to a U-shaped frame with bolts, and its inner side is locked and clamped with bolts. The welding gun storage rack 63 and the grinder 65 are located inside the safety fence 43. The welding gun storage rack 63 is used to store different types of spot welding guns to adapt to different welding needs, and the grinder 65 grinds the electrode caps of the spot welding gun 62.

[0061] like Figure 2-6 As shown in the embodiment of the present invention, the drilling unit 7 includes a drilling control cabinet 71, an electric spindle gun 72, and a manual drilling gun 76.

[0062] The drilling control cabinet 71 is communicatively connected to the control unit 1. By receiving control commands from the control unit 1, it controls the electric spindle gun 72 and the manual drilling gun 76 to perform drilling operations respectively.

[0063] The electric spindle gun 72 is vertically fixed to one side of the U-shaped frame via an electric spindle connecting seat 73. The electric spindle connecting seat 73 is a Z-shaped support, with one end fixedly connected to one side of the U-shaped frame by bolts, and the other end fixedly connected to a clamp on the electric spindle gun 72 by bolts. Further, to prevent metal chips from splashing during milling with the electric spindle gun 72, an anti-splatter device 75 is installed to block the generated metal chips. The anti-splatter device 75 includes an adjusting bracket 751, a steel brush bracket 752, and a ring-shaped steel wire brush 753. The adjusting bracket 751 is an L-shaped bracket, including a first vertical plate and a first horizontal plate. The first horizontal plate is fixed to the other end of the electric spindle connecting seat 73 by bolts, and the first vertical plate has an adjusting groove. The steel brush holder 752 is an L-shaped holder, including a second vertical plate and a second horizontal plate. The second vertical plate has screw holes, and bolts are threaded through the adjustment groove on the first vertical plate and into the screw holes on the second vertical plate, thus fixing the steel brush holder 752 to the adjustment holder 751. One end of the second horizontal plate is fixedly connected to the second vertical plate, and the other end has a fixing ring seat. The annular steel wire brush 753 is fixedly installed within the fixing ring seat. During operation, the fixed position of the steel brush holder 752 is adjusted along the adjustment groove according to the distance between the annular steel wire brush 753 and the cutting tool, so that the annular steel wire brush 753 seals off the working area of ​​the drilling part, effectively preventing metal chips from flying when the electric spindle gun 72 uses a milling cutter.

[0064] In this embodiment of the invention, the manual drilling gun 76 uses different drilling tools in conjunction with the electric spindle gun 72 to complete the drilling operation on the vehicle roof. It also serves as a backup, allowing for rapid automatic drilling in case of malfunction of the electric spindle gun 72 and its control unit, to avoid production disruption. The manual drilling gun 76 is a conventional manual gun, vertically fixed to the other side of the U-shaped frame via a fixing box 77. Figure 4-5As shown, the fixing box 77 includes an upper box body 771 and a lower box body 772 that are fastened together. After being fastened together, the two are fixed together as a whole by bolts. Furthermore, the fixing box 77 is also provided with a locking mechanism to lock and fix the manual drilling gun 76. The locking mechanism includes a positioning groove, a locking block 773, and a locking bolt 774. The positioning groove is fixedly provided on the lower box body 772 and has three sets. The three sets of positioning grooves are respectively aligned with the head, tail, and handle of the manual drilling gun 76. The width of the locking block 773 is adapted to the width of the positioning groove. One end of the locking block 773 slides linearly along the positioning groove to press the manual drilling gun 76. The locking bolt 774 is threadedly connected to the positioning groove. Its screw passes through the positioning groove and is rotatably connected to the other end of the locking block 773. By turning the three sets of locking bolts 774, the three sets of locking blocks 773 are pushed to slide linearly along the positioning groove to press and lock the head, tail, and handle of the manual drilling gun. The upper box 771 and lower box 772 are fastened and limited on both sides of the manual drilling gun by fastening and limiting. The locking mechanism is used to fasten and lock the head, tail and handle of the manual drilling gun 76. This can firmly fix different types of manual drilling guns 76 in the fixed box 77, and avoid the manual drilling gun 76 from shifting due to drilling vibration, which would cause a decrease in accuracy.

[0065] When the integrated welding and drilling system of the present invention is in operation, the vehicle roof model information is determined, the corresponding processing parameters are configured in the control unit 1, and the corresponding spot welding gun 62 and drill are selected and installed on the robot unit 2; the position of the positioning fixture 3 is adjusted to adapt to the corresponding vehicle roof model; after the preparation work is completed, the vehicle roof is placed in the positioning fixture 3; the control unit 1 controls the corresponding pneumatic module to provide power to the welding positioning clamping mechanism 31 and the drilling positioning mechanism 32 to clamp and support the corresponding parts of the vehicle roof; after the operator checks and confirms that there are no errors, he or she leaves the site to proceed to the next welding and drilling operation; the control unit 1 controls the corresponding functional units to perform self-checks, and after the self-check is normal, according to the corresponding processing parameter information, the robot 21 is controlled to carry the spot welding gun. 62 moves to the top cover. According to the top cover model and welding requirements, the spot welding gun 62 performs spot welding on the top cover. The spot welding control cabinet 61 feeds back the spot welding result to the control unit 1 and controls the robot 21 to reset and wait for the next instruction. The control unit 1 issues a drilling instruction to the robot control cabinet 22. The robot control cabinet 22 controls the robot 21 to move the electric spindle gun 72 and the manual drilling gun 76 to the vehicle top cover through continuous trajectory control. According to the top cover model and drilling requirements, the drilling position is adjusted by rotating the tool quick change plate 23, and the corresponding drilling tools are selected to perform drilling on the top cover. After drilling is completed, the result is fed back to the control unit 1. The control unit 1 controls the robot 21 to reset and wait for the next task cycle.

[0066] The integrated welding and drilling system of the present invention achieves integrated welding and drilling functions by providing a tool quick-change disc 23 at the end of the robot 21 axis, and a U-shaped frame on the tool quick-change disc 23 for mounting and fixing the spot welding gun 62, the electric spindle gun 72, and the manual drilling gun 76. A positioning fixture 3 is provided, including a welding positioning clamping mechanism 31 and a drilling positioning mechanism 32. These two mechanisms are adjusted to their positions on the positioning plate according to the vehicle roof model, clamping and supporting the corresponding parts of the vehicle roof, thus adapting to various types of vehicle roofs. By adjusting the corresponding welding and drilling parameters, the control unit 1 can control the robot 21 to automatically complete the precise welding and drilling tasks of the vehicle roof, driving the spot welding gun 62, the electric spindle gun 72, and the manual drilling gun 76. This achieves flexible production operations, greatly reduces production costs, avoids multiple handling and transfer of the car roof to different workstations, and improves production efficiency.

[0067] The integrated welding and drilling system of the present invention vertically fixes the manual drilling gun 76 to the outside of the spot welding gun 62 through a fixing box 77. The upper box 771 and the lower box 772 press and limit the two sides of the manual drilling gun, and the locking mechanism presses and locks the head, tail and handle of the manual drilling gun 76. This can firmly fix different types of manual drilling guns 76 in the fixing box 77, avoid the manual drilling gun 76 shifting due to drilling vibration and thus reducing accuracy, and improve the versatility of the drilling tool and reduce the cost of the drilling tool. The manual drilling gun 76 can be used with different drilling tools in conjunction with the electric spindle gun 72 to complete the drilling operation of the vehicle roof. At the same time, it can also serve as a backup. In the event of failure of the electric spindle gun 72 and its control unit, it can quickly respond and automatically drill without delaying production, greatly shortening the downtime for maintenance and making maintenance convenient.

[0068] The welding and drilling integrated system of the present invention uses a self-made programming drilling control program in the PLC control cabinet 11 of the control unit 1, which enables a single robot to perform spot welding and drilling functions, reducing production equipment, lowering production costs, and creating a compact layout.

[0069] The welding and drilling integrated system of the present invention uses the PLC control cabinet 11 to communicate with the robot unit 2, which is simple to connect, easy to program, and has a fast action response, so as to realize the stable and high-precision operation of the robot production line.

[0070] The integrated welding and drilling system of the present invention can adapt to the welding and drilling requirements of multiple vehicle models, including the positioning fixture 3, spot welding gun 62, and drilling unit 7. That is, it can be used by multiple vehicle models and has a high degree of flexibility.

[0071] The integrated welding and drilling system of the present invention, by providing an anti-splash device 75, a scrap collection box 33, and an inverted funnel-shaped inner hole 323.1 on the support block 323, avoids scrap flying everywhere and causing pollution to the working environment, can centrally store the waste generated during processing, and reduces the intensity of subsequent cleaning operations.

[0072] The integrated welding and drilling system of the present invention, by providing a safety identification unit 4, including a telescopic grille 41, a scanner 42 and a safety fence 43, isolates the work site from the external environment, avoids personnel from accidentally entering and causing injury during the operation, and protects the safety of personnel and equipment.

[0073] This invention also provides a method for operating an integrated welding and drilling system for vehicle roofs, comprising the following steps:

[0074] S100: Adjust the corresponding welding and drilling parameters according to the vehicle roof model;

[0075] S200: Select the appropriate spot welding gun 62 and drill bit and install them on robot unit 2;

[0076] S300: Adjust the position of positioning clamp 3 to fit the corresponding vehicle roof model;

[0077] S400: The vehicle roof is placed on the positioning fixture 3 upon entry;

[0078] S500: Control unit 1 controls the corresponding pneumatic module to provide power to welding positioning and clamping mechanism 31 and drilling positioning mechanism 32, so that welding positioning and clamping mechanism 31 clamps and fixes top cover, top cover outer plate and inner plate; and drilling positioning mechanism 32 clamps and supports the drilled part.

[0079] S600: The workers leave the site and the work area is sealed off. Control unit 1 controls the corresponding functional units to perform self-tests.

[0080] S700: Control unit 1 controls robot 21 to carry spot welding gun 62 to the top cover to perform spot welding operation, and then resets after completion;

[0081] S800: Control unit 1 controls robot 21 to rotate tool quick change plate 23 to adjust the drilling position according to the top cover model and drilling requirements, and selects the corresponding drilling tools to perform drilling operations on the top cover respectively.

[0082] S900: After the drilling operation is completed, robot 21 resets and waits for the next task cycle.

[0083] Those skilled in the art will readily understand that the above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, and improvements made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. An integrated welding and drilling system for vehicle roofs, characterized in that, include: The robot unit (2) includes a robot (21) and a tool quick-change disk (23) located at the end of the robot (21) axis. The bottom of the tool quick-change disk (23) is fixedly provided with a U-shaped frame. The positioning fixture (3) for clamping the top cover includes a welding positioning clamping mechanism (31) for clamping and positioning the welding part, and a drilling positioning mechanism (32) for accurately positioning and supporting the opening. The spot welding unit (6) for welding the top cover includes a welding gun holder (64) and a spot welding gun (62) fixedly connected to the tool quick change plate (23). The drilling unit (7) for drilling holes in the top cover includes an electric spindle gun (72) and a manual drilling gun (76), both of which are fixed on the tool quick-change disc (23) and located on both sides of the spot welding gun (62); the manual drilling gun (76) is vertically fixed to one side of the U-shaped frame by a fixing box (77); the fixing box (77) includes an upper box body (771) and a lower box body (772) that are fastened together, and the two are fastened together and fixed together by bolts; the fixing box (77) is also provided with a locking mechanism to lock and fix the manual drilling gun (76). The locking mechanism includes a positioning groove, a locking block (773), and a locking bolt (774). The positioning groove is fixedly mounted on the lower box (772) and has three sets. The three sets of positioning groove openings are respectively aligned with the head, tail, and handle of the manual drilling gun (76). The width of the locking block (773) is adapted to the width of the positioning groove, and one end of the locking block slides linearly along the positioning groove to press the manual drilling gun (76). The locking bolt (774) is threadedly connected to the positioning groove, and its screw passes through the positioning groove and is rotatably connected to the other end of the locking block (773). and control unit (1), which is communicatively connected to each functional unit; After the top cover is brought into the field, the positioning fixture (3) is adjusted so that the welding positioning clamping mechanism (31) and the drilling positioning mechanism (32) can clamp and support the corresponding parts of the top cover. According to the adjustment parameters, the control unit (1) controls the robot (21) to move the spot welding gun (62) to the part to be welded for welding operation. After completion, the tool quick change plate (23) rotates to switch the working tools, and moves the electric spindle gun (72) and the manual drilling gun (76) to the corresponding drilling part for drilling operation, so as to realize flexible production operation.

2. The integrated welding and drilling system for vehicle roofs according to claim 1, characterized in that, The electric spindle gun (72) is vertically fixed on the other side of the U-shaped frame via the electric spindle connecting seat (73); the electric spindle connecting seat (73) is a Z-shaped support, one end of which is fixedly connected to one side of the U-shaped frame with bolts, and the other end is fixedly connected to the hoop on the electric spindle gun (72) with bolts.

3. The integrated welding and drilling system for vehicle roofs according to claim 2, characterized in that, The electric spindle gun (72) is equipped with an anti-splash device (75) to block the iron filings generated during processing. The anti-splash device (75) includes an adjusting bracket (751), a steel brush bracket (752), and an annular steel wire brush (753).

4. The integrated welding and drilling system for vehicle roofs according to claim 3, characterized in that, The adjusting bracket (751) is an L-shaped bracket, including a first vertical plate and a first horizontal plate. The first horizontal plate is fixed to the other end of the electric spindle connecting seat (73) by bolts. The first vertical plate has an adjusting groove. The steel brush holder (752) is an L-shaped holder, including a second vertical plate and a second horizontal plate. The second vertical plate has a screw hole, and the steel brush holder (752) is fixed on the adjusting bracket (751) by threading a bolt through the adjusting groove on the first vertical plate and the screw hole on the second vertical plate. One end of the second horizontal plate is fixedly connected to the second vertical plate, and the other end is provided with a fixing ring seat. The annular steel wire brush (753) is fixedly installed in the fixing ring seat.

5. A welding and drilling integrated system for vehicle roofs according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that, The drilling positioning mechanism (32) includes a drill sleeve (321), a drill sleeve pressure block (322), and a support block (323); the drill sleeve pressure block (322) and the support block (323) are located at the top and bottom of the drilling point on the vehicle roof, respectively. The drill sleeve pressure block (322) presses the top of the drilling point, and the support block (323) supports the bottom of the drilling point. The two work together to clamp and fix the drilling point on the vehicle roof.

6. The integrated welding and drilling system for vehicle roofs according to claim 5, characterized in that, The drill sleeve (321) is fixedly provided on the drill sleeve pressure block (322), and the drill sleeve (321) is located directly above the drilling point; the support block (323) is provided with an inverted funnel-shaped inner hole (323.1), and a scrap collection box (33) is provided directly below the inner hole (323.1).

7. A welding and drilling integrated system for vehicle roofs according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that, It also includes a safety identification unit (4) that isolates the work site, which includes a telescopic grille (41), a scanner (42) and a safety fence (43).

8. A method for operating an integrated welding and drilling system for vehicle roofs, wherein the integrated welding and drilling system of any one of claims 1-7 is used, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: S100: Adjust the corresponding welding and drilling parameters according to the vehicle roof model; S200: Select the appropriate spot welding gun (62) and drill bit and install them on the robot unit (2); S300: Adjust the position of the positioning clamp (3) to fit the roof of the corresponding vehicle model; S400: The vehicle roof is placed on the positioning fixture (3) upon entry; S500: The control unit (1) controls the corresponding pneumatic module to provide power to the welding positioning clamping mechanism (31) and the drilling positioning mechanism (32), so that the welding positioning clamping mechanism (31) clamps and fixes the top cover, the outer plate of the top cover and the inner plate; and the drilling positioning mechanism (32) clamps and supports the drilled part. S600: The workers leave the site and close the work area. The control unit (1) controls the corresponding functional unit to perform a self-test. S700: The control unit (1) controls the robot (21) to carry the spot welding gun (62) to the top cover to perform spot welding operations, and then resets after completion; S800: Control unit (1) controls robot (21) to rotate tool quick change plate (23) to adjust the drilling station according to the top cover model and drilling requirements, and select the corresponding drilling tools to perform drilling operations on the top cover respectively; S900: After the drilling operation is completed, the robot (21) resets and waits for the next task cycle.

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