A laser butt welding apparatus for a steel strip

Abstract

This invention relates to the field of laser welding technology and discloses a laser butt welding device for steel strips, including a pre-forming mechanism, a welding mechanism, and a post-weld forming mechanism. The welding mechanism is located between the pre-forming mechanism and the post-weld forming mechanism, and a welding area is formed below the welding mechanism. Through the pre-forming mechanism, welding mechanism, and post-weld forming mechanism, a coordinated forming-welding-re-leveling process is formed, effectively ensuring the quality of the steel strip butt weld and the stability of continuous production. Before the steel strip enters the welding area, a continuous arc-shaped clamping force is applied to its ends, so that the two steel strips are precisely aligned and tightly fitted at the butt joint, effectively eliminating the misalignment caused by non-parallel shearing, burrs, or deviations in the shape of the incoming material, ensuring a flat butt joint interface without height difference. Under high-tension continuous production conditions, stress concentration is avoided at the weld joint, effectively preventing the initiation and propagation of microcracks, thereby improving the reliability of the weld.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of laser welding technology, and more specifically, to a laser butt welding device for steel strips. Background Technology

[0002] In continuous steel strip processing (such as cold rolling, pickling, continuous annealing, hot-dip galvanizing, color coating, and high-frequency welded pipe production lines), steel strip butt welding equipment is a key piece of equipment for ensuring reliable connection between front and rear coils and guaranteeing long-term uninterrupted operation of the production line. As modern metallurgy and strip processing develop towards higher efficiency and higher quality, the quality requirements for steel strip butt welds are becoming increasingly stringent. In particular, the straightness, surface continuity, and mechanical properties of the weld must be highly compatible with the base material to withstand subsequent high tension, repeated bending, and straightening under complex conditions.

[0003] Existing steel strip butt welding equipment mostly uses argon arc welding or plasma welding, with mechanical clamping and positioning devices on the front, back and sides to center and clamp the two ends of the steel strip before welding. When there is slight non-parallelism on the sheared end face of the steel strip, shearing burrs, or slight plate shape deviation in the incoming material itself, it is very easy to cause obvious misalignment at the butt joint (i.e., the relative height offset of the two steel strips in the thickness direction). This can easily lead to uneven weld penetration, insufficient fusion on one side and overheating or burn-through on the other side. After welding, there is obvious height difference and local stress concentration in the weld area. Under the high tension traction of the continuous production line, microcracks are very likely to propagate at the weld or even break the strip, causing frequent shutdowns for grinding or cutting off the weld, which seriously reduces the unit's operating efficiency and yield.

[0004] Therefore, there is a need to provide a laser butt welding device for steel strips to solve the problem of misalignment at the joint caused by existing steel strip butt welding equipment. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The main objective of this invention is to provide a laser butt welding device for steel strips, which aims to solve the technical problems mentioned in the background section.

[0006] The present invention adopts the following technical solution: A laser butt welding device for steel strip includes a pre-forming mechanism, a welding mechanism, and a post-weld forming mechanism. The welding mechanism is disposed between the pre-forming mechanism and the post-weld forming mechanism, and a welding area is formed below the welding mechanism. The pre-forming mechanism includes an arc-shaped loading seat, and the output end of the loading seat is movably connected to a pressing component for pressing the steel strip into the welding area. The post-weld shaping mechanism includes a leveling seat and a leveling component disposed on the leveling seat. The leveling component is adjustable in height relative to the leveling seat to adjust the conveying and leveling intensity of the steel strip. The welding mechanism includes a laser head, which is slidably connected to one end of the post-weld shaping mechanism near the pre-shaping mechanism along the width direction of the loading seat. The working end of the laser head falls into the welding area.

[0007] Furthermore, the leveling assembly includes a plurality of first support rollers, which are arranged in an array along the transmission direction of the steel strip, and the first support rollers are rotatably connected to the leveling seat. The leveling seat is slidably connected to a leveling frame along the height direction. The leveling frame is rotatably connected to a plurality of leveling rollers. The number of leveling rollers is equal to the number of first support rollers. The plurality of leveling rollers are arranged in an array along the transmission direction of the steel belt, and the plurality of leveling rollers and the plurality of first support rollers are staggered.

[0008] Furthermore, a conveying motor is provided on one side of the leveling seat, and a drive gear is provided at the output end of the conveying motor. A driven gear is provided at one end of the first support roller. The driven gear meshes with the drive gear, and several driven gears mesh with each other through transition gears. A lifting motor is provided on the upper end face of the leveling seat. The output end of the lifting motor is connected to a worm gear. The worm gear meshes with a worm wheel. The worm wheel drives a lifting screw distributed along the height direction of the leveling seat through ball bearings. The lifting screw is connected to the leveling frame to drive the leveling frame to lift and adjust the transmission leveling intensity of the steel belt.

[0009] Furthermore, the post-weld shaping mechanism also includes a first pressing assembly, which includes a fixed roller, and a support portion extends from one side of the leveling frame, with the fixed roller rotatably connected to the support portion. The leveling base is provided with a sliding groove along the height direction. The first pressing assembly is provided with a pressing frame. The pressing frame extends with a T-shaped sliding block. The sliding block is slidably connected to the sliding groove. The sliding block is rotatably connected to a first pressing roller. The first pressing roller is located below the fixed roller. The pressing frame can drive the first pressing roller to rise and fall relative to the fixed roller. When the leveling frame rises and falls, the first pressing roller rises and falls accordingly. The first pressing roller and the fixed roller are relatively stationary.

[0010] Furthermore, the first clamping assembly also includes a first clamping cylinder, and the upper end face of the leveling frame is rotatably connected to the first clamping cylinder; A fixed block is provided on the upper end face of the clamping frame. A linkage shaft is rotatably connected in the fixed block. The linkage shaft is rotatably connected to the drive end of the first clamping cylinder through a connecting block. A linkage block is rotatably connected to the outer periphery of the linkage shaft. The linkage block passes through the clamping frame and is rotatably sleeved on the outer periphery of the fixed roller. When the leveling frame is raised or lowered, the linkage block drives the clamping frame and the first clamping roller to rise or fall. When the first clamping cylinder pushes the clamping frame to rise or fall, the linkage block swings to make the fixed roller relatively stationary, so that the first clamping roller moves closer to or further away from the fixed roller.

[0011] Furthermore, the upper end face of the clamping frame is provided with a swing through hole corresponding to the linkage block, and the opposite sides of the clamping frame are provided with lifting through holes corresponding to the fixed roller. The length of the swing through hole is greater than the swing amplitude of the linkage block. The swing through hole is used to allow the linkage block to swing within the clamping frame, and the lifting through hole is used to allow the clamping frame to avoid the fixed roller when it is raised or lowered.

[0012] Furthermore, a second pressing component is provided on the side of the leveling component away from the first pressing component. The second pressing component includes a second support roller and an L-shaped swing arm. The swing arm is located above the second support roller. Both the swing arm and the second support roller are rotatably connected to the leveling seat. One end of the swing arm is rotatably connected to a second pressing roller for moving closer to or away from the second support roller. One end of the second pressing roller is meshed with a drive gear through a driven gear. The upper end face of the leveling seat is rotatably connected to a second pressing cylinder, and the output end of the second pressing cylinder is rotatably connected to the other end of the swing arm.

[0013] Furthermore, the welding mechanism also includes a slide rail, which is disposed along the width direction of the leveling seat at one end of the leveling seat near the front shaping mechanism, and the laser head is slidably connected to the slide rail via a sliding seat; The leveling seat is rotatably connected to a transverse lead screw, which is threadedly connected to a sliding seat. A transverse motor is provided on one side of the leveling seat, and the output end of the transverse motor is connected to the transverse lead screw to drive the laser head to move laterally along the slide rail to complete one welding process.

[0014] Furthermore, the pre-forming mechanism includes a plurality of feeding rollers, which are arranged in an array along the arc surface of the feeding seat, and the feeding rollers are rotatably connected to the feeding seat; The feeding seat is provided with a mounting frame, which is located between two feeding rollers. Limiting rollers are provided at opposite ends of the mounting frame, and the limiting rollers are perpendicular to the feeding rollers.

[0015] Furthermore, the pressing assembly includes a control shaft, which is rotatably connected to the loading seat. L-shaped pressing arms are fixedly connected to opposite ends of the control shaft, and a pressing roller is rotatably connected between the two pressing arms. A sickle-shaped transmission arm is fixedly connected to the outer periphery of the control shaft. A pressing cylinder is rotatably connected to the bottom end of the leveling seat. The output shaft of the pressing cylinder is rotatably connected to the transmission arm. With the control shaft as the axis, the rotation radius of the pressing roller is smaller than the distance between the control shaft and the welding area.

[0016] Beneficial effects: In this invention, a pre-forming mechanism, a welding mechanism, and a post-weld forming mechanism are used to form a coordinated forming-welding-re-leveling process, which effectively ensures the quality of steel strip butt welds and the stability of continuous production. The pre-forming mechanism employs an arc-shaped feeding seat in conjunction with a movable pressing component at the output end. Before the steel strip enters the welding area, it applies continuous arc-shaped clamping force to its ends, ensuring precise alignment and tight fit between the two steel strip sections at the joint. This effectively eliminates misalignment caused by non-parallel shearing, burrs, or deviations in the incoming material shape, ensuring a smooth, height-free joint interface. The welding mechanism uses a laser head that slides along the width of the steel strip, allowing for flexible adjustment of the welding path based on the actual joint position, achieving uniform laser penetration control. The post-weld forming mechanism, through a leveling seat and a leveling component that can be adjusted relative to the leveling seat, applies controllable rolling and leveling action to the welded steel strip. This actively eliminates any residual micro-protrusions or height differences in the weld area, improving the mechanical properties and fatigue resistance of the weld. The leveling component's lifting and adjusting function allows for flexible adjustment of the leveling intensity based on different steel strip specifications and weld characteristics. Overall, this ensures that stress concentration is avoided at the weld area under high-tension continuous production conditions, effectively preventing the initiation and propagation of micro-cracks, thereby improving weld reliability and production line continuous operation efficiency. Attached Figure Description

[0017] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of a laser butt welding device for steel strip according to the present invention; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of a laser butt welding device for steel strips according to the present invention from another perspective; Figure 3 This is a partial structural schematic diagram of the welding mechanism and post-weld shaping mechanism of the present invention; Figure 4 This is a partial schematic diagram of the post-weld shaping mechanism of the present invention from another direction; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the pre-shaping mechanism of the present invention; The components include: 1. Pre-forming mechanism; 11. Feeding seat; 12. Pressing assembly; 13. Feeding roller; 14. Mounting frame; 15. Limiting roller; 16. Control shaft; 17. Pressing arm; 18. Pressing roller; 19. Transmission arm; 2a. Pressing cylinder; 2. Welding mechanism; 21. Laser head; 22. Slide rail; 23. Sliding seat; 24. Transverse lead screw; 3. Post-weld forming mechanism; 31. Leveling seat; 311. Sliding groove; 32. Leveling assembly; 321. First support roller; 322. Leveling frame; 323. Leveling roller; 324. Conveyor motor; 325. Drive gear; 326. Driven gear; 327, Transition gear; 328, Lifting motor; 329, Worm gear; 320, Lifting screw; 33, First clamping assembly; 331, Fixed roller; 332, Clamping frame; 333, Sliding block; 334, First clamping roller; 335, First clamping cylinder; 336, Fixed block; 337, Linkage shaft; 338, Connecting block; 339, Linkage block; 33a, Swinging through hole; 33b, Lifting through hole; 34, Second clamping assembly; 341, Second support roller; 342, Swinging arm; 343, Second clamping roller; 344, Second clamping cylinder; 4, Welding area.

[0018] The realization of the objective, functional features and advantages of the present invention will be further explained in conjunction with the embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings. Detailed Implementation

[0019] It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of the invention and are not intended to limit the invention.

[0020] In the description of this invention, it should be understood that the terms "center," "longitudinal," "lateral," "length," "width," "thickness," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," "outer," "clockwise," and "counterclockwise," etc., indicating orientations or positional relationships based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, are only for the convenience of describing the invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of the invention. Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of indicated technical features. Thus, features defined with "first" and "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of the stated features. In the description of this invention, "a plurality of" means two or more, unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0021] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "joining" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection, a direct connection, or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention according to the specific circumstances.

[0022] In this invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, "above" or "below" the second feature can include direct contact between the first and second features, or contact between the first and second features through another feature between them. Furthermore, "above," "over," and "on top" of the second feature includes the first feature directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. "Below," "below," and "under" the second feature includes the first feature directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature.

[0023] Reference Figures 1 to 5 The present invention proposes a laser butt welding equipment for steel strip, including a pre-forming mechanism 1, a welding mechanism 2 and a post-weld forming mechanism 3. The welding mechanism 2 is disposed between the pre-forming mechanism 1 and the post-weld forming mechanism 3, and a welding area 4 is formed below the welding mechanism 2. The pre-forming mechanism 1 includes an arc-shaped loading seat 11, and the output end of the loading seat 11 is movably connected to a pressing assembly 12 for pressing the steel strip to the welding area 4. The post-weld shaping mechanism 3 includes a leveling seat 31 and a leveling component 32 disposed on the leveling seat 31. The leveling component 32 is adjustable in height relative to the leveling seat 31 to adjust the conveying and leveling intensity of the steel strip. The welding mechanism 2 includes a laser head 21. Along the width direction of the loading seat 11, the laser head 21 is slidably connected to one end of the post-weld shaping mechanism 3 near the front shaping mechanism 1, and the working end of the laser head 21 falls into the welding area 4.

[0024] In the above embodiment, a pre-forming mechanism 1, a welding mechanism 2, and a post-weld forming mechanism 3 are arranged sequentially along the running direction of the steel strip, wherein the welding mechanism 2 is located between the two, and a welding area 4 is formed below it for the steel strip to pass through the joint. The pre-forming mechanism 1 includes an arc-shaped loading seat 11 and a pressing assembly 12 movably connected to its output end. The loading seat 11 adopts a continuous arc-shaped curved surface structure, with the arc curvature recessed towards the lower part of the welding area 4, so that the steel strip is naturally guided to form a curved shape that matches the welding path during the conveying process along the curved surface. The pressing assembly 12 can be connected to the end of the loading seat 11 by hinge, slider guidance or spring / pneumatic loading. When the end of the steel strip reaches the output position, it applies a continuous downward pressing force, forcing the two steel strips to be joined to the positioning reference of the welding area 4, so that the end faces are aligned and tightly fitted. The cooperation between the arc-shaped path and the pressing assembly 12 makes the pressing force continuously distributed along the width direction, which can simultaneously correct the local height difference and lateral misalignment caused by non-parallel shearing surfaces, edge burrs or incoming plate shape deviation.

[0025] The laser head 21 of the welding mechanism 2 is movably mounted on one end of the post-weld shaping mechanism 3 near the pre-shaping mechanism 1 along the width direction of the steel strip (perpendicular to the running direction) via a linear sliding mechanism. Positioning can be achieved by using a precision guide rail combined with a lead screw or linear motor drive. The working end (beam output end) of the laser head 21 is controlled to fall into the welding area 4, so that the laser beam can directly act on the steel strip butt joint interface. By driving the laser head 21 to move along the width direction, the scanning welding of the entire butt joint weld can be completed. The starting position and moving range of the welding path can be adjusted according to the actual butt joint position to accommodate slight deviations or butt joint angle deviations that may occur during the operation of the steel strip. The post-weld shaping mechanism 3 includes a leveling base 31 and a leveling assembly 32 mounted thereon. The leveling base 31 serves as the bearing foundation for the welded steel strip and can be a flat platform or a multi-roller support structure to provide a stable horizontal reference surface. The leveling assembly 32 achieves relative position adjustment with the leveling base 31 through a lifting adjustment mechanism. This adjustment mechanism can be in the form of a screw pair, cylinder, servo motor-driven wedge, or eccentric mechanism. The leveling assembly 32 itself can be composed of multiple sets of precision leveling rollers 323, flat pressure plates, or a combined pressing roller system. When the strip passes through, it applies a rolling or flattening action to the weld area; the lifting adjustment allows the gap or clamping force between the leveling component 32 and the leveling seat 31 to be adjusted according to the steel strip specifications, weld reinforcement height and heat-affected zone deformation characteristics, thereby correcting minor protrusions, weld toe bulges or slight wave deformations that may occur after welding. The entire equipment forms a stable butt welding process path under continuous operation conditions through the coordinated arrangement of front arc clamping positioning, width-movable laser scanning welding and adjustable lifting leveling.

[0026] In one embodiment, the leveling assembly 32 includes a plurality of first support rollers 321, which are arranged in an array along the transmission direction of the steel strip, and the first support rollers 321 are rotatably connected to the leveling seat 31. The leveling seat 31 is slidably connected to a leveling frame 322 along the height direction. The leveling frame 322 is rotatably connected to a plurality of leveling rollers 323. The number of leveling rollers 323 is equal to the number of first support rollers 321. The plurality of leveling rollers 323 are arranged in an array along the transmission direction of the steel strip, and the plurality of leveling rollers 323 and the plurality of first support rollers 321 are staggered.

[0027] In the above embodiment, the leveling assembly 32 is supported by the leveling seat 31 as a basic frame. The first support rollers 321 are arranged sequentially on the leveling seat 31 along the forward direction of the steel strip. Each first support roller 321 is rotatably connected to the leveling seat 31 through a bearing, thereby providing stable bottom support and allowing the steel strip to roll smoothly forward when it passes through. The top of the leveling seat 31 is provided with a guide structure in the vertical direction, so that the leveling frame 322 can slide up and down as a whole. The leveling frame 322 is also equipped with a set of the same number of leveling rollers 323. The leveling rollers 323 are also arranged in a linear array along the transmission direction. Their spatial layout forms an interleaved distribution with the first support rollers 321 below. That is, each leveling roller 323 falls exactly above the gap between two adjacent first support rollers 321. The staggered arrangement makes the steel strip clamped and repeatedly bent by the upper and lower roller groups when it passes through. The steel strip produces reverse bending deformation at each misalignment point, thereby gradually eliminating its internal residual stress and plate shape defects such as waves and warps. In actual operation, the steel strip first moves forward while adhering to the first support roller group 321, and then enters the staggered channel formed by the leveling roller 323 and the support roller. The position of the leveling frame 322 can be adjusted according to the thickness and shape requirements of the steel strip. When the leveling frame 322 descends, the gap between the upper and lower rollers decreases, and the degree of bending of the steel strip increases, and vice versa. The whole process relies on the misalignment geometry of the roller group to achieve continuous multi-point repeated straightening. The lifting and lowering movement of the leveling frame 322 is controlled by an independent drive mechanism.

[0028] In one example, a conveyor motor 324 is provided on one side of the leveling seat 31, and a drive gear 325 is provided at the output end of the conveyor motor 324. A driven gear 326 is provided at one end of the first support roller 321. The driven gear 326 meshes with the drive gear 325, and several driven gears 326 mesh with each other through transition gears 327. A lifting motor 328 is provided on the upper end face of the leveling seat 31. The output end of the lifting motor 328 is connected to a worm gear 329. The worm gear 329 meshes with a worm wheel. The worm wheel drives a lifting screw 320 distributed along the height direction of the leveling seat 31 through ball bearings. The lifting screw 320 is connected to the leveling frame 322 to drive the leveling frame 322 to lift and adjust the transmission leveling intensity of the steel belt.

[0029] In the above embodiment, the power transmission and height adjustment of the leveling component 32 adopt an independent motor drive method. The conveyor motor 324 is fixedly installed on one side of the leveling base 31, and a drive gear 325 is installed on its output shaft. The drive gear 325 directly meshes with the driven gear 326 at the end of the first support roller 321 at the frontmost or designated position. All the driven gears 326 of the first support rollers 321 are connected in series through transition gears 327 to form a complete gear transmission chain that rotates in the same direction. When the conveyor motor 324 is running, all the first support rollers 321 rotate synchronously in the same direction, thereby actively driving the steel belt forward and avoiding slippage or uneven tension caused by relying solely on the traction of the rear track. A lifting motor 328 is installed on the upper end face of the leveling base 31. Its output end is connected to a worm gear 329, which meshes with a worm wheel. The center of the worm wheel is connected to a ball screw mechanism. The lifting screw 320 is arranged along the height direction of the leveling base 31 and is threadedly connected to the leveling frame 322. When the lifting motor 328 rotates in both directions, the worm gear 329 drives the worm wheel to rotate, which in turn converts the rotational motion into the linear lifting motion of the leveling frame 322 via the ball screw. This precisely controls the vertical distance between the leveling roller 323 and the first support roller 321, enabling dynamic adjustment of the leveling strength of the steel strip. Throughout the transmission chain, the worm gear pair 329 has a self-locking characteristic, maintaining the position of the leveling frame 322 after power failure or when adjustment stops. The ball screw ensures smooth lifting action, low friction, and precise positioning.

[0030] In one example, the post-weld shaping mechanism 3 further includes a first pressing assembly 33, which includes a fixed roller 331. A support portion extends from one side of the leveling frame 322, and the fixed roller 331 is rotatably connected to the support portion. The leveling base 31 is provided with a sliding groove 311 along the height direction. The first pressing assembly 33 is provided with a pressing frame 332. The pressing frame 332 extends with a T-shaped sliding block 333. The sliding block 333 is slidably connected to the sliding groove 311. The sliding block 333 is rotatably connected to a first pressing roller 334. The first pressing roller 334 is located below the fixed roller 331. The pressing frame 332 can drive the first pressing roller 334 to rise and fall relative to the fixed roller 331. When the leveling frame 322 rises and falls, the first pressing roller 334 rises and falls accordingly. The first pressing roller 334 and the fixed roller 331 are relatively stationary.

[0031] In the above embodiment, the post-weld shaping mechanism 3 is provided with a first pressing component 33 in front of the leveling component 32, which is used to apply stable pressure immediately after the weld passes through. The first pressing component 33 includes a fixed roller 331, which is rotatably connected to a support portion of the laterally extended portion of the leveling frame 322 and rises and falls together with the leveling frame 322. A sliding groove 311 is machined on the leveling base 31 along the height direction. The pressing frame 332 is embedded in the sliding groove 311 by a T-shaped sliding block 333 to achieve relative sliding in the vertical direction. A first pressing roller 334 is rotatably mounted on the pressing frame 332, positioned directly below the fixed roller 331. The clamping frame 332 can drive the first clamping roller 334 to rise and fall relative to the fixed roller 331. That is, when the clamping frame 332 slides alone, the first clamping roller 334 moves closer to or further away from the fixed roller 331. When the leveling frame 322 is height adjusted, the clamping frame 332 rises and falls synchronously due to the following structure of the T-shaped slider. The relative position between the first clamping roller 334 and the fixed roller 331 remains unchanged, that is, the two always maintain a fixed vertical correspondence. However, the size of the gap changes with the overall movement of the leveling frame 322, so that when adjusting the leveling strength, the clamping state of the clamping point after welding will not be disturbed by the change in the position of the leveling roller 323. The first clamping roller 334 and the fixed roller 331 together apply a continuous up and down clamping force to the weld area that has just completed laser butt welding, preventing misalignment or bulging caused by thermal stress or plate springback during the weld cooling process. The independent sliding structure of the clamping frame 332 ensures that its movement trajectory is always coordinated with the leveling frame 322.

[0032] In one example, the first clamping assembly 33 further includes a first clamping cylinder 335, and the upper end face of the leveling frame 322 is rotatably connected to the first clamping cylinder 335; A fixing block 336 is provided on the upper end face of the clamping frame 332. A linkage shaft 337 is rotatably connected in the fixing block 336. The linkage shaft 337 is rotatably connected to the drive end of the first clamping cylinder 335 through a connecting block 338. A linkage block 339 is rotatably connected to the outer periphery of the linkage shaft 337. The linkage block 339 penetrates the clamping frame 332 and is rotatably sleeved on the outer periphery of the fixed roller 331. When the leveling frame 322 is raised or lowered, the linkage block 339 drives the clamping frame 332 and the first clamping roller 334 to rise or fall. When the first clamping cylinder 335 pushes the clamping frame 332 to rise or fall, the linkage block 339 swings to make the fixed roller 331 relatively stationary, so that the first clamping roller 334 moves closer to or further away from the fixed roller 331.

[0033] In the above embodiment, the first pressing assembly 33 includes an independent pneumatic adjustment mechanism to achieve precise pressing force control under the premise that the position of the fixed roller 331 remains unchanged. The first pressing cylinder 335 is mounted on the upper end face of the leveling frame 322 by a hinge. The end of its drive rod is rotatably connected to the connecting block 338. The connecting block 338 is fixed on the linkage shaft 337. The linkage shaft 337 passes through the fixed block 336 at the upper end of the pressing frame 332 and can rotate relative to it. A linkage block 339 is also rotatably sleeved on the outer periphery of the linkage shaft 337. The linkage block 339 extends through the pressing frame 332 and is sleeved on the outer circle of the shaft portion of the fixed roller 331. When the leveling frame 322 is raised and lowered as a whole, the linkage block 339 moves together with the fixed roller 331, pulling or pushing the clamping frame 332 through the sleeve relationship, so that the first clamping roller 334 follows the rise and fall, maintaining a relatively stationary state with respect to the fixed roller 331. When it is necessary to adjust the clamping force separately, the first clamping cylinder 335 is activated, and the drive rod extends and retracts, driving the linkage shaft 337 to rotate. The linkage shaft 337 then causes the linkage block 339 to swing. The swinging motion is converted into the up and down displacement of the clamping frame 332 through the structure sleeved on the fixed roller 331, so that the first clamping roller 334 moves closer or further away from the fixed roller 331, realizing independent fine adjustment of the weld clamping force. The fixed roller 331 only rotates due to the swing of the linkage block 339 and does not produce vertical displacement, always maintaining a stable position. The combination of linkage and independent drive makes the post-weld shaping both automatically adapt to the leveling action and have the ability to apply pressure independently.

[0034] In one example, the upper end face of the clamping frame 332 is provided with a swing through hole 33a corresponding to the linkage block 339, and the opposite sides of the clamping frame 332 are provided with lifting through holes 33b corresponding to the fixed roller 331. The length of the swing through hole 33a is greater than the swing amplitude of the linkage block 339. The swing through hole 33a is used to allow the linkage block 339 to swing within the clamping frame 332, and the lifting through hole 33b is used to allow the clamping frame 332 to avoid the fixed roller 331 when it is raised or lowered.

[0035] In the above embodiment, the structure of the clamping frame 332 takes into account the need for the linkage block 339 to swing and the fixed roller 331 to avoid each other. The upper end face of the clamping frame 332 is provided with a swing through hole 33a. The length direction of the swing through hole 33a is consistent with the swing trajectory of the linkage block 339 and is greater than the displacement amplitude of the linkage block 339 at the maximum swing angle. This ensures that when the cylinder drives the linkage shaft 337 to rotate, the linkage block 339 can swing freely in the through hole without interfering with the body of the clamping frame 332. At the same time, the clamping frame 332 is provided with lifting through holes 33b on opposite sides. The position of the through hole corresponds to the shaft or roller body of the fixed roller 331. When the clamping frame 332 moves up and down relative to the fixed roller 331, the fixed roller 331 can avoid each other in the lifting through hole 33b, avoiding collision or jamming between the clamping frame 332 and the fixed roller 331 during the lifting process. The cooperation between the swing through hole 33a and the lifting through hole 33b allows the clamping frame 332 to perform both large-amplitude following lifting movements and small-range clamping adjustments when driven by the cylinder alone. The entire structure is compact in space and the motion relationship is clear. The swinging motion of the linkage block 339 is limited to the allowable range of the through hole, ensuring stable transmission without jamming. The lifting through hole 33b provides a through channel for the fixed roller 331, ensuring that both the overall adjustment of the leveling frame 322 and the local adjustment of the first clamping component 33 can be performed independently or in combination.

[0036] In one embodiment, a second pressing component 34 is further provided on the side of the leveling component 32 away from the first pressing component 33. The second pressing component 34 includes a second support roller 341 and an L-shaped swing arm 342. The swing arm 342 is disposed above the second support roller 341. Both the swing arm 342 and the second support roller 341 are rotatably connected to the leveling seat 31. One end of the swing arm 342 is rotatably connected to a second pressing roller 343 for moving closer to or away from the second support roller 341. One end of the second pressing roller 343 is engaged with a drive gear 325 through a driven gear 326. The upper end face of the leveling seat 31 is rotatably connected to a second pressing cylinder 344, and the output end of the second pressing cylinder 344 is rotatably connected to the other end of the swing arm 342.

[0037] In the above embodiment, a second pressing component 34 is provided on the outlet side of the leveling component 32 (i.e., the end away from the first pressing component 33) to tighten the steel strip after pressing and shaping, preventing the pullback of the front end after pressing and shaping. The second pressing component 34 mainly consists of a second support roller 341, an L-shaped swing arm 342, a second pressing roller 343, a driven gear 326, a drive gear 325, and a second pressing cylinder 344. The second support roller 341 is mounted on the leveling seat 31 through bearings, with its axis parallel to the width direction of the steel strip, and the lower surface of the steel strip directly contacts its outer circle to form a support reference. The L-shaped swing arm 342 adopts a two-section structure, with a longer section extending obliquely upward above the steel strip, and a shorter section parallel to the steel strip conveying direction. The middle position of the swing arm 342 is rotatably connected to the leveling seat 31 through a pin, allowing the entire arm to swing around the pin at a certain angle. At the free end of the longer section of the swing arm 342, a second pressing roller 343 is mounted via a bearing, its axis also parallel to the width direction of the steel strip. A driven gear 326 is fixed to one end of the second pressing roller 343 after its shaft extends out. The driven gear 326 meshes with a drive gear 325 mounted on the leveling seat 31. The power source for the drive gear 325 can be a separate motor or linked with the aforementioned transmission system. At the upper end face of the leveling seat 31, a second pressing cylinder 344 is mounted via a pin. The cylinder body is fixed, and the leveling seat 31 provides the mounting reference. The extended end of the cylinder piston rod is rotatably connected to the shorter free end of the swing arm 342 via a pin. When the piston rod of the second clamping cylinder 344 extends, it pushes the swing arm 342 to swing clockwise or counterclockwise around the central pin (depending on the specific arrangement), causing the second clamping roller 343 to move downwards towards the second support roller 341, thereby clamping the steel strip between them. When the piston rod retracts, the swing arm 342 swings in the opposite direction, and the second clamping roller 343 lifts up, releasing the steel strip. In the clamped state, the meshing relationship between the driven gear 326 and the drive gear 325 remains unchanged, and the second clamping roller 343 can passively rotate following the forward direction of the steel strip, realizing continuous action of clamping and conveying simultaneously, avoiding warping or displacement of the steel strip near the weld. The clamping force is controlled by the cylinder, and the rotation synchronization of the clamping roller is ensured by the gear meshing, so that the steel strip obtains stable flatness and positional accuracy before entering the welding station.

[0038] In one embodiment, the welding mechanism 2 further includes a slide rail 22, which is disposed along the width direction of the leveling seat 31 at one end of the leveling seat 31 near the front shaping mechanism 1, and the laser head 21 is slidably connected to the slide rail 22 via a sliding seat 23; The leveling seat 31 is rotatably connected to a transverse lead screw 24, which is threadedly connected to a sliding seat 23. A transverse motor is provided on one side of the leveling seat 31, and the output end of the transverse motor is connected to the transverse lead screw 24 to drive the laser head 21 to move laterally along the slide rail 22 to complete one welding process.

[0039] In the above embodiment, the welding mechanism 2 is provided with a slide rail 22 arranged along the width direction of the leveling seat 31. The slide rail 22 is fixedly installed at one end of the leveling seat 31 near the front shaping mechanism 1, that is, above the welding area of ​​the steel strip to be welded. The laser head 21 is slidably engaged with the slide rail 22 through a sliding seat 23. The body of the laser head 21 is fixed on the sliding seat 23, allowing the laser head 21 to move laterally in a straight line along the slide rail 22. A transverse lead screw 24 is rotatably installed on the side or inside of the leveling seat 31. The axis of the transverse lead screw 24 is parallel to the slide rail 22. The lower part or side of the sliding seat 23 is provided with a nut structure that matches the transverse lead screw 24, forming a lead screw and nut transmission pair. One end of the transverse lead screw 24 is connected to the output shaft of the transverse motor through a coupling. The transverse motor is fixed on one side of the leveling seat 31. When the traverse motor rotates forward or reverse, it drives the traverse screw 24 to rotate synchronously. The nut on the screw pushes the sliding seat 23, along with the laser head 21, to move along the slide rail 22, thereby realizing the lateral scanning of the laser beam on the steel strip butt joint. In the actual welding process, the steel strip butt joint is first accurately positioned and fixed by the aforementioned leveling and clamping mechanism. The traverse motor starts according to the preset welding length and speed parameters, and the laser head 21 moves from one side of the steel strip to the other side at a uniform speed to complete a complete penetration weld. After welding, the laser head 21 can quickly return or wait for the next steel strip to be in place. This traverse mechanism ensures the accuracy of movement and repeatability of positioning through screw transmission, while the slide rail 22 provides stable guidance, preventing the laser head 21 from shaking or deviating during high-speed movement, and ensuring the straightness and consistency of the weld.

[0040] In one embodiment, the pre-shaping mechanism 1 includes a plurality of feeding rollers 13, which are arranged in an array along the arc surface of the feeding seat 11, and the feeding rollers 13 are rotatably connected to the feeding seat 11. The feeding seat 11 is provided with a mounting frame 14, which is located between two feeding rollers 13. Limiting rollers 15 are provided at opposite ends of the mounting frame 14, and the limiting rollers 15 are perpendicular to the feeding rollers 13.

[0041] In the above embodiment, the pre-forming mechanism 1 is located upstream of the leveling component 32 and is used to perform preliminary shape correction and guidance on the steel strip that is about to enter the leveling area. It mainly includes an arc-shaped feeding seat 11 and several feeding rollers 13. The several feeding rollers 13 are arranged in an array along the arc surface. Each feeding roller 13 is mounted on the feeding seat 11 by bearings. The axes are parallel to each other and perpendicular to the running direction of the steel strip. The lower surface of the steel strip contacts the outer circle of each feeding roller 13 in sequence. Between two feeding rollers 13 near the apex of the arc surface, a mounting frame 14 is fixedly installed inside the feeding seat 11. The mounting frame 14 has a bridge-like structure. Its opposite ends extend and are equipped with limit rollers 15. The axes of the two limit rollers 15 are perpendicular to the axis of the feeding rollers 13 (i.e., parallel to the width direction of the steel strip), and the outer circle of the limit rollers 15 is located at the side of the steel strip. As the steel strip passes over the array of feeding rollers 13, its two side edges contact the left and right limiting rollers 15 respectively. The limiting rollers 15 provide lateral restraint to the steel strip, preventing it from shifting or deviating significantly during its movement on the curved surface. The position of the mounting frame 14 ensures that the limiting rollers 15 act precisely near the highest point of the curved surface. At this point, the lateral rigidity of the steel strip is relatively strong, resulting in the best limiting effect. Through the combination of multi-roller support on the curved surface and vertical limiting, the initial shaping and centering of the steel strip before it enters the leveling assembly 32 is achieved.

[0042] In one embodiment, the pressing assembly 12 includes a control shaft 16, which is rotatably connected to the loading seat 11. L-shaped pressing arms 17 are fixedly connected to opposite ends of the control shaft 16, and a pressing roller 18 is rotatably connected between the two pressing arms 17. A sickle-shaped transmission arm 19 is fixedly connected to the outer periphery of the control shaft 16. A pressing cylinder 2a is rotatably connected to the bottom end of the leveling seat 31. The output shaft of the pressing cylinder 2a is rotatably connected to the transmission arm 19. With the control shaft 16 as the axis, the rotation radius of the pressing roller 18 is smaller than the distance between the control shaft 16 and the welding area 4.

[0043] In the above embodiment, the pressing assembly 12 is disposed in the welding area 4 and is used to compact the weld during or immediately after laser welding to promote the solidification of the molten pool and reduce post-weld deformation. It consists of a control shaft 16, two L-shaped pressing arms 17, a pressing roller 18, a sickle-shaped transmission arm 19, and a pressing cylinder 2a. The control shaft 16 is mounted laterally on the loading seat 11 via bearings, with its axis parallel to the width direction of the steel strip. The two L-shaped pressing arms 17 are symmetrically fixed at both ends of the control shaft 16 in a mirror arrangement. A pressing roller 18 is mounted on the long arm end of each pressing arm 17 via a pin, and the axis of the pressing roller 18 is also parallel to the width direction of the steel strip. A sickle-shaped transmission arm 19 is fixedly connected to the outer periphery of the control shaft 16. The curved portion of the transmission arm 19 extends outward, and its free end is rotatably connected to the piston rod of the pressing cylinder 2a via a pin. The cylinder body of the pressing cylinder 2a is hinged to the base at the bottom end of the leveling seat 31. When the piston rod of the pressing cylinder 2a extends, it pushes the transmission arm 19 to rotate around the control shaft 16 by a certain angle, causing the control shaft 16 to rotate synchronously. The two pressing arms 17 then swing downwards, causing the pressing roller 18 to press against the weld area of ​​the steel strip. When the piston rod retracts, the transmission arm 19 swings in the opposite direction, and the pressing roller 18 lifts off the surface of the steel strip. With the control shaft 16 as the center, the radius of the rotation trajectory of the pressing roller 18 is smaller than the vertical distance from the center of the control shaft 16 to the plane of the welding area 4. This geometric relationship ensures that the pressing roller 18 will not cross the weld centerline during the pressing process, but rather acts on both sides of the weld in an approximately perpendicular direction, forming effective pressure. The rapid pressing and lifting actions achieved by the cylinder drive, closely coordinated with the timing of laser welding, apply pressure before the molten pool has completely solidified, which helps to expel pores and densify the weld structure.

[0044] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention and does not limit the patent scope of the present invention. Any equivalent structural or procedural transformations made based on the content of the present invention's specification and drawings, or direct or indirect applications in other related technical fields, are similarly included within the patent protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A laser butt welding device for steel strips, characterized in that, It includes a pre-forming mechanism (1), a welding mechanism (2) and a post-weld forming mechanism (3). The welding mechanism (2) is located between the pre-forming mechanism (1) and the post-weld forming mechanism (3). A welding area (4) is formed below the welding mechanism (2). The pre-forming mechanism (1) includes an arc-shaped loading seat (11), and the output end of the loading seat (11) is movably connected to a pressing assembly (12) for pressing the steel strip to the welding area (4). The post-weld shaping mechanism (3) includes a leveling seat (31) and a leveling component (32) disposed on the leveling seat (31). The leveling component (32) is raised and lowered relative to the leveling seat (31) to adjust the conveying and leveling intensity of the steel strip. The welding mechanism (2) includes a laser head (21). Along the width direction of the loading seat (11), the laser head (21) is slidably connected to one end of the post-weld shaping mechanism (3) near the front shaping mechanism (1), and the working end of the laser head (21) falls into the welding area (4). The leveling assembly (32) includes a plurality of first support rollers (321), which are arranged in an array along the transmission direction of the steel strip, and the first support rollers (321) are rotatably connected to the leveling seat (31). The leveling seat (31) is slidably connected to a leveling frame (322) along the height direction. The leveling frame (322) is rotatably connected to a plurality of leveling rollers (323). The number of leveling rollers (323) is equal to the number of first support rollers (321). The plurality of leveling rollers (323) are arranged in an array along the transmission direction of the steel belt, and the plurality of leveling rollers (323) and the plurality of first support rollers (321) are staggered. The pressing assembly (12) includes a control shaft (16), which is rotatably connected to the loading seat (11). L-shaped pressing arms (17) are fixedly connected to the opposite ends of the control shaft (16), and a pressing roller (18) is rotatably connected between the two pressing arms (17). A sickle-shaped transmission arm (19) is fixedly connected to the outer periphery of the control shaft (16). A pressing cylinder (2a) is rotatably connected to the bottom end of the leveling seat (31). The output shaft of the pressing cylinder (2a) is rotatably connected to the transmission arm (19). With the control shaft (16) as the axis, the rotation radius of the pressing roller (18) is smaller than the distance between the control shaft (16) and the welding area (4).

2. The laser butt welding equipment for steel strips according to claim 1, characterized in that, A transmission motor (324) is provided on one side of the leveling seat (31), and a drive gear (325) is provided at the output end of the transmission motor (324). A driven gear (326) is provided at one end of the first support roller (321). The driven gear (326) meshes with the drive gear (325), and several driven gears (326) mesh with each other through transition gears (327). A lifting motor (328) is provided on the upper end face of the leveling seat (31). The output end of the lifting motor (328) is connected to a worm gear (329). The worm gear (329) meshes with a worm wheel. The worm wheel drives a lifting screw (320) distributed along the height direction of the leveling seat (31) through ball bearings. The lifting screw (320) is connected to the leveling frame (322) to drive the leveling frame (322) to lift and adjust the transmission leveling intensity of the steel belt.

3. The laser butt welding equipment for steel strips according to claim 1, characterized in that, The post-weld shaping mechanism (3) further includes a first pressing component (33), which includes a fixed roller (331). A support portion extends from one side of the leveling frame (322), and the fixed roller (331) is rotatably connected to the support portion. The leveling seat (31) is provided with a sliding groove (311) along the height direction. The first pressing assembly (33) is provided with a pressing frame (332). The pressing frame (332) extends with a T-shaped sliding block (333). The sliding block (333) is slidably connected to the sliding groove (311). The sliding block (333) is rotatably connected to a first pressing roller (334). The first pressing roller (334) is located below the fixed roller (331). The pressing frame (332) can drive the first pressing roller (334) to rise and fall relative to the fixed roller (331). When the leveling frame (322) rises and falls, the first pressing roller (334) rises and falls accordingly. The first pressing roller (334) and the fixed roller (331) are relatively stationary.

4. The laser butt welding equipment for steel strips according to claim 3, characterized in that, The first clamping assembly (33) further includes a first clamping cylinder (335), and the upper end face of the leveling frame (322) is rotatably connected to the first clamping cylinder (335); A fixing block (336) is provided on the upper end face of the clamping frame (332). A linkage shaft (337) is rotatably connected in the fixing block (336). The linkage shaft (337) is rotatably connected to the drive end of the first clamping cylinder (335) through the connecting block (338). A linkage block (339) is rotatably connected to the outer periphery of the linkage shaft (337). The linkage block (339) passes through the clamping frame (332) and is rotatably sleeved on the outer periphery of the fixed roller (331). When the leveling frame (322) is raised or lowered, the linkage block (339) drives the clamping frame (332) and the first clamping roller (334) to rise or fall. When the first clamping cylinder (335) pushes the clamping frame (332) to rise or fall, the linkage block (339) swings to make the fixed roller (331) relatively stationary, so that the first clamping roller (334) moves closer to or further away from the fixed roller (331).

5. The laser butt welding equipment for steel strips according to claim 4, characterized in that, The upper end face of the clamping frame (332) is provided with a swing through hole (33a) corresponding to the linkage block (339), and the opposite sides of the clamping frame (332) are provided with lifting through holes (33b) corresponding to the fixed roller (331). The length of the swing through hole (33a) is greater than the swing amplitude of the linkage block (339). The swing through hole (33a) is used to allow the linkage block (339) to swing in the clamping frame (332), and the lifting through hole (33b) is used to allow the clamping frame (332) to avoid the fixed roller (331) when it is raised or lowered.

6. The laser butt welding equipment for steel strips according to claim 3, characterized in that, A second pressing component (34) is also provided on the side of the leveling component (32) away from the first pressing component (33). The second pressing component (34) includes a second support roller (341) and an L-shaped swing arm (342). The swing arm (342) is located above the second support roller (341). The swing arm (342) and the second support roller (341) are rotatably connected to the leveling seat (31). One end of the swing arm (342) is rotatably connected to a second pressing roller (343) for moving closer to or away from the second support roller (341). One end of the second pressing roller (343) is meshed with a drive gear (325) through a driven gear (326). The upper end face of the leveling seat (31) is rotatably connected to a second pressing cylinder (344), and the output end of the second pressing cylinder (344) is rotatably connected to the other end of the swing arm (342).

7. The laser butt welding equipment for steel strip according to claim 1, characterized in that, The welding mechanism (2) also includes a slide rail (22), which is arranged along the width direction of the leveling seat (31) at one end of the leveling seat (31) near the front shaping mechanism (1). The laser head (21) is slidably connected to the slide rail (22) through the sliding seat (23). The leveling seat (31) is rotatably connected to a transverse lead screw (24), which is threadedly connected to a sliding seat (23). A transverse motor is provided on one side of the leveling seat (31), and the output end of the transverse motor is connected to the transverse lead screw (24) to drive the laser head (21) to move laterally along the slide rail (22) to complete one welding process.

8. The laser butt welding equipment for steel strip according to claim 1, characterized in that, The pre-forming mechanism (1) includes a plurality of feeding rollers (13), which are arranged in an array along the arc surface of the feeding seat (11), and the feeding rollers (13) are rotatably connected to the feeding seat (11). The feeding seat (11) is provided with a mounting frame (14), which is located between two feeding rollers (13). Limiting rollers (15) are provided at opposite ends of the mounting frame (14), and the limiting rollers (15) are perpendicular to the feeding rollers (13).

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