Welding device and control method thereof

Abstract

The invention relates to a welding device and a control method thereof.The welding device comprises a furnace body, a heating assembly and a clamping assembly, and the furnace body is provided with a heating cavity; the heating assembly comprises a graphite piece and an electromagnetic coil which are arranged in the heating cavity, and the electromagnetic coil is wound around the periphery of the graphite piece and used for being electromagnetically coupled with the graphite piece so that the graphite piece can emit heat; the clamping assembly comprises two clamping pieces which are oppositely arranged in the first direction, the clamping pieces at least can move in the first direction, and the clamping pieces are used for at least fixing the welding end of the quartz piece in the heating cavity. According to the technical scheme, pollution can be reduced, and the pollution problem caused by direct contact of flames in traditional oxyhydrogen flame welding is solved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of optical fiber production and processing, and specifically to a welding device and its control method. Background Technology

[0002] In the traditional optical fiber preform manufacturing process, quartz rod welding is one of the core steps. Traditional oxyhydrogen flame welding generates a high-temperature flame through the chemical reaction of hydrogen and oxygen. However, the combustion process produces a large amount of water vapor and incompletely reacted impurities. These substances come into direct contact with the surface of the quartz component, creating a contamination layer that is difficult to remove, which seriously impairs the transmission efficiency and reliability of the optical fiber. Summary of the Invention

[0003] This application provides a welding apparatus and its control method, which can at least solve the technical problem of difficult-to-remove contamination layers in related technologies.

[0004] In a first aspect, embodiments of this application provide a welding apparatus, comprising: The furnace body has a heating cavity; A heating assembly includes a graphite element disposed within the heating cavity and an electromagnetic coil, the electromagnetic coil being wound around the periphery of the graphite element for electromagnetic coupling with the graphite element to heat the graphite element; and... The clamping assembly includes two clamping members disposed opposite each other in a first direction, the clamping members being movable at least in the first direction, the clamping members being used to fix at least the welded end of the quartz piece within the heating cavity.

[0005] In conjunction with the first aspect, in one embodiment, the graphite element is arranged in a cylindrical shape extending along a first direction.

[0006] In conjunction with the first aspect, in one embodiment, during the energization of the electromagnetic coil, the heat generated by the graphite component gradually decreases from the middle region toward the two end regions, and the middle region of the graphite component is used to face the welding point of the two quartz components.

[0007] In conjunction with the first aspect, in one embodiment, the thickness of the graphite element gradually decreases from the middle region toward both ends; and / or, The spacing between the electromagnetic coils in the middle region of the graphite component gradually increases towards both ends.

[0008] In conjunction with the first aspect, in one embodiment, the furnace body is provided with furnace openings on both sides in the first direction, which communicate with the heating cavity. The two furnace openings are arranged opposite to each other, and the furnace openings are used to allow the welding end of the quartz piece to extend into or out of the heating cavity. Both clamping members are disposed on the outside of the furnace body and are respectively disposed corresponding to one of the furnace openings.

[0009] In conjunction with the first aspect, in one embodiment, the welding apparatus further includes an end face scanner disposed on the outside of the furnace body; The clamping member can also move relative to the furnace body along a second direction and a third direction, and the first direction, the second direction and the third direction intersect each other; The welding apparatus further includes a controller for controlling the movement of the two clamping members based on the scanning results of the end face scanner.

[0010] In conjunction with the first aspect, in one embodiment, both furnace openings are provided with sealing elements, which are used to mate with the outer surface of the quartz piece to seal the heating cavity; The welding apparatus also includes an inflation structure for filling the heating cavity with protective gas. The gas-filling structure is located on the outside of the furnace body, and the gas-filling port of the gas-filling structure is located on one of the sealing elements.

[0011] In conjunction with the first aspect, in one embodiment, the clamping assembly further includes a detection structure for detecting the compressive force between the two quartz pieces; and / or, The welding apparatus further includes an end face scanner, which is used to acquire end face information of the welding end of the quartz component.

[0012] In conjunction with the first aspect, in one implementation, the first direction is the up-down direction.

[0013] Secondly, embodiments of this application provide a control method for a welding apparatus, applied to the aforementioned welding apparatus, the control method comprising: Control the movement of the two clamping members so that the welded ends of the two fixed quartz pieces are joined together; The electromagnetic coil is energized to a preset power to heat the graphite component, thereby heating and welding at least the joint of the two quartz components.

[0014] In conjunction with the second aspect, in one embodiment, the step of controlling the electromagnetic coil to be energized at a preset power to heat the graphite component, thereby heating and welding at least the joint of the two quartz components, includes: The electromagnetic coil is energized to a preset power. After the graphite component reaches a first preset operating temperature and remains at that temperature for a preset time, one of the clamping components is controlled to move along a first direction.

[0015] In conjunction with the second aspect, in one implementation, the first direction is the up-down direction; The step of controlling one of the clamping members to move along a first direction after the graphite part reaches a first preset working temperature and remains at that temperature for a preset time includes: After the graphite part reaches the first preset working temperature and remains at the preset temperature for a preset time, one of the clamping members is controlled to move in the vertical direction toward the other clamping member; After moving to the preset position, the clamping member is controlled to move away from the other clamping member back to the initial position.

[0016] In conjunction with the second aspect, in one embodiment, the first direction is the vertical direction, and the furnace body can be movably arranged along the vertical direction; The step of controlling the electromagnetic coil to be energized at a preset power to heat the graphite component, at least at the joint of the two quartz components, after heating and welding, includes: Reduce the power of the electromagnetic coil so that the graphite component is cooled to a second preset operating temperature; Release the clamping element below; Control the movement of the furnace body or the clamping member above it so that the welded quartz part moves upward relative to the graphite part.

[0017] The beneficial effects of the technical solutions provided in this application include: In the technical solution of this application, the welding device includes a furnace body, a heating assembly, and a clamping assembly. The furnace body has a heating cavity. The heating assembly includes a graphite part and an electromagnetic coil disposed in the heating cavity, with the electromagnetic coil wound around the periphery of the graphite part. The clamping assembly includes two clamping members disposed opposite each other in a first direction, and the clamping members are movable at least along the first direction. The two clamping members fix two quartz parts to be welded respectively. The two clamping members move relative to each other in the first direction, so that the two welding ends are connected in the heating cavity. The electromagnetic coil is energized, thereby heating the graphite part and thus welding. Since the graphite part does not directly contact the quartz part, and the heating cavity can be evacuated or filled with a protective gas, pollution can be reduced, solving the pollution problem caused by direct flame contact in traditional oxyhydrogen flame welding. Attached Figure Description

[0018] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the accompanying drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0019] Figure 1This is a schematic diagram of a structure of an embodiment of the welding apparatus provided by the present invention; Figure 2 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the welding device and the quartz component. Figure 3 A schematic flowchart of an embodiment of the control method for the welding apparatus provided by the present invention; Figure 4 for Figure 3 Detailed flowchart of step S20; Figure 5 for Figure 4 Detailed flowchart of step S22; Figure 6 for Figure 3 The flowchart after step S20.

[0020] In the diagram: 1. Furnace body; 11. Heating cavity; 12. Furnace opening; 3. Graphite component; 4. Electromagnetic coil; 5. Clamping component; 6. Sealing component; 7. Gas filling structure; 8. Insulation cylinder; 9. Quartz component. Detailed Implementation

[0021] To enable those skilled in the art to better understand the present application, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present application, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments in the present application, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present application.

[0022] In the traditional optical fiber preform manufacturing process, quartz rod welding is one of the core steps. Traditional oxyhydrogen flame welding generates a high-temperature flame through the chemical reaction of hydrogen and oxygen. However, the combustion process produces a large amount of water vapor and incompletely reacted impurities. These substances come into direct contact with the surface of the quartz component, creating a contamination layer that is difficult to remove, which seriously impairs the transmission efficiency and reliability of the optical fiber.

[0023] This application provides a welding apparatus and its control method, which can at least solve the technical problem of difficult-to-remove contamination layers in related technologies.

[0024] Please refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2The present invention proposes a welding device, including a furnace body 1, a heating assembly, and a clamping assembly. The furnace body 1 has a heating cavity 11. The heating assembly includes a graphite element 3 and an electromagnetic coil 4 disposed in the heating cavity 11. The electromagnetic coil 4 is wound around the periphery of the graphite element 3 for electromagnetic coupling with the graphite element 3 to heat the graphite element 3. The clamping assembly includes two clamping members 5 disposed opposite to each other in a first direction. The clamping members 5 are movable at least along the first direction and are used to fix at least the welding end of a quartz element 9 in the heating cavity 11.

[0025] In the technical solution of this application, the welding device includes a furnace body 1, a heating assembly, and a clamping assembly. The furnace body 1 has a heating cavity 11. The heating assembly includes a graphite element 3 and an electromagnetic coil 4 disposed in the heating cavity 11, with the electromagnetic coil 4 wound around the periphery of the graphite element 3. The clamping assembly includes two clamping members 5 disposed opposite to each other in a first direction, and the clamping members 5 are movable at least along the first direction. The two clamping members 5 are used to fix the two quartz elements 9 to be welded, and the two clamping members 5 are movable relative to each other in the first direction, so that the two welding ends are connected in the heating cavity 11. The electromagnetic coil 4 is energized, thereby heating the graphite element 3 and thus welding. Since the graphite element 3 does not directly contact the quartz element 9, and the heating cavity 11 can be evacuated or filled with protective gas, pollution can be reduced, solving the pollution problem caused by direct flame contact in traditional oxyhydrogen flame welding.

[0026] It is understandable that, in the actual welding process, if the shape design of the graphite part 3 is improper, it may lead to low heating efficiency or uneven heat distribution, thereby affecting the welding quality and energy consumption.

[0027] In this regard, this application further proposes that the graphite component 3 is arranged in a cylindrical shape extending along a first direction.

[0028] Specifically, the graphite component 3 is arranged in a cylindrical shape extending along the first direction, meaning that the graphite component 3 has a hollow cylindrical or tubular structure, and its main extension direction is consistent with the first direction. This cylindrical structure can form an internal heating channel for accommodating the quartz component 9 to be welded. Furthermore, the cylindrical structure is not limited to a complete cylinder; it can also be a semi-cylinder or an approximate cylindrical structure composed of multiple arc-shaped plates, as long as it can achieve circumferential heating of the quartz component 9. The inner diameter of the cylindrical graphite component 3 is typically designed to be larger than the outer diameter of the quartz component 9 to provide an appropriate gap for induction heating while ensuring heat transfer efficiency; its length is at least sufficient to cover the entire welding area of ​​the quartz component 9.

[0029] The solution of this application designs the graphite component 3 as a cylindrical structure extending along a first direction, thereby forming a hollow heating channel. When the electromagnetic coil 4 is wound around the periphery of the cylindrical graphite component 3 and energized, an alternating magnetic field is generated, causing the cylindrical graphite component 3 to heat up through electromagnetic induction. Because the graphite component 3 is cylindrical, its inner wall can radiate heat evenly to the central area. At this time, the welding end of the quartz component 9, which is fixed by the clamping assembly and placed in the heating cavity 11, is located precisely in the central channel of the cylindrical graphite component 3. In this way, the cylindrical graphite component 3 can provide circumferential heating to the welding end of the quartz component 9 from all sides, ensuring that heat is evenly transferred to the entire welding area.

[0030] In actual welding processes, if the heat distribution of the graphite component 3 is uneven or fails to precisely match the welding area of ​​the quartz component 9, excessive heat may concentrate in the non-welding areas, leading to localized overheating and deformation of the quartz component 9, and even affecting welding quality and energy efficiency. Therefore, a technical solution is needed to optimize heat distribution and achieve precise localized heating.

[0031] In this regard, this application further proposes that during the energization of the electromagnetic coil 4, the heat generated by the graphite component 3 gradually decreases from the middle region to both ends, and the middle region of the graphite component 3 is used to face the welding point of the two quartz components 9.

[0032] The statement that the heat generation of the graphite component 3 gradually decreases from the middle region to both ends means that when the graphite component 3 is heated by electromagnetic induction, the rate of heat generation or temperature distribution along its length exhibits a gradient change, with a high rate in the middle and a low rate at both ends.

[0033] The central region of the graphite component 3 is positioned opposite the welding point of the two quartz components 9. This means that during welding, the part of the quartz component 9 to be welded is precisely positioned in the central region of the graphite component 3, where the heat generation is highest. This relative positioning ensures that the highest heat required for welding can directly act on the welding interface, thereby achieving efficient and precise localized heating. This is typically achieved through precise motion control and positioning of the clamping assembly, ensuring that after the quartz component 9 is fixed, its welding end is accurately aligned with the central heating area of ​​the graphite component 3.

[0034] The solution in this application optimizes the heat distribution of the graphite component 3 in the heating assembly, allowing heat to be concentrated at the welding point of the quartz component 9. When the electromagnetic coil 4 is energized, the alternating magnetic field it generates induces eddy currents in the graphite component 3, thus heating it. Through ingenious design, the central region of the graphite component 3 generates the maximum heat, gradually decreasing towards both ends. Simultaneously, the clamping assembly precisely fixes and aligns the welding ends of the two quartz components 9 to the central region of the graphite component 3. In this way, during the welding process, the welding interface of the quartz component 9 receives the most abundant and concentrated heat, while areas far from the welding interface receive less heat, effectively avoiding unnecessary overheating and thermal damage. This optimized heat distribution makes the welding process more controllable, improving welding quality and efficiency.

[0035] The above technical solution achieves precise localized heating of the welding area of ​​quartz component 9, effectively avoiding excessive heating of non-welding areas, thereby reducing thermal stress and minimizing the risk of deformation of quartz component 9. This centralized heating method not only improves welding efficiency and quality but also saves energy, making the welding process more stable and controllable.

[0036] This heat distribution can be achieved in several ways. In some embodiments, the thickness of the graphite element 3 gradually decreases from the middle region towards both ends. The resistance distribution can be influenced by changing the geometry of the graphite element 3 itself, such as designing the middle region of the graphite element 3 to be thicker or have a larger cross-sectional area than the ends, resulting in a higher power density and greater heat generation in the middle region under the same induced current. In some embodiments, the coil spacing of the electromagnetic coil 4 corresponding to the middle region of the graphite element 3 gradually increases towards both ends. In the portion of the electromagnetic coil 4 corresponding to the middle region of the graphite element 3, the coil turns density is increased or a tighter winding method is used to enhance the electromagnetic coupling strength in this region, thereby resulting in a larger induced current and more heat generation in the middle region of the graphite element 3. Furthermore, a gradient distribution of heat generation can be achieved by setting material regions with different conductivity inside the graphite element 3, or by using multi-segment heating control to apply different electromagnetic field intensities to different regions.

[0037] It should be noted that the two methods of "the thickness of the graphite part 3 gradually decreases from the middle region to both ends" and "the coil spacing of the electromagnetic coil 4 corresponding to the middle region of the graphite part 3 gradually increases from both ends" can exist alone or simultaneously.

[0038] In one specific implementation: a cylindrical graphite element 3 is installed inside the heating cavity 11 of the furnace body 1. The length ranges from 250 to 1000 mm, the sidewalls of the graphite element 3 are arc-shaped with a curvature ranging from 0.125 to 0.4 (m⁻¹), and the wall thickness at both ends ranges from 3 to 5 mm. The spacing between the coils gradually increases from the middle to both sides, varying from 94 to 120 mm, and the number of coil turns ranges from 4 to 8.

[0039] In some embodiments, a graphite insulation cylinder 8 is also provided between the electromagnetic coil 4 and the graphite component 3.

[0040] This application further proposes that the furnace body 1 is provided with furnace openings 12 on both sides of the first direction, which are connected to the heating cavity 11. The two furnace openings 12 are arranged opposite to each other. The furnace openings 12 are used to allow the welding end of the quartz part 9 to extend into or out of the heating cavity 11. The two clamping parts 5 are both arranged on the outside of the furnace body 1, and are respectively arranged corresponding to one furnace opening 12.

[0041] The furnace opening 12 is an opening on the furnace body 1 that communicates with the heating cavity 11. Its function is to provide a channel for the quartz piece 9 to be welded to enter and exit the heating cavity 11. By providing furnace openings 12 on both sides of the furnace body 1 in the first direction, the quartz piece 9 can be easily introduced or removed from both directions, improving operational flexibility. The furnace opening 12 can be designed as circular, square, or other geometric shapes suitable for the shape of the quartz piece 9, and its size should be sufficient to allow the welding end of the quartz piece 9 to pass through. The two furnace openings 12 are arranged opposite each other, meaning they are located at opposite ends of the heating cavity 11, facing each other. This opposite arrangement facilitates the simultaneous entry of two quartz pieces 9 to be welded into the heating cavity 11 from different directions, and allows for butt welding in the central area of ​​the heating cavity 11. The main function of the furnace opening 12 is to serve as a channel for the welding end of the quartz piece 9 to enter and exit. This means that during the welding process, the non-welded parts of the quartz piece 9 can remain outside the furnace body 1, with only the end requiring welding entering the heating cavity 11. This reduces the overall heating of the quartz piece 9 and helps protect the other parts of the quartz piece 9. The clamping member 5 is used to fix the quartz piece 9. Positioning it outside the furnace body 1 avoids direct exposure of the clamping member 5 to the high-temperature environment of the heating cavity 11, thus extending its service life and simplifying its structural design. Furthermore, positioning the clamping member 5 outside the furnace body 1 facilitates maintenance and adjustment. The clamping member 5 can be in various forms, such as pneumatic clamps, electric clamps, or mechanical clamps. Two clamping members 5 are each assigned to one furnace opening 12, meaning each furnace opening 12 is equipped with one clamping member 5. This correspondence ensures that each quartz piece 9 extending from the furnace opening 12 can be accurately fixed and positioned by its corresponding clamping member 5, thereby achieving precise docking of the two quartz pieces 9 within the heating cavity 11.

[0042] The welding apparatus of this application provides convenient and symmetrical access channels for two quartz pieces 9 to be welded by setting furnace openings 12 on both sides of the furnace body 1 in a first direction, which communicate with the heating cavity 11 and are arranged opposite to each other. When welding is required, the welding ends of the two quartz pieces 9 can extend into the heating cavity 11 from the two opposite furnace openings 12 respectively. At the same time, two clamping members 5 are set on the outside of the furnace body 1, and each corresponds to one furnace opening 12, which means that each furnace opening 12 is equipped with a clamping member 5. This configuration allows the clamping members 5 to fix and position the quartz pieces 9 extending into the furnace opening 12 outside the furnace body 1, avoiding direct exposure of the clamping members 5 to the high temperature environment, thereby improving the reliability and service life of the clamping members 5. With this structural layout, the two clamping members 5 can fix the two quartz pieces 9 respectively and precisely control their relative positions in the heating cavity 11, so that the welding ends of the two quartz pieces 9 can be precisely connected in the central area of ​​the heating cavity 11.

[0043] However, in the implementation of the above welding device, although the clamping member 5 can fix and clamp the quartz pieces 9 in the first direction, there may be slight positional deviations, angular deviations, or unevenness on the end faces of the two quartz pieces 9 to be welded. Relying solely on clamping in the first direction is insufficient to guarantee precise alignment before welding, which may lead to a decrease in welding quality or welding failure. Initial positioning and precise alignment are crucial for ensuring high-quality welding, and the lack of multi-dimensional detection and correction mechanisms may affect the welding effect.

[0044] In this regard, this application further proposes that the welding device also includes an end face scanner disposed outside the furnace body 1; the clamping member 5 can also move relative to the furnace body 1 along a second direction and a third direction, the first direction, the second direction and the third direction intersect; the welding device also includes a controller, which is used to control the movement of the two clamping members 5 according to the scanning results of the end face scanner.

[0045] An end-face scanner is a device used for non-contact measurement of the geometry, dimensions, or defects of an object's surface. It acquires high-precision three-dimensional data or two-dimensional contour information of the object's end face by emitting and receiving light beams or sound waves. For example, a laser displacement sensor based on the principle of laser triangulation can be used, emitting a laser beam to the end face of the quartz piece 9 and calculating distance and contour based on the positional change of the reflected light spot on the receiver. Alternatively, a machine vision-based image processing system can be used to capture images of the quartz piece 9's end face with a high-resolution camera and analyze its shape, position, and defects using image processing algorithms. Its main function is to acquire precise information such as the position, shape, and flatness of the end face of the quartz piece 9 to be welded, providing a data foundation for subsequent precise alignment.

[0046] The clamping member 5 can also move relative to the furnace body 1 along a second and a third direction. This means that in addition to moving along the first direction, the clamping member 5 has the ability to move in two other directions intersecting the first direction. These three directions are usually perpendicular to each other, forming a three-dimensional spatial coordinate system, allowing the clamping member 5 to achieve spatial degree of freedom adjustment. This multi-directional mobility allows the clamping member 5 to make precise spatial adjustments to the clamped quartz pieces 9 to correct any possible deviations in the lateral or vertical directions, ensuring that the welded ends of the two quartz pieces 9 can be precisely aligned.

[0047] This application's solution effectively solves the problem of precise alignment of the quartz pieces 9 before heating and welding by introducing an end-face scanner into the welding device, giving the clamping member 5 multi-directional mobility, and coordinating control by a controller. The end-face scanner accurately acquires the end-face information of the quartz pieces 9 to be welded, including their actual position and relative deviation in space. These scanning results are transmitted to the controller, which analyzes the data and determines the alignment status and deviation of the quartz pieces 9. Based on the analysis results, the controller generates control commands, driving the clamping member 5 to clamp in the first direction while also making fine displacement adjustments in the second and third directions intersecting the first direction. This feedback control mechanism enables the clamping member 5 to precisely adjust the spatial position of the clamped quartz pieces 9, correcting alignment deviations detected by the end-face scanner in the lateral or vertical directions, ensuring that the welding ends of the two quartz pieces 9 achieve extremely high alignment accuracy before heating and welding, thereby significantly improving the welding success rate and quality.

[0048] In addition, the diameter of the quartz part 9 can be measured by an end-face scanner, and the diameter of the quartz part 9 can be fed back to the controller. The controller can set the working power based on a preset relationship, reducing the impact of the operator's skill level on the quality of the welded product.

[0049] In some embodiments described above, a welding apparatus is proposed, wherein the furnace body 1 has a heating cavity 11 and a furnace opening 12 for the welding end of the quartz component 9 to extend into or out of the furnace. However, in actual welding processes, if the heating cavity 11 is directly connected to the external environment, external air may enter, causing oxidation of the quartz component 9 at high temperatures or introducing impurities, affecting the welding quality and the service life of the graphite component 3. Therefore, how to effectively isolate the heating cavity 11 from the external environment and maintain a stable protective atmosphere therein is a key issue in achieving high-quality welding of the quartz component 9.

[0050] To address this, this application further proposes that each of the two furnace openings 12 be provided with a sealing element 6, which is used to mate with the outer surface of the quartz element 9 to seal the heating cavity 11. The welding device also includes a gas filling structure 7, which is used to fill the heating cavity 11 with protective gas; the gas filling structure 7 is located on the outside of the furnace body 1, and the gas filling port of the gas filling structure 7 is located on one of the sealing elements 6.

[0051] The seal 6 is a component used to prevent gas or liquid leakage between two surfaces. In this application, the seal 6 functions to fit tightly against the outer surface of the quartz piece 9 to effectively isolate the heating cavity 11 from the external environment, preventing external air from entering or internal protective gas from escaping. The seal 6 can be implemented in various forms, such as O-rings made of elastic materials, lip seals, flexible bellows structures, or labyrinth seal structures, to accommodate the insertion and removal of the quartz piece 9 and ensure good sealing during welding. The gas filling structure 7 is a device for introducing gas into a specific space. In this application, the gas filling structure 7 is used to fill the heating cavity 11 with protective gas to provide inert gas for the quartz piece 9 during welding, preventing its oxidation or contamination. The gas filling structure 7 may include a gas source (e.g., a high-pressure gas cylinder or gas generator), a pressure regulator, a flow controller, and corresponding piping and valve systems. Alternatively, the gas filling structure 7 can integrate a gas purification unit to ensure that the filled protective gas has the required purity. In this application, the gas filling port is located on one of the seals 6, meaning that the gas filling port and the seal 6 form an integrated or tightly connected structure. This arrangement ensures that the protective gas can directly and effectively enter the heating cavity 11 isolated by the seal 6, while avoiding the sealing complexity or leakage risk that might result from additional openings on the furnace body 1. The gas filling port can be a channel integrated into the body of the seal 6, or it can be a conduit that passes through the seal 6 and fits tightly therewith.

[0052] In one specific implementation, annular seals 6 made of high-temperature resistant elastic materials (such as fluororubber or silicone rubber) can be installed at the furnace openings 12 on both sides of the furnace body 1 in the first direction of the aforementioned welding apparatus. The inner diameter of these annular seals 6 is slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the quartz piece 9. When the quartz piece 9 passes through the furnace opening 12, the elastic deformation of the seals 6 causes them to fit tightly against the outer surface of the quartz piece 9, thereby achieving an effective seal for the heating cavity 11. The gas filling structure 7 can include a high-purity argon cylinder as a gas source, which delivers argon to the heating cavity 11 through a pressure reducing valve and a mass flow controller. A small metal connector can be integrated on the side of one of the annular seals 6 as a gas filling port, which is connected to the argon supply system through a pressure-resistant hose. After the quartz piece 9 is fixed in place by the clamping member 5, argon continuously and stably fills the heating cavity 11 through this gas filling port to maintain the internal inert atmosphere.

[0053] By installing seals 6 at the two furnace openings 12 and using a gas-filling structure 7 to fill the heating cavity 11 with protective gas, the welding apparatus of this application effectively isolates the heating cavity 11 from the external environment and establishes and maintains a controlled protective atmosphere within it. This design significantly avoids the problem of external air entering the heating cavity 11 during the welding of the quartz part 9, leading to oxidation, contamination of the quartz part 9, or corrosion of the heating components (such as the graphite part 3). Therefore, this solution ensures that the quartz part 9 is welded under an ideal inert or reducing atmosphere, thereby significantly improving the quality, strength, and consistency of the weld joint, reducing the occurrence of welding defects, and extending the service life of the heating components, providing a reliable guarantee for the production of high-quality quartz parts 9.

[0054] In the welding apparatus, when the welding ends of two quartz pieces 9 are fixed in the heating cavity 11 and heated for welding, the compressive pressure between the quartz pieces 9 has a significant impact on the welding quality. Excessive compressive pressure may cause the quartz pieces 9 to deform or even crack; insufficient compressive pressure may result in weak welds, air bubbles, or voids, thus affecting the strength and sealing of the welded joint. Therefore, accurately controlling and monitoring the compressive pressure between the quartz pieces 9 during the welding process to ensure a high-quality welded joint is a technical problem that needs to be solved.

[0055] In this application, the clamping assembly further includes a detection structure for detecting the compressive force between the two quartz pieces 9. The detection structure is a device for sensing and quantifying physical quantities (such as force, pressure, displacement, etc.). As one implementation, the detection structure can be a force sensor, such as a piezoelectric force sensor, a resistance strain gauge force sensor, or a capacitive force sensor, mounted on the clamping member 5 or between the clamping member 5 and the drive mechanism, for directly measuring the force applied by the clamping member 5 to the quartz pieces 9. Alternatively, the detection structure can be a displacement sensor, such as a linear encoder or an eddy current sensor, indirectly calculating the compressive force by combining the elastic deformation of the clamping member 5 or the known stiffness of the drive mechanism. Furthermore, the detection structure can also be a pressure sensor, installed in the pneumatic or hydraulic drive system of the clamping member 5, calculating the compressive force by monitoring the pressure of the drive medium. The detection structure is used to detect the compressive force between the two quartz pieces 9. It can also be a tension sensor mounted on the clamping member 5, calculating the compressive force by detecting the tension between the grippers and the quartz pieces 9. Specifically, the detection structure can be directly installed on or near the contact surface of the clamping member 5. When the clamping member 5 clamps the quartz pieces 9 and brings them into contact, the detection structure can sense and output the interaction force between the quartz pieces 9. Alternatively, the detection structure can be installed on the drive mechanism of the clamping member 5, such as on the push rod or cylinder that moves the clamping member 5. By measuring the output force or pressure of the drive mechanism and combining it with the mechanical transmission ratio, the compressive force between the quartz pieces 9 can be calculated.

[0056] When the two clamping members 5 fix the quartz pieces 9 together, the detection structure can monitor and measure the compressive force generated between the quartz pieces 9 in real time. The detection structure feeds the measured compressive force data back to the control system, which then precisely adjusts the drive mechanism of the clamping members 5 according to preset welding process parameters, such as adjusting the relative position or driving force of the clamping members 5, to ensure that the quartz pieces 9 are always kept within the optimal compressive force range.

[0057] By incorporating a detection structure within the clamping assembly to detect the compressive force between the two quartz pieces 9, this application enables real-time acquisition of contact force information between the quartz pieces 9 during the welding process. This allows operators or automated control systems to precisely adjust the movement of the clamping components 5 according to preset process parameters, thereby applying optimal compressive force. Precise control of the compressive force effectively avoids problems such as deformation and breakage of the quartz pieces 9 due to excessive compressive force, or weak welding and bubble formation due to insufficient compressive force, significantly improving welding quality and yield, and ensuring the strength and consistency of the welded joint.

[0058] In some other embodiments, this application proposes a welding apparatus comprising a furnace body 1, a heating assembly, and a clamping assembly. The clamping assembly includes two clamping members 5 disposed opposite each other in a first direction, the clamping members 5 being movable at least along the first direction for fixing at least the welding end of the quartz piece 9 within the heating cavity 11. However, when the first direction is not clearly defined, such as when welding is performed in a horizontal direction, some technical challenges may arise. For example, during high-temperature welding, the quartz piece 9 may sag or deform slightly due to its own weight, making it difficult to guarantee the welding precision and affecting the welding quality. Furthermore, the flow behavior of molten quartz may also be affected by gravity, resulting in uneven material distribution in the welding area and thus forming defects. At the same time, horizontal clamping and operation may also increase the complexity of the apparatus and have a certain impact on the convenience of the operator.

[0059] In this regard, this application further proposes that the first direction is the vertical direction. In this application, the first direction is specifically defined as the vertical direction. This means that the movement trajectory of the clamping member 5 and the main positioning axis of the quartz member 9 in the heating cavity 11 are perpendicular. Setting the first direction as the vertical direction allows the quartz member 9 to maintain its vertical alignment state with its own weight during the welding process, thereby reducing the risk of deformation or misalignment caused by gravity.

[0060] The welding apparatus of this application sets the movement direction of the clamping member 5 to the vertical direction, so that the two quartz pieces 9 to be welded are vertically opposed within the heating cavity 11. When the clamping member 5 moves in the vertical direction, it can precisely align the welding ends of the two quartz pieces 9. During the heating process, because the quartz pieces 9 are placed vertically, their own gravity helps maintain the alignment of their axes, reducing lateral displacement or sagging that may be caused by softening at high temperatures. At the same time, the molten quartz material can flow downwards or fill the welding area more naturally under the action of gravity, which helps to form a dense and uniform weld. This vertical welding method, combined with the heating of the graphite piece 3 by the heating component, ensures that the joint of the quartz pieces 9 receives stable and uniform heating, and completes high-quality welding under the precise control of the clamping member 5. Furthermore, if the furnace body 1 has furnace openings 12 on both sides in the first direction and the clamping member 5 is located on the outside of the furnace body 1, the quartz member 9 can be vertically inserted or removed from above or below, which simplifies the operation process, helps to achieve automation, improves the convenience and efficiency of operation, and reduces the skill requirements for operators.

[0061] Based on the above welding apparatus, this application proposes a control method for the welding apparatus. Please refer to [reference needed]. Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 3The welding apparatus includes a furnace body 1, a heating assembly, and a clamping assembly. The furnace body 1 has a heating cavity 11. The heating assembly includes a graphite element 3 and an electromagnetic coil 4 disposed within the heating cavity 11. The electromagnetic coil 4 is wound around the periphery of the graphite element 3 for electromagnetic coupling with the graphite element 3 to heat the graphite element 3. The clamping assembly includes two clamping members 5 disposed opposite each other in a first direction. The clamping members 5 are movable at least along the first direction and are used to fix at least the welding end of the quartz element 9 within the heating cavity 11. The control method of the welding apparatus includes: S10: Control the movement of the two clamping parts 5 so that the welded ends of the two fixed quartz pieces 9 are connected. S20: Control the electromagnetic coil 4 to be energized at a preset power so that the graphite part 3 heats up, at least heating and welding the joint of the two quartz parts 9.

[0062] Controlling the movement of the two clamping members 5 refers to operating the two clamping members 5 in the clamping assembly to move them according to a predetermined trajectory or manner. The movement of the clamping members 5 can be achieved by various drive mechanisms. For example, a lead screw mechanism driven by a stepper motor or servo motor can be used, precisely controlling the rotation of the motor to drive the clamping members 5 to move linearly; alternatively, a pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder can be used, controlling air pressure or hydraulic pressure to push the clamping members 5 to move. These drive mechanisms are usually connected to a controller, which issues commands based on a preset program or sensor feedback to achieve precise displacement of the clamping members 5. This ensures the welding ends of the two fixed quartz pieces 9 are aligned, precisely aligning and contacting the ends of the two quartz pieces 9 to be welded. This typically requires high-precision positioning to ensure a uniform weld gap without misalignment. For example, the end face position of the quartz pieces 9 can be monitored by an end face scanner, and the image data can be fed back to the controller. The controller adjusts the movement of the clamping members 5 based on the image analysis results until the welding ends of the two quartz pieces 9 achieve the ideal alignment state. In addition, the compressive force between the two quartz pieces 9 can be detected by a force sensor. When the compressive force reaches a preset value, it indicates that the quartz pieces 9 have been mated. Controlling the electromagnetic coil 4 to be energized at a preset power means applying electrical energy to the electromagnetic coil 4 through a power supply device, causing it to generate an electromagnetic field. The preset power can be set according to factors such as the material properties and size of the quartz pieces 9, as well as the required welding temperature, to ensure the stability and controllability of the heating process. For example, a high-frequency induction heating power supply can be used, and the energizing power of the electromagnetic coil 4 can be precisely controlled by adjusting its output frequency, voltage, or current. The heating of the graphite piece 3 is a direct effect of energizing the electromagnetic coil 4. When the electromagnetic coil 4 is energized, the alternating magnetic field it generates induces eddy currents in the graphite piece 3. Due to the resistance of the graphite piece 3, the eddy currents cause it to heat up. This heating method has advantages such as fast heating speed, high efficiency, and cleanliness. The material selection and geometry of the graphite piece 3 (e.g., cylindrical arrangement), as well as the winding method of the electromagnetic coil 4, all affect its heating efficiency and heat distribution. At least two quartz pieces 9 are heated and welded at their joints. The purpose is to transfer the heat generated by the graphite piece 3 to the joined quartz pieces 9, causing them to melt or soften at the joint, thus achieving a strong connection. The heating and welding process requires precise control of temperature and time to prevent the quartz pieces 9 from overheating and deforming or forming bubbles. For example, the temperature at the joint of the quartz pieces 9 can be monitored in real time using an infrared thermometer, and the power of the electromagnetic coil 4 can be adjusted based on the temperature feedback to maintain it within the optimal welding temperature range.

[0063] In some embodiments described above in this application, a method is proposed that controls the movement of two clamping members 5 to align the welding ends of two fixed quartz pieces 9, and controls the electromagnetic coil 4 to be energized at a preset power to heat the graphite piece 3, thereby heating and welding at least the joint of the two quartz pieces 9. However, in actual welding, heating alone may not be sufficient to ensure that the joint of the quartz pieces 9 is fully melted and forms a dense and strong weld joint, potentially resulting in insufficient weld strength or uneven joint.

[0064] Please refer to the following for details. Figure 4 This application further proposes step S20, which includes: S21: Control the electromagnetic coil 4 to be energized according to a preset power; S22: After the graphite component 3 reaches the first preset working temperature and remains at the preset temperature for a preset time, control one of the clamping components 5 to move along the first direction.

[0065] Specifically, "after the graphite part 3 reaches the first preset operating temperature and remains at that temperature for a preset time" means that during the heating process, it is necessary to ensure that the graphite part 3 and the heated quartz part 9 reach and maintain a stable temperature suitable for welding, so as to ensure that the quartz part 9 material is fully preheated and softened. This can be achieved in several ways. For example, one or more temperature sensors, such as thermocouples or infrared thermometers, can be installed inside the graphite part 3 or near its heating area to monitor the temperature of the graphite part 3 in real time. When the monitored temperature reaches the preset first preset operating temperature and remains at that temperature for a preset time, the system will trigger subsequent control actions. Another way to achieve this is to pre-calibrate the relationship between the power of the electromagnetic coil 4 and the temperature response of the graphite part 3, and combine it with a precise timer. After the electromagnetic coil 4 is energized at a preset power for a preset time, it can be considered that the graphite part 3 has reached and maintained the first preset operating temperature.

[0066] "Controlling the movement of one of the clamping members 5 along a first direction" means applying a specific action to the welding area by controlled mechanical movement of the clamping member 5 after the quartz piece 9 has been heated to a suitable softening state. This action can be applying a compressive force to promote the full bonding of the molten quartz and expel tiny air bubbles at the interface; or it can be making small relative displacements to adjust the flatness of the welding surface or eliminate potential stress.

[0067] The solution of this application operates as follows: First, by controlling the movement of two clamping members 5, the welding ends of the two quartz pieces 9 to be welded are precisely aligned. Then, the electromagnetic coil 4 is energized to a preset power, causing the graphite piece 3 to heat up and thus heating the joint of the quartz pieces 9. During the heating process, the system continuously monitors the temperature of the graphite piece 3 to ensure it reaches and is maintained at a first preset operating temperature. After the quartz pieces 9 have been sufficiently heated and softened for a preset time at the first preset operating temperature, one of the clamping members 5 is controlled to move along a first direction. This controlled movement, performed while the quartz pieces 9 are in a molten or semi-molten state, applies a precise mechanical action to the welding interface, such as extrusion pressure or minute relative displacement. This not only promotes the full fusion of the molten material and helps to remove tiny air bubbles at the interface, but also enables the formation of a denser, more uniform, and stronger weld joint. By allowing the clamping element 5 to move only after the quartz element 9 has reached a suitable softening state, stress concentration or cracking that may occur when pressure is applied before the material has softened sufficiently is avoided. At the same time, the welding interface is optimized in the best condition, thereby significantly improving the welding quality.

[0068] The following is a specific example. As a concrete implementation, the following steps can be used: A K-type thermocouple is embedded near the heating area of ​​the graphite part 3, and this thermocouple is connected to a high-precision temperature controller. When the temperature controller detects that the temperature of the graphite part 3 reaches 1900-2020°C and remains there for 1-2 minutes, the temperature controller outputs a trigger signal to the main controller. Upon receiving the trigger signal, the main controller instructs the stepper motor of the clamping member 5 below to move precisely by a preset 1 mm along a first direction (e.g., vertically downwards) to apply a slight pressure to the welding area. The clamping member 5 then returns to its initial position.

[0069] Through the above technical solution, after the quartz part 9 is fully heated and softened, the clamping part 5 is controlled to perform controlled movements, which can apply precise mechanical action, such as compression or fine-tuning, to the molten quartz part 9. This helps to eliminate voids and bubbles at the welding interface, promotes full fusion of materials, and thus significantly improves the density, uniformity, and mechanical strength of the welded joint. It effectively solves the problem of poor welding quality that may be caused by simple heating, and ensures the reliability and stability of the welded joint.

[0070] In some embodiments described above in this application, after the graphite part 3 is heated to a preset temperature, one of the clamping members 5 is controlled to move along a first direction to complete the welding. However, in actual welding, the unidirectional movement of the clamping member 5 may make it difficult to accurately control the welding pressure and deformation of the quartz part 9, especially in scenarios where precise control of welding quality is required, which may lead to insufficient welding strength or damage to the quartz part 9.

[0071] To address the aforementioned problems, this application further proposes an optimization of the control method. Specifically, the first direction is defined as the up-down direction. Please refer to... Figure 5 Step S22 includes the following steps: S221: After the graphite part 3 reaches the first preset working temperature and continues for a preset time, control one of the clamping parts 5 to move in the vertical direction toward the other clamping part 5; S222: After moving to the preset position, control the clamping member 5 to move away from the other clamping member 5 to the initial position.

[0072] By defining the first direction as vertical, the relative movement of the clamping members 5 and the welding operation of the quartz pieces 9 can be performed along the vertical direction. This allows for the use of gravity assistance or counteracting gravity in certain applications, simplifying the mechanical structure or improving operational stability. For example, the upper clamping member 5 can be designed to move downwards, or the lower clamping member 5 can move upwards, to achieve docking and pressurization of the quartz pieces 9. After the graphite pieces 3 reach a first preset working temperature and remain at that temperature for a preset time, one of the clamping members 5 is controlled to move vertically towards the other clamping member 5. This step aims to ensure close contact and apply a certain welding pressure between the welding ends of the two quartz pieces 9 after the quartz pieces 9 are heated to the welding temperature through the relative movement of the clamping members 5. This can be achieved by driving the clamping members 5 precisely in the vertical direction using a stepper motor, servo motor, or pneumatic / hydraulic cylinder. For example, a preset movement distance or pressure threshold can be set, and movement can stop when the threshold is reached. After moving to the preset position, the clamping member 5 is controlled to move away from the other clamping member 5 back to the initial position. The purpose of this step is to release the continuous pressure on the quartz part 9 in a timely manner after the welding pressure is completed, and to return the clamping member 5 to the initial position, so as to eliminate the annular protrusion caused by the compression of the two quartz parts 9 and ensure the quality of the quartz part 9 after welding.

[0073] In one specific embodiment, the temperature is raised to the working temperature of 1900-2020℃. After reaching the working temperature, the lower clamping member 5 will move upward by 1mm at a speed of 0.1-1mm / s for 1-2 minutes. After reaching the position, the lower clamping member 5 will move downward by 1mm at a speed of 0.1-1mm / s, and the welding step is completed.

[0074] In some embodiments described above in this application, a method for heating and welding the quartz component 9 is proposed. However, after welding, the quartz component 9 inevitably deforms, resulting in an overall non-straight shape. For this, please refer to... Figure 6 This application further proposes steps following step S20, including: S30: Reduce the power of the electromagnetic coil 4 so that the graphite part 3 is reduced to the second preset operating temperature; S40: Control the lower clamping member 5 to release; S50: Control the movement of the furnace body 1 or the clamping member 5 above it, so that the welded quartz part 9 moves upward relative to the graphite part 3. Wherein, the first direction is the vertical direction, and the furnace body 1 can be moved along the vertical direction.

[0075] Specifically, the first direction is set to the vertical direction, meaning that the relative movement of the clamping member 5 and subsequent movements of the furnace body 1 or the clamping member 5 will be along the vertical direction. This arrangement can utilize gravity to assist certain operations or provide convenience in spatial layout; for example, in some applications, placing the quartz piece 9 vertically for welding may help the uniform flow of molten material or reduce deformation. The furnace body 1 is designed to be movable in the vertical direction. This mobility can be achieved in various ways; for example, the furnace body 1 can be mounted on a guide rail with a lifting mechanism, and vertical lifting can be achieved by a motor-driven lead screw or hydraulic / pneumatic cylinder; or, the furnace body 1 can be suspended on a height-adjustable support structure. After welding is completed, by reducing the power supply of the electromagnetic coil 4, the heat generated by the graphite piece 3 can be effectively controlled, thereby gradually reducing its temperature to a second preset operating temperature. The second preset operating temperature is usually lower than the first preset operating temperature during welding, designed to properly soften the quartz piece 9.

[0076] After the lower clamp 5 is released, the welded quartz part 9 can move upward relative to the graphite part 3 by controlling the upward movement of the furnace body 1 or the upper clamp 5. If the furnace body 1 moves downward, the quartz part 9 (still fixed by the upper clamp 5) will move downward relative to the stationary graphite part 3; if the upper clamp 5 moves upward, the quartz part 9 will move upward, while the furnace body 1 and the graphite part 3 remain stationary. This upward movement method can effectively heat all parts of the lower quartz part 9, automatically straighten the entire welded part using gravity, and simultaneously use high temperature to polish and clean the surface of the quartz part 9 to be welded, improving product quality.

[0077] In a preferred embodiment, the furnace body 1 moves downward because the purpose of this process is to automatically straighten the entire welded part using gravity. If the clamping part 5 moves, it will bring additional driving force to the quartz part 9, which may cause deviation in the entire straightening process. However, by moving the furnace body 1 downward, the entire quartz part 9 will not be subjected to additional external force, and the straightening effect will be better.

[0078] After alignment, the welded quartz component 9 can be removed using the clamping component 5. Meanwhile, the furnace opening 12 above is sealed with a graphite cover plate, which protects the graphite component 3 inside the magnetic induction furnace, ensures a controlled and safe production site, and keeps the heating cavity 11 warm for the next welding operation.

[0079] In the description of this application, it should be noted that the terms "upper," "lower," etc., indicating the orientation or positional relationship are based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing this application 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 this application. Unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "installed," "connected," and "linked" 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 or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication between two elements. For those skilled in the art, the specific meaning of the above terms in this application can be understood according to the specific circumstances.

[0080] It should be noted that in this application, relational terms such as "first" and "second" are used merely to distinguish one entity or operation from another, and do not necessarily require or imply any such actual relationship or order between these entities or operations. Furthermore, the terms "comprising," "including," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such a process, method, article, or apparatus. Without further limitations, an element defined by the phrase "comprising one..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that includes said element.

[0081] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of this application, enabling those skilled in the art to understand or implement this application. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be implemented in other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of this application. Therefore, this application is not to be limited to the embodiments shown herein, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features claimed herein.

Claims

1. A welding apparatus, characterized in that, include: The furnace body has a heating cavity; The heating assembly includes a graphite element and an electromagnetic coil disposed within the heating cavity. The electromagnetic coil is wound around the periphery of the graphite element for electromagnetic coupling with the graphite element to heat the graphite element. as well as, The clamping assembly includes two clamping members disposed opposite each other in a first direction, the clamping members being movable at least in the first direction, the clamping members being used to fix at least the welded end of the quartz piece within the heating cavity.

2. The welding apparatus as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The graphite component is arranged in a cylindrical shape extending along a first direction.

3. The welding apparatus as described in claim 1, characterized in that, During the energization of the electromagnetic coil, the heat generated by the graphite component gradually decreases from the middle region toward both ends. The middle region of the graphite component is used to face the welding point of the two quartz components.

4. The welding apparatus as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The thickness of the graphite component gradually decreases from the middle region towards both ends; and / or, The spacing between the electromagnetic coils in the middle region of the graphite component gradually increases towards both ends.

5. The welding apparatus as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The furnace body has furnace openings on both sides in the first direction, which communicate with the heating cavity. The two furnace openings are arranged opposite to each other, and the furnace openings are used to allow the welding end of the quartz part to extend into or out of the heating cavity. Both clamping members are disposed on the outside of the furnace body and are respectively disposed corresponding to one of the furnace openings.

6. The welding apparatus as described in claim 5, characterized in that, The welding device also includes an end face scanner disposed on the outside of the furnace body; The clamping member can also move relative to the furnace body along a second direction and a third direction, and the first direction, the second direction and the third direction intersect each other; The welding apparatus further includes a controller for controlling the movement of the two clamping members based on the scanning results of the end face scanner.

7. The welding apparatus as described in claim 5, characterized in that, Both furnace openings are equipped with sealing elements, which are used to mate with the outer surface of the quartz piece to seal the heating cavity; The welding apparatus also includes an inflation structure for filling the heating cavity with protective gas. The gas-filling structure is located on the outside of the furnace body, and the gas-filling port of the gas-filling structure is located on one of the sealing elements.

8. The welding apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that, The clamping assembly also includes a detection structure for detecting the compressive force between the two quartz pieces.

9. The welding apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that, The first direction is the up-down direction.

10. A control method for a welding apparatus, characterized in that, The method for controlling the welding apparatus as described in any one of claims 1 to 9 includes: Control the movement of the two clamping members so that the welded ends of the two fixed quartz pieces are joined together; The electromagnetic coil is energized to a preset power to heat the graphite component, thereby heating and welding at least the joint of the two quartz components.

11. The control method for the welding apparatus as described in claim 10, characterized in that, The step of controlling the electromagnetic coil to be energized at a preset power to heat the graphite component, thereby heating and welding at least the joint of the two quartz components, includes: The electromagnetic coil is energized to a preset power. After the graphite component reaches a first preset operating temperature and remains at that temperature for a preset time, one of the clamping components is controlled to move along a first direction.

12. The control method for the welding apparatus as described in claim 11, characterized in that, The first direction is the up-down direction; The step of controlling one of the clamping members to move along a first direction after the graphite part reaches a first preset working temperature and remains at that temperature for a preset time includes: After the graphite component reaches the first preset working temperature and remains at the preset temperature for a preset time, one of the clamping components is controlled to move in the vertical direction toward the other clamping component. After moving to the preset position, the clamping member is controlled to move away from the other clamping member back to the initial position.

13. The control method for the welding apparatus as described in claim 10, characterized in that, The first direction is the vertical direction, and the furnace body can be movably arranged along the vertical direction; The step of controlling the electromagnetic coil to be energized at a preset power to heat the graphite component, at least at the joint of the two quartz components, after heating and welding, includes: Reduce the power of the electromagnetic coil so that the graphite component is cooled to a second preset operating temperature; Release the clamping element below; Control the movement of the furnace body or the clamping member above it so that the welded quartz part moves upward relative to the graphite part.

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