Automobile wheel arch ultrasonic welding device
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- DEZHAO NICK (CHANGZHOU) WELDING TECH CO LTD
- Filing Date
- 2026-06-03
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-17
Smart Images
Figure CN122401916A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This invention relates to the field of automotive wheel arch welding technology, and more particularly to an ultrasonic welding device for automotive wheel arches. Background Technology
[0002] With the acceleration of automotive lightweighting and electrification, wheel arches, as an important exterior component, directly affect the airtightness and appearance of the entire vehicle through their welding quality. Currently, the industry generally uses ultrasonic welding technology to connect wheel arches to the plastic body parts. This technology uses high-frequency vibration to melt plastic molecules through friction, offering advantages such as high efficiency, no pollution, and reliable strength.
[0003] Because current equipment uses an integrated special fixture to fix the wheel arch, and the fixture and turntable are rigidly connected, different models of products require a complete replacement of the fixture module. In actual operation, it is necessary to stop the machine to remove bolts, reinstall positioning, and readjust, which takes a long time. In addition, manual or semi-automatic welding equipment cannot guarantee that the welding head is perpendicular to the workpiece surface, which can easily lead to problems such as false welding and over-welding, reducing the product qualification rate. In view of the above reasons, this application proposes an ultrasonic welding equipment for automotive wheel arches. Summary of the Invention
[0004] The purpose of this invention is to address the problems existing in the background art by proposing an ultrasonic welding device for automobile wheel arches.
[0005] The technical solution of the present invention: an ultrasonic welding equipment for automotive wheel arches, comprising a frame, wherein a dividing rotary table for providing precise rotational motion is provided on the frame, a material conveying bin for temporary storage and rotation of workpieces and a side clamping arm for clamping fixtures are fixedly provided on the top of the dividing rotary table, a carrier for mounting fixtures is provided around the material conveying bin, and a plurality of six-axis robotic arms for performing welding and gripping tasks are provided on the frame, wherein the wrists of the six-axis robotic arms are provided with ultrasonic welding components for completing welding operations, and there are twelve six-axis robotic arms distributed around the material conveying bin.
[0006] Optionally, the clamping end of the side clamping arm is provided with a quick-change interface for connecting different types of jig modules. There is a jig storage rack on one side of the material transport bin. Multiple jig modules that match the quick-change interface are arranged in layers on the jig storage rack, and each jig module has a positioning magnetic ring embedded at the bottom.
[0007] Optionally, the carrier includes a support surface and a mechanical support base, the top of which has a pin hole adapted to the positioning magnetic ring.
[0008] Optionally, the wrist of the six-axis manipulator is provided with an adsorption structure for picking up the tire. The adsorption structure includes a mounting plate. An air pump and an electric push rod are fixedly mounted on the bottom of the mounting plate. A connecting assembly is fixedly mounted on the output end of the electric push rod. A suction cup is fixedly mounted on the bottom of the connecting assembly. A hose for gas delivery is fixedly mounted on one side of the suction cup. The end of the hose away from the suction cup is fixedly connected to the air pump's suction end.
[0009] Optionally, the edge of the suction cup is provided with a high-precision proximity sensor for real-time detection of the distance between the suction cup and the surface of the tire, and the detection threshold of the high-precision proximity sensor is 0.1 mm.
[0010] Optionally, the central area of the suction cup is embedded with a buffer airbag that provides flexible contact cushioning to prevent hard collision damage to the fixture. The buffer airbag is pre-inflated at a pressure of 0.05-0.1 MPa before vacuum adsorption is initiated.
[0011] Optionally, the bottom of the mounting plate is provided with a support structure to prevent the fixture from falling off. The support structure includes a vertical plate, and the vertical plate is provided with a storage groove for storage. The support plate is movably installed in the storage groove.
[0012] Optionally, two support bars for support and guidance are fixedly provided on one side of the vertical plate. The support bars are "L" shaped, and the side of the support bars near the bearing plate is provided with multiple ball bearings for reducing resistance.
[0013] Optionally, both sides of the support plate are movably provided with connecting parts, which are movably connected to the inner walls of both sides of the storage groove. A dual-axis motor is fixedly provided on one side of the vertical plate, and a take-up shaft is fixedly provided on both output ends of the dual-axis motor. A guide roller is movably provided on one side of the take-up shaft.
[0014] Optionally, a silicone pad is fixedly provided on the top of the support plate to reduce the impact force between the support plate and the jig, and the silicone pad is provided with honeycomb holes to optimize the cushioning effect.
[0015] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial technical effects: 1. This invention enables quick replacement of different types of jigs by using the quick-change interface of the side clamping arm, the positioning pin of the carrier, the layered jig storage rack and the positioning magnetic ring, and does not require replacing the entire jig base, only the corresponding positioning pin needs to be replaced, which greatly reduces the manufacturing, storage and maintenance costs of jigs. 2. This invention uses a six-axis robotic arm to automatically adjust the posture of the robotic arm to ensure that the welding head of the ultrasonic welding component is always perpendicular to the curved surface of the wheel arch. With the help of a displacement sensor, the welding depth is controlled in real time, and the welding energy is stably output according to preset parameters, which effectively avoids problems such as false welding and over-welding, and ensures the consistency of welding quality. 3. This invention, through the design of the adsorption structure, realizes fully automated operation of the entire process of taking, transferring and replacing the tire, without the need for manual intervention, thus improving production change efficiency; 4. The present invention also features a support structure. After the action of adsorption and picking up the fixture is completed, the support plate slides down the slide to the support bar to form a bottom support, which effectively prevents the fixture from falling and being damaged due to sudden failure during adsorption or transfer, thus ensuring the integrity of the fixture. In summary, this invention employs a side-clamping arm quick-change interface, carrier positioning pins, and a layered jig storage rack with positioning magnetic rings, enabling rapid switching between different jig models. Only the positioning pins need to be replaced for production adaptation, effectively reducing jig manufacturing, storage, and maintenance costs. A six-axis robotic arm with autonomously adjustable posture can precisely control welding depth, avoiding incomplete or excessive welding and ensuring consistent welding quality. The adsorption structure enables fully automated jig gripping and replacement, requiring no manual intervention throughout the process. Simultaneously, the supporting structure provides bottom protection, effectively preventing accidental drops and damage to the jig during transport. Attached Figure Description
[0016] Figure 1 A three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of the present invention is provided; Figure 2 A first-view assembly diagram of the six-axis manipulator, adsorption structure, and load-bearing structure in this invention is provided. Figure 3 A second-view assembly diagram of the six-axis manipulator, adsorption structure, and load-bearing structure in this invention is provided. Figure 4 A three-dimensional schematic diagram of the adsorption structure in this invention is provided; Figure 5 A schematic diagram showing the separation of the vertical plate and the supporting plate in this invention is provided; Figure 6 An enlarged structural schematic diagram of point A in this invention is provided; Figure 7 An enlarged structural schematic diagram of point B in this invention is provided.
[0017] Figure label: 1. Rack; 2. Indexing rotary table; 3. Material handling silo; 4. Fixing plate; 5. Side clamp arm; 6. Carrier; 7. PLC; 8. Six-axis robotic arm; 9. Ultrasonic welding components; 10. Adsorption structure; 101. Mounting plate; 102. Air pump; 103. Electric push rod; 104. Horizontal plate; 105. Connecting rod; 106. Suction cup; 107. Limiting rod; 108. High-precision proximity sensor; 109. Hose; 11. Load-bearing structure; 111. Vertical plate; 112. Storage groove; 113. Slide groove; 114. Through groove; 115. Support bar; 116. Load-bearing plate; 117. Silicone pad; 118. Rotating shaft; 119. Slide plate; 1110. Crossbar; 1111. Connecting block; 1112. Dual-axis motor; 1113. Rewind shaft; 1114. Guide roller; 1115. Pull rope. Detailed Implementation
[0018] The technical solutions of this disclosure will now be clearly and completely described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this disclosure, and not all embodiments.
[0019] The components of the embodiments of this disclosure, which are typically described and shown in the accompanying drawings, can be arranged and designed in a variety of different configurations. Therefore, the following detailed description of embodiments of this disclosure provided in the drawings is not intended to limit the scope of the claimed disclosure, but merely to illustrate selected embodiments of the disclosure.
[0020] All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments in this disclosure without inventive effort are within the scope of protection of this disclosure.
[0021] In the description of this disclosure, it should be noted that the terms "center", "upper", "lower", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "inner", "outer", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing this disclosure 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. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this disclosure.
[0022] In the description of this disclosure, it should be noted that, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "linkage" 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; and they can refer to the internal connection between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this disclosure based on the specific circumstances.
[0023] Example like Figure 1-7As shown, the present invention proposes an ultrasonic welding equipment for automotive wheel arches, comprising a frame 1, on which an indexing rotary table 2 is provided for precise rotational motion. The indexing rotary table 2 adopts a servo indexing drive structure, which has high positioning accuracy and smooth start and stop, and can realize precise intermittent rotation of the workstation. The top of the indexing rotary table 2 is fixedly provided with a material storage bin 3 for temporary storage and rotation of workpieces and a side clamping arm 5 for clamping the fixture. The bottom of the side clamping arm 5 is provided with a fixing plate 4. The side clamping arm 5 is machined in one piece to ensure the verticality of the installation and the coaxiality of the assembly. The fixed plate 4 and the indexing rotary table 2 are fixedly connected. The clamping end of the side clamping arm 5 is equipped with a quick-change interface for connecting different types of jig modules. The quick-change interface adopts a positioning pin and buckle locking structure, which ensures accurate insertion and removal alignment and reliable locking. It can be quickly disassembled and assembled without the aid of tools. There is a jig storage rack on one side of the material storage bin 3. Multiple jig modules that match the quick-change interface are arranged in layers on the jig storage rack. Each jig module has a positioning magnetic ring embedded at the bottom. The jig storage rack is arranged in layers and sections in a neat manner, which can classify and store jigs for wheel arches of different models. The positioning magnetic ring uses magnetic attraction to assist in alignment, further improving the efficiency of jig assembly and positioning. The material handling bin 3 is surrounded by a carrier 6 for mounting the jig. The carrier 6 includes a support surface and a mechanical support base. The support base is made of high-strength aluminum alloy, which is wear-resistant and not easily deformed. It is not prone to positioning deviation after long-term use. The top of the base is provided with a pin hole that matches the positioning magnetic ring. The cooperation between the carrier 6 and the side clamping arm 5 enables quick replacement of the jig. At the same time, the positioning pins of the corresponding pin holes can be replaced according to different models of wheel arches without replacing the entire jig base, which can greatly reduce the cost of use. Only small positioning pins need to be replaced to adapt to wheel arch jigs of different curved surfaces and different specifications, saving the high costs of mold opening, manufacturing, storage and regular maintenance of the entire jig. The front of frame 1 is equipped with a PLC7, an integrated control system. The PLC7 has multiple built-in product recipe programs, allowing for one-click retrieval of different wheel arch welding process parameters. It features logic interlocking, fault alarms, and action sequence control functions to ensure coordinated operation of multiple mechanisms. Frame 1 is equipped with multiple six-axis robotic arms 8 for performing welding and gripping tasks. Multi-station synchronous operation increases production density. Multiple robotic arms operate independently in designated areas while coordinating with each other in sequence, without operational interference, effectively shortening the production cycle time per piece. Displacement sensors are installed on the wrists of the six-axis robotic arms 8 to monitor the welding head's downward pressure depth in real time, ensuring welding consistency. This method is a mature technology in this field, and the displacement sensors employ high-precision inductive detection. The six-axis robotic arm 8 features a real-time feedback mechanism for the downward pressure stroke, closed-loop control of welding depth, and avoidance of manual adjustment errors. Its wrist is equipped with an ultrasonic welding component 9 for completing welding operations. This component integrates a transducer, welding head, and amplitude adjustment module, adapting to the high-frequency fusion welding process for plastic wheel arches. The six-axis robotic arm 8 can adjust its posture to ensure the welding head remains perpendicular to the welding surface, guaranteeing welding consistency and sensor quality. For complex curved surfaces like wheel arches, the robotic arm can flexibly perform pitch and yaw adjustments, maintaining vertical pressure on the welding head at any curved surface point. Displacement sensors control the displacement depth, ensuring welding consistency and providing a basis for welding stability. There are twelve six-axis robotic arms 8, distributed around the material handling bin 3. These twelve six-axis robotic arms are arranged in a circular pattern, covering the entire welding operation area, allowing for simultaneous welding of multiple points on the wheel arch. The wrist of each six-axis robotic arm 8 is equipped with an adsorption structure 10 for picking up the jig. The adsorption structure 10 includes a mounting plate 101. An air pump 102 and an electric push rod 103 are fixedly mounted on the bottom of the mounting plate 101. The air pump 102 provides a stable negative pressure source. A connecting assembly is fixedly mounted on the output end of the electric push rod 103. A suction cup 106 is fixedly mounted on the bottom of the connecting assembly. The connecting assembly includes a horizontal plate 104, which is fixedly connected to the output end of the electric push rod 103. The upper part is equipped with two limiting rods 107, which are used to improve the stability of the movement of the horizontal plate 104. The two limiting rods 107 are fixedly connected to the mounting plate 101. Two connecting rods 105 are fixedly installed at the bottom of the horizontal plate 104. The bottom of the connecting rods 105 is fixedly connected to the suction cup 106. The edge of the suction cup 106 is equipped with a high-precision proximity sensor 108 for real-time detection of the distance between the suction cup 106 and the surface of the tire. The detection threshold of the high-precision proximity sensor 108 is 0.1mm.A 1mm thick hose 109 for gas delivery is fixedly installed on one side of the suction cup 106. The end of the hose 109 away from the suction cup 106 is fixedly connected to the suction end of the air pump 102. The hose 109 is made of a special negative pressure tube that is resistant to bending. It moves flexibly with the robot arm without collapsing or leaking air. When changing the fixture, the PLC7 controls the six-axis robot arm 8 and starts the air pump 102 on one side. The air pump 102 keeps the suction cup 106 under negative pressure through the hose 109. When the suction cup 106 moves to the position of the fixture, the PLC7 controls the height of the suction cup 106 by starting the electric push rod 103. After the suction cup 106 adheres to and adsorbs the fixture, the high-precision proximity sensor 108 transmits a signal to the PLC7. The PLC7 then commands the six-axis robot arm 8 to reset and perform the fixture changing operation. The central area of the suction cup 106 is embedded with a buffer airbag that provides flexible contact cushioning to prevent hard collision damage to the fixture. The pre-inflatable air pressure buffer mechanism absorbs the contact impact force. The buffer airbag has a ring-shaped embedded structure, which does not occupy the adsorption working surface and does not affect the negative pressure adsorption effect. The buffer airbag maintains a pre-inflated air pressure of 0.05-0.1MPa before vacuum adsorption is started to prevent hard contact damage to the surface of the fixture. The bottom of the mounting plate 101 is provided with a support structure 11 to prevent the fixture from falling off. The support structure 11 includes a vertical plate 111, on which a storage groove 112 is provided for storage. A support plate 116 is movably installed in the storage groove 112. Both sides of the inner wall of the storage groove 112 are provided with sliding grooves 113, and the inner wall of the sliding grooves 113 is provided with through grooves 114. A silicone pad 117 is fixedly provided on the top of the support plate 116 to reduce the impact force between the support plate 116 and the fixture. The silicone pad 117 has honeycomb holes for optimizing the cushioning effect. Two support bars 115 for support and guidance are fixedly provided on one side of the vertical plate 111. The support bars 115 are "L" shaped. The support bar 115 serves a dual function of lateral limiting and bottom support. Multiple ball bearings are provided on the side of the support bar 115 near the support plate 116 to reduce resistance. These ball bearings are embedded, converting sliding friction into rolling friction, ensuring smooth and unobstructed sliding of the support plate. Connectors are movably provided on both sides of the support plate 116. Each connector includes a rotating shaft 118, which is rotatably connected to the support plate 116. A sliding plate 119 is rotatably provided at the end of the rotating shaft 118 away from the support plate 116. The sliding plate 119 is movably connected to the slide groove 113. A crossbar 1110 is rotatably provided on one side of the sliding plate 119. One end of the crossbar 1110 passes through the through groove 114 and is fixedly connected to a connecting block 1111. A pull rope 1115 is wound around the winding shaft 1113. One end of the pull rope 1115 is fixedly connected to the connecting block 1111. The connectors are movably connected to the inner walls of both sides of the storage groove 112. A dual-axis motor 1112 is fixedly installed on one side of the plate 111. A take-up shaft 1113 is fixedly installed on both output ends of the dual-axis motor 1112. A guide roller 1114 is movably installed on one side of the take-up shaft 1113. The guide roller 1114 limits and guides the pull rope to prevent the pull rope from deviating, derailing, and wearing. After the six-axis robot 8 picks up the fixture, the PLC 7 starts the dual-axis motor 1112 to rotate counterclockwise. The dual-axis motor 1112 drives the take-up shafts 1113 on both sides to release the pull rope 1115. The support plate 116 slides down along the slide groove 113. When the bottom of the support plate 116 is in contact with the surface of the two support bars 115, the angle between its bottom and the support bars 115 becomes smaller. The continuous feeding of the line makes the support plate 116 fit with the support bars 115. At this time, the support plate 116 is below the suction cup 106, which can prevent the fixture from falling off in the event of a sudden failure of the suction cup 106.
[0024] In operation, the initial preparation is completed through the PLC7 integrated control system on the frame 1. The operator retrieves the corresponding tire module from the tire storage rack according to the tire model. The PLC7 controls the six-axis robot 8 to start the air pump 102 in the suction structure 10, creating negative pressure on the suction cup 106 through the hose 109. At the same time, the electric push rod 103 adjusts the height of the suction cup 106. After confirming that the suction cup 106 is in contact with the tire using a high-precision proximity sensor 108 with an edge detection threshold of 0.1mm, the six-axis robot... The robotic arm 8 transfers the fixture to the carrier 6 of the material handling bin 3. The pin hole on the base of the carrier 6 precisely matches the positioning magnetic ring on the bottom of the fixture. The side clamping arm 5 is connected to the fixture via a quick-change interface and fixed by the fixing plate 4. The dual-axis motor 1112 drives the winding shaft 1113 to release the pull rope 1115, causing the support plate 116 of the bearing structure 11 to slide down the slide groove 113 to the support bar 115 to form a fall protection. The buffer airbag in the center of the suction cup 106 maintains a pre-inflated air pressure of 0.05-0.1MPa to prevent damage to the fixture. After the operator completes the loading of the wheel brow, they press the start button. The pneumatic structure clamps the wheel brow, and the indexing rotary table 2 rotates 90° under absolute value servo drive, accurately transporting the workpiece to the welding station. The three welding stations and one loading and unloading station work together. Twelve six-axis robots 8 start synchronously around the material handling bin 3. Through posture adjustment, they ensure that the welding head of the ultrasonic welding component 9 is always perpendicular to the curved surface of the wheel brow. The displacement sensor on the wrist monitors the pressing depth in real time. With the help of the ultrasonic module, welding is completed in depth mode according to preset parameters. During the welding process, PLC7 collects data such as energy output and amplitude in real time to form a quality traceability data package. If the wheel brow model needs to be changed, PLC7 calls the corresponding formula program. The six-axis robot 8 completes the jig change through the adsorption structure 10. The carrier 6 can directly replace the positioning pin without changing the base. The welding head library realizes automatic switching of welding heads, which greatly shortens the line change time. Finally, the indexing rotary table 2 sends the welded wheel brow to the unloading station. The operator completes the unloading and puts in the new workpiece to continue the welding operation.
[0025] The above specific embodiments are merely several optional embodiments of the present invention. Based on the technical solutions of the present invention and the relevant teachings of the above embodiments, those skilled in the art can make various alternative improvements and combinations to the above specific embodiments.
Claims
1. An ultrasonic welding device for automotive wheel arches, comprising a frame (1), characterized in that: The frame (1) is provided with an indexing rotary table (2) that provides precise rotational motion. The top of the indexing rotary table (2) is fixed with a material storage bin (3) for temporary storage and rotation of workpieces and a side clamping arm (5) for clamping the fixture. The material storage bin (3) is surrounded by a carrier (6) for mounting the fixture. The frame (1) is provided with a plurality of six-axis manipulators (8) for performing welding and gripping tasks. The wrist of the six-axis manipulator (8) is provided with an ultrasonic welding assembly (9) for completing the welding operation. There are twelve six-axis manipulators (8), and the twelve six-axis manipulators (8) are distributed around the material storage bin (3).
2. The ultrasonic welding equipment for automobile wheel arches according to claim 1, characterized in that, The clamping end of the side clamping arm (5) is provided with a quick-change interface for connecting different types of jig modules. The material storage bin (3) has a jig storage rack on one side. Multiple jig modules that match the quick-change interface are arranged in layers on the jig storage rack, and each jig module has a positioning magnetic ring embedded at the bottom.
3. The ultrasonic welding equipment for automobile wheel arches according to claim 2, characterized in that, The carrier (6) includes a support surface and a mechanical support base, the top of which is provided with a pin hole adapted to the positioning magnetic ring.
4. The ultrasonic welding equipment for automobile wheel arches according to claim 1, characterized in that, The wrist of the six-axis manipulator (8) is provided with an adsorption structure (10) for picking up the tire. The adsorption structure (10) includes a mounting plate (101). An air pump (102) and an electric push rod (103) are fixedly provided at the bottom of the mounting plate (101). A connecting component is fixedly provided at the output end of the electric push rod (103). A suction cup (106) is fixedly provided at the bottom of the connecting component. A hose (109) for gas delivery is fixedly provided on one side of the suction cup (106). The end of the hose (109) away from the suction cup (106) is fixedly connected to the air pump (102) at the suction end.
5. The ultrasonic welding equipment for automobile wheel arches according to claim 4, characterized in that, The edge of the suction cup (106) is provided with a high-precision proximity sensor (108) for real-time detection of the distance between the suction cup (106) and the surface of the tire. The detection threshold of the high-precision proximity sensor (108) is 0.1 mm.
6. The ultrasonic welding equipment for automobile wheel arches according to claim 5, characterized in that, The suction cup (106) has a buffer airbag embedded in its central area to provide flexible contact cushioning and prevent hard collision damage to the fixture. The buffer airbag is pre-inflated at a pressure of 0.05-0.1 MPa before vacuum adsorption is started.
7. The ultrasonic welding equipment for automotive wheel arches according to claim 4, characterized in that, The bottom of the mounting plate (101) is provided with a support structure (11) for preventing the fixture from falling off. The support structure (11) includes a vertical plate (111), and the vertical plate (111) is provided with a storage groove (112) for storage. The support plate (116) is movably installed in the storage groove (112).
8. The ultrasonic welding equipment for automobile wheel arches according to claim 7, characterized in that, Two support bars (115) for supporting and guiding are fixedly provided on one side of the vertical plate (111). The support bars (115) are "L" shaped, and the side of the support bars (115) near the bearing plate (116) is provided with multiple balls for reducing resistance.
9. An ultrasonic welding device for automotive wheel arches according to claim 7, characterized in that, Both sides of the support plate (116) are movably provided with connecting parts, which are movably connected to the inner walls of both sides of the storage groove (112). A dual-axis motor (1112) is fixedly provided on one side of the vertical plate (111), and a winding shaft (1113) is fixedly provided on both output ends of the dual-axis motor (1112). A guide roller (1114) is movably provided on one side of the winding shaft (1113).
10. An ultrasonic welding device for automobile wheel arches according to claim 1, characterized in that, The top of the support plate (116) is fixedly provided with a silicone pad (117) for reducing the impact force between the support plate (116) and the jig. The silicone pad (117) is provided with honeycomb holes for optimizing the buffering effect.