Portal splicing device and splicing method thereof

Abstract

This invention belongs to the field of forklift manufacturing and discloses a mast welding device and its welding method. The device includes a mast welding mechanism for welding masts; it includes a base welding assembly with multiple clearance openings; and a lifting and transferring mechanism embedded in the mast welding mechanism and capable of relatively independent movement. The lifting mechanism includes a base frame and a vertically movable lifting frame positioned above the base frame, with a conveying component on its upper surface. The conveying component corresponds to the clearance openings, allowing it to move between positions above and below the base welding surface. This invention, by embedding the lifting and transferring mechanism into the mast welding mechanism and utilizing the vertical movement of the lifting frame to load and unload workpieces, replaces traditional overhead crane hoisting operations with horizontal ground conveying. This not only saves time on scheduling and operating the overhead crane, improving production efficiency, but also eliminates the risk of falls that may occur when lifting heavy objects at height, thus improving operational safety.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of forklift manufacturing, specifically to a mast welding device and welding method. Background Technology

[0002] In the forklift manufacturing industry, mast welding is a common production process. Traditional mast welding typically uses separate welding fixtures. Components such as mast columns to be welded are lifted onto the welding fixture by an overhead crane, positioned, clamped, and welded. After welding, they are then lifted away by the overhead crane. This crane-dependent operation not only requires scheduling, waiting, and operating the crane, making the process cumbersome and inefficient, but also poses potential safety risks during the lifting of heavy workpieces. If a component falls, it could lead to equipment damage and serious personal injury.

[0003] Therefore, there is an urgent need for a gantry welding device that is easy to operate and has low transportation risks. Summary of the Invention

[0004] To address the shortcomings of existing technologies, this invention provides a gantry welding device and its welding method. The gantry welding device, together with the column roller line and the gantry roller line, eliminates the need for hoisting when the column is being added to the line and when the gantry is being removed from the line; it only requires pushing and pushing. This improves production efficiency and eliminates potential safety risks during hoisting.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solution: a gantry welding device, comprising:

[0006] A gantry welding mechanism for welding gantry frames; it includes a base welding assembly, wherein the base welding assembly is provided with multiple clearance openings; The lifting and transferring mechanism is embedded in the gantry welding mechanism and can move relatively independently. It is used to transfer workpieces between the gantry welding mechanism and the external work line. It includes a base frame and a vertically movable lifting frame disposed above the base frame. The upper surface of the lifting frame is provided with a conveying component. The conveying component is positioned corresponding to the clearance opening, allowing the conveying component to move between positions above and below the base welding surface through the clearance opening.

[0007] According to the present invention, the gantry welding mechanism is further provided with positioning and clamping components for positioning and clamping workpieces; the positioning and clamping components include an end positioning device for limiting the lateral displacement of the gantry column, an inner cavity positioning and clamping device for limiting and clamping the gantry column, a top crossbeam component positioning device for positioning the top crossbeam component of the hanging chain plate of the gantry, a middle crossbeam positioning device, and a support positioning and clamping device for positioning the gantry support seat and for clamping the gantry column.

[0008] According to the present invention, the lifting and transplanting mechanism further includes a cylinder, the cylinder seat of which is fixedly connected to the base frame, and the telescopic rod of which is fixedly connected to the lifting frame, for driving the lifting frame to move vertically.

[0009] According to the present invention, it further includes a guiding mechanism, which includes a guide sleeve and a guide shaft that slide against each other. The guide sleeve is mounted on the base frame, and the guide shaft is mounted on the lifting frame to ensure the smooth operation of the lifting frame.

[0010] According to the present invention, the conveying assembly further comprises a plurality of rollers arranged at intervals along the workpiece conveying direction, the rollers being mounted on the top surface of the lifting frame.

[0011] According to the present invention, when the lifting frame rises to the highest point, the upper edge of the roller is aligned with the external conveyor line, allowing the workpiece to be pushed in or pushed out, and the device is in a conveying state; when the lifting frame descends to the lowest point, the roller passes through the clearance opening on the base weld, allowing the workpiece to land on the base weld and be positioned by the positioning clamping component, and the device is in a processing state.

[0012] According to the present invention, the top of the lifting frame is provided with a roller support plate, and the roller is installed on the top surface of the roller support plate.

[0013] In another aspect, the present invention also provides a gantry welding method, employing the aforementioned gantry welding apparatus, comprising the following steps: Conveying preparation: Drive the lifting frame to rise smoothly to the conveying state, so that the conveying component is precisely aligned with the external conveying line; Workpiece loading: Push the gantry column from the external conveyor line onto the conveyor assembly; Lowering and positioning: Drive the lifting frame to lower, so that the conveying component passes through the clearance opening on the base weld, and the gantry column lowers and falls completely on the base weld, where it is clamped and positioned by the positioning clamping component, and the device switches to the processing state; Welding process: While in the processing state, the positioned gantry columns are welded together to form the finished gantry. Finished product ejection: After welding is completed, the lifting frame is driven to rise again to lift the finished gantry frame from the base welding and return to the conveying state; Finished product removal: The finished gantry is pushed off the conveying assembly and onto the downstream finished product conveyor line.

[0014] According to the present invention, further, in the descent positioning step, when the lifting frame descends to near the end positioning device of the gantry welding mechanism, it stops first, and then continues to descend until the gantry column is completely welded onto the base.

[0015] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows: This invention integrates a lifting and transferring mechanism into a gantry welding mechanism and utilizes the vertical movement of the lifting frame to load and unload workpieces, replacing traditional overhead crane hoisting operations with horizontal ground conveying. This not only saves time on scheduling and operating the crane, significantly improving production efficiency, but also eliminates the risk of falls that may arise from hoisting heavy objects at height, thus enhancing operational safety.

[0016] This invention directly mounts the conveying component for horizontal conveying on a vertically movable lifting frame, integrating the horizontal conveying function and the vertical lifting function into one unit. Compared with the existing method of separating the conveying and lifting mechanisms, the overall structure is more compact and has a higher degree of integration.

[0017] The present invention provides a clearance opening on the welding platform of the gantry welding mechanism, so that the conveying component can pass through the platform without interference during the lifting process. This ensures that the handover process is smooth and reliable when the workpiece is switched between the conveying state and the processing state, which is conducive to ensuring the processing accuracy of the workpiece after it is placed.

[0018] This invention eliminates the need for large auxiliary equipment such as overhead cranes for loading and unloading, reducing reliance on related equipment and specialized operators, thereby lowering labor and equipment maintenance costs. The entire process is also smoother, reducing the workload of operators. Attached Figure Description

[0019] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the gantry welding mechanism in this invention; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the base welding structure in the gantry welding mechanism of the present invention; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the lifting and transplanting mechanism in this invention; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the base frame structure in the lifting and transplanting mechanism of the present invention; Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the lifting frame structure in the lifting and transplanting mechanism of the present invention; Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the working state of the present invention. Figure 1 ; Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the working state of the present invention. Figure 2 ; Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the working state of the present invention. Figure 3 ; Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the working state of the present invention. Figure 4 ; Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram of the working state of the present invention. Figure 5 . Detailed Implementation

[0020] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0021] like Figures 1 to 6 As shown in the illustration, this application provides a gantry welding device, aiming to solve the technical problems of low production efficiency and potential safety risks caused by relying on overhead cranes or hoists to lift workpieces in processes such as forklift gantry welding. The gantry welding device includes a gantry welding mechanism 1 and a lifting and transferring mechanism 2 embedded therein and moving relatively independently. The gantry welding mechanism 1 is mainly used for welding the gantry, while the lifting and transferring mechanism 2 is mainly used for conveying the columns and the gantry assembly. The two are both independent of each other and combined into an integrated tooling, with a compact structure and efficient floor space utilization.

[0022] The gantry welding mechanism 1 includes a base welding assembly 13, which is a steel structure platform on which positioning and clamping components for positioning and clamping gantry workpieces are provided. In order to work in conjunction with the lifting and transferring mechanism 2, the surface of the base welding assembly 13 is provided with several square holes 131 as clearance openings to provide clearance space for the moving parts of the lifting and transferring mechanism 2.

[0023] Specifically, the positioning and clamping components include an end positioning device 11 for limiting the lateral displacement of the gantry column, an inner cavity positioning and clamping device 16 for limiting and clamping the gantry column, a top crossbeam component positioning device 15 for positioning the top crossbeam component of the hanging chain plate of the gantry, a middle crossbeam positioning device 17, and a support seat positioning and clamping device 19 for positioning the gantry support seat and clamping the gantry column. Two sets of matching inner cavity limiting devices 12 are provided inside the support seat positioning and clamping device 19, with each device corresponding to one of the inner cavity limiting devices 12, clamping the left end of the gantry column. The inclusion of these dedicated positioning and clamping components allows the device to adapt well to the complex shape of the gantry, ensuring that the relative positional accuracy of all components meets process requirements before welding. Compared to solutions using only a general-purpose platform, this specialized design significantly improves the quality and consistency of the final welded product and reduces the scrap rate caused by inaccurate positioning.

[0024] Because the top beam positioning device 15 often needs to slide due to the different lengths of the gantry, its width must be less than the inner width of the two sets of lifting frames 22 in order to avoid interference with the lifting frame 22 during the sliding process.

[0025] like Figure 4 As shown, the gantry transplanting mechanism 2 includes a base frame 21 and a lifting frame 22 mounted on it and movable in the vertical direction. The base frame 21 is fixed to the ground or equipment foundation by bolts or other means, providing stable support for the entire transplanting mechanism; the lifting frame 22 is the main component for carrying and transporting the gantry.

[0026] Specifically, a cylinder 24 is installed between the base frame 21 and the lifting frame 22. The cylinder seat of the cylinder 24 is fixedly connected to the base frame 21, and the telescopic rod of the cylinder 24 is fixedly connected to the lifting frame 22. By installing the cylinder 24 between the lifting frame 22 and the base frame 21, it is ensured that the lifting frame 22 can only move vertically up and down smoothly under the pushing and pulling action of the cylinder 24, without tilting or swaying, thus ensuring that the lifting frame 22 runs smoothly and reliably on the base frame 21.

[0027] Furthermore, it also includes a cylinder mounting plate 211 disposed at the bottom of the cylinder seat of the cylinder 24, a connecting plate 212 fixedly connected to the gantry welding mechanism 1, and a telescopic rod mounting plate 221 mounted on the lifting frame 22. The telescopic rod of the cylinder 24 and the guide shaft described below are both connected to the telescopic rod mounting plate 221.

[0028] Furthermore, a guide mechanism 23 is provided between the lifting frame 22 and the base frame 21. The guide mechanism 23 includes a guide sleeve and a guide shaft that moves along its axial direction. The guide sleeve of the guide mechanism 23 is fixedly connected to the cylinder mounting plate 211, and the guide shaft of the guide mechanism 23 is fixedly connected to the lifting frame 22. When the lifting frame 22 moves, the guide shaft slides within the guide sleeve. This rigid connection effectively resists lateral forces or torques that may occur during the lifting process, preventing the lifting frame 22 from tilting or swaying. By setting the guide mechanism 23, not only can the workpiece be smoothly lowered into the positioning point during the descent, improving the reliability of positioning, but abnormal wear and impact between moving parts are also avoided, extending the service life of the equipment.

[0029] In this embodiment, a plurality of rollers 25 arranged at intervals along the workpiece conveying direction are mounted on the upper surface of the lifting frame 22. Specifically, the rollers 25 are mounted on the roller support plate 222 of the lifting frame 22, and these rollers 25 together constitute the conveying assembly in this embodiment. The workpiece can be easily pushed horizontally on these rollers 25. Roller conveying is a non-contact, flexible conveying method that minimizes damage to the bottom surface of the workpiece. The conveying assembly can also employ a universal ball bearing array or a miniature conveyor belt. With universal ball bearings, the workpiece can not only move back and forth but also be finely adjusted by left and right translation, facilitating alignment and making operation more flexible. With a miniature conveyor belt, the entry and exit of workpieces can be automated. Driven by a motor, the conveyor belt requires no manual pushing or pulling, resulting in a higher degree of automation and further improving production efficiency.

[0030] When the telescopic rod of cylinder 24 extends, it pushes the lifting frame 22 to its highest point, at which point the device is in conveying mode. In this mode, the upper edge of the roller 25 on the lifting frame 22 is at the same height as the external conveyor line (not shown), and the workpiece can be smoothly pushed from the external conveyor line onto the roller 25.

[0031] Once the workpiece is pushed into the appropriate position, the telescopic rod of the control cylinder 24 retracts, pulling the lifting frame 22 down to its lowest point. At this point, the device switches to processing mode. During the descent, the roller 25 passes through the square hole 131 on the support platform 13, causing the workpiece to decrease in height and finally land smoothly on the support surface of the support platform 13, where it is precisely positioned by the aforementioned positioning and clamping components. At this point, the workpiece is completely supported and fixed by the workpiece processing mechanism 1, and welding operations can be performed.

[0032] After welding is completed, the telescopic rod of cylinder 24 is extended again, and the lifting frame 22 rises, lifting the welded gantry from the carrying platform 13 and returning it to the conveying state. Then, the operator can easily push the finished product from roller 25 to the downstream finished product conveyor line. This series of actions completely replaces traditional overhead crane hoisting, not only shortening the loading and unloading time per cycle but also improving production efficiency and avoiding the danger of heavy objects falling from heights.

[0033] In this embodiment, the cylinder can be replaced by an electric push rod or a lead screw motor mechanism. The lead screw motor mechanism driven by a servo motor allows for programming of the speed curve of the lifting frame 22, achieving flexible movements of rapid lifting, slow stopping, rapid lowering, and slow stopping, minimizing impact on the workpiece. Simultaneously, electric drive consumes less energy and operates with lower noise. This invention allows for flexible configuration of the drive method based on the user's cost budget, automation level requirements, and workshop conditions.

[0034] The working process of this invention is as follows Figures 7 to 11As shown, by manipulating the cylinder valve, the telescopic rod of the cylinder 24 is extended, and the lifting frame 22 rises smoothly to the conveying state under the drive of the guide mechanism 23 and the cylinder 24, and the roller 25 on it is precisely aligned with the roller line of the gantry column upstream. Two paired gantry columns are pushed onto the roller 25 of the device from the outer roller line. The valve of cylinder 24 is operated to lower the lifting frame 22, stopping it just before it approaches the end positioning device 11 of the gantry welding mechanism. Figure 8 As shown; during the descent, the roller 25 precisely passes through the square hole 131 of the base welding 13, and the gantry column descends accordingly, finally landing steadily on the base welding 13, where it is automatically clamped by the positioning and clamping devices, and the device switches to the processing state; wherein, the roller 25 on the lifting and transferring mechanism will separate from the lower surface of the gantry column, and the gantry column will fall completely on the gantry welding mechanism 1, as shown. Figure 9 As shown; Then weld the gantry frame using the normal welding method, such as... Figure 10 As shown; Then, the telescopic rod of cylinder 24 is extended again, and the lifting frame 22 rises, smoothly lifting the finished gantry weighing hundreds of kilograms from the base welding 13, returning it to the conveying state; the operator easily pushes the welded finished gantry onto the downstream finished product conveyor line, waiting for transfer. Thus, a complete, efficient, and safe work cycle ends.

[0035] Although embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications, substitutions and alterations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A gantry welding device, characterized in that, include: A gantry welding mechanism (1) is used for welding gantry frames; It includes a base weld (13) having a plurality of clearance openings; The lifting and transplanting mechanism (2) is embedded in the gantry welding mechanism (1) and can move relatively independently. It is used to transfer workpieces between the gantry welding mechanism (1) and the external work line. It includes a base frame (21) and a vertically movable lifting frame (22) set above the base frame (21). The upper surface of the lifting frame (22) is provided with a conveying component. The position of the conveying component corresponds to the position of the clearance opening, so that the conveying component can move through the clearance opening between positions above and below the base welding (13) surface.

2. The gantry welding device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The gantry welding mechanism (1) is provided with positioning and clamping components for positioning and clamping workpieces; the positioning and clamping components include an end positioning device (11) for limiting the left and right displacement of the gantry column, an inner cavity positioning and clamping device (16) for limiting and clamping the gantry column, a top crossbeam component positioning device (15) for positioning the top crossbeam component of the hanging chain plate of the gantry, a middle crossbeam positioning device (17), and a support seat positioning and clamping device (19) for positioning the gantry support seat and for clamping the gantry column.

3. The gantry welding device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The lifting and transplanting mechanism (2) also includes a cylinder (24), whose cylinder seat is fixedly connected to the base frame (21), and whose telescopic rod is fixedly connected to the lifting frame (22), for driving the lifting frame (22) to move vertically.

4. The gantry welding device according to claim 3, characterized in that: It also includes a guide mechanism (23), which includes a guide sleeve and a guide shaft that slide together. The guide sleeve is installed on the base frame (21), and the guide shaft is installed on the lifting frame (22) to ensure that the lifting frame (22) operates smoothly.

5. The gantry welding device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The conveying assembly consists of several rollers (25) arranged at intervals along the workpiece conveying direction, and the rollers (25) are mounted on the top surface of the lifting frame (22).

6. The gantry welding device according to claim 1, characterized in that: When the lifting frame (22) rises to the highest point, the upper edge of the roller (25) is aligned with the external conveyor line, allowing the workpiece to be pushed in or pushed out, and the device is in the conveying state; when the lifting frame (22) descends to the lowest point, the roller (25) passes through the clearance opening on the base weld (13), allowing the workpiece to land on the base weld (13) and be positioned by the positioning clamping component, and the device is in the processing state.

7. The gantry welding device according to claim 5, characterized in that: The top of the lifting frame (22) is provided with a roller support plate (222), and the roller (25) is installed on the top surface of the roller support plate (222).

8. A method for welding a gantry frame, using the gantry welding apparatus as described in any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: Conveying preparation: Drive the lifting frame (22) to rise smoothly to the conveying state, so that the conveying component is precisely aligned with the external conveying line; Workpiece loading: Push the gantry column from the external conveyor line onto the conveyor assembly, and stop when it is about to approach the end positioning device of the gantry welding mechanism; Lowering and positioning: Drive the lifting frame (22) to lower, so that the conveying component passes through the clearance opening on the base weld (13), and the gantry column lowers and falls completely on the base weld (13), where it is clamped and positioned by the positioning clamping component, and the device switches to the processing state; Welding process: While in the processing state, the positioned gantry columns are welded together to form the finished gantry. Finished product ejection: After welding is completed, the lifting frame (22) is driven to rise again to lift the finished gantry from the base weld (13) and return to the conveying state; Finished product removal: The finished gantry is pushed off the conveying assembly and onto the downstream finished product conveyor line.

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