Gantry type welding device

Abstract

The utility model provides a gantry type welding device. The gantry type welding device comprises a guide rail, a gantry frame arranged on the guide rail in a sliding mode and welding equipment arranged on the gantry frame. The welding equipment comprises a welding gun, a wire feeder, a welding wire reel, a welding wire barrel, a gun cleaning and wire shearing machine and a water cooling machine. A power line of the water cooling machine, a power line of the welding gun, a power line of the wire feeder and a power line of the gun cleaning and wire shearing machine are all connected with a power distribution cabinet arranged on the ground; all the power lines are fixed on the portal frame through fixers and are arranged along a cross beam and stand columns of the portal frame. According to the gantry type welding device provided by the utility model, the mounting position of the welding equipment is adjusted, so that the mounting and operation convenience of the welding equipment is improved, the size of the gantry is reduced, and the maintenance difficulty of the welding equipment is also reduced. And pipelines are arranged according to the mounting position of the welding equipment, so that the operation convenience and the overall tidiness and attractiveness of the welding equipment can be improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of welding technology, and more specifically, to a gantry welding device. Background Technology

[0002] Gantry welding equipment is a large-scale welding device primarily used for the efficient and precise welding of large workpieces. It is equipped with tracks along which the gantry frame can move longitudinally (X-axis), while the welding torch (welding head, etc.) can move laterally (Y-axis) along the crossbeams of the gantry frame. Some gantry welding equipment also includes a vertical (Z-axis) motion mechanism for adjusting the height of the welding head. This multi-axis movement allows gantry welding equipment to flexibly cover a large welding area and precisely position itself at any point on the workpiece requiring welding.

[0003] In addition to welding torches, the gantry crane also houses core components such as wire feeders, torch cleaning and wire cutting machines, wire spools, and wire drums. Each core component is connected to pipelines, including cooling water pipes, shielding gas pipes, compressed air pipes, and electrical cables. The gantry crane contains a variety of core components (mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, etc.), and the number of pipelines connecting these components is even greater, with different starting and ending points for each pipeline. This results in a complex structure for the gantry welding equipment, making maintenance difficult. Furthermore, the control cabinets (such as lasers and laser chillers) of the gantry welding equipment are placed on a platform connected to and accompanying the gantry crane, causing the gantry crane to be too large, requiring significant installation space and increasing production costs. Utility Model Content

[0004] To address the aforementioned problems, this utility model provides a gantry welding device, comprising: a guide rail, a gantry frame slidably mounted on the guide rail, and welding equipment mounted on the gantry frame, wherein the welding equipment includes:

[0005] A welding torch is mounted on a fixed interface on a slider, which is mounted on a guide rail on the crossbeam of the gantry frame and can slide along the guide rail.

[0006] A wire feeder is installed on the crossbeam of the gantry frame, and the wire outlet of the wire feeder is connected to the wire inlet of the welding torch through a flexible conduit.

[0007] A welding wire spool is mounted on the frame of the wire feeder via a mounting shaft; the welding wire spool is provided with a wire guiding device, through which the welding wire in the spool is guided to the wire inlet of the wire feeder;

[0008] A welding wire hopper is installed on the gantry frame, and a tension control device is installed on the gantry frame. The welding wire in the welding wire hopper is guided to the wire inlet of the wire feeder after the tension of the welding wire is adjusted by the tension control device.

[0009] A gun cleaning and wire cutting machine, wherein the gun cleaning and wire cutting machine is fixed to a gantry frame by bolts;

[0010] A water chiller is fixed to a gantry frame by bolts. The water outlet pipe of the water chiller is connected to the water inlet of the welding torch, and the water return pipe of the water chiller is connected to the water outlet of the welding torch.

[0011] The power cords of the water chiller, the welding torch, the wire feeder, and the cleaning and wire cutting machine are all connected to a power distribution cabinet located on the ground; all power cords are fixed to the gantry frame by fasteners and are arranged along the crossbeams and columns of the gantry frame.

[0012] Optionally, the flexible conduit is a spiral tube made of metal or plastic that can bend as the welding torch moves, and both ends of the flexible conduit are fitted with threaded or snap-fit ​​interfaces that match the wire feeder or the welding torch.

[0013] Optionally, the fastener is a cable tray, cable chain, or corrugated pipe, and the fastener is installed on the outer wall of the column of the gantry frame.

[0014] Optionally, the wire feeder includes: a motor, a wire feeding wheel, and a clamping device;

[0015] The output shaft of the motor is connected to the central shaft of the wire feeding wheel via a coupling; the clamping device is located above the wire feeding wheel, and the clamping device applies pressure to make the welding wire contact the wire feeding wheel.

[0016] Optionally, the welding wire spool is provided with a connecting device;

[0017] The inlet of the connecting device is sealed to the wire outlet of the welding wire hopper; the outlet of the connecting device is sealed to the wire inlet of the wire feeder.

[0018] Optionally, it also includes: a sensing unit;

[0019] The sensing unit includes a tactile sensor and a temperature sensor mounted at the end of the welding torch;

[0020] The output signal of the sensing unit is transmitted to the power distribution cabinet through the first transmission line, which is fixed to the gantry frame by a fixture and arranged along the crossbeams and columns of the gantry frame.

[0021] Optionally, it also includes: a vision camera;

[0022] The vision camera is mounted on the slider of the crossbeam, and the output signal of the vision camera is transmitted to the power distribution cabinet through the second transmission line. The second transmission line is fixed to the gantry frame by a fixture and is arranged along the crossbeam and column of the gantry frame.

[0023] Optionally, it also includes: a sunshade;

[0024] The light shield is mounted on the slider of the crossbeam, and the light shield is provided with an observation window.

[0025] Optionally, it also includes: a protective screen;

[0026] The protective screen is installed on the crossbeam, and the downward projection area of ​​the protective screen covers the area where the welding torch moves on the gantry.

[0027] Optionally, it may also include: a tool rack;

[0028] The tool rack is fixedly installed on the column of the gantry frame.

[0029] The beneficial effects of this gantry welding device are: by adjusting the installation position of the welding equipment, the convenience of installation and operation is improved; the size of the gantry frame is reduced, and the difficulty of maintenance is also reduced. Laying pipelines according to the installation position of the welding equipment can improve the ease of operation and the overall neatness and aesthetics of the welding equipment. Attached Figure Description

[0030] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a gantry welding device according to an embodiment of the present utility model. Detailed Implementation

[0031] To make the above-mentioned objects, features, and advantages of this utility model more apparent and understandable, specific embodiments of this utility model will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Although some embodiments of this utility model are shown in the drawings, it should be understood that this utility model can be implemented in various forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided to provide a more thorough and complete understanding of this utility model. It should be understood that the accompanying drawings and embodiments of this utility model are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of this utility model.

[0032] It should be understood that the steps described in the method embodiments of this utility model may be performed in different orders and / or in parallel. Furthermore, the method embodiments may include additional steps and / or omit the steps shown. The scope of this utility model is not limited in this respect.

[0033] The term "comprising" and its variations as used herein are open-ended, meaning "including but not limited to"; the term "based on" means "at least partially based on"; the term "one embodiment" means "at least one embodiment"; the term "another embodiment" means "at least one additional embodiment"; the term "some embodiments" means "at least some embodiments"; and the term "optionally" means "optional embodiments". Definitions of other terms will be given in the following description. It should be noted that the concepts of "first," "second," etc., mentioned in this utility model are only used to distinguish different devices, modules, or units, and are not used to limit the order of functions performed by these devices, modules, or units or their interdependencies.

[0034] It should be noted that the terms "one" and "multiple" used in this utility model are illustrative rather than restrictive. Those skilled in the art should understand that, unless otherwise expressly indicated in the context, they should be understood as "one or more".

[0035] To address the problems existing in the aforementioned related technologies, this embodiment provides a gantry welding device, including: a guide rail, a gantry frame slidably mounted on the guide rail, and welding equipment mounted on the gantry frame. The guide rail provides precise guidance for the movement of the gantry frame. The accuracy of the guide rail directly affects the movement accuracy of the gantry frame and the welding quality. In this embodiment, the guide rail includes linear guide rails and dovetail guide rails. Linear guide rails have characteristics such as high precision, low friction, and high rigidity, ensuring the straightness and stability of the gantry frame during movement. Dovetail guide rails have better load-bearing capacity and guiding properties, suitable for situations requiring heavy loads. The guide rail surface is typically precision machined and hardened to improve its hardness and wear resistance, and is lubricated to reduce friction and wear. The welding equipment includes:

[0036] The welding torch 13 is mounted on a fixed interface on a slider, which is mounted on a guide rail on the crossbeam of the gantry frame and can slide along the guide rail.

[0037] It should be noted that the welding torch 13 acts directly on the welding area and is the executing component for welding. In this embodiment, the welding torch 13 includes a conductive tip, a shielding gas nozzle, and an insulating shell. The conductive tip is used to conduct welding current to the welding wire, and the shielding gas nozzle is used to uniformly spray shielding gas (such as carbon dioxide, argon, etc.) onto the welding area to prevent air from entering the molten pool and causing defects such as porosity. The insulating shell is used to isolate the conductive tip and prevent direct contact with the conductive tip from causing electric shock.

[0038] In this embodiment, the welding torch 13 can slide within a certain range on the crossbeam of the gantry, thereby adjusting its position. Based on this, a slider is installed on the guide rail of the crossbeam of the gantry, and the slider can slide along the guide rail. The welding torch 13 is installed at a fixed interface on the slider. Through this slider connection method, not only can the position of the welding torch 13 be adjusted in the crossbeam direction, but it can also be ensured that the welding torch 13 can move stably along with the slider when the gantry moves longitudinally. It is understood that the fitting precision between the slider and the guide rail is required to be high. In this embodiment, a linear guide rail and a slider matching the guide rail are used, and the guide rail and slider are lubricated and dustproofed to reduce friction and prevent dust and other impurities from affecting the sliding performance of the slider.

[0039] Wire feeder 12 is installed on the crossbeam of the gantry frame, and the wire outlet of the wire feeder 12 is connected to the wire inlet of the welding torch 13 through a flexible conduit.

[0040] In this embodiment, the wire feeder 12 is used to transport welding wire to the welding area. The wire feeder 12 can typically be mounted on the uprights or beams of a gantry frame. It can be fixed to the uprights or beams of the gantry frame with bolts. The uprights or beams of the gantry frame have pre-machined screw holes for fixing the base of the wire feeder 12.

[0041] The welding wire is fed between the wire feeder 12 and the welding torch 13 via a flexible conduit. In this embodiment, the flexible conduit is a spiral tube made of metal or plastic, which can bend as the welding torch 13 moves, while ensuring that the welding wire passes smoothly through the flexible conduit. Threaded or snap-fit ​​interfaces matching the wire feeder 12 and the welding torch 13 are installed at both ends of the flexible conduit. The threaded or snap-fit ​​connection ensures a tight connection, preventing jamming or leakage of the welding wire during transport.

[0042] In this embodiment, the wire feeder 12 includes a motor, a wire feeding wheel, and a clamping device. The output shaft of the motor is connected to the central shaft of the wire feeding wheel via a coupling. A coupling is a mechanical device that can securely connect two shafts together while allowing for a certain degree of axial and radial misalignment. In this embodiment, an elastic coupling is used to compensate for minor misalignment between the output shaft of the motor and the central shaft of the wire feeding wheel, and it can absorb some vibration when transmitting torque, making the wire feeding process smoother.

[0043] The clamping device is located above the wire feeding wheel. It applies pressure to bring the welding wire into contact with the feeding wheel. During wire feeding, the clamping device applies pressure to the welding wire, ensuring sufficient friction between the wire and the feeding wheel to prevent slippage. The motor drives the wire feeding wheel to rotate, pushing the welding wire forward through the friction between the wheel and the wire.

[0044] The welding wire spool 9 is mounted on the frame of the wire feeder 12 via a mounting shaft; the welding wire spool 9 is provided with a wire guiding device, and the welding wire in the welding wire spool 9 is guided to the wire inlet of the wire feeder 12 by the wire guiding device.

[0045] In this embodiment, the mounting shaft is made of metal, and one end is fixed to the frame of the wire feeder 12. The mounting shaft is equipped with bearings or bushings corresponding to its shaft diameter to ensure flexible rotation of the bearings or bushings. A through hole is provided in the center of the welding wire spool 9. The through hole fits onto the bearing or bushing of the mounting shaft. Furthermore, to prevent axial displacement of the welding wire spool 9 during rotation, a stepped shoulder is provided on the mounting shaft in this embodiment. A retaining spring and other limiting devices are provided on the frame of the wire feeder 12. One side of the welding wire spool 9 is tightly abutted against the stepped shoulder, and the other side is secured with an elastic retaining spring, allowing the welding wire spool 9 to be stably mounted on the shaft and to rotate freely.

[0046] After the welding wire is drawn from the wire spool 9, it is guided to the wire feed port of the wire feeder 12 by the wire guide device on the wire spool 9. The wire guide device ensures that the welding wire is drawn from the wire spool 9 and maintains its direction, preventing the welding wire from tangling or knotting. In this embodiment, the wire guide device is a plastic bend tube. The welding wire is drawn from the edge of the wire spool 9 and enters the plastic bend tube. The outlet direction of the plastic bend tube is directly opposite the wire feed port of the wire feeder 12.

[0047] A welding wire hopper 10 is installed on the gantry frame, and a tension control device is installed on the gantry frame. The welding wire in the welding wire hopper 10 is guided to the wire inlet of the wire feeder 12 after the tension of the welding wire is adjusted by the tension control device.

[0048] In this embodiment, to ensure stable tension of the welding wire during the feeding process, a tension control device is provided between the welding wire hopper 10 and the wire feeder 12. The tension control device includes a spring and a pulley. After the welding wire is drawn out from the welding wire hopper 10, it first passes through the tension control device. When the tension of the welding wire changes, for example, due to changes in the amount of welding wire remaining in the welding wire hopper 10 or fluctuations in the wire feeding speed of the wire feeder 12, the spring in the tension control device will extend or retract accordingly, and the tension of the welding wire will be adjusted through the pulley, so that the welding wire can enter the wire feeder 12 with a relatively stable tension, thereby ensuring the uniformity of wire feeding.

[0049] Furthermore, the welding wire hopper 10 is equipped with a connecting device. Specifically, the wire outlet of the welding wire hopper 10 is fitted with a sealed connecting device. The inlet of the connecting device is sealed to the wire outlet of the welding wire hopper 10; good sealing between the two is necessary to prevent air from entering the welding wire hopper 10 and causing oxidation of the welding wire. The outlet of the connecting device is sealed to the wire inlet of the wire feeder 12. It should be noted that some welding wire hoppers 10 have a metal tube with a rubber sealing ring at the wire outlet, which can be inserted into the corresponding tube of the wire feeder 12 and fastened by threads or snaps, allowing the welding wire to smoothly enter the wire feeder 12 from the welding wire hopper 10.

[0050] Understandably, the wire spool 9 is a storage device for welding wire. It is typically used for storing small rolls of welding wire and is disc-shaped. The wire drum 10, on the other hand, is used to store large quantities of welding wire, suitable for applications requiring continuous welding over extended periods. Both the wire drum 10 and the wire spool 9 ensure a smooth supply of welding wire during the feeding process and provide some protection against moisture and oxidation. For example, in welding processes requiring high-quality welding wire, such as stainless steel welding, the storage environment needs to be kept dry, making the airtightness of the wire drum 10 or wire spool 9 particularly important.

[0051] The cleaning gun and wire cutting machine 15 is fixed to the gantry frame by bolts.

[0052] It should be noted that the torch cleaning and wire cutting machine 15 is used to clean the contact tip of the welding torch 13 and cut off the oxidized portion or excess welding wire at the end of the welding wire. During welding, the contact tip of the welding torch 13 is easily clogged by spatter, affecting the flow of shielding gas and welding quality. The torch cleaning and wire cutting machine 15 can periodically clean the welding torch 13 to ensure its normal operation. At the same time, the torch cleaning and wire cutting machine 15 is used to cut off the defective portion (oxidized portion or excess portion) at the end of the welding wire. This ensures that the shielding gas can evenly cover the welding area during the next welding operation, and that the welding wire can smoothly initiate the arc and weld.

[0053] In this embodiment, the cleaning gun wire cutter 15 is fixedly connected to the gantry frame by bolts. Specifically, the uprights of the gantry frame have pre-drilled mounting holes, and the body of the cleaning gun wire cutter 15 is provided with corresponding mounting ears. Bolts are used to pass through the ears and holes to firmly fix the cleaning gun wire cutter 15 to the uprights, so that it can move together with the gantry frame.

[0054] To facilitate the quick and convenient access of the welding torch 13 to the torch cleaning and wire cutting machine 15 for cleaning and wire cutting after welding operations, in this embodiment, the torch cleaning and wire cutting machine 15 is installed on one or both sides of the gantry frame near the working area of ​​the welding torch 13, thereby reducing the distance and time required for the welding torch 13 to move and improving work efficiency.

[0055] The water chiller 7 is fixed to the gantry frame by bolts. The water outlet pipe of the water chiller 7 is connected to the water inlet of the welding torch 13, and the water return pipe of the water chiller 7 is connected to the water outlet of the welding torch 13.

[0056] In this embodiment, the water chiller 7 is bolted to the gantry frame to ensure its stability during operation and prevent vibration or movement from affecting the normal operation of the water cooling system. The water outlet pipe of the water chiller 7 is connected to the water inlet of the welding torch 13, and the water return pipe of the water chiller 7 is connected to the water outlet of the welding torch 13, forming a complete cooling circulation loop. Quick-connect fittings or threaded fittings with good sealing performance are used for connection to prevent leakage. The water chiller 7 is connected to the welding torch 13 on the gantry frame via water pipes. The water pipes are arranged along the uprights of the gantry frame and fixed to it, ensuring neatness and preventing shaking. It is understood that the water chiller 7 needs to be powered to operate. Its power cord can be laid along the gantry frame via cable trays 17 or cable bridges and connected to the distribution cabinet. It is essential to ensure that the electrical connection complies with safety regulations and that grounding is adequate.

[0057] It should be noted that during laser welding or high-current arc welding, certain components of the welding equipment (such as the laser generator and welding torch 13) generate a large amount of heat. The water chiller 7 removes this heat through circulating coolant, preventing overheating and damage to the equipment. For example, during laser welding, the optical components of the laser generator are highly sensitive to temperature; the water chiller 7 can precisely control their temperature, ensuring the stability of the laser output and the quality of the beam. The water chiller 7 typically includes a water tank, a water pump, a radiator, and a temperature controller. The water pump delivers coolant to the equipment components that need cooling, absorbs heat, and then dissipates it through the radiator. The temperature controller adjusts the cooling intensity according to the set temperature range.

[0058] In this embodiment, the power cords of the water chiller 7, welding torch 13, wire feeder 12, and wire cleaning and shearing machine 15 are all connected to the power distribution panel 4 (PDP) located on the ground. All power cords are fixed to the gantry frame by fasteners and are arranged along the crossbeams and columns of the gantry frame. Specifically, the fasteners are cable trays 17, cable chains 18, or corrugated pipes, and are installed on the outer wall of the columns of the gantry frame.

[0059] The power distribution cabinet 4 is responsible for the power distribution and management of the entire welding equipment. It rationally distributes the input power to provide a stable power supply to various equipment components such as the welding power supply and water chiller 7. At the same time, it can also monitor power parameters such as voltage and current, and provide protection in case of power abnormalities, such as overload protection and short circuit protection.

[0060] It is understood that the gantry welding device provided in this embodiment includes a welding power source, an MCP (Machine Control Panel) cabinet 8, and a margin control cabinet.

[0061] The welding power source is the key power source of a gantry welding rig. It provides the electrical energy required for the welding process, outputting appropriate voltage and current depending on the welding technique (e.g., arc welding, laser welding). For example, in arc welding, the performance of the welding power source directly affects quality indicators such as weld penetration and width. Its output characteristics can be constant current or constant voltage. A constant current power source maintains a stable welding current during welding and is suitable for welding processes requiring high penetration, such as thick plate welding; a constant voltage power source is more suitable for thin plate welding and other applications requiring high arc stability. Understandably, the power of the welding power source is selected based on the actual welding task. For welding large workpieces or applications requiring high welding speeds, a higher power welding power source is typically needed to ensure sufficient energy to melt the welding wire and base material.

[0062] MCP cabinet 8 is used to control the mechanical parts of the equipment, such as the movement of the gantry and the clamping and releasing of workpieces. It can set parameters such as the speed and stroke of mechanical movement, and has certain safety interlock functions to ensure the safe and reliable operation of the equipment.

[0063] The margin control cabinet may also include some auxiliary equipment for special process control (laser water chiller 1, laser 2, industrial control cabinet 3, voltage stabilizer 5 and hydraulic station 6) depending on the specific function and configuration of the welding equipment. These auxiliary devices work together to achieve comprehensive control of the gantry welding equipment.

[0064] The aforementioned gantry welding device, by adjusting the installation position of the welding equipment, improves the convenience of installation and operation, reduces the size of the gantry frame, and decreases the difficulty of maintenance. Laying out pipelines according to the installation position of the welding equipment further enhances the ease of operation and overall aesthetics, and further reduces the difficulty of maintenance.

[0065] In one alternative embodiment, the gantry welding device further includes a sensing unit 14.

[0066] The sensing unit 14 includes a tactile sensor and a temperature sensor mounted on the end of the welding torch 13. The output signal of the sensing unit 14 is transmitted to the power distribution cabinet 4 through a first transmission line, which is fixed to the gantry frame by a fixture and arranged along the crossbeams and columns of the gantry frame.

[0067] Specifically, the sensing unit 14 is installed at the end of the welding torch 13 (the end furthest from the contact tip) to sense physical quantities such as force and temperature during the welding process. In this embodiment, the sensing unit 14 includes a tactile sensor and a temperature sensor. The tactile sensor is used to detect the contact force between the welding torch 13 and the workpiece. During the welding process, when the contact force changes, it may mean that the workpiece surface is uneven or the position of the welding torch 13 is deviated. The tactile sensor can feed this information back to the power distribution cabinet 4 (specifically, to the control system in the power distribution cabinet). The temperature sensor is used to monitor the temperature change in the welding area. For welding processes that are sensitive to heat input, temperature control can prevent welding defects caused by overheating.

[0068] In one alternative embodiment, the gantry welding apparatus further includes a vision camera 16.

[0069] The vision camera 16 is mounted on the slider of the crossbeam. The output signal of the vision camera 16 is transmitted to the power distribution cabinet 4 through the second transmission line. The second transmission line is fixed to the gantry frame by a fixture and is arranged along the crossbeam and column of the gantry frame.

[0070] In this embodiment, the vision camera 16 is used for visual inspection and positioning of the workpiece to be welded. Before welding, the vision camera 16 can acquire information such as the shape, size, and position of the workpiece, providing data support for welding path planning. During the welding process, the vision camera 16 can monitor the weld formation in real time, such as weld width, weld height, and whether there are defects. For example, in high-precision welding tasks, the vision camera 16 can detect weld deviations at the micrometer level and then feed this information back to the welding equipment to adjust welding parameters or the position of the welding torch 13 in a timely manner, ensuring welding quality. It is understood that the vision camera 16 generally works by using optical imaging and then employing image processing algorithms to extract the required information.

[0071] To allow for more flexible adjustment of the vision camera 16, it is mounted on a slider that slides along the crossbeam. The slider is mounted on the guide rail of the gantry crossbeam, and the vision camera 16 is fixed to the slider by a bracket. This method allows the vision camera 16 to move not only longitudinally with the gantry but also to be adjusted in the crossbeam direction. When welding workpieces of different sizes and shapes, the shooting position of the vision camera 16 can be changed by moving the slider to obtain the best visual effect. Simultaneously, a locking device can be equipped on the slider to lock it after the vision camera 16 is positioned, preventing the camera from shifting during the welding process.

[0072] In one alternative embodiment, the gantry welding apparatus further includes a light shield. The light shield is mounted on the slider of the crossbeam and has an observation window.

[0073] Intense arc light is generated during welding. In this embodiment, a light shield is used to protect the operator's eyes and skin from arc light damage. The light shield is mounted on the slider of the crossbeam and close to the welding torch 13. The light shield can effectively block the arc light generated during welding, and the light shield is equipped with an observation window, which allows the operator to observe the welding process to a certain extent.

[0074] In one alternative embodiment, the gantry welding device described above further includes a protective screen.

[0075] The protective screen is installed on the crossbeam, and the downward projection area of ​​the protective screen covers the moving area of ​​the welding torch 13 on the gantry.

[0076] Intense arc light is generated during welding. In this embodiment, a protective screen is used to protect the operator's eyes and skin from arc light damage. The protective screen is placed around the workpiece, and its downward projection area covers the moving area of ​​the welding torch 13 on the gantry. In this embodiment, the protective screen is made of transparent plastic or glass with anti-arc light properties. The protective screen can isolate the welding area from the outside world and prevent arc light from radiating into the surrounding environment.

[0077] In one alternative embodiment, the gantry welding apparatus further includes a tool rack. The tool rack is fixedly mounted on the uprights of the gantry frame.

[0078] In this embodiment, the tool rack is used to store various tools needed during the welding process, such as wrenches, pliers, and slag removal tools. The tool rack is fixedly installed on the uprights of the gantry frame. It is understood that the tool rack is installed in a convenient location on the equipment, allowing operators to quickly access the tools when needed. It can be a simple metal bracket or a combination tool cabinet with multiple drawers and hooks. In an optional embodiment, a welding material storage box is also provided on the uprights of the gantry frame. In addition to the welding wire spool 9 and welding wire drum 10 for storing welding wire, a dedicated welding material storage box is needed to store welding rods, flux, and other welding materials. These storage boxes need to have good sealing properties to prevent the welding materials from getting damp or oxidized. For example, for welding rods, moisture will affect their welding performance, leading to a decrease in welding quality; therefore, they need to be stored in a dry welding material storage box.

[0079] In one alternative embodiment, the gantry welding apparatus further includes an industrial robot 11 and a robot control cabinet. The industrial robot 11 is mounted on the gantry via a robotic arm, and the control terminal of the industrial robot 11 is connected to the output terminal of the robot control cabinet.

[0080] The industrial robot 11 significantly improves the automation and flexibility of welding. It can precisely control the position and trajectory of the welding torch 13 according to pre-programmed paths and motion instructions. The industrial robot 11 has high joint flexibility, enabling it to perform complex three-dimensional welding actions. For example, in welding complex workpieces, the industrial robot 11 can complete the welding task within a confined space. The industrial robot 11 has high precision and repeatability, ensuring consistent welding quality. Furthermore, in conjunction with the vision camera 16, it can achieve adaptive welding, automatically adjusting to workpiece dimensional deviations and positional changes.

[0081] The robot control cabinet is the control core of the industrial robot 11. It stores the robot's programming instructions, motion parameters, control algorithms, and other information. By receiving instructions from sensors (such as the vision camera 16 and sensor units) and the host computer, it precisely controls the movement of the motors at each joint of the robotic arm on the industrial robot 11, achieving precise control of the welding action. For example, the robot control cabinet can control parameters such as the speed, acceleration, and trajectory accuracy of the industrial robot 11, and can also diagnose and alarm for faults in the industrial robot 11.

[0082] In the above embodiments, once the location of each core component is determined, the starting and ending points (MCP cabinet and PDP cabinet) of the pipelines connecting the core components are determined, and the pipeline routing path is also determined. All pipelines of the core components must be routed to the PDP cabinet and MCP cabinet. The PDP cabinet is a high-voltage cabinet, connected to the external power supply; the MCP cabinet is a low-voltage cabinet, connected to components that transmit signals.

[0083] In an optional embodiment, a method for arranging pipelines of the core components on the above-mentioned gantry welding apparatus is provided, specifically including:

[0084] To ensure aesthetically pleasing pipeline layout and convenient component operation, place the PDP cabinet on the ground (for safety reasons, the power cabinet should not be moved with the equipment; additional functional components should be placed on the ground as much as possible for easy manual operation). Place the MCP cabinet and robot control cabinet (if any) on the same side of the gantry (cabinets that frequently require manual operation can be placed together for convenient operation without having to run back and forth). Place the welding power supply and water chiller on the platform on the side of the gantry beam (after commissioning, the welding power supply and water chiller can be permanently not operated; placing them at a high position will not affect use and can save gantry space). Arrange the wire feeder, welding torch, and end effector on the gantry. Place the wire spool and wire drum near the wire feeder. According to functional requirements, arrange the vision camera along the beam direction.

[0085] The core components are arranged according to the above scheme. Components requiring manual operation are placed together, while components related to the actions performed by the industrial robot are placed near the robot. This satisfies functional requirements, facilitates personnel operation of the components, and minimizes pipeline length, simplifying pipeline layout. Furthermore, it greatly avoids the phenomenon of placing cabinets with excessively long overhangs on the sides of the gantry. This would cause the gantry to experience significant lateral torque, leading to swaying during operation and, in severe cases, affecting its alignment accuracy.

[0086] After arranging the core components according to the above plan, the arrangement of pipelines connected to the core components prioritizes ease of installation and maintenance. These pipelines are placed on the outer wall of the gantry structure, using cable trays, cable chains, and corrugated pipes to constrain and unify their paths, resulting in a neat and aesthetically pleasing overall appearance. The cable trays and cable chains are designed with orthogonal paths, with branch entrances and exits opened according to the shortest distance principle, and adjacent entrances and exits placed close together to minimize the length of exposed pipelines. Corrugated pipes are used to wrap and protect exposed pipelines, binding them together for a more aesthetically pleasing appearance.

[0087] It should be noted that because the beams and columns of the gantry frame are box-shaped and hollow, the cables can be hidden inside them. After determining the location of each core component, the cables are laid inside the gantry beams and columns. Compared to external cabling, internal cabling requires pre-determining the length of each cable, cutting and laying them according to the length, and then installing them inside the box-shaped structure. If the length is insufficient, rewiring will be very troublesome.

[0088] In summary, the pipeline layout method provided in this embodiment can improve the ease of installation of core components and replacement of pipelines while ensuring the functionality of welding equipment, as well as the ease of operation of welding equipment and the overall neatness and aesthetics.

[0089] Although the present invention has been disclosed above, its protection scope is not limited thereto. Those skilled in the art can make various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, and all such changes and modifications will fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A gantry welding device comprising: A guide rail, a gantry slidingly arranged on the guide rail, and a welding device arranged on the gantry, characterized in that the welding device comprises: a welding torch mounted at a fixed interface on a sliding block, the sliding block being mounted on the guide rail of a crossbeam of the gantry and being slidable along the guide rail; a wire feeder mounted on the crossbeam of the gantry, an outlet of the wire feeder being connected to an inlet of the welding torch through a flexible conduit; a wire reel mounted on a rack of the wire feeder through a mounting shaft, the wire reel being provided with a wire guide device, and a wire in the wire reel being guided to the inlet of the wire feeder through the wire guide device; a wire drum mounted on the gantry and provided with a tension control device mounted on the gantry, a wire in the wire drum being guided to the inlet of the wire feeder after the tension of the wire is adjusted by the tension control device; a cleaning and cutting machine fixed on the gantry through bolts; a water cooling machine fixed on the gantry through bolts, an outlet of the water cooling machine being connected to an inlet of the welding torch, and a return pipe of the water cooling machine being connected to an outlet of the welding torch; power supply lines of the water cooling machine, the welding torch, the wire feeder and the cleaning and cutting machine are connected to a power distribution cabinet arranged on the ground, and all the power supply lines are fixed on the gantry through fixers and arranged along the crossbeam and the upright column of the gantry.

2. The portal welding device of claim 1, wherein The flexible conduit is a spiral pipe made of metal or plastic, which can bend with the movement of the welding torch, and both ends of the flexible conduit are provided with screw threads or buckle interfaces matched with the wire feeder or the welding torch.

3. The portal welding device of claim 1, wherein The fixer is a wire slot, a drag chain or a bellows, which is mounted on the outer wall of the upright column of the gantry.

4. The portal welding device of claim 1, wherein The wire feeder comprises a motor, a wire feeding wheel and a pressing device; an output shaft of the motor is connected to a central shaft of the wire feeding wheel through a coupling, and the pressing device is located above the wire feeding wheel and makes the wire contact with the wire feeding wheel by applying pressure.

5. The portal welding device of claim 1, wherein The wire reel is provided with a connecting device; an inlet of the connecting device is in close connection with an outlet of the wire reel, and an outlet of the connecting device is in close connection with an inlet of the wire feeder.

6. The gantry welding device of claim 1, wherein Further comprising: a sensing unit; the sensing unit comprises a tactile sensor and a temperature sensor mounted at the end of the welding torch; output signals of the sensing unit are transmitted to the power distribution cabinet through a first transmission line, and the first transmission line is fixed on the gantry through fixers and arranged along the crossbeam and the upright column of the gantry.

7. The gantry welding device of claim 1, wherein Further comprising: a visual camera; the visual camera is mounted on the sliding block of the crossbeam, and output signals of the visual camera are transmitted to the power distribution cabinet through a second transmission line, and the second transmission line is fixed on the gantry through fixers and arranged along the crossbeam and the upright column of the gantry.

8. The gantry welding device of claim 1, wherein Further comprising: a light shield; the light shield is mounted on the sliding block of the crossbeam, and the light shield is provided with an observation window.

9. The gantry welding device of claim 1, wherein, Further comprising: a protective screen; The protective screen is installed on the cross beam, and a downward projection area of the protective screen covers a movement area of the welding gun on the gantry.

10. The gantry welding device of claim 1, wherein, Also included are: a tool holder; The tool holder is fixedly installed on the column of the gantry.

Images