A fixing tool for SMA actuating assembly welding

Abstract

This utility model relates to a welding and fixing fixture for SMA actuation components, comprising a cover and a pressing movable block. The cover is coupled to a laser welding device and has a receiving space; the receiving space includes an opening extending toward the SMA actuation component and tapering inward. The pressing movable block moves within the receiving space, has a through hole for the laser to pass through, and consists of an elastic element and a pressing element. The pressing element has a horizontal adjustment part and an abutment part, the abutment part being configured to press against the welding part of the SMA actuation component, and the elastic element adjusting the horizontal angle of the pressing element according to the applied force angle. This fixture can stably fix non-horizontal welding parts, ensuring that the welding parts are not over-pressed, providing a large pressing stroke, and the horizontal adjustment part and tapering opening work together to ensure flexible angle adjustment and reduce the risk of the pressing movable block getting stuck.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of electronic manufacturing, and in particular to a fixture for welding SMA actuator components. Background Technology

[0002] In the field of electronics manufacturing, especially in the production of precision electronic components such as image sensor stabilization motors, shape memory alloys (SMAs) are special metallic materials with shape memory effects, used as driving components in optical image stabilization devices. Among these, the welding of SMA actuators is a crucial step. SMA actuators typically include key components such as SMA wires and grippers. The connection quality between the grippers and the welding area (e.g., printed circuit board, PCB) directly affects the product's performance and reliability. However, in actual production, the surfaces of SMA actuators and PCB welding areas are often uneven, and multiple grippers may be located on different planes. This irregularity presents a significant challenge to the clamping and welding of SMA actuators.

[0003] Traditional clamping methods typically employ fixed pressure devices, but this approach has significant limitations. Due to the unevenness of the SMA actuator surface, the unevenness of the PCB soldering area, and the height differences between different grippers, fixed pressure devices cannot guarantee that each gripper will be stably clamped at different positions. This not only leads to unstable soldering of the SMA actuator during the soldering process but may also damage the SMA actuator or PCB due to excessive local pressure. Furthermore, the unclamped gripper portions may experience incomplete soldering or weak welds during laser irradiation soldering, severely impacting product quality and yield.

[0004] Therefore, there is an urgent need for a new type of fixture that can reliably press the SMA actuators onto the surface of the weld, ensuring that each SMA actuator is stably pressed at its different positions without affecting the normal laser welding process. This device should be adaptable to handle uneven surfaces of the SMA actuators and height differences between different SMA actuators, thereby improving welding quality and production efficiency. Utility Model Content

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to solve the problem of insufficient stability of SMA actuator components during laser welding.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, this utility model proposes a fixing fixture for welding SMA actuator components, comprising: A cover having at least one receiving space extending through the cover, the receiving space including an opening extending toward and receding toward the SMA actuator assembly; the cover is configured to be coupled to a laser welding device; At least one pressing movable block, each pressing movable block being constrained to move within one of the accommodating spaces, and having a through hole for the laser to pass through; The pressing movable block includes an elastic element and a pressing element that can accommodate part or all of the elastic element; The pressing element includes: a horizontal adjustment portion that matches the shape of the opening, and an abutment portion connected to the horizontal adjustment portion and extending out of the opening; the abutment portion is configured to press against the welded portion of the SMA actuation assembly; The elastic element applies a corresponding angle of elastic force to the pressing element according to the force angle of the abutment portion, so as to adjust the horizontal angle of the pressing element.

[0007] Optionally, when the abutment portion is pressed against the welded portion of the SMA actuation assembly, a gap is generated between the pressing element and the inner wall of the accommodating space.

[0008] Optionally, the inner wall shape of the opening includes at least one of a conical shape and a curved shape.

[0009] Optionally, the shape of the horizontal adjustment part includes at least one of a cone and a curved surface.

[0010] Optionally, the elastic element includes at least one of a metal spring and a polymer foam.

[0011] Optionally, the top of the guide portion and / or the cover body are provided with a groove to accommodate part or all of the elastic element.

[0012] Optionally, the pressing element further includes a guide portion connected to the end of the horizontal adjustment portion that is not connected to the abutment portion.

[0013] Optionally, the cover is a split structure, including an upper cover and a lower cover detachably connected to the upper cover. The lower cover has at least one assembly hole, and the opening is part of the assembly hole. The upper cover has laser through holes that correspond one-to-one with the positions of the assembly holes. The assembly holes form the accommodating space.

[0014] Optionally, the lateral dimension of the elastic element is larger than the diameter of the laser-guided hole.

[0015] Optionally, the upper cover and the lower cover are connected by bolts.

[0016] Optionally, the gap is less than 0.2 mm.

[0017] This utility model has the following beneficial effects: The fixing fixture provided by this utility model can stably fix the non-horizontal welded part on the SMA actuator assembly. The movable pressing block provides an angle-matching abutment force, thereby stably fixing the non-horizontal SMA actuator assembly on the surface of the non-horizontal welded part. Through the elastic element design, it can ensure that the SMA actuator assembly is not over-compressed, and provides a large pressing stroke. The horizontal adjustment section design makes it less likely for the pressing element to get stuck in the receiving space; The accommodating space features an inwardly recessed opening design, further ensuring the flexibility of adjusting the angle of the pressing element; With its detachable cover structure, the upper and lower covers can be separated and replaced, and the internal pressure components can be easily maintained after disassembly. Attached Figure Description

[0018] Figure 1 This is an exploded view of a fixing fixture according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the pressing element according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 This is a bottom view of the pressing element according to another embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 This is a bottom view of the pressing element according to another embodiment of the present invention; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the lower cover according to an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0019] The following detailed description, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments, provides a further detailed explanation of a fixing fixture for welding SMA actuator components according to this utility model. The advantages and features of this utility model will become clearer from the following description. It should be noted that the drawings are in a very simplified form and use non-precise proportions, intended only to facilitate and clearly illustrate the embodiments of this utility model. Please refer to the drawings to make the objectives, features, and advantages of this utility model more apparent and understandable. It should be understood that the structures, proportions, sizes, etc., depicted in the accompanying drawings are only for illustrative purposes to aid those skilled in the art and are not intended to limit the implementation conditions of this utility model. Therefore, they have no substantial technical significance. Any modifications to the structure, changes in proportions, or adjustments to the size, without affecting the effects and objectives achieved by this utility model, should still fall within the scope of the technical content disclosed in this utility model.

[0020] Laser welding is a high-precision, high-efficiency welding technology widely used in the electronics manufacturing industry. It involves focusing a laser beam onto the welding point, causing the welding materials to melt and form a weld. (See also...) Figure 1 An exploded view of a fixing fixture according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown. The fixing fixture is used to press the welding part of the SMA actuator component onto the welding part 30 for laser welding. The fixing fixture includes a cover 15, which is configured to be coupled to a laser welding device. The cover 15 is provided with at least one receiving space penetrating the cover, and a movable pressing block 20 is provided in the receiving space. The pressing block 20 is used to press the gripper 25 of the SMA actuator component onto the PCB 30. The number of receiving spaces can be freely set according to the number of grippers 25 to be welded. In this example, there are 4 receiving spaces, which can accommodate 4 pressing blocks 20, so that 4 grippers 25 can be fixed at the same time. The cover 15 can be a one-piece structure or a split structure. This embodiment shows a split-structure cover 15, which includes an upper cover 105 and a lower cover 110 detachably connected to the upper cover 105. The lower cover 110 has at least one mounting hole 151, and the upper cover 105 has laser-cut through holes 161 corresponding to the positions of the mounting holes 151. The mounting holes 151 form the accommodating space. The welding positions of the laser-cut through holes 161, the pressing movable block 20, the mounting holes 151, and the SMA actuation components are all one-to-one.

[0021] Specifically, the upper cover 105 and the lower cover 110 can be connected by bolts. The upper cover 105 has four holes 162, and the lower cover 110 has four threaded holes 152 at corresponding positions. During installation, bolts are threaded between each hole 162 and the threaded holes 152 to fix the upper cover 105 and the lower cover 110 together. In addition, the upper cover 105 and the lower cover 110 also have holes for connecting laser welding equipment. Bolts can be connected into these holes, which include two holes 163 on the upper cover 105 and two threaded holes 153 on the lower cover 110.

[0022] Furthermore, the pressing movable block 20 is provided with a through hole 211 for laser transmission, allowing the laser to pass sequentially from the outside through the laser through hole 161, the through hole 211 of the pressing movable block 20, and the mounting hole 151 to reach the gripper 25 below. The pressing movable block 20 includes an elastic element 201 and a pressing element 202 that can accommodate part or all of the elastic element 201. The elastic element 201 can be a metal spring or a polymer foam, but is not limited to these. The lateral dimension of the elastic element 201 is larger than the diameter of the laser through hole 161 to ensure that the elastic element will not detach from the laser through hole 161. The pressing element 202 includes an abutment portion 207 that can extend outside the accommodating space, the abutment portion 207 being used to contact and press the gripper 25. The abutment portion 207 can be configured with different shapes depending on the location of the welding point.

[0023] Please see Figures 2 to 4 The diagram illustrates a structural schematic of the pressure element 202 in some embodiments. In some alternative examples, such as... Figure 3 As shown, the cross-section of the abutment portion 207 can be designed as an "E" shape, with a laser welding point formed in the blank area inside the "E" shape. In other alternative examples, such as... Figure 4 As shown, the cross-section of the abutment portion 207 can also be a double-ring cross-section, with laser welding points formed on the inner side of the double rings. Even in some alternative embodiments, the cross-section of the abutment portion 207 of the pressing element 202 can be designed as an "I" shape, with laser welding points formed on the upper and lower sides of the "I" shape. In this document, the abutment portion 207 can be designed with different structures depending on the welding point location, and a variety of optional cross-sectional shapes are provided, including "E" shape, double ring, and "I" shape, to ensure reliable clamping of the abutment portion 207 near the welding point location of the clamp 25, to meet the usage requirements in different application scenarios. Of course, this document does not limit the specific shape of the abutment portion 207.

[0024] Furthermore, the fixture can be driven by the laser welding equipment. When the fixture moves to the target position, it approaches the PCB. During the approach process, the abutment portion 207 contacts the gripper 25 placed on the PCB and applies pressure to the gripper 25 under continuous pressure from the laser welding equipment. The abutment portion 207 then transmits the pressure to the upper elastic element 201. The elastic element 201 is compressed under this pressure, generating an elastic force.

[0025] In some cases, the gripper 25 may have an uneven surface due to different design structures, machining accuracy issues, or deformation, resulting in the gripper 25 and / or the PCB surface not being completely horizontal. When the abutment portion 207 presses against the non-horizontal surface, a tilt angle is generated, causing the elastic element 201 to be subjected to a tilting force. To address this, the accommodating space is designed with an opening 1511 that extends towards the gripper side and tapers inward, combined with... Figure 5 As shown, the pressing element 202 includes a horizontal adjustment section 205 that matches the shape of the opening 1511. This horizontal adjustment section 205 is located inside the opening 1511 and connected to the abutment section 207 outside the opening 1511. Depending on the levelness of the grippers 25, the abutment section 207 applies forces at different angles to the elastic element 201 when pressing the grippers 25. The elastic element 201 then reacts with the pressing element 202. At this time, the horizontal adjustment section 205 can tilt within the opening 1511, adjusting its horizontal angle according to the direction of the force applied by the abutment section 207 to match the levelness of the grippers 25, ensuring that the magnitude and direction of the force on each position of the grippers 25 are basically consistent. Furthermore, the elastic element 201 also prevents rigid contact between the abutment section 207 and the grippers 25, providing a floating pressing stroke, thereby preventing damage to the grippers 25 and the PCB 30. Compared to designs without a horizontal adjustment section, the pressing element 202 in this solution is less likely to get stuck in the accommodating space when it is in motion.

[0026] When the pressing element 202 is not subjected to external pressure, the elastic element 201 should have a certain elastic deformation space, that is, there should be a certain distance between the elastic element 201 and the upper cover 105, to ensure that the elastic element 201 can be compressed and absorb energy. Optionally, the elastic element 201 can be confined within a groove formed on the top of the pressing element 202 and / or the bottom of the upper cover 105. The groove is used to restrict the position of the elastic element 201. Specifically, when the elastic element 201 is not compressed, it accommodates a portion of the elastic element 201; and after the elastic element 201 is fully compressed, it is used to completely accommodate the elastic element 201, providing a space to protect the elastic element. The total depth of the groove on the pressing element 202 and / or the upper cover 105 should ensure that when the elastic element 201 is fully compressed within it, it still maintains its elastic deformation capability, thereby ensuring that the elastic element 201 is reusable. Figure 2 As shown, the top of the pressing element 202 provided herein is provided with the groove 208.

[0027] It should be noted that in some embodiments, the basic function of the clamping jaws can be achieved even without the inward opening. However, it has been found during use that the pressing element in this structure is prone to jamming. It is foreseeable that when the pressing element 202 is tilted, it will make tilted contact with the inner wall of the accommodating space. The elastic force of the compressed elastic element 201 will make this tilted contact difficult to recover, resulting in the pressing element 202 being pressed against the inner wall. Furthermore, welding slag will splash into the accommodating space, increasing the risk of the pressing element 202 getting stuck. Providing an inward opening 1511 within the accommodating space can reduce the risk of the pressing element 202 getting stuck. Further, the inner wall shape of the opening 1511 includes at least one of a conical shape and a curved surface. The shape of the horizontal adjustment part 205 includes at least one of a conical body and a curved body. When the abutment part 207 is subjected to a tilting force, the horizontal adjustment part 205 moves upward, forming a larger gap with the opening 1511. Because the horizontal adjustment part 205 has an inclined surface 251, it has a larger adjustment range, making it less prone to jamming. The opening 1511 design increases the angle of movement of the horizontal adjustment part 205, reducing the risk of jamming. Furthermore, the opening 1511 also has a limiting function, preventing the pressing element from disengaging from the opening 1511. Optionally, the gap is less than 0.2 mm.

[0028] As an optional example, the pressing element further includes a guide portion 206, which is connected to the end of the horizontal adjustment portion 205 that is not connected to the abutment portion 207. The guide portion 206 may be provided with a groove 208 for accommodating the elastic element 201. The guide portion 206 has a vertical surface 261, which can form a guiding structure with the inner wall of the accommodating space, thereby ensuring that the position of the pressing element 202 is approximately fixed. When the elastic element 201 is compressed, the guide portion 206 can be moved to a position contacting the upper cover 105. At the same time, the horizontal adjustment portion 205 moves to approximately the same height as the original guide portion 206. When the above-mentioned tilting occurs, during the falling process of the pressing element 202, the guide portion 206 can ensure that the positions of the horizontal adjustment portion 205 and the abutment portion 207 do not shift, thereby ensuring that the fixing position of the gripper 25 is relatively consistent each time, and thus ensuring the consistency of the welding process.

[0029] In summary, the fixing fixture provided by this utility model can stably fix uneven grippers, and the pressing element is less likely to get stuck in the receiving space. Furthermore, the detachable design allows the upper and lower covers to be separated and replaced, facilitating maintenance of the pressing element after disassembly.

[0030] It should be noted that, in this document, the terms "comprising," "including," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such a process, method, article, or apparatus. Unless otherwise specified, an element defined by the phrase "comprising one..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that includes said element.

[0031] In the description of this utility model, it should be understood that the terms "center," "height," "thickness," "upper," "lower," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," "outer," "axial," "radial," and "circumferential," etc., indicating the orientation or positional relationship, are based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings and are only for the convenience of describing this utility model and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this utility model. In the description of this utility model, unless otherwise stated, "a plurality of" means two or more.

[0032] In the description of this utility model, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," "joining," and "fixing" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this utility model according to the specific circumstances.

[0033] In this invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, "above" or "below" the second feature can include direct contact between the first and second features, or contact between the first and second features through another feature between them. Furthermore, "above," "over," and "on top" of the second feature includes the first feature directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. "Below," "below," and "under" the second feature includes the first feature directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature.

[0034] Although the present invention has been described in detail through the above preferred embodiments, it should be understood that the above description should not be considered as a limitation of the present invention. Various modifications and substitutions to the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art after reading the above content. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention should be defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A fixture for SMA actuation assembly welding, characterized in that, The application relates to a laser welding device, comprising: a cover body provided with at least one accommodation space penetrating through the cover body, the accommodation space comprising an opening extending to and converging towards an SMA actuating assembly; the cover body is configured to be coupled to the laser welding device; at least one pressing movable block, each of which is constrained to move in one of the accommodation spaces and is provided with a through hole for laser to pass through; the pressing movable block comprises an elastic element and a pressing element capable of containing part or all of the elastic element; the pressing element comprises a horizontal adjusting part matched with the shape of the opening and an abutting part connected with the horizontal adjusting part and extending out of the opening; the abutting part is configured to be pressed against a welding position of the SMA actuating assembly; the elastic element applies an elastic force with a corresponding angle to the pressing element according to the force angle of the abutting part, so as to adjust the horizontal angle of the pressing element.

2. The fixture for SMA actuation assembly welding of claim 1, wherein, when the abutting part is pressed against the welding position of the SMA actuating assembly, a gap is generated between the pressing element and the inner wall of the accommodation space.

3. The fixture for SMA actuation assembly welding of claim 1, wherein, the inner wall of the opening comprises at least one of a taper and a curved surface.

4. The fixture for SMA actuation assembly welding of claim 1, wherein, the horizontal adjusting part comprises at least one of a taper and a curved surface.

5. The fixture for SMA actuation assembly welding of claim 1, wherein, the elastic element comprises at least one of a metal spring and a high polymer foam.

6. The fixture for SMA actuation assembly welding of claim 2, wherein, the top of the guiding part and / or the cover body is provided with a groove containing part or all of the elastic element.

7. The fixture for SMA actuation assembly welding of claim 1, wherein, the pressing element further comprises a guiding part connected with one end of the horizontal adjusting part not connected with the abutting part.

8. The fixture for SMA actuation assembly welding of claim 1, wherein, the cover body is a split structure, comprising an upper cover and a lower cover detachably connected with the upper cover; the lower cover is provided with at least one assembly hole; the opening is part of the assembly hole; the upper cover is provided with a laser through hole corresponding to the position of the assembly hole; and the assembly hole forms the accommodation space.

9. The fixture for SMA actuation assembly welding of claim 8, wherein, the transverse size of the elastic element is greater than the aperture of the laser through hole.

10. The fixture for SMA actuation assembly welding of claim 8, wherein, the upper cover and the lower cover are connected through bolts.

11. The fixture for SMA actuation assembly welding of claim 2, wherein, the gap is less than 0.2 mm.

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