Laser welding device

Abstract

To provide a laser welding device capable of suppressing the occurrence of uneven biasing force applied to a workpiece.SOLUTION: A laser welding device 1 comprises: a laser irradiation unit 100 configured to irradiate a workpiece W with laser L and to be movable in at least one direction relative to the workpiece W; and a biasing member 200 that is provided on at least one of the one side and the other side of the laser irradiation unit in the movement direction of the laser irradiation unit with respect to the workpiece and is capable of applying a biasing force to the workpiece. The biasing member 200 includes a plurality of biasing sections 220 arranged side by side along a direction orthogonal to both the thickness direction and the movement direction of the workpiece. Each of the plurality of biasing sections 220 is independently capable of applying the biasing force to the workpiece.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a laser welding apparatus.

Background Art

[0002] For example, Japanese Patent No. 6998630 discloses a joining apparatus for dissimilar metals including a laser irradiation unit, a first pressure roller, and a second pressure roller. The first pressure roller is disposed on one side in the moving direction of the laser irradiation unit, and the second pressure roller is disposed on the other side in the moving direction of the laser irradiation unit. Each pressure roller biases the workpiece while rotating about a rotation axis orthogonal to both the thickness direction of the workpiece and the moving direction of the laser irradiation unit when the laser irradiation unit moves.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In a laser welding apparatus as described in Japanese Patent No. 6998630, when the workpiece is curved in a cross-section of the workpiece in a plane including the rotation axis of the pressure roller and parallel to the laser irradiation direction, each pressure roller can apply a biasing force only to the portion of the workpiece with which the pressure roller is in contact. Therefore, there is a concern that the biasing force on the workpiece becomes non-uniform and the welding accuracy decreases.

[0005] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a laser welding apparatus capable of suppressing the occurrence of non-uniform biasing force on a workpiece.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] A laser welding apparatus according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes a laser irradiation unit that can irradiate a workpiece with a laser and is movable with respect to the workpiece in at least one direction, and is provided on at least one of one side and the other side of the laser irradiation unit in the moving direction of the laser irradiation unit with respect to the workpiece, and an urging member that can apply an urging force to the workpiece. The urging member includes a plurality of urging portions arranged side by side along a direction orthogonal to both the thickness direction and the moving direction of the workpiece, and each of the plurality of urging portions can independently apply the urging force to the workpiece.

Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a laser welding apparatus capable of suppressing the occurrence of non-uniform urging force on a workpiece.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009] Embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings referred to below, the same or corresponding members are denoted by the same reference numerals.

[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a laser welding apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a front view of the laser welding apparatus. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG. 2.

[0011] As shown in FIG. 1, the laser welding apparatus 1 can weld workpieces W that are overlapped with each other. The laser welding apparatus 1 in the present embodiment can appropriately apply a biasing force to the workpiece W while following the curved shape even when the workpiece W is somewhat curved. The laser welding apparatus 1 can also weld the workpiece W while being held by an actuator that can move three-dimensionally.

[0012] As shown in FIG. 1, the laser welding apparatus 1 includes a laser irradiation unit 100, a biasing member 200, and a bracket 300.

[0013] The laser irradiation unit 100 can irradiate the workpiece W with a laser L. The laser irradiation unit 100 irradiates the workpiece W with the laser L such that the irradiation direction of the laser L is orthogonal to the workpiece W. However, the irradiation direction of the laser L may not be orthogonal to the workpiece W. The laser irradiation unit 100 is movable with respect to the workpiece W in at least one direction. In the present embodiment, the laser irradiation unit 100 is movable in both a first direction and an intersecting direction intersecting the first direction, that is, in an arbitrary direction with respect to the workpiece W.

[0014] The biasing member 200 can apply a biasing force to the workpiece W. The biasing member 200 is provided on at least one of one side and the other side of the laser irradiation unit 100 in the moving direction of the laser irradiation unit 100 with respect to the workpiece W. In the present embodiment, the laser irradiation unit 100 can move in an arbitrary direction with respect to the workpiece W, and the biasing member 200 is provided over the entire area around the laser L irradiated from the laser irradiation unit 100. The biasing member 200 has a holding plate 210 and a plurality of biasing portions 220.

[0015] The holding plate 210 holds a plurality of biasing portions 220. The holding plate 210 is formed in an annular shape surrounding the laser L irradiated from the laser irradiation unit 100. The holding plate 210 is fixed to the laser irradiation unit 100 by a bracket 300. The holding plate 210 is formed in a flat plate shape.

[0016] The plurality of biasing portions 220 are held on the lower surface of the holding plate 210. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the plurality of biasing portions 220 are arranged in an annular shape surrounding the laser L irradiated from the laser irradiation unit 100. The plurality of biasing portions 220 are arranged so as to be aligned along a direction orthogonal to both the thickness direction of the workpiece W (the vertical direction in FIG. 2) and the moving direction of the laser irradiation unit 100. Each biasing portion 220 can apply a biasing force to the workpiece W independently of each other.

[0017] As shown in FIG. 4, each biasing portion 220 has a guide member 221, a pressing member 222, a spring 223, and a roller 224.

[0018] The guide member 221 is fixed to the lower surface of the holding plate 210. The guide member 221 has a shape extending in a direction parallel to the irradiation direction of the laser L. In the present embodiment, the guide member 221 has a base shaft 221a, a plunger 221b, and a coil spring 221c.

[0019] The base shaft 221a extends downward from the lower surface of the holding plate 210.

[0020] The pusher 221b is disposed below the base shaft 221a. The pusher 221b has a pressing portion 221b1 that presses the roller 224. The pressing portion 221b1 is constituted by the lower end portion of the pusher 221b.

[0021] The coil spring 221c is disposed between the base shaft 221a and the pusher 221b. The coil spring 221c biases the pusher 221b downward.

[0022] The pressing member 222 is relatively movable with respect to the guide member 221 along the longitudinal direction (vertical direction in FIG. 4) of the guide member 221. The pressing member 222 houses the lower portion of the base shaft 221a, the pusher 221b, and the coil spring 221c. The pressing member 222 is formed in a cylindrical shape. The pressing member 222 guides the pusher 221b to move in the vertical direction with respect to the base shaft 221a. A protrusion 222a is formed on the inner surface of the lower portion of the pressing member 222. The protrusion 222a can press the roller 224. The pressing portion 221b1 is inserted inside the protrusion 222a.

[0023] The spring 223 is disposed between the holding plate 210 and the pressing member 222. More specifically, the spring 223 is disposed between the stepped portion of the base shaft 221a and the upper end portion of the pressing member 222. The spring 223 biases the guide member 221 downward.

[0024] The roller 224 is disposed inside a portion of the pressing member 222 below the protrusion 222a. The roller 224 receives the biasing force of the coil spring 221c via the pressing portion 221b1 and also receives the biasing force of the spring 223 via the protrusion 222a. The roller 224 presses the workpiece W while rotating with respect to the workpiece W.

[0025] FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically showing the shape of each biasing portion 220 when the workpiece W is curved. As shown in FIG. 5, when the workpiece W is curved, the coil spring 221c and the spring 223 are compressed, so that the roller 224 biases the surface while following the surface shape of the workpiece W.

[0026] As described above, in the laser welding apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, even when the surface of the workpiece W is curved in the direction orthogonal to the moving direction (welding direction) of the laser irradiation unit 100, each biasing portion 220 biases the workpiece W independently, so that the generation of non-uniform biasing force with respect to the workpiece W is suppressed.

[0027] <Modification Example> Here, a modification example of the biasing portion 220 will be described with reference to FIG. 6. As shown in FIG. 6, the guide member 221 of the biasing portion 220 may be held by the holding plate 210 in a state of penetrating the holding plate 210. In this case, the guide member 221 is guided in the vertical direction by the holding plate 210. Further, in this example, the base shaft 221a and the pusher 221b are integrally formed, and the coil spring 221c is omitted.

[0028] FIG. 7 is a diagram schematically showing the shape of each biasing portion 220 when the workpiece W is curved. As shown in FIG. 7, in this modification example, the amount of protrusion upward from the holding plate 210 of the guide member 221 changes corresponding to the surface shape of the workpiece W.

[0029] <Comparative Example> Next, a comparative example with respect to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 8. As shown in FIG. 8, the laser welding apparatus in the comparative example has a roller 51 capable of biasing the workpiece W. This roller 51 presses the workpiece W while rotating around the rotation shaft 51a.

[0030] In the laser welding apparatus according to the comparative example, when the workpiece W is curved as shown in FIG. 8, the roller 51 can apply a biasing force only to the portion W1 of the workpiece W with which the roller 51 is in contact. For this reason, there is a concern that the biasing force applied to the workpiece W becomes non-uniform and the welding accuracy decreases.

[0031] Those skilled in the art will understand that the above-described plurality of exemplary embodiments are specific examples of the following aspects.

[0032] [Aspect 1] A laser irradiation unit capable of irradiating a laser to a workpiece and movable in at least one direction with respect to the workpiece, and An urging member provided on at least one of one side and the other side of the laser irradiation unit in the moving direction of the laser irradiation unit with respect to the workpiece, and capable of applying an urging force to the workpiece. The urging member includes a plurality of urging portions arranged side by side along a direction orthogonal to both the thickness direction and the moving direction of the workpiece. Each of the plurality of urging portions is a laser welding apparatus capable of independently applying the urging force to the workpiece.

[0033] In this laser welding apparatus, even when the surface of the workpiece is curved in a direction orthogonal to the moving direction (welding direction) of the laser irradiation unit, each urging portion urges the workpiece independently, so that the occurrence of non-uniformity of the urging force applied to the workpiece is suppressed.

[0034] [Aspect 2] The laser irradiation unit is also movable in an intersecting direction intersecting the one direction, The laser welding apparatus according to aspect 1, wherein the plurality of urging portions are arranged in an annular shape so as to surround the laser irradiation unit.

[0035] In this aspect, the workpiece can be effectively urged even when the laser irradiation unit moves in an arbitrary direction, including the case where the surface of the workpiece is curved.

[0036] [Aspect 3] The biasing member further includes a holding plate that holds the plurality of biasing portions. Each of the plurality of biasing portions a guide member extending downward from the holding plate, a pressing member that is movable relative to the guide member along the longitudinal direction of the guide member, a spring disposed between the holding plate and the pressing member to bias the pressing member downward, a roller that receives the pressing force from the pressing member and biases the workpiece while rotating with respect to the workpiece, the laser welding apparatus according to Aspect 1 or 2.

[0037] [Aspect 4] The biasing member further includes a holding plate that holds the plurality of biasing portions. Each of the plurality of biasing portions is held by the holding plate in a state of penetrating the holding plate so as to be movable in the vertical direction with respect to the holding plate, and a guide member extending in a direction parallel to the irradiation direction of the laser from the laser irradiation unit, a pressing member connected to the guide member, a spring disposed between the holding plate and the pressing member to bias the pressing member downward, a roller that receives the pressing force from the pressing member and biases the workpiece while rotating with respect to the workpiece, the laser welding apparatus according to Aspect 1 or 2.

[0038] It should be noted that all aspects of the embodiments disclosed this time should be considered as illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is shown by the scope of claims rather than the description of the above embodiments, and further includes all changes within the meaning and scope equivalent to the scope of claims.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0039] 1 Laser welding apparatus, 100 Laser irradiation unit, 200 Biasing member, 210 Holding plate, 220 Biasing unit, 221 Guide member, 222 Pressing member, 223 Spring, 224 Roller, 300 Bracket.

Claims

1. A laser irradiation unit capable of irradiating a workpiece with a laser and movable relative to the workpiece in at least one direction, and a biasing member provided on at least one of one side and the other side of the laser irradiation unit in the moving direction of the laser irradiation unit with respect to the workpiece, the biasing member being capable of applying a biasing force to the workpiece. The biasing member includes a plurality of biasing portions arranged side by side along a direction orthogonal to both the thickness direction and the moving direction of the workpiece. Each of the plurality of biasing portions can apply the biasing force to the workpiece independently of each other. A laser welding apparatus.

2. The laser irradiation unit is also movable in an intersecting direction intersecting the one direction. The plurality of biasing portions are arranged in an annular shape so as to surround the laser irradiation unit. The laser welding apparatus according to claim 1.

3. The biasing member further includes a holding plate for holding the plurality of biasing portions. Each of the plurality of biasing portions has a guide member extending downward from the holding plate, a pressing member relatively movable with respect to the guide member along the longitudinal direction of the guide member, a spring disposed between the holding plate and the pressing member for biasing the pressing member downward, and a roller that receives the pressing force from the pressing member and biases the workpiece while rotating with respect to the workpiece. The laser welding apparatus according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The biasing member further includes a holding plate for holding the plurality of biasing portions. Each of the plurality of biasing portions is held by the holding plate in a state of penetrating the holding plate so as to be movable in the vertical direction with respect to the holding plate, and has a guide member extending in a direction parallel to the irradiation direction of the laser from the laser irradiation unit, a pressing member connected to the guide member, a spring disposed between the holding plate and the pressing member for biasing the pressing member downward, and a roller that receives the pressing force from the pressing member and biases the workpiece while rotating with respect to the workpiece. The laser welding apparatus according to claim 1 or 2.

Images