Fixture for electrode chip introduction

Abstract

To provide a fixture for electrode chip introduction, which can simplify work for storing a plurality of electrode chips in an electrode chip storage unit.SOLUTION: This fixture for electrode chip introduction, which is used for introducing a plurality of electrode chips in an electrode chip storage unit capable of switching an electrode chip outlet 43 from a closed state to an open state by storing electrode chips 60 arranged in a row and pressing a lever, comprises: a storage unit 16 that is fixed onto a pedestal 12 and that linearly extends to open at first and second ends and stores the electrode chips 60 arranged in a row and a linear state; a positioning unit 14 that is installed near the opening of the first end of the storage unit on the pedestal and that positions the electrode chip storage unit on the pedestal so that the opening of the first end and the electrode chip outlet can face each other; and an electrode chip moving member 18 that moves the electrode chips stored in the storage unit to the opening side of the first end.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an electrode tip introduction jig, and more particularly to an electrode tip introduction jig used to introduce electrode tips into an electrode tip storage unit that stores a plurality of electrode tips used in spot welding. [Background technology]

[0002] Spot welding is used in the assembly of vehicle bodies on production lines for automobiles and other vehicles. In production lines, spot welding is typically performed using a welding gun attached to the end of an industrial robot's arm. The welding gun is equipped with a pair of electrode tips. The electrode tips sandwich a welding portion, which is made up of multiple overlapping metal plates, in a workpiece to be welded, and apply pressure and current to weld the workpiece together.

[0003] A welding gun has a rod-shaped shank connected to the gun body, and an electrode tip is fitted to the end of the shank. The electrode tip wears down with repeated use, so it is periodically removed from the shank and replaced. To efficiently replace electrode tips on the production line, an electrode tip storage unit is installed on the production line to store the electrode tips in a state where they can be attached to the end of the shank of the welding gun.

[0004] As an electrode tip storage unit, for example, as described in Patent Document 1, one including a storage case that stores a plurality of electrode tips arranged in a straight line is known. An electrode tip outlet is provided at a first end of the storage case, and a pressing means is provided at a second end of the storage case that presses the electrode tips in the storage case toward the electrode tip outlet. A lever is provided at the first end of the storage case that blocks a portion of the electrode tip outlet to prevent the electrode tips from being removed through the electrode tip outlet. The lever is biased by a spring so that the tip of the lever is in a closed state that blocks the electrode tip outlet. The electrode tip storage unit is configured such that, when the base end of the lever is pressed against the bias of the spring, the electrode tip outlet is opened, allowing the electrode tips to be removed from the electrode tip outlet. An electrode tip located near the electrode tip outlet is stored in the storage case with its fitting recess that fits with the shank of a welding gun exposed.

[0005] In this electrode tip storage unit, with the tip of the shank of a welding gun fitted into the fitting recess of the electrode tip located closest to the electrode tip outlet, an industrial robot moves the electrode tip toward the electrode tip outlet, causing the lever to open against the biasing force of the spring. As a result, the electrode tip fitted onto the tip of the shank is removed from the electrode tip outlet. When one electrode tip is removed from the storage case, the subsequent electrode tip is pressed by the pressing means and moves toward the electrode tip outlet, and the lever is biased by the spring to close and block the electrode tip outlet. This prevents the subsequent electrode tip from being removed from the electrode tip outlet. In this way, the electrode tip storage unit is configured to allow electrode tips to be removed one by one from the electrode tip outlet. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2018 / 211555 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] On the production line, when all of the electrode tips stored in an electrode tip storage unit are removed, a task is performed in which new electrode tips are stored inside the emptied electrode tip storage unit, and this task is performed manually by a worker.

[0008] Specifically, the worker presses the lever of the electrode chip storage unit to open the electrode chip outlet, and then pushes the electrode chip through the electrode chip outlet into the storage case. Each time an electrode chip is to be stored, the worker must manually move the lever to store the electrode chip one by one into the electrode chip storage unit, so that an electrode chip already stored is not pressed by the pressing means and ejected from the electrode chip outlet.

[0009] However, a relatively strong force is required to manually move the lever, and the number of electrode tips stored in the storage case is large, generally 10 or more, making the task of storing the electrode tips in the electrode tip storage unit cumbersome.

[0010] In order to solve the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide an electrode chip introduction tool that can simplify the task of storing a plurality of electrode chips in an electrode chip storage unit. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] In order to achieve the above object, one embodiment of the present invention relates to an electrode tip introduction jig used to introduce a plurality of electrode tips into an electrode tip storage unit that stores electrode tips for spot welding lined up in a row and that can switch an electrode tip removal port from a closed state to an open state by pressing a lever, and is characterized by comprising: a storage section that is fixed on a base, extends linearly, has first and second end openings, and stores a plurality of electrode tips lined up in a row; a positioning section that is installed on the base near the opening at the first end of the storage section and positions the electrode tip storage unit on the base so that the opening at the first end faces the electrode tip removal port; and an electrode tip moving member that moves the electrode tips stored in the storage section toward the opening at the first end. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] According to the electrode chip introduction jig of the present invention, a plurality of electrode chips can be introduced into the electrode chip storage unit at one time. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of an electrode chip introduction jig according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the electrode tip storage unit. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a plan view of an electrode chip introduction jig. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a side view of the electrode chip introduction jig. [Figure 5] 5 is a view of the electrode chip introduction jig as seen from the direction of arrow A in FIG. 4. [Figure 6] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a plan view illustrating a state in which the electrode chip storage unit is aligned with the electrode chip introduction jig. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a plan view similar to FIG. 7, illustrating another embodiment of the electrode chip introduction jig. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an electrode tip introduction jig 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 2 is a plan view of an electrode tip storage unit 40. Fig. 2 shows a state in which ten electrode tips 60 are stored in a storage case 42, which will be described later. The electrode tip introduction jig 10 is used to introduce the electrode tips 60 into the electrode tip storage unit 40, which stores a plurality of electrode tips 60 used for spot welding.

[0015] The electrode tip storage unit 40 is arranged, for example, on an assembly line where car bodies are assembled in a production line for automobiles or the like, and stores the electrode tip 60 in a state where it can be attached to the shank of a welding gun (not shown). A welding gun is generally attached to the end of the arm of an industrial robot and has a rod-shaped shank connected to the gun body. The electrode tip 60 is attached to the welding gun by fitting the tip of the shank into a fitting recess 62 formed in the electrode tip 60.

[0016] The electrode tip storage unit 40 comprises a storage case 42 for storing the electrode tip 60, a pressing means 44 for pressing the electrode tip 60 toward the electrode tip removal opening 43 of the storage case 42, and a lever 48.

[0017] The storage case 42 is formed in a cylindrical shape that extends linearly, and stores a plurality of electrode tips 60 lined up in a linear row. The plurality of electrode tips 60 are stored with the fitting recesses 62 of each electrode tip 60 facing the same direction. The storage case 42 shown in FIG. 2 is formed in a substantially square cylindrical shape with both ends open, and the opening on the first end 42a side forms the electrode tip removal port 43. A pressing means 44 is provided on the second end 42b side of the storage case 42.

[0018] The pressing means 44 includes a cylindrical cover 45 with a bottom, an extendable rod 44a disposed within the cover 45, a pressing portion 44b attached to the tip of the extendable rod 44b, and a spring 44c that biases the pressing portion 44a toward the electrode tip outlet 43. The open end of the cover 45 is fixed to the second end 42b of the storage case 42, and the interior of the cover 45 and the interior of the storage case 42 are in communication.

[0019] The base end of extendable rod 44a is fixed to the bottom of cover 45, and the tip end extends and retracts so as to move toward or away from electrode tip outlet 43 of storage case 42. Pressing portion 44b is the portion that abuts against electrode tip 60 inside storage case 42, and has a block shape that is slidable inside storage case 42. Spring 44c is a coil spring that is wound around extendable rod 44a. One end of spring 44c abuts against pressing portion 44b and the other end abuts against the bottom surface of cover 45, urging pressing portion 44b toward electrode tip outlet 43.

[0020] Lever 48 is provided on the first end 42a side of storage case 42 and prevents electrode tip 60 from being removed. Lever 48 is configured to be movable between a closed state in which it blocks electrode tip removal opening 43 of storage case 42 to prevent electrode tip 60 from being removed, and an open state in which it opens electrode tip removal opening 43 to allow electrode tip 60 to be removed. In Figure 2, lever 48 in the closed state is shown by a solid line, and lever 48 in the open state is shown by a phantom line.

[0021] In this embodiment, a lever 48 extending in the length direction of the storage case 42 is attached to a side surface on the first end 42a side of the storage case 42. The lever 48 is biased by the biasing force of a spring (not shown) so that the tip end 48a of the lever 48 is in a closed state in which it blocks the electrode tip removal opening 43. In this embodiment, the base end 48b of the lever 48 is biased by the spring toward the outside of the storage case 42. When the operator presses the base end 48b of the lever 48 toward the storage case 42 against the biasing force of the spring, the tip end 48a of the lever 48 moves toward the outside of the storage case 42 so as to move away from the storage case 42. This causes the lever 48 to be in an open state in which it opens the electrode tip removal opening 43.

[0022] In the electrode tip storage unit 40 described above, the multiple electrode tips 60 are stored in the storage case 42 in a linear arrangement with the fitting recesses 62, which fit onto the shank tips of the welding guns, facing the same direction. In this embodiment, the electrode tips 60 are stored in the storage case 42 with the fitting recesses 62 facing upward. The electrode tips 60 in the storage case 42 are pressed toward the electrode tip outlet 43 by the pressing portion 44b, and the electrode tip 60 located closest to the electrode tip outlet 43 is stored in the storage case 42 with its fitting recess 62 exposed.

[0023] In this electrode tip storage unit 40, with the tip of the shank of a welding gun fitted into the fitting recess 62 of the electrode tip 60 located closest to the electrode tip outlet 43, an industrial robot moves the electrode tip 60 toward the electrode tip outlet 43, causing the lever 48 to move against the biasing force of the spring to enter the open state. When the electrode tip 60 fitted onto the tip of the shank is removed from the electrode tip outlet 43, the succeeding electrode tip 60 is pressed by the pressing means 44 and moves toward the electrode tip outlet 43. In addition, the lever 48 is biased by the spring to enter the closed state in which it blocks the electrode tip outlet 43, thereby preventing the moved electrode tip 60 from being removed from the electrode tip outlet 43.

[0024] Next, the electrode chip introduction jig 10 will be described. The electrode chip introduction jig 10 is used to introduce multiple electrode chips 60 into the electrode chip storage unit 40. FIG. 3 is a plan view of the electrode chip introduction jig 10, and FIG. 4 is a side view of the electrode chip introduction jig 10, showing ten electrode chips 60 housed in the storage section 16 of the electrode chip introduction jig 10. The number of electrode chips 60 housed in the storage section 16 is not limited to ten and can be changed appropriately depending on the number of electrode chips 60 to be introduced into the electrode chip storage unit 40. As shown in FIGS. 1, 3, and 4, the electrode chip introduction jig 10 includes a base 12 having a flat upper surface, a positioning section 14, a storage section 16, a rod-shaped body 20, and a rod-shaped body guide section 24. The base 12 can be, for example, a table with a flat upper surface. In this embodiment, a flat plate 13 is fixedly installed on a base 12, a part of this plate 13 forms a positioning portion 14, and the storage portion 16 is fixedly installed on the upper surface of the plate 13.

[0025] The housing 16 is fixed on the base 12 and accommodates a plurality of electrode tips 60 arranged in a line. The housing 16 extends linearly and has open ends, a first end 16a and a second end 16b. The housing 16 of this embodiment has a generally U-shaped cross section that opens upward. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the housing 16 accommodates a plurality of electrode tips 60 with their fitting recesses 62 facing upward. The housing 16 includes a rectangular, plate-like bottom wall 16c fixed on the base 12 via a plate member 13, and a pair of side walls 16d and 16e extending upward from both sides of the bottom wall 16c. Of the two side walls 16d and 16e, the first side wall 16d is formed to be taller than the second side wall 16e. In this embodiment, the height of the first side wall portion 16d is set to a dimension substantially equal to the axial length of the electrode tip 60, and the second side wall portion 16e is set to a dimension smaller than that.

[0026] The housing portion 16 may have any shape as long as it can accommodate a plurality of electrode tips 60 arranged in a line and in a straight line with the fitting recesses 62 facing the same direction, and for example, the first and second side walls 16d, 16e may be formed to the same height. Furthermore, the housing portion 16 does not have to have a generally U-shaped cross section, but may have a cylindrical shape with a closed top.

[0027] The positioning unit 14 positions the electrode tip storage unit 40 on the base 12, and is installed on the base 12 near the opening of the first end 16a of the storage unit 16. The positioning unit 14 positions the electrode tip storage unit 40 on the base 12 so that the opening of the first end 16a of the storage unit 16 and the electrode tip removal port 43 of the electrode tip storage unit 40 are disposed closely opposite each other.

[0028] In this embodiment, the positioning portion 14 is configured by a part of the plate material 13 fixed on the base 12. The positioning portion 14 includes a pair of side abutment portions 14a, 14b extending from a first end portion 16a of the storage portion 16 toward the outside in the longitudinal direction of the storage portion 16, and a lower edge abutment portion 14c extending between the pair of side abutment portions 14a, 14b.

[0029] The pair of side surface abutment portions 14a, 14b abut against both side surfaces of the electrode tip storage unit 40 so as to sandwich both side surfaces of a first end portion (first end portion 42a of the storage case 42 in this embodiment), which is the end portion of the electrode tip storage unit 40 on the electrode tip removal opening 43 side. The dimension between the pair of side surface abutment portions 14a, 14b is set to match the width dimension of the lower surface portion of the first end portion of the electrode tip storage unit 40. The lower edge abutment portion 14c abuts against the lower edge portion of the electrode tip storage unit 40 that forms the lower side of the electrode tip removal opening 43. In this embodiment, the lower edge abutment portion 14c is formed by one side portion of the plate member 13 that extends between the pair of side surface abutment portions 14a, 14b. In the electrode chip introduction jig 10, the first end of the electrode chip storage unit 40 is set in a state where it is fitted into the recess 15 formed by the pair of side abutment portions 14a, 14b and the lower edge abutment portion 14c, thereby positioning the electrode chip storage unit 40 on the base 12.

[0030] The rod-shaped body 20 and the rod-shaped body guide 24 constitute an electrode tip moving member 18 that moves the electrode tip 60 housed in the housing 16 toward the opening of the first end 16a of the housing 16. The rod-shaped body 20 is formed longer than the housing 16, and its tip end is inserted into the housing 16 and is used to push the housed electrode tips 60 out of the housing 16. Here, the length of the housing 16 refers to the length of the housing area in which the electrode tips 60 are housed side by side in the housing 16, i.e., the length of the area surrounded by the bottom wall 16c and the pair of side walls 16d, 16e. Note that the length of the rod-shaped body 20 need only be long enough to push the electrode tips 60 out of the housing 16. In this embodiment, the rod-shaped body 20 is formed of a rod-shaped member with a circular cross section, but the cross-sectional shape of the rod-shaped body 20 is not limited thereto and may be, for example, a polygonal cross section.

[0031] The rod-shaped body 20 has a rod-shaped body main body portion 20a that extends linearly and is inserted into the housing portion 16, and a base end portion 20b that is bent in an L-shape from the rod-shaped body main body portion 20a. The base end portion 20b is formed to be shorter than the rod-shaped body main body portion 20a. The movement direction of the rod-shaped body 20 on the base 12 is restricted by a rod-shaped body guide portion 24.

[0032] The rod-shaped body guide portion 24 regulates the movement direction of the rod-shaped body 20 so that the movement direction of the rod-shaped body 20 coincides with the longitudinal direction of the storage portion 16, and is fixedly installed on the base 12 at or near the second end 16b of the storage portion 16. In the present embodiment, the rod-shaped body guide portion 24 is installed near the second end 16b, outside the storage area of ​​the storage portion 16. The rod-shaped body guide portion 24 is formed in a cylindrical shape, and the rod-shaped body main body portion 20a is inserted therein. In the present embodiment, the rod-shaped body guide portion 24 is formed in a cylindrical shape with an inner diameter approximately equal to the outer diameter of the rod-shaped body guide portion 24 so that the central axis of the rod-shaped body main body portion 20a coincides with the central axis of the rod-shaped body guide portion 24. The housing portion 16 and the rod-shaped body guide portion 24 are installed on the base 12 so that, with the movement direction of the rod-shaped body 20 restricted by the rod-shaped body guide portion 24, the central axis of the rod-shaped body main body portion 20a is perpendicular to the central axis of the electrode tip 60 housed in the housing portion 16. Note that the rod-shaped body guide portion 24 is optional, and the electrode tip moving member 18 may be constructed of only the rod-shaped body 20.

[0033] The rod-shaped body 20 includes a flat plate 22 attached to the tip of the rod-shaped body main body 20a. The plate 22 is attached perpendicular to the central axis of the rod-shaped body main body 20a. As shown in FIG. 6 , the plate 22 is sized to be insertable into the storage section 16. In this embodiment, when the tip of the rod-shaped body 20 is inserted into the storage section 16, both side surfaces of the plate 22 contact the inner wall surfaces of a pair of side walls 16d, 16e of the storage section 16, allowing the plate 22 to slide within the storage section 16. The plate 22 has an outer dimension larger than the inner diameter of the rod-shaped body guide section 24, and the base end 20b and the plate 22 prevent the rod-shaped body main body 20a from slipping out of the rod-shaped body guide section 24.

[0034] 6, the plate 22 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape, and the corners of the side surface of the plate 22 that faces the bottom surface 16c of the housing section 16 are rounded and curved. Because the corners of the plate 22 are chamfered in this way, the rod-shaped body 20 can be rotated, and when the electrode tip introduction jig 10 is not in use, the rod-shaped body 20 can be displaced from a state in which the base end 20b stands up from the base 12 as shown in FIG. 4 to a state in which the base end 20b is tilted toward the base 12.

[0035] Next, the procedure by which an operator uses the electrode chip introduction jig 10 described above to introduce an electrode chip 60 into an electrode chip storage unit 40 will be described. First, the operator sets the electrode chip storage unit 40 on the pedestal 12. FIG. 7 is a plan view illustrating the state in which the electrode chip storage unit 60 is aligned with the electrode chip introduction jig 10, with virtual lines indicating the shape of the underside of the storage unit 60, i.e., the surface that comes into contact with the pedestal 12. As shown in the illustration, the electrode chip storage unit 40 is set in a state in which it is positioned by the positioning part 14. This results in a state in which the electrode chip removal opening 43 of the electrode chip storage unit 40 and the opening of the first end 16a of the storage part 16 are closely opposed to each other on the pedestal 12.

[0036] Next, the operator stores the plurality of electrode tips 60 inside the storage section 16 of the electrode tip introduction jig 10 with the fitting recesses 62 facing upward. The plurality of electrode tips 60 are stored in the storage section 16 in a state where they are lined up in a line. When storing the electrode tips 60, the rod-shaped body 20 is pulled out toward the second end 16b of the storage section 16. Note that the operator may set the electrode tip storage unit 40 on the pedestal 12 after storing the plurality of electrode tips 60 in the storage section 16 of the electrode tip introduction jig 10.

[0037] Next, the operator presses the lever 48 of the electrode tip storage unit 40 to open the electrode tip removal opening 43 of the storage case 42, and pushes the rod-shaped body 20 toward the first end 16a of the storage section 16. As a result, the multiple electrode tips 60 stored in the storage section 16 are pushed out by the rod-shaped body 20 and introduced through the electrode tip removal opening 43 into the storage case 42 of the electrode tip storage unit 40. As the multiple electrode tips 60 are pressed toward the electrode tip storage unit 40 by the rod-shaped body 20, they are introduced into the storage case 42 all at once against the biasing force of the spring 44c of the pressing means 44 of the electrode tip storage unit 40.

[0038] After the electrode tips 60 have been stored in the storage case 42, the operator releases the pressure on the lever 48. This places the lever 48 in a closed state, blocking the electrode tip outlet 43, and prevents the electrode tips 60 in the storage case 42 from being ejected through the electrode tip outlet 43.

[0039] As described above, the electrode chip introduction jig 10 of this embodiment can accommodate a plurality of electrode chips 60 arranged in a single linear row within the storage section of the electrode chip introduction jig 10. Furthermore, by an operator aligning the electrode chip storage unit 40 with the positioning portion 14 provided on the base 12 and setting it on the base 12, the electrode chip removal opening 43 of the electrode chip storage unit 40 can be positioned opposite the opening at the first end 16 a of the storage section 16 of the electrode chip introduction jig 10. In this state, the operator presses the lever 48 of the electrode chip storage unit 40 to open the electrode chip removal opening 43, and pushes the tip of the rod-shaped body 20 from the second end 16 b side to the first end 16 a side of the storage section 16, thereby pushing the plurality of electrode chips 60 from the storage section 16 with the rod-shaped body 20, and the electrode chips 60 can be introduced into the electrode chip storage unit 40 from the electrode chip removal opening 43 in a single linear row. In Figure 4, the imaginary lines show the state in which the rod-shaped body 20 has been pushed into the storage section 16. In this way, with the electrode chip introduction jig 10 described above, it is possible to introduce multiple electrode chips 60 into the electrode chip storage unit 40 at once, eliminating the need to manually move the lever 48 to store the electrode chips 60 one by one into the electrode chip storage unit 40. This simplifies the task of storing multiple electrode chips 60 in the electrode chip storage unit 40 with the electrode chip introduction jig 10 of this embodiment. It also reduces the risk of fingers getting pinched when manually moving the lever.

[0040] Furthermore, in the electrode chip introduction jig 10 described above, the base end 20b of the rod-shaped body 20 is bent in an L-shape from the rod-shaped body main body 20a, allowing an operator to easily grasp the base end 20b and move the rod-shaped body 20. Furthermore, the movement direction of the rod-shaped body 20 is restricted by the rod-shaped body guide 24, allowing the rod-shaped body 20 to be moved smoothly along the length of the storage section 16. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the plate 22 attached to the tip of the rod-shaped body 20 is configured to slide within the storage section 16, preventing the rod-shaped body 20 from rattling within the storage section 16 when being moved. Furthermore, because the corners of the plate 22 are chamfered, the base end 20b of the rod-shaped body 20 can be tilted toward the base 12 when the electrode chip introduction jig 10 is not in use.

[0041] Next, another embodiment of the electrode chip introduction jig 10 will be described. Figure 8 is a plan view similar to Figure 7 illustrating another embodiment of the electrode chip introduction jig 10, and shows the lever 48 in phantom lines along with the underside of the electrode chip storage unit 40. As in the illustrated example, the positioning portion 14 of the electrode chip introduction jig 10 may be provided with a lever pressing portion 15 that holds the base end 48b of the lever 48 of the electrode chip storage unit 40 in a pressed state when the electrode chip storage unit 40 is positioned on the base 12.

[0042] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment and modifications, and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention.

[0043] For example, the electrode tip moving member 18 is not limited to a rod-shaped body 20, but may also be structured to move the electrode tip 60 toward the opening side of the first end 16a of the accommodating portion 16 by the biasing force of a spring provided on the second end 16b side of the accommodating portion 16. [Explanation of symbols]

[0044] 10. Electrode chip insertion jig 12 Pedestal 14 Positioning part 15 Lever pressing part 16 Storage section 18 Electrode tip moving member 20 Rod-shaped body 22 Plate 24 Rod-shaped body guide part 40 Electrode chip storage unit 42 Storage case 44 Pressing means 48 Lever 60 electrode tips 62 Fitting recess

Claims

1. The electrode tip introduction jig is used to introduce a plurality of electrode tips into an electrode tip storage unit that stores electrode tips for spot welding in a line and has an electrode tip outlet that can be switched from a closed state to an open state by pressing a lever, a housing portion fixed on the base, extending linearly, having a first end and a second end open, and housing a plurality of electrode tips arranged linearly in a single row; a positioning unit that is installed on the base near an opening at a first end of the housing unit and that positions the electrode tip storage unit on the base so that the opening at the first end faces the electrode tip removal port; an electrode tip moving member that moves the electrode tip accommodated in the accommodation portion toward the opening of the first end portion; An electrode chip introduction jig comprising:

2. The electrode tip moving member is a rod-shaped body inserted into the housing portion through an opening at a second end of the housing portion; The electrode chip introduction jig according to claim 1, further comprising a rod-shaped body guide portion fixed to the base at or near the second end of the storage portion, and regulating the movement direction of the rod-shaped body so that the movement direction of the rod-shaped body coincides with the longitudinal direction of the storage portion.

3. The electrode chip introduction tool according to claim 2, characterized in that the rod-shaped body has a rod-shaped body main body portion that extends linearly and is inserted into the interior of the storage portion, and a base end portion that is bent in an L-shape from the rod-shaped body main body portion.

4. The storage section has a bottom wall and a pair of side walls, 4. The electrode chip introduction tool according to claim 2, wherein the rod-shaped body is provided with a plate attached to the tip of the rod-shaped body main body that extends linearly and that is slidable inside the accommodating portion.

5. The electrode chip introduction jig according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the positioning portion is provided with a lever pressing portion that holds the lever of the electrode chip storage unit in a pressed state when the electrode chip storage unit is positioned on the base.

Images