Connecting device

Abstract

To provide a bonding device capable of removing deposits attached to a biasing member located at the rear in the direction of movement of the workpiece heating section. [Solution] The laser bonding apparatus 1 comprises a workpiece heating unit 100, a forward biasing member 200F, a rear biasing member 200R, and a rear cleaning unit 300R for cleaning the rear biasing member. The rear biasing member 200R includes a biasing unit 210 capable of applying biasing force to workpieces W1 and W2, a support 220 connected to the biasing unit, and a rotating pressing body 230 supported by the support so as to be rotatable relative to the support, which presses the workpiece. The rear cleaning unit 300R removes any deposits adhering to the surface of the rotating pressing body 230.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a bonding device.

Background Art

[0002] For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2022-178726 discloses a bonding device for dissimilar metals that bonds a first metal plate and a second metal plate made of different materials. This bonding device includes a processing table, a mounting table that can move relative to the processing progress direction, a laser irradiation unit, a first pressing roller, and a second pressing roller.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In a laser bonding device as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2022-178726, for example, when bonding a workpiece made of resin and a workpiece made of metal, the workpiece made of resin may soften or melt due to heat input to the workpiece by the laser. In this case, there is a concern that a part of the workpiece made of resin may protrude from the bonding portion and adhere to the rear roller on the moving direction side of the laser irradiation unit as an adherent. This is the same not only for the bonding device having a laser irradiation unit but also for a resistance heating bonding device and the like.

[0005] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a bonding device capable of removing an adherent adhering to a biasing member provided behind in the moving direction of a workpiece heating unit.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] A joining apparatus according to one aspect of the present disclosure comprises: a workpiece heating unit capable of heating workpieces to be joined together and movable relative to the workpieces; a forward biasing member provided in front of the workpiece heating unit in the direction of movement of the workpiece heating unit relative to the workpieces and biasing the workpieces; a rear biasing member provided behind the workpiece heating unit in the direction of movement and biasing the workpieces; and a rear cleaning unit for cleaning the rear biasing member, wherein the rear biasing member comprises a biasing unit capable of applying the biasing force to the workpieces; a support connected to the biasing unit; and a rotating pressing body supported by the support so as to be rotatable relative to the support and pressing the workpieces; and the rear cleaning unit removes deposits adhering to the surface of the rotating pressing body. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to this disclosure, it is possible to provide a laser bonding apparatus that can remove deposits adhering to a biasing member provided at the rear in the direction of movement of the workpiece heating section. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view of a bonding device in one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] This is a cross-sectional view of the joining device shown in Figure 1. [Figure 3] This is a cross-sectional view near the rear cleaning section. [Figure 4] This is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a modified example of the rear cleaning section. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] Embodiments of this disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings referred to below, the same or equivalent components are given the same number.

[0010] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a joining device in one embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the joining device shown in Figure 1. The joining device 1 of this embodiment is particularly suitable for joining a workpiece W1 made of resin and a workpiece W2 made of metal. However, the objects to be joined by the joining device 1 are not particularly limited. Each workpiece W1, W2 is not limited to being flat, but may also be curved.

[0011] As shown in Figure 1, the joining device 1 can join workpieces W1 and W2 placed on a support base 10, for example. The joining device 1 can also join workpieces W1 and W2 while they are held by a three-dimensionally movable actuator (not shown). The joining device 1 may be a laser joining device or a resistance heating joining device. The following explanation will use a laser joining device as an example.

[0012] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the joining device 1 includes a workpiece heating section 100, a holding member 150, a rear biasing member 200R, a front biasing member 200F, a rear cleaning section 300R, and a front cleaning section 300F.

[0013] The workpiece heating unit 100 is capable of heating the workpieces W1 and W2 that are joined together. In this embodiment, a laser irradiation unit (hereinafter referred to as "laser irradiation unit 100") is used as the workpiece heating unit 100. The laser irradiation unit 100 is capable of irradiating a laser L toward the workpieces W1 and W2. In this embodiment, the laser irradiation unit 100 irradiates the workpieces W1 and W2 with the laser L such that the irradiation direction of the laser L is perpendicular to the workpieces W1 and W2. However, the irradiation direction of the laser L does not have to be perpendicular to the workpieces W1 and W2.

[0014] The holding member 150 is connected to the laser irradiation unit 100. The holding member 150 has a holding body 151, a front mounting portion 152, and a rear mounting portion 153.

[0015] The holding unit body 151 surrounds the laser irradiation unit 100. The holding unit body 151 is formed in a rectangular cylindrical shape.

[0016] The front mounting portion 152 is provided at the front portion of the holding portion main body 151 in the moving direction of the laser irradiation unit 100. The front mounting portion 152 is a portion for mounting the front biasing member 200F.

[0017] The rear mounting portion 153 is provided at the rear portion of the holding portion main body 151 in the moving direction of the laser irradiation unit 100. The rear mounting portion 153 is a portion for mounting the rear biasing member 200R.

[0018] The front biasing member 200F is provided in front of the laser irradiation unit 100 in the moving direction of the laser irradiation unit 100 with respect to the workpieces W1, W2. Specifically, the front biasing member 200F is connected to the front mounting portion 152. The front biasing member 200F can apply a biasing force to the workpieces W1, W2.

[0019] The rear biasing member 200R is provided behind the laser irradiation unit 100 in the moving direction of the laser irradiation unit 100 with respect to the workpieces W1, W2. Specifically, the rear biasing member 200R is connected to the rear mounting portion 153. The rear biasing member 200R can apply a biasing force to the workpieces W1, W2.

[0020] In the present embodiment, the front biasing member 200F and the rear biasing member 200R have substantially the same structure. Specifically, the rear biasing member 200R has a configuration symmetric to the front biasing member 200F with respect to a plane that is orthogonal to the moving direction of the laser irradiation unit 100 and passes through the irradiation point P (see FIG. 1). Therefore, hereinafter, the front biasing member 200F will be described as an example.

[0021] The front biasing member 200F includes a biasing unit 210 (see FIG. 2), a support 220, and a rotary pressing body 230.

[0022] The biasing unit 210 of the front biasing member 200F is attached to the front mounting portion 152. The biasing unit 210 can adjust the biasing force applied to the workpieces W1 and W2. In this embodiment, the biasing unit 210 is constituted by an air cylinder. However, the biasing unit 210 is not limited to an air cylinder. As shown in FIG. 2, the biasing unit 210 includes a cylinder 211, a piston 212, and a rod 213. Note that the biasing unit 210 of the rear biasing member 200R is attached to the rear mounting portion 153.

[0023] The rod 213 extends from the piston 212 toward the support 220. The end portion (the lower end portion in the posture shown in FIG. 2) of the rod 213 is connected to the support 220.

[0024] Gas flow paths 214 (see FIG. 1) are connected to the spaces in the cylinder 211 partitioned by the piston 212. Through this gas flow path 214, supply of gas (for example, air) into the cylinder 211 and discharge of gas from the cylinder 211 are performed. The tip of the gas flow path 214 is connected to a pump or the like.

[0025] The support 220 is connected to the end portion of the biasing unit 210. The support 220 has a portion connected to the rod 213 and a portion that supports the rotary pressing body 230.

[0026] The rotary pressing body 230 is supported by the support 220 so as to be rotatable with respect to the support 220. The rotary pressing body 230 presses the workpieces W1 and W2 while rotating with respect to the workpieces W1 and W2. In this embodiment, a roller made of metal is used as the rotary pressing body 230.

[0027] The rear cleaning section 300R cleans the rotating press body 230 on the rear biasing member 200R. The front cleaning section 300F cleans the rotating press body 230 on the front biasing member 200F. The front cleaning section 300F has a configuration symmetrical to the rear cleaning section 300R, with the plane perpendicular to the direction of movement of the laser irradiation section 100 and passing through the irradiation point P as the reference plane. For this reason, the following explanation will use the rear cleaning section 300R as an example.

[0028] The rear cleaning unit 300R removes deposits adhering to the surface of the rotating pressing body 230. The rear cleaning unit 300R includes a blade 310 and a suction device 320.

[0029] The blade 310 is in contact with the surface of the rotating pressing body 230. The blade 310 may be formed in a flat plate shape. The blade 310 is made of metal or the like.

[0030] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the rear cleaning section 300R. As shown in Figure 3, the support 220 includes a blade support 221 that supports the blade 310. The blade support 221 supports the blade 310 so that the blade 310 is in contact with the upper end of the rotating press 230.

[0031] The support 220 has through holes h1 and h2 through which the attached material is inserted. In this embodiment, the through holes include a first hole h1 and a second hole h2.

[0032] The first hole h1 is located at the top of the blade support portion 221. The first hole h1 may extend in a direction parallel to the rod 213. The second hole h2 is located on the side opposite to the side on which the blade support portion 221 is provided, with reference to the rotating pressing body 230. The second hole h2 may extend in a direction parallel to the direction of movement of the laser irradiation portion 100.

[0033] The suction device 320 sucks up the deposits removed from the surface of the rotating press body 230. The suction device 320 sucks up the deposits through the insertion holes h1 and h2. More specifically, the suction device 320 sucks up the deposits through tubes 331 and 332 that connect the suction device 320 to the insertion holes h1 and h2.

[0034] In the laser bonding apparatus 1 described above, when the laser L is irradiated onto the workpieces W1 and W2, the heat from the laser L may partially soften or melt the resin workpiece W1, and the molten resin deposit may adhere to the surface of the rotating press body 230 of the rear biasing member 200R.

[0035] In the laser bonding apparatus 1 of this embodiment, the rear cleaning unit 300R removes deposits adhering to the surface of the rotating press body 230, thereby suppressing the adhesion of deposits to the surface of the rotating press body 230. This suppresses the occurrence of bonding defects caused by uneven biasing force of the rear biasing member 200R. Therefore, a stable biasing state of the workpieces W1 and W2 by the rear biasing member 200R is maintained, and the adhesion of impurities to the joint portion of the workpieces W1 and W2 is suppressed.

[0036] Furthermore, since the deposits removed by the blade 310 are sucked up by the suction device 320, the re-adhesion of the deposits removed from the rotating press 230 to the surfaces of the workpieces W1 and W2 is suppressed. In addition, the step of removing deposits from the rotating press 230 after each joining is omitted.

[0037] As shown in Figure 4, the rear cleaning section 300R may further include a heating section 340. The heating section 340 heats the portion of the rotating pressing body 230 upstream of the contact point between the rotating pressing body 230 and the blade 310 in the direction of rotation of the rotating pressing body 230. This softens any deposits adhering to the surface of the rotating pressing body 230, thereby improving the ability of the blade 310 to remove the deposits.

[0038] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 4, the blade support portion 221 may support the blade 310 such that the blade 310 contacts a portion of the rotating press body 230 that is slightly downstream in the rotational direction of the rotating press body 230 from the upper end of the rotating press body 230.

[0039] Furthermore, the rear cleaning section 300R may remove deposits from the surface of the rotating pressing body 230 by irradiating the surface with plasma.

[0040] Those skilled in the art will understand that the above-described exemplary embodiments are specific examples of the following embodiments.

[0041] [Aspect 1] A workpiece heating unit capable of heating workpieces to be joined together and movable relative to the workpieces, A forward biasing member is provided in front of the workpiece heating unit in the direction of movement of the workpiece heating unit relative to the workpiece, and biases the workpiece. A rear biasing member is provided behind the workpiece heating section in the aforementioned direction of movement and biases the workpiece, It includes a rear cleaning unit for cleaning the rear biasing member, The aforementioned rearward biasing member is A biasing unit capable of applying a biasing force to the workpiece, A support connected to the biasing unit, It includes a rotating pressing body that is supported on the support so as to be rotatable with respect to the support and presses the workpiece, The rear cleaning unit is a joining device that removes deposits adhering to the surface of the rotating pressing body.

[0042] In this joining device, the rear cleaning unit removes deposits adhering to the surface of the rotating press body, thereby suppressing the accumulation of deposits on the surface of the rotating press body. This suppresses the occurrence of joining defects caused by uneven biasing force of the rear biasing member.

[0043] [Aspect 2] The rear cleaning section includes a blade that contacts the surface of the rotating pressing body, The bonding apparatus according to embodiment 1, wherein the support body includes a blade support portion that supports the blade.

[0044] [Aspect 3] The joining device according to embodiment 1 or 2, wherein the rear cleaning section further comprises a suction device for sucking up the deposits that have detached from the surface of the rotating pressing body.

[0045] In this embodiment, the deposits removed from the rotating press are sucked up by a suction device, thus preventing the deposits removed from the rotating press from re-adhering to the surface of the workpiece.

[0046] [Aspect 4] The support has an insertion hole through which the attached material is inserted, The joining device according to embodiment 3, wherein the suction device sucks up the adhering material through the insertion hole.

[0047] [Aspect 5] The blade support portion supports the blade such that the blade contacts the upper end of the rotating pressing body. The joining device according to embodiment 4, wherein the insertion hole is provided in the upper part of the blade support portion.

[0048] [Aspect 6] The joining device according to any one of embodiments 2 to 5, further comprising a heating unit that heats the portion of the rotating pressing body upstream of the contact between the rotating pressing body and the blade in the direction of rotation of the rotating pressing body.

[0049] In this embodiment, the deposits adhering to the surface of the rotating press body are softened by heating of the heating section, thereby improving the ease of removing the deposits.

[0050] It should be noted that the embodiments disclosed herein are illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is indicated by the claims rather than by the description of the embodiments above, and further includes all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0051] 1 Joining device, 100 Workpiece heating section (laser irradiation section), 200F Forward biasing member, 200R Rear biasing member, 210 Biasing unit, 211 Cylinder, 212 Piston, 213 Rod, 214 Gas flow path, 220 Support body, 230 Rotating press body, 300F Forward cleaning section, 300R Rear cleaning section, 310 Blade, 320 Suction device, 340 Heating section, L Laser, W1, W2 Workpiece.

Claims

1. A workpiece heating unit capable of heating workpieces to be joined together and movable relative to the workpieces, A forward biasing member is provided in front of the workpiece heating unit in the direction of movement of the workpiece heating unit relative to the workpiece, and biases the workpiece. A rear biasing member is provided behind the workpiece heating section in the aforementioned direction of movement and biases the workpiece, It includes a rear cleaning unit for cleaning the rear biasing member, The aforementioned rearward biasing member is A biasing unit capable of applying a biasing force to the workpiece, A support connected to the biasing unit, It includes a rotating pressing body that is supported on the support so as to be rotatable with respect to the support and presses the workpiece, The rear cleaning unit is a joining device that removes deposits adhering to the surface of the rotating pressing body.

2. The rear cleaning section includes a blade that contacts the surface of the rotating pressing body, The bonding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the support body includes a blade support portion that supports the blade.

3. The joining device according to claim 2, wherein the rear cleaning unit further comprises a suction device for sucking up the deposits that have detached from the surface of the rotating pressing body.

4. The support has an insertion hole through which the attached material is inserted, The joining device according to claim 3, wherein the suction device sucks up the adhering material through the insertion hole.

5. The blade support portion supports the blade such that the blade contacts the upper end of the rotating pressing body. The joining device according to claim 4, wherein the insertion hole is provided in the upper part of the blade support portion.

6. The joining device according to any one of claims 2 to 5, further comprising a heating unit that heats the portion of the rotating pressing body upstream of the contact between the rotating pressing body and the blade in the direction of rotation of the rotating pressing body.

Images