Connecting device

Abstract

The present invention provides a bonding device equipped with an input system that allows for easy configuration of complex settings. [Solution] The joining device comprises a main unit 21 that joins the objects to be joined, a display unit 16 with a touch panel function that displays information and accepts user operations, an operation input unit 140 that accepts user setting operations for the display unit 16 with a touch panel function, a display control unit 142 that displays a setting screen for joining the objects to be joined on the display unit 16 with a touch panel function and updates the setting screen according to the user's setting operations, and a joining control unit 141 that controls the main unit 21 to join the objects to be joined based on the content set by the user on the setting screen.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a joining device such as a resistance welding device.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a resistance welding device that generates Joule heat by flowing a current between electrodes to raise the temperature of the workpiece to be joined for joining has been widely used. The factors that affect the strength and stability of resistance welding are the pressing force, current, and time. In general resistance welding that melts the joining interface, joining is completed in a short time (5 to 100 mS), so it is important to keep the pressure applied to the workpiece constant with an air cylinder or the like. Various controls have been proposed for the current and time, which can be variably controlled in a short time and have a great influence on the melting of the interface. The above-described resistance welding method is also used in huging welding for thermally caulking a covered wire with a terminal (see Patent Document 1).

[0003] However, since the important factors in huging welding are temperature (heat) and deformation (force, displacement) of the terminal, the existing welding pressure application method that keeps the pressure constant is not optimal. Therefore, in the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, when one electrode reaches the model thickness dimension of the energized thermally caulked joint portion set in advance, or when it reaches a position slightly before the model thickness dimension, the current between the electrodes is stopped, and the control of the pressing force on the electrodes is switched to the control of the position of the electrodes. In the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, it is said that the dimensional accuracy of the workpiece can be improved by switching to the position control of the electrode during joining.

[0004] In addition to the joining as disclosed in Patent Document 1, in order to optimally control the pressing force, electrode position, and welding current by inputting time, pressure sensor, and displacement sensor, the setting becomes more complicated. However, there has been a problem that conventional joining devices do not have such a complex control function, and an input system that is easy for the user to understand and can be easily set has not been put into practical use.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2006-7294 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0006] The present invention was made to solve the above problems and aims to provide a bonding device equipped with an input system that allows for easy configuration of complex settings. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The joining apparatus of the present invention is characterized by comprising: a main unit for joining objects to be joined; a display unit with a touch panel function that displays information and accepts user operations; an operation input unit that accepts setting operations by the user on the display unit with the touch panel function; a display control unit that displays a setting screen for joining the objects to be joined on the display unit with the touch panel function and updates the setting screen in accordance with the user's setting operations; and a joining control unit that controls the main unit to join the objects to be joined based on the content set by the user on the setting screen.

[0008] Furthermore, in one example configuration of the bonding apparatus of the present invention, the items set on the setting screen include an item that specifies the type of control in which a physical quantity detected during bonding is used as the controlled quantity. Furthermore, in one example configuration of the bonding apparatus of the present invention, the items set on the setting screen include items that specify a control target value, which is a physical quantity detected during bonding, the time to reach the target value, and the time to hold the target value. Furthermore, in one example configuration of the joining apparatus of the present invention, the items set on the setting screen can be set for each phase into which the joining process of the objects to be joined is divided. Furthermore, in one example configuration of the bonding apparatus of the present invention, the items set on the setting screen include an item that specifies the control switching conditions for transitioning to the next phase. Furthermore, in one configuration example of the bonding apparatus of the present invention, the items set on the setting screen include an item that specifies the signal output to the main unit. Furthermore, one example configuration of the bonding apparatus of the present invention further includes a graph generation unit that generates a graph representing the transition of physical quantities related to the objects to be bonded during bonding based on the content set by the user on the setting screen, and the display control unit displays the graph generated by the graph generation unit on the screen of the touch panel display. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the present invention, by providing a display with a touch panel function, an operation input unit, and a display control unit, it is possible to realize a joining device equipped with an input system that allows for easy setting of complex joining operations. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a bonding device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a bonding head according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] Figure 3 shows an example of a setting screen displayed on a touch panel display according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] Figure 4 shows an example of a graph according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the joining apparatus during fusing welding according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a computer that realizes a bonding device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0011] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Figure 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a joining device (resistance welding device) according to an embodiment of the present invention. The joining device of this embodiment includes a start switch 2, a rectifier circuit 3, a capacitor 4, an inverter 5, a welding transformer 6, a diode 7, a joining head 8, a Hall element 9, a current detection unit 10, a voltage detection unit 11, a pressure detection unit 12, a displacement detection unit 13, a control unit 14, a storage unit 15, and a touch panel display unit 16 which is a display unit for displaying information and an input unit for accepting user operations.

[0012] The start switch 2, rectifier circuit 3, capacitor 4, inverter 5, welding transformer 6, and diode 7 constitute the power supply 20 that supplies current to the bonding head 8. The bonding head 8 and the power supply 20 constitute the main body 21 of the bonding device.

[0013] The control unit 14 includes an operation input unit 140 that receives setting operations from the user on the touch panel display 16, a joining control unit 141 that performs joining of objects based on the content set by the user on the setting screen, a display control unit 142 that displays the setting screen on the touch panel display 16 and updates the setting screen according to the user's setting operations, and a graph generation unit 143 that generates a graph representing the transition of physical quantities related to the objects being joined based on the content set by the user on the setting screen.

[0014] Figure 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the bonding head 8. The bonding head 8 is equipped with electrodes 80a and 80b made of, for example, a copper (Cu) alloy, molybdenum (Mo), or tungsten (W). The object to be bonded 83 may consist of, for example, a coated wire 84 and a U-shaped terminal 85 that is positioned to enclose the coated wire 84. In bonding (fusing) this object to be bonded 83, the insulating coating 86 of the coated wire 84 is peeled off by heat, and the core wire 87 and the U-shaped terminal 85 are welded together.

[0015] The joining head 8 also includes pressing mechanisms 82a and 82b that move the electrodes 80a and 80b up and down to sandwich and press the workpiece 83. The pressing mechanisms 82a and 82b are provided with load cells (not shown) that can convert the magnitude of the load applied to the workpiece 83 into an electrical signal. Further, the pressing mechanisms 82a and 82b are provided with displacement sensors (not shown) that can convert the displacement amount of the workpiece 83 in the height direction into an electrical signal.

[0016] The operation of the joining apparatus of this embodiment will be described below. First, the user makes settings for joining the workpiece 83. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a setting screen displayed on the display 16 with a touch panel function.

[0017] In this embodiment, the heating process is divided into a plurality of phases 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, ···. On the setting screen shown in FIG. 3, one row of Table 30 corresponds to one phase. Items that can be set on the setting screen include the control method in each phase (an item for specifying the type of control that uses the physical quantity detected during joining as the control quantity).

[0018] As another item, it is possible to set the target value (SPEED) of the moving speed of the electrodes 80a and 80b, the target value (FORCE) of the pressure applied to the workpiece 83, the target value (HEIGHT) of the height of the workpiece 83, the time to reach the target value, the holding time (maximum value) of the target value, the control switching condition (TRIGGER) for interrupting the phase and shifting to the next phase, the signal output (OUTPUT) to the main body 21, and the like.

[0019] First, the user touches the control cell in phase 0 of Table 30 on the setting screen to input "SPEED (μm / msec)", touches the SPEED cell to input -10 (μm / msec), touches the arrival time cell to input 0 (msec), touches the holding time cell to input 200 (msec), and touches the TRIGGER cell to input "FORCE1 500". This setting means that the speed control of electrodes 80a and 80b is performed, the electrodes 80a and 80b are moved at -10 (μm / msec), and the workpiece 83 is sandwiched between the electrodes 80a and 80b and maintained for a maximum of 200 (msec). When the pressure on the workpiece 83 reaches 500 (N), the process proceeds to the next phase 1. Note that the negative sign of the speed indicates movement in the direction in which the distance between the electrodes 80a and 80b decreases.

[0020] The input method for Table 30 is in the form of a list box or a combo box. When the user touches a desired cell in Table 30, a list of options (e.g., FORCE1, HEIGHT1, ACT IN, etc.) is displayed. When the user selects one from the options, the list closes and the selected item is displayed in the area for the original row. Also, for the input of numerical values in Table 30, the combo box form is adopted, and the user can freely input numerical values by touching the keys (not shown) on the on-screen keyboard. For the items of TRIGGER and OUTPUT, it may be possible to set the delay time. Also, for the item of TRIGGER, it may be possible to set the upper and lower limits.

[0021] The input of the setting items and the update of the display are performed by the operation input unit 140 and the display control unit 142 of the control unit 14. The operation input unit 140 receives the user's operations on the touch panel-equipped display 16, and the display control unit 142 updates the setting screen according to the user's operations. The options that can be displayed in the list box are set in advance in the storage unit 15 for each column of Table 30.

[0022] Next, the user touches the control cell in Phase 1 of Table 30 and inputs "FORCE(N)", touches the FORCE cell and inputs 4000(N), touches the reach time cell and inputs 100(msec), touches the hold time cell and inputs 100(msec), touches the TRIGGER cell and inputs "HEIGHT1 6000", and touches the OUTPUT cell and inputs "ACT IN". This setting means that pressure control is performed on the workpiece 83, and at the same time the signal "ACT IN" is output to the power supply 20 (joining control unit 141), the pressure on the workpiece 83 will reach 4000(N) in 100(msec), the pressure will be maintained at 4000(N) for a maximum of 100(msec), and when the height of the workpiece 83 reaches 6000, the system will move to the next Phase 2. "ACT IN" means that power is turned on.

[0023] Next, the user touches the control cell for Phase 2 in Table 30 and inputs "FORCE(N)", touches the FORCE cell and inputs 2000(N), touches the reach time cell and inputs 100(msec), touches the hold time cell and inputs 100(msec), touches the TRIGGER cell and inputs "HEIGHT2 5000", and touches the OUTPUT cell and inputs "ACT STOP1". This setting means that pressure control is performed on the workpiece 83, and at the same time the signal "ACT STOP1" is output to the power supply 20 (joining control unit 141), the pressure on the workpiece 83 will reach 2000(N) in 100(msec), the pressure will be maintained at 2000(N) for a maximum of 100(msec), and when the height of the workpiece 83 reaches 5000, the system will move to the next Phase 3. "ACT STOP1" means switching from the target current value of Phase 1 to the target current value of Phase 2.

[0024] Next, the user touches the control cell for Phase 3 in Table 30 and inputs "HEIGHT(μm)", then touches the HEIGHT cell and inputs 4000(μm), touches the reach time cell and inputs 100(msec), touches the hold time cell and inputs 0(msec), and touches the OUTPUT cell and inputs "ACT STOP2". This setting controls the height of the workpiece 83 and simultaneously outputs the signal "ACT STOP2" to the power supply 20 (joining control unit 141), causing the workpiece 83 to reach a height of 4000(μm) in 100(msec), and then transitions to the next Phase 4 with a hold time of 0(msec). "ACT STOP2" means switching from the target current value of Phase 2 to the target current values ​​of Phases 3 and 4.

[0025] Next, the user touches the control cell in Phase 4 of Table 30 and enters "HEIGHT (μm)", then touches the HEIGHT cell and enters 3500 (μm), then touches the reach time cell and enters 100 (msec), and then touches the hold time cell and enters 100 (msec). This setting controls the height of the workpiece 83, causing it to reach a height of 3500 (μm) in 100 (msec), and maintaining that height of 3500 (μm) for 100 (msec).

[0026] The settings configured by the user through the operation of the touch panel display 16 are stored in the storage unit 15. After the user has finished inputting, the graph generation unit 143 of the control unit 14 generates a graph representing the phase transitions of fusing welding based on the settings set by the user. Figure 4 shows an example of a graph created by the graph generation unit 143 based on the settings shown in Figure 3. In Figure 4, P represents the pressure on the workpiece 83, h represents the height of the workpiece 83, and I represents the welding current flowing through electrodes 80a and 80b. In this way, the graph displays the transitions of physical quantities related to the workpiece 83 during joining.

[0027] The display control unit 142 of the control unit 14 displays the graph generated by the graph generation unit 143 on the screen of the touch panel display unit 16. The user can check the phase transitions of the fusing process by viewing the graph displayed on the screen. Once the setup is complete, it becomes possible to actually weld the workpiece 83.

[0028] Figure 5 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the joining device during fusing welding. For example, when a user operates the touch panel display 16 to instruct the start of welding, Control unit 14 A start signal is output from the start switch, and the start switch 2 is turned on. When the start switch 2 is turned on, the rectifier circuit 3 full-wave rectifies the AC output of the 200V AC commercial three-phase AC power supply 1 and charges the capacitor 4 connected in parallel between the output terminals of the rectifier circuit 3. This rectifier circuit 3 is composed of a three-phase full-wave mixing bridge using six diodes 30.

[0029] The inverter 5 converts the charging voltage of the capacitor 4 into an AC voltage and supplies it to the primary side of the welding transformer 6. The inverter 5 is composed of a bridge consisting of four NPN transistors 50. The secondary output of the welding transformer 6 is full-wave rectified by a rectifier (diode) 7 and led to electrodes 80a and 80b. This causes a large current to flow between electrodes 80a and 80b, and the resulting Joule heat raises the temperature of the workpiece 83 to be joined.

[0030] The current detection unit 10 detects the current I (welding current flowing through electrodes 80a and 80b) flowing through the secondary side of the welding transformer 6 from the output of the Hall element 9 provided on the secondary side of the welding transformer 6. The voltage detection unit 11 detects the welding voltage V applied between electrodes 80a and 80b. The displacement detection unit 13 detects the amount of displacement D in the height direction of the workpiece 83 based on the output of the displacement sensors provided on the pressurizing mechanisms 82a and 82b.

[0031] As shown in Figure 2, with the object to be joined 83 positioned between electrodes 80a and 80b, the bonding control unit 141 of the control unit 14 controls the pressurizing mechanisms 82a and 82b of the bonding head 8 to move electrodes 80a and 80b from the starting position at a speed of -10 (μm / msec), thereby clamping and pressurizing the object to be joined 83 from above and below with electrodes 80a and 80b (Figure 5, step S1).

[0032] The pressure detection unit 12 detects the pressure applied to the workpiece 83 based on the output of the load cells provided in the pressurizing mechanisms 82a and 82b. When the pressure applied to the workpiece 83 reaches 500(N) (YES in step S2 of Figure 5), the bonding control unit 141 transitions from phase 0 to phase 1 and performs pressurization control (step S3 of Figure 5).

[0033] In Phase 1, the bonding control unit 141 increases the pressure applied to the workpiece 83 to 4000 N in 100 msec and maintains the 4000 N pressure for a maximum of 100 msec.

[0034] Simultaneously in Phase 1, the joining control unit 141 starts supplying current to electrodes 80a and 80b in response to the output of the signal "ACT IN". Specifically, the joining control unit 141 applies current to electrodes 80a and 80b by operating the inverter 5 as described above to generate an AC voltage. The joining control unit 141 then monitors the welding current I detected by the current detection unit 10 in real time and controls the amount of current supplied to electrodes 80a and 80b by controlling the on / off state of the transistor 50 of the inverter 5 so that the waveform of the welding current I matches the target waveform. The memory unit 15 has pre-set target waveforms of the welding current I for each phase as desirable welding conditions.

[0035] If the origin is defined as a position where electrodes 80a and 80b are separated by a known predetermined distance, the distance between electrodes 80a and 80b when the workpiece 83 is sandwiched from above and below (which is the height of the workpiece 83, h in Figure 2) can be determined from the output of the displacement sensor at this origin position and the output of the displacement sensor when the workpiece 83 is sandwiched from above and below by electrodes 80a and 80b. When the height h of the workpiece 83 reaches 6000 μm (YES in step S4 in Figure 5), the bonding control unit 141 moves from phase 1 to phase 2 and performs pressurization control again (step S5 in Figure 5).

[0036] In Phase 2, the bonding control unit 141 increases the pressure applied to the workpiece 83 to 2000 N in 100 msec and maintains the 2000 N pressure for a maximum of 100 msec.

[0037] Simultaneously in Phase 2, the bonding control unit 141 controls the amount of current supplied to electrodes 80a and 80b in accordance with the output of the signal "ACT STOP1". Specifically, the bonding control unit 141 controls the amount of current supplied to electrodes 80a and 80b by controlling the on / off state of the transistor 50 of the inverter 5 so that the waveform of the welding current I detected by the current detection unit 10 matches the target waveform of the welding current I in Phase 2.

[0038] When the height h of the workpiece 83 reaches 5000 μm (YES in step S6 of Figure 5), the bonding control unit 141 transitions from phase 2 to phase 3 and performs height control (step S7 of Figure 5).

[0039] In phase 3, the bonding control unit 141 controls the pressurizing mechanisms 82a and 82b to raise the height h of the workpiece 83 to 4000 μm in 100 msec, and then immediately proceeds to the next phase 4 to perform height control again (Figure 5, step S8).

[0040] Simultaneously in phase 3, the bonding control unit 141 controls the amount of current supplied to electrodes 80a and 80b in accordance with the output of the signal "ACT STOP2". Specifically, the bonding control unit 141 controls the amount of current supplied to electrodes 80a and 80b by controlling the on / off state of the transistor 50 of the inverter 5 so that the waveform of the welding current I detected by the current detection unit 10 matches the target waveform of the welding current I in phases 3 and 4.

[0041] In phase 4, the bonding control unit 141 controls the pressurizing mechanisms 82a and 82b to raise the height h of the workpiece 83 to 3500 μm in 100 msec, and maintains the height h at 3500 μm for 100 msec.

[0042] This completes the fusing process. In reality, although not shown in the setting of Figure 3, the bonding control unit 141 maintains the height h of the workpiece 83 at 3500 μm for 100 msec, then controls the pressurizing mechanisms 82a and 82b to return the electrodes 80a and 80b to their starting positions and separate the electrodes 80a and 80b from the workpiece 83.

[0043] The fusing process described above is just one example. When applying electrodes 80a and 80b to the workpiece 83, the movement speed of electrodes 80a and 80b is important to avoid over-compressing the workpiece 83. Also, when applying current to electrodes 80a and 80b, the pressure is important to stabilize the electrical resistance and heat generation. When deforming the workpiece 83, the amount of deformation per unit time is important to obtain welding strength. To achieve both the strength of the workpiece 83 and the welding strength, the height of the workpiece 83 when the current is stopped and the temperature has dropped is important. Furthermore, it is important to manage the phase switching to an appropriate setting value.

[0044] In this embodiment, the control method, target value, time to reach the target value, holding time of the target value, control switching conditions for transitioning to the next phase, and signal output to the power supply can be easily set in a way that is easy for the user to understand, allowing the joining device to perform the ideal welding operation desired by the user. Furthermore, in this embodiment, by changing the settings of the memory unit 15, it is possible to easily accommodate changes in the hardware of the joining device, such as the addition of a temperature sensor.

[0045] In this embodiment, fusing is used as an example of resistance welding, but the present invention can also be applied to resistance welding other than fusing. Furthermore, the present invention can also be applied to joining devices other than resistance welding, such as ultrasonic welding devices. In the case of ultrasonic welding devices, for example, the control method is temperature control of the workpiece, and the target value for control is the target temperature of the workpiece.

[0046] The functions of the control unit 14 and storage unit 15 in this embodiment can be realized by a computer equipped with a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a storage device, and an interface to the outside world, and a program that controls these hardware resources. An example of the configuration of this computer is shown in Figure 6.

[0047] The computer comprises a CPU 200, a storage device 201, and an interface device (hereinafter abbreviated as I / F) 202. The I / F 202 is connected to a welding power supply, a current detection unit 10, a voltage detection unit 11, a pressure detection unit 12, a displacement detection unit 13, and the like. In such a computer, a program for realizing the method of the present invention is stored in the storage device 201. The CPU 200 executes the processing described in this embodiment according to the program stored in the storage device 201. [Industrial applicability]

[0048] This invention can be applied to joining techniques such as resistance welding. [Explanation of symbols]

[0049] 1...3-phase AC power supply, 2...start switch, 3...rectifier circuit, 4...capacitor, 5...inverter, 6...welding transformer, 7...diode, 8...bonding head, 9...Hall element, 10...current detection unit, 11...voltage detection unit, 12...pressure detection unit, 13...displacement detection unit, 14...control unit, 15...memory unit, 16...display with touch panel function, 20...power supply, 21...main unit, 80a, 80b...electrodes, 82a, 82b...pressure mechanism, 83...work to be bonded, 140...operation input unit, 141...bonding control unit, 142...display control unit, 143...graph generation unit.

Claims

1. The main body that joins the objects to be joined, A display unit with a touch panel function that displays information and accepts user input simultaneously, An operation input unit that accepts setting operations from the user for the touch panel display, A display control unit that displays a setting screen for joining the objects to be joined on the touch panel display and updates the setting screen according to the user's setting operation, A joining device comprising a joining control unit that controls the main unit based on the content set by the user on the settings screen to join the objects to be joined.

2. In the joining device according to claim 1, The bonding apparatus is characterized in that the items set on the aforementioned settings screen include an item that specifies the type of control in which a physical quantity detected during bonding is used as the controlled quantity.

3. In the joining device according to claim 1 or 2, The bonding apparatus is characterized in that the items set on the setting screen include items that specify a control target value, which is a physical quantity detected during bonding, the time to reach the target value, and the time to hold the target value.

4. In the joining device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, The joining apparatus is characterized in that the items set on the aforementioned settings screen can be set for each phase into which the joining process of the objects to be joined is divided.

5. In the joining device according to claim 4, The bonding device is characterized in that the items set on the aforementioned settings screen include items that specify the control switching conditions for transitioning to the next phase.

6. In the joining device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, The bonding device is characterized in that the items set on the settings screen include an item that specifies the signal output to the main unit.

7. In the joining device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, The system further includes a graph generation unit that generates a graph representing the transition of physical quantities related to the objects being joined during joining, based on the settings configured by the user on the settings screen. The bonding apparatus is characterized in that the display control unit displays the graph generated by the graph generation unit on the screen of the touch panel display.

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