welding equipment

Abstract

A welding apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a welding unit including a lower jig having a seat portion on which a workpiece to be welded is placed and which is open toward the workpiece, a lower lifting unit provided to lift and lower the lower jig, and a laser irradiation unit provided to irradiate the workpiece with a laser beam, and a foreign object cleaning unit including a scraper provided to be able to enter the seat portion after the lower jig is lowered.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a welding device, more particularly to a laser welding device, and more particularly to a welding device capable of automatically cleaning foreign matter adhering to a welding mask.

[0002] This application claims the benefit of priority based on Korean Patent Application No. 10-2023-0103487 dated August 8, 2023, and all contents disclosed in the documents of that Korean patent application are incorporated herein by reference. [Background technology]

[0003] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a laser welding method for welding objects using a conventional laser welding device.

[0004] 1, the laser welding apparatus 20 includes a welding mask 25. During laser welding, the electrode tab 11 and the electrode lead 12 of the secondary battery are placed on the welding mask 25, and then the laser welding process is performed.

[0005] The electrode tab 11 is provided so as to protrude from the electrode assembly 1 for a secondary battery.

[0006] The electrode lead 12 is laminated on the electrode tab 11 so that a portion of the electrode lead 12 overlaps the electrode tab 11 and the remaining portion of the electrode lead 12 protrudes to one side of the electrode tab 11 .

[0007] The welding mask 25 is placed where the electrode lead 12 overlaps the electrode tab 11. The laser welding device 20 irradiates the laser beam B onto the overlapping portion of the electrode lead 12 and the electrode tab 11. The electrode lead 12 is welded to the electrode tab 11.

[0008] During laser welding, spatters and other foreign matter S generated when the electrode lead 12 and the electrode tab 11 melt flow down onto the welding mask 25 and are attached to the inner peripheral surface 26 of the welding mask 25 .

[0009] 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a state in which foreign matter S generated during laser welding adheres to the inner peripheral surface of a welding mask 25. As the number of welding operations increases, foreign matter S accumulates on inner peripheral surface 26 of welding mask 25.

[0010] Such foreign matter S interferes with the laser beam B during laser welding. Repeated laser welding with foreign matter S attached to the welding mask 25 results in a decrease in welding quality. To solve this problem, conventionally, the welding mask 25 has been replaced periodically.

[0011] When replacing the welding mask 25, the operation of the laser welding device 20 is stopped. Therefore, welding of the workpiece 10 is interrupted during the time it takes to replace the welding mask 25.

[0012] While the laser welding device 20 is stopped, a production loss occurs for the workpiece 10. For this reason, a device that can automatically clean the welding mask 25 without replacing the welding mask 25 is required. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0013] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a welding apparatus capable of automatically cleaning foreign matter adhering to a lower mask in a welding standby mode without causing equipment floating at the welding portion. [Means for solving the problem]

[0014] A welding apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a welding unit including a lower jig having a seat portion on which a workpiece to be welded is placed and which is open toward the workpiece, a lower lifting unit provided to lift and lower the lower jig, and a laser irradiation unit provided to irradiate the workpiece with a laser beam, and a foreign object cleaning unit including a scraper provided to be able to enter the seat portion after the lower jig is lowered.

[0015] The foreign substance cleaning unit may be provided such that the scraper reciprocates within the seat along the longitudinal direction of the seat.

[0016] The seat portion may have a space into which the scraper is inserted and a support surface on which the workpieces are placed, and the space may be open toward both ends in the longitudinal direction and toward the workpieces. The seat portion may have an inner circumferential surface that defines the space.

[0017] The scraper may be disposed parallel to the longitudinal direction of the sheet portion.

[0018] The scraper may have a length longer than the length of the seat portion and may be provided so as to be able to contact an inner circumferential surface of the seat portion when entering the seat portion.

[0019] In addition, when the scraper enters the seat portion, a portion of the outer surface of the scraper may contact the inner surface of the seat portion along the circumferential direction of the scraper, and a portion of the outer surface of the scraper may be exposed above the seat portion.

[0020] The foreign object cleaning unit may include a cleaning driving unit that provides a driving force to the scraper so that the scraper moves back and forth linearly.

[0021] The welding device may also include a control unit that controls the operation of the welding unit and the foreign object cleaning unit.

[0022] The control unit may be configured to perform a welding mode in which the welding unit laser welds the welding object, and a cleaning mode in which the foreign matter cleaner removes foreign matter from the seat unit in a welding standby mode after the welding mode is completed.

[0023] The control unit may be configured to perform the cleaning mode at a preset period.

[0024] The lower jig may include a lower mask having the seat portion and an intake passage connected to the seat portion, and a jig mounting portion to which the lower mask and the foreign substance cleaning portion are attached and which is configured to be raised and lowered by the lower lifting portion.

[0025] The intake passage may be fluidly connected to the space of the seat.

[0026] In addition, the control unit may be configured to raise the lower lifting unit in the welding mode to move the lower mask toward the welding position, and to lower the lower lifting unit in the welding standby mode to move the lower mask toward a lower standby position below the welding position.

[0027] In addition, the control unit may operate the foreign object cleaning unit so that the scraper of the foreign object cleaning unit enters the seat unit and moves back and forth along the longitudinal direction of the seat unit when the lower lifting unit descends.

[0028] The control unit may be configured to operate the foreign object cleaning unit to separate the scraper from the sheet unit, and then to raise the lower lifting unit.

[0029] The welding portion may include an upper jig having a beam opening through which a laser beam can pass, the beam opening being arranged to face the sheet portion, and configured to apply pressure to the workpiece together with the lower jig from above and below during the welding mode.

[0030] The welding part may include an intake part mounted on the lower fixture to be fluidly movable with the seat part and configured to intake smoke generated from the workpiece during the welding mode. The intake part may be fluidly connected to the intake passage.

[0031] The control unit may also be configured to operate the suction unit in a cleaning mode. [Effects of the Invention]

[0032] As discussed above, the welding device according to at least one embodiment of the present invention has the following advantages.

[0033] The foreign matter cleaner performs a cleaning mode in the welding standby mode to automatically clean foreign matter attached to the inner peripheral surface of the lower mask. Thus, the present invention can improve the welding quality of the welding workpiece by periodically automatically cleaning the lower mask and then performing the welding mode.

[0034] In addition, in the welding standby mode, the foreign substance cleaner performs a cleaning mode to clean the lower mask, so that welding of the welding object can be continuously performed without equipment floating of the welding portion.

[0035] Furthermore, welding of the workpieces can be performed continuously without equipment floating of the welding portion due to replacement of the lower mask, thereby improving the welding production of the workpieces.

[0036] Furthermore, the foreign matter cleaning unit automatically cleans the lower mask periodically, thereby reducing the manpower and costs required for replacing and cleaning the lower mask. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0037] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram illustrating a laser welding method for welding objects using a conventional laser welding device. [Figure 2] 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating a state in which foreign matter generated during laser welding is attached to the inner peripheral surface of a welding mask. FIG. [Figure 3] 1 is a configuration diagram of a welding device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the scraper and the seat portion of the lower jig. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a schematic view showing a seat portion of the lower jig. [Figure 6] 1 is a schematic diagram showing various shapes of scrapers. [Figure 7] 1 is a schematic diagram showing various shapes of scrapers. [Figure 8] 1 is a schematic diagram showing various shapes of scrapers. [Figure 9] 1 illustrates one operating state of the welding device in cleaning mode. [Figure 10] 1 shows one operating state of the welding device in a welding mode. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0038] A welding device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0039] Furthermore, regardless of the drawing symbols, identical or corresponding components will be given the same or similar reference numbers, and duplicate descriptions thereof will be omitted. For the sake of convenience, the size and shape of each component shown in the drawings may be exaggerated or reduced.

[0040] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of a welding device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a scraper 510 and a seat portion 311 of a lower jig 310. As shown in FIG.

[0041] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing the seat portion 311 of the lower jig, and FIGS. 6 to 8 are schematic diagrams showing various shapes of the scraper.

[0042] The welding apparatus 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a welding section 200 for laser welding the workpiece 10 .

[0043] The welding section 200 includes a lower jig 310 on which the workpiece 10 to be welded is placed and which has a seat section 311 that is open toward the workpiece 10 to be welded, a lower lifting section 330 that is provided to lift and lower the lower jig 310, and a laser irradiation section 600 that is provided to irradiate the workpiece with a laser beam.

[0044] In addition, the welding device 100 includes a foreign matter cleaner 500 for removing foreign matter from the seat portion 311 of the lower jig 310 .

[0045] The foreign substance cleaning unit 500 includes a scraper 510 that is installed so as to be able to enter the seat unit 311 after the lower jig 310 descends.

[0046] In addition, the welding apparatus 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention may include a welding unit 200 including a lower jig 300 having a seat portion 311 on which the workpieces 10 to be welded are placed and which is open toward the workpieces 10, a lower lifting unit 330 provided to lift and lower the lower jig 300, and a laser irradiation unit 600 provided to irradiate the workpieces 10 with a laser beam (B, see FIG. 10 ), and a foreign object cleaning unit 500 including a scraper 510 provided to be able to enter the seat portion 311 after the lower jig 300 descends from the workpieces 10 to be welded.

[0047] In addition, the welding apparatus 100 may include a control unit 700 for controlling the operations of the welding unit 200 and the foreign substance cleaning unit 500 .

[0048] FIG. 9 shows one operating state of the welding device in the cleaning mode, and FIG. 10 shows one operating state of the welding device in the welding mode.

[0049] The welding apparatus 100 includes a welding unit 200 configured to laser-weld a welding object 10 in a welding mode. Referring to Fig. 1, the welding object 10 may be an electrode tab 11 and an electrode lead 12 of an electrode assembly 1 of a secondary battery. In the welding mode, the electrode tab 11 and the electrode lead 12 may be welded.

[0050] The welding portion 200 includes a lower jig 300 having a seat portion 311 with an open top, and positioned so that the lower surface of the workpiece 10 covers the seat portion 311 in a welding mode.

[0051] The lower jig 300 includes a lower mask 310 having a seat portion 311. The lower mask 310 is a welding mask. The lower mask 310 may have an intake passage 317.

[0052] In a welding mode, the workpiece 10 is placed on the seat portion 311. The seat portion 311 may have a space portion 315 into which a scraper 510 may be inserted and a placement surface 313 on which the workpiece 10 is placed. The suction passage 317 may be fluidly connected to the space portion 315 of the seat portion 311.

[0053] Furthermore, the space 315 may be open toward both ends 311a, 311b in the longitudinal direction L and the workpiece 10, and the seat portion 311 may have an inner circumferential surface 312 that forms the space 315. In the welding mode, a foreign object S may be attached to the inner circumferential surface 312.

[0054] In addition, the lower mask 310 is made of a material having excellent thermal conductivity and durability. For example, the lower mask 310 may be made of beryllium copper, super hard steel, or high speed steel.

[0055] The lower mask 310 is installed so that the seat part 311 is open at the top. The seat part 311 is open toward the workpiece 10, and the bottom part is installed so as to be fluidly movable with the suction passage 317 and the suction part 340, which will be described later.

[0056] Furthermore, the seat portion 311 is provided so as to be smaller than the width W1 of the work-pieces 10 in the longitudinal direction y of the seat portion. The length L1 of the seat portion 311 may be approximately 1 mm to 3 mm smaller than the width W1 of the work-pieces 10. For example, the seat portion 311 may have the length L1 of approximately 2.5 mm to 3 mm.

[0057] In addition, the lower jig 300 may include a jig mounting portion 320 on which a lower mask 310 is mounted. The lower mask 310 and a foreign substance cleaning portion 500 may be disposed in the jig mounting portion 320, spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction y of the seat portion 311.

[0058] In addition, the lower jig 300 may include a lower lifting unit 330 attached to the jig placement unit 320. The lower lifting unit 330 may be configured to lift the jig placement unit 320 in a height direction z perpendicular to the longitudinal direction y of the sheet portion. With this structure, when the jig placement unit 320 is elevated, the lower mask 310 and the foreign matter cleaning unit 500 are elevated together, and when the jig placement unit 320 is lowered, the lower mask 310 and the foreign matter cleaning unit 500 are lowered together.

[0059] The foreign substance cleaner 500 may be installed to enter the seat part 311 and remove the foreign substance S from the seat part 311 after the lower jig 300 descends from the welding workpiece 10 .

[0060] The foreign substance cleaning unit 500 also includes a scraper 510 that is provided to be able to enter the seat unit 311. The scraper 510 is disposed parallel to the longitudinal direction y of the seat unit.

[0061] The scraper (510) is installed to scrape out foreign matter S present on the inner circumferential surface 312 of the space 315 of the seat part 311 using physical friction. The foreign matter S may be spatter generated during welding. The scraper 510 may be made of metal and may have a bar shape.

[0062] The scraper 510 may be installed in the circumferential direction of the scraper 510 so that a portion of the outer surface of the scraper 510 can contact the inner surface 312 of the seat portion 311 and a portion of the outer surface of the scraper 510 is exposed at the top of the seat portion 311 and enters the seat portion 311.

[0063] 4, the scraper 510 may have a length L2 that is longer than the length L1 of the seat portion 311. Alternatively, the scraper 510 may be provided with a length shorter than the length L1 of the seat portion 311. However, when the scraper 510 is shorter than the length L1 of the seat portion 311, the drive shaft of the cleaning drive unit 520 connected to the scraper 510 may be provided to be able to enter the seat portion 311 together with the scraper 510.

[0064] 5 to 8, the scraper 510 may have a cross section capable of contacting the inner circumferential surface 312 of the seat portion 311 in the width direction x of the seat portion 311.

[0065] For example, the scraper 510 may be provided in the form of a column having a circular cross section (see FIG. 6), a square cross section (see FIG. 7), or a trapezoidal cross section (see FIG. 8).

[0066] Referring to FIG. 8, when the scraper 510 has a trapezoidal cross section, the scraper 510 may be disposed such that when it enters the seat portion 311, its short side is located within the seat portion 311 and its long side parallel to the short side is exposed to the outside of the seat portion 311.

[0067] The foreign substance cleaning unit 500 may include a cleaning driving unit 520 that provides a driving force to the scraper 510 so that the scraper 510 moves back and forth in a straight line.

[0068] In a cleaning mode, the cleaning driving unit 520 operates the scraper 510 so that the scraper 510 reciprocates in the longitudinal direction y of the seat unit 311. The cleaning driving unit 520 may be a motor or a hydraulic cylinder.

[0069] In addition, when the cleaning drive unit 520 is operated, the scraper 510 moves back and forth in the longitudinal direction y of the sheet portion 311, scraping out foreign matter S present on the inner surface 312 of the sheet portion 311 and / or on the boundary between the placing surface 313 and the inner surface 312.

[0070] Here, the placement surface 313 extends above the inner circumferential surface 312 and is the portion on which the workpiece 10 to be welded is placed.

[0071] As described above, the welding apparatus 100 may include a control unit 700 that controls the operation of the welding unit 200 and the foreign substance cleaning unit 500 .

[0072] The control unit 700 may be configured to perform a welding mode in which the welding unit 200 laser welds the welding object, and a cleaning mode in which the foreign matter cleaning unit 500 removes the foreign matter from the seat unit in a welding standby mode after the welding mode is completed.

[0073] The control unit 700 controls the foreign substance cleaner 500 to perform a cleaning mode to remove foreign substances from the seat unit 311 in a welding standby mode after the welding mode is completed.

[0074] Referring to FIG. 9, the control unit 700 lowers the lower lifting unit 330 in the welding standby mode.

[0075] When the lower lifting unit 330 descends, the jig placing unit 320 moves downward in the height direction z. The lower lifting unit 330 stops operating when the lower mask 310 is positioned at the lower standby position H1. The lower standby position H1 is located below the welding position H2.

[0076] The control unit 700 controls the foreign substance cleaning unit 500 to perform a cleaning mode at a preset period when the lower lifting unit 330 is lowered.

[0077] In the cleaning mode, the foreign matter cleaning unit 500 causes the scraper 510 to enter the seat portion 311 and move back and forth in the longitudinal direction y of the seat portion 311. At this time, the scraper 510 moves back and forth between one end 311a and the other end 311b of the seat portion 311 in the longitudinal direction y of the seat portion 311. The scraper 510 physically scrapes out foreign matter S from the inner circumferential surface 312 of the seat portion 311 while moving back and forth.

[0078] The foreign substance cleaning unit 500 performs a cleaning mode in a welding standby mode, and can automatically clean the lower mask 310 without replacing the lower mask 310.

[0079] In addition, the control unit 700 operates the welding unit 200 in the welding mode. In the welding mode, the welding unit 200 welds the workpiece 10 with a laser.

[0080] Meanwhile, after the cleaning mode is completed and before the welding mode is started, the control unit 700 may be configured to operate the foreign object cleaning unit 500 to separate the scraper 510 from the seat unit 311, and then to raise the lower lifting unit 330. At this time, the scraper 510 is separated from the seat unit 311 while moving backward away from the seat unit 311.

[0081] Meanwhile, the welding unit 200 may include an upper jig 400 that is provided to apply pressure to the workpiece 10 in the vertical direction together with the lower jig 300 during the welding mode, and an intake unit 340 that is provided to intake smoke generated during the welding mode.

[0082] The upper fixture 400 also includes an upper mask 410 having a beam opening 411 through which the laser beam B can pass. The upper mask 410 is a welding mask. The upper mask 410 is made of a material having excellent thermal conductivity and durability.

[0083] The upper mask 410 is positioned above the lower mask 310 such that the beam opening 411 faces the seat portion 311. The upper mask 410 is spaced apart from the lower mask 310 vertically, sandwiching the workpiece 10 therebetween. The upper mask 410 is installed so as to be able to come into contact with the top surface of the workpiece 10 at a welding position H2 in a welding mode.

[0084] The upper jig 400 further includes an upper lifting unit 420 for lifting the upper mask 410 in the height direction z.

[0085] In the welding mode, the control unit 700 controls the upper lifting unit 420 to lower so that the upper mask 410 is positioned at the welding position H2, and the upper mask 410 moves from the upper standby position H3 to the welding position H2.

[0086] Also, the control unit 700 operates the lower lifting unit 520 to lift the lower mask 310 to the welding position H2, where the lower mask 310 moves from the lower standby position H1 to the welding position H2.

[0087] When the lower lifting unit 330 is lifted, the jig placing unit 320 moves upward in the height direction z. The lower lifting unit 330 stops operating when the lower mask 310 is positioned at the welding position H2.

[0088] The control unit 700 also controls the upper mask 410 and the lower mask 310 to apply pressure to the workpiece 10 from above and below at the welding position H2. The control unit 700 also operates the laser irradiation unit 600 and the suction unit 340 in the welding mode.

[0089] In the welding mode, the laser irradiation unit 600 irradiates the workpiece 10 with the laser beam B passing through the beam opening 411. The laser irradiation unit 600 irradiates the workpiece 10 with the laser beam B while moving in the longitudinal direction y of the sheet unit.

[0090] In addition, the suction part 340 sucks in smoke generated from the workpiece 10 in the welding mode. The suction part 340 is attached to the lower jig 300 so as to be fluidly movable with the seat part 311. The suction part 340 applies a vacuum pressure P0 to the inside of the suction passage 317 in the welding mode.

[0091] Meanwhile, in the cleaning mode, the control unit 700 operates the suction unit 340. The suction unit 340 is configured to suck in the foreign matter S in the cleaning mode.

[0092] The preferred embodiments of the present invention described above have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, and those skilled in the art with ordinary skill in the art may make various modifications, changes, and additions within the spirit and scope of the present invention, and such modifications, changes, and additions should be considered to fall within the scope of the following claims. [Industrial Applicability]

[0093] In accordance with at least one embodiment of the present invention, the welding apparatus may perform a cleaning mode in which the foreign substance cleaner cleans the lower mask in a welding standby mode.

Claims

1. a welding section including a lower jig having a seat section on which a workpiece to be welded is placed and which is open toward the workpiece to be welded, a lower lifting section provided to lift and lower the lower jig, and a laser irradiation section provided to irradiate the workpiece to be welded with a laser beam; and The welding device further comprises a foreign matter cleaning unit including a scraper that is provided so as to be able to enter the seat portion after the lower jig is lowered.

2. The welding device according to claim 1 , wherein the foreign matter cleaning unit is provided such that the scraper moves reciprocally within the seat along the longitudinal direction of the seat.

3. the seat portion has a space portion into which the scraper is inserted and a placement surface on which the workpiece to be welded is placed, The welding device according to claim 2 , wherein the space is open toward both ends in the longitudinal direction and toward the workpiece.

4. The welding device according to claim 2 , wherein the scraper is disposed parallel to the longitudinal direction of the seat portion.

5. 4. The welding device according to claim 3, wherein the scraper has a length longer than the length of the seat portion and is provided so as to be able to come into contact with an inner peripheral surface of the seat portion when the scraper enters the seat portion.

6. 3. The welding device according to claim 2, wherein when the scraper enters the seat portion, a portion of an outer surface of the scraper contacts an inner peripheral surface of the seat portion along a circumferential direction of the scraper, and a portion of the outer surface of the scraper is exposed above the seat portion.

7. The welding device according to claim 1 , wherein the foreign object cleaning unit further comprises a cleaning driving unit that provides a driving force to the scraper so that the scraper moves linearly back and forth.

8. a control unit for controlling the operation of the welding unit and the foreign object cleaning unit, 8. The welding device of claim 1, wherein the control unit performs a welding mode in which the welding unit laser welds the welding object, and a cleaning mode in which the foreign matter cleaner removes foreign matter from the seat unit in a welding standby mode after the welding mode is completed.

9. 9. The welding apparatus of claim 8, wherein the control unit is configured to perform the cleaning mode at a preset cycle.

10. the lower jig further includes a lower mask having the seat portion and a suction passage connected to the seat portion, and a jig placement portion on which the lower mask and the foreign object cleaning portion are mounted and which is adapted to be lifted and lowered by the lower lifting portion, The control unit raises the lower lifting unit in the welding mode so that the lower mask is moved toward a welding position, The welding device of claim 8 , wherein the control unit lowers the lower lifting unit in the welding standby mode to move the lower mask toward a lower standby position below the welding position.

11. 11. The welding device according to claim 10, wherein the control unit operates the foreign object cleaning unit so that the scraper of the foreign object cleaning unit enters the seat portion and moves back and forth along the longitudinal direction of the seat portion when the lower lifting unit descends.

12. The welding device according to claim 11, wherein the control unit is configured to lift the lower lifting unit after operating the foreign object cleaning unit to separate the scraper from the seat unit.

13. The welded portion is an upper jig having a beam opening through which a laser beam can pass, the beam opening being arranged to face the sheet portion, and the upper jig being arranged to pressurize the work-piece together with the lower jig from above and below in the welding mode; and The welding device according to claim 8 , further comprising an intake portion attached to the lower jig so as to be fluidly movable with the seat portion, and configured to intake smoke generated around the workpiece during the welding mode.

14. 14. The welding device of claim 13, wherein the control is adapted to operate the suction in a cleaning mode.

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