Contact tip replacement device

Abstract

To provide a contact tip exchanging apparatus which can attach and detach a contact tip relative to a torch main body of a welding torch and can be formed in a compact shape as a whole.SOLUTION: A tip case 3 stores a plurality of contact tips 10 in such a posture that a center axis is elongated in a vertical direction and the tips are directed to the lower side, linearly in a horizontal direction. A reciprocating driving mechanism 5 reciprocates the tip case 3 in a parallel arrangement direction of the contact tips 10 and allows the tip case to advance or retreat to a tip supply space S2. A tip taking-out mechanism 6 takes out the contact tips 10 to the upper side from the tip case 3 of such a state as to advance to the tip supply space S2. A holding rotary mechanism 4 holds and rotates the contact tips 10 taken-out by the tip taking-out mechanism 6 and, thereby, screws and connects the contact tips 10 to a torch main body 11 or removes the contact tips 10 from the torch main body 11.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a contact tip replacement device that automatically replaces a contact tip that is threadably connected to the tip end of a torch body of a welding torch used in arc welding. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses a contact tip replacement device that automatically replaces a contact tip screwed into a torch body of an arc welding torch. The contact tip replacement device includes a device body that is substantially keyhole-shaped in plan view, and a contact tip attachment mechanism that attaches the contact tip to the torch body is provided in one side region of the device body, while a contact tip removal mechanism that removes the contact tip from the torch body is provided in the other side region of the device body. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2017 / 179237 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, the contact tip replacement device of Patent Document 1 has a problem in that the contact tip mounting mechanism and the contact tip removal mechanism are separate mechanisms, and the mounting position and removal position of the contact tip are located at different positions in the horizontal direction of the device, resulting in an increase in size of the device.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a contact tip replacement device that allows a contact tip to be attached to and detached from a torch body of a welding torch and allows the entire device to be made compact in shape. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is characterized by being devised so that the attachment and detachment of a contact tip can be performed in a single area.

[0007] Specifically, the following solution has been provided in a contact tip replacement device for replacing a contact tip that is screwed into a torch body.

[0008] That is, the first invention is characterized by comprising a storage case capable of storing multiple contact tips, each with a central axis extending in the vertical direction and a tip facing downward, arranged horizontally in a straight line; a reciprocating drive mechanism that moves the storage case back and forth in the arrangement direction of the contact tips to enter or retreat into the tip supply space; a tip removal mechanism that removes the contact tip upward from the storage case when it has entered the tip supply space; and a gripping and rotation mechanism that is arranged above the tip supply space and is configured to be able to grip and release the contact tip removed by the tip removal mechanism from the side, and is configured to rotate the contact tip around the central axis in a gripped state to screw-connect it to the torch body or remove it from the torch body.

[0009] The second invention is characterized in that, in the first invention, the reciprocating drive mechanism is provided with a slide member that moves back and forth horizontally, and the accommodating case is configured to be detachable from the slide member.

[0010] The third invention is characterized in that, in the second invention, the reciprocating drive mechanism includes a cylinder having a piston rod extending in the sliding direction of the slide member and connected to the slide member, and the storage case is moved reciprocally by the sliding movement of the piston rod.

[0011] A fourth invention is the third invention, wherein the cylinder is located to the side of the gripping and rotating mechanism and above the slide member.

[0012] The fifth invention is characterized in that, in any one of the first to fourth inventions, the chip removal mechanism has a rod member whose rod center line extends vertically and expands and contracts upward, and an upper opening is formed at the upper end of the storage case through which the contact tip can be removed, while a lower opening is formed at a position corresponding to the upper opening at the lower end of the storage case, which communicates with the interior of the storage case and through which the extended rod member can be inserted when the storage case has entered the chip supply space.

[0013] The sixth invention is characterized in that in any one of the first to fifth inventions, the chip removal mechanism is connected to the reciprocating drive mechanism and is configured to move reciprocally in the same direction in conjunction with the reciprocating motion of the reciprocating drive mechanism.

[0014] According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to sixth aspects of the present invention, the gripping and rotating mechanism includes a first rotating body having a gripping working space with a rotation axis extending in the vertical direction set at the center, the first rotating body having a plurality of fitting portions at equal intervals around the rotation axis, a second rotating body configured to be rotatable relative to the first rotating body around the rotation axis, and a pair of claw portions are formed at the tip end of the first rotating body and spaced apart in the circumferential direction around the rotation axis, and a base portion of the first rotating body is supported by the second rotating body so as to be rotatable around a rotation axis extending in the same direction as the rotation axis. and a gripping body that fits loosely into the fitting portion, and when the first and second rotating bodies rotate relatively to one side from a reference position, a pressing action of the fitting portion toward the base portion toward one side causes the gripping body to rotate to one side, and one of the claw portions advances into the gripping working space to grip the contact tip, while when the first and second rotating bodies rotate relatively to the other side from the reference position, a pressing action of the fitting portion toward the base portion toward the other side causes the gripping body to rotate to the other side, and the other claw portion advances into the gripping working space to grip the contact tip.

[0015] The eighth invention is characterized in that, in any one of the first to seventh inventions, a chip accommodating section for accommodating a plurality of the contact chips in a side-by-side state and a pressing mechanism for pressing the plurality of the contact chips in a side-by-side state accommodated in the chip accommodating section toward one end of the accommodating case are provided inside the accommodating case, and the pressing mechanism includes a guide groove extending horizontally formed on the inner surface of the chip accommodating section, a pressing member guided by the guide groove, and a pressing member for pressing the pressing member. Effect of the Invention

[0016] In the first invention, the contact tip screwed to the torch body is brought close to the gripping and rotating mechanism, gripped by the gripping and rotating mechanism, and rotated to one side around the center line of the contact tip, so that the contact tip can be removed from the torch body. When the gripping and rotating mechanism is released from the gripping and rotating mechanism with the storage case retracted from the tip supply space, the contact tip removed from the torch body falls downward through the tip supply space and is discarded. On the other hand, the contact tip housed in the storage case that has entered the tip supply space by the reciprocating drive mechanism is taken out upward from the storage case by the tip removal mechanism, so that the contact tip can be attached to the torch body by gripping it from the side by the gripping and rotating mechanism, and rotating the contact tip to the other side around the center line with the torch body brought close to the gripping and rotating mechanism. In this way, the attachment position and removal position of the contact tip can be set at the same position of the device, so that the entire device can be made compact in shape.

[0017] In the second invention, when the contact tip replacement process is repeated and all the contact tips stored in the storage case are used up, the contact tips can be easily replaced with a spare storage case prepared in advance, which simplifies the process of refilling the device with contact tips and reduces the time the device is down, allowing the device to operate efficiently.

[0018] In the third aspect of the present invention, the container case can be reciprocated with a simple structure, and the manufacturing costs of the device can be kept low.

[0019] In the fourth aspect of the invention, the cylinder, which is the drive source for reciprocating movement, is disposed in a dead space, so that the entire device can be made even more compact.

[0020] In the fifth aspect of the invention, when the rod member of the tip removal mechanism is extended while the storage case is advanced into the tip supply space by the reciprocating drive mechanism, the rod member passes through the lower opening of the storage case and presses the contact tips upward, so that the contact tips pressed by the rod member fly out of the upper opening of the storage case and reach the gripping and rotating mechanism. In this way, each contact tip stored in the storage case can be sequentially removed by a simple mechanism.

[0021] In the sixth aspect of the present invention, the tip removal mechanism can be moved to a position where it does not get in the way when the contact tip is dropped from the gripping and rotating mechanism and discarded. Also, the tip removal mechanism can be moved using the reciprocating drive mechanism that reciprocates the storage case, and there is no need to provide an additional dedicated drive source for moving the tip removal mechanism, resulting in a low-cost device.

[0022] In the seventh invention, when the first and second rotating bodies are rotated in one direction after the contact tip is placed in the gripping working space with the first and second rotating bodies in the reference position, one of the claws of each gripping body advances into the gripping working space to grip the contact tip and the first and second rotating bodies rotate integrally on one side about the center line, while when the first and second rotating bodies are rotated in the other direction after the contact tip is placed in the gripping working space with the first and second rotating bodies in the reference position, the other claw of each gripping body advances into the gripping working space to grip the contact tip and the first and second rotating bodies rotate integrally on the other side about the center line. In this way, regardless of which direction the first and second rotating bodies are rotated relative to each other, the contact tip can be gripped and the contact tip can be rotated around the center line while being gripped, so that the attachment and removal of the contact tip to and from the torch body can be performed at only one location of the gripping and rotating mechanism.

[0023] In the eighth invention, when one contact tip is removed from the storage case, the pressing member moves while being guided by the guide groove by the biasing force of the biasing member, and presses each contact tip in the storage case in the juxtaposition direction. Therefore, after one contact tip is removed from the storage case, each contact tip in the storage case is immediately lined up next to each other without any gaps, so that the next contact tip can be efficiently prepared for supply. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0024] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of a contact tip replacement device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] 4 is a partial cross-sectional view of the contact tip replacement device showing a state in which the tip case has been removed from the device body. FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the chip case. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG. [Diagram 5] 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VV in FIG. 4. [Figure 6] 5 is a view equivalent to FIG. 4 and illustrating a state immediately before the contact tip is removed from the torch body. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VII-VII in FIG. [Figure 8] 8 is a diagram showing the state immediately after the contact tip is removed from the torch body following FIG. 7. FIG. [Figure 9] 9 is a diagram showing the state immediately before the contact tip is attached to the torch body after FIG. 8. FIG. [Figure 10] 10 is a diagram showing a state in the middle of attaching the contact tip to the torch body, following FIG. 9. FIG. [Figure 11] 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XI-XI in FIG. [Figure 12] 11 is a diagram showing the state immediately after the contact tip is attached to the torch body after FIG. 10. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0025] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: It should be noted that the following description of the preferred embodiments is merely exemplary in nature.

[0026] 1 shows a contact tip replacement device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The contact tip replacement device 1 automatically replaces a used contact tip 10 attached to a welding torch (not shown) for arc welding with a new one, and includes a device main body 2 surrounded by a housing 20 having a box-shaped exterior, and a tip case 3 (storage case) that is detachable from the device main body 2.

[0027] As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the chip case 3 is in the form of a thick plate, and is adapted to be used in a position in which its longitudinal direction extends horizontally and the plate surface extends vertically.

[0028] A chip storage section S1 is formed inside the chip case 3, extending from one longitudinal end to the middle portion thereof, and the chip storage section S1 is capable of storing multiple contact tips 10 arranged in a horizontal line with their central axes extending in the vertical direction and their tips facing downward.

[0029] An upper opening 3a is formed at one longitudinal end of the upper end face of the chip case 3, through which the contact chip 10 can be removed from the male screw portion 10a, while a lower opening 3b is formed at a position corresponding to the upper opening 3a on the lower end face of the chip case 3, which communicates with the chip accommodating portion S1.

[0030] In addition, in the upper region of the inner surface corresponding to the chip accommodating section S1 of the chip case 3, a guide groove 3c having a concave cross section that extends linearly in the horizontal direction is formed, and the guide groove 3c is capable of guiding a pressing member 3d that is approximately cylindrical and has a center line that faces horizontally.

[0031] In the upper region on the other longitudinal end side of the chip case 3, a spring accommodating portion 3e is formed which extends horizontally and into which the pressing member 3d can be inserted, and the spring accommodating portion 3e opens at a position corresponding to the guide groove 3c in the chip accommodating portion S1.

[0032] A coil spring 3f (biasing member) is housed in the spring housing portion 3e, and the coil spring 3f biases the pressing member 3d toward one end side of the chip case 3 in the longitudinal direction.

[0033] The guide groove 3c, the pressing member 3d and the coil spring 3f constitute the pressing mechanism 12 of the present invention, which is configured to press one or more contact tips 10 accommodated in the tip accommodating section S1 toward one end of the tip case 3.

[0034] A mating recess 3g is formed in the lower region on the other longitudinal end side of the chip case 3, extending horizontally and opening horizontally at the other longitudinal end of the chip case 3, and an opening 3h is formed in the bottom surface of the innermost portion of the mating recess 3g, which communicates with the outside of the chip case 3.

[0035] A lock member 3j having a thin rod shape with its center line oriented horizontally is fitted into the fitting recess 3g.

[0036] A protrusion 3k that protrudes outward is provided on the tip side of the locking member 3j, while a base end portion of the locking member 3j protrudes from the fitting recess 3g so as to be operable.

[0037] When the locking member 3j is rotated in one direction, the protrusion 3k protrudes downward from the underside of the chip case 3 through the opening 3h, whereas when the locking member 3j is rotated in the other direction, the protrusion 3k penetrates into the interior of the chip case 3 through the opening 3h.

[0038] A first through hole 20a having a circular shape and communicating with the interior of the housing 20 is formed on one side of the longitudinal direction of the housing 20 in one widthwise side region of the upper surface of the housing 20, while a second through hole 20b and a third through hole 20c having a circular shape and communicating with the interior of the housing 20 are formed at a predetermined interval in the longitudinal direction of the housing 20 in the other widthwise side region of the upper surface of the housing 20.

[0039] In addition, a slit-shaped case mounting removal portion 20d that communicates with the interior of the housing 20 is formed on the upper part of the other longitudinal side of the housing 20, and the case mounting removal portion 20d has a slit shape that corresponds to the cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the chip case 3.

[0040] Inside the housing 20 are a contact tip replacement unit 2A which performs the installation and removal operations of the contact tip 10, a nozzle attachment / detachment unit 2B which attaches and detaches a nozzle (not shown) to the torch body 11 of the welding torch, and a torch cleaning unit 2C which cleans the welding torch, with the contact tip replacement unit 2A being located in a position corresponding to the first through hole 20a and the case mounting and removal portion 20d, the nozzle attachment / detachment unit 2B being located in the second through hole 20b, and the torch cleaning unit 2C being located in a position corresponding to the third through hole 20c.

[0041] As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the contact tip replacement unit 2A includes a gripping and rotating mechanism 4 that grips and rotates the contact tip 10, a reciprocating drive mechanism 5 that moves the tip case 3 back and forth, and a tip removal mechanism 6 that removes the contact tip 10 from the tip case 3.

[0042] The reciprocating drive mechanism 5 is equipped with a slide member 51 having an approximately C-shaped cross section that extends in the longitudinal direction of the housing 20 from a position corresponding to the case mounting removal portion 20d inside the housing 20, and when the chip case 3 is inserted into the housing 20 via the case mounting removal portion 20d, the chip case 3 fits inside the slide member 51.

[0043] A communication portion 51a that connects the inside and outside of the slide member 51 is formed on the bottom surface of the slide member 51 on the side of the case mounting removal portion 20d, and when the chip case 3 is inserted into the slide member 51 and the locking member 3j is rotated to one side, the protrusion portion 3k protrudes from the underside of the chip case 3 and enters the communication portion 51a, thereby fixing the chip case 3 to the slide member 51.

[0044] That is, the chip case 3 can be attached to and detached from the slide member 51 by inserting the chip case 3 into the slide member 51 and rotating the lock member 3j.

[0045] A double-rod type cylinder 52 is disposed above the slide member 51 inside the housing 20 . The cylinder 52 has a piston rod 52 a extending in the longitudinal direction of the housing 20 .

[0046] Support brackets 53 each having an L-shape in a side view are attached to one end and the other end of the piston rod 52a. Each support bracket 53 supports a slide member 51 in a suspended manner, and the cylinder 52 is connected to the slide member 51 via each support bracket 53.

[0047] The tip case 3 fixed to the slide member 51 is adapted to slide in the longitudinal direction of the housing 20 by the movement of the piston rod 52a, as shown in FIGS.

[0048] That is, the reciprocating drive mechanism 5 reciprocates the tip case 3 in the direction in which the contact tips 10 are arranged, thereby moving the tip case 3 into or out of the tip supply space S2 set in one longitudinal side region inside the housing 20.

[0049] The chip removal mechanism 6 is disposed below the chip supply space S2 side of the slide member 51 and is connected to the reciprocating drive mechanism 5 so as to move reciprocally in the same direction in conjunction with the reciprocating motion of the reciprocating drive mechanism 5.

[0050] The chip removal mechanism 6 is equipped with a rod member 6a whose rod center line extends vertically and which expands and contracts upward. When the slide member 51 moves and the chip case 3 enters the chip supply space S2, the rod member 6a is extended, and as shown in Figure 10, the rod member 6a is inserted into the lower opening 3b of the chip case 3 and pushes up the contact chip 10 located at one longitudinal end of the chip case 3, so that the contact chip 10 is removed above the chip case 3 through the upper opening 3a.

[0051] A gripping and rotating mechanism 4 is disposed below the first through hole 20a and above the tip supply space S2, and is capable of gripping and releasing the contact tip 10 removed by the tip removal mechanism 6 from the side with the tip facing downward.

[0052] The gripping and rotating mechanism 4 is located to the side of the cylinder 52, and a gripping working space V1 of the gripping and rotating mechanism 4 is set directly below the first through-hole 20a.

[0053] The gripping rotation mechanism 4 comprises a driven gear 41 (first rotating body) and a rotating disk 42 (second rotating body) whose rotation axis C1 extending in the vertical direction is set in the center of the gripping working space V1, and the driven gear 41 is journalled via a bearing B1 to the frame portion of the device main body 2.

[0054] The driven gear 41 and the rotary disk 42 are configured to be capable of relative rotation with each other about a rotation axis C1 via a bearing B2.

[0055] When a drive motor (not shown) rotates forward, the driven gear 41 rotates to one side (X1 direction) via the drive gear as shown in FIG. 7, and when the drive motor rotates reversely, the driven gear 41 rotates to the other side (X2 direction) via the drive gear as shown in FIG. 11.

[0056] As shown in FIG. 5, the driven gear 41 is generally ring-shaped, and its inner circumferential surface has four recessed engaging portions 41a that open onto the inner side of the driven gear 41 and are equally spaced circumferentially around the rotation axis C1.

[0057] The rotating disk 42 includes an upper disk 42a and a lower disk 42b, which are disk-shaped and located above and inside the driven gear 41, respectively.

[0058] The upper disk 42a has a substantially circular plate shape, and a circular upper tip passing hole 42c corresponding to the gripping working space V1 is formed in the center thereof.

[0059] On the other hand, a circular lower tip communication hole 42d corresponding to the gripping working space V1 is formed in the center of the lower disk 42b.

[0060] Between the upper disc 42a and the driven gear 41, a leaf spring (not shown) is disposed to increase the resistance value between the upper disc 42a and the driven gear 41.

[0061] As shown in FIG. 5, four gripping bodies 43 having a generally arrow-like shape in a plan view are arranged inside the driven gear 41 and between the upper disc 42a and the lower disc 42b, and each gripping body 43 is provided at a position corresponding to each mating portion 41a.

[0062] An insertion hole 43a is formed in the approximate center of each gripping body 43, and a rotation shaft 43b extending in the same direction as the rotation axis C1 is inserted into the insertion hole 43a.

[0063] Each end of the rotating shaft 43b is fixed to the upper disk 42a and the lower disk 42b, respectively, and the gripper 43 is supported by the rotating disk 42 so as to be rotatable about the rotating shaft 43b.

[0064] A pair of claws 43c are provided at the tip of the gripping body 43 so as to protrude toward the gripping working space V1, and the claws 43c are spaced apart from each other in the circumferential direction about the rotation axis C1.

[0065] Meanwhile, a protruding base 43d is provided at the center of the base end side of the gripping body 43 so as to protrude to the opposite side of the gripping working space V1, and the base 43d is loosely fitted into the corresponding fitting portion 41a.

[0066] Then, when the drive motor (not shown) is rotated in the forward direction with the contact tip 10 placed in the gripping working space V1 as shown in Figure 6, the driven gear 41 rotates relative to the rotating disk 42 to one side (X1 direction), as shown in Figure 7, and the engaging portion 41a is pressed against the base 43d to one side in conjunction with this, causing the gripping body 43 to rotate to one side (Z1 direction), and one of the claw portions 43c advances into the gripping working space V1 to grip the contact tip 10.

[0067] In addition, when the contact tip 10 is gripped by one of the claw portions 43c of each gripping body 43, by further rotating the drive motor (not shown) in the forward direction and bringing the torch body 11 closer, the male screw portion 10a of the contact tip 10 is unscrewed from the female screw portion (not shown) of the torch body 11, thereby removing the contact tip 10 from the torch body 11.

[0068] Furthermore, after the contact tip 10 is attached to the torch body 11, when the drive motor (not shown) is reversed, the driven gear 41 rotates relatively to the other side (X2 direction) with respect to the rotating disk 42, and the corresponding pressing action of the fitting portion 41a toward the other side against the base 43d rotates the gripping body 43 to the other side (Z2 direction), causing one of the claw portions 43c to retreat from the gripping working space V1, and the contact tip 10 is dropped from the gripping working space V1 and discarded.

[0069] On the other hand, as shown in Figure 10, when the contact tip 10 is pushed upward from the tip case 3 by the tip removal mechanism 6 and placed in the gripping work space V1, and the drive motor (not shown) is reversed, the driven gear 41 rotates relative to the rotating disk 42 to the other side (X2 direction), as shown in Figure 11, and the engaging portion 41a is pressed against the base 43d to the other side in conjunction with this, causing the gripping body 43 to rotate to the other side, and the other claw portion 43c advances into the gripping work space V1 to grip the contact tip 10.

[0070] In addition, when the contact tip 10 is gripped by the other claw portion 43c of each gripping body 43, if the torch body 11 is brought close to the gripping working space V1 and placed against the male screw portion 10a of the contact tip 10 and the drive motor (not shown) is further rotated in the reverse direction, the male screw portion 10a of the contact tip 10 screws into the female screw portion (not shown) of the torch body 11, and the contact tip 10 is screwed into and connected to the torch body 11.

[0071] Furthermore, after the contact tip 10 is attached to the torch body 11, when the drive motor (not shown) is rotated forward while the other claw portion 43c of each gripping body 43 is gripping the contact tip 10, the driven gear 41 rotates relative to one side (X1 direction) with respect to the rotating disk 42, and the gripping body 43 rotates to one side due to the pressing action of the engaging portion 41a toward one side against the base 43d in conjunction with this, and the other claw portion 43c retreats from the gripping working space V1, releasing the gripped state of the contact tip 10.

[0072] Note that the structure of the nozzle attaching / detaching unit 2B in this embodiment is the same as that of the gripping and rotating mechanism 4, except that the nozzle cap (not shown) is attached and detached by a rotating action relative to the torch body 11, and therefore a detailed description thereof will be omitted. Also, the torch cleaning unit 2C has a structure that is conventionally well known in this technical field, and therefore a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0073] Next, the replacement operation of the contact tip 10 using the contact tip replacement device 1 will be described in detail.

[0074] First, as shown in FIG. 6, the used contact tip 10 attached to the torch body 11 is moved and placed in the gripping working space V1 of the gripping and rotating mechanism 4 from above.

[0075] When a used contact tip 10 is placed in the gripping working space V1, a drive motor (not shown) rotates forward, causing the driven gear 41 to rotate relatively to one side (X1 direction) with respect to the rotating disk 42. Then, as shown in Fig. 7, the fitting portion 41a presses the base portion 43d to one side in conjunction with the relative rotation of the driven gear 41 to one side with respect to the rotating disk 42, and this pressing action rotates the gripping body 43 to one side (Z1 direction), causing one claw portion 43c to advance into the gripping working space V1 and grip the contact tip 10.

[0076] When each of the gripping bodies 43 grips the contact tip 10, the drive motor further rotates in the forward direction, whereby the contact tip 10 rotates to one side and is removed from the torch body 11.

[0077] Thereafter, the drive motor is rotated in the reverse direction to rotate the driven gear 41 relatively to the other side with respect to the rotating disk 42. Then, as shown in Fig. 8, the fitting portion 41a presses the base portion 43d to the other side in conjunction with the relative rotation of the driven gear 41 to the other side with respect to the rotating disk 42, and this pressing action rotates the gripping body 43 to the other side, causing one of the claw portions 43c to retreat from the gripping working space V1, whereby the gripping state of the contact tip 10 by each gripping body 43 is released, and the contact tip 10 falls from the gripping working space V1 and is discarded.

[0078] Next, the cylinder 52 is operated to slide the piston rod 52a to one side, whereupon the slide member 51 moves to one side and the tip case 3 enters the tip supply space S2, as shown in FIG.

[0079] Next, the tip removal mechanism 6 is operated to extend the rod member 6a. Then, as shown in Fig. 10, the rod member 6a enters the inside of the tip case 3 from the lower opening 3b of the tip case 3 and pushes up the unused contact tip 10 located at one end in the longitudinal direction of the tip case 3. Then, the contact tip 10 is removed upward through the upper opening 3a and placed in the gripping working space V1.

[0080] Thereafter, the drive motor (not shown) rotates in the reverse direction, causing the driven gear 41 to rotate relatively to the other side (X2 direction) with respect to the rotating disk 42. Then, as shown in Fig. 11, the fitting portion 41a presses the base portion 43d to the other side in conjunction with the relative rotation of the driven gear 41 to the other side with respect to the rotating disk 42, and this pressing action rotates the gripping body 43 to the other side (Z2 direction), causing the other claw portion 43c to advance into the gripping working space V1 and grip the contact tip 10.

[0081] When the contact tip 10 is gripped by each gripping body 43, the torch body 11 is brought close to the gripping working space V1 from above and placed against the male screw portion 10a of the contact tip 10 gripped by each gripping body 43, and then the drive motor is reversed. Then, the contact tip 10 rotates to the other side and is screwed and connected to the torch body 11.

[0082] Thereafter, the drive motor is rotated forward to rotate the driven gear 41 relatively to one side with respect to the rotating disk 42. Then, as shown in Fig. 12, the fitting portion 41a presses the base portion 43d to one side in conjunction with the relative rotation of the driven gear 41 to one side with respect to the rotating disk 42, and this pressing action rotates the gripping bodies 43 to one side, and the other claw portion 43c retreats from the gripping working space V1, and the contact tip 10 is released from each gripping body 43. Thereafter, the torch body 11 moves upward, and the contact tip 10 screwed and connected to the torch body 11 retreats from the gripping working space V1, thereby completing the replacement operation of the contact tip 10.

[0083] As described above, according to the embodiment of the present invention, the contact tip 10 screwed to the torch body 11 is brought close to the gripping and rotating mechanism 4 and gripped by the gripping and rotating mechanism 4, and rotated to one side around the center line of the contact tip 10, so that the contact tip can be removed from the torch body 11. When the gripping state in the gripping and rotating mechanism 4 is released with the tip case 3 retracted from the tip supply space S2, the contact tip 10 removed from the torch body 11 falls downward through the tip supply space S2 and is discarded. On the other hand, the contact tip 10 housed in the tip case 3 that has entered the tip supply space S2 by the reciprocating drive mechanism 5 is taken out upward from the tip case 3 by the tip removal mechanism 6, so that the contact tip 10 can be attached to the torch body 11 by gripping it from the side by the gripping and rotating mechanism 4 and rotating it to the other side around the center line of the contact tip 10 with the torch body 11 brought close to the gripping and rotating mechanism 4. In this way, the attachment position and removal position of the contact tip 10 can be set at the same position on the device, so that the entire contact tip replacement device 1 can be made compact in shape.

[0084] Furthermore, because the tip case 3 is configured to be detachable from the slide member 51 of the reciprocating drive mechanism 5, when the contact tips 10 stored in the tip case become depleted after repeated replacement of the contact tips 10, the tip case can be easily replaced with a spare tip case 3 prepared in advance. This simplifies the work of filling the contact tip replacement device 1 with contact tips 10, and the time the contact tip replacement device 1 is stopped can be reduced, allowing the contact tip replacement device 1 to operate efficiently.

[0085] Furthermore, since the reciprocating motion of the slide member 51 is performed by the cylinder 52, the tip case 3 can be reciprocated with a simple structure, and the manufacturing costs of the contact tip replacement device 1 can be kept low.

[0086] In addition, the cylinder 52, which is the driving source for moving the tip case 3 back and forth, is positioned to the side of the gripping and rotating mechanism 4 and in the dead space above the slide member 51, thereby making the entire contact tip replacement device 1 even more compact.

[0087] Furthermore, when the rod member 6a of the tip removal mechanism 6 is extended while the tip case 3 is advanced into the tip supply space S2 by the reciprocating drive mechanism 5, the rod member 6a passes through the lower opening 3b of the tip case 3 and presses the contact tip 10 upward, so that the contact tip 10 pressed by the rod member 6a jumps out from the upper opening 3a of the tip case 3 and reaches the gripping and rotating mechanism 4. In this manner, the contact tips 10 housed in the tip case 3 can be sequentially removed with a simple mechanism.

[0088] Furthermore, because the tip removal mechanism 6 reciprocates in the same direction in conjunction with the reciprocating action of the reciprocating drive mechanism 5, the tip removal mechanism 6 can be moved to a position that does not get in the way when the contact tip 10 is dropped from the gripping and rotating mechanism 4 and discarded. Furthermore, the tip removal mechanism 6 can be moved using the reciprocating drive mechanism 5 that reciprocates the tip case 3, and since there is no need to provide an additional dedicated drive source for moving the tip removal mechanism 6, a low-cost contact tip replacement device 1 can be achieved.

[0089] In addition, after the contact tip 10 is placed in the gripping working space V1 with the driven gear 41 and the rotating disk 42 in the reference position, when the driven gear 41 and the rotating disk 42 are rotated relatively to one side, one of the claw portions 43c of each gripping body 43 advances into the gripping working space V1 to grip the contact tip 10 and the driven gear 41 and the rotating disk 42 rotate together on one side around the center line, while after the driven gear 41 and the rotating disk 42 place the contact tip 10 in the gripping working space V1 at the reference position, when the driven gear 41 and the rotating disk 42 are rotated relatively to the other side, the other claw portion 43c of each gripping body 43 advances into the gripping working space V1 to grip the contact tip 10 and the driven gear 41 and the rotating disk 42 rotate together on the other side around the center line. In this way, the contact tip 10 can be gripped regardless of the direction in which the driven gear 41 and the rotating disk 42 are rotated relative to each other, and the contact tip 10 can be rotated around its center line while being gripped, so that the attachment and removal of the contact tip 10 to the torch body 11 can be performed at just one location in the gripping and rotation mechanism 4.

[0090] Furthermore, when one contact tip 10 is removed from the tip case 3, the pressing member 3d moves while being guided by the guide groove 3c by the biasing force of the coil spring 3f, and presses each of the contact tips 10 in the side-by-side arrangement direction in the tip case 3. Therefore, after one contact tip 10 is removed from the tip case 3, the contact tips 10 in the tip case 3 are immediately lined up next to each other with no gaps, so that the contact tips 10 can be efficiently prepared to be supplied with the next contact tip 10.

[0091] In the embodiment of the present invention, the reciprocating movement of the chip case 3 by the reciprocating drive mechanism 5 is performed by the cylinder 52, but the reciprocating movement may be performed by other mechanisms, for example, by a rack and pinion mechanism or the like.

[0092] In addition, in the embodiment of the present invention, the contact tip 10 is removed from the chip case 3 by extending the rod member 6a of the tip removal mechanism 6 and pushing out the contact tip 10 inside the chip case 3, but the structure may be such that the contact tip 10 is removed by other methods, for example, by grabbing and pulling the contact tip 10 out of the chip case 3.

[0093] In addition, although the tip removal mechanism 6 is designed to operate in conjunction with the reciprocating motion of the reciprocating drive mechanism 5, it may also be possible to provide a drive source separate from the drive source of the reciprocating drive mechanism 5 and have the tip removal mechanism 6 operate asynchronously with the reciprocating drive mechanism 5 using that drive source.

[0094] In addition, in the embodiment of the present invention, a coil spring 3f is used as a biasing member that generates a biasing force that presses the contact tip 10 within the chip case 3, but other biasing members may be used, such as a rubber member or a cylinder. [Industrial Applicability]

[0095] The present invention is suitable for a contact tip replacement device that automatically replaces a contact tip that is threadably connected to the tip end of a torch body of a welding torch used in arc welding. [Explanation of symbols]

[0096] 1 Contact tip replacement device 3 Chip case (storage case) 3a Upper opening 3b Lower opening 3c Guide groove 3d Pressing member 3f Coil spring (biasing member) 4 Grip rotation mechanism 5 Reciprocating drive mechanism 6 Tip removal mechanism 6a Bar member 10 Contact Tip 10a Male thread 11 Torch body 12 Pressing mechanism 41 Driven gear (first rotating body) 41a Fitting part 42 Rotating disk (second rotating body) 43 Grip body 43c Claw part 43d base 51 Slide member 52 cylinders 52a Piston rod C1 Rotation axis center S1 Chip holder S2 Chip supply space

Claims

1. A contact tip replacement device for replacing a contact tip that is screwed into a torch body, comprising: a storage case capable of storing a plurality of the contact tips, each having a central axis extending in a vertical direction and a tip pointing downward, arranged in a horizontal line; a reciprocating drive mechanism for reciprocating the housing case in the direction in which the contact tips are arranged side by side to enter or retreat into the tip supply space; a tip removal mechanism that removes the contact tip upward from the storage case when the storage case is inserted into the tip supply space; A contact tip replacement device characterized by comprising a gripping and rotation mechanism that is arranged above the tip supply space and is configured to be able to grip and release the contact tip removed by the tip removal mechanism from the side, and is configured to rotate the contact tip around the central axis in a gripped state to screw-connect it to the torch body or to remove it from the torch body.

2. 2. The contact tip replacement device according to claim 1, The reciprocating drive mechanism includes a slide member that reciprocates in a horizontal direction, The contact tip replacement device, wherein the storage case is configured to be detachable from the slide member.

3. 3. The contact tip replacement device according to claim 2, The contact tip replacement device is characterized in that the reciprocating drive mechanism includes a cylinder having a piston rod extending in the sliding direction of the slide member and connected to the slide member, and the sliding movement of the piston rod causes the storage case to move back and forth.

4. 4. The contact tip replacement device according to claim 3, A contact tip replacement device, characterized in that the cylinder is located to the side of the gripping and rotating mechanism and above the slide member.

5. 5. The contact tip replacement device according to claim 1, The tip removal mechanism includes a rod member whose rod center line extends vertically and which expands and contracts upward, A contact tip replacement device characterized in that an upper opening through which the contact tip can be removed is formed at the upper end of the storage case, while a lower opening is formed at a position corresponding to the upper opening at the lower end of the storage case, which communicates with the interior of the storage case and through which the rod member can be inserted when the storage case is inserted into the tip supply space.

6. 6. The contact tip replacement device according to claim 1, The contact tip replacement device, wherein the tip removal mechanism is connected to the reciprocating drive mechanism and configured to reciprocate in the same direction in conjunction with the reciprocating motion of the reciprocating drive mechanism.

7. 7. The contact tip replacement device according to claim 1, The gripping and rotating mechanism includes a first rotating body having a gripping working space with a rotation axis extending in the vertical direction set at the center, and having a plurality of fitting portions at equal intervals around the rotation axis; A second rotor configured to be rotatable relative to the first rotor around the rotation axis; a gripping body that is disposed at a position corresponding to each of the fitting portions, and is supported by the second rotor so as to be rotatable about a rotation axis extending in the same direction as the rotation axis, and has a pair of claw portions formed at a tip thereof and spaced apart in a circumferential direction centered on the rotation axis, and a base portion that is loosely fitted into the corresponding fitting portion; A contact tip replacement device characterized in that, when the first and second rotating bodies rotate relatively to one side from a reference position, a pressing action of the fitting portion toward the base portion toward one side causes the gripping body to rotate to one side, and one of the claw portions advances into the gripping working space to grip the contact tip, while, when the first and second rotating bodies rotate relatively to the other side from the reference position, a pressing action of the fitting portion toward the base portion toward the other side causes the gripping body to rotate to the other side, and the other claw portion advances into the gripping working space to grip the contact tip.

8. 8. The contact tip replacement device according to claim 1, a tip receiving section for receiving the plurality of contact tips in a juxtaposed state and a pressing mechanism for pressing the plurality of contact tips in a juxtaposed state received in the tip receiving section toward one end of the case are provided inside the case, The pressing mechanism comprises a guide groove extending horizontally formed on the inner surface of the tip accommodating portion, a pressing member guided by the guide groove, and a pressing member that presses the pressing member.

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