Welding device

Abstract

To provide a welding device which can ensure work safety and improve workability when performing adjustment feeding for feeding only a small amount of a welding wire after completion of welding, for the purpose of a good welding start.SOLUTION: A welding device comprises a mode setting part MR for setting a welding mode and an inching mode. The mode setting part MR is changed to the inching mode when a torch switch ON is clicked during the welding mode, and is changed to the welding mode when the torch switch ON is clicked during the inching mode. A welding power source PS prohibits output of a welding voltage Vw even if the torch switch ON becomes ON state during inching mode, and a feeder WF prohibits outflow of a shield gas 4 and feeds the welding wire 1 when the torch switch ON becomes ON state during inching mode.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a welding apparatus that performs arc welding by feeding a welding wire.

Background Art

[0002] A welding apparatus including a welding power source that outputs a welding voltage, a feeder that feeds a welding wire and controls the outflow of shielding gas from a gas cylinder, a welding torch that supplies the welding voltage, the welding wire, and the shielding gas to an arc generation unit, and a torch switch attached to the welding torch is widely used. When the torch switch is turned on, the welding power source outputs a welding voltage, and the feeder starts the outflow of the shielding gas and the feeding of the welding wire to perform arc welding.

[0003] When newly attaching a welding wire wound around a wire reel to the feeder, it is necessary to feed the welding wire to the tip of the welding torch. For this operation, an inching button is provided on the welding power source. Usually, the inching button is provided on a remote control that is wired to the welding power source. When the inching button is turned on, the welding power source does not output a welding voltage, and the feeder feeds the welding wire without flowing out the shielding gas. Therefore, when newly attaching a welding wire to the feeder, a welding operator turns on the inching button to feed the welding wire to the tip of the welding torch. In the invention of Patent Document 1, the feeding amount of the welding wire during inching is visualized and displayed.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] In manual welding, after welding is completed, in order to ensure good start of the next welding, the welding wire may be fed a little and the tip of the welding wire may be cut. Similarly, in order to ensure good start of the next welding after welding is completed, the welding wire may be fed a little to adjust the wire protruding length. In such adjustment feeding after welding is completed, it is troublesome to use the inching button, so it is usually performed with the torch switch turned on. However, when the torch switch is turned on, the welding power source outputs the welding voltage and the feeder causes the shielding gas to flow out. For this reason, an open-circuit voltage of about 80 V is applied to the welding wire, so there is a risk of electric shock. Also, since the shielding gas flows out, the shielding gas is wasted.

[0006] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a welding apparatus capable of ensuring work safety and improving workability when performing adjustment feeding after welding is completed.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] In order to solve the above-described problems, the invention of claim 1 is a welding power source that outputs a welding voltage, a feeder that feeds a welding wire and controls the outflow of shielding gas from a gas cylinder, a welding torch that supplies the welding voltage, the welding wire, and the shielding gas to an arc generation unit, and a torch switch attached to the welding torch, and in a welding apparatus in which when the torch switch is turned on, the welding power source outputs the welding voltage, and the feeder starts the outflow of the shielding gas and the feeding of the welding wire to perform arc welding, a mode setting unit that sets a welding mode and an inching mode, wherein when the torch switch is click-operated in the welding mode, the mode setting unit switches to the inching mode, and when the torch switch is click-operated in the inching mode, the mode setting unit switches to the welding mode. When in the welding mode, the welding power source outputs the welding voltage when the torch switch is turned on, and when in the inching mode, the output of the welding voltage is prohibited even when the torch switch is turned on. When in the welding mode, the feeder performs the outflow of the shielding gas and the feeding of the welding wire when the torch switch is turned on, and when in the inching mode, the outflow of the shielding gas is prohibited when the torch switch is turned on, and the welding wire is fed. A welding apparatus characterized by the above.

[0008] The invention according to claim 2 When in the welding mode, the feeder performs the outflow of the shielding gas and the feeding of the welding wire when the torch switch is turned on, and when in the inching mode, the outflow of the shielding gas is prohibited regardless of the on or off state of the torch switch, and the welding wire is fed. A welding apparatus according to claim 1, characterized by the above.

[0009] The invention according to claim 3 The feeder sets the feeding speed to different values in the welding mode and the inching mode. A welding apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by the above.

Effect of the Invention

[0010] According to the welding apparatus of the present invention, when performing the adjustment feeding after welding, the safety of the work can be ensured and the workability can be improved.

Brief Explanation of Drawings

[0011]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0012] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0013] [Embodiment 1] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a welding apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. Hereinafter, each block will be described with reference to the figure.

[0014] The torch switch ON is attached to a welding torch AT described later, and outputs a torch switch signal On that becomes High level when turned on by a welding operator and becomes Low level when turned off.

[0015] The mode setting circuit MR uses the above torch switch signal On as an input, When the mode setting signal Mr is at Low level (welding mode), if it is determined that the torch switch signal On is a clicked signal, the mode setting signal Mr is switched to High level (inching mode), When the mode setting signal Mr is at High level (inching mode), if it is determined that the torch switch signal On is a clicked signal, the mode setting signal Mr is switched to Low level (welding mode). The above clicked signal is a state where High level and Low level are repeated one or more times within a predetermined determination time. That is, it is a state where the welding operator turns the torch switch ON on and off one or more times within the determination time. The determination time is set to, for example, 1 second.

[0016] The wire feed speed setting circuit FR takes the above mode setting signal Mr as an input. When the mode setting signal Mr is at the Low level (welding mode), it outputs a wire feed speed setting signal Fr that becomes a predetermined welding wire feed speed. When the mode setting signal Mr is at the High level (inching mode), it outputs a wire feed speed setting signal Fr that becomes a predetermined inching wire feed speed.

[0017] The welding power source PS takes the above torch switch signal On and the above mode setting signal Mr as inputs. When the mode setting signal Mr is at the Low level (welding mode) and the torch switch signal On is in the on state for a determination time or more, it outputs a welding current Iw and a welding voltage Vw. When the mode setting signal Mr is at the High level (inching mode), even if the torch switch signal On is in the on state for a determination time or more, the output of the welding current Iw and the welding voltage Vw is prohibited.

[0018] The wire feeder WF takes the above torch switch signal On, the above mode setting signal Mr, and the above wire feed speed setting signal Fr as inputs and performs the following processes. 1) When the mode setting signal Mr is at the Low level (welding mode) and the torch switch signal On is in the on state for a determination time or more, it causes the shield gas 4 from the gas cylinder 5 to flow out at a flow rate Gw and feeds the welding wire 1 wound around the wire reel at a wire feed speed Fw set by the wire feed speed setting signal Fr. 2) When the mode setting signal Mr is at the High level (inching mode) and the torch switch signal On is in the on state for a determination time or more, it prohibits the outflow of the shield gas 4 from the gas cylinder 5 and feeds the welding wire 1 wound around the wire reel at a wire feed speed Fw set by the wire feed speed setting signal Fr.

[0019] The welding torch AT supplies the above welding current Iw and welding voltage Vw to the welding wire 1, ejects the shield gas 4 to the arc generation part of the arc 3, and performs arc welding.

[0020] Figure 2 is a timing chart of each signal in the welding apparatus of FIG. 1 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. In the figure, (A) shows the time change of the torch switch signal On, (B) shows the time change of the mode setting signal Mr, (C) shows the time change of the welding voltage Vw, (D) shows the time change of the flow rate Gw of the shielding gas, and (E) shows the time change of the feeding speed Fw. Hereinafter, the operations of the respective signals will be described with reference to the figure.

[0021] In the figure, in the period before time t1, as shown in (A) of the figure, since the torch switch signal On is in the off state, it is at the Low level. As shown in (B) of the figure, the mode setting signal Mr is at the Low level and the welding mode is set. As shown in (C) of the figure, the welding voltage Vw is 0 V. As shown in (D) of the figure, since the flow rate Gw of the shielding gas is 0, it is at the Low level. As shown in (E) of the figure, the feeding speed Fw is 0 and the feeding is stopped.

[0022] When a click operation of the torch switch is performed during a predetermined determination time from time t1 to t2, as shown in Fig. (A), the torch switch signal On becomes High level during the determination time and then becomes Low level. In response to this, at time t2, as shown in Fig. (B), the mode setting signal Mr changes to High level and switches to the inching mode. At time t3, when the torch switch is turned on, as shown in Fig. (A), the torch switch signal On becomes High level. At time t4 when the determination time has elapsed from time t3, as shown in Fig. (E), the feeding speed Fw becomes a predetermined inching feeding speed and the welding wire is fed. However, as shown in Fig. (C), the output of the welding voltage Vw is prohibited and thus remains at 0V. Similarly, as shown in Fig. (D), the outflow of the shielding gas is prohibited, so the flow rate Gw remains at 0. Then, at time t5, when the torch switch is turned off, as shown in Fig. (A), the torch switch signal On becomes Low level. In response to this, as shown in Fig. (E), the feeding speed Fw becomes 0 and the feeding stops. As shown in Fig. (B), the mode setting signal Mr remains in the High-level inching mode.

[0023] If a click operation of the torch switch is performed during the determination time from time t6 to t7, as shown in Fig. (A), the torch switch signal On becomes High level during the determination time and then becomes Low level. In response to this, at time t7, as shown in Fig. (B), the mode setting signal Mr changes to Low level and switches to the welding mode. At time t8, when the torch switch is turned on, as shown in Fig. (A), the torch switch signal On becomes High level. At time t9 when the determination time has elapsed from time t8, as shown in Fig. (E), the feeding speed Fw becomes a predetermined welding feeding speed and the welding wire is fed. At the same time, as shown in Fig. (C), the welding voltage Vw is output, and as shown in Fig. (D), the outflow of the shielding gas is started and becomes High level. In this way, welding work is performed in the welding mode. Then, at time t10, when the torch switch is turned off, as shown in Fig. (A), the torch switch signal On becomes Low level. In response to this, as shown in Fig. (E), the feeding speed Fw becomes 0 and the feeding stops. Similarly, as shown in Fig. (C), the output of the welding voltage Vw stops, and as shown in Fig. (D), the flow rate Gw of the shielding gas becomes 0. As shown in Fig. (B), the mode setting signal Mr remains in the Low-level welding mode.

[0024] According to the welding apparatus according to the above-described Embodiment 1, a mode setting unit for setting a welding mode and an inching mode, the mode setting unit switches to the inching mode when the torch switch is clicked in the welding mode, and when the torch switch is clicked in the inching mode, it is switched to the welding mode. The welding power source outputs a welding voltage when the torch switch is turned on in the welding mode, and prohibits the output of the welding voltage even when the torch switch is turned on in the inching mode. The feeder performs the outflow of the shielding gas and the feeding of the welding wire when the torch switch is turned on in the welding mode, and prohibits the outflow of the shielding gas when the torch switch is turned on in the inching mode, and feeds the welding wire. In the present embodiment, in order to improve the start of the next welding, when performing the adjustment feeding for feeding the welding wire slightly after the welding is completed, it is possible to switch to the inching mode only by clicking the torch switch. When the inching mode is entered, even if the torch switch is turned on, only the feeding of the welding wire is performed, and the output of the welding voltage and the outflow of the shielding gas are prohibited. Therefore, there is no risk of electric shock, and there is no need to waste the shielding gas. As a result, in the present embodiment, when performing the adjustment feeding after the welding is completed, the safety of the work can be ensured and the workability can be improved.

[0025] More preferably, according to the present embodiment, the feeder can set the feeding speed to different values in the welding mode and the inching mode. That is, in the welding mode, the welding feeding speed determined in advance is obtained, and in the inching mode, the inching feeding speed determined in advance is obtained. In this way, since the feeding speed in the inching mode can be set independently of when welding is performed, the workability of the adjustment feeding can be further improved.

[0026] [Embodiment 2] The welding apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention is obtained by changing the operation of the feeder WF as follows in FIG. 1 described above. Since the other blocks have the same operation, the description will not be repeated. The feeder WF performs the following processes using the above torch switch signal On, the above mode setting signal Mr, and the above wire feed speed setting signal Fr as inputs. 1) When the mode setting signal Mr is at the Low level (welding mode), if the torch switch signal On is in the on state for a determination time or longer, the shield gas 4 flows out at the flow rate Gw from the gas cylinder 5, and the welding wire 1 wound around the wire reel is fed at the feed speed Fw set by the wire feed speed setting signal Fr. 2) When the mode setting signal Mr is at the High level (inching mode), the outflow of the shield gas 4 from the gas cylinder 5 is prohibited regardless of the on or off state of the torch switch signal On, and the welding wire 1 wound around the wire reel is fed at the feed speed Fw set by the wire feed speed setting signal Fr.

[0027] FIG. 3 is a timing chart of each signal in the welding apparatus of FIG. 1 according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. In the figure, (A) shows the time change of the torch switch signal On, (B) shows the time change of the mode setting signal Mr, (C) shows the time change of the welding voltage Vw, (D) shows the time change of the flow rate Gw of the shield gas, and (E) shows the time change of the feed speed Fw. Hereinafter, the operation of each signal will be described with reference to the figure.

[0028] In the figure, the description of the same operation as that in FIG. 2 described above will not be repeated. This figure differs from FIG. 2 in the operation in the inching mode, and the operation in the welding mode is the same. Also, the mode switching operation is the same.

[0029] When a click operation of the torch switch is performed during a predetermined determination time from time t1 to t2, as shown in Fig. (A), the torch switch signal On becomes High level during the determination time and then becomes Low level. In response to this, at time t2, as shown in Fig. (B), the mode setting signal Mr changes to High level and switches to the inching mode. When the inching mode is entered at time t2, as shown in Fig. (A), even if the torch switch signal On is at Low level or High level (in the case of Low level in the figure), as shown in Fig. (E), the feeding speed Fw becomes a predetermined inching feeding speed and the welding wire is fed. However, as shown in Fig. (C), the output of the welding voltage Vw is prohibited and thus remains at 0V. Similarly, as shown in Fig. (D), the outflow of the shielding gas is prohibited, so the flow rate Gw remains at 0.

[0030] When a click operation of the torch switch is performed during the determination time from time t6 to t7, as shown in Fig. (A), the torch switch signal On becomes High level during the determination time and then becomes Low level. In response to this, at time t7, as shown in Fig. (B), the mode setting signal Mr changes to Low level and switches to the welding mode. In response to this, as shown in Fig. (E), the feeding speed Fw becomes 0 and the feeding stops. The operations after time t8 are the same as those in Fig. 2, so the description is omitted.

[0031] According to the welding apparatus according to the second embodiment described above, when the torch switch is in the on state in the welding mode, the feeder performs the outflow of the shielding gas and the feeding of the welding wire. When in the inching mode, the outflow of the shielding gas is prohibited regardless of the on or off state of the torch switch, and the welding wire is fed. By doing so, the operability in the inching mode can be further improved.

Explanation of Signs

[0032] 1 Welding wire 2 Base material 3 Arc 4 Shielding gas 5 Gas cylinder AT Welding torch Iw Welding current MR Mode setting circuit Mr Mode setting signal ON Torch switch On Torch switch signal PS Welding power source Vw Welding voltage WF Feeder

Claims

1. A welding power source that outputs a welding voltage, A feeder that feeds a welding wire and controls the outflow of shielding gas from a gas cylinder, A welding torch that supplies the welding voltage, the welding wire, and the shielding gas to an arc generation part, And a torch switch attached to the welding torch, In a welding apparatus in which when the torch switch is turned on, the welding power source outputs the welding voltage, and the feeder starts the outflow of the shielding gas and the feeding of the welding wire to perform arc welding, It is provided with a mode setting part for setting a welding mode and an inching mode, When the torch switch is clicked in the welding mode, the mode setting part switches to the inching mode, and when the torch switch is clicked in the inching mode, it switches to the welding mode, When in the welding mode, the welding power source outputs the welding voltage when the torch switch is turned on, and when in the inching mode, the output of the welding voltage is prohibited even when the torch switch is turned on, When in the welding mode, the feeder performs the outflow of the shielding gas and the feeding of the welding wire when the torch switch is turned on, and when in the inching mode, the feeder prohibits the outflow of the shielding gas and feeds the welding wire when the torch switch is turned on, A welding apparatus characterized by this.

2. When in the welding mode, the feeder performs the outflow of the shielding gas and the feeding of the welding wire when the torch switch is turned on, and when in the inching mode, the feeder prohibits the outflow of the shielding gas regardless of the on or off state of the torch switch and feeds the welding wire, The welding apparatus according to claim 1, characterized by this.

3. The feeder sets different feeding speeds when in the welding mode and when in the inching mode. The welding apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that.

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