Welding device

Abstract

To provide a welding device configured to rotate a welding jig fixed to a rotating body together with the rotating body, which enables the welding jig to be lifted up to a position where the welding jig is fixed to the rotating body without using a facility arranged independently from the welding device.SOLUTION: A welding device is configured to rotate a welding jig fixed to a rotating body together with the rotating body. The welding device comprises the rotating body, a suspending arm and a mounting mechanism. The rotating body rotates with a rotating shaft disposed along a horizontal direction as a center. The suspending arm suspends the welding jig not fixed to the rotating body down to the rotating body. When the rotating body rotates from a first rotation position to a second rotation position, the mounting mechanism mounts the suspending arm on the rotating body so that the welding jig is lifted up to a position where the jig is fixed to the rotating body.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a welding apparatus.

Background Art

[0002] For example, as described in Patent Document 1, there is a welding apparatus configured to rotate a welding jig fixed to a rotating body together with the rotating body.

Prior Art Document

Patent Document

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In this type of welding apparatus, the welding jig is replaced according to the welding target. When assembling the welding jig to the welding apparatus, it is necessary to lift the welding jig from the floor surface to the fixed position on the rotating body. For example, when the weight of the welding jig is heavy, a lifting device separate from the welding apparatus is used to lift the welding jig. However, from the perspective of costs such as equipment costs, there has been a desire to eliminate such a lifting device.

[0005] One aspect of the present disclosure provides a technique for enabling the lifting of a welding jig fixed to a rotating body to the fixed position on the rotating body without using equipment independent of the welding apparatus in a welding apparatus configured to rotate the welding jig fixed to the rotating body together with the rotating body.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] One aspect of the present disclosure is a welding apparatus configured to rotate a welding jig fixed to a rotating body together with the rotating body. The welding apparatus includes a rotating body, a suspension arm, and an attachment mechanism. The rotating body rotates about a rotation axis along the horizontal direction. The suspension arm suspends a welding jig not fixed to the rotating body from the rotating body. The attachment mechanism attaches the suspension arm to the rotating body such that when the rotating body rotates from a first rotation position to a second rotation position, the welding jig is lifted to a fixed position on the rotating body.

[0007] According to such a configuration, even without using equipment independent of the welding apparatus, the welding jig can be lifted to a fixed position on the rotating body by utilizing the rotation of the rotating body.

[0008] In one aspect of the present disclosure, the attachment mechanism may include an attachment shaft and a hook. The attachment shaft is provided on one of the rotating body and the suspension arm and extends along the horizontal direction. The hook is provided on the other of the rotating body and the suspension arm and is hung on the outer peripheral surface of the attachment shaft.

[0009] According to such a configuration, with a relatively simple structure, it becomes possible to lift the welding jig from the floor surface to a fixed position on the rotating body as the rotating body rotates from the first rotation position to the second rotation position.

[0010] In one aspect of the present disclosure, the hook may be provided on the rotating body and may have a first contact surface, a second contact surface, and an intermediate contact surface. The first contact surface contacts the outer peripheral surface of the attachment shaft from the lower side in the vertical direction when the rotating body is in the first rotation position. The second contact surface contacts the outer peripheral surface of the attachment shaft from the lower side in the vertical direction when the rotating body is in the second rotation position. The intermediate contact surface connects the first contact surface and the second contact surface. Further, the intermediate contact surface contacts the outer peripheral surface of the attachment shaft from the lower side in the vertical direction during the process of the rotating body rotating from the first rotation position to the second rotation position.

[0011] In one aspect of the present disclosure, the hook may include a first hook portion and a second hook portion. The first hook portion has a recess formed in at least a part of its inner surface with a first abutting surface. Further, the first hook portion may be configured to be displaceable relative to the second hook portion to switch between a state where the opening of the recess is open and a state where it is closed.

[0012] According to such a configuration, when lifting the welding jig, by closing the opening of the recess, it is possible to prevent the mounting shaft from coming off the recess and the welding jig from falling.

[0013] One aspect of the present disclosure may further include a fixing mechanism for fixing the welding jig lifted to the fixing position on the rotating body to the rotating body. The fixing mechanism may include a protruding portion and a fitting portion. The protruding portion is provided on one of the rotating body and the welding jig. The fitting portion is provided on the other of the rotating body and the welding jig and is configured to be able to regulate the displacement of the welding jig relative to the rotating body by fitting with the protruding portion.

[0014] According to such a configuration, with a relatively simple structure, it becomes possible to fix the welding jig lifted to the fixing position on the rotating body to the rotating body.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0015]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Embodiments for Carrying out the Invention

[0016] Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. [1. Configuration] The welding apparatus 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 is an apparatus for welding in-vehicle parts such as exhaust system parts for vehicles. The welding apparatus 1 includes a welding arm 2, a rotating machine 3, a rotating body 4, a welding jig 5, and a suspension arm 6. The welding jig 5 is detachable from the rotating body 4. Specifically, the welding jig 5 is suspended from the rotating body 4 via the suspension arm 6 in a state of being located on the floor surface, and is lifted from the floor surface to a fixed position on the rotating body 4 as the rotating body 4 rotates, and is fixed to the rotating body 4. When removing the welding jig 5 from the rotating body 4, the procedure opposite to that at the time of assembling the welding jig 5 to the rotating body 4 is taken. Hereinafter, the rotational position of the rotating body 4 at which the suspension arm 6 can start suspending the welding jig 5 to the rotating body 4 is referred to as the first rotational position. Also, the rotational position of the rotating body 4 at which the welding jig 5 reaches the fixed position on the rotating body 4 as the rotating body 4 rotates is referred to as the second rotational position. FIGS. 1 to 4 show a state in which the welding jig 5 is fixed to the rotating body 4 after the rotating body 4 has rotated to the second rotational position. Also, in FIGS. 1 to 3, the welding arm 2 is shown in a simplified manner.

[0017] The welding arm 2 is a multi-joint robot arm that performs welding on a welding object. The welding arm 2 moves the tip thereof to the welding location of the welding object to weld the welding object. The rotating machine 3 is a motor that rotates the rotating body 4. In the present embodiment, the rotating machines 3 are respectively provided on the left and right sides of the welding apparatus 1 so as to sandwich the rotating body 4 disposed in front of the welding arm 2 from both sides. That is, the welding apparatus 1 of the present embodiment includes two rotating machines 3. The two rotating machines 3 are arranged such that the rotation axes X extending left and right in the front view of the welding apparatus 1 coincide with each other, and support the rotating body 4. When the two rotating machines 3 rotate synchronously and integrally, the rotating body 4 rotates about the rotation axis X along the horizontal direction.

[0018] Note that the two rotating machines 3 do not necessarily need to be provided as in the present embodiment, and for example, only one rotating machine 3 may be provided on either the left or right side of the welding apparatus 1. In this case, for example, a bearing unit such as a pillow block is provided on the side opposite to the rotating machine 3 side on the left and right sides of the welding apparatus 1, and the rotating body 4 is supported by the rotating machine 3 and the bearing unit, so that the rotating body 4 rotates about the rotation axis X as the rotating machine 3 rotates.

[0019] The rotating body 4 includes two connecting rotating portions 41 and a supporting rotating portion 42. The two connecting rotating portions 41 are members directly connected to the respective two rotating machines 3. The supporting rotating portion 42 is a linearly extending member formed of a plate material. The supporting rotating portion 42 is supported by the two connecting rotating portions 41 such that the extending direction thereof is parallel to the rotation axis X of the rotating body 4.

[0020] FIG. 5 is a view of the left connecting rotating portion 41 as viewed from the inside of the welding apparatus 1 (that is, the side opposite to the rotating machine 3 side with respect to the connecting rotating portion 41) in the front view of the welding apparatus 1. FIG. 5 shows the connecting rotating portion 41 and the supporting rotating portion 42 in the orientation when the rotating body 4 is in the second rotation position. Note that in FIG. 5, illustration of a part of the configuration of the connecting rotating portion 41 is omitted. Further, the supporting rotating portion 42 is shown in cross section. Hereinafter, the upper surface and the lower surface of the connecting rotating portion 41 in the state where the rotating body 4 is in the second rotation position are also simply referred to as the upper surface and the lower surface of the connecting rotating portion 41.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 5, when the vertical line passing through the rotation axis X of the rotating body 4 is defined as the reference line Y of the rotating body 4 in a state where the rotating body 4 is located at the second rotation position, the support rotating portion 42 is connected to the lower surfaces of the left and right connecting rotating portions 41 respectively, and is configured to be movable in parallel along the reference line Y of the rotating body 4 with respect to the connecting rotating portion 41. That is, the support rotating portion 42 is configured to be displaceable between a proximity position which is a position close to the lower surfaces of the two connecting rotating portions 41 as shown in FIG. 5 and a separation position which is a position separated from the lower surfaces of the two connecting rotating portions 41.

[0022] Further, the connecting rotating portion 41 has a fixing portion 411. The fixing portion 411 is configured to be able to fix the support rotating portion 42 located at the proximity position. Specifically, the fixing portion 411 has two members 411a and 411b for sandwiching the support rotating portion 42 located at the proximity position from both sides sandwiching the reference line Y of the rotating body 4. In the two members 411a and 411b of the present embodiment, the cross-sectional shape of the surface facing the support rotating portion 42 located at the proximity position is formed in a U shape corresponding to the shape of the end surface of the support rotating portion 42. The two members 411a and 411b are configured to be movable in parallel by a cylinder 412 so as to approach and separate from the support rotating portion 42 located at the proximity position. When the two members 411a and 411b move in parallel in a direction approaching the end surface of the support rotating portion 42 located at the proximity position and are respectively fitted to the end surface of the support rotating portion 42 so as to sandwich the support rotating portion 42, the parallel movement of the support rotating portion 42 along the reference line Y of the rotating body 4 is restricted. Thereby, the support rotating portion 42 is fixed at the proximity position.

[0023] In addition, a protruding portion 413 protruding along the reference line Y of the rotating body 4 is formed on the lower surface of the connecting rotating portion 41. The protruding portion 413 of the present embodiment is columnar. As will be described in detail later When fixing the welding jig 5 to the rotating body 4, with the welding jig 5 disposed between the support rotating portion 42 and the lower surface of the connecting rotating portion 41, as the support rotating portion 42 is displaced to the proximity position, the support rotating portion 42 pushes up the welding jig 5 toward the protruding portion 413 side. As a result, the protruding portion 413 fits into a fitting portion 53 (described later) of the welding jig 5, and the position of the welding jig 5 with respect to the rotating body 4 is fixed.

[0024] The welding jig 5 shown in FIG. 6 has one or more jigs (not shown) used for welding by the welding arm 2. Examples of the jigs used for welding include a fixing jig for fixing a welding object. The welding jig 5 of the present embodiment has a configuration in which a plurality of jigs (not shown) used for welding are fixed to the planar upper surface of the linearly extending frame portion 51. The welding jig 5 is configured to be detachable from the rotating body 4 so that it can be exchanged according to the welding object. During welding by the welding arm 2, the welding jig 5 is lifted from the floor surface to the fixing position on the rotating body 4 and fixed to the rotating body 4, and thus rotates together with the rotating body 4. In a state of being removed from the rotating body 4, the welding jig 5 stands on the floor surface by rollers 52 attached to both ends of the frame portion 51, and can be moved on the floor surface, for example, by being pushed by a person.

[0025] In addition, fitting portions 53 configured to be capable of fitting with the protruding portions 413 of the connecting rotating portions 41 described above are respectively formed at both ends of the frame portion 51. The fitting portion 53 of the present embodiment is a through hole penetrating the frame portion 51. The diameter of the through hole is larger than the diameter of the protruding portion 413.

[0026] The suspension arm 6 is a member for suspending the welding jig 5 to the rotating body 4 when lifting the welding jig 5 before being fixed to the rotating body 4 to the fixing position on the rotating body 4. In the present embodiment, suspension arms 6 are respectively provided at both ends of the frame portion 51 of the welding jig 5. That is, the welding apparatus 1 of the present embodiment includes two suspension arms 6.

[0027] Each suspension arm 6 includes an arm portion 61 and a mounting shaft 62. The arm portion 61 is a portion that extends vertically from the upper surface of the frame portion 51 at the end of the frame portion 51. The mounting shaft 62 is a portion provided at the tip of the arm portion 61 and having a cylindrical outer shape. When the extending direction of the frame portion 51 is the left-right direction, the mounting shaft 62 is provided so as to extend parallel to the upper surface of the frame portion 51 from the tip of the arm portion 61 toward the outside in the left-right direction. The central axes of the mounting shafts 62 in the left and right suspension arms 6 coincide with each other.

[0028] Also, although the outer diameter of the mounting shaft 62 is generally constant, a portion with a small outer diameter is formed in the middle portion of the mounting shaft 62 in the axial direction. Hereinafter, the portion with a small outer diameter in the mounting shaft 62 is referred to as a small-diameter portion 621, and the portions with a larger outer diameter than the small-diameter portion 621 on both sides of the small-diameter portion 621 in the axial direction of the mounting shaft 62 are referred to as a first large-diameter portion 622 and a second large-diameter portion 623, respectively. The outer diameter of the small-diameter portion 621 is constant.

[0029] Returning to FIGS. 1 to 4, hooks 43 that are hung on the outer peripheral surface of the mounting shaft 62 of the suspension arm 6 are provided on the left and right connecting rotating portions 41 of the rotating body 4, respectively. The hooks 43 are provided on the upper surface of each connecting rotating portion 41. As shown in FIG. 8(A), in the state where the rotating body 4 is located at the first rotation position, the up and down of the rotating body 4 is reversed compared to the state where it is located at the second rotation position, and the upper surface of the connecting rotating portion 41 is directed downward in the vertical direction. That is, the hook 43 is directed downward in the vertical direction. For the left and right hooks 43 on the rotating body 4 in the state of being located at the first rotation position like this, the suspension arm 6 is designed such that the lengths of the left and right arm portions 61 and the position with respect to the frame portion 51 are such that the height and position of the mounting shaft 62 in the state where the welding jig 5 is located on the floor surface match. For this reason, in the state where the rotating body 4 is located at the first rotation position, the hook 43 can be hung on the outer peripheral surface of the mounting shaft 62 while the welding jig 5 remains located on the floor surface, and the welding jig 5 can be suspended from the rotating body 4. The hook 43 supports the mounting shaft 62 at a position radially separated from the rotation axis X of the rotating body 4. to be hung, and the welding jig 5 can be suspended from the rotating body 4. The hook 43 supports the mounting shaft 62 at a position radially separated from the rotation axis X of the rotating body 4.

[0030] Figures 7A and 7B are views of the hook 43 on the left rotating body 4 when viewed from the outside of the welding apparatus 1 in a front view of the welding apparatus 1. In Figures 7A and 7B, the hook 43 is shown in the orientation when the rotating body 4 is located at the first rotation position.

[0031] As shown in Figures 7A and 7B, the hook 43 has a first hook portion 431 in which a first recess 431a is formed, and a second hook portion 432 in which a second recess 432a is formed. Both the first recess 431a and the second recess 432a are grooves extending along the rotation axis X of the rotating body 4. Each of the first recess 431a and the second recess 432a has a bottom surface curved in the depth direction of the groove, and two planar side surfaces that are continuous from both edges of the bottom surface and parallel to each other. In the first recess 431a and the second recess 432a of the present embodiment, the heights of the two side surfaces are different from each other. That is, the first recess 431a and the second recess 432a of the present embodiment have a J-shaped cross-sectional shape perpendicular to their extending direction (that is, the axial direction of the rotation axis X of the rotating body 4). The widths of the first recess 431a and the second recess 432a (that is, the distance between the side surfaces) are formed wider than the diameter of the small diameter portion 621 of the mounting shaft 62 and narrower than the diameters of the first large diameter portion 622 and the second large diameter portion 623.

[0032] The first hook portion 431 and the second hook portion 432 are connected by a connecting shaft 433 parallel to the rotation axis X of the rotating body 4 with the first recess 431a and the second recess 432a facing each other. The first hook portion 431 is configured to be rotatable about the connecting shaft 433 by a cylinder 434. The first hook portion 431 is configured to be able to switch between an open state in which the opening portions of the first recess 431a and the second recess 432a are open as shown in Figure 7A, and a closed state in which the opening portions of the first recess 431a and the second recess 432a are closed as shown in Figure 7B, by being displaced with respect to the second hook portion 432. In the closed state, as shown in Figure 9(A), the inner surface of the first recess 431a and the inner surface of the second recess 432a are continuous, and an oval-shaped hole is formed.

[0033] Incidentally, (A) to (C) of FIG. 9 are all schematic views showing the closed first recess 431a and second recess 432a and the small-diameter portion 621 on the mounting shaft 62. (A) of FIG. 9 shows the positional relationship between the first recess 431a and second recess 432a and the small-diameter portion 621 in the state where the rotating body 4 is located at the first rotation position. (B) of FIG. 9 shows these positional relationships in an example of the state during the rotation of the rotating body 4 from the first rotation position to the second rotation position. (C) of FIG. 9 shows these positional relationships in the state where the rotating body 4 is located at the second rotation position.

[0034] [2. Method of Assembling Welding Fixture] Next, a method of assembling the welding fixture 5 in the welding apparatus 1, which involves lifting the welding fixture 5 to the fixing position on the rotating body 4 and fixing it to the rotating body 4, will be described.

[0035] FIG. 8 is a schematic view of the rotating body 4, the welding fixture 5, and the suspension arm 6 as viewed from the left side of the welding apparatus 1. First, as shown in (A) of FIG. 8, in the state where the support rotating portion 42 on the rotating body 4 is located at the separated position and the rotating body 4 itself is located at the first rotation position, the welding fixture 5 is arranged on the floor surface between the left and right connecting rotating portions 41 on the rotating body 4. Specifically, the extending direction of the frame portion 51 is along the rotation axis X of the rotating body 4, and the welding fixture 5 is arranged on the floor surface such that the small-diameter portions 621 on the left and right mounting shafts 62 are respectively arranged between the first recess 431a and the second recess 432a on the left and right hooks 43, as shown in FIG. 7A. In the present embodiment, in the state where the rotating body 4 is located at the first rotation position, the hook 43 is located directly below the rotation axis X of the rotating body 4, and the support rotating portion 42 is located directly above the rotating body 4.

[0036] Then, as shown in FIG. 7B, the first hook portion 431 is rotated about the connecting shaft 433 in a direction approaching the second hook portion 432, and while bringing the inner surface of the first hook portion 431 into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the small-diameter portion 621 of the mounting shaft 62, the first recess 431a and the second recess 432a are brought into a closed state. That is, as shown in FIG. 9(A), a part of the inner surface of the first hook portion 431, specifically, at least the bottom surface in the first recess 431a corresponds to a first contact surface 435a that contacts the outer peripheral surface of the mounting shaft 62 from the lower side in the vertical direction in a state where the rotating body 4 is located at the first rotation position.

[0037] In each of the left and right hooks 43, when the first recess 431a is hung on the outer peripheral surface of the small-diameter portion 621 of the mounting shaft 62 from the lower side in the vertical direction, the welding jig 5 is suspended from the rotating body 4 via the left and right suspension arms 6. When the welding jig 5 is suspended from the rotating body 4, the axial direction of the mounting shaft 62 becomes a direction along the horizontal direction.

[0038] Further, since the widths of the first recess 431a and the second recess 432a are wider than the small-diameter portion 621 and narrower than the first large-diameter portion 622 and the second large-diameter portion 623 on both sides thereof, when the first recess 431a and the second recess 432a are brought into a closed state, the axial displacement of the mounting shaft 62 with respect to the hook 43 is restricted. That is, the mounting shaft 62 is in a state where it cannot come out of the hole formed by the first recess 431a and the second recess 432a.

[0039] Subsequently, the rotating body 4 is rotated from the first rotation position shown in FIG. 8(A) to the second rotation position shown in FIG. 8(D). The rotation angle from the first rotation position to the second rotation position is, for example, 180 degrees. As shown in FIGS. 8(B) and 8(C), when the rotating body 4 is rotated from the first rotation position toward the second rotation position, the welding jig 5 suspended from the rotating body 4 is lifted from the floor surface while maintaining the state of hanging down by its own weight as the mounting shaft 62 swings with respect to the hook 43. Specifically, the welding jig 5 suspended from the rotating body 4 moves upward in parallel around the rotation axis Z that is parallel to the rotation axis X of the rotating body 4 and is located on the lower side in the vertical direction as the rotating body 4 rotates. In FIG. 8(B), for ease of understanding, a virtual circle centered on the rotation axis X of the rotating body 4 and a virtual circle centered on the rotation axis Z of the welding jig 5 suspended from the rotating body 4 are each shown by a two-dot chain line.

[0040] In the process of the rotating body 4 rotating from the first rotation position to the second rotation position, since the mounting shaft 62 swings with respect to the hook 43, the orientation of the hole formed by the first recess 431a and the second recess 432a changes with respect to the mounting shaft 62. That is, the portion of the inner surfaces of the first hook portion 431 and the second hook portion 432 that contacts the outer peripheral surface of the small-diameter portion 621 of the mounting shaft 62 changes. For example, in the state shown in FIG. 9(B), a part of the inner surface of the second hook portion 432, specifically, one side surface in the second recess 432a, contacts the outer peripheral surface of the small-diameter portion 621 of the mounting shaft 62 from the lower side in the vertical direction. That is, at least one side surface in the second recess 432a corresponds to an intermediate contact surface 435b that contacts the outer peripheral surface of the mounting shaft 62 from the lower side in the vertical direction in the process of the rotating body 4 rotating from the first rotation position to the second rotation position. The intermediate contact surface 435b is continuous with the above-described first contact surface 435a.

[0041] As shown in FIG. 8(D), when the rotating body 4 reaches the second rotation position, the welding jig 5 suspended from the rotating body 4 is in a state of being located at the fixed position to the rotating body 4. In the present embodiment, in the state where the rotating body 4 is located at the second rotation position, the hook 43 is located directly above the rotation axis X of the rotating body 4, and the support rotating portion 42 is located directly below the rotation axis X of the rotating body 4.

[0042] Also, in the state where the rotating body 4 is located at the second rotation position, as shown in FIG. 9(C), a part of the inner surface of the second hook portion 432, specifically, at least the bottom surface in the second concave portion 432a, is in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the small-diameter portion 621 of the mounting shaft 62 from the lower side in the vertical direction. That is, at least the bottom surface in the second concave portion 432a corresponds to the second contact surface 435c that contacts the outer peripheral surface of the mounting shaft 62 from the lower side in the vertical direction in the state where the rotating body 4 is located at the second rotation position. The second contact surface 435c is continuous from the intermediate contact surface 435b to the side opposite to the first contact surface 435a side.

[0043] Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 8(E), the support rotating portion 42 in the rotating body 4 is translated upward in the vertical direction (that is, the lower surface side of the connecting rotating portion 41) to the proximity position. As a result, the frame portion 51 in the welding jig 5 is pushed up from the lower side in the vertical direction by the support rotating portion 42, and the fitting portion 53 in the welding jig 5 is fitted to the protruding portion 413 in the rotating body 4. As a result, the position of the welding jig 5 with respect to the rotating body 4 is fixed.

[0044] Note that the welding jig 5 suspended from the rotating body 4 may be slightly swung around the mounting shaft 62 while maintaining the posture of hanging down due to its own weight. Therefore, there may be a case where it is difficult to fit the fitting portion 53 to the protruding portion 413. For this reason, for example, in order to facilitate the fitting of the fitting portion 53 to the protruding portion 413, an interfering portion that interferes with the welding jig 5 when the welding jig 5 reaches the fixed position on the rotating body 4 may be provided on the rotating body 4. For example, the interfering portion interferes with the interfered portion 54 (see FIG. 6) provided on the welding jig 5, thereby restricting the swing of the welding jig 5 in one direction around the swing shaft 62. Therefore, it is possible to facilitate the fitting of the fitting portion 53 to the protruding portion 413. Also, for example, by rotating the rotating body 4 by more than 180 degrees from the first rotation position and bringing the welding jig 5 close to the interfering portion in the rotating body 4, the position of the rotating body 4 can be restricted, and it is also possible to make it easier to fit the fitting portion 53 to the protruding portion 413.

[0045] After the fitting portion 53 is fitted into the protruding portion 413 and the position of the welding jig 5 with respect to the rotating body 4 is fixed, the two members 411a and 411b constituting the fixing portion 411 are displaced to clamp the support rotating portion 42 from the horizontal direction, thereby fixing the support rotating portion 42 at a close position. Since the support rotating portion 42 is in contact with the welding jig 5 from the lower side in the vertical direction, when the support rotating portion 42 is fixed at a close position, it is possible to prevent the fitting between the fitting portion 53 and the protruding portion 413 from being disengaged due to the own weight of the welding jig 5.

[0046] In a state of being fixed to the rotating body 4, the welding jig 5 rotates integrally with the rotating body 4 about the rotation axis X of the rotating body 4.

[0047] [3. Effect] According to the embodiment described in detail above, the following effects can be obtained. (3a) The welding apparatus 1 includes a rotating body 4 provided with a hook 43 and a suspension arm 6 provided with a mounting shaft 62 extending in the horizontal direction. The hook 43 is configured to be swingable with respect to the mounting shaft 62 as the rotating body 4 rotates from the first rotation position to the second rotation position while being hung on the outer peripheral surface of the mounting shaft 62. The welding jig 5 suspended from the rotating body 4 by the hook 43 and the mounting shaft 62 is lifted from the floor surface to the fixed position on the rotating body 4 while maintaining the state of hanging down by its own weight as the rotating body 4 rotates from the first rotation position to the second rotation position. That is, the hook 43 and the mounting shaft 62 constitute a mounting mechanism for attaching the suspension arm 6 to the rotating body 4 such that the welding jig 5 is lifted from the floor surface to the fixed position on the rotating body 4 while maintaining the posture of hanging down by its own weight as the rotating body 4 rotates from the first rotation position to the second rotation position.

[0048] According to such a configuration, it is possible to lift the welding jig 5 to the fixed position on the rotating body 4 by using the rotation of the rotating body 4 (in other words, by diverting the rotating machine 3 that rotates the rotating body 4) without using a lifting machine independent of the welding apparatus 1.

[0049] (3b) The hook 43 is provided on the rotating body 4 and has a first contact surface 435a, a second contact surface 435c, and an intermediate contact surface 435b. The first contact surface 435a contacts the outer peripheral surface of the mounting shaft 62 from the lower side in the vertical direction in a state where the rotating body 4 is located at the first rotation position. The second contact surface 435c contacts the outer peripheral surface of the mounting shaft 62 from the lower side in the vertical direction in a state where the rotating body 4 is located at the second rotation position. The intermediate contact surface 435b connects the first contact surface 435a and the second contact surface 435c. The intermediate contact surface 435b contacts the outer peripheral surface of the mounting shaft 62 from the lower side in the vertical direction in the process of the rotating body 4 rotating from the first rotation position to the second rotation position.

[0050] According to such a configuration, with a relatively simple structure, it becomes possible to lift the welding jig 5 from the floor surface to the fixing position on the rotating body 4 as the rotating body 4 rotates from the first rotation position to the second rotation position.

[0051] (3c) The hook 43 includes a first hook portion 431 having a first concave portion 431a with a first contact surface 435a formed on a part of its inner surface, and a second hook portion 432. The first hook portion 431 is configured to be able to switch between an open state in which the opening of the first concave portion 431a is open and a closed state in which it is closed by being displaced with respect to the second hook portion 432.

[0052] According to such a configuration, by making it in the closed state when lifting the welding jig 5, it is possible to prevent the mounting shaft 62 from coming out of the first concave portion 431a and the welding jig 5 from falling.

[0053] (3d) The welding device 1 includes a protruding portion 413 provided on the rotating body 4 and a fitting portion 53 provided on the welding jig 5. The fitting portion 53 is configured to be able to regulate the displacement of the welding jig 5 with respect to the rotating body 4 by fitting with the protruding portion 413. That is, the protruding portion 413 and the fitting portion 53 constitute a fixing mechanism for fixing the welding jig 5 lifted to the fixing position on the rotating body 4 to the rotating body 4.

[0054] According to such a configuration, with a relatively simple structure, it becomes possible to fix the welding jig 5 lifted to the fixing position on the rotating body 4 to the rotating body 4.

[0055] [4. Other Embodiments] As described above, the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described. Needless to say, the present disclosure is not limited to the above embodiments and can take various forms.

[0056] (4a) In the above embodiment, the first hook portion 431 is configured to be able to switch the open / closed state of the open portions of the first concave portion 431a and the second concave portion 432a by being displaced with respect to the second hook portion 432. When lifting the welding jig 5 to the fixing position on the rotating body 4, the first hook portion 431 closes the open portion of the first concave portion 431a. However, the first hook portion does not necessarily have to close the open portion of the first concave portion. For example, when lifting the welding jig to the fixing position on the rotating body, a gap may be generated within a range where the mounting shaft cannot pass through between the first hook portion and the second hook portion.

[0057] (4b) In the above embodiment, the hook 43 includes the first hook portion 431 and the second hook portion 432. However, the hook does not necessarily have to be constituted by a plurality of members. For example, the hook may be a single member in which a concave portion including each of the first contact surface, the second contact surface, and the intermediate contact surface on the inner surface is formed.

[0058] (4c) In the above embodiment, as an attachment mechanism, a configuration including the hook 43 and the attachment shaft 62 is exemplified. Specifically, a configuration in which the hook 43 is provided on the rotating body 4 and the attachment shaft 62 is provided on the suspension arm 6 is exemplified. However, for example, a configuration in which the objects on which the hook and the attachment shaft are provided are reversed (that is, a configuration in which the hook is provided on the suspension arm and the attachment shaft is provided on the rotating body) may also be used. In this case, the hook contacts the outer peripheral surface of the attachment shaft from above in the vertical direction, and swings with respect to the attachment shaft as the rotating body rotates from the first rotation position to the second rotation position. The welding jig suspended from the rotating body is lifted to the fixed position on the rotating body while maintaining the posture of hanging down due to its own weight. Further, the mounting mechanism may be realized by a configuration other than the combination of the hook and the mounting shaft.

[0059] (4d) In the above embodiment, as the fixing mechanism, a configuration including the protruding portion 413 and the fitting portion 53 was exemplified. Specifically, the configuration in which the protruding portion 413 is provided on the rotating body 4 and the fitting portion 53 is provided on the welding jig 5 was exemplified. However, for example, a configuration in which the objects provided with the protruding portion and the fitting portion are reversed (that is, a configuration in which the protruding portion is provided on the welding jig and the fitting portion is provided on the rotating body) may also be used. Further, the fixing mechanism may be realized by a configuration other than the combination of the protruding portion and the fitting portion.

[0060] Further, the welding apparatus does not necessarily have such a fixing mechanism. For example, a person may fix the welding jig lifted from the floor surface to the fixed position on the rotating body.

[0061] (4e) The functions of one component in the above embodiment may be distributed as a plurality of components, or the functions of a plurality of components may be integrated into one component. Further, a part of the configuration of the above embodiment may be omitted. Further, at least a part of the configuration of the above embodiment may be added, replaced, etc. with respect to the configuration of other above embodiments.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0062] 1... Welding apparatus, 2... Welding arm, 3... Rotating machine, 4... Rotating body, 41... Connecting rotating part, 413... Protruding part, 42... Supporting rotating part, 43... Hook, 431... First hook part, 431a... First recess, 432... Second hook part, 432a... Second recess, 435a... First contact surface, 435b... Intermediate contact surface, 435c... Second contact surface, 5... Welding jig, 53... Fitting part, 6... Hanging arm, 61... Arm part, 62... Mounting shaft.

Claims

1. A welding apparatus configured to rotate a welding jig fixed to a rotating body together with the rotating body, the rotating body that rotates about a rotation axis along the horizontal direction, a suspension arm for suspending the welding jig not fixed to the rotating body from the rotating body, a mounting mechanism for mounting the suspension arm to the rotating body such that when the rotating body rotates from a first rotation position to a second rotation position, the welding jig is lifted to a fixed position on the rotating body, A welding apparatus comprising:

2. The welding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the mounting mechanism comprises a mounting shaft provided on one of the rotating body and the suspension arm and extending along the horizontal direction, and a hook provided on the other of the rotating body and the suspension arm and hooked on an outer peripheral surface of the mounting shaft, A welding apparatus comprising:

3. The welding apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the hook is provided on the rotating body and has a first contact surface that contacts the outer peripheral surface of the mounting shaft from the lower side in the vertical direction when the rotating body is in the first rotation position, a second contact surface that contacts the outer peripheral surface of the mounting shaft from the lower side in the vertical direction when the rotating body is in the second rotation position, and an intermediate contact surface connecting the first contact surface and the second contact surface, the intermediate contact surface contacting the outer peripheral surface of the mounting shaft from the lower side in the vertical direction during the process in which the rotating body rotates from the first rotation position to the second rotation position, A welding apparatus having:

4. The welding apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the hook comprises a first hook portion having a recess formed in at least a part of an inner surface thereof and having the first contact surface, and a second hook portion, and the first hook portion is configured to be displaceable with respect to the second hook portion to switch between a state where an opening of the recess is open and a state where the opening is closed, A welding apparatus.

5. The welding apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a fixing mechanism for fixing the welding jig lifted to the fixed position on the rotating body to the rotating body, wherein the fixing mechanism comprises a protruding portion provided on one of the rotating body and the welding jig, and a fitting portion provided on the other of the rotating body and the welding jig and configured to be able to regulate displacement of the welding jig with respect to the rotating body by fitting with the protruding portion, A welding apparatus comprising:

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