Electrode removal tool for spot welding

Abstract

To provide a spot-welding electrode removal tool by which an operator can easily and safely remove an electrode from a shank tip of a welding gun.SOLUTION: A first guide surface part 7 is formed at a tip of a tool body 2, and a second guide surface part 13 is formed at a tip of a lever member 3. The first guide surface part 7 and the second guide surface part 13 oscillates the lever member 3 in a direction, in which a second pinching part 12 is separated from a first pinching part 6, against an energization force of a torsion spring 15 and guides an electrode 10 between the first pinching part 6 and the second pinching part 12 when the tip of the tool body 2 and the tip of the lever member 3 are brought into contact with an outer peripheral surface of the electrode 10 mounted to a shank tip 11a so that a center line C1 thereof is positioned therebetween, and the tool body 2 is pushed to the electrode 10 side.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an electrode removal tool for spot welding that removes an electrode attached to the tip of a shank of a welding gun used for spot welding from the tip of the welding gun.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a copper electrode has been detachably attached to the tip of a shank of a welding gun used for spot welding. The tip portion of the electrode wears out after performing welding a predetermined number of times, or an oxide film or the like adheres thereto, deteriorating the state. Therefore, it is necessary to periodically cut it using a tip dresser. Then, since the electrode that is periodically cut gradually becomes shorter in its overall length and finally becomes unusable, it must be removed from the tip of the shank of the welding gun at a predetermined time and a new electrode must be attached to the tip of the shank of the welding gun.

[0003] By the way, when removing the electrode from the tip of the shank of the welding gun, an operator performs a removal operation using a tool such as that of Patent Document 1. The tool of Patent Document 1 includes a tool body having a substantially rectangular bar shape having a first clamping portion at the tip and a handle portion for the operator to grip on the base end side, and a lever member having a concave second clamping portion that is hookless in plan view and opens toward the first clamping portion. The lever member is pivotally supported at a position near the tip of the tool body so that the second clamping portion approaches and separates from the first clamping portion. A spring that biases the second clamping portion toward the first clamping portion is attached between the tool body and the lever member. When removing the electrode from the tip of the shank of the welding gun using the tool of Patent Document 1, the electrode attached to the tip of the shank is clamped by the first clamping portion and the second clamping portion using the biasing force of the spring, and the tool body is rotated around the center line of the electrode, whereby the electrode is removed from the tip of the shank.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED BY THE INVENTION

[0005] However, when the tool of Patent Document 1 clamps the electrode between the first clamping portion and the second clamping portion, while gripping the handle portion with one hand, it is necessary to approach the one end side of the tool body and the lever member to the electrode attached to the shank tip in a state where the lever member is rotated against the biasing force of the spring with the other hand. If, in the case where the electrode removed from the shank tip is in a high-temperature state immediately after the welding operation and the electrode replacement operation is performed, there is a risk that the operator's hand will touch the electrode and cause burns. In addition, since the operator has to perform the operation of separating the lever member from the tool body with both hands in order to clamp the electrode with the tool, there is also a problem that the electrode removal operation is complicated.

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of such points, and an object thereof is to provide an electrode removal tool for spot welding that allows an operator to easily and safely remove an electrode from the shank tip of a welding gun.

MEANS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEMS

[0007] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is characterized in that the tool is devised so that the tool clamps the electrode only by performing an operation of pushing the tool toward the electrode attached to the shank tip of the welding gun.

[0008] Specifically, targeting an electrode removal tool for spot welding that clamps an electrode attached to the shank tip of a spot welding gun and rotates it around the center line of the electrode to remove it from the shank tip, the following measures were taken. The cross-section orthogonal to the center line is circular That is, in the first invention, having a first clamping portion on the tip side

[0009] That is, in the first invention, having a first clamping portion on the tip sideComprising a first jaw portion On the one hand, a tool body having a handle portion that an operator grips on the proximal end side, and a second clamping portion on the distal end side Comprising a second jaw portion to be formed , a lever member pivotally supported on the tool body so that the second clamping portion approaches and separates from the first clamping portion, and a biasing member that biases the lever member in a direction in which the second clamping portion approaches the first clamping portion, The tip portions of the first jaw portion and the second jaw portion are shaped such that they are inclined and extend while being spaced apart from each other with respect to the extension direction of the handle portion in a direction away from the handle portion the First jaw portion tip Portion and the Second jaw portion tip Portion of the First jaw portion tip Portion and the Second jaw portion tip Portion are brought into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the electrode mounted on the tip of the shank so that the center line is positioned therebetween and pushed into the electrode side. When this is done, a guide surface portion is provided that swings the lever member against the biasing force of the biasing member in a direction in which the second clamping portion separates from the first clamping portion to guide the electrode between the first clamping portion and the second clamping portion The guide surface portion is provided on both the first jaw portion and the second jaw portion, and has a shape that gradually separates as the first clamping portion and the second clamping portion approach and approach the tip portion of the first jaw portion and the tip portion of the second jaw portion and is characterized by this.

[0011] In the 2 invention, in the One invention, on the proximal end side of the lever member, a pressing operation portion is provided that is disposed at a position close to the handle portion and, when pushed toward the handle portion against the biasing force of the biasing member, swings the lever member to separate the second clamping portion from the first clamping portion, and is characterized by this.

[0012] In the 3 invention, in the 2 invention, the pressing operation portion has a shape that is wider in the direction along the swing axis than other regions of the lever member, and is characterized by this.

Advantages of the Invention

[0013] In the first invention, an operator holds the handle of the tool body with one hand, and brings the tip of the tool body and the tip of the lever member into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the electrode attached to the shank tip such that their center lines are positioned therebetween. In this state, the operator pushes the tool body toward the electrode side. Then, as the outer peripheral surface of the electrode moves while sliding in contact with the guide surface portion, the second clamping portion gradually separates from the first clamping portion against the biasing force of the biasing member, and thereafter, the electrode is clamped by the first clamping portion and the second clamping portion. Then, when the operator rotates the tool body around the center line of the electrode with one hand, the electrode is twisted with respect to the shank tip, so that the electrode is removed from the shank tip. In this way, the electrode can be removed from the shank tip by only one-handed operation by the operator, and the removal operation of the electrode from the shank tip can be easily performed. Further, during the removal operation of the electrode, the operator can perform all operations for removing the electrode by gripping the handle at a position away from the first clamping portion and the second clamping portion, so that it is possible to avoid the operator's hand coming into contact with the electrode in a high-temperature state, and the removal operation of the electrode can be safely performed.

[0014] Also , when the tip of the tool body and the tip of the lever member are brought into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the electrode attached to the shank tip, each guide surface portion easily comes into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the electrode, so that it becomes difficult for the tool body and the lever member to be displaced with respect to the electrode, and the operation when pushing the tool body becomes stable, and the removal operation of the electrode can be smoothly performed.

[0015] In the 2 invention, when the electrode is removed from the shank tip, the electrode is held in a state of being clamped by the first clamping portion and the second clamping portion by the biasing force of the biasing member. Thereafter, when the operator presses the pressing operation portion toward the handle side with the thumb of the hand gripping the handle, the electrode removed from the shank tip can be dropped from the tool body. In this way, the operator does not need to touch the electrode at all until the electrode is removed from the shank tip and discarded, so that the electrode can be safely removed from the shank tip.

[0016] No. 3 In the invention of 3 , when an operator presses the pressing operation part with the thumb, the load applied to the operator is dispersed over a wide range of the thumb. Therefore, it becomes possible to reduce the discomfort applied to the thumb during the pressing operation, and the tool can have a good operation feeling.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0017]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0018] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that the following description of the preferred embodiments is merely illustrative in nature.

[0019] Figures 1 to 3 show an electrode removal tool 1 for spot welding according to an embodiment of the present invention. The electrode removal tool 1 for spot welding is used when removing and discarding a bell-shaped copper electrode 10 from the tip G1 of the shank of a spot welding gun G as shown in FIGS. 4 to 7, and includes a tool body 2 having a substantially strip-shaped plate and a lever member 3 arranged in parallel on the tip side of the tool body 2. The length dimension of the lever member 3 is approximately half of the length dimension of the tool body 2.

[0020] The welding gun G is a general one that is held by an industrial robot (not shown) for use. An electrode 10 is detachably fitted to the tip of the shank of the welding gun G.

[0021] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the tool body 2 has a first jaw portion 4 on the tip side and a handle portion 5 that can be gripped by an operator on the base end side.

[0022] The first jaw portion 4 extends on one side in the width direction of the tool body 2 and is slightly inclined with respect to the extension direction of the handle portion 5 in a direction away from the handle portion 5, and has a shape in which the thickness gradually decreases toward the tip.

[0023] On the other side in the width direction of the tool body 2 in the first jaw portion 4, a first clamping portion 6 having a concave shape in plan view and a first guide surface portion 7 that is a rectangular flat surface are provided in order from the handle portion 5 side.

[0024] In the first clamping portion 6, a plurality of first clamping teeth 6a forming ridges extending in the thickness direction of the tool body 2 are formed in a region on the handle portion 5 side.

[0025] The first guide surface portion 7 extends on one side in the width direction of the tool body 2 and is slightly inclined with respect to the extension direction of the first jaw portion 4 in a direction away from the handle portion 5.

[0026] The handle portion 5 has a shape that gradually widens in the width direction toward the base end and has a stepped shape in which the thickness is thinner on the inner side portion than on the outer peripheral portion. A long hole 5a penetrating in the thickness direction is formed in the base end portion.

[0027] The lever member 3 has a second jaw portion 8 on the tip side, while having a lever operation portion 9 on the base end side where an operator can perform a lever operation. At an intermediate portion of the lever member 3, a pair of protruding plate portions 11 each having a substantially triangular shape in plan view and protruding to one side in the width direction of the lever member 3 are provided at a predetermined interval in the thickness direction of the lever member 3.

[0028] Both protruding plate portions 11 are positioned so as to sandwich an intermediate portion of the tool body 2, and are pivotally supported on the tool body 2 so as to be swingable around a swing axis S1.

[0029] The base end portion of the lever operation portion 9 is at a position close to the handle portion 5, and a pressing operation portion 14 that can be pressed by an operator is provided at the end thereof.

[0030] The pressing operation portion 14 has a shape wider in the direction along the swing axis center than other regions of the lever member 3, and has an elliptical shape when viewed from a direction orthogonal to the swing axis center.

[0031] A torsion spring 15 (biasing member) that biases the lever member 3 in a direction in which the second jaw portion 8 approaches the first jaw portion 4 is wound around the swing axis S1. When the operator presses the pressing operation portion 14 toward the handle portion 5 against the biasing force of the torsion spring 15, the lever member 3 swings and the second jaw portion 8 moves away from the first jaw portion 4.

[0032] The second jaw portion 8 has a hook shape that gently curves in plan view. On one side in the width direction of the lever member 3 in the second jaw portion 8, a second clamping portion 12 having a concave shape in plan view and a second guide surface portion 13 that is a rectangular flat surface are provided in order from the protruding plate portion 11 side.

[0033] The second clamping portion 12 is at a position facing the first clamping portion 6, and when the lever member 3 is swung around the swing axis S1, it approaches and separates from the first clamping portion 6.

[0034] In the second clamping portion 12, a second clamping tooth 12a and a third clamping tooth 12b, which form ridges extending in the thickness direction of the lever member 3, are respectively formed in a region on the side of the second guide surface portion 13 and a region on the side of the protruding plate portion 11.

[0035] The second guide surface portion 13 extends while being slightly inclined with respect to the extension direction of the second jaw portion 8 on the other side in the width direction of the lever member 3 and in a direction away from the lever operation portion 9.

[0036] That is, the second guide surface portion 13 is at a position corresponding to the first guide surface portion 7, and the first guide surface portion 7 and the second guide surface portion 13 are shaped such that they gradually separate from each other as they approach the tip of the tool body 2 and the tip of the lever member 3 in a state where the lever member 3 is swung and the first clamping portion 6 and the second clamping portion 12 are close to each other.

[0037] Then, as shown in FIGS. 4 to 7, when the tip of the tool body 2 and the tip of the lever member 3 are brought into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the electrode 10 mounted on the shank tip G1 so that the center line C1 of the electrode 10 is positioned therebetween and pushed toward the electrode 10 side, the second clamping portion 12 resists the biasing force of the torsion spring 15 and swings the lever member 3 in a direction away from the first clamping portion 6, so as to guide the electrode 10 between the first clamping portion 6 and the second clamping portion 12.

[0038] The electrode 10 guided by the first guide surface portion 7 and the second guide surface portion 13 and guided between the first clamping portion 6 and the second clamping portion 12 is clamped by the first clamping portion 6 and the second clamping portion 12 by the biasing force of the torsion spring 15, and in this state, the electrode 10 is removed from the shank tip G1 by rotating the tool body 2 around the center line C1.

[0039] Next, the removal operation of the electrode 10 from the shank tip G1 using the electrode removal tool 1 for spot welding according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail.

[0040] First, after the operator grips the handle portion 5 of the tool body 2 of the spot welding electrode removal tool 1 with one hand, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the tip of the tool body 2 and the tip of the lever member 3 are brought into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the electrode 10 mounted on the shank tip G1 such that the center line C1 is positioned therebetween. At this time, the first guide surface portion 7 and the second guide surface portion 13 are shaped to gradually separate as they approach the tip of the tool body 2 and the tip of the lever member 3, respectively, facilitating contact with the outer peripheral surface of the electrode 10. Therefore, it is difficult for the tool body 2 and the lever member 3 to be misaligned with respect to the electrode 10.

[0041] Next, the operator pushes the gripped tool body 2 toward the electrode 10 (see arrow X1). Then, as the outer peripheral surface of the electrode 10 moves while slidingly contacting the first guide surface portion 7 and the second guide surface portion 13, respectively, as shown in FIG. 6, the second clamping portion 12 gradually separates from the first clamping portion 6 against the biasing force of the torsion spring 15 (see arrow X2), and thereafter, the electrode 10 is clamped between the first clamping portion 6 and the second clamping portion 12. At this time, since it is difficult for the tool body 2 and the lever member 3 to be misaligned with respect to the electrode 10 due to the first guide surface portion 7 and the second guide surface portion 13, the operation when pushing in the tool body 2 becomes stable.

[0042] Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 7, the operator rotates the tool body 2 around the center line C1 of the electrode 10 with one hand (in the direction of arrow X3). Then, since the electrode 10 is twisted with respect to the shank tip G1, the electrode 10 is removed from the shank tip. The electrode 10 removed from the shank tip G1 is held in a state of being clamped between the first clamping portion 6 and the second clamping portion 12 by the biasing force of the torsion spring 15.

[0043] After that, as shown in FIG. 8, the operator presses the pressing operation part 14 toward the shank part 5 with the thumb of the hand holding the shank part 5 (see arrow X4). Then, the operator can drop the electrode 10 from the tool body 2 without touching the electrode 10 removed from the shank tip G1. In this way, the operator does not need to touch the electrode 10 at all until removing and discarding the electrode 10 from the shank tip G1, so that the electrode 10 can be safely removed from the shank tip G1.

[0044] In addition, since the pressing operation part 14 has a shape wider in the direction along the swing axis than other areas of the lever member 3, when the operator presses the pressing operation part 14 with the thumb, the load applied to the operator is dispersed over a wide range of the thumb. Therefore, it becomes possible to reduce the discomfort applied to the thumb during the pressing operation, and an electrode removing tool 1 for spot welding with a good operating feeling can be obtained.

[0045] As described above, according to the embodiment of the present invention, the electrode 10 can be removed from the shank tip G1 by an operation of only one hand by the operator, and the removal operation of the electrode 10 from the shank tip G1 can be easily performed. Further, the operator can perform all operations for removing the electrode 10 by gripping the shank part 5 at a position away from the first clamping part 6 and the second clamping part 12 during the removal operation of the electrode 10. Therefore, it is possible to avoid the operator's hand from coming into contact with the electrode 10 in a high-temperature state, and the removal operation of the electrode 10 can be safely performed.

[0046] In the embodiment of the present invention, the first guide surface part 7 is provided on the tool body 2 and the second guide surface part 13 is provided on the lever member 3. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and it is sufficient that at least one of the tool body 2 and the lever member 3 is provided with a guide surface part.

[0047] Further, in the embodiment of the present invention, the pressing operation part 14 has an elliptical shape when viewed from the direction orthogonal to the swing axis. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and any shape that does not cause discomfort when the operator performs the pressing operation may be used, such as a circular shape or a rectangular shape.

[0048] Furthermore, in the embodiment of the present invention, a torsion spring 15 is used as the biasing member for biasing the lever member 3, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and other types of springs may be used, or an elastic member such as a rubber material may be used for biasing.

Industrial Applicability

[0049] The present invention is suitable for, for example, an electrode removal tool for spot welding that removes an electrode attached to the tip of a shank of a welding gun used for spot welding from the tip of the welding gun.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0050] 1 Electrode removal tool for spot welding 2 Tool body 3 Lever member 5 Handle portion 6 First clamping portion 7 First guide surface portion 10 Electrode 12 Second clamping portion 13 Second guide surface portion 14 Pressing operation portion 15 Torsion spring (biasing member) C1 Center line of electrode G1 Shank tip

Claims

1. A spot welding electrode removal tool that holds an electrode with a circular cross-section orthogonal to the center line mounted at the tip of the shank of a spot welding gun and rotates it around the center line of the electrode to remove it from the tip of the shank, comprising: a tool body having a first jaw portion with a first clamping portion on the tip side and a handle portion for an operator to grip on the base end side; a lever member having a second jaw portion with a second clamping portion on the tip side, the second clamping portion being pivotally supported by the tool body so as to be able to approach and separate from the first clamping portion; a biasing member that biases the lever member in a direction in which the second clamping portion approaches the first clamping portion; the tip portions of the first jaw portion and the second jaw portion are shaped to extend while being inclined and separated from each other with respect to the extension direction of the handle portion in a direction away from the handle portion; on the tip portions of the first jaw portion and the second jaw portion, when the tip portion of the first jaw portion and the tip portion of the second jaw portion are brought into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the electrode mounted on the tip of the shank so that the center line is positioned therebetween and pushed into the electrode side, the second clamping portion swings the lever member against the biasing force of the biasing member in a direction away from the first clamping portion, and a guide surface portion for guiding the electrode is provided between the first clamping portion and the second clamping portion; the guide surface portion is provided on both the first jaw portion and the second jaw portion, and has a shape that gradually separates as it approaches the tip portions of the first jaw portion and the second jaw portion in a state where the first clamping portion and the second clamping portion are close to each other. A spot welding electrode removal tool characterized by this.

2. In the spot welding electrode removal tool according to Claim 1, a pressing operation portion is provided on the base end side of the lever member at a position close to the handle portion, and when pressed against the biasing force of the biasing member toward the handle portion side, the lever member is swung to separate the second clamping portion from the first clamping portion. A spot welding electrode removal tool characterized by this.

3. In the spot welding electrode removal tool according to Claim 2, the pressing operation portion has a shape that is wider in the direction along the swing axis than other regions of the lever member. A spot welding electrode removal tool characterized by this.

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