Laser Welding Equipment

Abstract

To provide a laser welding apparatus that can suppress a moving body whose shaft rotates in an urging direction of an urging member from rotating.SOLUTION: A laser emitting apparatus 1 comprises a laser emitting part 110, a front-side urging member 200, a rear-side urging member 300 and a rotation restricting member 500. The front-side urging member 200 has a front-side moving body 210, a front-side supporting body 220, and a front-side urging part 230. The rear-side urging member 300 has a rear-side moving body 310, a rear-side supporting body 320 and a rear-side urging part 330. The rotation restricting member 500 restricts the front-side moving body 210 whose shaft rotates in an urging direction of the front-side urging part 230 from rotating and restricts the rear-side moving body 310 whose shaft rotates in an urging direction of the rear-side urging part 330 from rotating.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2017-19262 discloses a laser processing head including a laser focusing mechanism attached to an upper mechanism frame, a lower mechanism frame fixed to the upper mechanism frame, and a roller attached to the lower mechanism frame. The roller urges the workpiece while rotating relative to the workpiece along the planned laser welding line. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2017-19262 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the laser processing head described in JP 2017-19262 A, during welding, the roller may rotate around the axis of rotation in the direction of the biasing force that biases the roller.

[0005] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a laser welding device that can suppress rotation of a moving body about a rotation axis in the biasing direction of a biasing member. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A laser welding device according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes a laser irradiation unit capable of irradiating a laser onto a workpiece and movable relative to the workpiece; a front biasing member provided in front of the laser irradiation unit in a movement direction of the laser irradiation unit relative to the workpiece and capable of applying a biasing force to the workpiece; a rear biasing member provided behind the laser irradiation unit in the movement direction and biasing the workpiece; and a rotation restricting member that restricts the front biasing member from rotating about a rotation axis in the biasing direction of the front biasing member and restricts the rear biasing member from rotating about a rotation axis in the biasing direction of the rear biasing member, the rear biasing member has a rear moving body that can move in the movement direction relative to the workpiece while abutting against the workpiece, a rear support that supports the rear moving body, and a rear biasing part that biases the rear support so that the biasing force acts from the rear moving body to the workpiece via the rear support, and the rotation restricting member restricts the rotation of the front moving body around the biasing direction by the front biasing part as a rotation axis, and restricts the rotation of the rear moving body around the biasing direction by the rear biasing part as a rotation axis. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a laser welding device that can suppress rotation of a moving body about a rotation axis in the biasing direction of a biasing member. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a laser welding apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] 2 is a perspective view of a part of the laser welding apparatus at a different angle from that in FIG. 1. [Figure 3] 2 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the laser welding apparatus shown in FIG. 1. [Figure 4]4 is a cross-sectional view of the laser welding device taken along a plane different from the cross section of FIG. 3. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0013] The present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which the same or corresponding elements are designated by the same reference numerals.

[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a laser welding apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a portion of the laser welding apparatus at a different angle than that of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the laser welding apparatus shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the laser welding apparatus taken along a plane different from that of FIG. 3. The laser welding apparatus 1 of this embodiment is particularly suitable for welding resin members and metal members. However, the objects to be welded by the laser welding apparatus 1 are not particularly limited.

[0011] 1, laser welding apparatus 1 is capable of welding, for example, a workpiece W placed on a support table 2. Laser welding apparatus 1 can also weld workpiece W while held by an actuator that is three-dimensionally movable. Laser welding apparatus 1 includes a laser irradiation unit 110, a front arm 120, a rear arm 130, a front biasing member 200, a rear biasing member 300, a front protective cover 420, a rear protective cover 430, and a rotation restricting member 500.

[0012] The laser irradiation unit 110 is capable of irradiating the workpiece W with a laser beam L. In this embodiment, the laser irradiation unit 110 irradiates the workpiece W with the laser beam L so that the irradiation direction of the laser beam L is perpendicular to the workpiece W. However, the irradiation direction of the laser beam L does not have to be perpendicular to the workpiece W.

[0013] 3, the workpiece W has a first member W1 and a second member W2 disposed on the first member W1. In this embodiment, a resin member is used as the first member W1, and a metal member is used as the second member W2. However, the members W1 and W2 are not limited to this.

[0014] The forearm 120 is provided in front of the laser irradiation unit 110 in the movement direction of the laser irradiation unit 110. The forearm 120 has a shape that extends in a direction parallel to the irradiation direction of the laser L from the laser irradiation unit 110.

[0015] The rear arm 130 is provided behind the laser irradiation unit 110 in the movement direction of the laser irradiation unit 110. The rear arm 130 has a shape that extends in a direction parallel to the front arm 120.

[0016] The front biasing member 200 is provided in front of the laser irradiation unit 110 in the movement direction of the laser irradiation unit 110 relative to the workpiece W. Specifically, the front biasing member 200 is connected to the front arm 120. The front biasing member 200 is capable of applying a biasing force to the workpiece W. The front biasing member 200 has a front moving body 210, a front support body 220, and a front biasing unit 230.

[0017] The front moving body 210 is capable of moving in the movement direction relative to the workpiece W while contacting the workpiece W. In this embodiment, a roller is used as the front moving body 210. The front moving body 210 is made of, for example, metal.

[0018] The front support 220 supports the front moving body 210. The front support 220 is made of, for example, metal. Details of the front support 220 will be described later.

[0019] The front biasing unit 230 biases the front support 220 so that a biasing force acts from the front moving body 210 on the workpiece W via the front support 220. The front biasing unit 230 biases the front support 220 in the same direction as the irradiation direction of the laser L by the laser irradiation unit 110. However, the biasing direction by the front biasing unit 230 may intersect with the irradiation direction of the laser L.

[0020] In this embodiment, the forward urging portion 230 is configured as a gas damper. As shown in Fig. 3, the forward urging portion 230 has a cylinder 232 formed in a cylindrical shape, and a rod 234 that is displaceable relative to the cylinder 232 in the axial direction of the cylinder 232 (the up-and-down direction in Fig. 3). The rod 234 is rotatable relative to the cylinder 232 about the central axis of the cylinder 232. However, the configuration of the forward urging portion 230 is not limited to this. The urging force of the forward urging portion 230 may be configured to be changeable.

[0021] 3, the front biasing portion 230 has a front tip portion 236 formed at the tip in the biasing direction of the front biasing portion 230, and a rear end portion 238 formed at the rear end in the biasing direction. The front tip portion 236 is formed by the tip (lower end) of the rod 234. The rear end portion 238 is formed by the upper end of the cylinder 232. The front tip portion 236 is fixed to the front support 220 so as not to rotate relative to the front support 220. The rear end portion 238 is fixed to the forearm 120 so as not to rotate relative to the forearm 120.

[0022] Here, a description will be given of the front support body 220. As shown in FIG.

[0023] The front connection portion 222 is connectable to the front tip portion 236. The front connection portion 222 has an inner circumferential surface that can receive the front tip portion 236. In this embodiment, the inner circumferential surface is in surface contact with the outer circumferential surface of the front tip portion 236. More specifically, the front tip portion 236 is press-fitted into the front connection portion 222. That is, the front connection portion 222 restrains the front tip portion 236 so as to restrict the front tip portion 236 from tilting in a direction intersecting the biasing direction. With the inner circumferential surface in surface contact with the outer circumferential surface of the front tip portion 236, the front tip portion 236 is connected to the front connection portion 222 by the pin 228.

[0024] The front support part 224 supports the front moving body 210. The front support part 224 supports the front moving body 210 from both sides in directions perpendicular to both the movement direction and the biasing direction of the front biasing part 230. The front support part 224 supports the front moving body 210 between the front connection part 222 and a portion of the workpiece W that is irradiated with the laser L by the laser irradiation part 110 (hereinafter referred to as the "irradiation point P1"). More specifically, as shown in FIG. 3 , the front support part 224 supports the front moving body 210 so that the biasing force of the front biasing part 230 acts on an intermediate part P3 of the workpiece W via the front moving body 210. The intermediate part P3 is a part of the workpiece W between the irradiation point P1 and an intersection point P2 between an extension of the biasing direction of the front biasing part 230 and the surface of the workpiece W. That is, the front support portion 224 supports the front moving body 210 so that the biasing force of the front biasing portion 230 acts on a portion of the workpiece W that is closer to the irradiation point P1 than the intersection point P2. This increases the adhesion between the portions of the first member W1 and the second member W2 near the irradiation point P1.

[0025] The front connecting portion 226 connects the front connecting portion 222 and the front support portion 224. The front connecting portion 226 has a shape that extends parallel to the movement direction.

[0026] The rear biasing member 300 is provided behind the laser irradiation unit 110 in the movement direction of the laser irradiation unit 110 relative to the workpiece W. Specifically, the rear biasing member 300 is connected to the rear arm 130. The rear biasing member 300 has a configuration symmetrical to the front biasing member 200 with respect to a plane that is perpendicular to the movement direction of the laser irradiation unit 110 and passes through the irradiation point P1 as a reference plane. For this reason, the description of the rear biasing member 300 will be simplified.

[0027] That is, the rear biasing member 300 has a rear moving body 310, a rear support body 320, and a rear biasing part 330. The rear support body 320 has a rear connecting part 322 connected to a rear tip part 336 formed by the tip of a rod 334 in the rear biasing part 330, a rear support part 324 that supports the rear moving body 310, and a rear connecting part 326. The rear biasing part 330 has a cylinder 332 and a rod 334.

[0028] The front protective cover 420 protects the front biasing unit 230 from the laser L. In this embodiment, the front protective cover 420 has a shape that protects the rod 234 from the laser L. However, the front protective cover 420 may be formed in a shape that protects both the rod 234 and the cylinder 232. The front protective cover 420 is made of metal or the like. The front protective cover 420 is fixed to the front support 220. The front protective cover 420 has an opposing wall 422 that faces the laser L and a pair of side walls 424 connected to the opposing wall 422. The pair of side walls 424 face each other in directions perpendicular to both the axial direction of the rod 234 and the movement direction. Note that the front protective cover 420 and the rear protective cover 430 are not shown in FIG. 3.

[0029] The rear protective cover 430 protects the rear biasing portion 330 from the laser L. The rear protective cover 430 has a configuration symmetrical to the front protective cover 420 with respect to the reference plane. Therefore, the description of the rear protective cover 430 will be simplified. That is, the rear protective cover 430 has an opposing wall 432 and a pair of side walls 434.

[0030] The rotation restricting member 500 restricts the front biasing member 200 from rotating about a rotation axis in the biasing direction of the front biasing member 200, and restricts the rear biasing member 300 from rotating about a rotation axis in the biasing direction of the rear biasing member 300. Specifically, the rotation restricting member 500 restricts the front moving body 210 from rotating about a rotation axis in the biasing direction of the front biasing portion 230, and restricts the rear moving body 310 from rotating about a rotation axis in the biasing direction of the rear biasing portion 330. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 , the rotation restricting member 500 has a connecting member 510, a front restricting member 520, and a rear restricting member 530.

[0031] The connecting member 510 connects the front support 220 and the rear support 320 to each other. In this embodiment, the connecting member 510 connects the front support part 224 to the rear support part 324. It is sufficient that the connecting member 510 connects a part of the front support 220 below the front support part 224 to a part of the rear support 320 below the rear support part 324. The connecting member 510 is made of, for example, metal. The connecting member 510 may be formed in a shape that extends linearly along the movement direction. The connecting member 510 has a front end part 512, a rear end part 514, and an intermediate part 516.

[0032] The front end 512 is an end of the connecting member 510 formed at the front in the movement direction. The front end 512 is fixed to the front support 220 so as to be rotatable relative to the front support 220 and displaceable relative to the front support 220 in the movement direction. As shown in FIG. 4, the front end 512 is fixed to the front support part 224 by a pin 518. A guide groove 512a is formed in the front end 512. The guide groove 512a has a shape that extends in a direction parallel to the movement direction. In this embodiment, the guide groove 512a is configured as a slit that extends rearward from the tip of the connecting member 510 in the movement direction. The pin 518 is attached within this guide groove 512a.

[0033] The rear end portion 514 is an end portion of the connecting member 510 formed on the rear side in the movement direction. The rear end portion 514 is fixed to the rear support body 320 so as to be rotatable relative to the rear support body 320. As shown in FIG. 4 , the rear end portion 514 is fixed to the rear support part 324 by a pin 519.

[0034] The intermediate portion 516 connects the front end portion 512 and the rear end portion 514. The intermediate portion 516 has a shape that extends linearly along the movement direction.

[0035] The front restricting member 520 connects the front arm 120 and the front support 220 so as to restrict the relative rotation of the front support 220 with respect to the front arm 120, with the biasing direction of the front biasing portion 230 as the rotation axis. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 , the front restricting member 520 has a front plate portion 522 and a front fixing portion 524.

[0036] The front plate portion 522 is located in front of the forearm 120 in the movement direction. The front plate portion 522 is fixed to the forearm 120. The front plate portion 522 is formed in the shape of a flat plate extending from the forearm 120 to the front support body 220.

[0037] The front fixing part 524 is fixed to the front support body 220. The front fixing part 524 is connected to the lower end of the front plate part 522. The front fixing part 524 is located on one side of the front connecting part 222 in a direction perpendicular to both the biasing direction by the front biasing part 230 and the movement direction. The front fixing part 524 is fixed to the front connecting part 222. For example, the front plate part 522 and the front fixing part 524 are formed by bending a single metal plate.

[0038] The rear restricting member 530 connects the rear arm 130 and the rear support 320 so as to restrict the relative rotation of the rear support 320 with respect to the rear arm 130 around the direction of biasing by the rear biasing portion 330 as the rotation axis.

[0039] The rear restricting member 530 has a configuration symmetrical to the front restricting member 520 with respect to the reference plane. That is, the rear restricting member 530 has a rear plate portion 532 fixed to the rear arm 130, and a rear fixing portion 534 connected to the lower end of the rear plate portion 532 and fixed to the rear connecting portion 322.

[0040] As described above, the laser welding apparatus 1 of this embodiment is provided with a rotation restriction member 500 that restricts the rotation of the front moving body 210 and the rear moving body 310, thereby restricting the rotation of each moving body 210, 310 around the biasing direction of each biasing portion 230, 330 as the rotation axis.

[0041] In the above embodiment, the front connecting portion 226 may have a shape that extends in a direction that intersects with the biasing direction of the front biasing portion 230, rather than in a direction that is perpendicular to the biasing direction (parallel to the movement direction). This also applies to the rear connecting portion 326.

[0042] Furthermore, the arrangement of the cylinder 232 and the rod 234 in the front biasing portion 230 may be reversed. This also applies to the rear biasing portion 330.

[0043] Moreover, the front restriction member 520 and the rear restriction member 530 may be omitted.

[0044] It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the exemplary embodiments described above are examples of the following aspects.

[0045] A laser welding apparatus according to one aspect of the disclosure includes a laser irradiation unit capable of irradiating a laser onto a workpiece and movable relative to the workpiece; a front urging member provided in front of the laser irradiation unit in a movement direction of the laser irradiation unit relative to the workpiece and capable of applying a urging force to the workpiece; a rear urging member provided behind the laser irradiation unit in the movement direction and urging the workpiece; and a rotation restricting member that restricts the front urging member from rotating about a rotation axis in the urging direction of the front urging member and the rear urging member from rotating about a rotation axis in the urging direction of the rear urging member, The rear biasing member has a rear moving body that can move in the movement direction relative to the workpiece while abutting against the workpiece, a rear support that supports the rear moving body, and a rear biasing part that biases the rear support so that the biasing force acts from the rear moving body to the workpiece via the rear support, and the rotation restricting member restricts the rotation of the front moving body around the biasing direction by the front biasing part as a rotation axis, and restricts the rotation of the rear moving body around the biasing direction by the rear biasing part as a rotation axis.

[0046] This laser welding device is equipped with a rotation restriction member that restricts the rotation of the forward moving body and the rearward moving body, thereby preventing each moving body from rotating around the biasing direction of each biasing member as its rotation axis.

[0047] Preferably, the rotation restricting member includes a connecting member that connects the front support body and the rear support body to each other.

[0048] In this way, the rotation of the front moving body and the rear moving body is effectively restricted.

[0049] Furthermore, it is preferable that the connecting member has a front end portion fixed to the front support body so as to be rotatable relative to the front support body and displaceable relative to the movement direction, and a rear end portion fixed to the rear support body so as to be rotatable relative to the rear support body.

[0050] In this embodiment, for example, the length of the front biasing portion relative to the length of the rear biasing portion can accommodate changes.

[0051] The front biasing portion has a front tip portion formed at the tip in the biasing direction of the front biasing portion, and the rear biasing portion has a rear tip portion formed at the tip in the biasing direction of the rear biasing portion. It is preferable that the front support body has a front connection portion connectable to the front tip portion and a front support portion that supports the front moving body between the front connection portion and a portion of the workpiece that is irradiated with a laser by the laser irradiation portion, and it is preferable that the rear support body has a rear connection portion connectable to the rear tip portion and a rear support portion that supports the rear moving body between the portion of the workpiece that is irradiated with a laser by the laser irradiation portion and the rear connection portion.

[0052] In this embodiment, since the front support has a front support portion and the rear support has a rear support portion, the movable bodies bias the portion of the workpiece near the portion irradiated with the laser. This makes it possible to bias the portion of the workpiece near the irradiation point with the movable bodies while ensuring the distance between each biasing portion and the laser. This achieves both suppression of damage to each biasing portion due to the heat of the laser and suppression of poor welding.

[0053] Furthermore, it is preferable that the connecting member connects the front support portion and the rear support portion.

[0054] In this way, the connecting member can be made smaller, and the rigidity of the connecting member can be ensured.

[0055] The laser welding device may further include a front arm provided in front of the laser irradiation unit in the movement direction and holding the front biasing unit, and a rear arm provided behind the laser irradiation unit in the movement direction and holding the rear biasing unit. In this case, the rotation restricting member may include a front restricting member that connects the front arm and the front support so as to restrict relative rotation of the front support with respect to the forearm around a rotation axis that is the biasing direction of the front biasing unit, and a rear restricting member that connects the rear arm and the rear support so as to restrict relative rotation of the rear support with respect to the rear arm around a rotation axis that is the biasing direction of the rear biasing unit.

[0056] In this aspect, the relative rotation of the forward moving body with respect to the forward arm, with the biasing direction of the forward biasing portion as the rotation axis, and the relative rotation of the rear moving body with respect to the rear arm, with the biasing direction of the rear biasing portion as the rotation axis, are restricted.

[0057] It should be noted that the embodiments disclosed herein are illustrative in all respects and should not be considered limiting. The scope of the present invention is defined by the claims, not by the description of the above embodiments, and further includes all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0058] 1 laser welding device, 110 laser irradiation unit, 120 front arm, 130 rear arm, 200 front biasing member, 210 front moving body, 220 front support, 222 front connection portion, 224 front support portion, 226 front coupling portion, 230 front biasing portion, 232 cylinder, 234 rod, 236 front tip portion, 300 rear biasing member, 310 rear moving body, 320 rear support, 322 rear connection portion, 324 rear support portion, 326 rear coupling portion, 330 rear biasing portion, 332 cylinder, 334 rod, 336 rear tip portion, 420 front protective cover, 430 rear protective cover, 500 rotation restricting member, 510 coupling member, 512 front end portion, 514 rear end portion, 516 intermediate portion, 520 front restricting member, 530 Rear regulating member, W work, W1 first member, W2 second member.

Claims

1. a laser irradiation unit capable of irradiating a laser onto a workpiece and movable relative to the workpiece; a forward biasing member that is provided in front of the laser irradiation unit in a movement direction of the laser irradiation unit relative to the workpiece and that can apply a biasing force to the workpiece; a rearward biasing member that is provided behind the laser irradiation unit in the movement direction and biases the workpiece; a rotation restricting member that restricts the front biasing member from rotating around a rotation axis in the biasing direction of the front biasing member and the rear biasing member from rotating around a rotation axis in the biasing direction of the rear biasing member, The forward biasing member is a forward moving body that is movable in the movement direction relative to the workpiece while contacting the workpiece; a front support body that supports the front moving body; a front biasing portion that biases the front support so that the biasing force acts from the front moving body to the workpiece via the front support, The rear biasing member is a rear moving body that is movable in the movement direction relative to the workpiece while contacting the workpiece; a rear support body that supports the rear moving body; a rear biasing portion that biases the rear support body so that the biasing force acts on the workpiece from the rear moving body via the rear support body, the rotation restricting member restricts the front moving body from rotating around a rotation axis in the biasing direction of the front biasing portion, and restricts the rear moving body from rotating around a rotation axis in the biasing direction of the rear biasing portion, The rotation restricting member includes a connecting member that connects the front support body and the rear support body to each other.

2. The connecting member is a front end portion fixed to the front support body so as to be rotatable relative to the front support body and displaceable relative to the front support body in the movement direction; 2. The laser welding apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a rear end fixed to the rear support so as to be rotatable relative to the rear support.

3. the forward biasing portion has a front tip portion formed at a tip in a biasing direction by the forward biasing portion, the rear biasing portion has a rear tip portion formed at a tip in a biasing direction by the rear biasing portion, The front support includes: a front connection portion connectable to the front tip portion; a front support portion for supporting the front moving body between a portion of the workpiece to be irradiated with a laser by the laser irradiation portion and the front connection portion, The rear support is a rear connection portion connectable to the rear tip portion; a rear support portion for supporting the rear moving body between a portion of the workpiece to be irradiated with a laser by the laser irradiation portion and the rear connection portion, The laser welding device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the connecting member connects the front support portion and the rear support portion.

4. a front arm that is provided in front of the laser irradiation unit in the movement direction and that holds the front biasing unit; a rear arm that is provided behind the laser irradiation unit in the movement direction and that holds the rear biasing unit, The rotation restricting member is a front restricting member that connects the front arm and the front support so as to restrict relative rotation of the front support with respect to the front arm about a rotation axis that corresponds to the biasing direction of the front biasing portion; 4. The laser welding device according to claim 1, further comprising: a rear regulating member that connects the rear arm and the rear support so as to regulate relative rotation of the rear support with respect to the rear arm around a rotation axis that corresponds to the urging direction of the rear urging portion.

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