Electrode replacement device and electrode replacement method

Abstract

To efficiently execute exchange and polishing of an electrode.SOLUTION: An electrode exchange device 1000 includes a moving device 10 capable of moving an electrode 5 to a plurality of positions, a polishing device 2 for polishing the electrode, and a control device 100. The control device 100 moves the used electrode 5 removed from a weld torch 4 at a position P1 to a position P2 using the moving device 10, polishes the used electrode 5 at the second position using the polishing device 2, moves the polished electrode 5 polished by the polishing device 2 from the position P2 to a position P3 using the moving device 10, and inserts the polished electrode 5 into the weld torch 4 at the position P3.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an electrode replacement device and an electrode replacement method. [Background technology]

[0002] Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 5-285654 (Patent Document 1) discloses a welding robot with a welding torch attached to the tip of an arm. The welding robot in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 5-285654 (Patent Document 1) fixes an electrode to the tip of the welding torch and automatically replaces the electrode when it is worn out during welding work. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 5-285654 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The welding robot of JP 5-285654 A (Patent Document 1) is provided with separate electrode replacement jigs, one for used electrodes and one for new electrodes. Each electrode replacement jig is set with multiple electrodes. The welding robot of JP 5-285654 A (Patent Document 1) is also provided with a grinding device for grinding used electrodes at a position separate from each electrode replacement jig.

[0005] However, in a device such as that disclosed in Patent Publication No. 5-285654 (Patent Document 1), a polishing device for polishing used electrodes is provided in a location separate from each electrode replacement jig in which multiple electrodes are set, making it difficult to smoothly replace and polish the electrodes.

[0006] The present disclosure has been made to solve the above problems, and its purpose is to provide an electrode replacement device and an electrode replacement method that can efficiently perform electrode replacement and polishing. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The present disclosure relates to an electrode replacement device for replacing an electrode installed at the tip of a welding torch. The electrode replacement device includes a moving device capable of moving the electrode to multiple positions, a grinding device for grinding the electrode, and a control device. The control device moves a used electrode removed from the welding torch at a first position to a second position using the moving device, grinds the used electrode at the second position using the grinding device, moves the ground electrode ground by the grinding device from the second position to a third position using the moving device, and inserts the ground electrode into the welding torch at the third position.

[0008] Preferably, the apparatus includes a first jig and a second jig, each having a mechanism for clamping the electrode. Preferably, the device further includes a detection device that detects the length of the electrode. If the length of the electrode detected by the detection device is equal to or greater than a reference value, the control device moves the electrode from the first position to the second position, and if the length of the electrode detected by the detection device is less than the reference value, the control device moves the electrode from the first position to a fourth position for electrode recovery.

[0009] Preferably, the device further comprises an electrode moving device that supports the electrode and moves the electrode in the axial direction of the electrode.

[0010] The present disclosure relates to an electrode replacement method for replacing an electrode disposed at the tip of a welding torch, the electrode replacement method comprising the steps of removing a used electrode from the welding torch at a first position, sharpening the used electrode at a second position, and inserting the sharpened electrode into the welding torch at a third position. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] According to the electrode replacement device and electrode replacement method disclosed herein, a used electrode is removed from a welding torch at a first position, the used electrode is ground at a second position, and the ground electrode is inserted into the welding torch at a third position. This makes it possible to ground the electrode during the electrode replacement process, thereby enabling efficient electrode replacement and grinding. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] 1 is a plan view of an electrode replacement device according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] 1 is a front view of an electrode replacement device according to a first embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the structure of a jig. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the flow of electrode replacement. [Figure 5] 10 is a flowchart showing an electrode replacement process. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a plan view of the electrode replacement device according to the second embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 11 is a plan view of an electrode replacement device according to a third embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a plan view of an electrode replacement device according to a fourth embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same or corresponding parts are designated by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will not be repeated.

[0014] [Embodiment 1] 1 is a plan view of an embodiment of an electrode replacement device 1000. When the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis are defined as shown in FIG. 1, the X-axis direction is the left-right direction of the electrode replacement device 1000, the Y-axis direction is the front-rear direction of the electrode replacement device 1000, and the Z-axis direction is the up-down direction of the electrode replacement device 1000.

[0015] As shown in FIG. 1, the electrode replacement device 1000 includes an electrode replacement mechanism 1, a grinding device 2, and a control device 100. The electrode replacement device 1000 is a device for replacing and grinding an electrode 5 (described later) that has been worn down by, for example, TIG (Tungsten Inert Gas) welding. In TIG welding, the tip of the electrode 5 wears down as the welding operation is repeated, so the electrode 5 needs to be replaced midway through welding. The tip of the electrode 5 gradually becomes rounded due to wear and is also worn down due to deposition adhering to the tip of the electrode 5 during welding. The electrode replacement device 1000 efficiently and automatically replaces and grinds used electrodes 5.

[0016] The electrode replacement mechanism 1 and the grinding device 2 are fixed to a base 3. The electrode replacement mechanism 1 is a mechanism for moving and replacing the electrode 5. The grinding device 2 is a device for grinding the used electrode 5 that has been worn down by TIG welding. The electrode replacement mechanism 1 includes a moving device 10 and a fixing device 30.

[0017] The moving device 10 includes a jig 11, a moving table 13, a shaft 14, a main body 15, and a motor 16. The jig 11 has a clamping mechanism that can grip and release the electrode 5. The moving table 13 is in the form of a rectangular plate with chamfered corners, and the jig 11 is fixed to both ends in the longitudinal direction. The moving table 13 is rotatably fixed to the upper end of a shaft 14 extending from the main body 15. The motor 16 is a motor for rotating the moving table 13 via the shaft 14. The motor portion may be any mechanism as long as it is a driving mechanism. For example, a mechanism such as an air cylinder may be used instead of a motor.

[0018] The fixing device 30 includes a motor 31 and a support base 33 that supports the motor 31. The fixing devices 30 are arranged one on each side of the shaft portion 14 in the negative direction and the positive direction of the X axis, and the support bases 33 are fixed to the base 3. The motor 31 is a motor that fixes the electrode 5 to the jig 11 and operates to remove the fixed electrode 5 from the jig 11. The method of fixing the electrode 5 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 3.

[0019] The position where jig 11 is in contact with fixing device 30 in the negative direction of the X-axis as viewed from shaft 14 shown in FIG. 1 is defined as position P1, and the position where jig 11 is in contact with fixing device 30 in the positive direction of the X-axis as viewed from shaft 14 is defined as position P3. Position P1 is a removal position for removing a used electrode 5 from welding torch 4, which will be described later. Position P3 is an insertion position for inserting a ground electrode 5 into welding torch 4. Jig 11 can be moved between positions P1 and P3 by the operation of moving device 10.

[0020] A detector 17 is fixed to the fixing device 30 disposed on the position P1 side. The detector 17 is a device for detecting the length of the electrode 5. The detector 17 is, for example, a reflective photosensor. A reflective photosensor shines light from a light-emitting element on the electrode 5 and detects the reflected light with a light-receiving element. The detector 17, for example, irradiates light toward the upper surface of the jig 11 and, if it receives reflected light, detects that the length of the electrode 5 is equal to or greater than a reference value, and, if it does not reflect light, detects that the length of the electrode 5 is less than the reference value. The detector may be a photosensor such as a transmission photosensor or a separate photosensor, or any other sensor capable of detecting the length of the electrode 5.

[0021] The polishing device 2 includes a polishing unit 21, a motor 22, and a motor 23. The polishing unit 21 is composed of a polishing belt for polishing the electrode 5. The motor 22 is a motor for rotating the jig 11 to which the electrode 5 is fixed. The motor 23 is a motor for rotating the polishing belt provided in the polishing unit 21.

[0022] The control device 100 is configured to include a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 101, a memory 102 (ROM (Read Only Memory) and RAM (Random Access Memory)), and input / output ports for inputting and outputting various signals. The CPU 101 of the control device 100 loads a program stored in the ROM into the RAM or the like and executes it. The program stored in the ROM is a program in which the processing procedures of the control device 100 are written. The control device 100 controls each device in accordance with these programs. This control is not limited to software processing, but can also be processed by dedicated hardware (electronic circuits). The control device 100 transmits control signals to each motor, for example, and receives signals from the detection device 17.

[0023] FIG. 2 is a front view of electrode replacement device 1000 according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 shows a front view of electrode replacement device 1000 from the Y-axis direction. As shown in FIG. 2, a welding torch 4 is attached to the tip of an arm of a welding robot (not shown). Welding torch 4 includes a torch body 41, a torch head 42, and a wire guide 43. In welding torch 4, an electrode 5 is fixed to the tip of torch head 42 extending from torch body 41. In welding torch 4, a welding wire passing through wire guide 43 is paid out during welding. Electrode 5 is clamped inside torch head 42 by a clamping unit formed of a collet (not shown). In TIG welding, an arc is generated between tungsten electrode 5 and a base metal, and the generated heat melts and joins the base metal and welding wire.

[0024] In the electrode replacement device 1000, lifting devices 18 are arranged on both sides of the main body 15 of the moving device 10 when viewed from the front. The lifting devices 18 have a piston mechanism, and a piston rod 18a extends from a cylinder body. A pin 18b is connected to the tip of the piston rod 18a. The control device 100 drives a motor (not shown) to control the piston mechanism, thereby moving the piston rod 18a and pin 18b up and down in the Z-axis direction. Note that a driving mechanism such as an air cylinder may be used instead of a motor. The lifting devices 18 function as an electrode moving device that supports the electrode 5 and moves the electrode 5 in the axial direction of the electrode 5 (extension direction, Z-axis direction).

[0025] 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the moving device 10, the jig 11, and a portion of the fixing device 30. Position P1 in FIG. 2 shows the state in which a used electrode 5 is being removed from the welding torch 4 that has been moved to position P1 in the electrode replacing device 1000. Pin 18b of the lifting device 18 passes through the inside of the jig 11 and rises to a position where it supports the electrode 5 at the tip of the torch head 42. The jig 11 includes an electrode fixing portion 11b and a jig rotating portion 11a. Pin 18b passes through the inside of the electrode fixing portion 11b and the jig rotating portion 11a and protrudes above the jig 11.

[0026] The electrode fixing portion 11b is a member for fixing the electrode 5 to the jig 11. The jig rotation portion 11a is a member for rotating the jig 11. The fixing device 30 includes a gear 32 disposed between the support base 33 and the motor 31. The control device 100 drives the motor 31 to rotate the gear 32, thereby transmitting power to the electrode fixing portion 11b and fixing the electrode 5. The method for fixing the electrode 5 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 3.

[0027] Position P3 in Figure 2 shows the welding torch 4 moved to position P3 in electrode replacement device 1000, indicated by a dashed line, and illustrates the state when a ground electrode 5 is inserted into the welding torch 4. At position P3, the electrode protruding downward from jig 11 is supported by the tip of pin 18b. When inserting electrode 5 into welding torch 4, gear 32 is rotated so that electrode fixing portion 11b rotates in the reverse direction, thereby releasing the clamp on electrode 5. This allows electrode 5 supported by the tip of pin 18b to move toward welding torch 4 by the operation of lifting device 18.

[0028] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the structure of the jig 11. As shown in FIG. 3, the jig 11 includes an electrode fixing portion 11b, a jig rotating portion 11a, a chuck 11d, a bearing 11e, and an attachment portion 11f. The jig 11 is fixed to the movable stage 13 with a bolt 19 via a connecting portion 11g. The electrode fixing portion 11b and the jig rotating portion 11a have a gear structure with teeth formed in the circumferential direction. In the jig 11, the control device 100 operates the motor 31 to rotate the gear 32, thereby rotating the electrode fixing portion 11b meshing with the gear 32 and tightening the chuck 11d, thereby clamping the electrode 5 to the jig 11. In the jig 11, the control device 100 operates the motor 31 to rotate the gear 32 in the reverse direction, thereby rotating the electrode fixing portion 11b meshing with the gear 32 in the reverse direction, thereby loosening the chuck 11d and releasing the clamping of the electrode 5.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 3, when polishing the electrode 5, the control device 100 moves the tip of the electrode 5 to the polishing unit 21, which is composed of a polishing belt. The control device 100 polishes the tip of the electrode 5 by rotating the polishing belt of the polishing unit 21. The control device 100 engages the jig rotation unit 11a with a gear (not shown) provided in the polishing device 2, and rotates the gear to rotate the jig rotation unit 11a. By rotating the jig rotation unit 11a, the entire circumference of the electrode 5 can be polished uniformly.

[0030] 4A and 4B are diagrams for explaining the flow of replacing the electrode 5. In the electrode replacing device 1000, the moving device 10 operates in the order of Fig. 4A to Fig. 4F. In the state of Fig. 4A, there is no electrode 5 in the jig 11 at position P1, and a ground (post-ground) electrode 5 is inserted in the jig 11 at position P3.

[0031] The state in Figure 4(b) is a state in which the welding torch 4 has moved from the state in Figure 4(a) to position P1, the electrode 5 has been removed from the welding torch 4, and the used (before grinding) electrode 5 has been fixed to the jig 11. The state in Figure 4(c) is a state in which the welding torch 4 has moved from the state in Figure 4(b) to position P3, the ground electrode 5 has been inserted into the welding torch 4, and the electrode 5 has been removed from the jig 11 at position P3.

[0032] The state shown in Fig. 4(d) is a state in which the moving device 10 operates from the state shown in Fig. 4(c) and the moving table 13 rotates around the shaft 14, moving the jig 11 from position P1 to position P2. The state shown in Fig. 4(e) is a state in which the polishing device 2 operates from the state shown in Fig. 4(d) and the electrode 5 at position P2 has been polished.

[0033] The state shown in Figure 4(f) is a state in which the jig 11 at position P2 has moved to position P3 as a result of the movement device 10 operating from the state shown in Figure 4(e) and the movement table 13 rotating about the shaft 14. In Figure 4(f), the jig 11, which was originally at position P3, has moved to position P1, returning to the state shown in Figure 4(a) where there is no electrode 5 in the jig 11 at position P1 and the polished electrode 5 is inserted in the jig 11 at position P3. Thereafter, the changes in the states shown in Figures 4(a) to 4(f) are repeated until the length of the electrode 5 becomes less than the reference value.

[0034] In the first operation, the electrode 5 before polishing is set at position P1, and when there is no electrode 5 at position P3, the state can be changed to one of the states shown in Figures 4(a) to (f), so that the electrode 5 after polishing is set at position P3. When the length of the electrode 5 becomes less than the reference value, the electrode 5 is collected at the collection position. The collection position can be set at any position, but it is preferable to set the position P4 before polishing in the polishing device 2 as the collection position, as shown in Figure 4(c). This reduces unnecessary polishing work. The collection position may be the same position as the electrode 5 removal position, such as position P1, or the electrode 5 polishing position, such as position P2.

[0035] 5 is a flowchart showing the electrode replacement process. The process of the flowchart in FIG. 5 is repeatedly called as a subroutine from the main routine in the control of the control device 100 and executed.

[0036] First, in step S1 (hereinafter simply referred to as "S"), the control device 100 determines whether a certain amount of time has elapsed since the start of welding. The certain amount of time is a predetermined amount of time that takes into consideration the wear of the electrode due to welding. Note that the control device 100 may determine in S1 that the electrode has been worn based on factors other than the elapse of time, such as the rotation speed and the welding current value. If the control device 100 determines that the certain amount of time has not elapsed since the start of welding (NO in S1), it returns to S1. If the control device 100 determines that the certain amount of time has elapsed since the start of welding (YES in S1), it proceeds to processing in S2. After the certain amount of time has elapsed, the control device of the robot that controls the welding torch 4 moves the welding torch 4 to the removal position.

[0037] The control device 100 operates the lifting device 18 at the removal position to raise the pin 18b to directly below the electrode 5 (S2). At this point, the robot's control device releases the clamp portion of the welding torch 4, causing the used electrode 5 to lower from the welding torch 4 by its own weight and be supported on the pin 18b. The control device 100 controls the lifting device 18 to lower the pin 18b to a predetermined specified position (S3).

[0038] Next, the control device 100 closes the chuck 11d of the jig 11 and clamps the electrode 5 to the jig 11 (S4). Next, the control device 100 detects the length of the electrode 5 by receiving a signal from the detection device 17 (S5). Next, the control device 100 determines whether the length of the electrode 5 is equal to or greater than a predetermined value (S6).

[0039] If the control device 100 determines in S6 that the length of the electrode 5 is equal to or greater than the reference value (YES in S6), it operates the lifting device 18 at the supply position to raise the pin 18b to directly below the electrode 5 (S7). Next, the control device 100 releases the chuck 11d of the jig 11 to release the clamp on the electrode 5 (S8). Here, by releasing the chuck 11d of the jig 11, the used electrode 5 drops from the jig 11 due to its own weight and is supported on the pin 18b.

[0040] Next, the control device 100 controls the lifting device 18 at the supply position to raise the pin 18b and move the electrode 5 to a predetermined protruding position of the welding torch 4 (S9). The protruding position is a position where the electrode 5 protruding from the welding torch 4 is fixed at a length suitable for welding. After the processing of S9, the robot's control device closes the clamping portion of the welding torch 4 to clamp the electrode 5 to the welding torch 4, and moves the welding torch 4 to the welding position.

[0041] Next, the control device 100 rotates the movable table 13 to move the jig 11 from position P1 to position P2, which is the polishing position (S10). Next, the control device 100 performs polishing of the electrode 5 by the polishing device 2 at position P2 (S11). Next, the control device 100 moves the jig 11 from position P2 to position P3, which is the supply position (S12), and returns the process from the subroutine to the main routine.

[0042] On the other hand, if the control device 100 determines in S6 that the length of the electrode 5 is less than the reference value (NO in S6), it moves the jig 11 to a collection position (S13). Next, the control device 100 opens the chuck 11d of the jig 11 to release the clamp on the electrode 5 (S14). As a result, the electrode 5 that is less than the reference value falls under its own weight and is collected in a collection box or the like.

[0043] Next, the control device 100 moves the jig 11 to position P3, which is a supply position (S15). Next, the control device 100 determines whether the ground (polished) electrode 5 has been inserted into the jig 11 (S16). When the control device 100 determines that the ground electrode 5 has been inserted into the jig 11 (YES in S16), the process returns from the subroutine to the main routine.

[0044] If the control device 100 determines that the electrode 5 after polishing is not inserted into the jig 11 (NO in S16), it notifies the user that the electrode 5 is not inserted into the jig 11 (S17) and returns the process to S16. The control device 100 notifies the user that the electrode 5 is not inserted into the jig 11, for example, by sound or by displaying a message on the screen. Note that the determination in S16 may be made by detecting the presence or absence of the electrode 5 using a sensor such as an image sensor.

[0045] 5, the electrode replacement device 1000 can remove a used electrode 5 at a first position, which is a removal position, and can insert a ground electrode 5 into the welding torch 4 from a third position, which is a supply position. Furthermore, the electrode replacement device 1000 moves the used electrode 5 from the first position to a second position, which is a grinding position, grinds the electrode 5, and then moves the electrode 5 to the third position. This makes it possible for the electrode replacement device 1000 to grind the electrode 5 during the process of replacing the electrode 5, and allows for efficient replacement and grinding of the electrode 5.

[0046] 5 until the length of the electrode 5 becomes less than the reference value, the electrode replacement device 1000 can reduce the time during which work cannot be performed in the welding process. In addition, the electrode 5 can be ground during the process of replacing the electrode 5, allowing the replacement and grinding of the electrode 5 to be performed efficiently.

[0047] [Embodiment 2] 6 is a plan view of an electrode replacement device 1000A in embodiment 2. The electrode replacement device 1000A in embodiment 2 differs from the electrode replacement device 1000 in embodiment 1 in that a movement device 10A moves in a parallel direction rather than in a rotational direction.

[0048] As shown in FIG. 6, in electrode replacement device 1000A, moving table 13 moves between the positive and negative directions of the X-axis due to the operation of moving device 10A. Specific operations of electrode replacement device 1000A executed by control device 100 will be described. Assume that a ground electrode 5 has been inserted into electrode replacement device 1000A at position P3 in advance. Control device 100 removes the used electrode 5 from welding torch 4 at position P1. After welding torch 4 moves to position P3 where the ground electrode 5 is inserted, control device 100 inserts the electrode 5 from jig 11 at position P3 into welding torch 4.

[0049] Control device 100 moves jig 11, to which used electrode 5 is clamped, from position P1 to position P2, and polishes electrode 5 at position P2. After electrode 5 has been polished, control device 100 moves jig 11 from position P2 to position P1 and waits until welding torch 4 arrives. After welding torch 4 moves to position P3 at the timing of electrode 5 replacement, control device 100 removes used electrode 5 from welding torch 4 at position P3. The subsequent processing corresponds to the processing in which the processing at positions P1 and P3 described above is interchanged, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted.

[0050] The electrode replacement device 1000A can polish the electrode 5 in the process of replacing the electrode 5 by moving it in parallel, thereby efficiently replacing and polishing the electrode 5. In the electrode replacement device 1000A, the take-out position and the supply position alternate between positions P1 and P3, so the detection device 17 of embodiment 1 can be placed at each of positions P1 and P3.

[0051] [Embodiment 3] 7 is a plan view of an electrode replacement device 1000B according to embodiment 3. The electrode replacement device 1000B according to embodiment 3 differs from the electrode replacement device 1000 according to embodiment 1 in that four jigs 11 are installed on a moving table 13B of a moving device 10B.

[0052] The specific operation of electrode replacement device 1000B executed by control device 100 will be described. Assume that ground electrodes 5 have been inserted into electrode replacement device 1000B at positions P2 and P3 in advance. Control device 100 removes used electrode 5 from welding torch 4 at position P1. After welding torch 4 moves to position P3 where ground electrode 5 is inserted, control device 100 inserts electrode 5 from jig 11 at position P3 into welding torch 4.

[0053] Control device 100 moves jig 11, to which used electrode 5 is clamped, from position P1 to position P2, and grinds electrode 5 at position P2. At this time, ground electrode 5, which has moved to position P3, waits at position P3. After electrode 5 has been ground at position P2, control device 100 waits until welding torch 4 arrives. After welding torch 4 moves to position P1 at the timing of electrode 5 replacement, control device 100 removes used electrode 5 from welding torch 4 at position P1.

[0054] After the welding torch 4 moves to position P3 where the ground electrode 5 is inserted, the control device 100 inserts the electrode 5 in the jig 11 at position P3 into the welding torch 4. Thereafter, the control device 100 moves the jig 11 in which the used electrode 5 is clamped from position P1 to position P2, and grinds the electrode 5 at position P2. The subsequent processing is the same as the processing when the ground electrode 5 is inserted at positions P2 and P3 described above, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted.

[0055] Here, according to the electrode replacing device 1000B, since a spare ground electrode 5 is set, the spare ground electrode 5 can be used immediately even if the length of the electrode 5 falls below the reference value. This reduces the time during which work cannot be performed in the welding process. In the electrode replacing device 100B, the detection device 17 of the first embodiment may be placed at position P1.

[0056] [Embodiment 4] 8 is a plan view of an electrode exchanging apparatus 1000C according to embodiment 4. The electrode exchanging apparatus 1000C according to embodiment 4 differs from the electrode exchanging apparatus 1000 according to embodiment 1 in that six jigs 11 are installed on a moving stage 13C of a moving device 10C, and in that an inspection device is installed to inspect the state of the electrode 5 after polishing.

[0057] The electrode replacement device 1000C includes inspection devices, a first inspection device 50 and a second inspection device 51. The first inspection device 50 is an inspection device for detecting the angle of the tip of the electrode 5. The second inspection device 51 is an inspection device for measuring the overall length of the electrode 5. It is assumed that polished electrodes 5 are inserted in advance at positions P5 and P6 in the electrode replacement device 1000C.

[0058] A specific operation of electrode replacement device 1000C executed by control device 100 will be described. Control device 100 removes used electrode 5 from welding torch 4 at position P1. After welding torch 4 moves to position P5 where ground electrode 5 is inserted, control device 100 inserts electrode 5 from jig 11 at position P5 into welding torch 4.

[0059] The control device 100 moves the jig 11 in which the used electrode 5 is clamped from position P1 to position P2, and polishes the electrode 5 at position P2. At this time, the polished electrode 5 at position P6 waits at position P1. After the electrode 5 is polished at position P2, the control device 100 moves the jig 11 in which the polished electrode 5 is clamped to position P3. At this time, the polished electrode 5 at position P1 waits at position P2.

[0060] The control device 100 uses the first inspection device 50 at position P3 to determine whether the angle of the tip of the polished electrode 5 satisfies a predetermined specified angle. The first inspection device 50 may be, for example, a device including a camera that captures images and a calculation device that calculates the angle from the captured images.

[0061] Next, the control device 100 moves the jig 11 to which the electrode 5 after angle detection is clamped from position P3 to position P4. At this time, the electrode 5 at position P2 waits at position P3. The control device 100 checks the length of the polished electrode 5 using the second inspection device 51 at position P4. The second inspection device 51 may have the same configuration as the detection device 17 of the first embodiment. Note that the second inspection device 51 may be placed at position P1 before polishing.

[0062] The second inspection device 51 may use a movable reflective photosensor that shines light onto the electrode 5 while moving a light-emitting element from a reference position (for example, the lower end position of the electrode 5) to the upper end position of the electrode 5 extending in the positive direction of the Z axis, and detects the reflected light with a light-receiving element. This allows the second inspection device 51 to measure the total length of the electrode 5 by detecting the reflected light. The second inspection device 51 may also use other types of devices.

[0063] The control device 100 then moves the movable table 13C until the ground electrodes 5 are inserted at positions P5 and P6. According to the electrode replacement device 1000C, because a spare ground electrode 5 is set, the spare ground electrode 5 can be used immediately even if the length of the electrode 5 falls below the reference value. The electrode replacement device 1000C can detect the angle and overall length of the ground electrode 5, and therefore can exclude electrodes that do not meet the required welding quality. This allows the electrode replacement device 1000C to grind the electrode 5 during the electrode replacement process, enabling efficient replacement and grinding of the electrode 5, reducing downtime during the welding process and improving welding quality.

[0064] <Summary> (1) The present disclosure relates to an electrode replacement device 1000 for replacing an electrode 5 installed at the tip of a welding torch 4. The electrode replacement device 1000 includes a moving device 10 capable of moving the electrode 5 to a plurality of positions, a grinding device 2 that grinds the electrode, and a control device 100. The control device 100 uses the moving device 10 to move a used electrode 5 removed from the welding torch 4 at a first position P1 to a second position P2, grinds the used electrode 5 at the second position using the grinding device 2, moves the ground electrode 5 ground by the grinding device 2 from the second position to a third position P3 using the moving device 10, and inserts the ground electrode 5 into the welding torch 4 at the third position.

[0065] (2) In the electrode replacement device 1000 of (1), the moving device 10 includes a jig 11 as a first jig and a jig 11 as a second jig, each having a mechanism for clamping the electrode 5.

[0066] (3) The electrode replacement device 1000 of (1) or (2) further includes a detection device 17 that detects the length of the electrode 5. If the length of the electrode 5 detected by the detection device 17 is equal to or greater than a reference value, the control device 100 moves the electrode 5 from the first position to the second position, and if the length of the electrode detected by the detection device 17 is less than the reference value, the control device 100 moves the electrode 5 from the first position to position P4, which is a fourth position for electrode recovery.

[0067] (4) The electrode replacement device 1000 of any one of (1) to (3) further includes an elevator device 18 as an electrode moving device that supports the electrode 5 and moves the electrode 5 in the axial direction of the electrode 5.

[0068] (5) The present disclosure relates to an electrode replacement method for replacing an electrode 5 disposed at the tip of a welding torch 4. The electrode replacement method includes the steps of removing a used electrode 5 from the welding torch 4 at a first position P1, grinding the used electrode 5 at a second position P2, and inserting the ground electrode 5 into the welding torch 4 at a third position P3.

[0069] According to the electrode replacement device 1000 and electrode replacement method of the present disclosure, a used electrode 5 is removed from a welding torch 4 at a first position, the used electrode 5 is ground at a second position, and the ground electrode is inserted into the welding torch 4 at a third position. This makes it possible to ground the electrode 5 during the process of replacing the electrode 5, and thus the replacement and grinding of the electrode 5 can be carried out efficiently.

[0070] The embodiments disclosed herein should be considered to be illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. The scope of the present disclosure is defined by the claims, not by the description of the above embodiments, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0071] 1 electrode replacement mechanism, 2 grinding device, 3 base, 4 welding torch, 5 electrode, 10, 10A, 10B, 10C moving device, 11 jig, 11a electrode fixing part, 11b jig rotating part, 11d chuck, 11e bearing, 11f mounting part, 11g connecting part, 13, 13B, 13C moving table, 14 shaft part, 15 main body part, 16 moving motor, 17 detection device, 18 lifting device, 18a piston rod, 18b pin, 19 bolt, 21 grinding part, 22 jig rotation motor, 23 grinding motor, 30 fixing device, 31 fixing motor, 32 gear, 33 support base, 41 torch main body part, 42 torch head, 43 wire guide, 50 first inspection device, 51 second inspection device, 100 Control device, 101 CPU, 102 memory, 1000, 1000A, 1000B, 1000C electrode replacement device.

Claims

1. An electrode replacement device for replacing an electrode installed at the tip of a welding torch, a moving device capable of moving the electrode to a plurality of positions; a polishing device for polishing the electrode; a control device; The control device moving the used electrode removed from the welding torch at the first position to a second position using the moving device; polishing the used electrode with the polishing device at the second position; moving the electrode polished by the polishing device from the second position to a third position using the moving device; An electrode changing device that inserts the ground electrode into the welding torch at the third position.

2. The electrode replacing device according to claim 1 , wherein the moving device includes a first jig and a second jig, each having a mechanism for clamping an electrode.

3. Further comprising a detection device for detecting the length of the electrode; The control device If the length of the electrode detected by the detection device is equal to or greater than a reference value, the electrode is moved from the first position to the second position; 3. The electrode replacement device according to claim 1, wherein when the length of the electrode detected by the detection device is less than the reference value, the electrode at the first position is moved to a fourth position for electrode recovery.

4. 3. The electrode replacing device according to claim 1, further comprising an electrode moving device that supports the electrode and moves the electrode in the axial direction of the electrode.

5. An electrode replacement method using an electrode replacement device for replacing an electrode disposed at a tip of a welding torch, comprising: a first position, a second position, and a third position are provided within the electrode replacement device; The electrode replacement method includes: removing a used electrode from the welding torch at the first position; polishing the used electrode at the second location; and inserting a ground electrode into the welding torch at the third position.

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