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JP-7856552-B2 - Welding methods and corresponding welding equipment

JP7856552B2JP 7856552 B2JP7856552 B2JP 7856552B2JP-7856552-B2

Inventors

  • ヘイコ プリエム
  • ヴォルフガング クレッケル

Assignees

  • ブランソン ウルトラスチャル ニーデルラッスン デル エマーソン テクノロジーズ ゲゼルシャフト ミット ベシュレンクテル ハフツング アンド カンパニー オーエイチジー

Dates

Publication Date
20260511
Application Date
20221130
Priority Date
20211216

Claims (13)

  1. A welding method for welding a first part to a second part using a welding apparatus (100) equipped with an upper jig (112) mounted on an upper support (110) for receiving a first part, a lower jig (116) mounted on a lower support (114) for receiving a second part, and a preheating device (118) and control device for preheating the first part and/or the second part, a. In step (step S2), the upper jig (112) and the lower jig (116) are moved continuously relative to each other along the first axis (132) from an initial position to an adjacent position by the first drive device (130), and at least partially simultaneously with the continuous movement of the upper jig (112) and the lower jig (116) relative to each other, the preheating device (118) is moved from the parking position to the preheating position by the second drive device (140). In the parking position, the preheating device (118) is not positioned between the upper jig (112) and the lower jig (116), the second drive device (140) moves the preheating device (118) along the second axis (142) perpendicular to the first axis (132), and a third drive device (150) is provided to move the preheating device (118) along the third axis (152) parallel to the first axis (132) , b. A step (S3) of preheating the first part and/or the second part with the preheating device (118), and thereafter c. A step (S4) of moving the upper jig (112) and the lower jig (116) continuously relative to each other along the first axis (132) from the adjacent position to the separated position with the first drive device (130), and at least partially simultaneously with moving the upper jig (112) and the lower jig (116) continuously relative to each other, moving the preheating device (118) from the preheating position to the parking position with the second drive device (140), d. A step (step S5) of moving the upper jig (112) and the lower jig (116) relative to each other along the first axis (132) from the separated position to the welding position using the first drive device (130), e. A step (step S6) of welding the first part and the second part to each other at the welding positions of the upper jig (112) and the lower jig (116), f. A step (step S7) of moving the upper jig (112) and the lower jig (116) relative to each other along the first axis (132) from the welding position to the initial position by the first drive device (130), Methods that include...
  2. The welding method according to claim 1, wherein the control device controls the first drive unit (130) and the second drive unit (140) so that they are operated or activated at least partially simultaneously.
  3. The welding method according to claim 1, wherein the control device controls the third drive unit (150) together with the first drive unit (130) and the second drive unit (140), and operates at least two of the first drive unit (130), the second drive unit (140), and the third drive unit ( 150 ) simultaneously.
  4. The welding method according to one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the welding method is a vibration welding method or an infrared welding method.
  5. The welding method according to one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the first part and the second part are made of a plastic material.
  6. The welding method according to one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the first drive device (130) and the second drive device (140) are servo drive devices.
  7. The welding method according to one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein one drive unit (130, 140, 150) functions as a main drive unit and the remaining drive units (130, 140, 150) functions as secondary drive units.
  8. A welding method according to one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein in the event of a failure of one drive unit (130, 140, 150), the control device stops the remaining drive units, i.e., the drive units (130, 140, 150) that are at least partially operated simultaneously.
  9. A welding apparatus (100) for welding a first component to a second component using the welding method described in claim 1, a. An upper jig (112) attached to the upper support (110) for receiving the first component, b. A lower jig (116) attached to the lower support (114) for receiving the second component, c. A preheating device (118) for preheating the first and/or second component, d. The upper (110) and the lower support (114) are movable relative to each other along the first axis (132) between an initial position, an adjacent position, a separated position and a welded position by a first drive device (130), e. The preheating device (118) is movable between the parking position and the preheating position by a second drive device (140), and in the parking position, the preheating device (118) is not positioned between the upper jig (112) and the lower jig (116), f. The welding apparatus (100) includes a control device that controls the first drive unit (130) and the second drive unit (140) to be operated at least partially simultaneously so that the continuous movement of the upper jig (112) and the lower jig (116) relative to each other between the initial position and the adjacent position and the continuous movement of the preheating device (118) between the parking position and the preheating position occurs at least partially simultaneously, g. The second drive unit (140) moves the preheating device (118) along the second axis (142) perpendicular to the first axis (132), and a third drive unit (150) is provided to move the preheating device (118) along the third axis (152) parallel to the first axis (132). A welding apparatus (100) equipped with the following.
  10. The welding apparatus (100) according to claim 9, wherein the control device controls the drive devices (130, 140, 150) so that at least two of the first drive device (130), the second drive device (140), and the third drive device (150) are operated simultaneously.
  11. The welding apparatus (100) according to one of claims 9 to 10 , wherein the welding apparatus (100) is a vibration welding apparatus or an infrared welding apparatus.
  12. The welding apparatus (100) according to one of claims 9 to 10 , wherein the first and second parts are made of plastic material.
  13. The welding apparatus (100) according to one of claims 9 to 10 , wherein the first drive unit (130) and the second drive unit (140) are servo drive units.

Description

This invention relates to a welding method for welding a first component to a second component using a welding apparatus comprising an upper jig mounted on an upper support for receiving a first component, a lower jig mounted on a lower support for receiving a second component, and a preheating device and control device for preheating the first and/or second component. Furthermore, this invention relates to each of these welding apparatuses. Prior art knows of a welding apparatus for welding a first part to a second part, comprising an upper jig mounted on an upper support for receiving a first part, and a lower jig mounted on a lower support such as a lifting table for receiving a second part. Typically, such equipment is used to weld two parts, preferably made of plastic material, together. The welding equipment further comprises a housing in which a lower jig and an upper jig are housed. To achieve this purpose, the lower jig is fixed to a lifting table acting as a lower support, and the upper jig is firmly mounted to an upper jig plate acting as an upper support. Furthermore, known plastic welding apparatuses may include a preheating device for preheating the first and second parts before welding. In this regard, the preheating device is usually coupled to a lifting table, but it may also be movable independently of the lifting table by, for example, directly fixing the preheating device to the housing. The lifting table, acting as the lower support, moves the lower jig toward the upper jig, allowing the first part in the lower jig to be welded to the second part in the upper jig, particularly by friction welding, vibration welding, or infrared welding. Such welding equipment is used, for example, in the automotive industry or medical technology. In the automotive industry, applications for such welding equipment include the production of lights, as well as the production of other parts or groups of parts made from or containing plastic. Similarly, welding equipment may be used in the production of devices and/or groups of parts in medical technology, or in the production of consumer goods. The basic operation of a known welding apparatus equipped with a preheating device is as follows: First, the user places the second part on the lower jig. Then, the first part is positioned on top of the second part within the lower jig. Next, the lifting table, including the lower jig, and the part placed on it, move from their initial position toward the upper jig until the first part contacts the upper jig. This movement occurs along only one axis perpendicular to the floor or ground on which the welding apparatus is placed. Next, the lifting table returns along this vertical axis to a position where the preheating device can be positioned between the parts. For example, the lifting table returns to its initial position. Then, the preheating device is moved along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis, i.e., horizontal to the floor or ground, from the parking position to the alignment position between the parts to be welded. After positioning the preheating device between the two parts in the alignment position, the preheating device is moved by a new, separate vertical movement that allows heating to occur at the location where the two parts will be welded, i.e., by a movement along an axis perpendicular to the floor or ground to the preheating position. Furthermore, after the preheating device arrives at the preheating position, the lower fixture is moved along the first axis to a position adjacent to the preheating device. This position is also called the adjacent position. After preheating, the lifting table is moved along the vertical axis to a position that allows the preheating unit to be moved to the parking position. For example, the lifting table returns to its initial position. After the lifting table reaches the initial position, the preheating unit is first returned to the aligned position along the vertical axis, and then to the parking position along the second horizontal axis. To weld the first part to the second part, the lifting table is then moved along the first axis to the welding position. The welding of the first part to the second part is performed by friction welding, vibration welding, or by pressing preheated parts together. After welding is complete, the lifting table, along with the lower jig and the combined first and second parts, returns to its initial position along the vertical axis. As soon as the lifting table reaches its initial position, the user can remove the combined first and second parts. The first drawback of the welding apparatus described above, concerning the preheating device, becomes apparent when heating and welding parts with complex protrusions or undercuts. In friction or vibration welding, protrusions or undercuts arise, in particular, from the indeterminate, variable angular position of the parts being welded to each other. Specifically, the two parts m