JP2012030287A - Apparatus for manufacturing cylindrical can - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an apparatus for manufacturing a cylindrical can which can reduce a front/back difference at two edges to be welded in a welding member.SOLUTION: The apparatus for manufacturing a cylindrical can comprises a guide mechanism 4 that guides two edges e1, e2 in a welding member W conveyed by a conveying device 2 to a welding position P. The guide mechanism 4 comprises: a first guide part 32 that guides the edges e1, e2 so as to gradually come close to each other when the welding member W is conveyed from a mutually spaced state of the edges e1, e2 in a radial direction of the welding member W to a welding position P side; a second guide part 34 that guides the edges e1, e2 to the welding position P side while maintaining a parallel state at a spaced distance provided after the approach by the first guide part 32; and a third guide part 36 that guides the edges e1, e2 so that the edges e1, e2 are drawn to each other so as to be partly elastically deformed in a radial direction of the welding member W and are guided to the welding position P with the end faces of the edges e1, e2 being butted against each other.

Description

  The present invention relates to a cylindrical can manufacturing apparatus.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a cylindrical can manufacturing apparatus that manufactures a cylindrical can by welding two edges of a rolled metal plate is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  An apparatus for manufacturing a cylindrical can disclosed in Patent Document 1 is a jig for joining two end edges to be welded of a member to be welded while feeding the member to be welded made of a rolled metal plate in the axial direction thereof. The cylindrical can is manufactured by guiding the two end edges in a butted state to each other by laser welding with a laser gun.

  The joining jig has two guide grooves into which the respective end edges of the members to be welded are respectively inserted. The two guide grooves are vertically spaced at the edge far from the laser gun, and are formed so as to gradually approach each other as they approach the welding position side by the laser gun. As a result, the two end edges of the member to be welded that pass through the two guide grooves are gradually brought into contact with each other as they approach the welding position, and are brought into a butted state.

Japanese Utility Model Publication 3-57351

  However, in the above cylindrical can manufacturing apparatus, the two end edges of the member to be welded are gradually brought together by the joining jig with a length corresponding to almost the entire length, and sent to the welding position immediately after being just abutted against each other. It is supposed to be. For this reason, in said cylindrical can manufacturing apparatus, there exists a possibility that the two edge of a to-be-welded member may be welded in the state which produced the front-back difference in the feed direction of the to-be-welded member. That is, in the process in which the two end edges of the member to be welded are gradually brought closer to each other by the joining jig while moving toward the welding position, a force that causes twisting of the member to be welded is applied. Such force elastically deforms the entire welded member. Along with this elastic deformation, for example, as shown in the welded member W shown in FIG. 17, the front end of the edge e1 located on the radially outer side of the two edges e1 and e2 is the edge e2 located on the radially inner side. It exits from the front end in the feed direction of the member W to be welded. As a result, there is a front-back difference between the two edges that are welded together.

  The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a cylindrical can manufacturing apparatus capable of reducing the difference between the front and rear generated at the two edges of the welded member. Is to provide.

  In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the cylindrical can manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention is configured such that two end edges of a metal plate rounded so that two opposing end edges are spaced apart in a radial direction in a substantially parallel state to each other. A cylindrical can manufacturing apparatus for manufacturing a cylindrical can by welding a welded member, which is a rolled metal plate, along a direction in which the two edges extend, and predetermined welding A welding device that laser-welds the two edges of the welded member that is being sent and moved by the conveying device by irradiating a laser at a position; and the welded member that is sent by the conveying device A guide mechanism for guiding two end edges to the welding position, and the guide mechanism heads toward the welding position from a state in which the two end edges are separated from each other in the radial direction of the member to be welded. A first guide portion that guides the two end edges so as to gradually approach each other, and is disposed on the welding position side of the first guide portion, and the two end edges are approached by the first guide portion. A second guide portion that guides to the welding position side while maintaining a parallel state at a separated distance after being formed, and disposed on the welding position side of the second guide portion, in the radial direction of the welded member A third guide portion that guides the two end edges to the welding position so that the two end edges are brought together so as to partially elastically deform the two end edges and the end faces of the two end edges are brought into contact with each other; Have.

  In this cylindrical can manufacturing apparatus, after the first guide portion guides the two end edges of the member to be welded so that these end edges gradually approach, the second guide portion guides the two end edges of the member to be welded. These end edges are guided so as to be kept parallel to each other at a separation distance after being approached by the first guide portion. For this reason, even if two end edges of the member to be welded have a front-rear difference (displacement of the front end position in the front-rear direction) due to the inclination of the end edges in the process of being guided by the first guide portion. In the process of being guided by the second guide portion, the difference between before and after can be eliminated. And in this structure, after the front-back difference of the two edges of a to-be-welded member is eliminated by the 2nd guide part, these two edges are brought together so that it may be elastically deformed partially by the 3rd guide part. The end faces of both end edges are brought into contact with each other, and thereafter, two end edges of the member to be welded are introduced into the welding position. That is, in this configuration, the two edges of the member to be welded are not welded together while the two edges of the member to be welded are inclined as a whole, but most of the two edges are parallel in the second guide portion. The tip portion (welding position side) is partially elastically deformed and brought together and then welded. For this reason, these edges can be welded in the state which reduced the front-back difference of the two edges of a to-be-welded member compared with the said conventional structure. Therefore, in this configuration, it is possible to reduce the difference between the front and rear that occurs at the two edges of the welded member.

  In the cylindrical can manufacturing apparatus, the first guide portion includes a first outer guide groove into which an outer edge, which is an edge located on a radially outer side of the welded member, is inserted among the two edges. A first inner guide groove into which an inner edge, which is an edge located radially inward of the member to be welded, is inserted, and the second guide portion has the outer edge. A second outer guide groove to be inserted; and a second inner guide groove into which the inner end edge is inserted. The third guide portion includes a third outer guide groove into which the outer end edge is inserted; A third inner guide groove into which an edge is inserted, and the first outer guide groove, the second outer guide groove, and the third outer guide groove continuously guide the outer edge toward the welding position. The first inner guide groove, the second inner guide groove, and the third inner side The inner groove continuously guides the inner end edge toward the welding position, and a portion for guiding the end edge of at least one of the first outer guide groove and the first inner guide groove is: The third outer guide groove and the third inner guide are inclined so as to gradually approach a portion that guides the end edge of the other guide groove in the radial direction of the member to be welded toward the welding position side. The portion that guides the end edge of at least one of the guide grooves is closer to the portion that guides the end edge of the other guide groove in the radial direction of the member to be welded toward the welding position side. The position of the welded member in the radial direction coincides with and communicates with the portion closest to the welding position, and the unit length in the feed direction of the welded member by the transport device The The distance at which the third outer guide groove and the third inner guide groove approach each other in the radial direction of the welded member is such that the first outer guide groove and the first inner guide groove per unit length thereof. Is preferably larger than the distance of approaching each other in the radial direction of the member to be welded.

When the distance that the third outer guide groove and the third inner guide groove approach each other in the radial direction of the welded member per unit length in the feed direction of the welded member by the transport device is small, that is, the third outer guide groove When the third inner guide groove and the third inner guide groove approach each other slowly, the lengths of the portions communicating with each other after the third outer guide groove and the third inner guide groove approach each other are increased. In the portion where both the guide grooves communicate with each other, there is no wall surface in contact with the end face of the member to be welded. In this configuration, the distance at which the third outer guide groove and the third inner guide groove approach each other per unit length in the feed direction of the member to be welded by the conveying device is the first outer guide groove per unit length. Since the distance between the first inner guide groove and the first inner guide groove is greater, the length of the third guide portion where the third outer guide groove and the third inner guide groove overlap and communicate with each other can be reduced. . For this reason, in the 3rd guide part, the both-ends edge can be brought together, suppressing the position shift of the two edges to the peripheral direction of a member to be welded. As a result, in the third guide portion, the two end edges of the welded member can be brought together so as to be in a good butted state.

  In this case, a portion that guides the outer edge of the third outer guide groove and a portion that guides the inner edge of the third inner guide groove have a diameter of the member to be welded toward the welding position side. It is preferred to be inclined at an equal angle so as to approach each other in the direction.

  According to this configuration, the two end edges of the member to be welded sent to the welding position side are made to approach each other equally in the radial direction of the member to be welded by the third outer guide groove and the third inner guide groove. For this reason, it is possible to prevent a difference in the ease of movement in the feed direction between the two end edges of the welded member in the third outer guide groove and the third inner guide groove. It is possible to prevent the front and back difference from occurring at the edge.

  In this case, the portion that guides the outer edge of the second outer guide groove and the portion that guides the inner edge of the second inner guide groove are along the feeding direction of the welded member by the conveying device. The second outer guide groove and the second inner guide groove in the feed direction are set to be longer than the length of the member to be welded. Preferably it is.

  According to this configuration, even when the first outer guide groove and the second outer guide groove are continuously formed and the first inner guide groove and the second inner guide are continuously formed, the second outer guide groove is formed. The outer edge introduced into the guide groove can be accommodated in the second outer guide groove in a state where it does not hang over the first outer guide groove, and the inner edge introduced into the second inner guide groove can be accommodated in the first inner guide groove. The guide groove can be accommodated in the second inner guide groove without being hooked on the guide groove. That is, in this configuration, the first outer guide groove and the first inner guide groove that are inclined are not subjected to any force that causes a difference between the front and rear of the two end edges of the member to be welded. The two end edges of the member can be kept parallel by the second outer guide groove and the second inner guide groove. Therefore, in this configuration, the lengths of the second outer guide groove and the second inner guide groove are smaller than the length of the member to be welded, and a part of the rear side of the two end edges of the member to be welded is the first outer guide groove. Compared to the case where the two end edges are guided by the second outer guide groove and the second inner guide groove in a state of being hooked on the first inner guide groove, the two guide grooves of the second guide portion are used to The difference between the front and back of the two end edges can be resolved more effectively.

  In the configuration in which the second guide part has a second outer guide groove and a second inner guide groove and the third guide part has a third outer guide groove and a third inner guide groove, the second guide part and the third guide part are provided. The guide portion is provided integrally, and the second outer guide groove and the third outer guide groove are formed continuously, while the second inner guide groove and the third inner guide groove Is preferably formed continuously.

  According to this configuration, the outer edge of the welded member is continuously introduced from the second outer guide groove to the third outer guide groove, and the inner side of the welded member from the second inner guide groove to the third inner guide groove. Since the end edges are continuously introduced, the two outer edges of the member to be welded parallel to each other in the second outer guide groove and the second inner guide groove are continuously connected to the third outer guide groove and the second outer edge from the front end side. 3 It can be brought together by being elastically deformed in the inner guide groove. For this reason, in this structure, a series of processes in which the two end edges of the members to be welded separated in a parallel state are partially elastically deformed from the front end side and brought into an attached state can be smoothly performed. The second guide portion and the third guide portion are provided separately, the second outer guide groove and the third outer guide groove are formed discontinuously, and the second inner guide groove and the third inner guide groove are formed. In the case where the guide grooves are formed discontinuously, when the second guide portion and the third guide portion are installed, the two guide grooves are not connected at the connection portion between the second outer guide groove and the third outer guide groove. There is a possibility that the position may be shifted, or that the positions of both guide grooves may be shifted at the connection portion between the second inner guide groove and the third inner guide groove. On the other hand, in this configuration, the second guide portion and the third guide portion are integrally provided, the second outer guide groove and the third outer guide groove are continuous, and the second inner guide groove and the second guide groove are continuous. Since the three inner guide grooves are continuous, it is possible to prevent the positional deviation at the connecting portion between the corresponding guide grooves as described above.

  In the cylindrical can manufacturing apparatus, an inner roller that contacts the inner surfaces of the two end edges of the welded member at the welding position, and an outer surface of the two end edges of the welded member at the welding position. And an outer pressing portion for sandwiching the two end edges between the inner roller and the two end edges by sandwiching the two end edges between the inner roller and the outer pressing portion at the welding position. It is preferable to further include a holding mechanism for holding the butted state of the two edges.

  According to this configuration, the two end edges of the member to be welded can be sandwiched from the inside and the outside in the radial direction of the member to be welded by the inner roller and the outer pressing portion at the welding position, and the abutted state of both end edges can be maintained. Therefore, welding can be performed in a state where the two edges of the member to be welded are accurately butted.

  In this case, the holding mechanism is arranged separately on both sides of the outer pressing portion in the circumferential direction of the member to be welded, and contacts the outer surface of the corresponding one of the two end edges. It is preferable to further include a pair of outer rollers that bring the two end edges close together in the circumferential direction of the member to be welded.

  According to this configuration, the two ends of the welded member are brought close to each other in the circumferential direction of the welded member by the pair of outer rollers at the welding position, and the two ends of the inner roller and the outer pressing portion are brought together. Since an edge can be inserted | pinched in the radial direction of a to-be-welded member, the more exact butted | matched state of said two edge edges can be ensured in a welding position.

  In the configuration in which the second guide portion has a second outer guide groove and a second inner guide groove, the second outer guide groove is specified in the second guide portion in a left-right direction orthogonal to the feed direction of the welded member. The second inner guide groove is located below the second outer guide groove, and is disposed in the left-right direction in the left-right direction. The second guide portion is provided in a region extending from the specific position in the second guide portion to the other side surface that is the side surface opposite to the one side surface of the second guide portion, and the second outer guide groove is provided in the second outer guide groove. A second outer guide groove upper surface portion which is a surface facing the lower side of the inner surface of the groove, and a second outer guide groove upper surface portion which is disposed below the second outer guide groove upper surface portion of the inner surface of the second outer guide groove. Facing upward to face A second outer guide groove lower surface portion and a second surface arranged at the specific position in the second guide portion, facing the one side, and abutting on an end surface of the outer edge inserted into the second outer guide groove. A second outer guide groove contact surface, and the second inner guide groove has a second inner guide groove upper surface portion that is a surface facing the lower side of the inner surface of the second inner guide groove, and the second inner guide groove. A second inner guide groove lower surface portion, which is disposed below the second inner guide groove upper surface portion of the inner surface of the groove and faces upward so as to face the second inner guide groove upper surface portion; and the second outer guide. The inner end that is disposed below the groove contact surface and at a position that coincides with the position of the second outer guide groove contact surface in the left-right direction, faces the other side, and is inserted into the second inner guide groove. A second inner guide groove abutting surface abutting on an end surface of the edge, and the second guide Comprises a part located above the second outer guide groove and a part located above the second inner guide groove in the second guide part, and the second outer guide groove upper surface part and the second outer guide part A second upper guide body that forms a guide groove contact surface and a second inner guide groove upper surface portion, a portion of the second guide portion that is located below the second outer guide groove, and the second inner guide A second lower guide body that constitutes a portion located below the groove and forms the second outer guide groove lower surface portion, the second inner guide groove lower surface portion, and the second inner guide groove contact surface; The second upper guide body and the second lower guide body are connected to each other at a position between the second outer guide groove contact surface and the second inner guide groove contact surface. Also good.

  In this configuration, the positions of the second outer guide groove contact surface and the second inner guide groove contact surface in the left-right direction coincide, and the second upper guide body and the second lower guide body are in contact with the second outer guide groove contact. Since they are connected to each other at a position between the contact surface and the second inner guide groove contact surface, the outer edge of the member to be welded contacts the second outer guide groove contact surface and the second outer guide groove contact. Even if the contact surface is pushed to the other side, the end surface of the inner edge of the member to be welded is in contact with the second inner guide groove contact surface, and the second inner guide groove contact surface is pushed to the one side, The second upper guide body and the second lower guide body can be prevented from separating in the left-right direction, and the position in the left-right direction of the outer edge contacting the second outer guide groove contact surface and the second inner side It is possible to maintain a state in which the positions in the left-right direction of the inner edge that is in contact with the guide groove contact surface are the same. As a result, it is possible to reliably prevent the outer edge and the inner edge of the member to be welded from overlapping in the left-right direction in the second guide portion, and the both edges of the member to be welded overlap in welding at the subsequent welding position. It is possible to reliably prevent welding in a heated state.

  In the configuration in which the second guide portion has a second outer guide groove and a second inner guide groove, the second outer guide groove is specified in the second guide portion in a left-right direction orthogonal to the feed direction of the welded member. The second inner guide groove is located below the second outer guide groove, and is disposed in the left-right direction in the left-right direction. The second guide portion is provided in a region from the specific position to the other side surface that is the side surface opposite to the one side surface of the second guide portion, and the inner surface of the second outer guide groove is the second side surface. A second outer guide groove abutting surface disposed at the specific position in the guide portion, facing the one side and abutting against an end surface of the outer edge inserted into the second outer guide groove; 2 The inner surface of the inner guide groove is the second outer The inner end that is arranged below the guide groove contact surface at a position that coincides with the position of the second outer guide groove contact surface in the left-right direction, faces the other side, and is inserted into the second inner guide groove A second inner guide groove abutting surface that abuts against an end surface of the edge, wherein the second guide portion is a portion of the second guide portion located above the second outer guide groove and the second inner guide. A second upper guide body that constitutes a portion located above the groove and the second upper guide body are formed separately from each other, and are located below the second outer guide groove in the second guide portion. A second lower guide body that constitutes a part and a part located below the second inner guide groove, and the second upper guide body has the one side at the specific position in the left-right direction. A second portion including a portion forming the second outer guide groove contact surface. The second lower guide body includes a portion that faces the other side at the specific position in the left-right direction and forms a second inner guide groove contact surface. The manufacturing apparatus includes: an upper support that supports the second upper guide body; and the second outer contact of the second upper guide body that is supported by the upper support. The second inner side of the second inner abutment surface forming surface of the second lower guide body is positioned below the portion of the contact surface forming surface that forms the second outer guide groove abutting surface. The second lower side so that the relative position of the second lower guide body with respect to the second upper guide body is fixed in a state where the part located on the upper side of the part that forms the guide groove contact surface is in contact. You may provide the lower side support body which supports a guide body.

  In this configuration, the second upper guide body and the second lower guide body are formed separately, and the second outer abutment surface forming surface is formed with respect to the second upper guide body supported by the upper support body. The second lower guide body is in contact with the second inner abutment surface forming surface so that the second upper guide body and the second lower guide body are relatively fixed in position. By simply supporting the lower guide body, it is possible to configure a structure in which the position of the second outer guide groove contact surface coincides with the position of the second inner guide groove contact surface in the left-right direction of the second guide portion. In order to constitute such a structure, the second upper guide body and the second lower guide body are formed so as to be directly connected between the second outer guide groove contact surface and the second inner guide groove contact surface. No fine processing is required as in the case of. Therefore, while simplifying the processing of the second upper guide body and the second lower guide body, the position of the second outer guide groove contact surface and the second inner guide groove contact surface in the left-right direction of the second guide portion. A structure in which the positions coincide can be formed.

  As described above, according to the cylindrical can manufacturing apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to reduce the difference between the front and rear that occurs at the two edges of the welded member to be welded.

1 is a perspective view showing an overall configuration of a cylindrical can manufacturing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view of a member to be welded. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view along the center line of the linear direction of the cylindrical can manufacturing apparatus shown in FIG. 1, and the width direction of each guide part. It is a figure which shows the side surface of the width direction of the 1st guide part of a guide mechanism, a 2nd guide part, a 3rd guide part, a connection part, and a 4th guide part. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VV of the first guide portion illustrated in FIG. 4. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VI-VI of the first guide portion illustrated in FIG. 4. It is sectional drawing along the VII-VII line of the 2nd guide part shown in FIG. It is sectional drawing along the VIII-VIII line of the 2nd guide part shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IX-IX of the second guide portion illustrated in FIG. 4. It is sectional drawing of the 3rd guide part and pressing member which followed the XX line in FIG. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a connecting portion, a pressing member, and an inner roller along line XI-XI in FIG. 4. It is the schematic schematic which looked at the 1st guide part, the 2nd guide part, the 3rd guide part, the connection part, and the 4th guide part from the side. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view along the centerline of the width direction of the part near the welding position of the manufacturing apparatus of a cylindrical can, and a 4th guide part. It is a perspective view of the roller apparatus which comprises the manufacturing apparatus of a cylindrical can. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view in the welding position of the manufacturing apparatus of a cylindrical can. It is a figure for demonstrating the operation | movement at the time of cylindrical can manufacture of the manufacturing apparatus of a cylindrical can. It is a perspective view which shows the state of a to-be-welded member when the two edge of a to-be-welded member is guided by the guide groove which approaches gradually mutually as it goes downstream. It is a perspective view which shows partially the structure of the part of the welding position vicinity of the manufacturing apparatus of the cylindrical can by the 1st modification of one Embodiment of this invention. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of each roller and an outer side press part which hold | maintain the butting | matching state of the two edges of a to-be-welded member in a welding position among the manufacturing apparatuses of the cylindrical can by the 1st modification shown in FIG. The width direction of the 2nd guide part of the guide mechanism used for the cylindrical can manufacturing device by the 2nd modification of one embodiment of the present invention, the 3rd guide part, a connection part, the 4th guide part, an upper holder, and a lower holder It is a figure which shows one side (right side) of this. It is a perspective view of the 2nd guide part of the guide mechanism by the 2nd modification shown in FIG. 20, a 3rd guide part, a connection part, a 4th guide part, an upper holder, and a lower holder. It is a disassembled perspective view of the 2nd guide part of the guide mechanism by the 2nd modification shown in FIG. 20, a 3rd guide part, a connection part, a 4th guide part, an upper holder, and a lower holder. It is a figure which shows partially the cross section of the 2nd guide part, upper side holder, and lower side holder along the XXIII-XXIII line | wire in FIG.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  First, with reference to FIGS. 1-15, the structure of the manufacturing apparatus of the cylindrical can by one Embodiment of this invention is demonstrated.

  The cylindrical can manufacturing apparatus according to the present embodiment is a thin metal plate (welded member W: see FIG. 2) that is rolled so that two opposing edges e1 and e2 are substantially parallel to each other in the radial direction. A cylindrical can is manufactured by welding the two end edges e1 and e2, and for example, a cylindrical can constituting a trunk of a three-piece can used as a beverage can.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, the cylindrical can manufacturing apparatus includes a transport device 2, a base 3, a leg portion 28, a support body 30, a guide mechanism 4, a roller device 6, and welding. A device 8 and a gas supply device (not shown) are provided.

  Two end edges e1 and e2 to be welded of the member W to be welded, which is a rounded metal thin plate, extend linearly substantially parallel to each other. The conveying device 2 is a device that feeds the welded member W linearly along the direction in which the two end edges e1 and e2 extend, that is, the axial direction of the welded member W. In addition, the conveying apparatus 2 sends the to-be-welded member W to the welding position P, and then continuously sends out the to-be-welded member W after the end edges e1 and e2 are welded to the downstream side. The transport device 2 includes a base portion 14, a support portion 15, a linear motor table 16, a linear motor (not shown), a linear guide support portion 20, a linear guide 22, a transport arm 24, and a connecting member 25. Have.

  The base 14 is fixed on a predetermined installation location. A support portion 15 that supports the linear motor table 16 is provided on the base portion 14. The support portion 15 is horizontally disposed and extends in a specific direction.

  The linear motor table 16 is provided on the support portion 15 and is movable along the support portion 15 in the longitudinal direction of the support portion 15.

  A linear motor (not shown) is mounted on the linear motor table 16. By driving the linear motor, the linear motor and the linear motor table 16 are moved in the longitudinal direction of the support portion 15.

  A base 3 is fixed at a location away from the installation location of the base 14 in the width direction of the base 14, and a linear guide support portion 20 that supports the linear guide 22 is erected on the base 3. The base 3 is a plate body that extends substantially in the longitudinal direction of the support portion 15 and is disposed substantially horizontally, and a part of the base 3 protrudes on the opposite side of the base portion 14. The linear guide support part 20 has a leg part 20a and an attachment part 20b. The leg 20 a is erected on the upstream end of the base 3 in the feed direction of the member W to be welded by the transport device 2. One end of the mounting portion 20b is supported by the upper end portion of the leg portion 20a, so that the mounting portion 20b is spaced apart from the support portion 15 to the side and is spaced apart upward from the base 3 and is higher than the upper surface of the support portion 15. In place. The attachment portion 20b extends horizontally from the position supported by the leg portion 20a to the downstream side in the feed direction along the longitudinal direction of the support portion 15.

  The linear guide 22 guides the movement of the transfer arm 24 linearly. The linear guide 22 is attached to the upper surface of the attachment portion 20b of the linear guide support portion 20 along the longitudinal direction of the attachment portion 20b. That is, the linear guide 22 is arranged in a posture that extends horizontally and in the longitudinal direction of the support portion 15.

  The transfer arm 24 pushes the welded member W so as to send it to the downstream side. In the following description, “downstream side” means the downstream side in the feed direction of the member W to be welded by the conveying device 2, and “upstream side” means the member to be welded W by the conveying device 2. It shall mean the upstream side in the feed direction. The transfer arm 24 includes a slide part 24a, an extending part 24b, and a contact part 24c.

  The slide portion 24 a is mounted on the linear guide 22 and is movable in the longitudinal direction along the linear guide 22. This slide part 24a is connected with the linear motor table 16 via the connection member 25 (refer FIG. 1). Accordingly, the transfer arm 24 moves along the linear guide 22 integrally with the linear motor table 16 as the linear motor table 16 moves in the longitudinal direction of the support portion 15.

  Two extending portions 24b are provided for the slide portion 24a. One of the two extended portions 24b is fixed to the upper surface of the slide portion 24a and extends from the fixed portion to the side of the support portion 15 of the slide portion 24a and downward, and further to the linear guide. It extends downstream along the attachment portion 20b of the support portion 20. The other of the two extending portions 24b is provided symmetrically with respect to the center position in the width direction of the one extending portion 24b, the linear guide 22, and the mounting portion 20b.

  The contact portion 24c is a portion that contacts the rear end surface of the member to be welded W when the transport arm 24 pushes the member to be welded W to the downstream side. The contact portion 24c is provided integrally with each extended portion 24b. That is, two contact portions 24 c are provided on the transfer arm 24. Each abutment portion 24c extends from the tip end portion (downstream end portion) of the corresponding extension portion 24b extending downstream along the attachment portion 20b to the downstream side along the attachment portion 20b (linear guide 22). It is formed in a rod shape extending horizontally and linearly. Each contact portion 24c contacts the rear end surface of the member W to be welded at the front end surface (downstream end surface). As will be described later, the welded member W is positioned at the upper part of the welded member W by the guide mechanism 4 and the roller device 6 at the two end edges e1 and e2 on the center position in the width direction of the welded member W. Held in such a posture. Each contact portion 24c is an upper region of the rear end surface of the member to be welded W held in such a posture, and is slightly outside in the width direction of the member to be welded W from the corresponding edge e1 or e2. Abuts the location. The two contact portions 24c are arranged at positions symmetrical to each other with respect to the center position in the width direction of the linear guide 22, and each of the guide mechanisms 4 described later in the process of pushing the member to be welded W downstream. It arrange | positions in the position which does not interfere with each roller which the guide part and roller device 6 mention later.

  The leg portion 28 is erected on the base 3 at a position spaced downstream from the position where the leg portion 20 a of the linear guide support portion 20 is fixed on the base 3. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, the leg portion 28 is erected near the center position in the longitudinal direction of the linear guide 22.

  The support base 30 supports lower guide bodies 32e, 34e, 36e, 38e, which will be described later, of the guide portions 32, 34, 36, 38 and a lower connection body 37e, which will be described later, of the connecting section 37. The support 30 is arranged at a height position spaced upward from the base 3 by supporting the upstream end of the support 30 by the leg 28. The support base 30 is disposed below the linear guide 22 and extends horizontally in parallel with the linear guide 22. The support base 30 extends beyond the downstream end of the linear guide 22 from a position near the center in the length direction of the linear guide 22.

  The guide mechanism 4 guides two end edges e1 and e2 of the member W to be welded sent by the conveying device 2 to a welding position P to be described later, and the edge e1 and e2 of the member to be welded W after being welded. It guides the nearby part downstream. The guide mechanism 4 includes a first guide part 32, a second guide part 34, a third guide part 36, a connecting part 37, and a fourth guide part 38.

  The 1st guide part 32, the 2nd guide part 34, the 3rd guide part 36, the connection part 37, and the 4th guide part 38 are arrange | positioned so that it may line up in this order from the upstream to the downstream. These portions 32, 34, 36, 37, and 38 are arranged such that the center positions in the width direction coincide with the center positions in the width direction of the linear guide 22, the mounting portion 20 b, and the support base 30. The 1st guide part 32, the 2nd guide part 34, and the 3rd guide part 36 are for guiding the two edge e1, e2 of the to-be-welded member W to the welding position P, and the 4th guide part 38 is This is for guiding the vicinity of the edges e1 and e2 of the welded member W after welding to the downstream side. A first outer guide groove 32a to be described later of the first guide portion 32, a second outer guide groove 34a to be described later of the second guide portion 34, and a third outer guide groove 36a to be described later of the third guide portion 36 are to be welded W. Outer edge e1 which is an edge located radially outside of the member W to be welded out of the two edges e1 and e2 is continuously guided to the welding position P. Further, a first inner guide groove 32b described later of the first guide portion 32, a second inner guide groove 34b described later of the second guide portion 34, and a third inner guide groove 36b described later of the third guide portion 36 are welded. Of the two end edges e1 and e2 of the member W, the inner end edge e2 which is an end edge located on the radially inner side of the member to be welded W is continuously guided to the welding position P.

  The first guide portion 32 has a first roller mechanism 52 (to be described later) of the roller device 6 and two end edges e1 and e2 of the member to be welded W on the center position in the width direction of the member to be welded W. The to-be-welded member W is held in such a posture as to be positioned on the upper part of the head. The first guide portion 32 gradually increases in the radial direction as the two end edges e1 and e2 of the member to be welded W move away from each other in the radial direction of the member to be welded W toward the welding position P side (downstream side). The two edges e1 and e2 are guided so as to approach each other. However, the first guide portion 32 brings the two end edges e1 and e2 close to a position where a predetermined separation distance remains between the end edges e1 and e2 in the radial direction (vertical direction) of the member W to be welded. . The first guide portion 32 includes a first outer guide groove 32a (see FIGS. 4 to 6) into which the outer end edge e1 of the member to be welded W is inserted and guides the outer end edge e1, and an inner side of the member to be welded W. The edge e2 is inserted and has a first inner guide groove 32b (see FIGS. 5 and 6) for guiding the inner edge e2.

  The first outer guide groove 32 a is open on the side surface of the first guide portion 32 opposite to the support portion 15. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the first outer guide groove 32 a expands in the vertical direction toward the outside of the opening. The bottom surface facing the opening of the first outer guide groove 32 a is a vertical surface located on the center position in the width direction of the first guide portion 32. The outer end edge e1 is guided by the first outer guide groove 32a in a state where the end surface is in contact with the bottom surface facing the opening of the first outer guide groove 32a. And the part which guides the outer side edge e1 of the 1st outer side guide groove 32a is a 1st inner side guide groove in the radial direction of the to-be-welded member W as it goes to the welding position P side (downstream side), as shown in FIG. It inclines linearly so that it may approach gradually the part which guides the inner edge e2 of 32b. That is, the first outer guide groove 32a is linearly inclined so as to gradually go downward as it goes downstream. Note that FIG. 12 shows the guide portions 32 and 34 in a state in which the ratio of the dimension in the vertical direction is large with respect to the dimension in the feed direction of the member W to be welded by the transport device 2 for easy understanding of the structure of the guide groove. , 36, 37, 38.

  The first inner guide groove 32b is open to the side surface of the first guide portion 32 on the support portion 15 side. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the first inner guide groove 32 b also expands in the vertical direction toward the outside of the opening. The bottom surface facing the opening of the first inner guide groove 32 b is a vertical surface located on the center position in the width direction of the first guide portion 32. The inner end edge e2 is guided by the first inner guide groove 32b in a state where the end surface is in contact with the bottom surface facing the opening of the first inner guide groove 32b. The portion of the first inner guide groove 32b near the bottom surface is disposed below the portion of the first outer guide groove 32a near the bottom surface. The first inner guide groove 32b extends horizontally toward the welding position P side (downstream side). That is, in the 1st guide part 32, the 1st outer side guide groove 32a which inclines so that it may go gradually below as it goes downstream becomes gradually approaching with respect to the 1st inner side guide groove 32b extended horizontally. . As a result, the inner edge e2 introduced into the first inner guide groove 32b moves downstream while maintaining the horizontal state, while the outer edge e1 introduced into the first outer guide groove 32a The inner edge e2 is gradually approached as it goes to. However, a predetermined separation distance remains in the vertical direction between the downstream end of the first outer guide groove 32a and the downstream end of the first inner guide groove 32b. At the downstream end of 32b, that is, at the outlet portion, both end edges e1 and e2 are only close to a state where a predetermined separation distance remains between them.

  The first guide portion 32 includes a first upper guide body 32d and a first lower guide body 32e.

  The first upper guide body 32d is an elongated member extending in the feed direction of the member W to be welded by the transport device 2, that is, in the same direction as the linear guide 22. As shown in FIG. 3, the first upper guide body 32d is disposed below the attachment portion 20b below the portion near the end portion on the downstream side of the linear guide 22, and at that position, the first upper guide body 32d is disposed on the lower surface of the attachment portion 20b. It is fixed. The first lower guide body 32e is an elongated member that extends in the same direction as the first upper guide body 32d and has the same width and the same length as the first upper guide body 32d. The first lower guide body 32e is fixed to the upper surface of the support base 30 at a position overlapping the first upper guide body 32d.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the first upper guide body 32d constitutes the upper surfaces of the first outer guide groove 32a and the first inner guide groove 32b, and the first lower guide body 32e is the first outer guide groove. The lower surface of the groove | channel 32a and the 1st inner side guide groove 32b is comprised. When the two end edges e1 and e2 of the member to be welded W are guided through the guide grooves 32a and 32b, the first lower guide body 32e and the support base 30 are disposed inside the member to be welded W. .

  On the lower surface of the first upper guide body 32d, a step is provided at a position corresponding to the center line of the first guide portion 32 in the width direction. Specifically, a portion of the lower surface of the first upper guide body 32d located on the support portion 15 side from the center line is on the opposite side of the lower surface of the first upper guide body 32d from the center line to the support portion 15. It is provided in a position that is one step lower than the portion that is positioned, and a step that extends along the center line in the width direction of the first guide portion 32 is formed between these two portions. The bottom surface of the first outer guide groove 32a is formed by a side surface of this step (a surface facing the side opposite to the support portion 15). The lower surface of the first upper guide body 32d is a horizontal surface in the vicinity of both sides across the step, and is an inclined surface that gradually goes upward from the horizontal surface toward the outer side in the width direction. .

  On the upper surface of the first lower guide body 32e, a step is provided at a position corresponding to the center line of the first guide portion 32 in the width direction. Specifically, a portion of the lower surface of the first lower guide body 32e located on the support portion 15 side from the center line is opposite to the support portion 15 from the center line of the lower surface of the first lower guide body 32e. It is provided at a position one step lower than the portion located on the side, and a step extending along the center line in the width direction of the first guide portion 32 is formed between these portions. The bottom surface of the first inner guide groove 32b is formed by the side surface of the step (the surface facing the support portion 15). And the upper surface of the 1st lower side guide body 32e is formed in the convex curved surface which goes below gradually as it goes to the both outer sides of the width direction of the said guide part 32e from the said level | step difference.

  The first upper guide body 32d and the first lower guide body 32e are formed so that the lower surface of the first upper guide body 32d and the upper surface of the first lower guide body 32e are separated from each other in the vertical direction. The sides are in contact. As a result, the first outer guide groove 32a is formed between the lower surface of the first upper guide body 32d and the upper surface of the first lower guide body 32e between the center in the width direction and the region opposite to the support portion 15. On the other hand, a first inner guide groove 32b is formed between the lower surface of the first upper guide body 32d and the upper surface of the first lower guide body 32e between the center in the width direction and the region on the support portion 15 side.

  The second guide portion 34 is welded while keeping the two edges e1 and e2 of the member W to be welded in parallel with each other at a separation distance after the two guide grooves 32a and 32b of the first guide portion 36 are approached. It guides to the position P side (downstream side). The second guide portion 34 is disposed on the welding position P side (downstream side) of the first guide portion 32 and is disposed slightly apart from the first guide portion 36. The second guide portion 34 has a second outer guide groove 34a (see FIGS. 7 to 9) into which the outer end edge e1 of the member W to be welded is inserted and guides the outer end edge e1, and an inner side of the member W to be welded. The end edge e2 is inserted and has a second inner guide groove 34b for guiding the inner end edge e2.

  The second outer guide groove 34 a is open on the side surface of the second guide portion 34 opposite to the support portion 15 of the transport device 2. The second inner guide groove 34 b is open on the side surface of the second guide portion 34 on the support portion 15 side of the transport device 2. The bottom surface facing the opening of the second outer guide groove 34a and the bottom surface facing the opening of the second inner guide groove 34b are respectively vertical surfaces positioned on the center position in the width direction of the second guide portion 34. . The position of the bottom surface of the second outer guide groove 34a in the width direction of the second guide portion 34 coincides with the position of the bottom surface of the first outer guide groove 32a, and the second inner guide in the width direction of the second guide portion 34. The position of the bottom surface of the groove 34b coincides with the position of the bottom surface of the second outer guide groove 34a.

  The second outer guide groove 34 a and the second inner guide groove 34 b extend in the horizontal direction, and extend along the feed direction of the member W to be welded by the transport device 2. A portion in the vicinity of the bottom surface of the second outer guide groove 34a (portion for guiding the outer edge e1) and a portion in the vicinity of the bottom surface of the second inner guide groove 34b (portion for guiding the inner edge e2) are as shown in FIG. Are spaced apart from each other in the vertical direction. The portion near the bottom surface of the second outer guide groove 34a and the portion near the bottom surface of the second inner guide groove 34b are arranged in parallel while being separated from each other. As a result, the outer edge e1 introduced into the second outer guide groove 34a and the inner edge e2 introduced into the second inner guide groove 34b are kept parallel to each other while being spaced apart from each other. Yes. The second outer guide groove 34a is disposed at the same height as the downstream end of the first outer guide groove 32a, and immediately after the outer edge e1 exits through the first outer guide groove 32a. 2 It is introduced into the outer guide groove 34a. The second inner guide groove 34b is disposed at the same height as the first inner guide groove 32b, and immediately after the inner edge e2 exits through the first inner guide groove 32b. 34b is introduced. The vertical separation distance between the portion near the bottom surface of the second outer guide groove 34a and the portion near the bottom surface of the second inner guide groove 34b is the portion near the bottom surface of the downstream end of the first outer guide groove 32a. And the corresponding distance in the vertical direction between the corresponding portions of the first inner guide groove 32b and the vicinity of the bottom surface. This separation distance is a distance smaller than the plate thickness of the member W to be welded.

  And the length in the said feed direction of the 2nd outer side guide groove 34a and the 2nd inner side guide groove 34b is set to the length more than the length of the to-be-welded member W in the axial direction. As a result, the outer edge e1 introduced into the second outer guide groove 34a is completely accommodated in the second outer guide groove 34a, and the inner edge e2 introduced into the second inner guide groove 34b is the second. It is possible to completely fit in the inner guide groove 34b. The other configuration of the second outer guide groove 34a is the same as that of the first outer guide groove 32a, and the other configuration of the second inner guide groove 34b is the same as the configuration of the first inner guide groove 32b. is there.

  The second guide portion 34 includes a second upper guide body 34d extending in the same direction as the first upper guide body 32d, and a second lower guide body 34e extending in the same direction as the first lower guide body 32e. . The second upper guide body 34d and the second lower guide body 34e are configured separately.

  The second upper guide body 34d is configured in substantially the same manner as the first upper guide body 32d, except that its lower surface is not inclined toward the downstream side. The second upper guide body 34d is disposed so that the center position in the width direction coincides with the first upper guide body 32d. Further, the second upper guide body 34d is arranged such that the height position of the lower surface thereof coincides with the height position of the lower surface of the downstream end portion of the first upper guide body 32d. The second upper guide body 34d is fastened to the lower surface of the mounting portion 20b. The second upper guide body 34d can be attached to and detached from the attachment portion 20b.

  The second lower guide body 34e is configured in substantially the same manner as the first lower guide body 32e, and is arranged so that the center position in the width direction coincides with the first lower guide body 32e. The second lower guide body 34e is disposed below the first upper guide body 32d, and is disposed so that the center position in the width direction coincides with the first upper guide body 32d. The second lower guide body 34e is arranged so that the height position of the upper surface thereof coincides with the height position of the upper surface of the first lower guide body 32e. The second lower guide body 34 e is fastened to the upper surface of the support base 30. The second lower guide body 34e is attachable to and detachable from the support base 30.

  A second outer guide groove 34a is formed between the lower surface of the second upper guide body 34d and the upper surface of the second lower guide body 34e between the center in the width direction and the region opposite to the support portion 15. A second inner guide groove 34b is formed between the lower surface of the second upper guide body 34d and the upper surface of the second lower guide body 34e between the center in the width direction and the region on the support portion 15 side. In other words, the second outer guide groove 34a is downstream in the feed direction of the member W to be welded from the center position in the left and right direction (width direction) in the second guide portion 34 in the left and right direction orthogonal to the feed direction of the member to be welded W. It is provided in a region reaching the right side surface of the second guide part 34 facing the right side toward the side. The second inner guide groove 34b is located below the second outer guide groove 34a, and is located on the opposite side of the right side surface of the second guide portion 34 from the center position in the left-right direction in the second guide portion 34. It is provided in the region that reaches the left side that is the side surface.

  The inner surface of the second outer guide groove 34a includes a second outer guide groove upper surface portion 34f, a second outer guide groove lower surface portion 34g, and a second outer guide groove contact surface 34h. The second outer guide groove upper surface portion 34f is a lower surface of the inner surface of the second outer guide groove 34a, and the second outer guide groove lower surface portion 34g is the second outer surface of the inner surface of the second outer guide groove 34a. The surface is disposed below the guide groove upper surface portion 34f and faces upward so as to face the second outer guide groove upper surface portion 34f. The second outer guide groove abutting surface 34h is a surface that abuts on the left end surface of the outer edge e1 of the member W to be welded inserted into the second outer guide groove 34a. The second outer guide groove abutting surface 34h is disposed at the center position in the second guide portion 34 and faces the right side, extends along the feed direction of the member W to be welded, and extends in the vertical direction.

  The inner surface of the second inner guide groove 34b includes a second inner guide groove upper surface portion 34i, a second inner guide groove lower surface portion 34j, and a second inner guide groove contact surface 34k. The second inner guide groove upper surface portion 34i is a surface facing the lower side of the inner surface of the second inner guide groove 34b, and the second inner guide groove lower surface portion 34j is the second inner side of the inner surface of the second inner guide groove 34b. It is a surface that is arranged below the guide groove upper surface portion 34i and faces the upper side facing the second inner guide groove upper surface portion 34i. The second inner guide groove abutting surface 34k is a surface that abuts on the right end surface of the inner edge e2 of the member W to be welded inserted into the second inner guide groove 34b. The second inner guide groove abutting surface 34k is disposed below the second outer guide groove abutting surface 34h at the center position in the left-right direction in the second guide portion 34 and faces the left side, and It extends along the feed direction and extends vertically. That is, the second inner guide groove contact surface 34k and the second outer guide groove contact surface 34h are arranged so that their positions in the second member 34 coincide in the left-right direction and extend in the same direction. .

  The second upper guide body 34d includes a second upper guide body left member 34m and a second upper guide body right member 34n that are configured separately.

  The second upper guide body left member 34m is located above the second inner guide groove 34b in the second guide portion 34, and a portion located on the left side from the center position in the left-right direction in the second upper guide body 34d. It is composed. The second upper guide body right member 34n is located above the second outer guide groove 34a in the second guide portion 34, and a part located on the right side from the center position in the left-right direction in the second upper guide body 34d. It is composed. The second inner guide groove upper surface portion 34i is formed by the lower surface of the second upper guide body left member 34m, and the second outer guide groove upper surface portion 34f is formed by the lower surface of the second upper guide body right member 34n. Yes. The second upper guide body left member 34m and the second upper guide body right member 34n are fastened with the right side surface of the second upper guide body left member 34m and the left side surface of the second upper guide body right member 34n in contact with each other. ing. In this state, the lower end of the second upper guide body left member 34m is disposed below the lower end of the second upper guide body right member 34n, and the lower end portion of the right side surface of the second upper guide body left member 34m. Is exposed below the lower end of the second upper guide body right member 34n. A portion of the right side surface of the second upper guide body left member 34m, which is disposed below the lower end of the second upper guide body right member 34n, forms a portion forming the second outer guide groove contact surface 34h. The second outer contact surface forming surface 34r is included.

  The second lower guide body 34e includes a second lower guide body left member 34p and a second lower guide body right member 34q which are configured separately.

  The second lower guide body left member 34p is located below the second inner guide groove 34b in the second guide portion 34, and is located on the left side from the horizontal center position of the second lower guide body 34e. It constitutes the part to be. The second lower guide body right member 34q is located below the second outer guide groove 34a in the second guide portion 34, and is located on the right side from the horizontal center position of the second lower guide body 34e. It constitutes the part to be. The second inner guide groove lower surface portion 34j is formed by the upper surface of the second lower guide body left member 34p, and the second outer guide groove lower surface portion 34g is the upper surface of the second lower guide body right member 34q. Is formed by. In the second lower guide body left member 34p and the second lower guide body right member 34q, the right side surface of the second lower guide body left member 34p and the left side surface of the second lower guide body right member 34q are in contact with each other. It is concluded in a state. In this state, the upper end of the second lower guide body right member 34q is disposed above the upper end of the second lower guide body left member 34p, and the left side surface of the second lower guide body right member 34q. The upper end is exposed above the upper end of the second lower guide body left member 34p. Of the left side surface of the second lower guide body right member 34q, the portion disposed above the upper end of the second lower guide body left member 34p forms the second inner guide groove contact surface 34k. The second inner contact surface forming surface 34s is included.

  The portion of the second outer guide surface left surface 34r of the second upper guide member 34d of the second upper guide member 34d supported by the mounting portion 20b forms the second outer guide groove contact surface 34k. Of the second inner abutment surface forming surface 34s of the second lower guide body right member 34q, the portion located above the portion forming the second inner guide groove abutting surface 34k is in contact with the lower portion. The second upper guide body 34d is supported by the mounting portion 20b and the second lower guide body 34e is supported by the support base 30 so that the relative positions of the guide bodies 34d and 34e are fixed in the state. ing.

  The third guide portion 36 is brought into contact with each other so that the two end edges e1 and e2 are partially elastically deformed in the radial direction of the member W to be welded, and the end faces of the two end edges e1 and e2 are brought into contact with each other. Thus, the two end edges e1 and e2 are guided to the welding position P. The third guide portion 36 is disposed on the welding position P side (downstream side) of the second guide portion 34 and is provided integrally with the second guide portion 34.

  The third guide portion 36 has a third outer guide groove 36a (see FIG. 10) into which the outer edge e1 of the member W to be welded is inserted and guides the outer edge e1 to the welding position, and an inner side of the member W to be welded. The end edge e2 is inserted, and it has the 3rd inner side guide groove 36b which guides the inner side edge e2 to a welding position.

  The third outer guide groove 36 a is open on the side surface of the third guide portion 36 opposite to the support portion 15. The third inner guide groove 36 b opens on the side surface of the third guide portion 36 on the support portion 15 side. The bottom surface facing the opening of the third outer guide groove 36a and the bottom surface facing the opening of the third inner guide groove 36b are respectively vertical surfaces located on the center position in the width direction of the third guide portion 36. . The position of the bottom surface of the third outer guide groove 36 a in the width direction of the third guide portion 36 coincides with the position of the bottom surface of the second outer guide groove 34 a, and the third inner guide in the width direction of the third guide portion 36. The position of the bottom surface of the groove 36b coincides with the position of the bottom surface of the second inner guide groove 34b.

  As shown in FIG. 12, the upstream end of the third outer guide groove 36a is formed continuously with the downstream end of the second outer guide groove 34a, and is upstream of the third inner guide groove 36b. The side end is formed continuously with the downstream end of the second inner guide groove 34b. Accordingly, a portion in the vicinity of the bottom surface of the upstream end portion of the third outer guide groove 36a (portion for guiding the outer end edge e1) and a portion in the vicinity of the bottom surface of the upstream end portion of the third inner guide groove 36b (inner end edge e2). In the vertical direction is spaced at the same separation distance as the separation distance between the portion near the bottom surface of the second outer guide groove 34a and the portion near the bottom surface of the second inner guide groove 34b.

  The portion that guides the outer edge e1 of the third outer guide groove 36a and the portion that guides the inner edge e2 of the third inner guide groove 36b are from the upstream end to the welding position P side (downstream side). As it goes, it is inclined at an equal angle so as to approach each other in the radial direction (vertical direction) of the member W to be welded. The portion that guides the outer edge e1 of the third outer guide groove 36a and the portion that guides the inner edge e2 of the third inner guide groove 36 are the portions closest to the welding position P, that is, the end portions on the downstream side. The positions of the members to be welded W in the radial direction (vertical direction) are in communication with each other. A portion that guides the outer edge e1 of the third outer guide groove 36a and a portion that guides the inner edge e2 of the third inner guide groove 36b per unit length in the feed direction of the member to be welded W are welded. The distance in which the members W approach each other in the radial direction (vertical direction) is a portion that guides the outer edge e1 of the first outer guide groove 32a per unit length and the inner edge of the first inner guide groove 32b. The part which guides e2 is larger than the distance in which the welded member W approaches each other in the radial direction. That is, the portion that guides the outer edge e1 of the third outer guide groove 36a and the portion that guides the inner edge e2 of the third inner guide groove 36b guide the outer edge e1 of the first outer guide groove 32a. It inclines so that it may approach more rapidly compared with the part which guides the part and the inner edge e2 of the 1st inner side guide groove 32b.

  The taper angle (inclination angle) of both the guide grooves 36a and 36b is such that the resistance force applied when the end edges e1 and e2 are moved downstream and the deviation of the end edges e1 and e2 in the circumferential direction of the member W to be welded. It is set in consideration of the balance with the probability of occurrence. That is, if the taper angle of both guide grooves 36a and 36b is too large, the resistance force generated when the front ends of the edges e1 and e2 moving downstream contact the wall surfaces in the corresponding guide grooves 36a and 36b becomes very large. . In this case, there is a possibility that the edges e1 and e2 cannot be sent to the downstream side, or the edges e1 and e2 are plastically deformed due to excessive resistance. On the other hand, when the taper angles of both the guide grooves 36a and 36b are too small, the length of the region that overlaps and communicates with each other after the guide grooves 36a and 36b approach each other becomes too large. In the region where both the guide grooves 36a and 36b overlap and communicate with each other, there is no bottom surface in contact with the end surfaces of the end edges e1 and e2, so that the end edges e1 and e2 are likely to be displaced in the circumferential direction of the member W to be welded. Become. For this reason, when the taper angle of both the guide grooves 36a and 36b is too small, the end edges e1 and e2 are very easily displaced in the circumferential direction, and the both end edges e1 and e2 are accurately butted together. It becomes difficult to weld with. Due to the above factors, the taper angle of both guide grooves 36a and 36b is such that the resistance force applied when the end edges e1 and e2 are moved to the downstream side is not so great, and the end edges e1 and e2 are in contact with each other. The taper angle is set to an appropriate taper angle so that the displacement of the edges e1 and e2 in the circumferential direction can be suppressed to such an extent that the edge is not disturbed.

  In addition, the vertical widths of the third outer guide groove 36a and the third inner guide groove 36b gradually decrease in the same manner toward the downstream side. The vertical widths of the downstream end portions of the guide grooves 36a and 36b are very small compared to the vertical widths of the second outer guide groove 34a and the second inner guide groove 34b, and the plate thickness of the member W to be welded. The width is slightly larger than that.

  The dimension in the feed direction of the third outer guide groove 36a and the third inner guide groove 36b is very small compared to the length of the member to be welded W in the axial direction (length of the edges e1 and e2). For example, the dimension in the feed direction of both guide grooves 36a, 36b is set to about 1/10 of the axial length of the member W to be welded. Therefore, the outer end edge e1 introduced into the third outer guide groove 36a and the inner end edge e2 introduced into the third inner guide groove 36b are moved from the front end portion (downstream end portion) as they are sent to the downstream side. They are brought together so that they are partly elastically deformed and in a butted state. The other configuration of the third outer guide groove 36a is the same as the configuration of the second outer guide groove 34a, and the other configuration of the third inner guide groove 36b is the same as the configuration of the second inner guide groove 34b. is there.

  The third guide portion 36 includes a third upper guide body 36d extending in the same direction as the second upper guide body 34d, and a third lower guide body 36e extending in the same direction as the second lower guide body 34e. .

  The third upper guide body 36d is disposed on the downstream side of the second upper guide body 34d, and is formed integrally with the second upper guide body 34d. The third upper guide body 36d is smaller in width than the second upper guide body 34d in order to avoid interference with a first outer holding roller 66 and a second outer holding roller 70 of a holding mechanism 62 described later of the roller device 6, And both side surfaces incline so that a width | variety may decrease as it goes below. The lower surface of the upstream end portion of the third upper guide body 36d is formed continuously with the lower surface of the downstream end portion of the second upper guide body 34d. On the lower surface of the upstream end portion of the third upper guide body 36d, a step similar to the lower surface of the second upper guide body 34d is provided at the center position in the width direction. And the area | region on the opposite side to the support part 15 from the center position of the width direction among the lower surfaces of the 3rd upper side guide body 36d inclines so that it may go below as it goes downstream. On the other hand, the region on the support portion 15 side from the center position in the width direction in the lower surface of the third upper guide body 36d is inclined so as to go upward as it goes downstream. As a result, the vertical width of the step on the lower surface of the third upper guide body 36d decreases toward the downstream side, and the step is zero at the downstream end of the third upper guide body 36d.

  The third lower guide body 36e is disposed on the downstream side of the second lower guide body 34e, and is formed integrally with the second lower guide body 34e. The lower surface of the upstream end portion of the third lower guide body 36e is formed continuously with the lower surface of the downstream end portion of the second lower guide body 34e. On the upper surface of the upstream end portion of the third lower guide body 36e, a step similar to that of the upper surface of the second lower guide body 34e is provided at the center position in the width direction. The upper surface of the third lower guide body 36e is reduced as the vertical width of the step goes downstream, like the lower surface of the third upper guide body 36d, and the step becomes 0 at the downstream end thereof. It is formed as follows.

  While the third outer guide groove 36a is formed between the lower surface of the third upper guide body 36d and the upper surface of the third lower guide body 36e from the center in the width direction to the region opposite to the support portion 15, A third inner guide groove 36b is formed between the lower surface of the third upper guide body 36d and the upper surface of the third lower guide body 36e between the center in the width direction and the region on the support portion 15 side.

  The connecting portion 37 is a portion that is disposed between the third guide portion 36 and the fourth guide portion 38 and connects the third guide portion 36 and the fourth guide portion 38. The connecting portion 37 is disposed on the downstream side of the third upper guide body 36d, and is disposed on the downstream side of the upper connecting body 37d provided integrally with the third upper guide body 36d and the third lower guide body 36e. The third lower guide body 36e and the lower connection body 37e provided integrally therewith are provided. And the welding position P is set to the position on the centerline of each guide part 32,34,36,38 and the connection part 37 in the width direction between the upper connection body 37d and the lower connection body 37e.

  The 4th guide part 38 guides the part of edge e1, e2 vicinity after the welding of the to-be-welded member W to a downstream side. The fourth guide portion 38 is disposed on the downstream side of the upper connection body 37d, and is disposed on the downstream side of the fourth upper guide body 38d provided integrally with the upper connection body 37d and the lower connection body 37e. And a fourth lower guide body 38e provided integrally with the lower connection body 37e. The lower surface of the fourth upper guide body 38d is not provided with a step as provided on the lower surfaces of the other upper guide bodies 32d, 34d, 36d, and the upper surface of the fourth lower guide body 38e is No step is provided as provided on the upper surfaces of the other lower guide bodies 32e, 34e, 36e. And this 4th guide part 38 has the after-welding guide groove 38a opened to the width direction both sides of the said 4th guide part 38 between the 4th upper side guide body 38d and the 4th lower side guide body 38e. The post-welding guide groove 38a extends linearly in the same direction as the second outer guide groove 34a and the second inner guide groove 34b. A fitting hole 39a (see FIG. 13) is formed in the upstream end of the fourth upper guide body 38d, the upper coupling body 37d, and the third upper guide body 36d.

  A hollow portion 39b is formed in the upstream end portion of the fourth lower guide body 38e, the lower connection body 37e, and the third lower guide body 36e. The hollow portion 39b opens upward at and near the welding position P and communicates with the guide groove. And the inner side roller 64 mentioned later of the holding | maintenance mechanism 62 is provided in this hollow part 39b.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 13, a shield gas supply path 41 is formed in each of the fourth upper guide body 38d and the fourth lower guide body 38e. A gas supply device (not shown) is connected to the supply passages 41 of the guide bodies 38d and 38e. Each supply path 41 has a discharge port 41a connected to the post-welding guide groove 38a, and the shield gas supplied from the gas supply device is discharged to the post-weld guide groove 38a through the supply path 41. . As a result, the melt of the member W to be welded generated by welding can be prevented from adhering to the lower surface of the fourth upper guide body 38d and the upper surface of the fourth lower guide body 38e by the shielding gas.

  The roller device 6 is a device for guiding the member W to be welded to the downstream side by the conveying device 2 while holding the member W to be welded by the roller.

  Specifically, the roller device 6 includes an upstream roller mechanism 42 and a downstream roller mechanism 44, as shown in FIG.

  The upstream roller mechanism 42 guides the member W to be welded in a region corresponding to the first guide portion 32, the second guide portion 34, and the third guide portion 36. That is, the upstream roller mechanism 42 guides the member W to be welded from the upstream end of the first guide portion 32 to the welding position P. The upstream roller mechanism 42 includes a first roller mechanism 52, a second roller mechanism 54, a third roller mechanism 56, a fourth roller mechanism 58, a fifth roller mechanism 60, and a holding mechanism 62.

  The first roller mechanism 52 is provided in a region extending from a position slightly upstream near the upstream end of the first guide part 32 to a position slightly upstream of the downstream end of the first guide part 32, In that region, the portion from the bottom of the member to be welded W to the vicinity of the center position in the vertical direction is supported and guided to the downstream side. As shown in FIG. 14, the first roller mechanism 52 includes a first frame portion 52a and a plurality of first rollers 52b.

  The first frame portion 52a is provided so as to surround the outside of the portion from the bottom of the member W to be welded, whose end edges e1 and e2 are guided by the first guide portion 32, to the vicinity of the center position in the vertical direction. A plurality of first rollers 52b are attached to the inside of the first frame portion 52a. Each first roller 52b is rotatable about each axis orthogonal to the feeding direction of the member W to be welded by the conveying device 2. In the present embodiment, three first rollers 52b are set as one set, and the three sets of first rollers 52b are arranged inside the first frame portion 52a so as to be aligned in the feeding direction. One first roller 52b of each set of first rollers 52b is disposed so as to be in contact with the lower surface of the member W to be welded, and the remaining two first rollers 52b are disposed on both sides of the one roller 52b. It arrange | positions symmetrically and is arrange | positioned so that it can contact the part to which the to-be-welded member W respond | corresponds from diagonally downward.

  The second roller mechanism 54 is provided in a region extending from a position slightly upstream of the downstream end portion of the first guide portion 32 to a position slightly downstream of the upstream end portion of the second guide portion 34. While being supported by the region, the bottom of the member to be welded W is guided to the downstream side. The second roller mechanism 54 includes a second frame portion 54a and a plurality of second rollers 54b.

  The second frame portion 54a has a width slightly larger than the axial length of the second roller 54b, and is provided so as to be positioned below the bottom portion of the member W to be guided. The second frame portion 54a is formed integrally with the first frame portion 52a and extends to the downstream side of the first frame portion 52a. In the present embodiment, two second rollers 54b are provided side by side in the feed direction on the second frame portion 54a. Each first roller 54b is arranged so as to be in contact with the bottom surface of the bottom of the member W to be welded.

  The third roller mechanism 56 is provided on the downstream side of the second roller mechanism 54. The third roller mechanism 56 is disposed in a region near the center of the second guide portion 34 in the longitudinal direction. The third roller mechanism 56 includes a third frame portion 56a and a plurality of third rollers 56b.

  The third frame portion 56a is provided so as to surround the outside of the region from the lower portion of the member W to be welded guided by the second guide portion 34 to slightly above both side portions. The third frame portion 56a is formed integrally with the second frame portion 54a, and is disposed on the downstream side of the second frame portion 54a. A plurality of third rollers 56b are attached to the inside of the third frame portion 56a. Each third roller 56b is rotatable about each axis orthogonal to the feed direction. In the present embodiment, four third rollers 56b are set as one set, and two sets of third rollers 56b are arranged inside the third frame portion 56a so as to be aligned in the feeding direction. Of the third rollers 56b in each set, two third rollers 56b are disposed so as to be able to contact symmetrically from both sides obliquely downward with respect to the bottom surface of the bottom of the member W to be welded across the center line in the width direction. The remaining two third rollers 56b are arranged so as to be in contact with regions on both side surfaces in the vicinity of the center position in the vertical direction of the member W to be welded.

  The fourth roller mechanism 58 is provided on the downstream side of the third roller mechanism 56. The fourth roller mechanism 58 is disposed in a region near the end portion on the downstream side of the second guide portion 34. The fourth roller mechanism 58 includes a fourth frame portion 58a, a plurality of fourth rollers 58b, and a plurality of fourth roller holders 58c.

  The fourth frame portion 58 a is provided so as to surround the outside of the region excluding a part of the uppermost portion of the member to be welded W guided by the second guide portion 34. The fourth frame portion 58a is formed integrally with the third frame portion 56a and is disposed on the downstream side of the third frame portion 56a. Lower portions of the third frame portion 56a and the fourth frame portion 58a are leg portions 58e, and the leg portions 58e are erected on the base 3. Each fourth roller 58b is attached to the upstream surface of the fourth frame portion 58a via a fourth roller holder 58c. In the present embodiment, six fourth rollers 58b are provided, and three fourth rollers 58b are symmetrically arranged on both sides with respect to the center position of the second guide portion 34 in the width direction. The six fourth rollers 58b are arranged so as to surround the member to be welded W and are arranged so as to be in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the member W to be welded.

  The fifth roller mechanism 60 is provided on the downstream side of the fourth roller mechanism 58. The fifth roller mechanism 60 is disposed in a region corresponding to the downstream end of the third guide portion 36, the upstream end of the connecting portion 37 and the fourth guide portion 38. The fifth roller mechanism 60 includes a plurality of fifth rollers 60b and a plurality of fifth roller holders 60c.

  Each fifth roller 60b is attached to a downstream surface of the fourth frame portion 58a via a fifth roller holder 60c. In the present embodiment, five fifth rollers 60b are provided. The five fifth rollers 60b are equally arranged in the circumferential direction so as to be able to come into contact with the region extending from the upper part to the bottom surface of the outer side surfaces of the welded member W at the welding position P.

  As shown in FIG. 15, the holding mechanism 62 includes an inner roller 64, an outer pressing portion 40, a first outer holding roller 66, a first outer holding roller holder 68, a second outer holding roller 70, and a second And an outer holding roller holder 72. The holding mechanism 62 holds the two edges e1 and e2 of the member to be welded W in the circumferential direction of the member to be welded W by the first outer holding roller 66 and the second outer holding roller 70. At the same time, the two end edges e1 and e2 of the member to be welded W are sandwiched between the inner roller 64 and the outer pressing portion 40, so that the butted state of the two end edges e1 and e2 is maintained at the welding position P. Is.

  Specifically, the inner roller 64 is disposed at a position corresponding to the welding position P, and is disposed in a hollow portion 39b formed in the lower coupling body 37e (see FIGS. 11 and 15). . The inner roller 64 is rotatably supported around a shaft 64a by a shaft 64a attached to the lower connecting body 37 so as to extend in the width direction (horizontal direction) of the third guide portion 36 and the connecting portion 37. . The upper end portion of the inner roller 64 is exposed from the upper opening portion of the hollow portion 39b, and can contact the inner surfaces of the two end edges e1 and e2 of the welded member W at the welding position P.

  The outer pressing portion 40 includes a pressing member 40a, a pressing plate 40b, and a spring member 40c. The pressing member 40a is fitted in a fitting hole 39a provided in the upstream end of the fourth upper guide body 38d, the upper coupling body 37d, and the third upper guide body 36d. The lower end portion of the pressing member 40a comes into contact with the upper surfaces of the end edges e1 and e2 of the member to be welded W at the welding position P. The pressing member 40a is fitted into the fitting hole 39a, and the upper surface of the pressing plate 40b and the fourth upper guide body 38d fixed to the upper surfaces of the second upper guide body 34d and the third upper guide body 36d. It is pressed downward by a presser plate 40b fixed to the support member via a spring member 40c. That is, the pressing member 40a is urged downward by the spring member 40c. The pressing member 40 a is urged by the spring member 40 c to press the edges e 1 and e 2 of the member to be welded W against the inner roller 64 at the welding position P. Moreover, the through-hole 40d penetrated to an up-down direction is formed in the location corresponding to the welding position P among the press members 40a.

  The first outer holding roller 66 and the second outer holding roller 70 are arranged separately on both sides of the outer pressing portion 40 in the circumferential direction of the member W to be welded. The first outer holding roller 66 and the second outer holding roller 70 are included in the concept of the outer roller of the present invention.

  The first outer holding roller 66 is disposed at a position corresponding to the welding position P, and is provided on the upper side of the inner roller 64 and on the side opposite to the support portion 15. Specifically, the first outer holding roller 66 is disposed adjacent to the support member 15 on the side opposite to the upper coupling body 37d. The second outer holding roller 70 is disposed at a position corresponding to the welding position P, and is provided at a position near the support portion 15 on the upper side of the inner roller 64. Specifically, the second outer holding roller 70 is disposed adjacent to the support portion 15 side with respect to the upper coupling body 37d. The second outer holding roller 70 is disposed symmetrically with the first outer holding roller 66 with respect to the center position in the width direction of the third guide portion 36 and the connecting portion 37. The first outer holding roller 66 is attached to the upper portion of the fourth frame portion 58a via a first outer holding roller holder 68, and the second outer holding roller 70 is connected via a second outer holding roller holder 72. It is attached to the upper part of the fourth frame part 58a. The first outer holding roller 66 contacts the outer surface of the outer end edge e1 of the member W to be welded at the welding position P from obliquely above, while the second outer holding roller 70 is the member to be welded at the welding position P. The rollers 66 and 70 are in contact with the outer surface of the inner end edge e2 of W obliquely from above, and both end edges e1 and e2 of the rollers 66 and 70 are brought into contact with each other. The members to be welded W are held together in the circumferential direction.

  The first outer holding roller holder 68 supports the first outer holding roller 66 so as to be rotatable around the axis of the roller 66 perpendicular to the feeding direction. And this 1st outer side holding roller holder 68 is comprised so that the position of the 1st outer side holding roller 66 can be changed to the direction which contacts / separates with respect to the outer surface of the to-be-welded member W. As shown in FIG.

  The second outer holding roller holder 72 is disposed symmetrically with the first outer holding roller holder 68 with respect to the center position in the width direction of the third guide portion 36 and the connecting portion 37. Other configurations of the second outer holding roller holder 72 are the same as those of the first outer holding roller holder 68.

  By adjusting the position of the first outer holding roller 66 in the first outer holding roller holder 68 and adjusting the position of the second outer holding roller 70 in the second outer holding roller holder 72, the member to be welded at the welding position P is obtained. The abutting state of both end edges e1, e2 of W can be adjusted.

  The downstream roller mechanism 44 guides the welded member W in a region corresponding to the fourth guide portion 38. That is, the downstream roller mechanism 44 guides the member W to be welded that is continuously sent to the downstream side by the conveying device 2 after the end edges e1 and e2 are welded at the welding position P. The downstream roller mechanism 44 is arranged slightly spaced on the downstream side of the upstream roller mechanism 42, and includes a leg portion 44a, a downstream frame portion 44b, and a plurality of downstream rollers 44c.

  The leg portion 44 a is erected on the base 3 at a position downstream of the installation location of the leg portion 58 e of the upstream roller mechanism 42.

  The downstream side frame portion 44 b is integrally provided on the upper portion of the leg portion 44 a, and is similar to the third frame portion 56 a of the third roller mechanism 56 and is guided by the second guide portion 34. It is provided so as to surround the outside of the region from the lower part to a little above the both sides.

  The configuration of the downstream roller 44c is the same as the configuration of the third roller 56b, and the downstream roller 44c can contact the outer surface of the member W to be welded in the same arrangement as the third roller 56b. Are arranged as follows. However, in the downstream roller mechanism 44 of the present embodiment, three sets of four downstream rollers 44c are arranged inside the downstream frame portion 44b so as to be aligned in the feed direction of the member W to be welded.

  The welding device 8 performs laser welding of two end edges e1 and e2 of the member W to be welded that is moved by being transferred by the conveying device 2 by irradiating a laser at the welding position P. The welding device 8 includes an irradiation device support portion 8a and a laser irradiation device 8b.

  The irradiation device support portion 8a supports the laser irradiation device 8b. The irradiation device support portion 8a is fixed on the base 3 at a position separated from the roller device 6 on the side opposite to the base portion 14 of the transport device 2. The irradiation device support portion 8a includes a standing portion 8d erected on the base 3 and a position above the second guide portion 34 from the upper end portion of the standing portion 8d substantially horizontally toward the support portion 15 side. An overhanging portion 8e is provided, and an irradiation device holder 8f that is provided at the tip of the overhanging portion 8e and holds the laser irradiation device 8b.

  The laser irradiation device 8b is a device that irradiates a laser beam for welding. The laser irradiation device 8b is held by the irradiation device holder 8f in a posture extending in the vertical direction above the welding position P. The laser irradiation device 8b is disposed such that the lower end portion thereof is located immediately above the pressing member 40 and the center position of the laser emitting portion overlaps the center position of the through hole 40d of the pressing member 40. The laser irradiation device 8b irradiates the laser beam from the laser emitting portion at the lower end thereof downward in the vertical direction, and the laser beam is irradiated to the welding position P through the through hole 40d of the pressing member 40. ing.

  The laser irradiation device 8b is provided with a gas supply path (not shown) extending to the tip (lower end) inside, and a gas supply apparatus (not shown) is connected to the gas supply path. As a result, the shield gas is supplied from the gas supply device to the gas supply path in the laser irradiation device 8b, and the shield gas is discharged downward from the tip of the laser irradiation device 8b. And the shield gas emitted from the front-end | tip part of the laser irradiation apparatus 8b is discharge | released to the welding position P through the through-hole 40d of the press member 40, and the said with respect to the lower end surface of the press member 40 in the welding position P vicinity by the shield gas. The adhesion of the melt is suppressed.

  A gas supply device (not shown) is also connected to the hollow portion 39b of the lower connecting body 37e. The shield gas supplied from the gas supply device to the hollow portion 39b passes around the inner roller 64 and is discharged upward through the opening at the top of the hollow portion 39b. By this shielding gas, the adhesion of the melt to the inner roller 64 in the vicinity of the welding position P is suppressed.

  Next, the operation of the cylindrical can manufacturing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  First, the member W to be welded, which is rounded so that the two opposing edges e1 and e2 are substantially parallel to each other in the radial direction, is set at the initial position. In this initial position, the outer edge e1 of the member W to be welded is inserted into the first outer guide groove 32a from the upstream side, the inner edge e2 is inserted into the first inner guide groove 32b from the upstream side, and the welded member W is further welded. This is a position where the member W is held by each first roller 52 b of the first roller mechanism 52. At this time, the transfer arm 24 of the transfer device 2 is disposed at a start position (see FIG. 16) located on the upstream side of the member W to be welded.

  From this state, the linear motor is driven, and the linear motor table 16 and the transfer arm 24 are moved integrally to the downstream side. Thereby, the front-end | tip of the contact part 24c of the conveyance arm 24 contact | abuts to the rear-end surface of the upper part of the to-be-welded member W, and the to-be-welded member W is sent to the downstream side with the movement to the downstream of the conveyance arm 24 ( (See state A in FIG. 16). At this time, the transfer arm 24 sends the member to be welded W to the downstream side at a constant speed.

  The two end edges e1 and e2 of the welded member W pass through the guide grooves 32a and 32b of the first guide portion 32, so that the outer end edge e1 gradually approaches the inner end edge e2 and the welded member W The separation distance between both end edges e1 and e2 in the radial direction is reduced. In this process, a force that causes the to-be-welded member W to be twisted acts on the outer edge e1 in the first outer guide groove 32a, and as a result, a welding process by a conventional cylindrical can manufacturing apparatus and Similarly, the entire welded member W is elastically deformed so that the outer edge e1 slightly protrudes downstream (front side) in the transport direction compared to the inner edge e2 (see FIG. 17). That is, in the feed direction of the member W to be welded, a front-rear difference is generated between the outer end edge e1 and the inner end edge e2, which is a shift in the front-rear direction between the front end positions.

  Thereafter, as the member to be welded W is sent further downstream, the two end edges e1 and e2 of the member to be welded W are introduced into the guide grooves 34a and 34b of the second guide portion 34. In the guide grooves 34 a and 34 b of the second guide portion 34, both end edges e 1 and e 2 of the member to be welded W are kept parallel to each other at a separation distance after being approached by the first guide portion 32. In the state where the both end edges e1 and e2 are parallel, the force that causes the twist is not applied to the both end edges e1 and e2. For this reason, in the guide grooves 34a and 34b of the 2nd guide part 34, the front-back difference between the outer side edge e1 and the inner side edge e2 of the to-be-welded member W is eliminated. Further, in the second guide portion 34, the member W to be welded is pressed and held by the plurality of third rollers 56 b of the third roller mechanism 56 from the periphery thereof. At this time, the member W to be welded has a third force around the outer edge e1 and the inner edge e2 so as to bring the outer edge e1 and the inner edge e2 close together in the circumferential direction of the member to be welded W. The end surface of the outer edge e1 contacts the second outer guide groove contact surface 34h and the end surface of the inner edge e2 contacts the second inner guide groove contact surface 34k. The state where the positions of the end surfaces of e1 and e2 coincide with each other in the left-right direction of the second guide portion 34 is maintained.

  After that, when the member to be welded W is further sent to the downstream side, the two end edges e1 and e2 of the member to be welded W are introduced into the guide grooves 36a and 36b of the third guide portion 36 from the tip portion on the downstream side. The Thus, the outer edge e1 and the inner edge e2 are brought together while being partially elastically deformed from the tip portion (downstream end portion). As a result, the outer edge e1 and the inner edge e2 approach each other in the radial direction of the member to be welded W, and the positions in the radial direction coincide with each other. Thereby, the end surface of the outer end edge e1 and the end surface of the inner end edge e2 are brought into abutment with each other. At this time, the region where both end edges e1 and e2 are elastically deformed is only a part of the whole. Therefore, the difference between e1 and e2 due to the elastic deformation is very small and hardly affects the processing accuracy.

  Thereafter, the member W to be welded is further sent to the downstream side, and the edges e1 and e2 that are abutted with each other exit from the guide grooves 36a and 36b of the third guide portion 36 and are introduced into the welding position P. At the welding position P, the edges e1 and e2 are held in a state of being brought together in the circumferential direction of the member to be welded W by the first outer holding roller 68 and the second outer holding roller 70 of the holding mechanism 62. The inner roller 64 and the pressing member 40a are sandwiched in the radial direction (vertical direction) of the member W to be welded. Accordingly, the butted state of the two end edges e1 and e2 is maintained at the welding position P.

  In this state, laser light is irradiated to the welding position P from the tip (lower end) of the laser irradiation device 8b of the welding device 8, and welding is performed in a state where the edges e1 and e2 are abutted with each other by the laser light. At this time, the edges e1 and e2 are gradually welded from the downstream end while the member W to be welded is sent to the downstream side at a constant speed. That is, as the member to be welded W is sent to the downstream side, the welding of both end edges e1 and e2 is performed at the same speed as the feed speed of the member to be welded W from the downstream end to the upstream end. Progress.

  Then, the member to be welded W is further sent to the downstream side by the conveying device 2, and the cylindrical can formed by welding the edges e 1 and e 2 of the member to be welded W is guided downstream by the downstream roller mechanism 44. (See state B in FIG. 16).

  As described above, the operation of the cylindrical can manufacturing apparatus according to the present embodiment is performed.

  As described above, in the cylindrical can manufacturing apparatus of the present embodiment, the first guide portion 32 guides the two edges e1 and e2 of the member W to be welded so that the edges e1 and e2 gradually approach each other. After that, the second guide portion 34 guides the end edges e1 and e2 so that the end edges e1 and e2 are kept parallel to each other at a separation distance after the end edges e1 and e2 are approached by the first guide portion 32. For this reason, in the process in which the end edges e1 and e2 are guided by the first guide portion 32, a front-rear difference (displacement in the front-rear direction of the front end position) occurs due to the inclination between the end edges e1 and e2. However, the difference between the front and back can be eliminated in the process of being guided by the second guide portion 34. In the present embodiment, after the difference between the front and rear edges e1 and e2 is eliminated by the second guide portion 34, the end edges e1 and e2 are partially elastically deformed from the tip portion by the third guide portion 36. The end surfaces are brought into contact with each other, and then the end edges e1 and e2 are introduced into the welding position P. That is, in this embodiment, the two edges of the member to be welded are not welded together while the two edges of the member to be welded are inclined as a whole. While maintaining the portions in parallel, the tip portions (welding position P side) are partially elastically deformed and brought together, and then welded. For this reason, these edge e1, e2 can be welded in the state which reduced the front-back difference of edge e1, e2 compared with the said conventional structure. Therefore, in this embodiment, the front-back difference which arises in two edge e1, e2 to which the to-be-welded member W is welded can be reduced.

  In the present embodiment, the portion that guides the outer edge e1 of the third outer guide groove 36a and the inner edge e2 of the third inner guide groove 36b per unit length in the feed direction of the member to be welded W are guided. The distance at which the portions approach each other in the radial direction (vertical direction) of the welded member W is such that the portion guiding the outer edge e1 of the first outer guide groove 32a and the first inner guide groove per unit length thereof. Since the portion that guides the inner end edge e2 of 32b is larger than the distance of approaching each other in the radial direction of the member to be welded W, in the third guide portion 36, both guide grooves 36a and 36b overlap and communicate with each other ( The length of region S) in FIG. 12 can be reduced. For this reason, it is possible to reduce a region where the both bottom surfaces contacting the end surfaces of the end edges e1 and e2 are eliminated due to the overlapping of both the guide grooves 36a and 36b. Thereby, in the 3rd guide part 36, these edge part e1, e2 can be brought together, suppressing the position shift to the circumferential direction of the to-be-welded member W of edge part e1, e2. As a result, the end edges e1 and e2 can be brought together in the third guide portion 36 so as to be in a good butted state. In this way, the distance at which the third outer guide groove 36a and the third inner guide groove 36b approach each other per unit length in the feed direction of the member W to be welded, that is, the third outer guide groove 36a and the third inner guide. Even if the inclination angle of the groove 36b is increased, the elastic deformation region of the both end edges e1 and e2 in the guide grooves 36a and 36b is very small. Therefore, the difference between the front and rear edges e1 and e2 due to the elastic deformation is as follows. Slightly smaller size.

  In the present embodiment, the portion that guides the outer end edge e1 of the third outer guide groove 36a and the portion that guides the inner end edge e2 of the third inner guide groove 36b are inclined at the same angle. As e1 and e2 are sent to the welding position P side, they are made to approach each other equally. For this reason, it is possible to prevent a difference in ease of movement in the feed direction between the two end edges e1 and e2 in the third outer guide groove 36a and the third inner guide groove 36b. It is possible to prevent the front and rear difference between the two end edges e1 and e2.

  In the present embodiment, the length of the second outer guide groove 34a and the second inner guide groove 34b arranged in parallel with each other in the feed direction is equal to or longer than the axial length of the member W to be welded. Therefore, the end edges e1 and e2 introduced into the guide grooves 34a and 34b of the second guide portion 34 are not engaged with the guide grooves 32a and 32b of the first guide portion 32 at all. It can be stored in the guide grooves 34a and 34b. In other words, in the present embodiment, the end edges e1 and e2 are set to the second end in a state in which no force is applied to the end edges e1 and e2 by the guide grooves 32a and 32b of the first guide portion 32. The guide grooves 34a and 34b of the guide part 34 can be kept parallel to each other. Therefore, in this embodiment, the front-rear difference between the edges e1 and e2 of the member W to be welded can be more effectively eliminated in the guide grooves 34a and 34b of the second guide portion 34.

  In the present embodiment, the second outer guide groove 34a and the third outer guide groove 36a are formed continuously, while the second inner guide groove 34b and the third inner guide groove 36b are formed continuously. Has been. Therefore, the outer edge e1 is continuously introduced from the second outer guide groove 34a to the third outer guide groove 36a, and the inner edge e2 is continuously introduced from the second inner guide groove 34b to the third inner guide groove 36b. To be introduced. Accordingly, the two outer edges e1 and e2 that are parallel to each other in the second outer guide groove 34a and the second inner guide groove 34b are continuously connected to the third outer guide groove 36a and the third outer edge from the front end side (downstream side). The inner guide grooves 36b can be brought together by being elastically deformed. For this reason, in this embodiment, a series of processes in which the two end edges e1 and e2 that are separated in the parallel state are partially elastically deformed from the front end side and brought into an attached state can be smoothly performed.

  In the present embodiment, the second outer guide groove 34a and the third outer guide groove 36a are formed continuously, and the second inner guide groove 34b and the third inner guide groove 36b are formed continuously. Therefore, when the second guide portion 34 and the third guide portion 36 are installed, the displacement between the guide grooves and the second inner guide groove 34b at the connection portion of the second outer guide groove 34a and the third outer guide groove 36a are set. It is possible to prevent the positional deviation between the guide grooves at the connecting portion of the third inner guide groove 36b.

  Further, in the present embodiment, at the welding position P, the inner roller 64 and the outer pressing portion 40 sandwich the two end edges e1 and e2 of the member W to be welded from the inside and outside (upper and lower) of the member W to be welded, and both end edges e1. , E2 can be kept in the matching state. For this reason, welding can be performed in a state in which the two end edges e1 and e2 of the member to be welded W are accurately butted.

  In the present embodiment, the two end edges e1 and e2 of the member to be welded W are brought together in the circumferential direction of the member to be welded W by the first outer holding roller 66 and the second outer holding roller 70 at the welding position P. However, since the two end edges e1 and e2 can be sandwiched in the radial direction (vertical direction) of the member W to be welded by the inner roller 64 and the outer pressing portion 40, the two end edges e1 and e2 are connected to each other at the welding position P. It is possible to ensure a more accurate butting condition.

  In the present embodiment, the second upper guide body 34d and the second lower guide body 34e are formed as separate bodies, and the second outer abutment surface forming surface 34r of the second upper guide body 34d is second. In the state where the second inner abutment surface forming surface 34s of the lower guide body 34e is in contact, the second upper guide body 34d and the second lower guide body 34e are relatively positioned and fixed to the mounting portion 20b. The second outer guide groove abutting surface 34h and the second inner guide in the left-right direction of the second guide part 34 can be obtained simply by supporting the second upper guide body 34d and supporting the second lower guide body 34e on the support base 30. Since it is possible to configure a structure in which the positions of the groove contact surfaces 34k coincide with each other, in order to configure such a structure, the second upper guide body and the second lower guide body are connected to the second outer guide groove contact surface. It is directly connected to the second inner guide groove contact surface It does not require fine processing sites between each abutment face as in the case of forming the two guide bodies. Therefore, while simplifying the processing of the second upper guide body 34d and the second lower guide body 34e, the position of the second outer guide groove contact surface 34h and the second inner guide groove in the left-right direction of the second guide portion 34 A structure in which the position of the abutting surface 34k coincides can be configured.

  The embodiment disclosed this time should be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is shown not by the above description of the embodiments but by the scope of claims for patent, and further includes meanings equivalent to the scope of claims for patent and all modifications within the scope.

  For example, in the 1st guide part 32, you may incline so that both the 1st outer side guide groove 32a and the 1st inner side guide groove 32b may mutually approach gradually as it goes to the welding position P side (downstream side). Further, the first outer guide groove extends horizontally in the feed direction of the member to be welded W, and is inclined so that the first inner guide groove gradually approaches the first outer guide groove toward the welding position P side. You may do it.

  Further, in the third guide portion 36, in the radial direction of the member to be welded W, as one of the third outer guide groove 36a and the third inner guide groove 36b moves toward the welding position P side (downstream side). You may incline so that the other guide groove may be approached. In addition, the portion that guides the outer edge e1 of the third outer guide groove 36a and the portion that guides the inner edge e2 of the third inner guide groove 36b approach each other at different angles so as to approach each other toward the welding position P side. It may be inclined.

  Further, the first guide portion and the second guide portion are integrally provided, the first outer guide groove is formed to be continuous with the second outer guide groove, and the first inner guide groove is the second. It may be formed to be continuous with the inner guide groove.

  Further, the transport device is not limited to the configuration shown in the above embodiment. For example, instead of the conveyance device 2 of the above-described embodiment, a conveyance device that includes a storage unit that stores a plurality of members to be welded and sequentially feeds the welding members from the storage unit to the first guide unit is provided. May be.

  Further, as in the first modification shown in FIGS. 18 and 19, some of the seven rollers that contact the outer surface of the member to be welded W at the welding position P and hold the shape of the member W to be welded. However, it may be driven and rotated by a motor to send the member W to be welded from the welding position P to the downstream side. An example of the configuration according to the first modification is shown in FIGS. 18 and 19.

  The cylindrical can manufacturing apparatus according to the first modified example includes a first upper drive roller 76, a second upper drive roller 78, a first upper holding roller 80, which are arranged so as to surround the member to be welded at the welding position P, A second upper holding roller 82, a first lower driving roller 84, a second lower driving roller 86 and a lower holding roller 88, four electric motors 90, four motor side pulleys 92, and four roller side pulleys 93, Four drive belts 94 are provided.

  The first upper driving roller 76 and the second upper driving roller 78 are the first outer holding roller 66 and the second outer holding roller 70 instead of the first outer holding roller 66 and the second outer holding roller 70 of the above embodiment. They are arranged in the same way. The first upper drive roller 76 and the second upper drive roller 78 are included in the concept of the outer roller of the present invention. The first upper holding roller 80, the second upper holding roller 82, the first lower driving roller 84, the second lower driving roller 86, and the lower holding roller 88 are the fifth roller 60b instead of the fifth roller 60b of the above embodiment. Are arranged in this order from the first upper drive roller 76 side to the second upper drive roller 78 side by side in the circumferential direction of the welded member W. The configuration of the first upper holding roller 80, the second upper holding roller 82, and the lower holding roller 88 is the same as the configuration of the fifth roller 60b disposed at the corresponding position in the above embodiment.

  The four electric motors 90 are provided corresponding to the first upper drive roller 76, the second upper drive roller 78, the first lower drive roller 84, and the second lower drive roller 86, respectively. A motor-side pulley 92 is mounted on the drive shaft of each electric motor 90, and each motor-side pulley 92 rotates about its axis as the electric motor 90 is driven. Each of the first upper drive roller 76, the second upper drive roller 78, the first lower drive roller 84, and the second lower drive roller 86 is fitted with a roller pulley 93 coaxially. A driving belt 94 is wound around each roller-side pulley 93 and the corresponding motor-side pulley 92. As a result, the rotational force of each motor-side pulley 92 rotated by each electric motor 90 is transmitted to the corresponding roller-side pulley 93 via the corresponding drive belt 94, and the drive roller on which the roller-side pulley 93 is mounted. Is rotated around the axis, whereby the member W to be welded is sent to the downstream side by the drive rollers 76, 78, 84, 86.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 19, the first upper drive roller 76 and the second upper drive roller 78 bring the two end edges e1 and e2 of the welded member W together in the circumferential direction of the welded member W. While being held in a state, the end edges e1 and e2 are pressed against the inner roller 64. That is, in this first modification, the two end edges e1 and e2 of the member to be welded W are welded to each other in the circumferential direction of the member to be welded W by the first upper drive roller 76 and the second upper drive roller 78 at the welding position P. At the same time, the outer pressing portion 40, the first upper driving roller 76, the second upper driving roller 78, and the inner roller 64 are sandwiched in the radial direction (vertical direction) of the member W to be welded. e1 and e2 are held in a state of abutting each other.

  In the first modification, the welded member W is transported by the transport device 2 only from the welding position P to a predetermined position slightly upstream. That is, in this first modification, the transport arm 24 of the transport device 2 can only push the rear end portion (upstream end portion) of the welded member W to a predetermined position slightly upstream of the welding position P. Thereafter, the member W to be welded is sent to the downstream side by the rotation of the drive rollers 76, 78, 84, 86.

  Further, as in the second modification shown in FIGS. 20 to 23, the second upper guide body 34d and the second lower guide body 34e constituting the second guide portion 34 may be integrally formed. .

  Specifically, in the second modified example, as shown in FIG. 23, the second upper guide body 34d and the second lower guide body 34e are formed of a second outer guide groove contact surface 34h and a second inner guide groove. It is directly connected at a position between the contact surface 34k and integrally formed. The configurations of the second outer guide groove 34a and the second inner guide groove 34b are the same as the configurations of the second outer guide groove 34a and the second inner guide groove 34b in the above embodiment.

  Further, in the second modification, the second upper guide body 34d and the second lower guide body 34e are not configured with separate members located on the left and right of the center position as in the above embodiment. The members located on the left and right are integrally formed. In the second modification, the third upper guide body 36d, the upper connection body 37d, and the fourth upper guide body 38d are integrally formed, and the third lower guide body 36e and the lower connection body 37e are formed. And the fourth lower guide body 38e are integrally formed. A member composed of the third upper guide body 36d, the upper coupling body 37d, and the fourth upper guide body 38d, and a member composed of the third lower guide body 36e, the lower coupling body 37e, and the fourth lower guide body 38e. Are formed separately and are not connected to each other. The second upper guide body 34d, the third upper guide body 36d, the upper coupling body 37d, and the member made up of the fourth upper guide body 38d are formed separately from each other, and the second lower guide body 34e The third lower guide body 36e, the lower connecting body 37e, and the member including the fourth lower guide body 38e are formed separately.

  The guide mechanism 4 includes an upper holder 96 that holds a second upper guide body 34d, a member that includes the third upper guide body 36d, the upper coupling body 37d, and the fourth upper guide body 38d, and a second lower guide. A body 34e, and a lower holder 97 that holds a member composed of a third lower guide body 36e, a lower connecting body 37e, and a fourth lower guide body 38e.

  The upper holder 96 is fastened to the attachment portion 20b in a state where the upper surface thereof is in contact with the lower surface of the attachment portion 20b (see FIGS. 1 and 2), and is attachable to and detachable from the attachment portion 20b. The upper holder 96 is provided with a groove 96a extending in the longitudinal direction and opening downward. A member composed of the second upper guide body 34d, the third upper guide body 36d, the upper coupling body 37d, and the fourth upper guide body 38d is inserted from the end into the groove portion 96a of the upper holder 96 along the longitudinal direction thereof. The upper holder 96 is fastened in the inserted state.

  The lower holder 97 is fastened to the support base 30 with its lower surface in contact with the upper surface of the support base 30 (see FIGS. 1 and 2), and is detachable from the support base 30. . The lower holder 97 is provided with a groove 97a that extends in the longitudinal direction and opens upward. A member composed of the second lower guide body 34e, the third lower guide body 36e, the lower coupling body 37e, and the fourth lower guide body 38e is connected to the groove 97a of the lower holder 97 along the longitudinal direction thereof. And is fastened to the lower holder 97 in the inserted state.

  In the second modification, the second upper guide body 34d and the second lower guide body 34e are directly connected between the second outer guide groove contact surface 34h and the second inner guide groove contact surface 34k. When the member to be welded W is pressed and held by the plurality of third rollers 56b of the third roller mechanism 56 from around in the second guide portion 34, the outer edge e1 of the member to be welded W is second outer guide. Even if the groove contact surface 34h is pushed leftward and the inner edge e2 of the welded member W pushes the second inner guide groove contact surface 34k rightward, the second upper guide body 34d and the second lower side The guide body 34e is not separated in the left-right direction, but is in contact with the position of the end face toward the left of the outer edge e1 that is in contact with the second outer guide groove contact surface 34h and the second inner guide groove contact surface 34k. The position of the end face toward the right of the inner edge e2 is The matched state had can be reliably maintained. If the second upper guide body 34d and the second lower guide body 34e are separately formed and installed in a state where they can be easily separated in the left-right direction, the outer edge of the member W to be welded When e1 pushes the second outer guide groove contact surface 34h to the left and the inner end edge e2 of the member W to be welded pushes the second inner guide groove contact surface 34k to the right, both end edges e1, e2 They overlap each other. In this case, after that, welding is performed in a state where both end edges e1 and e2 overlap each other at the welding position P. On the other hand, in the second modified example, the second guide portion 34 can reliably maintain a state in which the positions of the end faces of the both end edges e1 and e2 in the left-right direction coincide with each other. In the portion 36 and the welding position P, both end edges e1 and e2 do not overlap with each other, and the end faces thereof can be kept in contact with each other, and the end faces of both end edges e1 and e2 are securely attached to each other. Both end edges e1 and e2 can be welded.

2 Conveying device 4 Guide mechanism 8 Welding device 20b Mounting portion (upper support)
30 Support base (lower support)
32 1st guide part 32a 1st outer side guide groove 32b 1st inner side guide groove 34 2nd guide part 34a 2nd outer side guide groove 34b 2nd inner side guide groove 34d 2nd upper side guide body 34e 2nd lower side guide body 34h 2nd Outer guide groove contact surface 34k Second inner guide groove contact surface 36 Third guide portion 36a Third outer guide groove 36b Third inner guide groove 40 Outer pressing portion 62 Holding mechanism 64 Inner roller 66 First outer holding roller (outer roller)
70 Second outer holding roller (outer roller)
76 First upper drive roller (outer roller)
78 Second upper drive roller (outer roller)
e1 Outer edge (edge)
e2 Inner edge (edge)
P Welding position W Welded member

Claims (9)

A cylindrical can manufacturing apparatus for manufacturing a cylindrical can by welding the two end edges of a metal plate rounded so that two opposing edges are spaced apart in a radial direction in a state of being substantially parallel to each other. ,
A conveying device for feeding a member to be welded, which is a rounded metal plate, along a direction in which the two edges extend;
A welding device that laser welds the two edges of the welded member that is sent and moved by the conveying device by irradiating a laser at a predetermined welding position;
A guide mechanism for guiding the two end edges of the member to be welded sent by the conveying device to the welding position;
The guide mechanism includes a first guide portion that guides the two end edges so that the two end edges gradually approach from the state of being separated from each other in the radial direction of the welded member toward the welding position side; It is arranged on the welding position side of the first guide part, and guides to the welding position side while keeping the two end edges parallel to each other at a separation distance after being approached by the first guide part. A second guide portion and a second guide portion disposed on the welding position side of the second guide portion, the two end edges thereof being brought together so as to be partially elastically deformed in the radial direction of the member to be welded. An apparatus for manufacturing a cylindrical can, comprising: a third guide portion for guiding the two end edges to the welding position so that the end faces of the end edges are abutted with each other. The first guide portion includes a first outer guide groove into which an outer edge, which is an edge located on a radially outer side of the welded member, of the two end edges is inserted, and the first of the two edges. A first inner guide groove into which an inner edge that is an edge located on the radially inner side of the member to be welded is inserted;
The second guide portion has a second outer guide groove into which the outer edge is inserted, and a second inner guide groove into which the inner edge is inserted,
The third guide portion has a third outer guide groove into which the outer edge is inserted, and a third inner guide groove into which the inner edge is inserted,
The first outer guide groove, the second outer guide groove, and the third outer guide groove continuously guide the outer edge toward the welding position side, while the first inner guide groove and the second inner guide groove The guide groove and the third inner guide groove continuously guide the inner end edge to the welding position side,
The portion of the first outer guide groove and the first inner guide groove that guides the end edge of at least one guide groove is formed on the other guide groove in the radial direction of the welded member toward the welding position. It is inclined so as to gradually approach the portion that guides the edge,
The portion of the third outer guide groove and the third inner guide groove that guides the end edge of at least one of the guide grooves has the other guide groove in the radial direction of the member to be welded toward the welding position side. Inclined so as to approach the portion that guides the edge, and in the portion closest to the welding position, the positions in the radial direction of the welded members coincide with each other and communicate with each other.
The distance at which the third outer guide groove and the third inner guide groove approach each other in the radial direction of the welded member per unit length in the feed direction of the welded member by the conveying device is the unit length. The cylindrical can manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first outer guide groove and the first inner guide groove are larger than a distance in which the welded member approaches each other in the radial direction of the welded member.   The portion that guides the outer edge of the third outer guide groove and the portion that guides the inner edge of the third inner guide groove approach each other in the radial direction of the member to be welded toward the welding position. The cylindrical can manufacturing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the apparatus is inclined at an equal angle. A portion that guides the outer edge of the second outer guide groove and a portion that guides the inner edge of the second inner guide groove extend along a feeding direction of the welded member by the conveying device, and Arranged parallel to each other,
The length of the second outer guide groove and the second inner guide groove in the feed direction is set to be equal to or longer than the length of the member to be welded. apparatus. The second guide part and the third guide part are provided integrally,
The second outer guide groove and the third outer guide groove are formed continuously, while the second inner guide groove and the third inner guide groove are formed continuously. Item 5. The cylindrical can manufacturing apparatus according to any one of Items 2 to 4.   An inner roller that contacts the inner surfaces of the two edges of the welded member at the welding position, and an outer surface of the two edges of the welded member at the welding position, and the two edges are An outer pressing portion sandwiched between the inner roller and the two end edges are sandwiched between the inner roller and the outer pressing portion at the welding position to maintain the butt state of the two end edges. The cylindrical can manufacturing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising a holding mechanism.   The holding mechanism is arranged at positions on both sides of the outer pressing portion in the circumferential direction of the member to be welded, and contacts the outer surface of the corresponding one of the two end edges, respectively. The manufacturing apparatus of the cylindrical can of Claim 6 which further has a pair of outer side roller which brings edges together in the circumferential direction of the said to-be-welded member. The second outer guide groove is provided in a region from a specific position in the second guide portion to one side surface of the second guide portion in the left-right direction in the left-right direction orthogonal to the feed direction of the welded member. The second inner guide groove is located below the second outer guide groove and is opposite to the one side surface of the second guide portion from the specific position in the second guide portion in the left-right direction. Provided in the region that reaches the other side surface,
An inner surface of the second outer guide groove is disposed at the specific position in the second guide portion, faces the one side, and comes into contact with an end face of the outer edge inserted into the second outer guide groove. 2 having an outer guide groove contact surface,
The inner surface of the second inner guide groove is disposed below the second outer guide groove contact surface at a position that coincides with the position of the second outer guide groove contact surface in the left-right direction and faces the other side. A second inner guide groove contact surface that contacts the end surface of the inner edge inserted into the second inner guide groove,
The second guide portion constitutes a portion of the second guide portion located above the second outer guide groove and a portion located above the second inner guide groove, and the second outer guide groove contact A second upper guide body that forms a contact surface, a portion of the second guide portion that is located below the second outer guide groove, and a portion that is located below the second inner guide groove; A second lower guide body forming the second inner guide groove contact surface,
The second upper guide body and the second lower guide body are connected to each other at a position between the second outer guide groove contact surface and the second inner guide groove contact surface. The manufacturing apparatus of the cylindrical can of any one of -5. The second outer guide groove is provided in a region from a specific position in the second guide portion to one side surface of the second guide portion in the left-right direction in the left-right direction orthogonal to the feed direction of the welded member. The second inner guide groove is located below the second outer guide groove and is opposite to the one side surface of the second guide portion from the specific position in the second guide portion in the left-right direction. Provided in the region that reaches the other side surface,
An inner surface of the second outer guide groove is disposed at the specific position in the second guide portion, faces the one side, and comes into contact with an end face of the outer edge inserted into the second outer guide groove. 2 having an outer guide groove contact surface,
The inner surface of the second inner guide groove is disposed below the second outer guide groove contact surface at a position that coincides with the position of the second outer guide groove contact surface in the left-right direction and faces the other side. A second inner guide groove contact surface that contacts the end surface of the inner edge inserted into the second inner guide groove,
The second guide portion includes a second upper guide body that constitutes a portion of the second guide portion that is located above the second outer guide groove and a portion that is located above the second inner guide groove, It is formed separately from the second upper guide body, and constitutes a portion located below the second outer guide groove and a portion located below the second inner guide groove in the second guide portion. A second lower guide body,
The second upper guide body has a second outer abutment surface forming surface that includes a portion that faces the one side at the specific position in the left-right direction and forms the second outer guide groove abutment surface,
The second lower guide body has a second inner abutment surface forming surface including a portion that faces the other side at the specific position in the left-right direction and forms the second inner guide groove abutment surface. ,
The manufacturing apparatus includes: an upper support that supports the second upper guide body; and the second outer guide of the second outer abutment surface forming surface of the second upper guide body that is supported by the upper support. Above the portion forming the second inner guide groove abutting surface among the second inner abutting surface forming surfaces of the second lower guide body at the portion located below the portion forming the groove abutting surface. A lower support that supports the second lower guide body so that the relative position of the second lower guide body with respect to the second upper guide body is fixed in a state where the portion located at The manufacturing apparatus of the cylindrical can of any one of Claims 2-5 provided.

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