Joints and connections – Molded joint – Fusion bond – e.g. – weld – etc.
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-01
2001-10-16
Brown, Lynne H. (Department: 3629)
Joints and connections
Molded joint
Fusion bond, e.g., weld, etc.
C219S121640, C411S171000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06302616
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a rotation mechanism and a producing method thereof, and more particularly, to a welding structure and a welding method of a rotation shaft and a fixed member.
Conventionally, as one example of the rotation mechanism and its producing method, Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKOKU Publication No. 2-1498 discloses a technique concerning an endoscope nipper device.
This endoscope nipper device will be explained using
FIGS. 7 and 8
.
In
FIG. 7
, a connection piece
124
of a pair of nippers
119
is connected to a tip end
126
a
of a nipper operating wire
126
inserted through a flexible tube
121
through links
125
and a wire joint hardware
127
.
A rear end (not shown) of the nipper operating wire
126
is connected to a nipper operating device (not shown) of a nipper operating portion.
By moving the nipper operating device backward and forward, the nipper operating wire
126
can be advanced and retreated in the flexible tube
121
.
With the advancing and retreating movements of the nipper operating wire
126
, the wire joint hardware
127
advances and retreats, so that the pair of nippers
119
can open and close around a pivot pin
130
fixed to a slotted opening cover
129
of a nipper head
123
.
The pair of nippers
119
of the endoscope nipper device of the above structure have connection pieces
124
projected from connected portions
119
a
of both the nippers
119
are connected to links
125
through connection pins
131
, the links
125
are connected to the operating wire
126
through the wire joint hardware
127
, the connected portions
119
a
of both the nippers
119
pivot for opening and closing movements at the slotted opening cover
129
of the nipper head
123
.
In the endoscope nipper device of the above structure, a connecting method, using laser welding, of the connection pieces
124
of the nippers
119
, the links
125
and the connection pins
131
will be explained by using FIG.
8
.
First, the links
125
abut against connected portions
124
a
of the connection pieces
124
, connection holes
124
b
of the connection pieces
124
and connection holes
125
a
of the links
125
are aligned with each other, and connection pins
131
are inserted to the connection holes
124
b
and
125
a.
Here, the length of each of the connection pins
131
is set to a value which does not exceed the sum L
1
of a plate thickness of the connection piece
124
and a plate thickness of the link
125
.
Flat heads
131
a
of the connection pins
131
are flush with a side of the links
125
.
Further, weld ends
131
b
of the connection pins
131
are flush with a side of the connection pieces
124
.
In this state, the weld ends
131
b
of the connection pins
131
are radiated with a laser light, and the weld portions
131
b
are welded along opening edges of the connection holes
124
b
of the connection pieces
124
.
However, the above-described prior art has the following problems.
That is, when the connection pins
131
are inserted to the connection holes
124
b
and
125
a
, it is necessary to precisely position the three parts, i.e., the connection piece
124
, the link
125
and the connection pin
131
.
If the number of parts which need to be positioned is great, a control apparatus for an automatic welder is increased in size, which increases the costs.
Further, there are problems that the time required for the welding becomes long, and the efficiency of the automatic welder is lowered.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the conventional problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a rotation mechanism in which the positioning operation by an automatic welder is easy, the operation efficiency is high, and the cost of a control apparatus of the automatic welder can be reduced.
Further, in view of the conventional problems, another object of the invention is to provide a producing method of a rotation mechanism capable of producing the rotation mechanism efficiently.
To achieve the above object, according to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a rotation mechanism comprising:
a rotation shaft;
a fixed member fixed to the rotation shaft; and
a rotation member rotatably fitted to the rotation shaft,
wherein in a state in which one of end surfaces of the rotation shaft abuts against one of side-surfaces of the fixed member, the rotation shaft and the fixed member are welded and fixed to each other by high density energy beams radiated from a direction of the other side surface of the fixed member.
Further, according to another aspect, there is provided a producing method of a rotation mechanism comprising a rotation shaft, a fixed member fixed to the rotation shaft, and a rotation member rotatably fitted to the rotation shaft, the producing method comprising the steps of:
fitting the rotation shaft into a connection hole of the rotation member;
bringing one of end surfaces of the rotation shaft into abutment against one of side surfaces of the fixed member; and
radiating high density energy beams from the other side surface of the fixed member, thereby welding the rotation shaft and the fixed member to each other.
According to the above-described invention, a melted portion formed on the fixed member generated by radiating high energy is allowed to reach the rotation shaft. Then, the radiation of the high energy is finished, thereby fixing the fixed member and the rotation shaft.
Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out hereinafter.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1330241 (1920-02-01), Cutter
patent: 2509020 (1950-05-01), Stauffer et al.
patent: 2563107 (1951-08-01), Fanger
patent: 4669471 (1987-06-01), Hayashi
patent: 5318869 (1994-06-01), Hashimoto et al.
patent: 5579986 (1996-12-01), Sherry et al.
patent: 2-1498 (1990-01-01), None
Binda Greg
Brown Lynne H.
Frishauf, Holtz Goodman, Langer & Chick, P.C.
Olympus Optical Co,. Ltd.
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