US4249062A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus and method for sensing welding point in automatic welding apparatus
Assignee: Shinmaywa Industries Ltd
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Filing: 1978-07-25
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Granted: 1981-02-03
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Expires: 1998-07-25
Abstract
Abstract An automatic welding apparatus comprises a welding torch including an electrode and a fixture for fixing a workpiece, and a relative positional relation of the welding torch and the workpiece fixture is controlled such that the electrode of the welding torch is moved to trace the welding line of the workpiece, whereby automatic welding is achieved. The automatic welding apparatus further comprises a switch for selectively connecting the electrode of the welding torch to a welding power supply or a detecting power supply, and a sensor for sensing a current or a voltage between the electrode and the workpiece when the electrode is switched to the detecting power supply, whereby the relative positional relation between the welding torch and the workpiece is detected in response to the output of the sensor, and thus a welding point or a welding line is sensed. In the case where the automatic welding apparatus is a wire extension type, adapted to successively feed the electrode in accordance with the progress of welding, a collet chuck for clamping the electrode to the welding torch is provided for fixing the length of the electrode from the welding torch on the occasion of the sensing mode.
Inventors
- 👤 Keiichi Hozumi
- 👤 Yuji Nishikaichi
- 👤 Masao Ueda
- 👤 Tatsuya Miura
- 👤 Hirotoshi Yamamoto
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 13:26
CPC Classifications
B; B23; B23K; B23K9/00; B23K9/12; B23K9/127; B23K9/1272; B23K9/1276; B23K9/133; B23K9/1336; G; G05; G05B; G05B2219/00; G05B2219/30; G05B2219/49; G05B2219/49386
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 86
Claim 1
Independent Claim
294 words
An automatic welding apparatus for performing welding operations between a welding torch having a tip end and including an electrode, and a workpiece having a welding line, said workpiece being fixed to a workpiece fixture, said welding operation being performed in accordance with a desired relative positional relation between said welding torch and said workpiece fixture, said apparatus comprising: present positional information generating means operatively connected to said welding torch and said workpiece fixture for generating present positional information representative of the present positions of said welding torch and said workpiece fixture, control means including storage means for storing command positional information concerning the desired relative positional relation between said welding torch and said workpiece fixture as programmed in advance, said control means being responsive to said command positional information and said present positional information for controlling the relative positional relation between said welding torch and said workpiece fixture to said desired relative positional relation for automatically welding said welding line of said workpiece by means of said electrode of said welding torch, voltage supply means coupled to said electrode of said welding torch for supplying a voltage to said electrode of said welding torch, said voltage supply means having a sensing mode and a welding mode, mode selecting means operatively coupled to said voltage supply means for selectively changing the mode of said voltage supply means to a selected one of said sensing mode and said welding mode, means operatively coupled to said electrode of said welding torch for detecting an electric current conduction state in said electrode in said sensing mode, and means responsive to the output of said electric current conduction state detecting means for supplying said present positional information of said present positional information generating means to said control means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
294 words
An automatic welding apparatus for performing welding operations between a welding torch having a tip end and including an electrode, and a workpiece having a welding line, said workpiece being fixed to a workpiece fixture, said welding operation being performed in accordance with a desired relative positional relation between said welding torch and said workpiece fixture, said apparatus comprising: present positional information generating means operatively connected to said welding torch and said workpiece fixture for generating present positional information representative of the present positions of said welding torch and said workpiece fixture, control means including storage means for storing command positional information concerning the desired relative positional relation between said welding torch and said workpiece fixture as programmed in advance, said control means being responsive to said command positional information and said present positional information for controlling the relative positional relation between said welding torch and said workpiece fixture to said desired relative positional relation for automatically welding said welding line of said workpiece by means of said electrode of said welding torch, voltage supply means coupled to said electrode of said welding torch for supplying a voltage to said electrode of said welding torch, said voltage supply means having a sensing mode and a welding mode, mode selecting means operatively coupled to said voltage supply means for selectively changing the mode of said voltage supply means to a selected one of said sensing mode and said welding mode, means operatively coupled to said electrode of said welding torch for detecting an electric current conduction state in said electrode in said sensing mode, and means responsive to the output of said electric current conduction state detecting means for supplying said present positional information of said present positional information generating means to said control means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
67 words
An automatic welding apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said control means is adapted to be responsive to the output of said electric current conduction state detecting means to evaluate relative positional information concerning a present relative positional relation between said welding torch and said workpiece fixture based on said present positional information representative of the present positions of said welding torch and said workpiece fixture.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
An automatic welding apparatus in accordance with claim 2, wherein said control means is adapted to correct said command positional information as programmed in advance based on said relative positional information concerning the present relative positional relation between said welding torch and said workpiece fixture.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
An automatic welding apparatus in accordance with claim 3, wherein said control means is adapted to evaluate information concerning said welding line based on said information concerning said relative positional relation.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
102 words
An automatic welding apparatus in accordance with claim 4, wherein said control means is adapted to bring said electrode of said welding torch and said workpiece into proximity with respect to each other at a plurality of point positions crossing said welding line, and to evaluate said positional information concerning the desired relative positional relation between said welding torch and said workpiece in response to the output of said electric current conduction state detecting means of said electrode in such situation, whereby one welding point position along said welding line is evaluated based on positional information concerning said plurality of point positions.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
257 words
An automatic welding apparatus in accordance with claim 4, wherein said workpiece has a beveling which is butt welded, and said control means comprises: first means for detecting a first position on the surface of said workpiece in the vicinity of said beveling for providing a first piece of data representing said first position, additional storage means for optionally programming in advance the angle of the beveling of said workpiece, second means for detecting a second position on the surface of said workpiece closer to said beveling and spaced apart by a predetermined distance from said first position on the surface of said workpiece for providing a second piece of data representative of said second position, third means for evaluating a difference between said first piece of data and said second piece of data, fourth means for comparing said difference with a predetermined value for providing an error and determining whether said error is smaller or larger than a predetermined value, fifth means operatively connected said additional storage means and said fourth means for determining whether or not the angle of said beveling has been provided by programming in advance when said error is larger than said predetermined value, sixth means for detecting a third position on the surface of said beveling at the opposite side for providing a third piece of data, when the angle of beveling has been provided in advance, and seventh means for evaluating an intersection of the beveling line based on said second piece of data and said third piece of data.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
64 words
An automatic welding apparatus in accordance with claim 6, wherein said control means is further adapted to detect two point positions for each beveling surface, including said second position, if and when the angle of beveling has not been provided by programming in advance as determined by said fifth means for evaluating said intersection of said beveling line based on these pieces of data.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
98 words
An automatic welding apparatus in accordance with claim 7, wherein said control means is adapted to detect a further position on the surface spaced apart the same predetermined distance, if and when the angle of beveling has not been provided by programming in advance, as determined by said fifth means, for providing a further piece of data and for evaluating the difference between said second piece of data and said first piece of data, and further evaluating a slightly returned position as an intersection of the beveling line, if and when the sign of the difference value changes.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
51 words
An automatic welding apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said voltage supply means comprises a detecting voltage supply and a welding voltage supply, and said switch means comprises a switching means for selectively connecting said electrode of said welding torch to said detecting voltage supply or said welding voltage supply.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
85 words
An automatic welding apparatus in accordance with claim 9, wherein said detecting voltage supply means comprises a high frequency oscillating voltage supply and said switch means comprises switching means for selectively applying the output of said high frequency oscillating voltage supply in superposition to the output from said welding voltage supply to said electrode of said welding torch in said sensing mode, and for selectively applying only the output of said welding voltage supply to said electrode of said welding torch in said welding mode.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
62 words
An automatic welding apparatus in accordance with claim 9, wherein said detecting voltage supply means comprises an electric current limiting circuit provided between said welding voltage supply and said electrode of said welding torch, and said switch means comprises means for selectively actuating said electric current limiting circuit in said sensing mode and deactuating said current limiting circuit in said welding mode.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
An automatic welding apparatus in accordance with claim 11, wherein said electric current limiting circuit comprises a resistor.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
36 words
An automatic welding apparatus in accordance with claim 1, which further comprises electrode supply means for sequentially supplying a consumptive electrode to said welding torch in accordance with the progress of welding in said welding mode.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
59 words
An automatic welding apparatus in accordance with claim 13, wherein said consumptive electrode is moveable in a longitudinal direction and protrudes from said tip end of said welding torch and wherein said welding torch comprises clamp means for clamping said consumptive electrode with respect to said welding torch tip end when said consumptive electrode protrudes by a predetermined length.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
An automatic welding apparatus in accordance with claim 14, wherein said clamp means comprises a collet chuck and a fastening means for fastening said collet chuck.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
39 words
An automatic welding apparatus in accordance with claim 15, wherein said fastening means comprises a cylinder, a piston slidably fitted in said cylinder for unidirectional movement, and moving means for moving said piston in accordance with said unidirectional movement.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
32 words
An automatic welding apparatus in accordance with claim 16, wherein said moving means comprises means for supplying a high pressure gas in said cylinder for imparting said unidirectional movement to said piston.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
An automatic welding apparatus in accordance with claim 13, wherein said electrode supply means comprises shaping means for forcibly shaping said consumptive electrode in a predetermined direction.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
30 words
An automatic welding apparatus in accordance with claim 18, wherein said shaping means comprises a flexible tube shaped in a loop for shaping said consumptive electrode in a curl direction.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
An automatic welding apparatus in accordance with claim 18, wherein said shaping means comprises a pressing roller for straightening said consumptive electrode.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
67 words
An automatic welding apparatus in accordance with claim 20, wherein the optimum protruding length of said consumptive electrode in said sensing mode is selected to be a standard protruding length and wherein said information concerning the error of said protruding length of said electrode of said welding torch comprises information corresponding to the difference between the actual protruding length of said electrode and said standard protruding length.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
104 words
An automatic welding apparatus in accordance with claim 13, which further comprises a reference position member positioned at a predetermined position of said automatic welding apparatus, and wherein said control means further comprises: means for switching said voltage supply means to said sensing mode, means for bringing the tip end of said electrode of said welding torch close to said reference position member, and means for evaluating information concerning the protruding length of said electrode in response to the output of said electric current conduction state detecting means obtainable when the tip end of said welding torch comes close to said reference position member.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
18 words
An automatic welding apparatus in accordance with claim 22, wherein said reference position member comprises said workpiece fixture.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
29 words
An automatic welding apparatus in accordance with claim 22, wherein said reference position member comprises a predetermined position on the surface of said workpiece fixed on said workpiece fixture.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
93 words
An automatic welding apparatus in accordance with claim 13, which further comprises a reference position member positioned at a predetermined position of said automatic welding apparatus, and wherein said control means comprises: means for switching said voltage supply means to said sensing mode, means for feeding said consumptive electrode from said consumptive electrode supply means, and means for disabling said consumptive electrode supply means in response to the output from said electric current conduction state detecting means obtainable when the tip end of said consumptive electrode comes close to said reference position member.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
18 words
An automatic welding apparatus in accordance with claim 25, wherein said reference position member comprises said workpiece fixture.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
29 words
An automatic welding apparatus in accordance with claim 25, wherein said reference position member comprises a predetermined position on the surface of said workpiece fixed on said workpiece fixture.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
35 words
An automatic welding apparatus in accordance with claim 25, wherein said reference position member comprises a structure integrally provided on said welding torch and positioned at a predetermined position in front of said welding torch.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
61 words
An automatic welding apparatus in accordance with claim 28, wherein said welding torch comprises a displaceable rod, said reference position member is provided at the tip end of said displaceable rod along said welding torch, and said means for positioning at said predetermined position comprises means for swinging said rod from a retracted state to a displaced state of said rod.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
59 words
An automatic welding apparatus in accordance with claim 13, which further comprises means provided opposite to and spaced apart a predetermined distance from said welding torch for cutting the consumptive electrode protruding from said welding torch, and trim means for controllably protruding said consumptive electrode by means of said consumptive electrode supply means and for enabling said cutting means.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
18 words
An automatic welding apparatus in accordance with claim 30, wherein said cutting means comprises a rotary grinding stone.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
20 words
An automatic welding apparatus in accordance with claim 30, wherein said cutting means comprises means for shearing said consumptive electrode.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
94 words
An automatic welding apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said control means comprises: means responsive to the welding mode for detecting at least one of the welding voltage applied to said consumptive electrode and the welding current flowing through said consumptive electrode, comparing means responsive to the welding mode for comparing said at least one of the detected welding voltage and welding current with a predetermined value, and controlling means for controlling the position, in the back and forth direction, of said welding torch in response to the output of said comparing means.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
37 words
An automatic welding apparatus in accordance with claim 33, wherein said comparing means comprises: means for evaluating a difference between said at least one of the detected welding voltage and the welding current, and said predetermined value.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
33 words
An automatic welding apparatus in accordance with claim 34, wherein said controlling means controls the position of said welding torch in the direction for making said difference zero in response to said difference.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
225 words
A method for sensing a welding point in an automatic welding apparatus for performing welding operations between an electrode of a welding torch and a workpiece having a welding line and affixed to a workpiece fixture, the automatic welding apparatus performing the welding operation based on a welding point evaluated responsive to the sensed welding point, the automatic welding apparatus comprising voltage supply means coupled to the electrode of the welding torch for supplying a voltage to the electrode of the welding torch, the voltage supply means having a sensing mode and a welding mode, and mode selecting means operatively coupled to the voltage supply means for selectively changing the mode of the voltage supply means to a selected one of the sensing mode and the welding mode, the sensing method comprising, when the sensing mode is selected by the mode selecting means, the steps of: controlling the positions of the welding torch and the workpiece fixture such that the electrode is brought in proximity of the welding line, detecting whether an electrical conduction state has occurred between the electrode of the welding torch and the workpiece, generating information representative of the position of at least one of the welding torch and the workpiece fixture at the time of detection of the electrical conduction state, and evaluating the welding point based on the generated information.
Claim 38
Independent Claim
225 words
A method for sensing a welding point in an automatic welding apparatus for performing welding operations between an electrode of a welding torch and a workpiece having a welding line and affixed to a workpiece fixture, the automatic welding apparatus performing the welding operation based on a welding point evaluated responsive to the sensed welding point, the automatic welding apparatus comprising voltage supply means coupled to the electrode of the welding torch for supplying a voltage to the electrode of the welding torch, the voltage supply means having a sensing mode and a welding mode, and mode selecting means operatively coupled to the voltage supply means for selectively changing the mode of the voltage supply means to a selected one of the sensing mode and the welding mode, the sensing method comprising, when the sensing mode is selected by the mode selecting means, the steps of: controlling the positions of the welding torch and the workpiece fixture such that the electrode is brought in proximity of the welding line, detecting whether an electrical conduction state has occurred between the electrode of the welding torch and the workpiece, generating information representative of the position of at least one of the welding torch and the workpiece fixture at the time of detection of the electrical conduction state, and evaluating the welding point based on the generated information.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
64 words
A method for sensing a welding point in an automatic welding apparatus in accordance with claim 36, which further comprises the steps of: providing to the automatic welding apparatus command positional information representative of the desired relative positional relationship between the welding torch and the workpiece fixture, and correcting the command positional information based on the evaluated information with respect to the welding point.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method for sensing a welding point in an automatic welding apparatus in accordance with claim 36, which further comprises the step of evaluating information with respect to the welding line based on the evaluated information with respect to the welding point.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
88 words
A method for sensing a welding point in an automatic welding apparatus in accordance with claim 36, wherein the step of evaluating the welding point comprises the steps of: bringing said electrode of said welding torch and said workpiece in proximity of a plurality of point positions adjacent the welding line, evaluating a plurality of pieces of positional information with respect to the plurality of point positions, and evaluating a position of one welding point along the welding line based on said plurality of pieces of positional information.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
276 words
A method for sensing a welding point in an automatic welding apparatus in accordance with claim 36, wherein the workpiece has a beveling which is butt welded, and having a beveling intersection line, and which further comprises the steps of: (a) detecting a first position on the surface of the workpiece in the vicinity of the beveling for providing a first piece of data representative of the first position, (b) detecting a second position on the surface of the workpiece closer to the beveling than the first position and spaced apart a predetermined distance from the first position on the surface of the workpiece for providing a second piece of data representative of the second position, (c) evaluating the difference in represented position between the first piece of data and the second piece of data, (d) comparing the evaluated difference with a predetermined value for providing an error value and determining whether said error value is smaller or larger than a predetermined value, (e) repeating step (b) by replacing the first piece of data and the second piece of data, when said error value is smaller or larger than a predetermined value, (f) determining whether the angle of the beveling has been manually entered when the error value is larger than said predetermined value, (g) detecting a third position on the surface of the beveling at an end opposite from the position of the first and second positions for providing a third piece of data, when the angle of beveling has been manually entered, and (h) evaluating an intersection of the beveling line based on the second piece of data and the third piece of data.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
66 words
A method for sensing a welding point in an automatic welding apparatus in accordance with claim 40, which further comprises the step of: detecting two point positions for each beveling surface, including the second position, when the angle of beveling has not been manually entered as determined in said step (f), for evaluating the intersection of the beveling line based on these detected pieces of data.
Claim 44
Independent Claim
130 words
A method for sensing a welding point in an automatic welding apparatus in accordance with caim 41, which further comprises the step of: detecting a further position on the surface of the beveling, spaced apart a predetermined distance from the beveling when the angle of beveling has not been manually entered as determined in said step (f) for providing an additional piece of data and for evaluating the difference in value between the second piece of data and the first piece of data and further evaluating a still further position spaced apart from the beveling by a smaller predetermined distance than that of the further position as an intersection of the beveling line, when the sign of the evaluated difference value is opposite that of the previously evaluated difference value.
Claim 45
Independent Claim
130 words
A method for sensing a welding point in an automatic welding apparatus in accordance with caim 41, which further comprises the step of: detecting a further position on the surface of the beveling, spaced apart a predetermined distance from the beveling when the angle of beveling has not been manually entered as determined in said step (f) for providing an additional piece of data and for evaluating the difference in value between the second piece of data and the first piece of data and further evaluating a still further position spaced apart from the beveling by a smaller predetermined distance than that of the further position as an intersection of the beveling line, when the sign of the evaluated difference value is opposite that of the previously evaluated difference value.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
139 words
A method for sensing a welding point in an automatic welding apparatus in accordance with claim 36, wherein the automatic welding apparatus comprises electrode supply means for sequentially supplying a consumptive electrode to the welding torch in accordance with the progress of welding in the welding mode, and a reference position member positioned at a predetermined position from the automatic welding apparatus, and which further comprises the steps of: changing the voltage supply means to the sensing mode, and bringing the tip end of the electrode of the welding torch adjacent to the reference position member, and evaluating information concerning the protruding length of the electrode responsive to the output of said electric current conducting state detecting means, the information obtainable when the tip end of the electrode of the welding torch is adjacent to the reference position member.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
124 words
A method for sensing a welding point in an automatic welding apparatus in accordance with claim 36, wherein the automatic welding apparatus further comprises electrode supply means for sequentially supplying a consumptive electrode to the welding torch in accordance with the progress of welding in the welding mode, and a reference position member positioned at a predetermined position from the automatic welding apparatus, and which further comprises the steps of: changing the voltage supply means to the sensing mode, feeding the consumptive electrode from the consumptive electrode supply means, and disabling the consumptive electrode supply means responsive to the output from the electric current conduction state detecting means obtainable when the tip end of said consumptive electrode is adjacent to the reference position member.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
103 words
A method for sensing a welding point in an automatic welding apparatus in accordance with claim 36 wherein the electrode of the welding torch comprises a consumptive electrode and the welding torch is laterally displaceable, and which further comprises in the welding mode the steps of: detecting at least one of the welding voltage applied to the consumptive electrode or the welding current flowing through the consumptive electrode, comparing the at least one of the detected welding voltage and welding current with a predetermined value, and controlling the lateral position of the welding torch in response to the value obtained in comparing step.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method for sensing a welding point in an automatic welding apparatus in accordance with claim 45, wherein the comparison step comprises evaluating the difference in value between the at least one of the detected welding voltage and the welding current and a predetermined value.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
52 words
A method for sensing a welding point in an automatic welding apparatus in accordance with claim 46, wherein the lateral positional control step of the welding torch comprises controlling the position of said welding torch in response to the difference value in the direction which causes said difference value to approach zero.
Claim 51
Independent Claim
258 words
An apparatus for sensing a welding point in an automatic welding apparatus for performing welding operations between an electrode included in a welding torch and a workpiece having a welding line and fixed to a workpiece fixture, said welding operation being performed based on a welding point evaluated in response to the output of said sensing apparatus, said sensing apparatus comprising: voltage supply means coupled to said electrode of said welding torch for supplying a voltage to said electrode of said welding torch, said voltage supply means having a sensing mode and a welding mode, mode selecting means operatively coupled to said voltage supply means for selectively changing the mode of said voltage supply means to a selected one of said sensing mode and said welding mode, detecting means operatively coupled to said electrode of said welding torch for detecting the occurrence of electrical conduction between said electrode and said workpiece in said sensing mode, positional information generating means operatively coupled to at least one of said welding torch and said workpiece fixture for generating positional information representative of the position of at least one of said welding torch and said workpiece fixture based on the output of said detecting means in said sensing mode, and control means for controlling the positions of said welding torch and said workpiece fixture in said sensing mode for bringing said electrode into proximity with respect to said welding line, said control means being responsive to said positional information from said positional information generating means for evaluating information concerning said welding point.
Claim 52
Independent Claim
258 words
An apparatus for sensing a welding point in an automatic welding apparatus for performing welding operations between an electrode included in a welding torch and a workpiece having a welding line and fixed to a workpiece fixture, said welding operation being performed based on a welding point evaluated in response to the output of said sensing apparatus, said sensing apparatus comprising: voltage supply means coupled to said electrode of said welding torch for supplying a voltage to said electrode of said welding torch, said voltage supply means having a sensing mode and a welding mode, mode selecting means operatively coupled to said voltage supply means for selectively changing the mode of said voltage supply means to a selected one of said sensing mode and said welding mode, detecting means operatively coupled to said electrode of said welding torch for detecting the occurrence of electrical conduction between said electrode and said workpiece in said sensing mode, positional information generating means operatively coupled to at least one of said welding torch and said workpiece fixture for generating positional information representative of the position of at least one of said welding torch and said workpiece fixture based on the output of said detecting means in said sensing mode, and control means for controlling the positions of said welding torch and said workpiece fixture in said sensing mode for bringing said electrode into proximity with respect to said welding line, said control means being responsive to said positional information from said positional information generating means for evaluating information concerning said welding point.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
59 words
A sensing apparatus in accordance with claim 48, wherein said welding apparatus comprises storage means for storing command positional information concerning a desired relative positional relationship between said welding torch and said workpiece fixture, and wherein said control means corrects said command positional information based on evaluated information concerning at least one of said welding point and welding line.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
29 words
A sensing apparatus in accordance with claim 48, wherein said control means further evaluates information concerning said welding line based on said evaluated information corresponding to said welding point.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
85 words
A sensing apparatus in accordance with claim 48, wherein said control means brings said electrode of said welding torch and said workpiece into proximity with respect to each other at a plurality of point positions crossing said welding line, whereby a plurality of pieces of positional information concerning said plurality of point positions is generated by said positional information generating means, and wherein said control means evaluates one welding point position along said welding line in correspondence with said plurality of pieces of positional information.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
287 words
A sensing apparatus in accordance with claim 48, wherein said workpiece has a beveling including a beveling line which is butt welded, and said control means comprises; first means for detecting a first position on the surface of said workpiece in the vicinity of said beveling for providing a first piece of data representing said first position, second means for detecting a second position on the surface of said workpiece closer to said beveling than said first position and spaced apart by a predetermined distance from said first position on the surface of said workpiece for providing a second piece of data representative of said second position, third means for evaluating a difference between said first piece of data and said second piece of data, fourth means for comparing said difference with a predetermined value for providing an error value and determining whether said error value is smaller or larger than a predetermined value, said second means detecting a further position on the surface of said workpiece by substituting values of said first piece of data and said second piece of data, when said error value is smaller or larger than said predetermined value, means for manually programming the angle of said beveling, fifth means for determining whether the angle of said beveling has been manually programmed, when said error is larger than said predetermined value, sixth means for detecting a third position on the surface of said beveling at the side opposite the second position for providing a third piece of data, when the angle of beveling has been manually programmed, and seventh means for evaluating an intersection of the beveling line in correspondence with said second piece of data and said third piece of data.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
55 words
A sensing apparatus in accordance with caim 52, wherein said control means detects two point positions for each beveling surface, including said second position, if the angle of beveling has not been manually programmed, as determined by said fifth means, for evaluating said intersection of said beveling line in correspondence with these pieces of data.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
55 words
A sensing apparatus in accordance with caim 52, wherein said control means detects two point positions for each beveling surface, including said second position, if the angle of beveling has not been manually programmed, as determined by said fifth means, for evaluating said intersection of said beveling line in correspondence with these pieces of data.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
94 words
A sensing apparatus in accordance with claim 53, wherein said control means is adapted to detect a further position on the surface spaced apart the same predetermined distance, if and when the angle of beveling is not known in advance, as determined by said fifth means, for providing a further piece of data and for evaluating the difference between said second piece of data and said first piece of data, and further evaluting a slightly returned position as an intersection of the beveling line, if and when the sign of the difference value changes.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
51 words
A sensing apparatus in accordance with claim 48, wherein said voltage supply means comprises a detecting voltage supply and a welding voltage supply, and said mode selecting means comprises a switch means for selectively connecting said electrode of said welding torch to said detecting voltage supply or said welding voltage supply.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
84 words
A sensing apparatus in accordance with claim 55, wherein said detecting voltage supply means comprises a high frequency oscillating voltage supply, and said switch means comprises switching means for selectively applying the output of said high frequency oscillating voltage supply in superposition with the output from said welding voltage supply to said electrode of said welding torch in said sensing mode, and for selectively applying only the output of said welding voltage supply to said electrode of said welding torch in said welding mode.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
61 words
A sensing apparatus in accordance with claim 55, wherein said detecting voltage supply means comprises an electric current limiting circuit provided between said welding voltage supply and said electrode of said welding torch, and said switch means comprises means for selectively actuating said electric current limiting circuit in said sensing mode and deactuating said current limiting circuit in said welding mode.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
17 words
A sensing apparatus in accordance with claim 57, wherein said electric current limiting circuit comprises a resistor.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
35 words
A sensing apparatus in accordance with claim 48, which further comprises electrode supply means for sequentially supplying a consumptive electrode to said welding torch in accordance with the progress of welding in said welding mode.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
61 words
A sensing apparatus in accordance with claim 59, wherein said consumptive electrode is movable in the longitudinal direction of said welding torch by a predetermined length, and said welding torch comprises clamp means for clamping said consumptive electrode with respect to said welding torch when said consumptive electrode protrudes from the tip end of said welding torch by said predetermined length.
Claim 66
Dependent Claim
25 words
A sensing apparatus in accordance with claim 60, wherein said clamp means comprises a collet chuck and a fastening means for fastening said collet chuck.
Claim 67
Dependent Claim
37 words
A sensing apparatus in accordance with claim 61, wherein said fastening means comprises: a cylinder a piston slidably fitted in said cylinder for unidirectional movement, and moving means for moving said piston in accordance with unidirectional movement.
Claim 68
Dependent Claim
31 words
A sensing apparatus in accordance with claim 62, wherein said moving means comprises means for supplying a high pressure gas in said cylinder for imparting said unidirectional movement to said piston.
Claim 69
Dependent Claim
26 words
A sensing apparatus in accordance with claim 59, wherein said electrode supply means comprises shaping means for forcibly shaping said consumptive electrode into a predetermined configuration.
Claim 70
Dependent Claim
29 words
A sensing apparatus in accordance with claim 64, wherein said shaping means comprises a flexible tube shaped in a loop for shaping said consumptive electrode in a curl configuration.
Claim 71
Dependent Claim
21 words
A sensing apparatus in accordance with claim 64, wherein said shaping means comprises a pressing roller for straightening said consumptive electrode.
Claim 72
Dependent Claim
104 words
A sensing apparatus in accordance with claim 59, which further comprises a reference position member positioned at a predetermined position from said automatic welding apparatus, and wherein said control means further comprises: means for switching said voltage supply means to said sensing mode, means for bringing the tip end of said electrode of said welding torch adjacent to said reference position member, and means for evaluating information corresponding to the protruding length of said electrode in response to the output of said electric current conduction state detecting means provided when the tip end of said welding torch becomes adjacent to said reference position member.
Claim 73
Dependent Claim
59 words
A sensing apparatus in accordance with claim 67, wherein the optimum protruding length of said consumptive electrode in said sensing mode is selected to be a predetermined standard protruding length, and wherein information concerning the error of said protruding length of said electrode of said welding torch comprises information concerning the error with respect to said standard protruding length.
Claim 74
Dependent Claim
17 words
A sensing apparatus in accordance with claim 67, wherein said reference position member comprises said workpiece fixture.
Claim 75
Dependent Claim
28 words
A sensing apparatus in accordance with claim 67, wherein said reference position member comprises a predetermined position on the surface of said workpiece fixed on said workpiece fixture.
Claim 76
Dependent Claim
92 words
A sensing apparatus in accordance with claim 59, which further comprises a reference position member positioned at a predetermined position from said automatic welding apparatus, and wherein said control means comprises: means for switching said voltage supply means to said sensing mode, means for feeding said consumptive electrode from said consumptive electrode supply means, and means for disabling said consumptive electrode supply means in response to the output from said electric current conduction state detecting means provided when the tip end of said consumptive electrode becomes adjacent to said reference position member.
Claim 77
Dependent Claim
17 words
A sensing apparatus in accordance with claim 71, wherein said reference position member comprises said workpiece fixture.
Claim 78
Dependent Claim
28 words
A sensing apparatus in accordance with claim 71, wherein said reference position member comprises a predetermined position on the surface of said workpiece fixed on said workpiece fixture.
Claim 79
Dependent Claim
34 words
A sensing apparatus in accordance with claim 71, wherein said reference position member comprises a structure integrally provided on said welding torch and positioned at a predetermined position in front of said welding torch.
Claim 80
Dependent Claim
57 words
A sensing apparatus in accordance with claim 74, wherein said welding torch comprises a displaceable rod, said reference position member is provided at the tip end of said displaceable rod along said welding torch, and said means for positioning at said predetermined position comprises means for swinging said rod from a retracted state to a displaced state.
Claim 81
Dependent Claim
58 words
A sensing apparatus in accordance with claim 59, which further comprises: means provided opposite to and spaced apart a predetermined distance from said welding torch for cutting the consumptive electrode protruding from said welding torch, and trim means for controllably protruding said consumptive electrode by means of said consumptive electrode supply means and for enabling said cutting means.
Claim 82
Dependent Claim
17 words
A sensing apparatus in accordance with claim 76, wherein said cutting means comprises a rotary grinding stone.
Claim 83
Dependent Claim
19 words
A sensing apparatus in accordance with claim 76, wherein said cutting means comprises means for shearing said consumptive electrode.
Claim 84
Dependent Claim
91 words
A sensing apparatus in accordance with claim 48, wherein said control means comprises: means responsive to the welding mode for detecting at least one of the welding voltage applied to said consumptive electrode and the welding current flowing through said consumptive electrode, comparing means responsive to the welding mode for comparing said at least one of the detected welding voltage and welding current with a predetermined value, and controlling means for controlling the position, in the longitudinal direction, of said welding torch in response to the output of said comparing means.
Claim 85
Dependent Claim
36 words
A sensing apparatus in accordance with claim 79, wherein said comparing means comprises: means for evaluating a difference between said at least one of the detected welding voltage and the welding current, and said predetermined value.
Claim 86
Dependent Claim
34 words
A sensing apparatus in accordance with claim 80, wherein said controlling means controls the position of said welding torch in the direction which causes said difference to equal zero in response to said difference.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1984-02-03 | 1984-08-04 | 1985-02-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-02-03 | 1988-08-04 | 1989-02-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-02-03 | 1992-08-04 | 1993-02-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |