Multiple sequence welding controller

Claim 2

A machine control system for controlling a welding machine and a plurality of peripheral machines, comprising: a controller having three welding sequence control modules for controlling a welding operation, and three machine logic control modules for controlling machine programming, said controller also controlling current supply to the welding machine; a plurality of input/output ports for coupling said controller to a plurality of machines; and a single board supporting said controller and said input/output ports such that said three machine logic control modules and said three welding sequence control modules are coupled for direct intercommunication through said board.

Claim 3

The system of claim 1, wherein said controller comprises a single unit microprocessor.

Claim 4

The system of claim 1, wherein said input/output ports are coupled with said controller through firm ware circuitry located on said single board.

Claim 5

The system of claim 1, wherein said three welding sequence control modules and said machine logic control modules each include an operation communication link that couples each said module to the other of said modules and wherein one of said modules controls the operation of the other of said modules.

Claim 6

The system of claim 4, wherein at least one of said operation communication links is configured to provide one-way communication such that one of said control modules always controls the other of said modules.

Claim 7

The system of claim 4, wherein said controller includes a designator module that designates one of said control modules to control the other of said control modules according to an operation condition of said controller, the welding machine and said plurality of peripheral machines.

Claim 8

The system of claim 1, including three welding machines and wherein one of said three welding sequence control modules is dedicated to each welding machine, respectively.

Claim 9

The system of claim 1, wherein said controller further includes a random access memory map and wherein said three welding sequence control modules and said three machine logic control modules each access said memory map.

Claim 10

The system of claim 8, wherein said single board is a printed circuit board including input/output circuitry coupling said controller and said input/output ports, current control circuitry for controlling the supply of current to said welding machines, and a remote input/output port for coupling said controller to a plurality of peripheral machines.

Claim 11

A welding system, comprising: three welding machines; a circuit board; a controller mounted on said circuit board, said controller having three welding sequence control modules for controlling said welding machines and three machine logic control modules for controlling machine programming and operation of said welding machines; current control circuitry, mounted on said circuit board, for coupling said controller to said welding machines for controlling a supply of current to said welding machines; a plurality of input/output ports mounted on said circuit board for interconnecting said controller and said welding machines; and a three-phase mechanical switch coupled to said controller such that said controller selectively applies three-phase power to said welding machines and wherein one phase of said power is applied to each of said welding machines, respectively.

Claim 12

A welding system, comprising: three welding machines; a circuit board; a controller mounted on said circuit board, said controller having three welding sequence control modules for controlling said welding machines and three machine logic control modules for controlling machine programming and operation of said welding machines; current control circuitry, mounted on said circuit board, for coupling said controller to said welding machines for controlling a supply of current to said welding machines; a plurality of input/output ports mounted on said circuit board for interconnecting said controller and said welding machines; and a three-phase mechanical switch coupled to said controller such that said controller selectively applies three-phase power to said welding machines and wherein one phase of said power is applied to each of said welding machines, respectively.

Claim 13

The system of claim 10, wherein said controller comprises a single unit microprocessor and wherein said controller includes a random access memory map and wherein each of said three welding sequence control modules and each of said machine logic control modules accesses said memory map.

Claim 14

The system of claim 11, wherein said welding sequence control modules and said machine logic control modules each include an operation communication link that couples each of said modules to the other of said modules and wherein one of said modules controls the other of said modules.

Claim 15

The system of claim 12, wherein said controller includes a designation module that randomly selects one of said control modules to control the other of said modules responsive to a current state of a welding operation.

Claim 16

The system of claim 10, wherein each said welding sequence control module has a preselected set of said input/output ports that is coupled to a selected one of said welding machines, respectively, such that each said welding sequence control module is assigned to one of said welding machines, respectively.