System and method with floating welder for high rate production welding

• US 10,471,549 B2
• Filed: 07/02/2015
• Issued: 11/12/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Doben Limited
• Original Assignee: Doben Limited
• Inventors: Koscielski, Larry, Heuchan, Gregory I., Michaud, Eric, Branoff, Matt, Renaud, Darcey D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Christopher S
• Application Number:
  US15/120,901
• Publication Number:
  US 20160354872A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,594 Days
• Field of Search: 219 8625, 219 92, 219 93, 219 98
• CPC Class Codes: B21J 15/10 Riveting machines electric heating elements H05B
• CPC Class Codes: B21J 15/32 Devices for inserting or holding rivets in position with or without feeding arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 11/0053 Stud welding, i.e. resistive with an arc B23K9/20
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 11/0066 Riveting
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 11/115 by means of two electrodes placed opposite one another on both sides of the welded parts
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 11/14 Projection welding
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 37/0408 for planar work
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 37/047 moving work to adjust its position between soldering, welding or cutting steps B23K37/053 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 19/00 Machines for simply fitting together or separating metal parts or objects, or metal and non-metal parts, whether or not involving some deformation connecting metal parts or objects by metal-working procedures B21J, B23K; Tools or devices therefor so far as not provided for in other classes hand tools in general B25
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 19/001 Article feeders for assembling machines screws or nuts being carried by a disposable strip or disc B25B23/045
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 19/04 for assembling or disassembling parts
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 19/02 for articles, e.g. for containers
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/24 orientating the articles
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/244 by turning them about an axis substantially perpendicular to the conveying plane

Abstract

A securing system, such as a welding system, includes a robot configured to transfer a part to a home position. A securing station has a frame and a gun supported on the frame. The gun includes first and second members movable relative to one another, which are first and second weld gun electrodes, for example. The gun is configured to secure a component to the part in a securing position during a securing operation. A float assembly interconnects the gun to the frame and is configured to permit the gun to glide relative to the welding frame between the home position and the securing position. A homing assembly includes a homing guide configured to release the welding gun from the home position during the securing operation, such as resistance welding fasteners to sheet metal workpieces.

Claims

1. A securing system comprising:

a robot configured to transfer a part to a home position;

a securing station includes;

a frame;

a gun supported on the frame, the gun includes first and second members movable relative to one another, the gun is configured to secure a component to the part in a securing position during a securing operation; and

a float assembly interconnects the gun to the frame, the float assembly configured to permit the gun to glide relative to the frame between the home position and the securing position;

a homing assembly includes a homing guide configured to release the gun from the home position during the securing operation, wherein the securing station is a welding station that includes a feeder supported by the frame, the first and second members are first and second electrodes, the feeder configured to slide relative to the home position between feeder advanced and feeder retracted positions, the component is arranged over the second electrode in the feeder advanced position.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the feeder is configured to provide the component to the gun with the second electrode in an electrode advanced position, and the component is a fastener.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein the second electrode is movable between electrode retracted and electrode advanced positions.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein the second electrode includes a pin movable between pin advanced and pin retracted positions with the second electrode in the electrode advanced position.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein the pin engages the component with the feeder in the feeder advanced position and the pin in the pin advanced position.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein the feeder is configured to move from the feeder advanced position to the feeder retracted position with the component loaded on the pin, the component is configured to be released by a release mechanism when moving to the feeder retracted position.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein the feeder includes opposing jaws biased to a component retaining position by springs, wherein the jaws are configured to release the component and overcome the springs as the feeder moves from the feeder advanced position to the feeder retracted position.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein the feeder includes a clamp configured to retain a second component behind a first component, the first component is loaded on the pin, the clamp is configured to cycle and permit the second component to advance to the jaws for subsequent loading onto the pin.

9. A securing system comprising:

a robot configured to transfer a part to a home position;

a securing station includes;

a frame;

a gun supported on the frame, the gun includes first and second members movable relative to one another, the gun is configured to secure a component to the part in a securing position during a securing operation; and

a float assembly interconnects the gun to the frame, the float assembly configured to permit the gun to glide relative to the frame between the home position and the securing position;

a homing assembly includes a homing guide configured to release the gun from the home position during the securing operation, wherein a control system evaluates an electrode position and a pin position to identify, contain, and remediate at least one of a workpiece fault condition and an operating fault condition.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein the control system contains a schedule of parameters corresponding to a number of assembly configurations.