Modular welding machine

• US 20020011470A1
• Filed: 08/03/2001
• Published: 01/31/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bryan W. Domschot
• Original Assignee: Bryan W. Domschot
• Inventors: Domschot, Bryan W.
• Granted Patent: US 6,512,195 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 219/86.8
• 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 11/318 Supporting devices for electrode holders
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 37/02 Carriages for supporting the welding or cutting element
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 37/04 for holding or positioning 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: B23K 9/28 Supporting devices for electrodes not restricted to arc welding or cutting B23K37/02
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/32 Accessories earthing connections H01R

Abstract

A machine is disclosed with interchangeable tooling modules for use in a base operating machine. Disconnectible welding current contactor members connect the tooling module to a power supply/transformer of the base operating machine when the module is installed. The module is movable on a guide between uninstalled and installed locations and the contactor members are closed upon installation of the module. A set of fluid pressure and electrical connector members have complementary mating parts mounted on a module connector plate and on a machine connector plate of the base operating machine. An actuator moves the machine connector plate from a retracted position to an extended position for connecting the complementary connector members after the module is installed.

Claims

1. A welding machine for use with a welding current power supply having a welding electrode connection terminal and a tooling connection terminal, said welding machine comprising:

a machine frame,

a tooling module having a module frame and being movable between an un-installed and installed location relative to said machine frame,

said tooling module including a workpiece holder for receiving workpieces to be welded,

said tooling module including tooling for electric welding and including a module connector plate,

a machine connector plate mounted on said machine frame and having a first connector member mounted thereon,

said module connector plate having second connector member mounted thereon,

an electrical contactor for electrically connecting said tooling to said tooling connection terminal, said contactor having first and second contactor members, said first contactor member being mounted on said tooling module and being electrically connected with said workpiece holder, said second contactor member being mounted on said machine frame and being adapted for electrical connection with said tooling connection terminal of said power supply,

a welding electrode adapted for electrical connection with said electrode connection terminal of said power supply and being positioned for welding said workpieces in said workpiece holder,

means for connecting said first and second electrical contactor members with each other when said tooling module is in said installed location,

guide means for guided movement of said tooling module on said machine frame between said un-installed and installed locations.

said module connector plate being located in alignment with said machine connector plate when said tooling module is in said installed location,

and a first actuator for moving said machine connector plate toward said module connector plate with said module in said installed location for operative engagement of said first and second connector members.

2. The welding machine as defined in claim 1 including:

a second actuator mounted on said machine frame for moving said second contactor member into contact with said first contactor member.

3. The welding machine as defined in claim 2 wherein said first and second actuators are fluid pressure actuators.

4. The welding machine as defined in claim 1 including:

a first alignment member mounted on said machine connector plate and a second alignment member mounted on said module connector plate,

said first and second alignment members coacting with each other when said tooling module is in the installed position to hold said connector plates in predetermined alignment with each other.

5. The welding machine as defined in claim 1 wherein:

said machine connector plate is mounted for reciprocal motion on said machine frame,

and said actuator is connected with said machine connector plate for moving said machine connector plate from a retracted position to an extended position when said tooling module is in the installed position for engaging said first and second connector members.

6. The welding machine as defined in claim 5 wherein:

said machine connector plate has a plurality of first connector members mounted thereon and said module connector plate has a plurality of second connector members mounted thereon,

each of said first connector members being adapted to mate with a corresponding one of said second connector members to establish an operative connection therebetween when said machine connector plate is moved from said retracted position to said extended position.

7. The welding machine as defined in claim 6 wherein a selected number of said first and second connector members constitute fluid pressure connectors and a selected number of said first and second connector members constitute electrical connectors.

8. The welding machine as defined in claim 4 wherein said machine connector plate includes a plurality of first alignment members mounted thereon and said module connector plate includes a plurality of second alignment members mounted thereon,

each of said first alignment members being mated with one of said second alignment members when said machine connector plate is moved from said retracted position to said extended position.

9. The welding machine as defined in claim 8 wherein said first alignment members are pins and said second alignment members are bushings.

10. The welding machine as defined in claim 1 wherein said guide means comprises:

a track means on said machine frame and a track follower means on said tooling module frame for moving said module between said uninstalled location and said installed locations.

11. The welding machine as defined in claim 1 wherein:

said guide means comprises a pair of spaced apart tracks disposed parallel to each other on said machine frame, and

a set of rollers mounted on each of said tracks for movement of said module between said un-installed location and said installed locations.

12. The welding machine as defined in claim 10 including:

indexing means comprising a first element fixedly mounted on said machine frame and a second element movably mounted on said module frame for engagement of said elements with each other when said module is in said installed location.

13. The welding machine as defined in claim 12 wherein said first element comprises a socket and said second element comprises a pin for receiving said pin.

14. The welding machine as defined in claim 12 including a sensor mounted on said machine frame for detecting the engagement of said elements for providing a signal indicating the location of said module in said installed location.

15. The welding machine as defined in claim 1 including:

a tool cart for transferring said tooling module to said machine frame,

guide means on said tool cart for receiving said tooling module and for moving said module between said guide means on said tool cart and said guide means on said machine frame.

16. The welding machine as defined in claim 15 including:

a first alignment member on said cart,

a second alignment member on said machine frame,

said first and second alignment members coacting to hold said guide means on said cart in alignment with said guide means on said machine frame.

17. A welding machine for use with a welding current power supply having a welding electrode connection terminal and a tooling connection terminal,

a machine frame,

a tooling module having a module frame and being movable as a unit between an uninstalled and installed location relative to said machine frame,

said tooling module including a workpiece holder for receiving workpieces to be welded,

a machine connector plate mounted on said machine frame and having a set of first connector members mounted thereon,

said tooling module including a module connector plate having a set of second connector members mounted thereon,

said machine connector plate having an unplugged position in which said first connector members are not operably connected with said second connector members and having a plugged-in position in which said first connector members are operatively connected with said second connector members,

an electrical contactor for electrically connecting said workpieces holder to said tooling connection terminal, said contactor having first and second contactor members, said first contactor member being mounted on said tooling module and being electrically connected with said workpiece holder, said second contactor member being mounted on said machine frame and being adapted for electrical connection with said tooling connection terminal of said power supply,

a welding electrode adapted for electrical connection with said electrode connection terminal of said power supply and being positioned for welding said workpieces in said workpiece holder,

said machine connector plate being in said unplugged position when said tooling module is in said installed position,

a first actuator connected with said machine connector plate for moving said machine connector plate from said unplugged position to said plugged-position when said tooling module is in the installed location for operatively connecting said first and second connector members,

means for connecting said first and second electrical contactor members with each other when said tooling module is in the installed location,

and guide means for guiding movement of said tooling module on said machine frame between said un-installed and installed locations.

18. A welding machine comprising:

a base operating machine including a machine frame and a welding current power supply having a welding electrode connection terminal and a tooling connection terminal,

a machine connector plate mounted on said machine frame and having a set of first connector members mounted thereon,

a tooling module including tooling for electric welding and including a module connector plate with a set of second connector members mounted thereon,

an electrical contactor for electrically connecting said tooling to said tooling connection terminal, said contactor having first and second contactor members, said first contactor member being mounted on said tooling module and being electrically connected with said tooling, said second contactor member being mounted on said machine frame and being electrically connected with said tooling connection terminal of said power supply,

a welding electrode electrically connected with said electrode connection terminal of said power supply and being positioned for welding said workpieces in said workpiece holder,

guide means on said machine frame and follower means on said tooling module for moving said tooling module between an uninstalled location relative to said machine frame and an installed location relative to said machine frame,

said machine connector plate having an unplugged position in which said first connector members are not operably connected with said second connector members and having a plugged-in position in which said first connector members are operatively connected with said second connector members.

19. The welding machine as defined in claim 18 wherein:

said first and second contactor members are aligned with each other and are moved toward engagement with each other when said tooling module is moved into said installed location.

20. The welding machine as defined in claim 19 including:

force applying means for forcing said contactor members into engagement with each other when said tooling module is in said installed location.

21. The welding machine as defined in claim 20 wherein:

said force apply means is a fluid pressure actuator.

22. A welding machine comprising:

a base operating machine including a machine frame, a welding current power supply having a welding electrode connection terminal and a tooling connection terminal, a programmable logic controller, and a machine connector plate having a set of first connector members mounted thereon,

a tooling module having a module frame with welding tooling including a workpiece holder mounted on the module frame, said tooling module being movable as a unit between an uninstalled and an installed location relative to said base operating machine,

first and second tool-side electrical contactor members for electrically connecting said tooling connection terminal of said power supply to said workpiece holder when said tooling module is in said installed location,

a tooling module connector plate mounted on said module frame and having a set of second connector members mounted thereon,

means for moving said machine connector plate from a retracted position to an extended position when said tooling module is in the installed location for operatively connecting said first and second sets of connector members,

guide means for guiding movement of said tooling module on said machine frame between said uninstalled and installed locations,

a plurality of module control programs stored in said programmable logic controller each of which is usable for controlling one of said tooling modules,

each of said tooling modules having a code storage device thereon with stored code which uniquely identifies one of said module control programs,

and a code reader on said base operating machine coacting with said code storage device for reading the code stored therein when said tooling module is in said installed location,

said code reading device being electrically coupled with said programmable logic controller whereby the tooling module in the installed location may be operated under the control of the program identified by code stored in said storage device on such module.

23. The welding machine as defined in claim 22 wherein:

said code storage device comprises a set of binary code elements representing a predetermined binary number,

said code reader comprises means responsive to said binary elements for producing a signal representing said binary number.

24. A welding machine comprising:

a base operating machine including a machine frame and at least one welding transformer mounted on the machine frame, said transformer having first and second secondary terminals, each of said first and second secondary terminals comprising a fixed contactor member having a flat contactor surface,

a tooling module including tooling for electric welding,

first and second movable contactor members which are fixedly mounted relative to said module frame for movement therewith and electrically connected with said tooling module,

guide means on said machine frame and follower means on said tooling module for moving said tooling module between an uninstalled location relative to said machine frame and an installed location relative to said machine frame,

each of said first and second movable contactor members comprising an elongated bar having a first end mechanically connected with said module frame and having a free end with a flat contactor surface thereon, said first and second flat surfaces being adapted for engagement with each other,

said first and second fixed contactor members being located relative to said guide means and said first and second movable contactor members being located relative to said follower means so that said first movable contactor member is in alignment with said first fixed contactor member and so that said second movable contactor member is in alignment with said second fixed contactor member for rubbing engagement between said flat contactor surfaces when said tooling module is moved along said guide means to the installed location from the uninstalled location.

25. A welding machine as defined in claim 24 including:

a power actuator means for clamping said contactor surfaces into face-to-face engagement when said module is in said installed location.

26. A welding machine as defined in claim 25 wherein said power actuator means comprises a clamp jaw mounted for pivotal motion on said base operating machine and being disposed in spaced confronting relationship with said first and second fixed contactor members, respectively, said clamp jaw being movable from an open position to a closed position, said jaw being in an open position when said module is in its uninstalled location whereby said movable contactors are inserted between said jaw and said fixed contactors, said clamp jaw being movable to a closed position for clamping said movable contactor against said fixed contactor when said module is in said installed location, and actuator means coupled with said clamp jaws for moving said clamp jaws from said open to said closed position.

27. A welding machine as defined in claim 26 wherein there are two or more welding transformers.