Welding machine manipulated by automated equipment

• US 20020011474A1
• Filed: 01/30/2001
• Published: 01/31/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Sasano, Yoshiro
• Granted Patent: US 6,555,786 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 219/137.71
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/0953 using computing means
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/10 Other electric circuits therefor; Protective circuits; Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/124 Circuits or methods for feeding welding wire

Abstract

A welding machine manipulated by automated equipment controls feeding of depositing metal independently of controlling a welding current, so that the welding can be finely controlled and quality welding is achievable. The welding machine includes a robot having an arm for moving a welding torch, a robot controller for controlling the movement of the robot, a welding power source coupled to the torch, a depositing metal feeder for feeding depositing metal to the welding torch, and a feeder controller for controlling the feeder. The robot controller is coupled to the feeder controller for transmitting a control signal, related to feeding the depositing metal, to the feeder controller.

Claims

1. A welding machine comprising:

(a) automated equipment having a moving unit for moving a welding tool;

(b) an equipment controller for controlling said automated equipment;

(c) a depositing metal feeder for feeding depositing metal to or nearby the welding tool; and

(d) a depositing metal feeder controller for controlling said feeder,

wherein said equipment controller is coupled to said feeder controller for transmitting a control signal related to feeding the depositing metal from said equipment controller to said feeder controller.

2. The welding machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said equipment controller is coupled to a welding power source for transmitting at least one of the control signal and another control signal related to feeding the depositing metal from said power source to said feeder controller.

3. The welding machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said feeder controller is disposed in a power source.

4. The welding machine as defined in claim 1, wherein the control signal corresponding to at least one of a feeding speed and a feeding quantity of the depositing metal is transmitted to said feeder controller.

5. The welding machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said equipment controller has a welding power source controlling command and a depositing metal feeding controlling command, and these two commands are independently stored and independently supplied.

6. A welding machine comprising:

(a) automated equipment having a moving unit for moving a welding tool;

(b) an equipment controller for controlling said automated equipment;

(c) a depositing metal feeder for feeding depositing metal to or nearby the welding tool; and

(d) a depositing metal feeder controller for controlling said feeder,

wherein said equipment controller is coupled to said feeder controller for transmitting a first control signal related to feeding the depositing metal from said equipment controller to said feeder controller, and a power source is coupled to said feeder controller for transmitting a second control signal related to feeding the depositing metal from said power source to said feeder controller.

7. The welding machine as defined in claim 6, wherein said feeder controller is disposed in a power source.

8. The welding machine as defined in claim 6, wherein at least one of the first and second control signal corresponding to at least one of a feeding speed and feeding quantity of the depositing metal is transmitted to said feeder controller.

9. The welding machine as defined in claim 6, wherein said equipment controller has a welding power source controlling command and a depositing metal feeding controlling command, and these two commands are independently stored and independently supplied.

10. A welding machine comprising:

(a) automated equipment having moving means for moving a welding tool;

(b) an equipment controller for controlling said automated equipment;

(c) a depositing metal feeder for feeding depositing metal to or nearby the welding tool; and

(d) a depositing metal feeder controller for controlling said feeder,

wherein said equipment controller is coupled to said feeder controller for transmitting a first control signal related to feeding the depositing metal from said equipment controller to said feeder controller, and a power source is coupled to said feeder controller for transmitting a second control signal related to feeding the depositing metal from said power source to said feeder controller, and said feeder controller is disposed in said power source.

11. The welding machine as defined in claim 10, wherein at least one of the first and second control signal corresponding to at least one of a feeding speed and feeding quantity of the depositing metal is transmitted to said feeder controller.

12. The welding machine as defined in claim 10, wherein said equipment controller has a welding power source controlling command and a depositing metal feeding controlling command, and these two commands are independently stored and independently supplied.