METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR SCHEDULING WELD EVENTS
First Claim
1. A system for optimizing a weld schedule comprising:
- N welding apparatuses configured to perform welding operations, where N is an integer greater than 1;
a weld schedule optimization module that is configured to;
i) receive the weld schedule from a weld schedule source, the weld schedule defining N different weld sequences, each weld sequence defining one or more weld events to be performed by a corresponding welding apparatus of the N welding apparatuses, each one of the weld events defining a weld operation and a duration of the weld operation,ii) for each one of the weld events, determine an amount of electrical current required to perform the weld operation defined by the one weld event;
iii) determine, at a time point in the weld schedule, a total amount of electrical current required by the N welding apparatuses based on the amounts of electrical current required by the weld events that are scheduled to be performed at the time point, andiv) compare the total amount of electrical current to a maximum current threshold, andv) when the total amount of electrical current exceeds the maximum current threshold, generate a modified weld schedule by modifying one or more of the weld sequences such that at least one of the weld events defined in the one weld sequence is scheduled for a later time point in the weld schedule; and
a weld control module that is configured to receive the modified weld schedule and controls the N welding apparatuses according to the modified weld schedule.
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for optimizing a weld schedule is disclosed. The weld schedule is used to control a plurality of welding apparatuses, and includes a plurality of weld sequences for control the plurality of welding apparatuses. The weld sequences each define one or more weld events. Each of the weld events defines a weld operation and a duration of the weld operation. The weld schedule is analyzed to determine if any time points in the weld schedule have two or more weld events scheduled where the aggregate current demand exceeds a maximum current threshold. If such a conflict in the weld schedule is identified, the weld schedule is modified by rescheduling a lower priority weld event. The method executes iteratively until all conflicts in the welding schedule are resolved.
18 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for optimizing a weld schedule comprising:
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N welding apparatuses configured to perform welding operations, where N is an integer greater than 1; a weld schedule optimization module that is configured to; i) receive the weld schedule from a weld schedule source, the weld schedule defining N different weld sequences, each weld sequence defining one or more weld events to be performed by a corresponding welding apparatus of the N welding apparatuses, each one of the weld events defining a weld operation and a duration of the weld operation, ii) for each one of the weld events, determine an amount of electrical current required to perform the weld operation defined by the one weld event; iii) determine, at a time point in the weld schedule, a total amount of electrical current required by the N welding apparatuses based on the amounts of electrical current required by the weld events that are scheduled to be performed at the time point, and iv) compare the total amount of electrical current to a maximum current threshold, and v) when the total amount of electrical current exceeds the maximum current threshold, generate a modified weld schedule by modifying one or more of the weld sequences such that at least one of the weld events defined in the one weld sequence is scheduled for a later time point in the weld schedule; and a weld control module that is configured to receive the modified weld schedule and controls the N welding apparatuses according to the modified weld schedule. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10)
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9. The system of claim 9, wherein when any of the total amounts of electrical current exceeds the maximum current threshold, the weld schedule optimization module modifies the weld schedule such that at least one of the weld events defined in the one weld sequence is scheduled for a later time point in the weld schedule.
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11. A method for optimizing a weld schedule that is used to control N welding apparatuses, method comprising:
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receiving the weld schedule from a weld schedule source, the weld schedule defining N different weld sequences, each weld sequence defining one or more weld events to be performed by a corresponding welding apparatus of the N welding apparatuses, each one of the weld events defining a weld operation and a duration of the weld operation; for each one of the weld events, determining an amount of electrical current required to perform the weld operation defined by the one weld event; determining, at a time point in the weld schedule, a total amount of electrical current required by the N welding apparatuses based on the amounts of electrical current required by the weld events that are scheduled to be performed at the time point; and comparing the total amount of electrical current to a maximum current threshold; and when the total amount of electrical current exceeds the maximum current threshold, generating a modified weld schedule by modifying one or more of the weld sequences such that at least one of the weld events defined in the one weld sequence is scheduled for a later time point in the weld schedule; and controlling the N welding apparatuses in accordance with the modified weld schedule. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A system for optimizing a weld schedule comprising:
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N welding apparatuses configured to perform welding operations, where N is an integer greater than 1; a weld schedule optimization module that is configured to; i) receive the weld schedule from a weld schedule source, the weld schedule defining N different weld sequences, each weld sequence defining one or more weld events to be performed by a corresponding welding apparatus of the N welding apparatuses, each one of the weld events defining at least one operation including a weld operation, each weld event further defining a duration of the at least one operation, ii) identify one or more variable current weld events from the one or more weld events, a variable current weld event defining more than one operation, each operation having a corresponding current requirement; iii) identify one or more fixed current weld events from the one or more weld events, a fixed current weld event having a fixed electrical current requirement; iii) separate each one of the variable current weld events into a plurality of segments based on the operations defined in the one variable current weld event, each segment corresponding to a different operation defined in the one variable weld event; iv) for each one of the weld events, determine an amount of electrical current required to perform each operation defined in the event; v) determine, at a time point in the weld schedule, a total amount of electrical current required by the N welding apparatuses based on the amounts of electrical current required by the operations that are scheduled to be performed at the time point, and vi) compare the total amount of electrical current to a maximum current threshold, and vii) when the total amount of electrical current exceeds the maximum current threshold, generate a modified weld schedule by modifying one or more of the weld sequences such that at least one of the weld events defined in the one weld sequence is scheduled for a later time point in the weld schedule; and a weld control module that is configured to receive the modified weld schedule and controls the N welding apparatuses according to the modified weld schedule.
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Specification