Method of automatically grinding an electrode for spot welding use and apparatus for effecting said method

• US 4,896,014 A
• Filed: 09/27/1988
• Issued: 01/23/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
• Inventors: Shirasaki, Takashi, Sakai, Hisatoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Shaw, Clifford C.
• Application Number:
  US07/250,137
• Time in Patent Office: 483 Days
• Field of Search: 219/86.25, 219/91.2, 219/117.1, 29/430, 901/42
• US Class Current: 219/91.2
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 11/3063 Electrode maintenance, e.g. cleaning, grinding

Abstract

An apparatus for successively automatically grinding a plurality of welding electrodes of respective spot welding machines is provided with a stand transported by a work transport conveyor of a welding line, at least one automatic dresser properly positioned on the stand and a pair of through-openings formed in the stand for properly positioning the stand with respect to a work receiving jig on which the stand is placed. The stand is initially placed on a hanger of the conveyor and transported to one of a plurality of work stations by the conveyor. At the work station, the stand is properly positioned with respect to and placed on the work receiving jig. The welding electrode of the spot welding machine located at this work station is then automatically ground by the automatic dresser. Upon completion of grinding at this work station, the stand is further transported to the adjoining work station. In this way, the welding electrodes of all the spot welding machines are successively automatically ground by the automatic dresser.

Claims

1. A method of automatically grinding an electrode for spot welding using, said method comprising the steps of:

transporting, with the use of a work transport means of a welding line, a stand having thereon at least one automatic dresser which is capable of grinding a welding electrode of a spot welding machine; and

automatically grinding said electrode by said automatic dresser when said stand has reached a work station which is provided with at least one of a plurality of spot welding machines installed along said welding line.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said work transport means comprises a conveyor having a plurality of hangers.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said stand is properly positioned with respect to and placed on a work receiving jig provided with an elevating mechanism.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said automatic dresser comprises a driving motor, a grinding edge and a chain mechanism.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said automatic dresser is so mounted on said stand as to be directed sideways or upwards.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein a control portion of said spot welding machine memorizes the relative position of said automatic dresser on said stand.

7. An apparatus for automatically grinding a welding electrode of each of a plurality of spot welding machines installed along a welding line which is provided with a work transport means for successively transporting a plurality of works, each of which is placed on a work receiving jig, said apparatus comprising:

a stand transported by said work transport means;

at least one automatic dresser properly positioned on said stand; and

a positioning means for positioning said stand with respect to said work receiving jig.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said work transport means comprises a conveyor having a plurality of hangers.

9. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said work receiving jig is provided with an elevating mechanism for moving said work receiving jig up and down.

10. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said automatic dresser comprises a driving motor, a grinding edge and a chain mechanism.

11. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said automatic dresser is so mounted on said stand as to be directed sideways or upwards.

12. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said spot welding machine has a control portion for memorizing the relative position of said automatic dresser on said stand.