Welding line with quality control storage devices
First Claim
1. A control system for a production line having a production line drive and a resistance welding station, the welding station having a weld gun with a displaceable welding electrode and a displacement sensor coupled to the electrode for generating a displacement sensor signal responsive to displacement of the electrode during welding, the production line being adapted to index a plurality of parts to the resistance welding station for welding the parts together, the control system comprising:
- a part containment box for receiving improperly welded parts;
an input sensor disposed within the part containment box for generating an input sensor signal responsive to detection of an improperly welded part; and
a test computer in communication with the displacement sensor, the input sensor, and the production line drive, the test computer being operative to compare the displacement sensor signal to a predetermined desired displacement signal to identify the improperly welded part and to provide a fault signal for disabling indexing of the production line until the input sensor signal is received indicating that the improperly welded part has been deposited into the part containment box.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A control system and method for inspection of parts is particularly adapted for inspecting resistance welded parts in a production line environment. A displacement sensor is coupled to a welding electrode for generating a displacement sensor signal responsive to the displacement of the welding electrode during welding. A test computer evaluates the displacement sensor signal to identify defective parts and to provide a fault signal. A part containment box receives the improperly welded parts and has an input sensor for generating a signal when an improperly welded part is deposited therein. The test computer is operative to disable the production line and prevent the indexing of parts until the defective part has been removed from the production line and deposited into the part containment box which generates the input sensor signal, thereby enabling the production line.
-
Citations
27 Claims
-
1. A control system for a production line having a production line drive and a resistance welding station, the welding station having a weld gun with a displaceable welding electrode and a displacement sensor coupled to the electrode for generating a displacement sensor signal responsive to displacement of the electrode during welding, the production line being adapted to index a plurality of parts to the resistance welding station for welding the parts together, the control system comprising:
-
a part containment box for receiving improperly welded parts; an input sensor disposed within the part containment box for generating an input sensor signal responsive to detection of an improperly welded part; and a test computer in communication with the displacement sensor, the input sensor, and the production line drive, the test computer being operative to compare the displacement sensor signal to a predetermined desired displacement signal to identify the improperly welded part and to provide a fault signal for disabling indexing of the production line until the input sensor signal is received indicating that the improperly welded part has been deposited into the part containment box. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A control system for a production line having a production line drive and an inspection station, wherein the production line is adapted to index a plurality of parts to the inspection station for identifying parts having a specific predetermined characteristic, the control system comprising:
-
a test sensor coupled to the inspection station for generating a test sensor signal responsive to a characteristic of a part being measured in the inspection station; a part containment box for receiving identified parts; an input sensor for generating an input sensor signal when an identified part enters the part containment box; and a test computer coupled to the test sensor, the input sensor, and the production line drive, the test computer being operable to compare the test sensor signal to the predetermined characteristic to identify parts having the predetermined characteristic and to provide a fault signal which disables indexing of the production line until the input sensor signal is received indicating that the identified part has been removed from the inspection station and deposited into the part containment box. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
-
-
14. A control system for a production line having a production line drive and an inspection station, wherein the production line is adapted when driven to index a plurality of parts sequentially to the inspection station for measuring a parameter of a part, the control system comprising:
-
a test sensor coupled to the inspection station for generating a test sensor signal responsive to a measurement of the parameter of the part in the inspection station; a part containment box for receiving parts which have parameter measurements indicative of defects, the part containment box having an input sensor for generating an input sensor signal when a defective part enters the part containment box; and a test computer coupled to the test sensor, the input sensor of the part containment box, and the production line drive, the test computer being operable to compare the test sensor signal to a desired parameter measurement to identify defective parts and to provide a fault signal which disables indexing of the production line until the input sensor signal is received indicating that the defective part has been removed from the inspection station and deposited into the part containment box. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
-
-
22. A control method for a production line having a production line drive and a resistance welding station having a weld gun with a displaceable welding electrode, wherein the production line is adapted to index a plurality of parts to the resistance welding station for welding the parts together, the control method comprising:
-
generating a displacement signal responsive to displacement of the welding electrode during welding; comparing the displacement signal to a predetermined desired displacement signal in order to identify improperly welded parts; providing a fault signal to the production line drive, which disables the indexing of the production line, upon identifying an improperly welded part; removing the improperly welded part from the resistance welding station and depositing the part into a part containment box; and providing a confirmation signal to the production line drive, which enables the indexing of the production line, upon receipt of the improperly welded part into the part containment box. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26)
-
-
27. A control system for a resistance welding station having a weld gun with a displaceable welding electrode and a displacement sensor coupled to the electrode for generating a displacement sensor signal responsive to displacement of the electrode during welding, the resistance welding station being adapted for welding the parts together, the control system comprising:
-
a part containment box for receiving improperly welded parts; an input sensor disposed within the part containment box for generating an input sensor signal responsive to detection of an improperly welded part; and a test computer in communication with the displacement sensor, the input sensor, and the resistance welding station, the test computer being operative to compare the displacement sensor signal to a predetermined desired displacement signal to identify the improperly welded part and to provide a fault signal for disabling the resistance welding station until the input sensor signal is received indicating that the improperly welded part has been deposited into the part containment box.
-
Specification