Welding gun and methods conducted using the same

• US 6,313,427 B1
• Filed: 11/30/1999
• Issued: 11/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Suita, Kazutsugu
• Primary Examiner(s): Copenheaver, Blaine
• Assistant Examiner(s): DUNN, COLLEEN P
• Application Number:
  US09/451,149
• Time in Patent Office: 707 Days
• Field of Search: 219/109, 219/170, 219/86.41, 219/91.1
• US Class Current: 219/109
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 11/10 Spot welding; Stitch welding
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 11/253 the measured parameter being a displacement or a position
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 11/311 the actuating device comprising an electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 11/315 with one electrode moving on a linear path

Abstract

An intelligent welding gun is provided with a fixed side sensor in a fixed side portion. The mechanical impedance of the fixed side portion is kept small, which permits the mechanical impedance to be set in a range where the fixed side sensor can effectively detect at least one of a position of a fixed side welding tip and a pressing force imposed on the fixed side welding tip. The fixed side sensor and a moving side sensor constitute a redundant sensor measurement system. Various kinds of methods conducted using the above welding gun include a method of calibrating a sensor (including calibration of a reference point and a gain), a control method of suppressing a welding expulsion, a re-welding feedback control method, a control method of a welding strength, a control method of reducing a clearance between workpieces, a method of correcting a welding robot track, and a method of managing a positional accuracy change at a welding point.

Claims

1. A welding gun comprising:

a moving side portion including a moving side welding tip and a driving device for driving said moving side welding tip; and

a fixed side portion including a fixed side welding tip and an arm supporting said fixed side welding tip,

wherein a fixed side sensor for detecting at least one of a position of said fixed side welding tip and a pressing force imposed on said fixed side welding tip is provided in said fixed side portion.

2. A welding gun according to claim 1, wherein a mechanical impedance of said fixed side portion is smaller than that of said moving side portion, said mechanical impedance of said fixed side portion being set in a range where said fixed side sensor can effectively detect said at least one of the position of said fixed side welding tip and the pressing force imposed on said fixed side welding tip.

3. A welding gun according to claim 1, wherein said fixed side sensor is any one of a force sensor, an optical distance sensor and a sensor using an optical fiber.

4. A welding gun according to claim 1, wherein a moving side sensor for detecting at least one of a position of said moving side welding tip and a pressing force caused in said moving side welding tip is provided in said moving side portion, said fixed side sensor and said moving side sensor constituting a redundant sensor measurement system.