Device for clamping and welding pieces of sheet metal

• US 6,525,294 B1
• Filed: 10/27/2001
• Issued: 02/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ThyssenKrupp Technologies AG (Thyssenkrupp AG)
• Original Assignee: ThyssenKrupp Technologies AG (Thyssenkrupp AG)
• Inventors: Görgen, Josef, Kipping, Josef
• Primary Examiner(s): Dunn, Tom
• Assistant Examiner(s): JOHNSON, JONATHAN J
• Application Number:
  US09/889,122
• Time in Patent Office: 486 Days
• Field of Search: 219/121.63, 219/121.64, 219/121.67, 219/121.68, 219/121.69, 219/121.82, 219/161, 219/158, 269/249
• US Class Current: 219/121.63
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/037 by pressing on the workpiece, e.g. pressing roller foot
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/0884 in at least in three axial directions, e.g. manipulators, robots
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 37/0435 Clamps

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for clamping and welding pieces of sheet metal (13, 14) which are placed against one another, preferably for use in the area of automobile manufacturing. According to the invention, a bracket (3) is fastened to a mounting flange (1), preferably of a robot arm. Said bracket (3) comprises a clamping tool (6) and a welding head (10). The energy beam (16) of the welding head (10) is directed into the welding gap between the pieces of sheet metal (13, 14). Using the mounting flange (1), the bracket (3) and/or the welding head (10) can be displaced in a linear guide (4), said guide being situated opposite the hydraulic cylinder (7), according to the progression of the weld seam (11). In addition, stop elements (8, 8′) for detecting the position of the edges of at least one of the pieces of sheet metal (13, 14) are arranged on the clamping tool (6) in order to position the pieces of sheet metal (13, 14) with regard to one another and/or to the welding head (10).

Claims

1. A device for clamping and welding plates that are in contact with one another, the device comprising:

a mounting flange;

a bracket fastened to said mounting flange;

a clamping tool carried by said bracket;

a welding head carried by said bracket, an energy beam of said welding head being directed into a welding gap between the plates;

a linear guide, said bracket and/or said welding head being movable in said linear guide by means of said mounting flange in relation to said clamping tool corresponding to a course of a weld seam; and

stop elements arranged on said clamping tool for positioning said plates in relation to one another and/or in relation to said welding head for detecting the position of the edge of at least one of said plates.

2. A device in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

a locking device to prevent a relative movement between said bracket and said clamping tool for positioning said clamping tool at said plates, said locking device being arranged at said bracket.

3. A device in accordance with claim 2, wherein said locking device includes a pneumatic cylinder.

4. A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said clamping tool includes a gripping jaw with a hydraulic cylinder.

5. A device in accordance with claim 2, wherein said clamping tool includes a gripping jaw with a hydraulic cylinder.

6. A device in accordance with claim 3, wherein said clamping tool includes a gripping jaw with a hydraulic cylinder.

7. A device in accordance with claim 4, wherein said stop elements are arranged on an arm of said gripping jaw, said arm being located opposite said hydraulic cylinder.

8. A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the edges of the plates are located in contact with one another, the edges to be welded together being located in different planes and the stop elements detecting only the position of the edge of the shorter plate.

9. A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the stop elements have stop faces arranged at right angles to one another.

10. A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein two said stop elements are provided between which a weld seam is formed, said two stop elements being arranged at spaced locations from one another in a welding direction.

11. A device in accordance with claim 8, wherein said arm of said clamping tool has an opening for the energy beam, said opening having a diameter or length that is greater than a maximum length of the weld seam to be prepared.

12. A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the energy beam is directed onto a contact surface of the edges of the two plates lying one on top of another at an acute angle to the contact surface.

13. A device for clamping and welding plates that are in contact with one another for use in automobile manufacture, the device comprising:

a mounting flange;

a bracket fastened to said mounting flange;

a clamping tool carried by said bracket;

a welding head carried by said bracket, an energy beam of said welding head being directed into a welding gap between the plates;

a linear guide, said bracket and/or said welding head being movable in said linear guide by means of said mounting flange in relation to said clamping tool corresponding to a course of a weld seam; and

stop elements arranged on said clamping tool for positioning said plates in relation to one another and/or in relation to said welding head for detecting the position of the edge of at least one of said plates.