Method for monitoring the quality of spot welding
First Claim
1. A method for monitoring the quality of spot welds, for robotic applications comprising the following steps:
- inserting a strip between at least two electrodes and metal sheets;
welding said metal sheets together via spot-welding tools by pressing said at least two electrodes opposite each other with said metal sheets being arranged therebetween to create a spot weld;
conveying said strip past said at least two electrodes and said metal sheets after said step of welding metal sheets together, and wherein said strip is configured so that it forms an image representing the spot weld;
detecting and evaluating said image formed on said strip;
assessing said spot weld on said metal sheets via optical visualization of said image on said strip; and
determining the size, shape and position of the spot weld on said metal sheets from said image on said strip.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for monitoring the quality of spot welding, in particular for robotic applications. Workpieces, such as metal sheets are welded together using spot welding tools. The sheets are placed between at least two electrodes, which are pressed against one another and supplied with energy. The spot weld is evaluated using an evaluation element, in particular an optical visualization. A tape is placed between the electrodes or electrode caps and the sheets. The tape is transported onwards after the welding process. The tape is configured in such a way that a mirror-image, in particular a proportional reproduction or impression of the spot weld that has been produced on the workpiece is created by the welding process on the tape. The reproduction or impression is detected and evaluated by the evaluation element and the size, shape and position of the spot weld are deduced.
23 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method for monitoring the quality of spot welds, for robotic applications comprising the following steps:
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inserting a strip between at least two electrodes and metal sheets; welding said metal sheets together via spot-welding tools by pressing said at least two electrodes opposite each other with said metal sheets being arranged therebetween to create a spot weld; conveying said strip past said at least two electrodes and said metal sheets after said step of welding metal sheets together, and wherein said strip is configured so that it forms an image representing the spot weld; detecting and evaluating said image formed on said strip; assessing said spot weld on said metal sheets via optical visualization of said image on said strip; and determining the size, shape and position of the spot weld on said metal sheets from said image on said strip. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification