System and method of welding system operator identification

• US 9,862,049 B2
• Filed: 06/23/2015
• Issued: 01/09/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Original Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Inventors: Becker, William Joshua
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Ellen
• Assistant Examiner(s): Salehi, Helai
• Application Number:
  US14/747,667
• Publication Number:
  US 20150375324A1
• Time in Patent Office: 931 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/0953 using computing means
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/1062 with computing means
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 9/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/24 Use of tools

Abstract

A welding system including a processor configured to receive a first set of welding data of a live welding session corresponding to welding parameters, arc parameters, or any combination thereof, a memory configured to store the received first set of welding data, and an operator identification system coupled to the processor and to the memory. The operator identification system includes an input device configured to receive a first identifier input from a first operator that performs the welding session and a second identifier input from a second operator. The operator identification system is configured to determine an identity of the first operator based at least in part on the first identifier input, to verify the identity of the first operator based at least in part on the second identifier input, and to associate the received first set of welding data with the first identifier input.

Claims

1. A welding system comprising:

a processor configured to receive a first set of welding data corresponding to welding parameters, arc parameters, or any combination thereof, wherein the received welding parameters and the received arc parameters correspond to a live welding session;

a memory configured to store the received first set of welding data, wherein the memory comprises a non-transitory, computer readable media; and

an operator identification system coupled to the processor and to the memory, wherein the operator identification system comprises an input device configured to receive a first identifier input from a first operator that performs the live welding session and a second identifier input from a second operator, the operator identification system is configured to determine an identity of the first operator based at least in part on the first identifier input, the operator identification system is configured to verify the identity of the first operator based at least in part on the second identifier input, the second operator is identifiable as an instructor or a manager of the first operator, and the operator identification system is configured to associate the received first set of welding data with the first identifier input.

2. The welding system of claim 1, wherein the identity of the first operator corresponds to a registration number unique to the first operator, and the registration number is associated with a plurality of sets of welding data corresponding to a respective plurality of welding sessions performed by the first operator.

3. The welding system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first identifier input and the second identifier input comprises an operator resettable identifier.

4. The welding system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first identifier input and the second identifier input comprises a biometric identifier.

5. The welding system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first identifier input and the second identifier input comprises a token corresponding to the first operator.

6. The welding system of claim 1, wherein the operator identification system is configured to enable transmission of the first set of welding data to a data storage system when the operator identification system verifies the identity of the first operator based at least in part on the second identifier input, and the operator identification system is configured to disable transmission of the first set of welding data to the data storage system until the operator identification system verifies the identity of the first operator.

7. The welding system of claim 1, wherein the operator identification system is configured to enable operation of the welding system by the first operator to perform the live welding session when the operator identification system verifies the identity of the first operator based at least in part on the second identifier input, and the operator identification system is configured to lockout operation of the welding system by the first operator until the operator identification system verifies the identity of the first operator.

8. The welding system of claim 1, wherein the first set of welding data comprises a serial number corresponding to a workpiece of the live welding session.

9. The welding system of claim 1, wherein the welding parameters comprise a work angle of a welding torch, a travel angle of the welding torch, a contact tip to work distance, a travel speed of the welding torch, an aim of the welding torch, or any combination thereof.

10. The welding system of claim 4, wherein at least one of the first identifier input and the second identifier input comprises a fingerprint.

11. The welding system of claim 7, wherein the operator identification system is configured to lockout operation of the welding system by the first operator if the live welding session is not initiated within a predefined time window after the operator identification system verifies the identity of the first operator.

12. The welding system of claim 8, wherein the serial number is affixed to the workpiece.

13. A welding method comprising:

receiving, via an input device of an operator identification system, a first identifier input from a first operator;

determining, via the operator identification system, an identity of the first operator based at least in part on the first identifier input;

receiving, via the input device of the operator identification system, a second identifier input from a second operator, wherein the second operator is identifiable as an instructor or a manager of the first operator;

verifying, via the operator identification system, the identity of the first operator based at least in part on the second identifier input;

receiving, via a processor coupled to the operator identification system, welding data corresponding to a welding session performed by the first operator with a welding system, wherein the welding data comprises welding parameters, and the welding parameters comprise a work angle of a welding torch, a travel angle of the welding torch, a contact tip to work distance, a travel speed of the welding torch, an aim of the welding torch, or any combination thereof;

associating, via the processor, the received welding data with the identity of the first operator; and

storing the received welding data and the identity of the first operator in a memory, wherein the memory comprises non-transitory computer readable media coupled to the processor.

14. The welding method of claim 13, comprising transmitting the received welding data to a data storage system after verifying the identity of the first operator, wherein transmitting the received welding data comprises transmitting via a network device to a network for access by one or more computer systems coupled to the network, wherein the network device is coupled to a processor.

15. The welding method of claim 13, comprising associating, via the processor, the received welding data with a registration number, wherein the registration number corresponds to the identity of the first operator and the registration number is unique to the first operator that performed the welding session.

16. The welding method of claim 13, wherein at least one of the first identifier input and the second identifier input comprises a resettable identifier, a biometric identifier, or a token, or any combination thereof.

17. The welding method of claim 13, wherein the welding data comprises arc parameters corresponding to the welding session, wherein the arc parameters comprise a weld voltage, a weld current, a wire feed speed, or any combination thereof.

18. The welding method of claim 13, comprising locking out, via the operator identification system, operation of the welding system by the first operator until after verification of the identity of the first operator based at least in part on the second identifier input.

19. The welding method of claim 13, comprising storing the second identifier input in the memory with the received welding data and the identity of the first operator.

20. The welding method of claim 14, wherein verifying the identity of the first operator occurs after receiving welding data corresponding to the welding session performed by the first operator with the welding system.

21. A welding method comprising:

receiving, via an input device of an operator identification system, a first identifier input from a first operator;

determining, via the operator identification system, an identity of the first operator based at least in part on the first identifier input;

locking out operation of a welding system via the operator identification system;

receiving, via the input device of the operator identification system, a second identifier input from a second operator, wherein the second operator is identifiable as an instructor or a manager of the first operator;

verifying, via the operator identification system, the identity of the first operator based at least in part on the second identifier input;

enabling, via the operator identification system, operation of the welding system by the first operator after verification of the identity of the first operator;

receiving, via a processor coupled to the operator identification system, welding data corresponding to a welding session performed by the first operator with the welding system, wherein the welding data comprises welding parameters, and the welding parameters comprise a work angle of a welding torch, a travel angle of the welding torch, a contact tip to work distance, a travel speed of the welding torch, an aim of the welding torch, or any combination thereof;

associating, via the processor, the received welding data with the identity of the first operator; and

transmitting, via a network device coupled to the processor, the received welding data and the identity of the first operator to a data storage system comprising non-transitory computer readable media.

22. The welding method of claim 21, comprising locking out, via the operator identification system, operation of the welding system by the first operator if the welding session is not initiated within a predefined time window after the verification of the identity of the first operator.

23. The welding method of claim 21, wherein transmitting the received welding data comprises transmitting via a network for access by one or more computer systems coupled to the network.

24. The welding method of claim 21, wherein at least one of the first identifier input and the second identifier input comprises a biometric identifier.