Reading device and method to read identification signs assigned to original workpieces for a welding process

An identifier output method to be executed by a welding system, the identifier output method comprising:

• receiving a welding process command to weld a plurality of original workpieces to produce a welded workpiece;
• acquiring information on identifiers of the plurality of original workpieces to which identification signs are assigned, respectively, the identification signs being assigned such that information on the identifiers are readable;
• selecting, from the identifiers of the plurality of original workpieces according to a predetermined rule, an identifier to be set for the welded workpiece;
• after the selecting, in a case in which any identification sign among the identification signs assigned to the plurality of original workpieces is read by a reading device, outputting, as an identifier of the welded workpiece, the information on the selected identifier to the reading device;
• and
• in response to the welding process command, causing a welding robot to weld the plurality of original workpieces to produce the welded workpiece with the selected identifier associated with the welded workpiece,
• wherein each of the identifiers comprises a combination of a plurality of character codes, and
• wherein the selecting according to the predetermined rule comprises randomly selecting one of the identifiers of the plurality of original workpieces included in the welded workpiece as the selected identifier to be set for the welded workpiece.

An identifier output method to be executed by a welding system, the identifier output method comprising:

• receiving a welding process command to weld a plurality of original workpieces to produce a welded workpiece;
• acquiring information on identifiers of the plurality of original workpieces to which identification signs are assigned, respectively, the identification signs being assigned such that information on the identifiers are readable;
• selecting another identifier different from the identifiers of the plurality of original workpieces included in the welded workpiece as an identifier to be set for the welded workpiece;
• after the selecting, in a case in which any identification sign among the identification signs assigned to the plurality of original workpieces is read by a reading device, outputting, as an identifier of the welded workpiece, the information on the selected identifier to the reading device;
• and
• in response to the welding process command, causing a welding robot to weld the plurality of original workpieces to produce the welded workpiece with the selected identifier associated with the welded workpiece,
• wherein each of the identifiers comprises a combination of a plurality of character codes.

A reading device configured to read identification signs assigned to a plurality of original workpieces to be used in a welding process performed by a welding system, the reading device comprising:

• a reading unit configured to read the identification signs capable of outputting information on respective identifiers of the plurality of original workpieces;
• a processor configured to
• select, from the identifiers of the plurality of original workpieces according to a predetermined rule, an identifier to be set for a welded workpiece to be produced by the welding process using the plurality of original workpieces,
• acquire, based on any identification sign that has been read from the welded workpiece by the reading unit, information on the selected identifier associated with the read identification sign from the welding system, and
• cause a welding robot to weld the plurality of original workpieces to produce the welded workpiece with the selected identifier associated with the read identification sign from the welding system;
• and
• an output unit configured to output the information on the selected identifier that has been acquired,
• wherein each of the identifiers comprises a combination of a plurality of character codes, and
• wherein the processor is configured to select, as the selected identifier according to the predetermined rule, the identifier having a strongest character code based on a comparison of character codes constituting the identifiers of the plurality of original workpieces included in the welded workpiece according to a strength rule defined for each type of the character codes.