Work monitoring means for glow generating working apparatus with light source control
AssigneeUnimation, Inc.
InventorIchiro Masaki
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An automatic arc welding machine includes a work monitoring device comprising a light source for projecting a light to the workpiece and an image taking device which receives the light as reflected by the workpiece. The light source is so controlled in accordance with the operation of the image taking device that the average intensity of the projected light is increased when the image taking device is in operation. The arrangement is effective to increase the signal-to-noise ratio.
Claims10
Workpiece monitoring apparatus for a light generating arc welding arrangement arranged to perform arc welding on a workpiece, the workpiece monitoring apparatus comprising:
- means for projecting light onto the workpiece;
- image detection means for developing an image signal and sensing by reflection the light projected onto the workpiece by said projecting means;
- and
- means for controlling said projecting means in coordination with said image detection means to increase the average intensity of said projected light during operation of said image detection means relative to the average intensity of said projected light when said image detection means is not in operation to develop an image signal.
A method of monitoring a workpiece arranged at a work station in the vicinity of a light generating arc welding arrangement, the method comprising the steps of:
- projecting light onto a workpiece;
- sensing the reflected image from the workpiece at selected times;
- and
- controlling the average intensity of the projected light to increase the average intensity of the projected light during said workpiece sensing relative to the average intensity during the times when said sensing is not being performed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.