Welding machine for welding tongues onto sheet-metal parts

A machine for use in welding pre-stamped tongues onto sheet metal parts by an electrical resistance welding process, comprising:

• a sheet metal conveyor adapted to receive and sequentially move the sheet-metal parts in a step-wise manner in a direction along a conveyor toward a welding position at a welding station, said conveyor including a plurality of opposed rollers through which pass the sheet metal parts;
• a means for impressing a plurality of weakening lines in the sheet metal parts in a direction substantially parallel to said conveyor direction, said weakening lines forming a tear off strip;
• a punch means sequentially receiving a plurality of pre-stamped tongues, said punch means for detaching a foremost one of said pre-stamped tongues;
• and
• a tongue conveyor means for receiving a pre-stamped punched tongue at a punch position and located said received tongue at said welding position registered between said sheet metal part weakening lines, further registered between welding electrodes, said welding position separated from said punch position.