Welding machine manipulated by automated equipment
AssigneeMatsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
InventorYoshiro Sasano
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A welding machine manipulated by automated equipment controls feeding of depositing metal independently of controlling a welding current, so that the welding can be finely controlled and quality welding is achievable. The welding machine includes a robot having an arm for moving a welding torch, a robot controller for controlling the movement of the robot, a welding power source coupled to the torch, a depositing metal feeder for feeding depositing metal to the welding torch, and a feeder controller for controlling the feeder. The robot controller is coupled to the feeder controller for transmitting a control signal, related to feeding the depositing metal, to the feeder controller.
Claims10
A welding machine for performing welding on a workpiece, said welding machine comprising:
- a metal feeder for feeding depositing metal;
- a controller for controlling feeding rate at which said metal feeder feeds said depositing metal;
- and
- a memory for storing;
- a first plurality of commands which specify changes to said feeding rate between and away from starting and stopping of welding;
- and
- a second plurality of commands which specify welding locations;
- each of said second plurality of commands associated with a respective one of said first plurality of commands.
A method of welding, said method comprising the steps of:
- storing a first plurality of commands which specify changes to said feeding rate between and away from starting and stopping of welding;
- and
- a second plurality of commands which specify welding locations;
- each of said second plurality of commands associated with a respective one of said first plurality of commands;
- welding at a first rate based on one of said first plurality of commands;
- and
- changing welding locations based on one of said second plurality of commands;
- changing welding to a second rate after said first rate based on another of said first plurality of commands associated with said one of said second plurality of commands while welding is still occurring.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.