Welding job sequencer
AssigneeLincoln Global, Inc.
InventorsJoseph A Daniel, Dmitry Brant
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A semi-automatic welding work cell, including a welding job sequencer that automatically selects a welding schedule for use by an operator in the semi-automatic welding work cell. The automatic selection may be by way of elapsed time, a detection of welding operations, a detection of the amount of welding wire supplied for the welding operation, or a detection of the amount of energy supplied for the welding operation.
Claims20
A method of welding in a semi-automatic work cell having welding equipment and a welding job sequencer to complete an assembly defined by a plurality of welds, the plurality of welds being defined by at least two weld schedules, said method comprising:
- implementing a welding equipment function with the welding job sequencer to define from the at least two weld schedules, a semi-automatic welding operation including a first weld schedule having at least one first weld set up parameter and at least one first weld instruction and a second weld schedule having at least one second weld set up parameter and at least one second weld instruction, at least one of said second weld set up parameter and said second weld instruction is different from said first weld set up parameter and said first weld instruction;
- indicating to a welding operator a sequence of welding operations for completing the assembly in said semi-automatic welding operation based on said first and second weld schedules;
- automatically modifying said welding equipment with the welding job sequencer in accordance with said sequence of welding operations without said welding operator intervention for completing the assembly, with said welding operator performing said semi-automatic welding operation in accordance with said sequence of welding operations based on said first and second weld schedules.
A method of monitoring a welding production line in at least one semi-automatic welding work cell for use by a welding operator in a semi-automatic welding operation to complete an assembly defined by a plurality of welds, the plurality of welds being defined by at least two weld schedules, the semi-automatic welding work cell including welding equipment and a welding job sequencer, the method comprising:
- defining at least a first and a second weld schedule of said semi-automatic welding operation in a sequence of welding operations from the at least two weld schedules with the welding job sequencer, said first weld schedule having at least one first weld set up parameter and at least one first weld instruction and said second weld schedule defining at least one second weld set up parameter and at least one second weld instruction with at least one of said second weld set up parameter and said second weld instruction being different from said first weld set up parameter and said first weld instruction;
- determining completion of said first weld schedule by said welding operator in said semi-automatic welding operation;
- automatically modifying the welding equipment in accordance with said second weld schedule of said semi-automatic welding operation without said welding operator intervention for said welding operator to perform said semi-automatic welding operation in accordance with said sequence of welding operations;
- and
- monitoring the welding operations of said semi-automatic welding process.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.