Patent ID: 9658612
Date: 2017-05-23
CPC Classifications: B23K,G05B

Claim:
1. A method of monitoring a status condition of vibration welding equipment, wherein the vibration welding equipment includes a welding horn and a welding anvil, the method comprising: determining, via a host machine, a first time period representing the amount of time elapsed since an evaluation of the status condition of the vibration welding equipment was completed and determining the number of welds performed since an evaluation of the status condition of the vibration welding equipment was completed; repeatedly comparing, via the host machine, the first time period to a predetermined threshold time period and repeatedly comparing the number of welds performed to a predetermined threshold number of welds; determining, via the host machine, if a threshold condition is met, wherein the threshold condition is met when at least one of the first time period exceeds the predetermined threshold time period and the number of welds exceeds the predetermined threshold number of welds; commanding, with a host machine, a welding robot to move the welding horn and the welding anvil to a check station when the threshold condition is met; repositioning the welding horn and welding anvil at the check station, with the welding robot; measuring, with at least one displacement sensor, a first distance between the welding horn and the welding anvil at a first evaluation point and returning a first signal representing the first distance to the host machine, wherein the at least one displacement sensor is disposed at the check station; measuring, with the at least one displacement sensor, a second distance between the welding horn and the welding anvil at a second evaluation point and returning a second signal representing the second distance to the host machine; calculating, via the host machine, a difference between the first distance and the second distance, wherein the status condition corresponds to the difference between the first distance measured by the at least one displacement sensor and the second distance measured by the at least one displacement sensor; evaluating, via the host machine, the calculated difference between the first distance and the second distance by comparing the calculated difference between the first distance and the second distance to a plurality of threshold operating values for the calculated difference between the first distance and second distance contained in one of a first look-up table and second look-up table; and executing a control action with respect to the vibration welding equipment when the difference between the first distance and the second distance exceeds the corresponding threshold operating value contained in one of the first look-up table and the second look-up table.