Patent ID: 6803538
Filing Date: 2004-10-12
Classification: B23K

Abstract:
A welding system, comprising:travel path to carry a first blank and a second blank in downstream direction, the first blank having a first weld edge and the second blank having a second weld edge, for a weld seam to be formed along the first and second weld edges; an upstream clamp assembly and a downstream clamp assembly positioned on the travel path; each of the upstream and downstream clamp assemblies being movable to an open position to allow the first blank to pass through the upstream clamp assembly to a first location within the downstream clamp assembly; a welding source directed at a weld location on the travel path between the upstream and downstream clamp assemblies; a least one locating means operable in one phase to interrupt the travel path and to locate the first weld edge adjacent the weld location; first displacement means to reverse the direction of the first blank and to displace the first weld edge in an upstream direction against the locating means; the downstream clamp assembly being movable from the open position to a closed clamped position to clamp the first blank with the first weld edge adjacent the weld location; the locating means being operable to be withdrawn from the travel path; the upstream clamp assembly having an upper clamp portion defining an upper clamp surface and a lower clamp portion defining a lower clamp surface, wherein the upper and lower clam surfaces are adjacent one another, the upper clamp portion being movable relative to the lower clamp portion in a direction transverse to the travel path from the open position to an intermediate position, the intermediate position being selected by a predetermined spacing between the adjacent clamp surfaces to guide the second blank to pass through the upstream clamp assembly in a substantially coplanar relationship with the first blank so that the second weld edge makes contact with, but not past, the first weld edge; second displacement means to displace the second blank along the travel path to a location adjacent the weld location here the second weld edge abuts the first weld edge; the upstream clamp assembly being movable from the intermediate position to a closed clamped position to clamp the second blank; the welding unit operable to fuse the first and second weld edges of the blanks together.