Patent ID: 6177649
Filing Date: 2001-01-23
Classification: B23K

Abstract:
A method of regulating the position of an infrared camera in a thermographic control and monitoring arrangement of a system for welding together at least two metal plates along a joint plane, wherein the position of said camera is regulated with respect to a welding head, and wherein the welding apparatus includes: a welding head which generates a high energy-density beam, and a camera for thermographically monitoring the welding being carried out of said welding head, which welding head and camera are both supported by a frame member, comprising the steps of:positioning the welding beam into a reference position with respect to a point source of light disposed in a zone of the welding apparatus accessible by the welding beam, which reference position is in a plane P close to or coincident with a median plane between the two planes containing respective principal faces of the metal plates which faces are directed generally toward the welding head and infrared camera;displacing the frame member in a direction of the plane of the joint by a specific distance d which corresponds to the distance desired in said direction between an impact point I of the welding beam on the metal plates being welded and the field of view of the camera on said plates;adjusting the field of view of the camera such that the camera registers signals from the light source, andlocking the camera in position with respect to the frame member.