Patent ID: 6031199
Filing Date: 2000-02-29
Classification: B23K

Abstract:
A laser cutting and blank welding apparatus for fabricating a tailor welded blank from at least first and second sheet metal workpieces, said apparatus comprising:first and second machine halves, at least one of said first and second halves being movable along a first axis relative to the other of said first and second halves so that a forward portion of said first half and a forward portion of said second half are selectively positioned in one of an axially spaced cutting relationship for cutting operations and an axially adjacent welding relationship for welding operations, each of said halves including:a transport surface for moving an associated workpiece on said first axis,a first sensing and positioning assembly for sensing and controlling the position of the associated workpiece on said first axis,a lateral sensing and positioning assembly for sensing and controlling a lateral position of the associated workpiece on the transport surface, anda workpiece clamping assembly located at said forward portion for securely clamping the associated workpiece to prevent movement thereof and such that adjacent edges of two associated workpieces clamped respectively by said first and second halves abut when said halves are in said welding relationship;a laser beam cutting and welding device supported above and axially between said first and second halves for cutting at least one of the two associated workpieces when said first and second halves are in said cutting relationship so that the adjacent edges of the two associated workpieces mate when said halves are positioned in said welding position, said laser beam cutting and welding device further welding the two associated workpieces together along the adjacent edges of the two associated workpieces when said halves are in said welding position; and,an offal support assembly selectively positioned adjacent a front edge of at least one of said first and second halves when said first and second halves are positioned in said cutting relationship said offal support assembly adapted for supporting an offal generated by said cutting operations.