초록 ▼

Welding equipment that includes a tooling cart for transferring interchangeable tooling modules to a welding machine. A latch is mounted to the welding machine for latching the tooling cart to the welding machine, and a latch is provided for latching the tooling modules onto the tooling cart. A two-

Welding equipment that includes a tooling cart for transferring interchangeable tooling modules to a welding machine. A latch is mounted to the welding machine for latching the tooling cart to the welding machine, and a latch is provided for latching the tooling modules onto the tooling cart. A two-piece tooling cart includes a removable upper section for securing tooling modules thereto and a reusable lower section for use with other tooling modules. A welding method permits operation of a welding machine using a user interface that permits modular programming of at least one operational sequence of welding machine valves and weld operations for a variety of different tooling modules. An operator inputs a new sequence of operations using the user interface rather than having to rewrite ladder logic just to switch over the welding machine to use with a different tooling module.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. Welding equipment, comprising: a welding machine including: a base operating machine having a tooling module station; and at least one tooling module sized to be received in said tooling module station and connectable to said base operating machine to enable welding operation

What is claimed is: 1. Welding equipment, comprising: a welding machine including: a base operating machine having a tooling module station; and at least one tooling module sized to be received in said tooling module station and connectable to said base operating machine to enable welding operations using said tooling module under control of said base operating machine; a tooling cart that engages said base operating machine adjacent said tooling module station such that said tooling module can be transferred between said tooling cart and said base operating machine; at least one tooling cart latch that includes a first latch member on said base operating machine and a second latch member on said tooling cart, wherein said tooling cart is latched to said base operating machine by engagement of said latch members when said tooling cart is brought into engagement with said base operating machine at a location adjacent said tooling module station, whereby said tooling cart latch is used to inhibit relative movement between said tooling cart and said base operating machine. 2. Welding equipment as defined in claim 1, further comprising a tooling module latch that includes a module latch member on said tooling module and a cart latch member on said tooling cart, wherein said module latch member engages said cart latch member to prevent said tooling module from moving off said tooling cart. 3. Welding equipment as defined in claim 2, wherein said module latch member comprises a pin having a longitudinal axis and having an engagement recess for cooperation with said cart latch member, and wherein said cart latch member comprises a rod oriented transversely with respect to said longitudinal axis of said pin, said rod having a disengagement recess and being engaged with said pin in said engagement recess thereof, said pin being disengageable with respect to said rod when said rod is moved such that said disengagement recess of said rod is positioned substantially adjacent said engagement recess of said pin. 4. Welding equipment as defined in claim 3, wherein said tooling module latch further includes: a block having a substantially vertically oriented passage therein for accepting one end of said pin and further having a transversely oriented passage therein for accepting one end of said rod; and a spring positioned between said block and a portion of said rod for biasing said rod towards a position in which said disengagement recess is not aligned with said vertically oriented passage; said rod having an opposite end for contacting a portion of said base operating machine as said tooling cart is brought into engagement with said base operating machine; wherein, when said tooling cart is latched to said base operating machine by said tooling cart latch, said rod is displaced against a bias force of said spring to position said disengagement recess of said rod substantially adjacent said vertically oriented passage so as to permit insertion and removal of said pin from said block. 5. Welding equipment as defined in claim 1, wherein said tooling cart comprises: a reusable lower section including a base having a first plurality of locators thereon; and a removable upper section including a second plurality of locators for engaging said first plurality of locators of said base. 6. Welding equipment as defined in claim 5, wherein said first plurality of locators includes semi-spherical members and wherein said second plurality of locators includes tubular legs. 7. Welding equipment as defined in claim 1, wherein said base operating machine and said tooling cart each includes a frame having front legs on opposed sides of said frame, wherein said at least one tooling cart latch comprises two laterally opposed latches, each of which includes (i) said first latch member mounted to one of said front legs of said base operating machine frame and (ii) said second latch member mounted to one of said front legs of said tooling cart frame. 8. Welding equipment as defined in claim 7, wherein each of said second latch members comprises a latch plate and wherein each of said opposed latches comprises: a bracket having an aperture therethrough; a spring housing attached to said bracket over said aperture, said housing extending in a longitudinal direction substantially transverse with respect to said bracket and terminating in a free end having a cam surface and a detent, said housing having a spring wall located intermediate said free end and said aperture; a shaft disposed through said aperture of said bracket and through said housing, said shaft terminating in a head defining a shoulder, said head having an angled bearing surface; a spring circumscribing a portion of said shaft and having one end in contact with said shoulder of said shaft and having an opposite end in contact with said spring wall of said housing so as to bias said head away from said spring wall and through said aperture such that said angled bearing surface is located at an exposed location outside of said housing and said aperture; and a pin extending substantially transversely through a portion of said shaft and being biased into said detent under a bias force of said spring. 9. Welding equipment as defined in claim 8, wherein said tooling cart engages said base operating machine at a location between said opposed first latch members wherein said latch plates of said tooling cart contact said angled bearing surfaces to displace said shafts against the bias force of said springs as said tooling cart is advanced toward said base operating machine whereafter said latch plates are disposed between said shafts and said frame of said base operating machine and retained therebetween by said heads of said latches so as to secure said tooling cart in a latched position with respect to said base operating machine. 10. Welding equipment as defined in claim 9, wherein said shafts are retractable against the bias force of said springs to permit said latch plates of said tooling cart to clear said heads of said shafts as said tooling cart is moved away from said welding machine. 11. Welding equipment as defined in claim 9, wherein said shafts of said latches are adapted to be rotated 180 degrees so as to present said angled bearing surfaces toward said latch plates of said tooling cart when said tooling cart is in said latched position, wherein as said tooling cart is moved away from said welding machine, said latch plates of said tooling cart contact said angled bearing surfaces of said opposed first latch members to displace said shafts against the bias force of said springs to permit said tooling cart to be disengaged from said base operating machine. 12. A tooling cart latch adapted to be used with a base operating machine of a welding machine and adapted to secure a welding tooling cart in a latched location with respect to the base operating machine, said tooling cart latch comprising: a bracket having an aperture therethrough; a spring housing attached to said bracket over said aperture, said housing extending in a longitudinal direction substantially transverse with respect to said bracket and terminating in a free end having a cam surface and a detent, said housing having a spring wall located intermediate said free end and said aperture; a shaft disposed through said aperture of said bracket and through said housing, said shaft terminating in a head defining a shoulder, said head having an angled bearing surface; a spring circumscribing a portion of said shaft and having one end in contact with said shoulder of said shaft and having an opposite end in contact with said spring wall of said housing so as to bias said head away from said spring wall and through said aperture such that said angled bearing surface is located at an exposed location outside of said housing and said aperture; and a pin extending substantially transversely through a portion of said shaft and being biased into said detent under a bias force of said spring. 13. Welding equipment, comprising: a welding machine including: a base operating machine having a tooling module station; and at least one tooling module sized to be received in said tooling module station and connectable to said base operating machine to enable welding operations using said tooling module under control of said base operating machine; a tooling cart that engages said base operating machine adjacent said tooling module station such that said tooling module can be transferred between said tooling cart and said base operating machine; at least one tooling cart latch that connects said tooling cart to said base operating machine to maintain said tooling cart in a fixed position with respect to said base operating machine during transfer of said tooling module between said tooling cart and said base operating machine; and at least one tooling module latch that connects said tooling module to said tooling cart to inhibit shifting of said tooling module during transportation of said tooling module on said tooling cart. 14. Welding equipment as defined in claim 13, wherein said tooling cart latch comprises: a bracket having an aperture therethrough; a spring housing attached to said bracket over said aperture, said housing extending in a longitudinal direction substantially transverse with respect to said bracket and terminating in a free end having a cam surface and a detent, said housing having a spring wall located intermediate said free end and said aperture; a shaft disposed through said aperture of said bracket and through said housing, said shaft terminating in a head defining a shoulder, said head having an angled bearing surface; a spring circumscribing a portion of said shaft and having one end in contact with said shoulder of said shaft and having an opposite end in contact with said spring wall of said housing so as to bias said head away from said spring wall and through said aperture such that said angled bearing surface is located at an exposed location outside of said housing and said aperture; and a pin extending substantially transversely through a portion of said shaft and being biased into said detent under a bias force of said spring. 15. Welding equipment as defined in claim 14, wherein said at least one tooling cart latch comprises a pair of opposed latches mounted on said base operating machine and wherein said tooling cart engages said base operating machine at a location between said opposed latches such that said tooling cart contacts said angled bearing surfaces to displace said shafts against the bias force of said springs as said tooling cart is advanced toward said base operating machine whereafter portions of said tooling cart are disposed between said shafts and said base operating machine and retained therebetween by said heads of said latches so as to secure said tooling cart in a latched position with respect to said base operating machine. 16. Welding equipment as defined in claim 15, wherein said shafts are retractable against the bias force of said springs to permit said latch plates of said tooling cart to clear said heads of said shafts as said tooling cart is moved away from said welding machine. 17. Welding equipment as defined in claim 15, wherein said shafts of said latches are adapted to be rotated 180 degrees so as to present said angled bearing surfaces toward said portions of said tooling cart when said tooling cart is in said latched position, wherein as said tooling cart is moved away from said welding machine, said tooling cart contacts said angled bearing surfaces of said opposed first latch members to displace said shafts against the bias force of said springs to permit said tooling cart to be disengaged from said base operating machine. 18. Welding equipment as defined in claim 13, wherein said tooling module latch includes a pin and a rod, said pin having a longitudinal axis and an engagement recess, and said rod being oriented transversely with respect to said longitudinal axis of said pin, said rod having a disengagement recess and being engaged with said pin in said engagement recess thereof, said pin being disengageable with respect to said rod when said rod is moved such that said disengagement recess of said rod is positioned substantially adjacent said engagement recess of said pin. 19. Welding equipment as defined in claim 18, wherein said tooling module latch further includes: a block having a substantially vertically oriented passage therein for accepting one end of said pin and further having a transversely oriented passage therein for accepting one end of said rod; and a spring positioned between said block and a portion of said rod for biasing said rod towards a position in which said disengagement recess is not aligned with said vertically oriented passage; said rod having an opposite end for contacting a portion of said base operating machine as said tooling cart is brought into engagement with said base operating machine; wherein, when said tooling cart is latched to said base operating machine by said tooling cart latch, said rod is displaced against a bias force of said spring to position said disengagement recess of said rod substantially adjacent said vertically oriented passage so as to permit insertion and removal of said pin from said block.