Electricity: motive power systems – Positional servo systems – Program- or pattern-controlled systems
Patent
1995-02-28
1996-11-05
Cabeca, John W.
Electricity: motive power systems
Positional servo systems
Program- or pattern-controlled systems
318570, 36447412, 36447434, 21913001, 2191241, B25J 0922, B23K 0912
Patent
active
055721028
ABSTRACT:
A vision system for controlling welding robots and a method of controlling a welding robot using a vision system are disclosed. The vision system includes an ordinary unoriented light source, such as a fluorescent light source, to illuminate a part to be welded so that a light intensity gradient is created along a seam to be welded. An image of the light intensity gradient is captured by one or more fixed solid-state video cameras. The image is compared with a stored image of a reference part so that a deviation of the seam to be welded with respect to the seam of the reference part can be computed for each of a plurality of predefined reference points. The deviation at each reference point is translated by a microprocessor into a coordinate adjustment which is downloaded to a controller for the robot. The controller converts the learned coordinates of the reference part into the actual coordinates of the seam to be welded using the coordinate adjustments provided by the microprocessor, permitting the robot to weld the seam without vision sensing or weld path adjustments during the welding process. The advantage is a cost effective vision system which can be shared among robots, simpler equipment, simpler control software, and increased efficiency because real time weld path correction maneuvers are eliminated.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4491719 (1985-01-01), Corby, Jr.
patent: 4555613 (1985-11-01), Shulman
patent: 4559555 (1985-12-01), Schoolman
patent: 4575637 (1986-03-01), Sullivan, Jr.
patent: 4593173 (1986-06-01), Bromley et al.
patent: 4613269 (1986-09-01), Wilder et al.
patent: 4634879 (1987-01-01), Penney
patent: 4707647 (1987-11-01), Coldren et al.
patent: 4812614 (1989-03-01), Wang et al.
patent: 4822163 (1989-04-01), Schmidt
patent: 4831233 (1989-05-01), Gordon
patent: 4849679 (1989-07-01), Taft et al.
patent: 4850712 (1989-07-01), Abshire
patent: 4891767 (1990-01-01), Rzasa et al.
patent: 4907169 (1990-03-01), Lovoi
Doerr Wilhelm
Goodfellow John
Budd Canada Inc.
Cabeca John W.
LandOfFree
Method and apparatus for vision control of welding robots does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Method and apparatus for vision control of welding robots, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Method and apparatus for vision control of welding robots will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2016962