Patent · US Expired

Apparatus for conveying rounded body blanks through a welding zone

US4741468A · kind A · utility

7Cited by
8References
6Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 16, 1987
Grant dateMay 3, 1988
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 16, 2007

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB23K2101/125
  • WIPO fieldMachine tools
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

On a machine for welding the longitudinal edges (12,14) of rounded body blanks (10), two groups of movable guide elements (36), which exert radial guiding forces on the blanks (10), are arranged lying opposite one another with respect to the blanks. The guide elements (36) of each of the two groups are secured to an endless chain (38). Each of these chains (38) has a chain strand extending in the direction of movement (axis A) of the blanks (10), which strand is supported by a rail (52) at both sides of a welding plane (B) containing the welding zone and normal to the direction of movement of the blanks (10). The guide elements (36) move through the welding plane (B) with the blanks (10). As a result, shock-like actions on the blanks (10) in the vicinity of the welding plane (B) are avoided; consequently, the longitudinal edges (12,14) can be welded together particularly evenly, particularly by means of a laser beam.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.