A welding apparatus includes: a welding machine having a lower arm member, an upper arm member, and electrodes configured to advance and retreat; a robot device to which the welding machine is mounted; a support member including a vertical member substantially in a vertical direction, and a horizontal member substantially in a horizontal direction. The vertical member is mounted on one of the lower arm member and the upper arm member at a position away from the electrode of the one of the lower arm member and the upper arm member; and a parts-feeding device mounted to the horizontal member and configured to feed parts to the electrode.

A welding apparatus includes: a welding machine having a lower arm member, an upper arm member, and electrodes configured to advance and retreat; a robot device to which the welding machine is mounted; a support member including a vertical member substantially in a vertical direction, and a horizontal member substantially in a horizontal direction. The vertical member is mounted on one of the lower arm member and the upper arm member at a position away from the electrode of the one of the lower arm member and the upper arm member; and a parts-feeding device mounted to the horizontal member and configured to feed parts to the electrode.

A method for the connection of components or component regions and a non-releasable connection produced in this manner. Two connection faces are partially welded to each other with an adhesive layer being incorporated between the two connection faces. The method including the following steps: arranging a welding base on a connection face, applying the adhesive layer to a connection face, moving the connection faces toward each other in such a manner that the welding base is applied against the other connection face, introducing welding current in the region of the applied welding base. A spacer is arranged between the connection faces before the connection faces are moved toward each other. The connection faces are spaced apart from each other in the region of the welding base by the extent that the welding base projects above the spacer.

A method for the connection of components or component regions and a non-releasable connection produced in this manner. Two connection faces are partially welded to each other with an adhesive layer being incorporated between the two connection faces. The method including the following steps: arranging a welding base on a connection face, applying the adhesive layer to a connection face, moving the connection faces toward each other in such a manner that the welding base is applied against the other connection face, introducing welding current in the region of the applied welding base. A spacer is arranged between the connection faces before the connection faces are moved toward each other. The connection faces are spaced apart from each other in the region of the welding base by the extent that the welding base projects above the spacer.

Provided is apart stopping/passing unit for apart including a unit main body having a part passage, an opening/closing member configured to open and close the part passage, and an attracting mechanism. The opening/closing member includes a stopper surface for stopping a part and a passing hole for allowing the part to pass therethrough. The attracting mechanism is configured to position the part by an attracting force when the stopper surface takes a part stopping position, and to allow the part to pass by elimination of an attraction force when the passing hole takes a part passing position.

Provided is apart stopping/passing unit for apart including a unit main body having a part passage, an opening/closing member configured to open and close the part passage, and an attracting mechanism. The opening/closing member includes a stopper surface for stopping a part and a passing hole for allowing the part to pass therethrough. The attracting mechanism is configured to position the part by an attracting force when the stopper surface takes a part stopping position, and to allow the part to pass by elimination of an attraction force when the passing hole takes a part passing position.

A welding electrode and a method of using the welding electrode for resistance spot welding are disclosed. The welding electrode includes a body and a weld face. The weld face includes a central dome portion and a shoulder portion that surrounds the central dome portion and extends from an outer circumference of the weld face upwardly and radially inwardly to the central dome portion. The central dome portion has a series of radially-spaced ringed ridges that project outwardly from a base dome face surface. The series of radially-spaced ringed ridges on the central dome portion includes an innermost ringed ridge and an outermost ringed ridge. The outermost ringed ridge on the central dome portion has a radial inner side surface and a radial outer side surface. The radial outer side surface extends below the base dome face surface down to the shoulder portion of the weld face.

A joining-member welding unit includes a first member made of metal, a second member overlapped with one surface of the first member, a joining member made of the same kind of metal as the first member, and a welder. The second member has a through-hole defined by an inner wall surface thereof. The inner wall surface and the one surface define a recessed portion. The joining member includes a large-diameter plate portion having an outer diameter larger than a diameter of the through-hole and a thickness smaller than the diameter of the through-hole, and a protruding portion protruding from the large-diameter plate portion and to be inserted into the through-hole. The welder includes a holding portion that holds the joining member. The welder applies an electric current to the joining member to melt the protruding portion such that the first member and the second member are joined together.

A method for producing a composite component includes providing a first component with a plastic layer, providing a second component which is formed at least partially from metal, and connecting the first component to the second component to form the composite component. At least one connecting element made of metal is positively connected to the first component and electrical resistance welding to the second component so that between the connecting element and the second component a welded connection is produced.

A method for producing a composite component includes providing a first component with a plastic layer, providing a second component which is formed at least partially from metal, and connecting the first component to the second component to form the composite component. At least one connecting element made of metal is positively connected to the first component and electrical resistance welding to the second component so that between the connecting element and the second component a welded connection is produced.