Device (10) for manufacturing a component compound by resistance welding, comprises a welding electrode (12) for transmitting an electric current to a joining element (17) and for exerting a joining force onto the joining element (17) along a joining direction (22) in order to establish a connection of the joining element (17) with a structural element by resistance welding; as well as a positioning device (20) for positioning at least one joining element (17) on the axis of the joining direction (22) in order to contact and particularly apply a force to the joining element (17) by means of the welding electrode (12). The positioning device (20) comprises a retention device (30) for exerting a retention force onto the joining element (17), wherein the retention device (30) is movably arranged.

A welding device for joining components by resistance welding includes a pair of electrodes which can introduce an electrode force and an electrical welding current I.sub.S1 into the components, at least one further pair of electrodes which can introduce an electrode force and a further electrical welding current I.sub.S2 into the components, a power source which can generate the electrode forces, a coupling link which is mechanically connected between the power source and the pairs of electrodes and which can divide a total electrode force that can be generated by the power source into the electrode force and the further electrode force.

An upper electrode assembly for welding fasteners includes a body that supports an electrode that has an aperture. The aperture is configured to receive a movable pin of a lower electrode assembly arranged opposite the upper electrode assembly. The lower electrode assembly supports a fastener in a welding position. The upper electrode assembly includes a position sensor which includes a position sensor member that is arranged in the body and is configured to cooperate with the pin to detect a fastener welding characteristic.

A weld head for spot welding two or more components together. The weld head includes first and second electrode assemblies and a linear actuator motor to drive the first electrode assembly into a desired position and apply a desired clamping force. The weld head may include a sensor configured to measure a temperature of the motor and a controller configured to monitor the temperature and adjust the current supplied to the motor to maintain the desired clamping force. The weld head may include linear encoder to measure the position of the linear actuator motor and an algorithm that correlates the position of the motor with a force constant of the motor. Based on the position of the motor and the corresponding force constant of the motor, the controller is configured to adjust the current supplied to the motor to maintain the desired clamping force.

An electronically-controlled electric resistance welding head and method having a support structure and the electrodes located on the same side. The welding head including a ground electrode having an elastic device and a detecting device for detecting a force load on the elastic device on contact with a component to be welded. A welding electrode is movable relative to the ground electrode and the support structure to contact the component to be welded. An electronic control unit is operable to selectively increase the force applied by each electrode when in contact with the component to be welded until respective threshold values are achieved. Current is generated by a transformer for passage to the electrodes.

The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for the low-resistance welding of metal sheets with a high cycle rate.

Provided is a method for grinding electrode tips such that the method is capable of detecting irregular grinding when the maximum torque does not occur. Specifically, a tip dresser includes a holder holding a cutter, a servo motor unit allowing the holder to rotate, and a controller controlling the operation of the servo motor unit. The servo motor unit outputs a torque occurrence signal to the controller when a load torque reaches a predetermined value in regular grinding of a pair of electrode tips. The controller detects irregular grinding when not receiving the torque occurrence signal within a time that corresponds to an elapsed time in the regular grinding.

A spot welding apparatus includes a stationary frame having a housing formed therein. An upper welding gun is mounted to a length direction of a pressing unit disposed in the housing of the stationary frame. A plurality of lower welding guns are mounted on an outside of the stationary frame and ends of the plurality of lower welding guns selectively face one end of the upper welding gun in a length direction of the lower welding guns by the plurality of lower welding guns. A plurality of actuators are mounted on the outside of the stationary frame. A plurality of link units are disposed between the actuators and the lower welding guns, connect the actuators and the lower welding guns, respectively, and rotate as the actuators are operated.

An apparatus includes a housing, a lever, a plurality of gears and a sensor. The housing may be configured to receive a weld head. The lever may be rotatably attached to the housing and configured to convert a linear position of a free end of the lever relative to the housing into a first angular position of a first shaft relative to the housing. The gears may be configured to transform the first angular position of the first shaft to a second angular position of a second shaft. The sensor may be coupled to the second shaft and configured to generate a value representative of the linear position of the free end of the lever by a measurement of the second angular position of the second shaft.

A spot welding apparatus includes a spot welding gun and a welding gun control apparatus. The welding gun control apparatus includes a pressurizing force control part controlling the pressurizing force, a position control part controlling the position of at least one electrode, and a determination part determining whether or not the welding is performed in a normal state. The position control part controls an electrode drive motor so as to hold the electrodes, after the supply of the electric current is started, at positions when the initial pressurizing force is applied before the electric current is supplied. The determination part acquires the pressurizing force and determines whether or not the welding is performed in a normal state based on change tendency in the pressurizing force.