Joining method and joining appliance

Abstract

A method for joining studs to workpieces, in particular for the purpose of stud welding, comprising the steps of acquiring a distinguishing dimension of a stud to be joined by the application of a sensing element to the stud and through measurement of a travel distance of the sensing element as it is applied to the stud; and then joining the stud to a workpiece, if the dimension of the stud is within an allowable tolerance range, and the allowable tolerance range is adapted in dependence on the travel distance of the sensing element measured during a preceding method step.

Claims

1. A method for joining studs to workpieces, in particular for the purpose of stud welding, comprising the steps of: acquiring a distinguishing dimension of a stud to be joined, through application of a sensing element to the stud and through measurement of a travel distance of the sensing element required for this purpose, wherein the travel distance is related to the distinguishing dimension and the distinguishing dimension is related to an allowable tolerance range; rejecting the stud if the distinguishing dimension of the stud is outside of the allowable tolerance range; and joining the stud to a workpiece, if the distinguishing dimension of the stud is within the allowable tolerance range, and wherein the allowable tolerance range is later automatically adapted in dependence on the travel distance of the sensing element measured during the joining operation of the stud to compensate for a physical change to the sensing element that results in a relationship change between the travel distance and the distinguishing dimension; and wherein the later automatically adapted allowable tolerance range is used as the allowable tolerance range in a subsequent joining operation.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein, for the purpose of adaptation of the allowable tolerance range the travel distance of the sensing element is measured during application to the stud joined during a single preceding joining operation.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein, the allowable tolerance range is adapted in dependence on the travel distances of the sensing element measured during a plurality of preceding joining operations.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the allowable tolerance range is adapted in dependence on a sliding mean value of the travel distances of the sensing element measured during the plurality of preceding joining operations.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the allowable tolerance range is adapted in dependence on the travel distance of the sensing element measured during application of the sensing element to a reference stud.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the stud is gripped by a mechanical gripper before being joined to the workpiece.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the gripper includes a movable gripper arm, and the sensing element includes the gripper arm.

8. A method for welding studs to a workpiece, the method comprising the steps of: determining a first distinguishing dimension of a first stud through measurement of a first travel distance of a sensing element applied to the first stud, wherein the first travel distance is related to the first distinguishing dimension; comparing the first distinguishing dimension of the first stud to a first allowable tolerance range, wherein the first distinguishing dimension is related to the first allowable tolerance range; rejecting the first stud, if the first distinguishing dimension of the first stud is outside of the first allowable tolerance range; joining the first stud to a workpiece, if the first distinguishing dimension of the first stud is within the first allowable tolerance range, and automatically adapting the first allowable tolerance range to create a second allowable tolerance range in dependence on the first travel distance of the sensing element to compensate for a physical change to the sensing element that results in a relationship change between the travel distance and the distinguishing dimension; determining a second distinguishing dimension of a second stud through measurement of a second travel distance of the sensing element applied to the second stud; and comparing the second distinguishing dimension of the second stud to the second allowable tolerance range.

9. The method of welding according to claim 8, wherein the first travel distance is one of a plurality of preceding measured travel distances, and in the step of adapting the first allowable tolerance range the second allowable tolerance range is created by adapting the first allowable tolerance range in dependence on the plurality of preceding measured travel distances.

10. The method of welding according to claim 9, wherein the first allowable tolerance range is adapted in dependence on a sliding mean value of the plurality of preceding measured travel distances.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the tolerance range is later automatically adapted by at least one of: recentering the tolerance range; and changing at least one of an upper limit and a lower limit of the tolerance range.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the tolerance range is later automatically adapted by recentering the tolerance range on the distinguishing dimension of the stud as measured by the travel distance of the sensing element.

13. The method of claim 4, wherein the allowable tolerance range is later automatically adapted by recentering of the tolerance range on a distinguishing dimension calculated on a sliding mean value of the travel distances of the sensing element measured during the plurality of preceding joining operations.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of automatically adapting the first allowable tolerance range to create a second allowable tolerance range comprises at least one of: recentering the first allowable tolerance range; and changing at least one of an upper limit and a lower limit of the first allowable tolerance range.

15. The method of claim 8, wherein step of automatically adapting the first allowable tolerance range to create a second allowable tolerance range comprises recentering the tolerance range on the first distinguishing dimension of the first stud as measured by the first travel distance of the sensing element.

16. The method of welding according to claim 10, wherein the step of automatically adapting the first allowable tolerance range to create a second allowable tolerance range comprises recentering the first tolerance range on a calculated distinguishing dimension calculated on a sliding mean value of the travel distances of the sensing element measured during the plurality of preceding joining operations.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the later adaptation of the allowable tolerance range excludes any measured travel distance of a rejected stud.

18. The method of claim 3, wherein the later adaptation of the allowable tolerance range excludes any measured travel distance of a rejected stud.

19. The method of welding according to claim 8, wherein the automatic adapting of the allowable tolerance range excludes any measured travel distance of a rejected stud.

20. The method of welding according to claim 9, wherein the preceding plurality of travel distances excludes any measured travel distance of a rejected stud.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Exemplary embodiments of the invention are represented in the drawing and described more fully in the following description. In the drawing:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a joining appliance according to the invention;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a representation of a measured stud diameter and of an associated allowable tolerance range, as obtained over time, or over the number of joining operations performed, in the performance of the method according to the invention;

(4) FIG. 3 shows a representation comparable to that of FIG. 2, wherein the tolerance range is redefined through a manual intervention according to the prior art method; and

(5) FIG. 4 shows a representation comparable to that of FIG. 2, wherein the tolerance range is effected through automatic calibration on a reference mandrel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(6) In FIG. 1, a joining appliance is denoted in general by 10. The joining appliance 10 serves to join studs 12 to workpieces 14, for example through stud welding, stud adhesive-bonding, etc. The joining appliance 10 has a robot 16, on the arm of which there is arranged a joining head 18. Arranged on the joining head 18 is a gripper 20, for gripping one stud in each case. Further, the joining appliance 10 comprises a magazine 22, in which studs 12′, 12″ that are subsequently to be joined are made available. It is further shown in FIG. 1 that a stud 12′″ has already been joined to the workpiece 14. After the stud 12 held by the gripper 20 in FIG. 1 has been joined to the workpiece 14, the joining head 18 can be moved, by means of the robot 16, towards the magazine 22, in order to grip a further stud 12′ by means of the gripper 20 and thereby supply it to a further joining operation. A stud, denoted by 12″ in FIG. 1, is then joined.

(7) In the present case, the studs 12 are represented schematically as flanged studs, which have distinguishing dimension D, for example a shank diameter.

(8) In the case of the appliance represented in FIG. 1, it is provided that, before a joining operation, this shank diameter D is measured in order to determine whether the stud 12 held by the gripper 20 is the correct stud type for the joining operation to follow.

(9) It is understood, however, that means can also be provided in the joining head in order to measure other distinguishing dimensions, as an alternative or in addition thereto, the flange diameter, the stud length, the shank length or other dimensions of the stud.

(10) The distinguishing dimension of the stud, in the present case the shank diameter D, is measured in that a sensing element is applied to the stud and in that the travel distance of the sensing element required for this purpose is acquired. In the present case, the acquisition of the dimension is effected by means of a displacement sensor 24, which is represented schematically in FIG. 1 and which is designed to acquire the travel distances of a first gripper arm 26 and a second gripper arm 28 of the gripper 20.

(11) Thus, FIG. 1 shows that the first and the second gripper arm 26, 28, before gripping a stud 12, are in a zero position (shown in broken lines), denoted in FIG. 1 by P.sub.01 and P.sub.02, respectively. For the purpose of gripping the stud 12, the gripper arms 26, 28 are moved towards one another, wherein they travel a first and a second travel distance P.sub.1 and P.sub.2, respectively.

(12) As soon as the gripper arms 26, 28 bear on the shank of the stud 12, its diameter D can be calculated by means of the formula D=(P.sub.01−P.sub.1)+(P.sub.02−P.sub.2).

(13) This manner of calculating the dimension of the stud is to be understood as being merely an example. It is conceivable, in other embodiments, for gripper elements to move rotationally onto the stud, such that a rotational angle of the gripper arms is acquired. It is also conceivable for one of the gripper arms to be held rigid, and only a second gripper arm to be moved onto the rigid gripper arm. It is also possible to provide more than two gripper arms. In the present case, the diameter D of the stud shank is calculated through measurement of the travel distances of the gripper arms 26, 28. Alternatively, however, it is also possible for the acquisition of the dimension of a stud to be joined to be performed by a measuring device that is realized so as to be separate from the gripper 20. Such a separate measuring device can be arranged on the joining head 18, but can also be arranged in the region of the magazine 22.

(14) During operation of the joining appliance 10, wear occurs on the bearing contact surfaces of the gripper arms 26, 28. Usually, this is a certain amount of abrasion, but could also be a deposit of materials.

(15) As a result, for by example of the abrasion of the gripper arms 26, 28, there arises the situation whereby, after a first calibration, the measured shank thickness D becomes ever smaller, since the travel distances P.sub.1, P.sub.2 to be traveled by the gripper arms 26, 28 becomes ever greater.

(16) FIG. 3 shows an example wherein, in the case of an initial calibration operation at first instant i.sub.1, a measurement value D.sub.MESS is determined as being in accordance with an actual shank diameter, and wherein a tolerance range T.sub.1 is defined around this calibrated value of D.sub.MESS. With the performance of a plurality of joining operations and the consequential abrasion of the gripper arms 26, 28, the value of D.sub.MESS reduces more and more, until finally it reaches the edge of the tolerance range T.sub.1. A manual intervention operation M is used to recalibrate the measuring system, such that, at an instant i.sub.2, a new value of D.sub.MESS is defined as a correct measurement value and, accordingly, a new allowable tolerance range T.sub.2 is defined.

(17) FIG. 2 shows that the allowable tolerance range T can be adapted automatically, during operation, to the abrasion of the gripper arms 26, 28. This can be effected, for example, in that the allowable tolerance range is adapted in dependence on a sliding mean value of the travel distances P.sub.1, P.sub.2 of the gripper arms 26, 28 in the case of a plurality of preceding joining operations. Consequently, there is no need for the cyclic, manual recalibration M of the acquisition system. This enables the intervals of intervention by the plant personnel to be extended. Further, it is possible to minimize disruptions, which can occur as a result of incorrect stud diameters being identified. This is because the setpoint value, and the therewith associated allowable tolerance range T, are adapted to the wear on the gripper arms 26, 28.

(18) In the present case, for the allowable tolerance range T in FIG. 2 a linear drop is obtained, which corresponds to a linear wear. If the wear is non-linear, the allowable tolerance range, correspondingly, will also be adapted in a non-linear manner.

(19) A further embodiment of a method according to the invention is shown in FIG. 4. In the case of this method, a reference stud shank or mandrel 30 defining a reference dimension D.sub.REF, as represented in FIG. 1, is used for the automatic adaptation of the tolerance range T. The reference mandrel 30 is located in the gripper region of the joining head 18, and can be approached by the joining head 18, between two joining operations, in order to perform an automatic recalibration by means of the gripper arms 26, 28. The diameter of the reference mandrel 30 is the standard diameter D of a stud 12.

(20) FIG. 4 shows that, at an instant i.sub.1, for example before a first joining operation, calibration on the basis of the reference mandrel 30 is effected with new gripper arms 26, 28, and a first tolerance range T.sub.1 is then set.

(21) At a second instant i.sub.2, which, expectedly, is significantly before an instant at which the value of D.sub.MESS falls out of the first tolerance range T.sub.1 owing to the wear on the gripper arms 26, 28, a second measuring step is effected automatically, through use of a reference mandrel 30. Owing to the abrasion of the gripper arms 26, 28 that has occurred in the interim, there is a displacement of the tolerance range, as shown at T.sub.2. After a defined number of joining operations (the number being, for example, <10,000, in particular <5,000, and particularly preferably <2,000), there is again an automatic operation to adapt the tolerance range through use of the reference mandrel 30 (at i.sub.3, . . . ).

(22) In the case of this embodiment, owing to the use of a precise reference stud 30, there is no need to form a sliding mean value for the purpose of automatic adaptation of the tolerance range. The structural resource requirement for setting up such an automatic tolerance adaptation method is comparatively small, and consists, substantially, in a software adaptation and in the provision of a reference stud 30 in the gripper region of the joining head 18.

(23) Although exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims and their equivalents.