Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for butt welding at least two metal sheets, namely a first metal sheet and a second metal sheet, wherein, in particular, a tailored blank is produced from the metal sheets.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing tailored sheet-metal strips, in which at least one sheet-metal strip having a substantially planar surface is integrally connected along its longitudinal edge to at least one further web-shaped semifinished product made of metal, wherein the at least one further web-shaped semifinished product differs from the at least one sheet-metal strip in terms of at least one of its properties, and wherein the at least one sheet-metal strip and the at least one further web-shaped semifinished product are fed continuously to at least one joining station, characterized in that a web-shaped semifinished product having a three-dimensional structure, a hollow profile and/or a multiplicity of recesses and/or holes in succession along its longitudinal edge is used as the at least one further web-shaped semifinished product which is fed to the joining station. An apparatus for carrying out the method is furthermore claimed.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing a tailored sheet metal strip, comprising at least one welding station, by means of which at least two sheet metal strips can be welded to one another along their longitudinal edges, and at least two strip feeding devices for respectively feeding one of the sheet metal strips into the at least one welding station, wherein the at least two strip feeding devices and the at least one welding station define a production line. A further-processing station for further processing is integrated in the production line downstream of the at least one welding station in the strip running direction and is equipped with tools for applying reinforcing material, to local points of at least one of the sheet metal strips which are connected to one another, for punching holes and/or for forming at least one of the sheet metal strips which are connected to one another.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing a tailored sheet metal strip, comprising at least one welding station, by means of which at least two sheet metal strips can be welded to one another along their longitudinal edges, and at least two strip feeding devices for respectively feeding one of the sheet metal strips into the at least one welding station, wherein the at least two strip feeding devices and the at least one welding station define a production line. A further-processing station for further processing is integrated in the production line downstream of the at least one welding station in the strip running direction and is equipped with tools for applying reinforcing material, to local points of at least one of the sheet metal strips which are connected to one another, for punching holes and/or for forming at least one of the sheet metal strips which are connected to one another.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing tailored sheet-metal strips, in which at least one sheet-metal strip having a substantially planar surface is integrally connected along its longitudinal edge to at least one further web-shaped semifinished product made of metal, wherein the at least one further web-shaped semifinished product differs from the at least one sheet-metal strip in terms of at least one of its properties, and wherein the at least one sheet-metal strip and the at least one further web-shaped semifinished product are fed continuously to at least one joining station, characterized in that a web-shaped semifinished product having a three-dimensional structure, a hollow profile and/or a multiplicity of recesses and/or holes in succession along its longitudinal edge is used as the at least one further web-shaped semifinished product which is fed to the joining station. An apparatus for carrying out the method is furthermore claimed.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing a tailored sheet metal strip, comprising at least one welding station, by means of which at least two sheet metal strips can be welded to one another along their longitudinal edges, and at least two strip feeding devices for respectively feeding one of the sheet metal strips into the at least one welding station, wherein the at least two strip feeding devices and the at least one welding station define a production line. A further-processing station for further processing is integrated in the production line downstream of the at least one welding station in the strip running direction and is equipped with tools for applying reinforcing material, to local points of at least one of the sheet metal strips which are connected to one another, for punching holes and/or for forming at least one of the sheet metal strips which are connected to one another.

Abstract: A device and a method for guiding bands to be joined to one another along their longitudinal edges, in which bands are guided via deflection rollers to a joining position. The device according to the invention provides that the deflection roller located closer to the joining position is configured as a conical roller, the deflection roller arranged upstream of this conical roller in the running direction of the band being also configured as a conical roller or as a deflection roller having a cylindrical lateral surface, and the conical roller last mentioned tapering in the direction of the other longitudinal edge of the band, or the rotational axis of the deflection roller having a cylindrical lateral surface spatially approaching the rotational axis of the conical roller arranged downstream in the running direction of the band on the edge side of the band opposing the longitudinal edge to be joined.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for butt welding metal sheets (1, 2), preferably sheet metal strips or blanks of differing thicknesses by the relative displacement of a laser beam or electron beam in relation to the metal sheets (1, 2), along the line of contact of said sheets (1, 2) or the line of the welding seam that is to be produced, with the aid of tension rollers (4, 5, 10) that are located in pairs at a distance from one another above and below the sheets (1, 2) in the vicinity of the welding seam. The tension rollers (10) that are located above the sheets (1, 2) roll off the latter (1, 2) in a height-adjustable and/or sprung manner. The height of the tension rollers (4, 5) that are located below the sheets (1, 2) on at least one side of the welding seam is adjusted.