Abstract: An installation for positioning edge to edge and welding by means of a laser beam at least two sheet blanks comprises means for supporting and positioning a first sheet blank in a horizontal reference plane, means for positioning the edge to be welded of the first sheet blank on the axis of the laser beam, means for maintaining the edge to be welded of the first sheet blank, means for clamping the first sheet blank, means for supporting and positioning at least one second sheet blank, means for maintaining the edge to be welded of the second sheet blank against the edge to be welded of the first sheet blank, means for clamping with a sectorized pressure the second sheet blank, means for exerting a lateral and sectorized pressure on the edges to be welded of the sheet blanks, and a welding unit employing a laser beam movable along the joint plane of the sheet blanks to be welded.

Abstract: The invention provides a device for putting et least two sheet blanks (2 and 3) in register edge to edge in a plant for welding these sheet blanks by means of a high energy density beam (1). The device comprises a longitudinal stop element (92) movable, on one hand, by the action of a first control means (100), between a retracted horizontal first position and a retracted vertical intermediate second position and, on the other hand, by the action of a second control means (110), between said intermediate second position and a vertical third position for putting in register the first sheet blank (2), in which position a lower part of the stop element (92) is gripped between the means for positioning and clamping the sheet blanks and an upper end part of the stop element (92) extends above a horizontal reference plane for positioning the edge to be welded (2a) of the first sheet blank (2) on the axis of the high energy density beam (1).

Abstract: The subject of the invention is a device for simultaneous shearing of two sheet metal blanks comprising, for each sheet metal blank, an assembly formed, on the one hand, by a support member of the corresponding sheet metal blank comprising a rectilinear cutting edge and, on the other hand, by a movable cutter provided with a rectilinear cutting edge designed to interact with the cutting edge of the corresponding support member. The cutting edges of the two support members and cutters assemblies are situated in a same reference plane P and the support members extend on either side of the reference plane P. The invention applies to installations for welding by laser beam of two sheet metal blanks placed edge to edge.

Abstract: The invention provides a device for positioning sheet blanks (2, 3) in an installation for the continuous butt welding of the sheet blanks (2, 3) by means of a laser beam. The device comprises, on one hand, a conveyor table formed by an alternating arrangement of rails (11) having balls and bands (12) provided with projecting studs (13) evenly spaced apart and, on the other hand, friction means (15) adapted to be applied on the upper face of the sheet blanks (2, 3) and impart to the sheet blanks a movement in translation which is substantially perpendicular to the direction of feed of the sheet blanks (2, 3).

Abstract: The installation comprises a zone A for positioning a first sheet blank (2) to be welded, a zone B for bringing the two sheet blanks (2, 3) to be welded into edge to edge relation, a zone C for guiding, transferring and welding the two sheet blanks (2, 3), and a zone D for discharging the two welded sheet blanks (2, 3). The invention is applicable to installations for welding by means of a laser beam sheet blanks of different geometrical and/or different thicknesses, for example for the automobile industry.

Abstract: The present invention has as its subject a device for guiding and for transfer of at least two sheet metal blanks to be welded edge to edge.The device comprises, on the one hand, for each sheet metal blank, means (14a, 15a) for supporting the sheet metal blank along a horizontal reference plane and movable horizontally in the direction of a laser beam and means (14c, 15c) for vertical pressing of the sheet metal blank onto the support means and movable horizontally in synchronisation with the said support means for the movement by adherence of the sheet metal blanks and, on the other hand, means for maintaining in reference along a vertical plane the edge to be welded of one of the sheet metal blanks in the axis of the laser beam and means for placing under lateral pressure the edges to be welded of the two sheet metal blanks.