Abstract: The present disclosure concerns devices and methods for resistance welding sandwich sheets to other components. Many sandwich sheets include a thermoplastic material layer disposed between two metallic cover layers. The sandwich sheet and the other component may be secured relative to one another by a clamping arrangement. A region of the sandwich sheet to be welded may be heated by a preheating current to soften and displace the thermoplastic material layer when the cover layers are pressed together. With respect to the preheating current, a first electrode arrangement may at least temporarily contact an electrically conductive contacting region of the clamping arrangement such that the preheating current can flow via the clamping arrangement. The cover layers may be welded to the other component with a welding current via the first welding electrode of the first electrode arrangement and a second welding electrode of a second electrode arrangement.

Abstract: The present disclosure concerns devices and methods for resistance welding sandwich sheets to other components. Many sandwich sheets include a thermoplastic material layer disposed between two metallic cover layers. The sandwich sheet and the other component may be secured relative to one another by a clamping arrangement. A region of the sandwich sheet to be welded may be heated by a preheating current to soften and displace the thermoplastic material layer when the cover layers are pressed together. With respect to the preheating current, a first electrode arrangement may at least temporarily contact an electrically conductive contacting region of the clamping arrangement such that the preheating current can flow via the clamping arrangement. The cover layers may be welded to the other component with a welding current via the first welding electrode of the first electrode arrangement and a second welding electrode of a second electrode arrangement.

Abstract: A device (1) is provided for connecting a metal sheet (23, 33?) at the edges, particularly body sheet metal in automobiles. The device (1) includes at least one folding bed (2) for receiving at least two metal sheets, folding jaws (3) which are functionally connected to associated folding jaw supports (4), at least one thermal jointing tool (5), and at least one mass electrode (9, 9?). At least the joining tool is not attached to the folding jaws, and the joining tool contains a lever oriented away from the folding bed as a linear feed device. The lever (6) has a center of rotation (10) outside the folding bed, wherein the joining tool can swivel in the manner of a knee lever into an operating and/or non-operating position.

Abstract: A device (1) is provided for connecting a metal sheet (23, 33?) at the edges, particularly body sheet metal in automobiles. The device (1) includes at least one folding bed (2) for receiving at least two metal sheets, folding jaws (3) which are functionally connected to associated folding jaw supports (4), at least one thermal jointing tool (5), and at least one mass electrode (9, 9?). At least the joining tool is not attached to the folding jaws, and the joining tool contains a lever oriented away from the folding bed as a linear feed device. The lever (6) has a center of rotation (10) outside the folding bed, wherein the joining tool can swivel in the manner of a knee lever into an operating and/or non-operating position.