Abstract: A plasma ejection unit (21) of an arc welding device includes a plasma torch (26), a copper plate (27), a container (28), and a gas supplying unit (29). Plasma gas inside the container (28) is pressurized by argon gas supplied from the gas supplying unit (29), and ejected from first to eighth ejection ports. The plasma gas ejected from the first to eighth ejection ports is concentrated in a concentration area (CA) between vehicle body plates (16-17) to form through holes (40) in the vehicle body plates (16-17), and is separated. The air pressures, in eight areas, of the plasma gas reaching a vehicle body plate (18) are approximately one-eighth of the air pressure of the plasma gas in the concentration area (CA). Accordingly, while the through holes (40) are formed in the vehicle body plates (16-17), no through hole is formed in the vehicle body plate (18).

Abstract: A penetration welding method includes a plasma welding step for forming a through hole in a work, which is a laminated steel plate, from a front surface to rear surface thereof without forming a hole in a component at the rear, by generating a plasma arc column from a plasma torch to the work. After the plasma arc column is generated, the plasma arc column is extinguished when an arc voltage or the length of the arc estimated from the arc voltage exceeds an end-determining threshold which is determined according to the thickness of the work. Further, plasma gas is discharged from the plasma torch at a flow rate at which the width of the plasma arc column is maintained approximately constant from the plasma torch side to the work side so that the arc voltage is increased at an approximately constant rate before and after penetration.

Abstract: The invention provides a switching electrode which has a small variation in resistance value even when a large amount of current is repeatedly cut off and can carry a stable amount of current even when it is continuously used. In the invention, the switching electrode is used in a switch which includes a first switching electrode tip (21) and a second switching electrode tip (22), brings the first switching electrode tip (21) and the second switching electrode tip (22) into surface contact with each other to carry a current, and separates the first switching electrode tip (21) and the second switching electrode tip (22) to cut off the current. At least one of contact surfaces of the first switching electrode tip (21) and the second switching electrode tip (22) is a flat surface having an uneven portion.

Abstract: The invention provides a switching electrode which has a small variation in resistance value even when a large amount of current is repeatedly cut off and can carry a stable amount of current even when it is continuously used. In the invention, the switching electrode is used in a switch which includes a first switching electrode tip (21) and a second switching electrode tip (22), brings the first switching electrode tip (21) and the second switching electrode tip (22) into surface contact with each other to carry a current, and separates the first switching electrode tip (21) and the second switching electrode tip (22) to cut off the current. At least one of contact surfaces of the first switching electrode tip (21) and the second switching electrode tip (22) is a flat surface having an uneven portion.

Abstract: A penetration welding method includes a plasma welding step for forming a through hole in a work, which is a laminated steel plate, from a front surface to rear surface thereof without forming a hole in a component at the rear, by generating a plasma arc column from a plasma torch to the work. After the plasma arc column is generated, the plasma arc column is extinguished when an arc voltage or the length of the arc estimated from the arc voltage exceeds an end-determining threshold which is determined according to the thickness of the work. Further, plasma gas is discharged from the plasma torch at a flow rate at which the width of the plasma arc column is maintained approximately constant from the plasma torch side to the work side so that the arc voltage is increased at an approximately constant rate before and after penetration.

Abstract: A plasma ejection unit (21) of an arc welding device includes a plasma torch (26), a copper plate (27), a container (28), and a gas supplying unit (29). Plasma gas inside the container (28) is pressurized by argon gas supplied from the gas supplying unit (29), and ejected from first to eighth ejection ports. The plasma gas ejected from the first to eighth ejection ports is concentrated in a concentration area (CA) between vehicle body plates (16-17) to form through holes (40) in the vehicle body plates (16-17), and is separated. The air pressures, in eight areas, of the plasma gas reaching a vehicle body plate (18) are approximately one-eighth of the air pressure of the plasma gas in the concentration area (CA). Accordingly, while the through holes (40) are formed in the vehicle body plates (16-17), no through hole is formed in the vehicle body plate (18).

Abstract: The invention provides a switching electrode which has a small variation in resistance value even when a large amount of current is repeatedly cut off and can carry a stable amount of current even when it is continuously used. In the invention, the switching electrode is used in a switch which includes a first switching electrode tip (21) and a second switching electrode tip (22), brings the first switching electrode tip (21) and the second switching electrode tip (22) into surface contact with each other to carry a current, and separates the first switching electrode tip (21) and the second switching electrode tip (22) to cut off the current. At least one of contact surfaces of the first switching electrode tip (21) and the second switching electrode tip (22) is a flat surface having an uneven portion.

Abstract: An imaging operation is executed by partially shielding, from incident light coming from a subject, a photodetecting element (A(m, n)) including a photodetecting surface (P(m, n)) having a prescribed area and adapted to generate output values corresponding to light quantities received by the photodetecting surface, acquiring output values from the photodetecting element in each of a plurality of states in which different portions of the photodetecting element are shielded, and calculating a pixel information corresponding to a light quantity received by a region that is smaller than the photodetecting surface of the photodetecting element based on differences between the output values acquired in the plurality of states.

Abstract: A threading method for threading a work 18 includes a supporting portion moving-up step for moving a supporting portion 17 upward by a predetermined distance by using an elevational mechanism 15 without rotating a tap 20 inserted into the work 18. Thus, the bent state of the robot arm 11 can be eliminated by moving the supporting portion 17 upward. In this case, since the supporting portion 17 is moved upward artificially, the supporting portion 17 can be moved up in a short time. That is, the bent state of the robot arm 11 can be eliminated in a short time and so the processing efficiency of the threading step can be improved.