Patents by Inventor Zachary A. Christy

Zachary A. Christy has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20230390918
    Abstract: A method of programming multiple weld passes in a collaborative robot welding system to perform multi-pass welding is provided. A root pass is programmed for a first weld seam by manually positioning a welding torch and automatically recording root pass position and angle data. Secondary passes for the first weld seam are also programmed. The tip of the welding torch is positioned at a start point and a stop point for each secondary pass. The start and stop position data of the start point and the stop point are automatically recorded for each secondary pass. Numerical position and angle offset data are automatically calculated. The root pass position and angle data and the offset data are stored as a multi-pass template. The template is translated and applied to a weld reference frame of a second weld seam to aid in programming secondary passes for the second weld seam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2023
    Publication date: December 7, 2023
    Inventors: Levi J. Mitchell, Zachary A. Christy
  • Publication number: 20230390848
    Abstract: A method of correcting angles of a welding torch positioned by a user while training a robot of a robotic welding system is provided. Weldment depth data of a weldment and a corresponding weld seam is acquired and 3D point cloud data is generated. 3D plane and intersection data is generated from the 3D point cloud data, representing the weldment and weld seam. User-placed 3D torch position and orientation data for a recorded weld point along the weld seam is imported. A torch push angle and a torch work angle are calculated for the recorded weld point, with respect to the weldment and weld seam, based on the user-placed torch position and orientation data and the 3D plane and intersection data. The torch push angle and the torch work angle are corrected for the recorded weld point based on pre-stored ideal angles for the weld seam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2022
    Publication date: December 7, 2023
    Inventor: Zachary A. Christy
  • Publication number: 20230390934
    Abstract: A method of correcting angles of a welding torch positioned by a user while training a robot of a robotic welding system is provided. Weldment depth data of a weldment and a corresponding weld seam is acquired and 3D point cloud data is generated. 3D plane and intersection data is generated from the 3D point cloud data, representing the weldment and weld seam. User-placed 3D torch position and orientation data for a recorded weld point along the weld seam is imported. A torch push angle and a torch work angle are calculated for the recorded weld point, with respect to the weldment and weld seam, based on the user-placed torch position and orientation data and the 3D plane and intersection data. The torch push angle and the torch work angle are corrected for the recorded weld point based on pre-stored ideal angles for the weld seam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2022
    Publication date: December 7, 2023
    Inventor: Zachary A. Christy
  • Publication number: 20230390927
    Abstract: A method of correcting angles of a welding torch positioned by a user while training a robot of a robotic welding system is provided. Weldment depth data of a weldment and a corresponding weld seam is acquired and 3D point cloud data is generated. 3D plane and intersection data is generated from the 3D point cloud data, representing the weldment and weld seam. User-placed 3D torch position and orientation data for a recorded weld point along the weld seam is imported. A torch push angle and a torch work angle are calculated for the recorded weld point, with respect to the weldment and weld seam, based on the user-placed torch position and orientation data and the 3D plane and intersection data. The torch push angle and the torch work angle are corrected for the recorded weld point based on pre-stored ideal angles for the weld seam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2023
    Publication date: December 7, 2023
    Inventors: Zachary A. Christy, Levi J. Mitchell