Abstract: A fixture assembly for supporting a plurality of blanks during a welding operation. The fixture assembly includes a frame. A plurality of electromagnets are positioned on the frame for supporting the blanks and for drawing the blanks toward the electromagnets to secure the blanks into a desired position. A plurality of intensifiers are moveably connected to the frame for selectively overlying the top face of one of the electromagnets for clamping the blank against the electromagnet to intensify a magnetic force provided by the electromagnet. A plurality of electromagnet adjusters are each coupled with the frame and with at least one of the electromagnets for moving the electromagnets relative to the frame. A plurality of adjusting pins are each connected to the frame and moveable relative to the frame for adjusting a position of the blanks.

Abstract: A substrate transfer hand is configured to sandwich a substrate between a plurality of receiving members and a gripping member and to fix the substrate by moving the gripping member with an actuator. The plurality of receiving members each have a flat plate-shaped support portion mounted on the main hand body, a substrate outer periphery holding portion supported on the support portion and configured to hold an outer periphery of the substrate, and a substrate lower surface holding portion supported on the support portion and configured to hold a lower surface of the substrate. The substrate outer periphery holding portion has a portion provided vertically from the support portion and configured to hold the substrate in contact with the outer periphery of the substrate. The substrate lower surface holding portion has a portion inclined from an outer peripheral side toward an inner side of the substrate to be held.

Abstract: In one aspect of the disclosure, an apparatus for manipulating a plurality of curved sheets is provided. Each of the plurality of curved sheets includes an upper surface and a lower surface. The apparatus includes tooling to be coupled to the upper surface of each of the plurality of curved sheets. The tooling is capable of moving the plurality of curved sheets relative to each other and abutting the plurality of curved sheets so that the upper surface of each of the plurality of curved sheets is coextensive with a virtual arcuate surface. The apparatus also includes a welding apparatus capable of welding the plurality of curved sheets together after abutting the plurality of curved sheets.

Abstract: In one aspect of the disclosure, an apparatus for manipulating a plurality of curved sheets is provided. Each of the plurality of curved sheets includes an upper surface and a lower surface. The apparatus includes tooling to be coupled to the upper surface of each of the plurality of curved sheets. The tooling is capable of moving the plurality of curved sheets relative to each other and abutting the plurality of curved sheets so that the upper surface of each of the plurality of curved sheets is coextensive with a virtual arcuate surface. The apparatus also includes a welding apparatus capable of welding the plurality of curved sheets together after abutting the plurality of curved sheets.

Abstract: An apparatus forms a sheet into a beam having four exterior walls and a common center leg extending between an opposing two of the walls. The apparatus includes a roll former forming the sheet into the beam cross section, a welding station with top and bottom laser welders, and a weld box fixture having inwardly-biased external mandrels (biased by actuators) and outwardly-biased internal split mandrels (biased by springs) that interact to hold a desired shape of the beam in the weld fixture, and also includes a sweeping unit and cutoff device. By this arrangement, the internal and external mandrels, in combination with a bias of the actuators and springs, control a shape of the beam by flexure and movement of material of the sheet when in the weld box fixture during a welding process of the welder.

Abstract: A device and a method for the positionally accurate arrangement of two material ends located opposite each other. The device includes two carriers with always one fixing device for each material end, wherein at least one of the two carriers is slidably guided relative to the second of the carriers, and at least the first carrier has a first adjusting member and a second adjusting member connected to the first adjusting member, wherein the adjusting members form a drive by means of which the first carrier is slidable against the second carrier.

Abstract: A roll former for forming a sheet into a continuous multi-tubular reinforcement beam. The roll former includes a first set of rollers that are configured to bend the sheet to form a common center wall in generally perpendicular orientation relative to first and second lateral portions of the sheet that extend in opposing directions from respective first and second radiused ends of the common center wall. The first set of rollers also form radiused edges on the first and second lateral portions. A second set of rollers is configured to form a channel rib longitudinally along each of the first and second lateral portions. A third set of rollers is configured to bend the first and second lateral portions simultaneously and equally to abut the first and second radiused edges with the respective first and second radiused ends of the common center wall to define adjacent tubes of the beam.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a strip joining apparatus for pipe mill equipment. The strip joining apparatus cuts a trailing end of a preceding steel strip and a leading end of a following steel strip, and puts the cut surfaces of the two steel strips into contact with each other, and then welds them to each other. Particularly, a cutting blade of a first cutting unit and a cutting blade of a second cutting unit are inclined in the downward direction at predetermined angles relative to each other. Thus, the ends of the two steel strips, which are respectively cut by the cutting blades, define a ‘V’-shape groove. In this state, the cut ends of the two steel strips are put in close contact with each other and are welded to each other, so that the quality of welding of the junction between the thick strips can be enhanced.

Abstract: A bonding structure enabling fast and reliable methods to fabricate a substantially homogeneous bondline with reduced dependency of a thickness limitation is disclosed. Also, this system creates a bondline targeted for performance in power electronics. This system is highly adaptable as various structures and fabrication options may be implemented. This enables diverse fabrication selection and creates less dependency on outside conditions. The disclosed system is at least applicable to wafer-to-wafer, die-to-wafer, die-to-substrate, or die-to-die bonding.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for fabricating a vertical deposition mask capable of welding a mask sheet and a mask frame for preventing a large area mask from drooping due to the weight of the mask. The apparatus includes a tensioning device for tensioning a mask sheet and a welder for attaching a mask frame to a circumference of the mask sheet. The tensioning device includes clamps for supporting the mask sheet and tensioners coupled to the clamps for applying tensile force to the clamps and to evenly fix in place the mask sheet by the clamps.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process and a device for joining precious metal sheets (1,4) to form structural parts, and to the products (1,4) made by the process.

Abstract: A laser, aimed at a flyer plate tab, causes optical energy to be directed at the tab, specifically, at a top surface thereof. Energy impacting the tab accelerates the tab into an impact with a target sheet in a time on the order of about 10?5 seconds. The impact occurs in excess of 100 m/s, resulting in a metallurgical bond between the tab and the target sheet. The laser preferably strikes the top surface in a normal direction, based upon an initial angularity of the tab relative to the target. The laser emission may be augmented by an ablative layer on the top surface or a transparent covering on the top surface that reacts against the expanding gas from ablative activity on the top surface. The weld is formed without physical contact between the welding device and the tab.

Abstract: A method of splicing a trailing end of a downstream metal strip to the leading end of an upstream metal strip. The method has the steps of overlapping the leading end of the upstream strip with the trailing end of the downstream strip, and thereafter friction welding the overlapping ends together at a plurality of spots at which respective spot welds are thereby formed.

Abstract: A welding facility includes a main welding line for manufacturing an assembly of frame members, and a sub-welding line for manufacturing an assembly of panel members, the sub-welding line merging with the main welding line. The main welding line is comprised of a plurality of welding stages provided with a welding robot, the sub-welding line is provided at the end with a transfer mechanism for transferring the panel member assembly to the desired welding stage, and the merging parts are changeable according to the type of product to be welded. The facility permits a plurality of vehicle bodies having different vehicle types to be manufactured using the same manufacturing line.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device (100) for the connecting of strips to an endless strip with a clamping arrangement (110, 120) with a clamping device (110-r, 120-r) on the inlet side and a clamping device (110-l, 120-l) on the outlet side, a cutting arrangement (155) with an upper cutter (150) and a lower cutter (130) and with a joining arrangement, in which at least the clamping device (110-r, 120-r) on the inlet side and/or the clamping device (110-l, 120-l) on the outlet side is constructed as a premountable unit.

Abstract: Plate members 17 are respectively rested on first and second tables IA and IB relatively movable toward and away from each other. The plate members 17 are caused to abut against reference positioning members 16a and 16b of reference positioning devices protruded ahead of and over opposing ends 1? of the tables IA and IB so that opposing ends of the plate members 17 are positioned in protrusion ahead of the opposing ends 1? of the tables IA and IB, and the plate members 17 are positioned laterally. Then, the positioned plate members 17 are locked on the tables IA and IB. After the reference positioning devices are retracted, the tables IA and IB are relatively moved toward each other to cause the opposing ends of the plate members 17 to abut together for formation of weld line X.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for supporting a substrate is generally provided. In one aspect, an apparatus for supporting a substrate includes a support plate having a first body disposed proximate thereto. A first pushing member is radially coupled to the first body and adapted to urge the substrate in a first direction parallel to the support plate when the first body rotates. In another aspect, a load lock chamber having a substrate support that supports a substrate placed thereon includes a cooling plate that is moved to actuate at least one alignment mechanism. The alignment mechanism includes a pushing member that urges the substrate in a first direction towards a center of the support. The pushing member may additionally rotate about an axis perpendicular to the first direction.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for clamping, cutting, and joining strips to a continuous strip. Said device comprises a clamping device (125), a cutting device (155), and a joining device (195). The clamping device, cutting device, and joining device are kinematically coupled to each other.

Abstract: A continuous welding machine (1) for welding facing sides of a pipe blank (15) bent from a material blank is provided, having a guide strut (2) for guiding the sides of the blank (15) to be welded to each other in the direction toward a welding device (3). Pipe guides (4, 5) arranged about a periphery of the guide track designed for the pipe blank (15). For the continuous welding machine (1) according to the invention, the pipe guides (4, 5) and the guide strut (2) are adjustable in the radial direction relative to a guide axis (7) for adapting to different pipe diameters, and the guide tracks (8, 9) of the guide strut (2) allocated to the sides of the pipe blank (15) to be welded and also arranged on opposite sides of the guide strut (2) are arranged at an angle to each other in a plane extending through the guide axis (7). With the help of the continuous welding machine according to the invention, selected pipes with different pipe diameters can be produced alternately.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a structural part through diffusion bonding in solid state without secondary materials after stacking multi-sheet metal and a tool thereof are disclosed. The tool for diffusion boding of multi-sheet metal includes a top tool having a top gas inlet, a central tool coupled to the top tool for installing the multi-sheet metal inside the central tool, a bottom tool coupled to the central tool for supporting the multi-sheet metal and having a bottom gas inlet and a vacuum path for making a vacuum state or an inert gas environment, and a sealing plate interposed between the top tool and the central tool.

Abstract: A flexible system for welding motor-vehicle bodies or subassemblies thereof envisages a series of pairs of side frames provided with referencing and clamping devices for keeping in the correct position the structures to be assembled during welding. For each different type of body to be assembled a different pair of side frames is provided, equipped with referencing and clamping devices adapted to the respective type of body. Each pair of side frames is associated to a basic structure, with which it forms a unitary referencing and clamping module. Said modules can be moved through the assembly station to follow one another in the operative welding position, according to the type of body to be welded. The structure to be assembled, or at least part thereof, is fed to the welding station by means of a conveying line that is totally independent and separate from the basic structures of the modules.

Abstract: Welding head for a strap binding machine includes a strap fixing device for fixing the overlapping strap ends that are to be welded to one another, a welding device for fusing the strap segments that are to be welded, and a pressing device for pressing the fused strap segments against a pressure part, whereby the strap fixing means are embodied as two separate, pivotably borne clamping jaws that are motion-coupled to the longitudinally movable pressing device such that they can be caused to engage and disengage with the binding strap depending on the movement of the pressing device.

Abstract: To align the edges of plates prior to joining them, a generally cylindrical anchor member is spot welded at one location on one of its rims to a plate. A mounting element of a clamp body member slidably engages the anchor member. A force applicator element of the clamp body member is generally laterally spaced from the mounting element. The mounting element includes a generally arcuately extended semi-cylindrical socket portion of such a diameter that it slidably and snugly mounts the socket portion thereon. The rim portions of the anchor member provide a plurality of spot mounting locations for breakably spot welding, brazing or otherwise temporarily attaching the anchor member to a plate or other substrate. At least one of the force applicator or mounting elements is adapted to the incremental application of aligning force on adjacent plates. The body of the clamp bridges between the respective plates that are to be brought into line with one another.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing a sleeve-shaped printing form from a plate-shaped blank includes a circular shaping device for the blank, a welding system, by means of which the plate edges forming the start and end of the printing form can be cut to size, maintaining their dimensions, and welded, and a displaceable device for picking up and for transporting the blank to the circular shaping device. The displaceable device has a fixing frame which has two lifting elements which can be adjusted in accordance with the distance between the plate edges to be joined and can be set along the respective plate edge.

Abstract: In a device for butt joining workpieces by friction stir welding along a connecting area, including a shaft having a driven end and, at the opposite end, a pin-like projection to be disposed in the connecting area of the workpieces, whereby, upon rotation of the shaft, the workpiece material in contact with the pin-like projection is plasticized, first and second stops with first and second shoulders are provided on the device and disposed at opposite sides of the workpieces and at least one of the stops is movable relative to the other and biased toward the other with a controllable force for engaging the workpieces between the shoulders of the stops during the friction stir welding procedure.

Abstract: A clamping mechanism for locating sheet metal components includes a carrier plate and a clamping jaw swivel-mounted in relation to the carrier plate, the sheet metal components being clamped in contact areas between the carrier plate and the clamping jaw. The carrier plate is bolted to a support element, which is fixed to a base unit. Between the carrier plate and the support element there is an intermediate plate, which is positioned in relation to the carrier plate by a first set of locating pins and in relation to the support element by a second set of locating pins. The use of an intermediate plate with modified orientation of the locating pins may enable the carrier plate together with the component contact areas provided thereon to be displaced in relation to the support element.

Abstract: A honeycomb structure with a plurality of flexible material strips which are arranged next to one another and are connected to one another is presented. The material strips have a corrugated shape with U-shaped cross section of essentially straight, vertical partial areas (3) and curved, horizontal partial areas (2). The material strips are connected to one another at contact points (4) of the straight, vertical partial areas. In addition, a device for manufacturing a honeycomb has welding sections (6). The flexible material strips (9) are guided by the welding sections (6), where the material strips are welded to one another by means of a comb-like finger system (10). The finger system or the welding sections are laterally displaced by two sections and by a pressing operation taking place between the finger and the welding section. This presses two material strips onto a heated welding wire (7), which leads to the thermal connection of the material strips.

Abstract: A solder ball holding terminal has a first plate, a second plate and a third plate integrally formed with and sandwiched between the first plate and the second plate. The first plate has a first distal end, the second plate has a second distal end and the third plate has a third distal end and a fourth distal end. A distance between the third distal end and the fourth distal end is much smaller than that between the first distal end and the second distal end such that when a solder ball is inserted into a space defined among the first distal end, the second distal end, the third distal end and the fourth distal end, a substantially three-point support is provided to the solder ball so that the solder ball is securely clamped.

Abstract: A multifunctional weld fixture is provided having a base receiving a component and a plurality of locator tabs disposed around its outer edge. A circumferential array of expansion feet are movably attached to the top surface of the base. A disk-shaped wedge is disposed in sliding engagement with the expansion feet. A cover supports a portion of the component and seals against the component to create an enclosed plenum. The same fixture may be used to expand the component to compensate for shrinkage after the weld is compete.

Abstract: A flexible framing system including a framing station disposed along a vehicle body assembly line to receive and hold vehicle bodies for welding. A pair of framing gates is interchangeably supportable at the framing station. A pair of underbody tool support beams is also interchangeably supportable at the framing station. The gates and beams carry tools that positively locate and hold sub-elements of a vehicle body in predetermined positions relative to one another when the gates and beams are supported in respective framing positions engaging a vehicle body received at the framing station. A transport positioner disposed at the framing station moves the gates from respective supported positions at the framing station, interconnects the gates with the beams into a single gate-beam set, and moves the gate-beam set to a transport position for removal from the framing station.

Abstract: This invention relates to an apparatus and a method for manufacturing a member which makes a part of a car body of an automobile or the like by mash-seam welding a plurality of blanks. Standby areas (B) are provided at both right and left sides of an welding area (A) to/from which a seam welding machine (130) moves forward/backward, and a lapping device (100) for overlapping respective end portions of blanks (W1)(W2) and a temporary clamping device (80) for temporarily clamping the blanks (W1)(W2) are disposed on two transfer tables (70) which are sent from the standby areas (B) to the welding area (A) by turns. When the blanks (W1)(W2) with these end portions overlapped one another and temporarily clamped are sent to the welding area (A) by the transfer table (70), the blanks (W1)(W2) are permanently clamped by a permanent clamping device (180) and thereafter, subjected to a mash-seam welding by upper/lower electrode rollers (142)(148) of the seam welding machine 130.

Abstract: A strip joining apparatus is provided wherein a time which a line is stopped is shortened, a number of installation spaces is decreased and precise notching may be performed.

Abstract: A method of butt welding is performed in the following steps: a step of pressing first and second blank materials onto first and second loading bases respectively by clamping devices thereby fixing them; a step of shearing end surfaces of the first and second blank materials thereby forming joint surfaces; and a step of performing butt welding on each of the joint surfaces of the first and second blank materials while these blank materials are maintained in fixed state where the first and second blank materials are pressed by the clamping devices.

Abstract: A locating and locking unit for sheet metal parts which are to be assembled by electric spot-welding on a motor-vehicle body, comprising a base platform, for receiving the trolley of a positioning frame equipped with locating and locking devices for the parts to be welded. The base platform can be rotated between a non-operative horizontal position and an inclined position in which the positioning frame can engage the parts to be welded in a welding station along the assembly line. Locating elements are provided for defining the precise position of the positioning frame along two mutually orthogonal axes in a plane that is perpendicular to the axis of the line and along an axis parallel to the line.

Abstract: A welding positioning system for seam welding adapted to to simplify a positioning determination of welding portion, thereby reducing working hours for taking the positioning determination and to automatically adjust the degree of lapped portion according to thickness of metal plate, thereby reducing adjusting time and to automatically accord the center line of welding, thereby improving a welded quality, the system comprising: a stopper vertically moving according to the center line of welding to adjust the degree of lapped portion at left and right metal plates; left and right hinge brackets rotatably mounted at a hinge axis at one side thereof in order to rotate within a predetermined range the metal plates inserted into the left and right sides of the stopper; and a pair of left and right clamps mounted at one side of the left and right hinge brackets for moving vertically to fix the metal plates.

Abstract: A plurality of robots are positioned on a rotatable table for transporting parts to be processed through a plurality of work stations positioned around the periphery of the table. Each robot can carry a workpiece from one work station to the next. The rotation of the table moves the robot from one workstation to the next while carrying a part to be processed. Each robot can be independently movable relative to the other robots and each robot can be independently movable relative to the table. Each robot can include a welder for processing the workpiece independent of the workstation or during movement between work stations. Each robot can carry a plurality of differently configured workpieces between the work stations.

Abstract: A weld seam opening regulator for use in constricting cylindrical structures, including a frame, first and second wheels for riding on a first edge of a band of metal, a third wheel for riding on a first edge of a cylindrical portion of the structure, and a fourth wheel for riding on an inner surface of the cylindrical portion and maintaining a minimum weld spacing between the band and cylinder. Also, an adjustable bottom roller rides on a second edge of the metal band urges the metal band toward the cylindrical portion of the structure.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for leveling the clamping surface to obtain proper heat sink for narrow strips in a coil end joiner which includes a coil material support table and a retaining plate which is positioned against the upper surface of the coil material to be joined by, for example, one or more air cylinders. A weld clamp leveler is also provided which is adjustable to provide a preselected offset between the coil material support table and the retaining plate in a forward portion of the coil material support table. The weld clamp leveler is preferably used when relatively narrow coil material is being joined to preclude tilting of the retaining plate relative to the coil material support table and the coil material being joined and is preferably adjusted to provide approximately the same offset between the coil end support table and the retaining plate as the thickness of the coil material being joined.

Abstract: A fitting gear for assisting in the alignment of metal plates so that the edges thereof can be welded together includes an inverted substantially U-shaped electromagnet which, when energized, is adapted to be secured to the upper surface of one of the plates adjacent on edge thereof. A wedge-shaped tapered pin is forced into the U and contacts the upper surface of the other plate to move the edges into substantial alignment with each other.