Method and device for welding sheets

Abstract

A method for welding a pair of metal sheets together along an edge of each metal sheet is provided that includes the steps of: 1) determining a line for each of the edges to be welded using one or more sensors; 2) selecting one of the edges to be welded as a dominant edge and the other edge to be welded as a non-dominant edge; and 3) welding the metal sheets together along the dominant edge and the non-dominant edge. The present invention further includes an apparatus capable of performing the present method.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . (Previously Amended) A method for welding metal sheets to form tailored blanks, characterized in that the edge line of both sheets is detected in the welding machine, the edge line of one of the sheets is identified as the dominant edge line and the other edge is reworked to match it to the dominant edge, and in that the sheets are then welded.  
     
     
         6 . (Original) An apparatus for welding metal sheets to form tailored blanks, characterized by at least one detection device for detecting the edge line of the sheet edges to be welded, a control unit for identifying one of the detected edges as the dominant edge and for transmitting control signals to at least one machining unit arranged in the apparatus for machining the non-dominant edge.  
     
     
         7 . (Original) An apparatus according to  claim 6 , characterized in that the control unit is configured for the transmission of control signals to a discard unit whereby one of the sheets can be discarded from the apparatus before welding takes place.  
     
     
         11 . (Previously Added) A method for welding a pair of metal sheets together along an edge of each metal sheet, comprising the steps of: 
 sensing the edge to be welded of each metal sheet;    determining a line for each of the edges to be welded;    selecting one of the edges to be welded as a dominant edge, and the other edge to be welded as a non-dominant edge;    reworking the non-dominant edge to substantially match the dominant edge;    welding the metal sheets together along the dominant edge and the non-dominant edge.    
     
     
         12 . (Previously Added) The method of  claim 11 , further comprising the step of discarding the metal sheet with the non-dominant edge if the line determined for the non-dominant edge deviates more than a predetermined amount.  
     
     
         13 . (Previously Added) The method of  claim 11  wherein the step of reworking the non-dominant edge to substantially match the dominant edge includes machining the non-dominant edge.  
     
     
         14 . (Previously Added) The method of  claim 13 , wherein the machining includes pressing with a pressing tool.  
     
     
         15 . (Previously Added) The method of  claim 11  wherein the step of welding the metal sheets together along the dominant edge and the non-dominant edge includes guiding a welding beam at least in part based upon the line of the dominant edge.  
     
     
         16 . (Previously Added) A method for welding a pair of metal sheets together along an edge of each metal sheet, comprising the steps of: 
 determining a line for each of the edges to be welded using one or more sensors;    selecting one of the edges to be welded as a dominant edge, and the other edge to be welded as a non-dominant edge;    determining if a gap between the edges to be welded exceeds a predetermined amount;    replacing the metal sheet having the non-dominant edge with a replacement metal sheet;    determining a line for the edge of the replacement sheet to be welded and repeating the step of determining a gap and also the step of replacing the metal sheet having the non-dominant edge, if necessary, until the gap is equal to or less than the predetermined amount;    welding the metal sheets together along the dominant edge and the non-dominant edge.    
     
     
         17 . (Previously Added) An apparatus for welding metal sheets together along an edge of each metal sheet comprising: 
 at least one detection device for detecting an edge line of each sheet;    a control unit for identifying a metal sheet edge to be welded as a dominant edge, and another metal sheet edge as a non-dominant edge, and    a means for reworking the non-dominant edge.    
     
     
         18 . (Previously Added) The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the means for reworking the non-dominant edge includes at least one pressing tool.  
     
     
         19 . (Previously Added) The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the control unit is capable of transmitting control signals to a discard unit to discard a metal sheet from the apparatus prior to welding.  
     
     
         20 . (Previously Added) The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the control unit includes means for controlling a welding device.  
     
     
         21 . (Previously Added) An apparatus for welding metal sheets together along an edge of each metal sheet comprising: 
 at least one detection device, including at least one sensor, for detecting an edge line of each sheet;    a discard unit for discarding a metal sheet from the apparatus prior to welding;    a means for welding the metal sheets together;    a control unit for identifying one of the metal sheet edges to be welded as a dominant edge and the other metal sheet edge to be welded as a non-dominant edge, wherein the control unit further includes means for transmitting control signals to the discard unit, and for transmitting data for use in controlling the means for welding; and    a means for reworking the non-dominant edge.