Marked consumable reading

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12423537-B2
Application number	US-202418600105-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 8, 2024
Priority date	Sep 10, 2021
Publication date	Sep 23, 2025
Grant date	Sep 23, 2025

Abstract

Techniques for automatic reading of marked consumables are disclosed. The techniques involve a reader having a plurality of sensors for receiving a marked consumable and detecting includes markings on the consumable, regardless of the orientation of the consumable to the reader.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A reader for detecting marks on a consumable wire comprising:
a reader housing defining a wire channel;
a first sensor disposed toward a first side of the wire channel; and
a second sensor disposed toward a second side of the wire channel, opposite the first side,
wherein the first sensor and the second sensor are configured to detect marks on a wire when light is incident on the wire.

2. The reader of claim 1 , wherein the light is incident on the wire at an askew angle.

3. The reader of claim 1 , wherein the first sensor includes a first field of view, and the second sensor includes a second field of view.

4. The reader of claim 3 , wherein the first field of view and the second field of view are each disposed perpendicular to the wire channel.

5. The reader of claim 1 , wherein the first sensor and the second sensor each comprise an optical sensor.

6. The reader of claim 1 , further comprising a first lens disposed between the first sensor and the wire channel and a second lens disposed between the second sensor and the wire channel.

7. The reader of claim 1 , further comprising a first light source and a second light source, wherein the first and second light sources comprise:
optical fibers transmitting light from an emitter, or
light emitting diodes.

8. A system comprising:
a plurality of sensors disposed radially about a wire channel;
a plurality of light channels configured to guide light to the wire channel; and
a controller electrically coupled to the plurality of sensors and configured to:
aggregate signal outputs of the plurality of sensors; and
convert the aggregated signal outputs into encoded information.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the encoded information is representative of information about a consumable wire including at least one of a wire type, a wire manufacturer, authenticating information, a remaining amount of wire from a wire supply, a wire thickness, a wire material, and a wire speed.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of sensors, the wire channel, and the plurality of light channels are disposed in a reader housing.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the controller is disposed in the reader housing or another welding component connected to the system.

12. The system of claim 8 , wherein the controller is further configured to transmit the encoded information to at least one of a wire feeder and a power supply.

13. The system of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of light channels guide light to the wire channel at an askew angle.

14. A method of determining encoded information from a marked wire comprising:
detecting, via a plurality of sensors, marks on a wire traveling through a reader;
outputting sensor signals from the plurality of sensors to a controller;
aggregating, via the controller, the sensor signals from the plurality of sensors; and
determining encoded information representative of a characteristic of the wire.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the characteristic of the wire comprises at least one of a wire type, a wire manufacturer, authenticating information, remaining amount of wire from a wire supply, a wire thickness, a wire material, and a wire speed.

16. The method of claim 14 , further comprising detecting a start of the encoded information from the marked wire.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising detecting an alignment mark from the marked wire.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the alignment mark is detected four or five intervals after a detected mark of the encoded information from the marked wire.

19. The method of claim 16 , wherein the determined encoded information comprises at least 64 bits, and detecting the start of the encoded information comprises detecting two sequential marks on the wire.

20. The method of claim 14 wherein the encoded information is determined from an interval along the marked wire, wherein an interval with a mark is considered a logically positive bit, and an interval without a mark is considered a logically negative bit.

Assignees

• Esab Ab

Inventors

• Lindberg Johan
• Zachrisson Jan

Classifications

• B23K9/133

  Means for feeding electrodes, e.g. drums, rolls, motors · CPC title

• B23K9/32

  Accessories · CPC title

• B23K9/173

  and of a consumable electrode · CPC title

• B23K9/124

  Circuits or methods for feeding welding wire · CPC title

• G06K2007/10485

  Arrangement of optical elements · CPC title