Method and Device for Operating a Welding System

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016221102-A1
Application number	US-201415021504-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 8, 2014
Priority date	Sep 13, 2013
Publication date	Aug 4, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method of operating a welding system includes obtaining at least one data element from a data unit. The at least one data element is specific to a respective element of the welding system and the data unit being attached to the respective element. The method further includes reading at least one data element using a portable reading unit. The method further includes transmitting the at least one data element that is obtained to a controller of the welding system. The at least one data element is taken into consideration during the operation of the welding system.

First claim

1 . A method for operating a welding system, comprising:
obtaining at least one data element from a data unit, the at least one data element being specific to a respective element of the welding system and the data unit being attached to the respective element; reading at least one data element using a portable reading unit; and transmitting the at least one data element to a controller of the welding system; and taking into consideration the at least one data element during the operation of the welding system.

2 . The method for operating a welding system as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:
at least one of putting the controller of the welding system into operation and carrying out a modification of elements in the controller of the welding system; and taking into consideration the at least one data element during the activities of at least one of (i) putting the welding system into operation, (ii) putting the welding system into operation for the first time and (iii) modifying elements in the controller.

3 . The method for operating a welding system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein
the data unit includes a passive data unit.

4 . The method for operating a welding system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein
the data unit is selected from a group consisting of at least one of a QR code, barcode, optical marker, microchip, NFC chip and RFID chip.

5 . The method for operating a welding system as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:
storing the at least one data element or a multiplicity of the at least one data elements in the controller.

6 . The method for operating a welding system as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising
reading a multiplicity of data units, the data units being attached to a multiplicity of elements; and attaching the at least one data unit to each element.

7 . The method for operating a welding system as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:
configuring the controller of the welding system by the at least one data element from the data units.

8 . The method for operating a welding system as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:
taking into consideration all of the data elements from the data units; recording all of the data elements by the controller; and setting up the configuration of the welding system on the basis of all the data elements, wherein all of the elements of the welding system have a data unit.

9 . The method for operating a welding system as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:
determining at least one item of information concerning an associated element by the at least one data element using further sources, at least one of the at least one data element including or describing at least one item of information concerning the associated element.

10 . A device for operating a welding system, comprising:
a controller; a data unit attached to a respective element of the welding system; a portable reading unit configured to read at least one data element, the at least one data element being specific to the respective element, the reading unit having:
a receiving/transmitting unit configured to transmit the at least one data element to the controller of the welding system, the at least one data element being taken into consideration during the operation of the welding system.

Assignees

• Bosch Gmbh Robert

Inventors

• Zeller Sebastian

Classifications

• B23K9/0953 Primary

  using computing means · CPC title

• B23K31/00

  Processes relevant to this subclass, specially adapted for particular articles or purposes, but not covered by any single one of main groups B23K1/00 - B23K28/00 · CPC title

• B23K9/32

  Accessories · CPC title

• B23K11/11

  Spot welding · CPC title

• B23K11/36

  Auxiliary equipment (B23K11/31 takes precedence) · CPC title