The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 25, 2014
Filed:
May. 19, 2006
Randy R. Broadwater, Fremont, WI (US);
Joseph K. Fink, Black Creek, WI (US);
Randy R. Broadwater, Fremont, WI (US);
Joseph K. Fink, Black Creek, WI (US);
Illinois Tool Works Inc., Glenview, IL (US);
Abstract
A method and apparatus for automatic or hand held welding is disclosed and includes a power circuit with a controller. The controller has a robot detector. A hand-held module and a robot interface are responsive to the robot detector. A user interface provides welding parameter setpoints to the hand held module when the robot detector detects a gun, or the absence of a robot. When a gun is present, the trigger on the gun is used to cause power to be provided, and/or welding parameters are set by the user interface on the system. When a robot is present the robot controls the process. The detection is done at start-up, or at other times.