Improvements to welding system

摘要

Disclosed herein is a laser welding system having a travel path to carry a first blank and a second blank. An upstream clamp assembly and a downstream clamp assembly are positioned on the travel path and each of the upstream and downstream clamp assemblies are movable to an open position to allow the first blank to pass through the upstream clamp assembly to a first location within the downstream clamp assembly. A laser welding source is directed at a weld location on the travel path between the upstream and downstream clamp assemblies. At least one locating means is operable to locate the first weld edge adjacent the weld location. A first displacement means displaces the first weld edge against the locating means. The downstream clamp assembly is movable from the open position to a closed clamped position to clamp the first blank with the first weld edge adjacent the weld location. The locating means is operable to be withdrawn from the travel path. The upstream clamp assembly is movable from the open position to an intermediate position, which is selected to guide the second blank to pass through the upstream clamp assembly in a substantially coplanar relationship with the first blank so that the second weld edge makes contact with, but not past, the first weld edge. A second displacement means displaces the second blank to a location adjacent the weld location where the second weld edge abuts the first weld edge. The upstream clamp assembly is movable from the intermediate position to a closed clamped position to clamp the second blank and the the laser welding source is operable to fuse the first and second weld edges blanks together.