Machine for welding automotive wheel rim blanks

摘要

The longitudinal edge portions of a cylindrical wheel rim blank are gripped by a pair of laterally spaced clamping assemblies each having a radially fixed inside clamping member and each having a radially movable outside clamping member adapted to clamp the blank against the inside member. After the rim blank has been clamped, the two clamping members of one of the clamping assemblies are pivoted laterally toward the clamping members of the other assembly to press the edges of the rim blank against one another preparatory to welding current being directed through the blank to weld the edges. A load cell detects the force applied to the pivoted clamping assembly and produces a signal which is used to monitor or control the force.