US 12,235,630 B2
Reading device and method to read identification signs assigned to original workpieces for a welding process
Toshinari Mohri, Osaka (JP); Kazuki Hanada, Osaka (JP); Hisashi Kataoka, Osaka (JP); and Ryutaro Monden, Osaka (JP)
Assigned to Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd., Osaka (JP)
Filed by Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd., Osaka (JP)
Filed on Apr. 8, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/716,261.
Application 17/716,261 is a continuation of application No. PCT/JP2020/037362, filed on Sep. 30, 2020.
Claims priority of application No. 2019-188157 (JP), filed on Oct. 11, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0229420 A1, Jul. 21, 2022
Int. Cl. G05B 19/418 (2006.01); B23K 9/095 (2006.01)
CPC G05B 19/4187 (2013.01) [B23K 9/095 (2013.01); G05B 19/4184 (2013.01)] 5 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An identifier output method to be executed by a welding system, the identifier output method comprising:
receiving a welding process command to weld a plurality of original workpieces to produce a welded workpiece;
acquiring information on identifiers of the plurality of original workpieces to which identification signs are assigned, respectively, the identification signs being assigned such that information on the identifiers are readable;
selecting, from the identifiers of the plurality of original workpieces according to a predetermined rule, an identifier to be set for the welded workpiece;
after the selecting, in a case in which any identification sign among the identification signs assigned to the plurality of original workpieces is read by a reading device, outputting, as an identifier of the welded workpiece, the information on the selected identifier to the reading device; and
in response to the welding process command, causing a welding robot to weld the plurality of original workpieces to produce the welded workpiece with the selected identifier associated with the welded workpiece,
wherein each of the identifiers comprises a combination of a plurality of character codes, and
wherein the selecting according to the predetermined rule comprises selecting, as the selected identifier, the identifier having a strongest character code based on a comparison of character codes constituting the identifiers of the plurality of original workpieces included in the welded workpiece according to a strength rule defined for each type of the character codes.