US 12,257,655 B2
Vibrating welding apparatus and method
Nigel Scotchmer, Willowdale (CA); and Franklin Rementer, Dover, DE (US)
Assigned to Huys Industries Limited
Filed by HUYS INDUSTRIES LIMITED, Weston (CA)
Filed on Aug. 3, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/393,203.
Application 17/393,203 is a division of application No. 15/856,146, filed on Dec. 28, 2017, granted, now 11,077,516.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/581,496, filed on Nov. 3, 2017.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/439,691, filed on Dec. 28, 2016.
Prior Publication US 2021/0370432 A1, Dec. 2, 2021
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B23K 9/30 (2006.01); B23K 9/04 (2006.01); B23K 9/095 (2006.01); B23K 9/10 (2006.01); B23K 9/173 (2006.01); B23K 11/11 (2006.01)
CPC B23K 9/30 (2013.01) [B23K 9/04 (2013.01); B23K 9/0953 (2013.01); B23K 9/1006 (2013.01); B23K 9/173 (2013.01); B23K 11/11 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of operating an automated welding apparatus to applying an electro-spark discharge (ESD) coating to a workpiece, the automated welding apparatus having an electrode holder, the welding electrode having a long axis, the automated welding apparatus having a multi-degree-of-freedom programmable robot; an ESD power supply; and an ESD welding head mounted to the robot, the ESD welding head being electrically connected to the ESD power supply, the method including:
mounting a welding electrode in the electrode holder, the welding electrode having a long axis;
using a first drive of the automated welding apparatus to rotate the electrode holder, to rotate the welding electrode about the long axis of the welding electrode;
using a vibrator of the automated welding apparatus to vibrate the welding electrode;
operating the robot to convey the welding head along a path corresponding to a surface of the workpiece, including advancing the welding rod to engage the workpiece;
using the vibrator including using a second drive to move an imbalance member to move said welding electrode in vibrating intermittent contact with the workpiece while the electrode is rotating about the long axis of the welding rod; and
vibrating the welding rod independently of driving the welding rod rotationally.