US 12,377,614 B2
Welding apparatus and method for evaluating an operating state of a welding apparatus
Manuel Schuller, Bietigheim-Bissingen (DE); and Michael Parkinson, Hubertus, WI (US)
Assigned to ROPEX Industrie-Elektronic GmbH, Bietigheim-Bissingen (DE); and Force Global—ROPOX America LLC, Germantown, WI (US)
Filed by ROPEX Industrie-Elektronik GmbH, Bietigheim-Bissingen (DE); and Force Global—ROPEX America LLC, Germantown, WI (US)
Filed on Jan. 13, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/096,694.
Prior Publication US 2024/0239055 A1, Jul. 18, 2024
Int. Cl. B29C 65/18 (2006.01); B29C 65/00 (2006.01)
CPC B29C 66/91421 (2013.01) [B29C 65/18 (2013.01); B29C 66/8322 (2013.01); B29C 66/91317 (2013.01); B29C 66/91651 (2013.01); B29C 66/961 (2013.01)] 4 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for evaluating an operating state of a welding apparatus, the method comprising:
providing electric energy from a first electronic control circuit to a first heating layer of a first heating stack, which first heating layer is located between a first cover layer and a first electric insulator, which first electric insulator is mounted on a first ledge; and
detecting a second electric resistance value and/or a second electric impedance value of a second heating layer of a second heating stack, which second heating layer is connected with a second electronic control circuit and which is located between a second cover layer and a second electric insulator, which second electric insulator is mounted on a second ledge, a first welding surface of the first cover layer being thermally coupled with a second welding surface of the second cover layer,
wherein the first electronic control circuit provides the electric energy to the first heating layer and wherein the second electronic control circuit detects the second electric resistance value and/or the second electric impedance value of the second heating layer during a direct physical contact of the first welding surface with the second welding surface.