JP2001047251A - Controller for welding - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a controller for welding with which a program and data are written and rewritten in a memory as setting the memory for storing the program and data for controlling welding in a prescribed position. SOLUTION: The welding controller 1 for welding has a microcomputer CPU for executing welding control, a memory ROM1 in which the program and data for controlling welding are rewritably written and, in the case the program and data for controlling welding are inputted in the computer CPU from the external equipment with which these program and data are prepared, a memory ROM2 in which a write program for writing the program and data in the memory ROM1 is stored with the memory ROM1 set in a prescribed position.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a welding control device for controlling a resistance welding machine or the like, and more particularly to a welding control device capable of easily writing a welding control program and data in a memory.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as shown in FIG. 2, a microcomputer CPU is provided as a control center and a memory RO is provided.
A welding control device 53 for reading out the control programs and data stored in the RAM and controlling the resistance welding machine is arranged in a production line of an automobile or the like. The above memory ROM
A programmable read-only memory that can write and rewrite the control program and data is used. When writing a control program or data into the memory ROM, as shown in FIG. 2, (1) the control program or data created in advance using the computer 51 or the like is transferred to the ROM writing device 52. (2) A memory ROM is set in the ROM writing device 52. (3) Write the control program and data transferred to the ROM writing device 52 to the memory ROM. (4) Memory R in which control programs and data are written
The OM is mounted on the printed circuit board 59 (which constitutes the electronic circuit of the welding control device 53) housed in the control panel 60 shown in FIG.

As described above, with the memory ROM in which the control program and data are written on the printed circuit board 59 in the control panel 60, the setting device 54 is connected to the communication port SIO of the welding control device 53 by the cable 54a and the cable 54a. The connection is made by the connector 54b (see FIGS. 2 and 3). The setting device 54 sets welding sequence data such as welding time and welding current.
It has a built-in memory ROM and RAM, and has a keyboard and a display. The welding sequence data set by the setting device 54 is transmitted to the microcomputer CPU of the welding control device 53 via the communication port SIO of the welding control device 53, and the microcomputer C
It is stored in the memory RAM via the PU.

[0004] As described above, when the worker presses the start switch 55 for starting the welding control in a state where the control programs and data, the welding sequence data and the like are stored in the memory ROM and the RAM, the welding control is started. Therefore, the two welding electrodes 56 press the work 57, and a welding current from the welding transformer 58 flows through the work 57 to perform welding.

When the welding control device 53 for performing the above welding control is operating on a production line such as an automobile, for example, when the welding specification is changed or a function is added or a bug occurs in the first program, the welding control device 53 It is necessary to rewrite the control program and data in the on-board memory ROM. In this case, the memory ROM is removed from the socket of the printed circuit board 59, and another memory ROM in which a new control program and data are written by the operations (1) to (4) is inserted into the socket of the printed circuit board 59.

[0006]

As described above, if the welding specification is changed or a function is added, or if there is a bug in the first program, the memory ROM currently mounted on the printed circuit board 59 is removed. Another memory ROM in which a new control program and data are written must be mounted on the printed circuit board 59. However, in a production line of an automobile or the like, usually more than 100 resistance welding machines are installed, and a large number of welding control devices 53 for controlling each resistance welding machine are stored in the control panel 60. ,is set up. These control panels 60
Space is often limited,
The printed circuit board 59 is installed in a place where opening and closing of the door 60a of the control panel 60 is difficult, for example, when the welding transformer 58
Or in the same box as the robot controller. In any case, it is extremely difficult to remove the memory ROM on the printed circuit board 59 and to onboard another memory ROM on which a new control program and data are written on the printed circuit board 59,
It often takes a long time. Further, when replacing the memory ROM, when the other IC on the printed circuit board 59 is electrostatically damaged or when the memory ROM is inserted into the socket, the memory R is not used.
The OM pin may be bent and broken.

Therefore, the present invention solves the problem of providing a rewritable welding control apparatus in which a program or data is written in a memory for storing a program or data for welding control in a predetermined position while the memory is set at a predetermined position. It should be a task to be done.

[0008]

The above object can be achieved by a welding control device described in the claims. According to the welding control device according to claims 1, 2, and 3,
When a program or data to be written to a memory is input from an external device to a computer, the writing unit can write the program or data to the memory while the memory is set at a predetermined position.

[0009]

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described. The welding control device 1 shown in FIG. 1 performs welding control for welding a workpiece 4 by applying a welding current from a welding transformer 2 to a two-layered workpiece 4 pressed and held by upper and lower electrodes 3. The welding control device 1 has a microcomputer CPU at the center, and memories ROM1, ROM2, and RAM are connected to the microcomputer CPU. The memory ROM 1 stores a welding control program and data as described later.
The OM2 stores a welding control program and a writing program for writing (including rewriting) data in the memory ROM1. The memory ROM1 and the memory ROM2 are memories such as an EPROM and a flash memory whose storage contents are rewritable. The memory RAM stores welding sequence data such as welding time and welding current set by the setting device 10 shown in FIG.

When the communication port SIO of the welding control device 1 and the communication port SIO of the setting device 10 are connected via a cable and a connector 11, communication between the setting device 10 and the microcomputer CPU of the welding control device 1 is established. It becomes possible. As shown in FIG. 1, a computer 12 for creating a welding control program and data can be connected to the communication port SIO of the welding control device 1 via a cable and a connector or the Internet 13. As a result, the welding control program and data created by the computer 12 are transferred to the communication port SIO of the welding control device 1.
Can be transmitted to the microcomputer CPU. As shown in FIG. 1, the welding control program and data created by the computer 12 are transmitted to the ROM writing device 14, and the welding control program and data are written in the memory ROM 3 set in the ROM writing device 14. Then, the memory ROM 3 is stored in the setting device 10
The welding control program and data can be transmitted from the setting device 10 to the microcomputer CPU via the communication port SIO of the welding control device 1 by setting the IC socket in the predetermined IC socket.

The memory ROM 1 stores, in addition to the above-described welding control program and data, a mode discriminating program for discriminating a mode setting of a mode changeover switch 15 described later. The memory ROM 2 is used to first write a welding control program and data to the memory ROM 1, or to change a welding specification or function, or to have a bug in the first program.
When the welding control program or data stored in the setting device 10 is rewritten, the welding control program or data transmitted directly from the computer 12 or the setting device 10 is rewritten.
Control program and data transmitted from the memory R
A write program for writing to OM1 is stored.

A mode changeover switch 15 and a start switch 16 are connected to the port I / O of the welding control device 1. The mode changeover switch 15 is operated when setting a welding control mode for executing a welding control program or a writing mode for executing the writing program. The start switch 16 is operated when the microcomputer CPU of the welding control device 1 starts welding control. The switching element 17 controlled by the microcomputer CPU controls the power from the welding power source 18 and outputs the power to the primary side of the welding transformer 2.

Next, the welding control program and the data stored in the memory ROM 1 are first written in the memory ROM 1, or the welding specifications are changed or the functions are changed, or the first program has a bug. The operation of the write mode when the control program or data is rewritten will be described.

(1) When power is supplied to the welding control device 1, the microcomputer CPU determines whether or not the mode changeover switch 15 is set to the writing mode, and determines that the mode is set to the writing mode. If it is determined, the write program stored in the memory ROM 2 is executed. (2) As described above, when the mode changeover switch 15 is set to the writing mode and the processing of the writing program stored in the memory ROM 2 is started, the welding control program and the data ( (Including write command data) is input. The welding control program and data input to the microcomputer CPU of the welding control device 1 are input directly to the microcomputer CPU from the computer 12 via the communication port SIO of the welding control device 1 as described above. Alternatively, a new welding control program or data created by the computer 12 is once transmitted to the ROM writing device 14 and written into the memory ROM 3 set in the ROM writing device 14, and then the memory ROM 3 is stored in a predetermined location of the setting device 10. The microcomputer C is set from the setting device 10 via the communication port SIO of the welding control device 1 by being set in the socket.
Some are input to the PU. (3) Microcomputer CPU of welding control device 1
Writes the input welding control program and data into the memory ROM1 based on the writing program stored in the memory ROM2. When writing the welding control program and data in the memory ROM 1, the memory RO
M1 may be written first (boot mode), or if a welding control program or data has already been written, it is rewritten. When the mode changeover switch 15 is set to the welding control mode in a state where the welding control program and data have already been written in the memory ROM 1, the microcomputer CPU of the welding control device 1 performs normal welding control.

Next, the operation of the modification of the write mode will be described. In the above-described writing mode, the welding control program or data transmitted from the computer 12 or the welding control program or data transmitted from the setting device 10 is stored in the memory ROM 1 only when the mode switch 15 is set to the writing mode. In this modification of the writing mode, even when the mode changeover switch 15 is set to the welding control mode, when the writing command data is input, the writing program stored in the memory ROM 2 is forcibly executed. It starts and writes the welding control program and data in the memory ROM1. However, in this case, the welding control program and data are written to the memory ROM 1 when the currently performed welding sequence is completed.

Next, the operation of another modification of the write mode will be described. When the microcomputer CPU of the welding control device 1 writes the welding control program or data transmitted from the computer 12 or the setting device 10 to the memory ROM 1 based on the writing program stored in the memory ROM 2, the checksum of the memory ROM 1 Is calculated, and when it is determined that the welding control program and the data are not correctly written, the writing program is executed again. As a result, even if there is an error in the process of writing the welding control program and data to the memory ROM 1, the process is continued until the writing can be performed normally.
Writing can be repeated.

In the operation of the writing mode and the operation of the modified example described above, the writing program is stored in the memory ROM 2. The writing program is stored in the microcomputer CPU of the welding control device 1.
It may be stored in a memory unit in the chip. The writing program is rewritable, and when a new writing program is created in the computer 12,
New writing program for microcomputer CP
U, the microcomputer CPU reads the memory R
The current writing program stored in OM2 can be rewritten with a new writing program.
The memory for storing the write program is a memory R
It may be OM1 or memory RAM. Further, the welding control device 1 may control a welding machine other than the resistance welding machine.
In addition, since the welding control program and data can be transmitted from the computer 12 to the microcomputer CPU of the welding control device 1 via the Internet 13, the computer 12 is installed in a remote place remote from the welding control device 1. May be.

[0018]

According to the present invention, it is possible to write and rewrite programs and data in a memory for storing programs and data for welding control while the memory is set at a predetermined position.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining the configuration and operation of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram for rewriting a program and data stored in a memory of a conventional welding control device.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a connection state between a conventional welding control device and a setting device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 welding control device 10 setting device 12 computer 15 mode changeover switch CPU microcomputer ROM1 memory ROM2 memory SIO communication port

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A computer for performing welding control, a rewritable memory in which the welding control program and data are written, and an external device in which the welding control program and data written in the memory create the welding control program and data. And a writing unit for writing the welding control program and data to the memory while the memory is set at a predetermined position when the data is input to the computer from a computer. 2. The writing means has a writing program for writing the welding control program and data in the memory, and is capable of rewriting the writing program to a new writing program input from the external device to the computer. The welding control device according to claim 1. 3. The welding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said writing means writes a program or data transferred from said external device to said computer via a setting device for setting various data in said welding control, to said memory. Control device.