Welding machine for welding stator terminals to a busbar for making an electric motor and related method.

Description

Welding machine for welding terminals of a stator to a busbar for the construction of an electric motor and related method DESCRIPTION The present invention relates to a welding machine for welding stator terminals to a busbar for making a motor electric. In the technical field of electric motors it is known to use structures of 10 wiring, generally known as busbars, for the construction of electrical connections between the electrical circuits of the motor stator. Typically, fixing the busbar to the stator involves inserting the stator terminals in special seats made in the busbar and their subsequent welding. By terminal we mean the aggregate group of wires 15 conductive terminals of an electrical circuit. This process can therefore significantly impact the lead times. engine construction, as well as the precision of the manufacturing. The prior art in fact, it does not provide solutions capable of sufficiently automating such production phases and allow the versatility that, on the contrary, would be 20 desirable to have in the busbar fixing phases. The known machines are in fact not suitable for carrying out these phases of the manufacturing of electric motors. The Applicant observed that the known solutions do not allow for to make the plurality of welds, placed in predetermined positions, 25 variables depending on the type of engine, required for the connection electrical connection of the busbar terminals to the terminal wires, twisted or not, of the stator. The problem underlying the present invention is therefore to provide a welding machine and related method, structurally and 5 functionally designed to at least partially overcome one or more of the drawbacks complained of with reference to the cited prior art. Within this problem, it is an object of the present invention to to provide a welding machine and related method that is capable of solder the terminals of a stator to a busbar. 10 It is also an object of the invention to provide a welding machine and related method that allows welding stators and busbars of different types and sizes. Further purpose is to provide a welding machine and related method that allows for the automatic detection of different 15 types and sizes of stator and busbar to weld and adapt the type and welding positions automatically. Preferably, the Stator and busbar type detection comes as information to the machine via data transmitted with TAG+RFID or via network, via HOST-PC, or via DATAMATRIX code affixed (usually printed 20 lasers) on the side of the stator itself. This problem is solved and one or more of these purposes are at least partially fulfilled. achieved by the invention, according to a first aspect, by means of a welding machine for welding stator terminals to a busbar for the construction of an electric motor comprising a plurality of 25 operational stations. According to preferred embodiments, the machine further comprises at least one movable support configured to receive a stator and bring it to each operating station of the said plurality of operating stations. 5 In this way, it is the stator that moves inside the machine to be subjected in each operating station to a specific phase of processing. Said operating stations preferably comprise at least one station assembly operation at which the busbar is 10 positioned on the stator, and at least one welding operating station in at which point the stator terminals are soldered to the busbar. In this way, the machine is able to operate on more than one stator at the same time as it is possible to perform welding in the 15 soldering station, while performing assembly in the soldering station assembly. Thanks to these features it is possible to create a machine with high production efficiency. In some embodiments, said welding operating station 20 comprises a soldering head configured to solder the terminals of the stator to busbar. In some embodiments, the soldering head is configured to to perform resistance welding. Resistance welding is also known in the industry as wire fusing or 25 hot crimping. This resistance welding provides that the welding head includes two configured electrodes, in first of all, to exert pressure on a seat of the busbar, obtaining a deformation of the same time to crimp the seat of the busbar with the terminal inserted inside, and to transmit thermal energy by effect 5 Joules closing the electrical circuit through the busbar seat and the crimped terminal. The transmission of thermal energy will allow to melt, at least partially, the material of the elements to be welded mutually. The welding head used for resistance welding includes a 10 first welding electrode and a second ground electrode. Preferably, the welding head comprises a water cooling configured to cool the electrode welding. Preferably, the welding head is configured to make a weld 15 points, from the English “spot welding”. Preferably, the welding head includes a pneumatic actuator configured to move at least one of the two electrodes so as to apply pressure on the component to be welded. In particular, this pneumatic actuator comprises a pneumatic cylinder powered by 20 a closed loop proportional valve and a displacement transducer linear inductive type or LVDT (from the English Linear Variable Displacement Transducer). As an alternative to the pneumatic actuator, it is possible to use a linear actuator of the electromechanical type. Furthermore, some forms implementations involve the use of the pneumatic actuator provided in the 25 preferred shape, also combined with an electromechanical actuator, comprising a servomotor, wherein the servomotor is configured for the movement of the welding electrode while the pneumatic actuator It is configured for the movement of the ground electrode. In such forms The welding head will further include a load cell 5 configured to measure the force exerted by the electromechanical actuator on the component to be soldered (seat of the crimped busbar). Preferably, the welding head will be connected to a power source alternating current or direct current (inverter). In the forms implementations comprising an inverter, it is configured to generate 10 direct current to be applied to the crimped seat via the electrodes in closed position that momentarily closes the electrical circuit. Preferably, the output current from the inverter will have a frequency between 1 kHz and 20 kHz. In the embodiments provided with inverter, the machine can 15 Advantageously understand an air cooler configured to cool the inverter. Preferably, the welding head includes a voltage sensor or voltmeter configured to measure the voltage between the welding electrode and the ground electrode. 20 Preferably, the welding head includes a current sensor electric or ammeter configured to measure electric current in exit from the welding electrode. The machine preferably includes a control unit programmable communicating with said welding operating station. 25 The welding operating station is preferably configured for acquire dimensional information relating to said stator and / or said busbar from said programmable control unit. Preferably, the detection of the stator and busbar type comes as information to the machine via data transmitted with TAG+RFID. In 5 alternatively, this information can arrive via network, via HOST-PC, or via DATAMATRIX code (QR Code) affixed (usually printed with laser marking) on ​​the side of the stator itself. Advantageously, said welding operating station is configured for vary the position of said welding head in a vertical direction 10 Z and at least according to a horizontal direction X as a function of the dimensional information of the stator and busbar acquired. It is specified that the vertical Z and horizontal X directions are perpendicular to each other. running in the horizontal direction X will allow the correct radial positioning of the welding head with respect to the terminal 15 stator and respective busbar seat to be welded. In the embodiments in which resistance welding is expected, once the position has been reached desired radial, the electrodes will be moved until they engage the busbar terminal and apply crimping pressure. electrode handling can be advantageously achieved 20 in the radial direction, i.e. substantially parallel to the direction horizontal X. Some embodiments provide for the welding head to be configured, further, to vary the position of the welding head according to a third transverse direction Y. This transverse direction Y is perpendicular 25 to the vertical direction Z and to the horizontal direction X. In these forms realizations, the vertical Z, horizontal X and transverse Y directions form a three-dimensional Cartesian system X, Y, Z. In such embodiments, when resistance welding is foreseen, the welding head can be appropriately moved according to the transverse direction Y. In the 5 embodiments in which resistance welding is foreseen, the third direction of movement will allow the crimping to be carried out differently oriented to the embodiment in which it is possible move the welding head on the horizontal plane only according to the horizontal X radial direction. By doing so, it will be possible to weld in 10 different directions to the horizontal direction X, for example in two directions X, Y perpendicular to each other. Each of these features contributes to making a machine able to solder the stator terminals to the busbar reaching in automated way the plurality of welding points. 15 Thanks to the dimensional information relating to said stator and / or said busbars acquired from the welding operating station can be operated on stators and related busbars of different types and sizes by performing an automatic format change. In some embodiments, the present invention provides that the 20 operating stations further include an operating station of power supply upstream of the assembly station and a finishing operating station downstream of the welding operating station. In this finishing station it will be possible to carry out assemblies auxiliaries on the stator, wait for the welding to cool or 25 carry out visual control actions. In this way, it is possible to optimize the machine's work cycle, performing each stator activity at a specific operating station dedicated. Thanks to this feature it is in fact possible to treat 5 more stators at the same time and at least one for each station operational. In some embodiments, the present invention also relates to to a machine which includes a rotary table on which is installed the at least one support, and configured to rotate about a central axis 10 of symmetry to bring said at least one support in correspondence with each operating station. Thanks to this feature it is possible to create a machine with a particularly compact layout configuration that allows an optimization of the occupied space and an optimization of the area of 15 operator work. According to a preferred embodiment, on the rotary table are Install as many supports as there are operating stations. This feature also contributes to the possibility of treating multiple stators at the same time and at least one for each station. 20 Preferably, said supports are arranged equidistant from each other on said rotary table along a circumference coaxial to the axis of symmetry. This feature makes it possible to perform rotations of the rotary table with a step equal to the distance between the supports to perform the transfer of each stator to the next operating station. 25 In some embodiments, each support is secured so rotating to the rotary table. In this way, it is possible to rotate the stator to facilitate operational activities and of control. Advantageously, the machine includes a rotation group 5 positioned at the soldering station and configured for rotate the support around the axis of the rotation group. This rotation group is also called as “indexer” group or angular divider group. This allows you to change the relative position between the stator with 10 said busbar and the welding head for welding said stator and said busbar in a plurality of welding points thereof. In the embodiments in where the welding head is expected to be movable in the third direction transverse Y, the use of the rotation group further allows the change in crimp orientation. 15 In some embodiments, the power supply operating station comprises a transfer system for picking up a stator from a conveyor and place it on the support at the station power supply operation. This feature allows for automated insertion 20 of the stator in the first operating station. Preferably, said conveyor is placed outside the rotary table. This allows for easier machine interaction with possible conveyors present in the plant where the machine is installed. Advantageously, said machine comprises a reader device 25 configured to read an identification element. This identification element is preferably a TAG+RFID. Preferably, said identification element contains the information on the type of stator. Preferably, said identification element contains the information 5 dimensional stator. In some embodiments, said reader device is configured to transmit at least to the welding operating station via the control unit programmable control said information, read from the element of identification. 10 Each of these characteristics contributes to adapt at least the welding station to the characteristics, in particular dimensional, of the stator and busbar and perform welding in the correct positions by varying the position of said welding head according to the information acquired stator and busbar dimensions. 15 This also makes it possible to achieve a completely new format change. automated in cases where the external diameter of the stator does not vary. in any case, in cases where the format change is foreseen for the production of stators of different diameters it will only be necessary to replace manually the positioning and the picking jaw. 20 In some embodiments, the conveyor is provided with said identification element. In this way, it is possible to have only one identification element that is rewritten from time to time upon the arrival of a new stator at the input machine. 25 In some embodiments of the invention, the welding machine includes a writer device configured to write to the item of identification information relating to the welding carried out in said welding operating station. This is particularly advantageous in the case where the element of 5 identification is physically associated with the stator as it allows make welding information available in the information as well which identify the stator. In a second aspect, the technical problem of the invention is also solved and one or more of the purposes are at least partly achieved by the invention 10 by a welding method for welding terminals of a stator to a busbar for making an electric motor using a head soldering. In some embodiments, said method comprises the step of place the stator on a mobile support. 15 Preferably, said positioning of the stator comprises constraining in a manner removable said stator with respect to said support. In this way, the stator and support move together during the execution of the operational phases. According to further preferred embodiments of the invention, said 20 method involves positioning the movable support with the stator constrained removable to it at a first station in at which point the busbar is positioned on the stator. Preferably, said method comprises acquiring via a unit of programmable control dimensional information relating to said stator 25 and / or said busbar. This method includes positioning the movable support with the stator and the busbar on it positioned at a second station. Preferably, said method comprises the step of soldering the terminals of the stator to the busbar at the said second station. 5 In some embodiments, the method comprises performing said welding by moving a welding head in a vertical direction and at least in a horizontal direction in approaching / moving away from said stator, depending on the dimensional information of the stator and / or busbar acquired from the 10 welding operating station, using the control unit programmable, so as to adjust the position of the head welding based on the acquired dimensional information. Each of these features contributes to making the creation of an operating method that allows the stator to be assembled 15 at the busbar automatically reaching the plurality of points of soldering needed to solder the stator terminals to the relevant busbar. Furthermore, thanks to the dimensional information relating to said stator and / or said busbar acquired from the welding operating station, by means of the programmable control unit method makes it possible to operate on 20 stators and related busbars of different types and sizes by performing a automatic format change. Preferably, this method includes, after welding, a phase of perform auxiliary assembly operations. Preferably, the stage of performing auxiliary assembly operations 25 takes place in a third operating station downstream from the second station. Thanks to this feature, the method allows to optimize the cycle operational by dividing the execution times of the phases across different stations operational, so that during auxiliary assembly operations of one stator and busbar set, another stator and busbar set can 5 be subjected to welding. According to a preferred aspect, this method also provides for bringing the stator at the operating stations by moving the supports according to a rotary motion around a central axis of symmetry. Preferably, the method involves performing rotations in steps equal to a 10 portion of circumference which is a function of the number of operating stations. This aspect of the method contributes to the possibility of performing the phases operating simultaneously by placing a stator in each station operational. According to an advantageous aspect, this method involves rotating the 15 stator around its axis of symmetry. This facilitates and speeds up the relative positioning between stator and head. welding. According to a preferred embodiment, said method provides for detecting stator type information by reading an element of 20 identification, preferably a TAG+RFID, which contains the information on the type of stator. Preferably, this is dimensional information. Preferably, this method provides for the transmission of said information via the programmable control unit to at least the second station 25 operational. Each of these features contributes to creating a method that makes it possible to carry out welding in the correct positions depending on the of the acquired stator and busbar dimensional information and allows for a fully automated format change. 5 In some embodiments, the method provides, preferably downstream of the said welding phase, to write on the identification element information relating to the welding performed. Thanks to this aspect, the information on the welding performed can be stored directly on the identification element. In 10 particular, for resistance welding can be transmitted welding process information related to electrical resistance, supply voltage, transmitted electric current, linear travel of the electrodes, crimping force (pressure) exerted during welding. Thus, if the identification element is physically associated with the 15 stator, said stator carries with it, and always makes available, information that identify it, including those on the welding. Further favorite aspects of the machine and its object method of the invention, are also defined in the attached claims as well as from the following description. 20 The features and advantages of the invention will best emerge from the detailed description of preferred embodiments illustrated, by way of example indicative and not limiting, with reference to the attached drawings in which: - figure 1 is a perspective view, from the side of the operating station of finishing of a welding machine according to this 25 invention; - figure 2 is a top view of the welding machine according to the present invention; - Figure 3 is a detailed perspective view of a welding head and rotary table of the welding machine of figure 1; 5 - Figure 4 is a side view, in detail, of a system of relocation of the power supply operating station welding machine according to the present invention; - figure 5 is a side view, from the side of the operating station of power supply, of the welding machine according to this 10 invention; - Figure 6a, 6b, 6c are detailed perspective views of one stator, of a busbar and of stator and busbar assembly. - Figure 7 is a schematic view of the welding head electrodes in an operational position. 15 - Figure 8 is a schematic view of the welding head electrodes in an operating position where they crimp the seat and the respective terminal allocated inside, with the respective deformation mechanics in context with resistance welding. Referring initially to figure 1, a welding machine is 20 in total indicated with the reference number 100. The welding machine 100 is advantageously of the type suitable for welding terminals w1, w2, w3, w4, w5, w6, of a stator 201 to a busbar 202 for the construction of a 200 electric motor. Please remember that for the terminal means the aggregate group of conducting terminal wires. 25 The stator 201 has an advantageous axisymmetric shape, generally substantially cylindrical, which develops around an axis of symmetry 203, as shown in figure 6a. As an example, figure 6a shows in detail one stator 201 comprising 6 terminals w1, w2, w3, w4, w5, w6, and in the figure 5 6b shows a busbar 202 with 6 respective seats w1', w2', w3', w4', w5', w6' configured to engage with said terminals w1, w2, w3, w4, w5, w6, to make the assembly in figure 6c. For this purpose, the machine 100 may comprise a plurality of stations operational 11, 12, 13, 14 as can be seen for example in figure 2. 10 According to a preferred aspect of the invention, the machine 100 comprises at least one mobile support 21, 22, 23, 24 configured to receive one stator 201 and bring it to each operating station of said plurality of operating stations 11, 12, 13, 14. Preferably the support 21, 22, 23, 24 which receives the stator 201 15 defines with it a removable type constraint. For this purpose, each support 21, 22, 23, 24, may comprise elements locking pins 25 which engage the stator 201 to hold it jointly, as shown in figure 3. These locking elements 25 can be moved between a position of engagement and a position of 20 disengagement. Preferably said locking elements 25 can be configured to move towards / away from each other for engage / disengage with stator 201 positioned on support 21, 22, 23, 24. This translation of the elements towards / away from each other 25 locking 25 preferably occurs in a radial direction to the axis yes symmetry 203 of the stator positioned on the support 21, 22, 23, 24. In preferred embodiments, the welding machine 100 comprises a rotary table 10 on which the at least one support 21, 22, 23 is installed, 24. The rotary table 10 is configured to rotate about a central axis 5 of symmetry I. The rotary table 10, during rotation, carries each support 21, 22, 23, 24 corresponding to each operating station 11, 12, 13, 14. According to one aspect of the invention on the rotary table 10 are installed as many supports 21, 22, 23, 24 as there are operating stations 11, 12, 13, 10 14. Preferably said supports 21, 22, 23, 24 are arranged equidistant from each other them on said rotary table 10 along a circumference coaxial to the axis of symmetry I. The rotary table 10 can perform rotations in steps, where at each 15 steps supports 21, 22, 23, 24 pass simultaneously from one operating station 11, 12, 13, 14 to the next. As described, the movable support 21, 22, 23, 24 receives a stator 201 and brings it to each operating station 11, 12, 13, 14. Such operating stations 11, 12, 13, 14 may comprise at least one 20 assembly station 12 and one assembly station welding 13, the characteristics of which will be described further in follow. In the assembly station 12 the busbar 202 is positioned on the stator 201. Preferably, this operation involves 25 insert terminals w1, w2, w3, w4, w5, w6, of stator 201 into their respective locations w1', w2', w3', w4', w5', w6'. The operation can be performed manually by an operator, or automatically by means automatic, not shown in the figures. Some embodiments provide that, following the operation of insertion of the terminals w1, w2, w3, w4, w5, w6 in their respective seats w1', 5 w2', w3', w4', w5', w6', a recession of the excess sections of the terminals w1, w2, w3, w4, w5, w6 so that the latter do not protrude excessively with respect to the respective locations w1', w2', w3', w4', w5', w6' of the busbar 202 to which they must be welded later. In embodiments where the assembly operating station 12 is 10 configured for use by an operator, such operating station assembly may advantageously include a device graphical interface 41 including specific instructions for the operator in based on the product to be created. This graphical interface device 41 (in English Human-Machine Interface) is preferably a monitor or 15 screen. Some embodiments provide that the operating station of assembly 12 further comprises a busbar magazine 16 in the proximity of the rotary table 10. This warehouse 16 can house one or more types of busbar 202. In this way, the operator or automatic device 20 alternative (for example a robotic arm) will be able to efficiently take the busbar 202 corresponding to the stator type 201 in production. In cases where the operator is responsible for the assembly operations of the busbar 202, he / she will be able to advantageously verify through the graphical interface device 41 the location of the busbar type 202 from 25 pick up in warehouse 16, as well as the necessary precautions for perform a correct assembly of such busbar 202. The welding operating station 13 is advantageously configured for solder the terminals w1, w2, w3, w4, w5, w6 of the stator 201 to the busbar 202, in particular at the respective locations w1', w2', w3', w4', w5', w6'. In preferred embodiments, the welding operating station 13 5 comprises a soldering head 130 configured to solder the terminals of the stator 201 to busbar 202. Operating stations 11, 12, 13, 14 may further comprise an operational power station 11 upstream of the station assembly operation 12. 10 Such power supply operating station 11 preferably comprises a transfer system 110 for picking up and depositing a stator 200 on support 21, 22, 23, 24 in correspondence with the operating station of power supply 11. As shown in figure 4 the transfer system 110 can 15 take the stator 201 from a conveyor 15. Advantageously, the conveyor 15 can be placed outside the rotary table 10. In figures 1 and 2, a possible embodiment is shown, not limiting, where the transport 15 is of the linear type and arranged parallel to a 20 direction tangent to the rotary table 10. The transport 15 may comprise a pallet 151 movable along one direction longitudinal of the conveyor 15 and configured to support a stator 201 and bring it to the transfer system 110. Preferably the transfer system 110 comprises a head 25 socket 111 comprising in turn a plurality of socket elements 115 configured to engage / disengage with stator 201. The gripping elements 115, as shown in figure 4, can be configured to move towards / away from each other and engage / disengage with stator 201. The approach / distance translation of the gripping elements 5 115 preferably occurs in a radial direction with respect to the axis of symmetry 203 of the stator 201 to be taken. Optionally the gripping head 111 can be configured to rotate around a vertical rotation axis, coinciding with the axis of symmetry 203 of the stator 201 in contact. In this way it is possible to orient 10 the stator 201 before placing it in the operating station of power supply 11. In figure 4, a transfer system 110 of type is shown. Cartesian, which includes at least one translator 112 and a lifter 113 to move the gripping head 111 between the conveyor 15 and the support 21, 15 22, 23, 24 placed in correspondence with the operating station of power supply 11. Preferably, the translator 112 and / or the lifter 113 each move according to a linear trajectory. The translator 112 and / or the lift 113 can be activated 20 by means of various types such as an electric motor, or piston tire, etc. According to a preferred aspect, the operating stations 11, 12, 13, 14 further comprise a 14 downstream finishing operating station of the welding operating station 13. 25 Said finishing operating station 14 allows the stator 201 and busbar 202, once welded, to make auxiliary assemblies on the stator 201, wait for the weld to cool or perform control actions of the visual type. Note that in the embodiment shown in the figures, the machine 100 includes a support 21, 22, 23, 24 for each station 5 operational 11, 12, 13, 14. Therefore, the wait in the finishing station 14 does not affect on the production rate, since at the same time the machine can perform operations at other operating stations 11, 12, 13. The finishing station 14 can also be used for 10 Check the correct assembly between stator 201 and busbar 202, by means of vision instruments, or by operator intervention. In general, note that the figures represent a possible form realization of the welding machine 100, which includes four operating stations 11, 12, 13, 14, which, as previously illustrated, 15 in sequence are respectively a power supply operating station 11, an assembly operating station 12, an assembly operating station welding 13 and a finishing operating station 14. Furthermore, the machine 100 shown in the figures includes four supports 21, 22, 23, 24. Accordingly, in such embodiments the table 20 rotating 10 can advantageously perform rotations in 90° steps with which transfers each support 21, 22, 23, 24 to the operating station 11, 12, 13, 14 next. After the finishing station 14, the machine 100 may comprise one or more accumulation stations, not shown in the figures, to create a 25 buffers to compensate for any stoppages of operating stations 11, 12, 13, upstream. Further, after the finishing station 14, the machine 100 can include an unloading station. The unloading station can also coincide with the feeding station 11, as in the example shown in the figures. 5 Thanks to this solution, a 100 machine with a very simple layout is obtained compact. In fact, after welding and auxiliary assembly operations, the machine 100 represented in the figures, is configured to rotate the table 10 and bring the support on which the stator 201 with busbar 202 is positioned, from the 10 finishing operating station 14, to the feeding operating station 11. The stator 201 welded with the busbar 202, can then be removed by means of the transfer system 110, from the operating station of power supply 11 and be transferred outside the machine 100. 15 Preferably the stator 201, welded with the busbar 202, is deposited on conveyor 15, in particular on pallet 151. At this point, the stator 201 welded with the busbar 202 is evacuated and a new stator 201 to be assembled is placed on conveyor 15 in particular on pallet 151 and introduced into the operating station of 20 power supply 11, through the transfer system 110. This is just one of the possible embodiments of the machine 100 which It can also include more than one operating station 11, 12, 13, 14 for any type, allowing the creation of machines with 100 production rates major. 25 According to a preferred aspect, the machine 100 further comprises a programmable control unit 40 communicating with at least said welding operating station 13. Advantageously the programmable control unit 40 is communicating with one or more of the other operating stations 11, 12, 14 and preferably even with the rotary table 10. Preferably the welding operating station 13 is also configured 5 to acquire dimensional information relating to the stator 201 and / or the busbar 202 from said programmable control unit 40. In preferred embodiments, depending on the information dimensions of the stator 201 and busbar 202 acquired, the station welding operation 13 is also configured to vary the position of the 10 welding head 130 according to a vertical direction Z and at least according to a horizontal direction X. This way all welding points can be reached. In embodiments where the assembly operating station 12 comprises a graphical interface device 41, such graphical interface device 15 graphical interface 41 can be conveniently connected to the unit programmable control 40. The welding points are at the seats w1', w2', w3', w4', w5', w6' of busbar 202 in which terminals w1, w2, w3, w4 engage, w5, w6, of the stator 201. 20 Figure 6b shows a preferred embodiment of the busbar 202, wherein each seat w1', w2', w3', w4', w5', w6' comprises a cavity pass-through to receive inside it a respective terminal w1, w2, w3, w4, w5, w6. Preferably, the welding head 130 is configured to weld according to 25 a direction parallel to the horizontal direction X at the welding points of stator 201 and busbar 202. In fact, the welding points are preferably in correspondence with the lateral surface of seats w1', w2', w3', w4', w5', w6' of busbar 202 from which the terminals w1, w2, w3, w4, w5, w6, of the stator 201. The welding points are generally coplanar, arranged on a 5 same horizontal plane. The movement in the vertical Z direction allows the welding head 130 to position yourself on the horizontal plane on which the welding points are located. Moving in the horizontal direction X allows the welding head 130 to reach all coplanar welding points. 10 The soldering station 13 may comprise a device horizontal movement 134, and a movement device vertical 135 configured to translate the welding head 130 respectively according to the horizontal direction X and according to the vertical direction Z. The soldering station 13 may comprise a device 15 transversal movement 136 configured to translate according to the transverse direction Y perpendicular to the horizontal directions X and vertical Z. According to an optional aspect, each support 21, 22, 23, 24 is fixed in rotary way to the rotary table 10. 20 Furthermore, the welding machine 100 may comprise, as shown in figure 3, a rotation group 131 positioned in matching the soldering station 13 and configured to rotate the support 21, 22, 23, 24 around an axis 132 of the rotation group 131. 25 This allows you to change the relative position between the stator 201 with said busbar 202 and the welding head 130 for welding said stator 201 and said busbar 202 in a plurality of welding points thereof. Preferably said axis 132 of the rotation group coincides with the axis of symmetry 203 of the stator 201. Preferably, the horizontal direction X of translation of the head welding 130 is radial with respect to the rotating support 21, 22, 23, 24 5 positioned at the welding station 13, where the horizontal direction X passes through axis 132 of the rotation group. By combining the rotation of stator 201 and busbar 202, by means of the group of rotation 131 for the rotation of the support 21, 22, 23, 24, with the translation of the welding head 130 in the horizontal X radial direction 10 passing through the 132 axis, it is possible to reach all the welding points coplanar. The rotation group 131, shown in the figure, is operated in rotation from a 133 electric type engine, but this representation is only a non-limiting example. 15 Preferably, the motor 133 is controlled by the control unit programmable 40. Therefore, by means of the programmable control unit 40, the rotation of the support 21, 22, 23, 24 and the horizontal translation X and vertical Z of the welding head 130 to reach all the points of 20 welding. An advantageous embodiment of the invention provides that said welding machine 100 further comprises a reader device 17 configured to read an identification element, preferably a TAG+RFID. 25 This identification element, not shown in the figures, can contain information on the stator type 201 preferably dimensional information. The reader device 17 is preferably configured to transmit the information at least to the welding operating station 13, by means of the programmable control unit 40. Therefore the dimensional information acquired by the operating station of 5 welding 13, to vary the position of said welding head 130, can be information provided to the programmable control unit 40 by the reader device 17, which detects them from the identification element. In case the reader device 17 is not present the information can be supplied to the programmable control unit 40, 10 by the operator himself who enters the dimensional data, for example, by means of an editable interface of said programmable control unit 40. Alternatively, this information can be entered into a database. said programmable control unit 40, such as recipes or selections 15 predefined, which can be activated using specific activation elements. An optional aspect is that the identification element is provided on conveyor 15. In this case the identification element must be rewritten every time stator 201 is taken from transfer system 110 and a new 20 stator 201 is positioned on the conveyor 15. Advantageously, the identification element can be integral with the pallet 151 mobile on which the stator 201 is positioned. In case the conveyor 15 is equipped with the element of identification the reader device 17 can be positioned in 25 correspondence of the power supply operating station 11. An alternative embodiment may provide that the element of identification is directly positioned on the stator 201. It turns out It is evident that in this way the stator 201 carries with it all the information necessary for its identification, In this case the reader device 17 can be positioned in correspondence of the power supply operating station 11, or at 5 of the assembly station 12 or the soldering station 13, or however in any position where it can be read before the welding. The welding machine 100 may also include a device writer 18 configured to write to the identification element 10 information relating to the welding carried out in the said operating station welding 13. This type of operation can be done in various ways associating this information with the TAG+RFID. Alternatively, in cases where the stator has been marked with a DATAMATRIX code (QR code) will be it is possible to associate this welding information with the DATAMATRIX code. 15 This solution is particularly suitable in the case in which the element of identification is directly installed on the stator 201, because allows you to keep all the information associated with stator 201 identification, including those relating to welding. The invention also includes a method for soldering terminals 20 w1, w2, w3, w4, w5, w6, of a stator 201 to a busbar 202 for the construction of an electric motor 200. The method is advantageously realized by means of the machine welding 100 of the present invention. The method initially involves placing the stator 201 on a 25 support 21, 22, 23, 24 movable, removably constraining the stator 201 against support 21, 22, 23, 24. The movable support 21, 22, 23, 24 with the stator 201 constrained removable to it is then positioned in correspondence with a first station 12 at which busbar 202 is positioned on stator 201. 5 Via the programmable control unit 40 can also be acquired dimensional information relating to stator 201 and / or busbar 202. The movable support 21, 22, 23, 24 with the stator 201 and the busbar 202 on it it positioned are positioned in correspondence with a second 10 station 13 at which the terminals of the stator 201 are welded to busbar 202. Welding takes place advantageously by moving the welding head 130 according to a vertical direction Z and at least according to one direction horizontal X approaching / moving away from said stator 201 15 depending on the dimensional information of the stator 201 and / or the busbar 202 acquired by the programmable control unit 40, in a manner such as to adapt the position of the welding head 130 according to the dimensional information acquired. The positioning of the busbar 202 on the stator 201, in correspondence 20 of the first station 12, can be done manually by the operator. Preferably the operator can further adjust the terminals w1, w2, w3, w4, w5, w6 in locations w1', w2', w3', w4', w5', w6', cut the excess threads and declare the end of the manual processing, via an editable interface of the programmable control unit. 25 The positioning of the busbar and the other operations described above can can also be performed by automated means. Preferably, the method also provides for bringing the stator 201 into correspondence of operating stations 11, 12, 13, 14 by moving the supports 21, 22, 23, 24 according to a rotary motion around a central axis of symmetry I, preferably performing rotations in steps equal to one 5 portion of circumference which is a function of the number of operating stations 11, 12, 13, 14. In some embodiments, the method may provide. during the welding, to rotate the stator 201 around its axis of symmetry 203. 10 Preferably, it provides for rotating the stator 201 in combination with a adjustment of the position of the welding head 130 according to information provided by the programmable control unit 40. By rotating the stator 201 and moving the welding head 130 according to a vertical direction Z and a horizontal direction X the method can thus 15 allow you to reach all the welding points required for fixing of stator 201 to busbar 202. Preferably, as previously illustrated, the horizontal direction X is directed radially with respect to the axis of rotation of the stator 201 which coincides with its axis of symmetry 203. 20 According to a preferred aspect, a phase of realization can be foreseen auxiliary assembly operations, after the welding phase, preferably in the third station 14 operating downstream of the second station 13. After the auxiliary assembly operations, the stators 201 welded with the 25 busbars 202 can be advantageously accumulated, to create a buffer to compensate for any stoppages of operating stations 12, 13, 14 upstream. Generally, after the stage of carrying out assembly operations auxiliary and / or storage, the stator 201 with the busbar 202 welded can be unloaded from machine 100 to continue with other processes on other machines. 5 According to a preferred aspect, the unloading phase occurs by bringing the stator 201 with busbar 202 welded in power station 11, that is, the station through which the was initially introduced stator 201 to be welded, placed upstream of the first station 12. A particularly advantageous aspect of the method is that 10 detection of information relating to the stator type 201 via reading of an identification element, preferably a TAG+RFID, which contains information on the stator type 201, preferably dimensional. Preferably, such information, once collected, is transmitted 15 to the programmable control unit 40 and advantageously transmitted, by means of the programmable control unit 40, to at least the second operating station 13 or to one or more of the other operating stations. Optionally, the above information can be found by reading an identification element associated with means 15 capable of introducing the 20 stator 201 in machine 100 or associated with stator 201 itself. Stator type information 201 can be found reading the identification element before performing the phase of welding. After the said welding phase, it may also be possible to write 25 on the identification element information relating to welding done. The invention thus achieves the proposed aims while also achieving numerous advantages over the reference prior art, including the possibility of welding stators and busbars in particular by creating a plurality of welds arranged on a horizontal plane at a variable distance from the axis of symmetry of the stator and at a variable height and with 5 possibilities to automatically adapt to different typologies and stator and busbar dimensions.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Welding machine (100) for welding terminals (w1, w2, w3, w4, w5, w6) of a stator (201) to respective seats (w1', w2', w3', w4', w5', w6') of a busbar (202) for making an electric motor (200), said machine (100) comprising a plurality of operating stations (11, 12, 13, 14) and at least one movable support (21, 22, 23, 24) configured to receive a stator (201) and bring it to each operating station of said plurality of operating stations (11, 12, 13, 14), said operating stations comprising at least: - an assembly operating station (12) at which the busbar (202) is positioned on the stator (201), and - a welding operating station (13) at which the terminals (w1, w2, w3, w4, w5, w6) of the stator (201) are welded to the seats (w1', w2', w3', w4', w5', w6') of the busbar (202),said welding operating station (13) comprising a welding head (130) configured to weld the terminals (w1, w2, w3, w4, w5, w6) of the stator (201) to the seats (w1', w2', w3', w4', w5', w6') of the busbar (202), said machine (100) being characterised in that it further comprises: - a programmable control unit (40) communicating with said welding operating station (13) and configured to acquire dimensional information relating to said stator (201) and / or said busbar (202); said welding operating station (13) being configured to vary the position of said welding head (130) according to at least one vertical direction (Z) and at least one horizontal direction (X) as a function of the dimensional information of the stator (201) and of the busbar (202) acquired.

2. Welding machine (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that said welding head (130) comprises at least one welding electrode (137) and a ground electrode (138), said welding head being configured to reciprocally move the electrodes (137, 138) between an open position, in which both electrodes (137, 138) are external to the seats (w1', w2', w3', w4', w5', w6') of the busbar (202) and a closed position in which at least the welding electrode engages one of the seats (w1', w2', w3', w4', w5', w6') of the busbar (202) by exerting a crimping pressure, wherein said welding head (130) is configured to apply to the seat (w1', w2', w3', w4', w5', w6') crimped an electric welding current.

3. Welding machine (100) according to claim 2, characterized in that said welding operating station (13) is further configured to vary the position of said welding head (130) according to a third transverse direction (Y) perpendicular to said vertical direction (Z) and said horizontal direction (X), so as to perform the crimping of the seat (w1', w2', w3', w4', w5', w6') of the busbar (202) in a direction having a component in the transverse direction (Y).

4. Welding machine (100) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the operating stations (11, 12, 13, 14) further comprise a feeding operating station (11) upstream of the assembly operating station (12) and a finishing operating station (14) downstream of the welding operating station (13).

5. Welding machine (100) according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that it comprises a rotary table (10) on which the at least one support (21, 22, 23, 24) is installed, and configured to rotate around a central axis of symmetry (I) to bring said at least one support (21, 22, 23, 24) in correspondence with each operating station (11, 12, 13, 14).

6. Welding machine (100) according to the previous claim, characterised in that on the rotary table (10) there are installed as many supports (21, 22, 23, 24) as there are operating stations (11, 12, 13, 14), wherein said supports (21, 22, 23, 24) are preferably arranged equidistant from each other on said rotary table (10) along a circumference coaxial to the axis of symmetry (I).

7. Welding machine (100) according to claim 5 or 6, characterised in that each support (21, 22, 23, 24) is rotatably fixed to the rotary table (10).

8. Welding machine according to claim 7, characterized in that it further comprises a rotation group (131) positioned in correspondence with the welding station (13) and configured to rotate the support (21, 22, 23, 24) around an axis (132) of the rotation group, so as to be able to change the relative position between the stator (201) with said busbar (202) and the welding head (130) to weld said stator (201) and said busbar (202) at a plurality of welding points thereof.

9. Welding machine (100) according to any of claims 4 to 7, characterised in that the feeding operating station (11) comprises a transfer system (110) suitable for picking up a stator (200) from a conveyor (15), placed outside the rotary table (10), and placing it on the support (21, 22, 23, 24) in correspondence with the feeding operating station (11).

10. Welding machine (100) according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that it further comprises a reader device (17) configured to read an identification element, preferably a TAG+RFID, which contains information on the stator typology (201) preferably dimensional, and said reader device (17) configured to transmit said information at least to the welding operating station (13) by means of the programmable control unit (40).

11. Welding machine (100) according to claim 10 when depending on claim 9, characterised in that said conveyor (15) is provided with said identification element.

12. Welding machine (100) according to any of claims 10-11, characterised in that it comprises a writing device (18) configured to write on the identification element information relating to the welding carried out in said welding operating station (13).

13. Method for welding terminals (w1, w2, w3, w4, w5, w6) of a stator (201) to respective seats (w1', w2', w3', w4', w5', w6') of a busbar (202) for the construction of an electric motor (200) by means of a welding head (130), said method comprising: - positioning the stator (201) on a movable support (21, 22, 23, 24), wherein said positioning comprises removably constraining said stator (201) with respect to said support (21, 22, 23, 24), - positioning the movable support (21, 22, 23, 24) with the stator (201) removably constrained thereto at a first station (12) at which the busbar (202) is positioned on the stator (201), - acquire via a programmable control unit (40) dimensional information relating to said stator (201) and / or said busbar (202);- position the mobile support (21, 22, 23, 24) with the stator (201) and the busbar (202) positioned on it in correspondence with a second station (13); - solder each of the terminals (w1, w2, w3, w4, w5, w6) of the stator (201) to the respective seat (w1', w2', w3', w4', w5', w6') of the busbar (202) in correspondence with said second station (13) by moving the welding head (130) in a vertical direction (Z) and at least in a horizontal direction (X) towards / away from said stator (201) according to the dimensional information of the stator (201) and / or of the busbar (202) acquired by the programmable control unit (40), in such a way as to adapt the position of the welding head (130) according to the dimensional information acquired.; 14. A method according to claim 13, comprising a step of performing auxiliary assembly operations, after welding, preferably in a third station (14) operating downstream of the second station (13).

15. Method according to claim 13 or 14, wherein said method comprises bringing the stator (201) in correspondence with the operating stations (11, 12, 13, 14) by moving the supports (21, 22, 23, 24) according to a rotary motion around a central axis of symmetry (I), preferably performing rotations in steps equal to a portion of the circumference which is a function of the number of operating stations (11, 12, 13, 14).

16. A method according to any of claims 13 to 15, comprising, during welding, rotating the stator (201) about its axis of symmetry (203).

17. A method according to any of claims 13 to 16, comprising detecting information on the stator typology (201) by reading an identification element, preferably a TAG + RFID, which contains the information on the stator typology (201), preferably dimensional, and transmitting said information by means of the programmable control unit (40) to at least the second operating station (13).

18. Method according to claim 17, comprising, downstream of said welding, writing on the identification element 5 information relating to the welding performed.