Method for fastening a roller head to a welding arm for a resistance seam welding machine and arrangement thereof

Abstract

One configuration includes a welding arm (2) for a resistance seam welding machine and a roller head (1) fastened thereto, having a stator (3) and an electrode roller (4), wherein the stator (3) protrudes above the electrode roller (4) having fastening extensions (5) on both sides of the electrode roller (4). The welding arm (2) has a receiving opening (6) for the roller head (1), the receiving opening being formed between two mutually facing limiting walls (7), the limiting walls themselves having fastening receiving openings (8) for the fastening extensions (5). The roller head (1) is fastened to the welding arm (2) by pressing each fastening extension (5) of the stator (3) against a corresponding contact surface (10, 19) inside the boundary of its respective fastening receiving opening (8) using a uniform contact surface (9) formed thereon.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for fastening a roller head to the welding arm of a resistance seam welding machine, including the welding arm of the resistance seam welding machine and the roller head attached thereto, a resistance seam welding machine having this configuration, the roller head having this configuration, and the use of the configuration for resistance seam welding of the longitudinal seam of a container body according to the preamble of the independent claim. Prior Technology

[0002] References DE 40 20 182 C1 and WO 2013 / 181765 A1 describe the liquid-cooled roller head of the welding arm of a resistance welding machine.

[0003] These roller heads comprise a stator and electrode rollers, which are mounted on the stator as rotors so that they rotate about a rotational axis. The stator protrudes above the electrode rollers on both sides of the rotational axis via fastening extensions. During normal use, the electrode rollers of the roller head will wear around their circumference and be remachined several times to extend their service life until they reach their wear limit. This is done in a disassembled state. Therefore, the roller head must be replaced quite frequently. Fastening extensions, designed as circular cylindrical shafts, are used to secure the roller head to the welding arm to transfer welding current from the welding arm to the roller head and to supply and drain coolant for cooling the roller head. For the latter purpose, the fastening extensions have radial supply and drainage holes that must be aligned with the assigned supply and drainage holes in the welding arm during assembly. In addition to the fact that assembly errors can occur during the alignment of the supply and drainage holes, known roller heads also repeatedly experience leakage and contact problems in the supply and drainage hole areas, which can lead to costly machine downtime for troubleshooting. Summary of the Invention

[0004] Therefore, the objective of this invention is to provide a technical solution by which the disadvantages of prior art can be completely or at least partially avoided in an economical and efficient manner.

[0005] This objective is achieved through the objective of independent items.

[0006] Based on these, a first aspect of the present invention relates to a method for fastening a roller head to the welding arm of a resistance welding machine. The roller head includes a stator and an electrode roller, which is rotatably supported on the stator about a rotation axis. The stator protrudes above the electrode roller, having fastening extensions, on both sides of the electrode roller in the direction of the rotation axis. This method includes the following steps: a) Provide a welding arm for a resistance welding machine, which, during operation, is desired to have a receiving opening for the roller head. This receiving opening is formed between two, preferably parallel, mutually facing, limiting walls, which themselves have a fastening receiving opening for a fastening extension of the stator of the roller head; b) The roller head is positioned in the receiving opening of the roller head such that a portion of the circumferential boundary of the electrode roller protrudes outside the receiving opening and the fastening extension is positioned inside the fastening receiving opening; c) By pressing each fastening extension of the stator with the uniform contact surface formed thereon against the corresponding uniform contact surface inside the boundary of its respective fastening receiving opening, the roller head is fastened to the welding arm, wherein each fastening extension of the stator is pressed by a clamping member housed in its respective fastening receiving opening, so that its contact surface is in close contact with the corresponding contact surface.

[0007] It has been found that installation errors can be avoided and good and reliable sealing and current transmission can be achieved by means of the configuration according to the present invention.

[0008] In the alternative of the first embodiment, the home contact surface is provided by an adapter configuration disposed inside each fastening receiving opening, the adapter itself having a contact surface formed thereon pressed against the home contact surface formed by the boundary of each fastening receiving opening. These solutions are considered upgrade solutions for existing welding arms according to the prior art.

[0009] In the second preferred embodiment, each associated contact surface is provided by the boundary of its respective fastening receiving opening, rather than by additional components disposed between these boundaries and the contact surfaces of their respective fastening extensions, as in the first embodiment. This allows for direct current transfer from the welding arm to the fastening extension of the roller head, and the fastening receiving opening can be designed to be smaller, thus enabling a more stable welding arm design. It also allows the roller head to be fastened to the welding arm with very few and easily manufactured parts, promoting a cost-effective solution and requiring minimal expertise and time when replacing the roller head.

[0010] Preferably, the contact surfaces of the stator's fastening extension and these associated contact surfaces extend in a plurality of planes parallel to the rotation axis of the electrode roller and advantageously perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the welding arm. In this way, a large position-tolerant contact surface can be formed between the boundary of the fastening extension of the stator and the fastening receiving opening on the welding arm, and the stator of the roller head has a precisely defined rotational position relative to the contact surface of the fastening receiving opening boundary in the installed state.

[0011] Advantageously, the clamping member is guided past the boundary of the fastening receiving opening and is able to move in the clamping direction. This guidance, enabling movement in the clamping direction, is preferably achieved by having the clamping member abut a uniform guide surface extending in the pressing direction adjacent to a subordinate guide surface of the boundary of the fastening receiving opening.

[0012] In this way, the system can reliably press the stator's fastening extension against the contact surface of the boundary of the fastening reception opening in a controlled manner.

[0013] Preferably, the stator's fastening extension and fastening receiving opening are designed such that the fastening extension's contact surface can press against the contact surface of the fastening receiving opening boundary at different positions, preferably at different positions transverse to the rotation axis of the electrode roller and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the welding arm. This allows for the displacement of the electrode roller's rotation axis transverse to the longitudinal axis of the welding arm, and even in cases with different electrode roller diameters and fixed welding arms, ensures that the electrode roller always protrudes a certain amount beyond the receiving opening with its circumferential boundary, thus allowing alignment on the so-called "Z-track" or welding plane.

[0014] Advantageously, the position of the fastening extension is set by means of the clamping member, such that during pressing and fastening of the extension, the latter establishes a positive engagement with the boundary of its respective fastening receiving opening in a plane parallel to the contact surface and in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis of the electrode roller, and also establishes a positive engagement with its respective fastening extension in this direction. In this way, using the clamping member, the position of electrode rollers of certain diameters can be set safely and in a positive engagement manner without complex adjustment forces.

[0015] Advantageously, the clamping element is pressed against the fastening extension of the stator by clamping screws fastened in the welding arm, which presses the fastening extension against the corresponding contact surface formed thereon. In this way, all the force used for pressing is retained inside the welding arm, and a large pressing force can be provided in a simple and precise manner.

[0016] In another preferred embodiment of this method, the contact surface of the stator's fastening extension and the boundary of the fastening receiving opening have supply and discharge openings for the cooling medium. The stator's fastening extension can be configured and fastened in the fastening receiving opening of the fastening extension in such a way that each supply and discharge opening at least partially overlaps in each predetermined position.

[0017] In another preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, one of the opposing limiting walls of the receiving opening of the roller head is formed by a component that can be temporarily removed from the body of the welding arm. These limiting walls form a fastening receiving opening for the fastening extension of the stator of the roller head, and the body forms the other of the two limiting walls for the receiving opening of the roller head, preferably showing a direction opposite to the axis of rotation of the electrode roller. This component is temporarily removed for arranging the roller head in the receiving opening such that the receiving opening is temporarily open to one side, and is reinstalled after the roller head is inserted into the body such that one fastening extension of the stator of the roller head is arranged inside the fastening receiving opening formed by the side wall of the body, and the other fastening extension of the stator is arranged inside the fastening receiving opening formed by the side wall of this component.

[0018] This allows for a quick and easy replacement of the roller head.

[0019] The second aspect of the invention relates to a configuration comprising a welding arm of a resistance welding machine and a roller head fastened thereto. The roller head has a stator and an electrode roller, the electrode roller being supported on the stator in a rotatable manner about a rotation axis. The stator protrudes above the electrode roller, such that fastening extensions on both sides of the electrode roller are in the direction of the rotation axis.

[0020] The welding arm has a receiving opening for the roller head, which is formed between two preferably parallel, mutually facing limiting walls. These limiting walls themselves have fastening receiving openings for the fastening extensions of the stator of the roller head.

[0021] The roller head is positioned inside the receiving opening such that the electrode roller protrudes from the outside of the receiving opening with a portion of its circumferential boundary, and the fastening extension is positioned inside the fastening receiving opening. Each fastening extension of the stator is fastened to the welding arm by pressing it against the uniform contact surface inside the boundary of its respective fastening receiving opening using the uniform contact surface formed thereon.

[0022] Each fastening extension of the stator is held in place by a clamp retractor housed in its respective fastening housing opening, so that its contact surface is in close contact with its assigned contact surface.

[0023] It has been noted that the design according to the present invention avoids installation errors and achieves good and reliable sealing and current transmission.

[0024] In the first embodiment alternative, the home contact surface is provided by an adapter configuration disposed inside each fastening receiving opening, the adapter itself having a contact surface formed thereon pressed against the home contact surface formed by the boundary of each fastening receiving opening. These solutions are considered upgrade solutions for existing welding arms according to the prior art.

[0025] In the second preferred embodiment, each associated contact surface is provided by the boundary of its respective fastening receiving opening, rather than by additional components disposed between these boundaries and the contact surfaces of their respective fastening extensions, as in the first embodiment. This allows for direct current transfer from the welding arm to the fastening extension of the roller head, and the fastening receiving opening can be designed to be smaller, thus enabling a more stable welding arm design. It also allows the roller head to be fastened to the welding arm with very few and easily manufactured parts, promoting a cost-effective solution and requiring minimal expertise and time when replacing the roller head.

[0026] Preferably, the contact surfaces of the stator's fastening extension and these associated contact surfaces extend in a plurality of planes parallel to the rotation axis of the electrode roller and advantageously perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the welding arm. In this way, a large position-tolerant contact surface can be formed between the boundary of the fastening extension of the stator and the fastening receiving opening on the welding arm, and the stator of the roller head has a precisely defined rotational position relative to the contact surface of the fastening receiving opening boundary in the installed state.

[0027] Advantageously, the fastening and receiving openings on the welding arm are circumferentially closed. This avoids unnecessary structural weakening of the welding arm.

[0028] Advantageously, the clamping element is guided through the boundary of the fastening receiving opening and can be displaced in the clamping direction.

[0029] For guiding, and being able to move in the clamping direction, this is preferably implemented in such a way that the clamping member is adjacent to the boundary of the fastening receiving opening by a uniform guide surface extending in the pressing direction.

[0030] Preferably, each clamping element engages with the fastening extension of the stator from the side opposite to the contact surface.

[0031] By means of the above measures, it is possible to reliably press the fastening extension of the stator against the contact surface of the boundary of the fastening receiving opening of the welding arm in a controlled manner.

[0032] Preferably, the stator's fastening extension and fastening receiving opening are designed on the welding arm in a manner that allows the fastening extension to press its contact surface against the contact surface of the fastening receiving opening boundary at different positions, preferably at different positions transverse to the rotation axis of the electrode roller and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the welding arm. This allows for the displacement of the electrode roller's rotation axis transverse to the longitudinal axis of the welding arm, and even in cases with different electrode roller diameters and fixed welding arms, ensures that the electrode roller always protrudes a certain amount beyond the receiving opening with its circumferential boundary, and thus can be aligned on the so-called "Z-track" or welding plane respectively.

[0033] Advantageously, during pressing and fastening of the extension, the latter establishes a positive engagement with the boundary of its respective fastening receiving opening in a plane parallel to the contact surface and in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis of the electrode roller, and with its respective fastening extension in this direction, the position of the fastening extension is set by means of the clamping member. In this way, using the clamping member, the position of electrode rollers of certain diameters can be safely set in a positive engagement manner without complex adjustment forces.

[0034] In embodiments where each clamping element engages with a fastening extension of the stator from a side facing the contact surface, it is preferable that the rotation axis of the electrode roller is at a different distance from the plane running on a uniform guide surface extending in the pressing direction of the clamping element.

[0035] If the clamping elements are formed in such a way that they can be installed in two different positions, it is preferable that the contact surface for securing the stator extension is optionally positioned in two different positions on the contact surface of the boundary of the securing receiving opening. This allows the clamping elements to belong to two different electrode roller diameters and thus halves the number of clamping element sizes required for a certain number of different electrode roller diameters.

[0036] In another preferred embodiment of the configuration according to the invention, each of the fastening extensions of the stator has a circular cross-section, which, when viewed in the direction of the rotation axis of the electrode roller, has a flattening effect that forms this contact surface. These profiles can be easily and cost-effectively manufactured, and enable a precisely defined rotational orientation of the stator in the roller configuration relative to the welding arm.

[0037] Advantageously, the clamping element is pressed against the fastening extension of the stator by clamping screws fastened in the welding arm, and the contact surface formed thereon presses the fastening extension against these associated contact surfaces. In this way, all the force used for pressing is retained inside the welding arm, and a large pressing force can be provided in a simple and precise manner.

[0038] In another preferred embodiment of this configuration, the contact surface of the stator's fastening extension and the boundary of the fastening receiving opening have supply and discharge openings for the cooling medium. The stator's fastening extension can be configured and fastened within the fastening receiving opening of the fastening extension in such a manner that each supply and discharge opening at least partially overlaps in each desired location.

[0039] Preferably, the seal for sealing the at least partially overlapping supply and discharge openings to the outside is disposed in the contact surface of the fastening receiving opening. This design makes it possible to avoid weakening the fastening extension of the roller head stator by means of a cavity for receiving the seal.

[0040] In yet another preferred embodiment of the configuration according to the invention, one of the opposing limiting walls of the receiving opening of the roller head is formed by a component that can be temporarily removed from the body of the welding arm. These limiting walls form a fastening receiving opening for the fastening extension of the stator of the roller head, while the body forms the other of the two limiting walls for the receiving opening of the roller head. This allows for quick and simple replacement of the roller head.

[0041] The third aspect of the present invention relates to a resistance welding machine having a configuration according to the second aspect of the present invention.

[0042] The fourth aspect of the invention relates to a roller head for a resistance seam welding machine according to the second aspect of the invention or according to the third aspect of the invention, comprising a stator and electrode rollers. The electrode rollers are rotatably supported on the stator about a rotation axis, wherein the stator protrudes above the electrode rollers on both sides of the electrode rollers in the direction of the rotation axis, and the stator has fastening extensions. The fastening extensions of the stator have uniform contact surfaces for fastening the roller head to the corresponding contact surface of the welding arm of the resistance seam welding machine by pressing. These contact surfaces extend in a plane running parallel to the rotation axis of the electrode rollers. By this design, during the mounting of the stator of the roller head onto the welding arm, it is understood that the stator adopts a defined rotational orientation relative to the welding arm.

[0043] This is particularly advantageous when the contact surface of the stator's fastening extension has supply and discharge openings for the cooling medium, which supply the cooling medium to and discharge it from the electrode rollers. During installation, these supply and discharge openings must be aligned with their corresponding supply and discharge openings on the welding arm. This alignment occurs automatically in this embodiment of the roller head according to the invention, when the welding arm is designed accordingly and thus helps to avoid installation errors.

[0044] In a preferred embodiment of the roller head, each of the fastening extensions of the stator has a circular cross-section, which, when viewed in the direction of the rotation axis of the electrode roller, has a flattening effect that forms this contact surface.

[0045] The fifth aspect of the present invention relates to the use of a configuration according to the second aspect of the present invention, which is used for resistance welding of the longitudinal seam of the container body. Simple Explanation of the Diagram

[0046] The prior art and the present invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. These drawings are shown in: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the welding arm of a resistance seam welding machine according to the prior art, on which a roller head is attached; Figure 2 is a side view of the welding arm in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a vertical section passing through the welded arm in Figure 1 along section line AA in Figure 1; Figure 4 is a perspective view of the first welding arm of the resistance welding machine according to the present invention, on which a roller head is attached; Figure 5 is a top view of the welding arm in Figure 4; Figure 6 is a side view of the welding arm in Figure 4; Figure 7 shows a cross-section along section line BB in Figure 5, passing through the welded arm in Figure 4; Figure 8 is a perspective view of the second welding arm of the resistance welding machine according to the present invention, on which a roller head is attached; Figure 9 is a side view of the welding arm in Figure 8; and Figure 10 is a cross section along section line CC in Figure 8, passing through the weld arm of Figure 8. Implementation

[0047] Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a welding arm for a resistance welding machine, to which a roller head is attached, as is known from the prior art.

[0048] The roller head used in resistance welding machines is known to those skilled in the art, for example from the documents DE 40 20 182 C1 and WO 2013 / 181765 A1 mentioned at the beginning, and therefore need not be described in detail here.

[0049] These roller heads 1 include a stator 3 and electrode rollers 4, the electrode rollers 4 being mounted on the stator 3 as rotors so that they can rotate about the rotation axis R. The stator 3 is located on both sides of the electrode rollers 4. The stator 3 protrudes from both sides of the electrode rollers 4 in the direction of the rotation axis R, such that the fastening extension 5 is above the electrode rollers 4.

[0050] As can be seen, the welding arm 2 has a receiving opening 6 for the roller head 1, which is formed between two opposing parallel limiting walls 7.

[0051] Each of the limiting wall surfaces 7 has a circumferentially closed fastening and receiving opening 8 for the fastening extension 5 of the stator 3 for the roller head 1.

[0052] The roller head 1 is arranged in the receiving opening 6 of the welding arm 2 such that the electrode roller 4 protrudes from the receiving opening 6 with its circumferentially limited portion, and the fastening extension 5 is arranged in the fastening receiving opening 8.

[0053] As can be seen from the summary in Figures 2 and 3, which show the side view of the welding arm of Figure 1 (Figure 2) and the vertical section through the welding arm of Figure 1 (Figure 3) along the section line AA, the fastening extension 5 of the stator 3 is formed as a cylindrical shaft with a circular cross section, and in each case a curved contact surface 23 is formed thereon. By pressing these shafts 5 against the respective curved contact surfaces 22 within the boundary of the fastening receiving opening 8, the roller head 1 is fastened to the welding arm 2.

[0054] Each assigned curved contact surface 22 is provided by an adapter configuration 20 disposed in its respective fastening receiving opening 8, which in turn presses its contact surface 21 against the assigned contact surface 10 formed by the boundary of its respective fastening receiving opening 8.

[0055] The fastening extension 5 of the stator 3 is pressed against the respective contact surfaces 22 by the clamping members 11 housed in the respective fastening receiving openings 8 with their contact surfaces 23. In each case, the clamping members 11 surround the fastening extension 5 of the stator 3 from the side facing the contact surfaces 23.

[0056] Figure 4 shows a perspective view of a first configuration according to the invention, which takes the form of a first welding arm according to the invention for a resistance welding machine, with a roller head according to the invention attached thereto.

[0057] As can be seen, the welding arm 2 also has a receiving opening 6 for the roller head 1, which is formed between two opposing parallel limiting walls 7.

[0058] Here, the roller head 1 also includes a stator 3 and an electrode roller 4. The electrode roller 4 is mounted on the stator 3 as a rotor so that it can rotate about the rotation axis R. The stator 3 protrudes above the electrode roller 4 on both sides of the electrode roller 4 in the direction of the rotation axis R by fastening extensions 5.

[0059] The limiting wall 7 also has each closed fastening receiving opening 8 for the fastening extension 5 of the stator 3 of the roller head 1, and the roller head 1 is also disposed inside the receiving opening 6 such that a portion of the electrode roller 4 protrudes from the receiving opening 6 with its circumferential extension and the fastening extension 5 is disposed inside the fastening receiving opening 8.

[0060] One of the two opposing limiting walls 7 for the receiving opening 6 of the roller head 1 is formed by a component 17 that can be temporarily removed from the body 18 of the welding arm 2. The limiting wall 7 forms one of the fastening receiving openings 8 for the fastening extension 5 of the stator 3 of the roller head 1. For the purpose of installing or replacing the roller head 1, this component 17 forms the other of the two opposing limiting walls 7 for the receiving opening 6 of the roller head 1.

[0061] As can be seen from the summary in Figures 5 to 7, these figures show a top view of the welding arm of Figure 4 (Figure 5), a side view of the welding arm of Figure 4 (Figure 6), and a cross section passing through the welding arm of Figure 4 along the section line BB in Figure 5 (Figure 7). In this embodiment of the invention, viewed in the direction of the rotation axis R of the electrode roller 4, each of the fastening extensions 5 of the stator 3 has a circular cross section and has a flattening effect that forms the contact surface 9 of each fastening extension 5.

[0062] In this embodiment, these belonging contact surfaces 10 are formed by the boundaries of their respective fastening receiving openings 8.

[0063] The contact surface 9 on the fastening extension 5 of the stator 3 and the associated contact surface 10 on the boundary of each fastening receiving opening 8 extend in a plurality of planes, which run parallel to the rotation axis R of the electrode roller 4 and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L of the welding arm 2.

[0064] The contact surface 9 of the fastening extension 5 of the stator 3 is also pressed against the corresponding contact surface 10 by the clamping member 11 housed in the respective fastening receiving opening 8. Here, the clamping member 11 also surrounds the fastening extension 5 of the stator 3 from the side facing the contact surface 9 in each case.

[0065] However, here, in order to guide for the purpose of displaceability in the clamping direction, the clamping members 11 are guided through the boundary of the fastening receiving opening 8 for the purpose of displaceability in the clamping direction, and they directly make the associated guiding surface 13 of the boundary of the fastening receiving opening 8 adjacent to the flat guiding surface 12 running in the pressing direction.

[0066] The fastening extension 5 and fastening receiving opening 8 of the stator 3 are designed such that the contact surface 9 of the fastening extension 5 can press against the contact surface 10 of the boundary of the fastening receiving opening 8 in different positions.

[0067] The positions are determined by the clamping member 11 so that when the fastening extensions 5 are pressed against them, they form a positive engagement with the boundary of their respective fastening receiving openings 8 in a direction parallel to the plane of the contact surfaces 9 and 10 and perpendicular to the rotation axis R of the electrode rollers 4, and in a direction parallel to the plane of the contact surfaces 9 and 10 and perpendicular to the rotation axis R of the electrode rollers 4.

[0068] As can be seen, the clamping member 11 is designed such that the rotation axis R of the electrode roller 4 and the plane of the flat guide surface 12 of the clamping member 11 have different distances in the pressing direction.

[0069] The clamping members 11 are also designed in such a way that they can be installed in two different positions, for selectively positioning the contact surface 9 of the fastening extension 5 of the stator 3 in two different positions on the contact surface 10 of the boundary of the fastening receiving opening 8.

[0070] The clamping member 11 is pressed against the fastening extension 5 of the stator 3 by the clamping screw 14 fastened in the welding arm 2, so as to press the contact surface 9 formed thereon against the boundary of the fastening receiving opening 8 of the belonging contact surface 10.

[0071] As can be seen from Figure 7, which shows an upright cross-section along section line BB in Figure 5, the contact surface 9 of the fastening extension 5 of the stator 3 and the boundary contact surface 10 of the fastening receiving opening 8 have supply and discharge openings 15 and 16 for the cooling medium of the roller head 1. In this case, the fastening extension 5 of the stator 3 is configured and fastened to the fastening receiving opening 8 in such a way that the supply and discharge openings 15 and 16 overlap in every possible position.

[0072] As can also be seen, the seal 24 is disposed in the contact surface 10 of the fastening receiving opening 8 to seal the overlapping supply or discharge openings 15, 16 outward.

[0073] Figure 8 shows a perspective view of a second configuration according to the invention, which takes the form of a welding arm for a resistance seam welding machine, with a roller head according to the invention attached thereto. This embodiment of the invention represents a modified solution to an existing welding arm based on prior art.

[0074] The basic concept of this configuration is the same as that of the prior art configurations described in Figures 1 to 3.

[0075] As can be seen from the combination of Figures 8, 9 and 10, which show the side view of the welding arm of Figure 8 (Figure 9) and the cross section passing through the welding arm of Figure 8 along the section line CC in Figure 8 (Figure 10), viewed in the direction of the rotation axis R of the electrode roller 4, the fastening extension 5 of the stator 3 in this second embodiment of the present invention each has a circular cross section and has a flattening effect that forms the contact surface 9 of each fastening extension 5.

[0076] In this embodiment, the associated uniform contact surfaces 19 are each provided by an adapter configuration 20 disposed in its respective fastening receiving opening 8, which sequentially presses its contact surface 21 against the belonging contact surface 10 formed by the boundary of its respective fastening receiving opening 8.

[0077] In each case, the fastening extension 5 of the stator 3 is also pressed against the respective contact surfaces 19 by clamping members 11 housed in their respective fastening receiving openings 8. In each case, the clamping members 11 surround the fastening extension 5 of the stator 3 from the side facing the contact surfaces 9.

[0078] The contact surface 9 on the fastening extension 5 of the stator 3 and the corresponding contact surface 19 on the adapter configuration 20 run in a plane parallel to the rotation axis R of the electrode roller 4 and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L of the welding arm 2.

[0079] The fastening extension 5 of the stator 3 and the adapter configuration 20 are designed such that the fastening extension 5 can press against the contact surface 19 of the adapter configuration 20 at different positions using its contact surface 9.

[0080] These positions are determined by the clamping member 11. When the fastening extension 5 presses against them, the clamping member forms a form engagement with the adapter configuration 20 in a direction parallel to the plane of the contact surfaces 9 and 19 and perpendicular to the rotation axis R of the electrode roller 4, and forms a form engagement with each fastening extension 5 in a direction parallel to the plane of the contact surfaces 9 and 19 and perpendicular to the rotation axis R of the electrode roller 4.

[0081] As can be seen from Figure 10, this diagram shows an upright cross-section along section line CC in Figure 8. The contact surface 9 of the fastening extension 5 of the stator 3 and the associated contact surface 19 of the adapter configuration 20, as well as the boundary contact surface 10 of the adapter configuration 20 and the fastening receiving opening 8, have supply and discharge openings 15 and 16 for the cooling medium of the roller head 1. The fastening extension 5 of the stator 3 and the adapter configuration 20 are configured and fastened in the fastening receiving opening 8 in such a way that the supply and discharge openings 15 and 16 overlap.

[0082] As can also be seen, the seal 24 is disposed in the contact surface 19 of the adapter configuration 20 and the contact surface 10 of the fastening receiving opening 8, for sealing the overlapping supply and discharge openings 15 and 16 outward.

[0083] While preferred embodiments of the invention are described in this application, it should be clearly indicated that the invention is not limited to these embodiments and may be carried out in other ways within the scope of the claims now enumerating.

[0084] 1: Roller head 2: Welding arm 3: Stator 4: Electrode roller 5: Fastening extension 6: Containment opening 7: Restricting the wall surface 8: Secure the receiving opening 9: Contact Surface 10: Assigned contact surface 11: Clamping component 12: Guiding Surface 13: Guiding Surface 14: Clamping screw 15: Supply Opening 16: Exhaust opening 17: Components 18: Main Body 19: Contact Surface 20: Adapter Configuration 21: Contact Surface 22: Contact Surface 23: Contact Surface 24: Seals

Claims

1. A method for fastening a roller head (1) to a welding arm (2) of a resistance seam welding machine, wherein the roller head (1) has a stator (3) and an electrode roller (4), the electrode roller (4) being rotatably supported on the stator about a rotation axis (R) as a rotor, and wherein the stator (3) protrudes above the electrode roller (4) on both sides of the electrode roller (4) in the direction of the rotation axis (R) by fastening extensions (5), the method comprising the steps of: a) providing a welding arm (2) of a resistance seam welding machine, including a receiving opening (6) for the roller head (1), the receiving opening being formed between, in particular, parallel, mutually facing limiting walls (7), the limiting walls themselves having fastening receiving openings (8) for the fastening extensions (5) of the stator (3) of the roller head (1); b) The roller head (1) is disposed in the receiving opening (6) of the roller head such that the electrode roller (4) protrudes out of the receiving opening (6) with a portion of its circumferential boundary and the fastening extensions (5) are disposed inside the fastening receiving openings (8); c) The roller head (1) is fastened to the welding arm (2) by pressing each of the fastening extensions (5) of the stator (3) against a corresponding contact surface (10, 19) inside the boundary of the respective fastening receiving opening (8) with a uniform contact surface (9) formed thereon. The contact surface (9) and the belonging contact surface (10) of the fastening extension (5) of the stator (3) have supply and discharge openings (15, 16) for a cooling medium, and the fastening extension (5) of the stator (3) is configured and fastened in the fastening receiving opening (8) of the fastening extension (5) in such a way that each of the supply and discharge openings (15, 16) at least partially overlaps, wherein each of the fastening extensions (5) of the stator (3) is pressed by a clamp (11) received in the respective fastening receiving opening (8) so that its contact surface (9) is in close contact with the belonging contact surfaces (10, 19).

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the home contact surface (19) is provided by an adapter configuration (20, 21) disposed inside the respective fastening receiving opening (8), the adapter itself being pressed with a contact surface (21) formed thereon against a home contact surface (10) formed by the boundary of the respective fastening receiving opening (8).

3. The method of claim 1, wherein each belonging contact surface (10) is provided by the boundary of the respective fastening receiving opening (8).

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the contact surface (9) and the associated contact surfaces (10, 19) of the fastening extension (5) of the stator (3) extend in a plurality of planes parallel to the axis of rotation (R) of the electrode roller (4) and, in particular, perpendicular to a longitudinal axis (L) of the welding arm (2).

5. The method of any one of claims 3 to 4, wherein the clamping members (11) are guided through the boundary of the fastening receiving openings (8) and are able to move in the clamping direction.

6. As in request item 5, where, For guiding and being able to move in the clamping direction, the clamping members (11) abut the boundary of the fastening receiving openings (8) by means of the uniform guide surface (12) extending in the pressing direction and the belonging guide surface (13).

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the fastening extension (5) and the fastening receiving opening (8) of the stator (3) are designed such that the fastening extension (5) can press its contact surface (9) at different locations against the contact surface (10) of the boundary of the fastening receiving opening (8).

8. The method of claim 7, wherein during pressing of the fastening extensions (5), the fastening extensions (5) establish a positive engagement with the boundary of the respective fastening receiving openings (8) in a direction parallel to the plane of the contact surfaces (10, 19) and perpendicular to the rotation axis (R) of the electrode roller (4), and the positions are set by the clamping members (11).

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the clamping members (11) are pressed against the fastening extension (5) of the stator (3) by means of clamping screws (14) fastened in the welding arm (2), for pressing the fastening extension (5) onto the belonging contact surfaces (10, 19) formed thereon by means of the contact surface (9).

10. The method of claim 1, wherein one of the opposing limiting walls (7) of the receiving opening (6) of the roller head (1) is formed by a component (17) that can be temporarily removed from a body (18) of the welding arm (2), the limiting walls (7) forming the fastening receiving opening (8) of the fastening extension (5) of the stator (3) of the roller head (1), and the body forming the other of the two limiting walls (7) for the receiving opening (6) of the roller head (1), in particular showing a direction opposite to the axis of rotation (R) of the electrode roller (4); Furthermore, the component (17) is temporarily removed to place the roller head (1) in the receiving opening (6), and one fastening extension (5) of the stator (3) of the roller head (1) is placed inside the fastening receiving opening (8) formed by the side wall (7) of the body (18), and the other fastening extension (5) of the stator (3) is placed inside the fastening receiving opening (8) formed by the side wall (7) of the body (18), and then reinstalled after the roller head is inserted into the body (18).

11. An arrangement comprising a welding arm (2) for a resistance seam welding machine and a roller head (1) fastened thereon, wherein the roller head (1) has a stator (3) and an electrode roller (4), the electrode roller (4) being rotatably supported on the stator (3) about a rotation axis (R) as a rotor, and wherein the stator (3) protrudes above the electrode roller (4) on both sides of the electrode roller (4) in the direction of the rotation axis (R) by fastening extensions (5); wherein the welding arm (2) has a receiving opening (6) for the roller head (1), the receiving opening being formed between two, in particular parallel, mutually facing limiting walls (7), the limiting walls themselves having fastening receiving openings (8) for the fastening extensions (5) of the stator (3) of the roller head (1); The roller head (1) is arranged inside the receiving opening (6) such that the electrode roller (4) protrudes out of the outside of the receiving opening (6) with a portion of its circumferential boundary and the fastening extensions (5) are disposed inside the fastening receiving openings (8); the roller head (1) is fastened to the welding arm (2) by pressing each of the fastening extensions (5) of the stator (3) with a uniform contact surface (9) formed thereon against a corresponding contact surface (10, 19) inside the boundary of the respective fastening receiving opening (8); The contact surface (9) and the belonging contact surface (10) of the fastening extension (5) of the stator (3) have supply and discharge openings (15, 16) for a cooling medium, and the fastening extension (5) of the stator (3) is configured and fastened in the fastening receiving opening (8) of the fastening extension (5) in such a way that each of the supply and discharge openings (15, 16) at least partially overlaps, and each of the fastening extensions (5) of the stator (3) is pressed by a clamp (11) received in the respective fastening receiving opening (8) so that its contact surface (9) is in close contact with the belonging contact surfaces (10, 19).

12. As requested in 11, wherein the home contact surface (19) is provided by an adapter configuration (20) disposed inside the respective fastening receiving opening (8), the adapter itself being pressed with a contact surface (21) formed thereon against a home contact surface (10) formed by the boundary of the respective fastening receiving opening (8).

13. As requested in Item 11, wherein each of the belonging contact surfaces (10) is provided by the boundary of the respective fastening receiving opening (8).

14. As requested in claim 13, wherein the contact surface (9) and the associated contact surfaces (10, 19) of the fastening extension (5) of the stator (3) extend in a plurality of planes parallel to the axis of rotation (R) of the electrode roller (4) and, in particular, perpendicular to one of the longitudinal axes (L) of the welding arm (2).

15. As in any of the requests 13 to 14, wherein the fastening receiving opening (8) is circumferentially closed.

16. As requested in claim 15, wherein the clamping members (11) are guided through the boundary of the fastening receiving opening (8) and are able to move in the clamping direction.

17. As configured in request item 16, where, For guiding and being able to move in the clamping direction, the clamping members (11) are adjacent to the boundary of the fastening receiving opening (8) by means of the uniform guide surface (12) extending in the pressing direction and the belonging guide surface (13).

18. The configuration as requested in claim 17, wherein each clamping member (11) engages one of the fastening extensions (5) of the stator (3) from a side facing the contact surface (9).

19. As requested in claim 18, wherein the fastening extension (5) and the fastening receiving opening (8) of the stator (3) are designed such that the fastening extension (5) can press its contact surface (9) at different locations against the contact surface (10) of the boundary of the fastening receiving opening (8).

20. The configuration as claimed in claim 19, wherein during pressing of the fastening extensions (5), the fastening extensions (5) establish a positive engagement with the boundary of the respective fastening receiving opening (8) in a direction parallel to the plane of the contact surfaces (10, 19) and perpendicular to the rotation axis (R) of the electrode roller (4), and the positions are set by the clamping members (11).

21. As requested in claim 20, wherein the axis of rotation (R) of the electrode roller (4) is at different distances to a plurality of planes, and the uniform guide surface (12) extending in the pressing direction of the clamping members (11) runs in the planes.

22. The configuration as requested in claim 21, wherein the clamping members (11) are formed in such a way that they can be installed in two different locations, for optionally positioning the contact surface (9) of the fastening extension (5) of the stator (3) on the contact surface (10) of the boundary of the fastening receiving opening (8) in the two different locations.

23. As requested in claim 22, each of the fastening extensions (5) of the stator (3) has a circular cross-section that, as seen from the direction of the axis of rotation (R) of the electrode roller (4), has a flattening effect that forms the contact surface (9).

24. The configuration of claim 23, wherein the clamping members (11) are pressed against the fastening extension (5) of the stator (3) by means of clamping screws (14) fastened in the welding arm (2), for pressing the contact surface (9) formed thereon against the belonging contact surface (10) at the boundary of the fastening receiving opening (8).

25. As requested in claim 11, wherein the seal (24) for sealing at least partially overlapping supply and discharge openings (15, 16) toward the outside is disposed in the contact surface (10) of the fastening receiving openings (8).

26. As in claim 25, wherein one of the mutually facing limiting walls (7) of the receiving opening (6) of the roller head (1) is formed by a component (17) that can be temporarily removed from a body (18) of the welding arm (2), the limiting walls (7) forming the fastening receiving opening (8) of the fastening extension (5) of the stator (3) of the roller head (1) for the purpose of installing or removing the roller head (11), and the body forming the other of the two limiting walls (7) for the receiving opening (6) of the roller head (1).

27. An application of a configuration as described in any of claims 11 to 26 for resistance welding of longitudinal seams of a container body.

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