CONTROL UNIT FOR WELDING AND/OR CUTTING SYSTEMS AND SYSTEM PROVIDED WITH SAID CONTROL.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns the field of welding and/or cutting systems. More specifically, the present invention concerns the field of control units for welding and/or cutting systems. More specifically, the present invention concerns a wireless control unit for welding and/or cutting systems. Even more specifically, the present invention concerns a wireless control unit for welding and/or cutting systems and for the management of the signal designed to activate the LCD filter in eye protection shields for the operators of said systems.

PRIOR ART

Several control systems for welding and/or cutting systems are known in the art. The welding and/or cutting systems of the known type essentially comprise a generator and a welding and/or cutting torch suited to be connected to the generator. The torch is the part of the system that can be handled by the operator and is provided with an actuator button that, once activated, makes it possible to carry out the welding and/or cutting operation on the workpiece.

The system is also preferably equipped with a cooling circuit and/or a circuit suited to convey a protective gas, depending on the welding technology actually used for the welding and/or cutting process, for example technology of the MMA, TIG, MIG/MAG type, plasma or electrode technology, with or without protective gas.

The systems of the known type furthermore include a shield designed to protect the operator’s eyes, preferably a shield provided with an LCD filter that can be activated at the moment when the welding and/or cutting operation is performed. The known systems pose some drawbacks.

A first drawback is related to the difficulty of managing the signals that control the various parts of the system following the activation of the actuator button. Another drawback is constituted by the overall dimensions of said systems, which are complicated by the presence of power cables and cables for communication with the other components of the welding system.

A further drawback is constituted by the cost of these systems.

It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a welding and/or cutting system comprising a control unit that resolves, at least partially, the problems mentioned above. More specifically, it is an object of the present invention to provide a welding and/or cutting system in which the control unit makes it possible to reduce the complexity inherent to the management of the signals generated when it is activated.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a welding and/or cutting system in which the control unit makes it possible to reduce the complexity inherent to the construction of the system.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a welding and/or cutting system that makes it possible to reduce production and/or maintenance costs.

SUMMARY

The present invention intends to provide a welding and/or cutting system equipped with a control unit comprising a power supply unit constituted by an electric energy generator.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, the subject of the same is a welding and/or cutting system comprising a generator, a welding and/or cutting torch, a control unit and an actuator unit suited to be activated by an operator in order to carry out a welding and/or cutting operation through the activation of said generator, wherein said actuator unit comprises:

- a movable actuator element suited to be activated by said operator;

- first generation means suited to generate a signal and activated by said movable element;

- a wireless signal transmission unit;

- a power supply unit suited to power said transmission unit, said power supply unit comprising an electric energy generator.

Preferably, the electric energy generator comprises an induction generator.

Preferably, the electric energy generator transforms the mechanical energy deriving from the movement of the movable element into electric energy.

Preferably, the electric energy generator transforms the mechanical energy deriving from the movement of the movable element, which creates a magnetic flow variation in a winding, into electric energy.

Preferably, the electric energy generated in the form of a voltage pulse is preferably rectified and made available to a voltage regulator, so that it can be used as power supply voltage for said wireless signal transmission unit.

Preferably, the system furthermore comprises a protection unit for the operator, comprising a protection shield, preferably an LCD filter. Preferably, the protection unit can be activated through an activation signal.

Preferably, the protection unit comprises a wireless signal reception unit.

Preferably, the first generation means are activated by the movable element during its movement, in such a way as to generate a first signal.

Preferably, the first signal generated by the control unit corresponds to an activation signal designed to activate the protection unit.

Preferably, the control unit comprises second generation means suited to generate a signal and activated by the movable element, wherein the first generation means and the second generation means are activated in sequence by the movable element during its movement, in such a way that the second generation means generate a second signal with a predetermined delay with respect to a first signal generated by the first generation means.

Preferably, the first generation means comprise a first switch and/or the second generation means comprise a second switch.

Preferably, the first switch is activated at the end of a first stroke of the movable element and the second switch is activated at the end of a second stroke of the movable element, said second stroke being longer than said first stroke.

Preferably, the first stroke defines the extent of the movement of the movable element from its rest position to the position of activation of the first switch and the second stroke defines the extent of the movement of the movable element from its rest position to the position of activation of the second switch.

Preferably, the first signal and the second signal are generated by the first generation means and by the second generation means, respectively, during the movement of the movable element in a first activation direction.

Preferably, the second generation means and the first generation means are activated in sequence by the movable element during its movement in a second release direction opposite the first activation direction, in such a way that the first generation means generate a fourth signal with a predetermined delay with respect to a third signal generated by the second generation means.

Preferably, the first switch and/or the second switch comprise a mechanical switch.

Preferably, the first switch and/or the second switch comprise a magnetic switch. Preferably, the movable element comprises a lever.

Preferably, the first signal generated by the control unit corresponds to a signal designed to activate the protection unit and the second signal generated by the control unit corresponds to a signal designed to activate the generator, wherein the protection unit comprises wireless signal transmission/reception means and the generator comprises wireless signal transmission/reception means.

Preferably, the power supply unit is not provided with batteries and/or external power supply devices.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the same concerns an actuator unit suited to be activated by an operator of a welding and/or cutting system, wherein said actuator unit comprises:

- a movable actuator element suited to be activated by said operator;

- first generation means suited to generate a signal and activated by said movable element;

- a wireless signal transmission unit;

- a power supply unit suited to power said transmission unit, said power supply unit comprising an electric energy generator.

Preferably, the electric energy generator comprises an induction generator.

Preferably, the electric energy generator transforms the mechanical energy deriving from the movement of the movable element into electric energy.

Preferably, the electric energy generator transforms the mechanical energy deriving from the movement of the movable element, which creates a magnetic flow variation in a winding, into electric energy.

Preferably, the electric energy generated in the form of a voltage pulse is preferably rectified and made available to a voltage regulator, so that it can be used as power supply voltage for said wireless signal transmission unit.

Preferably, the first generation means are activated by the movable element during its movement, in such a way as to generate a first signal.

Preferably, the unit comprises second generation means suited to generate a signal and activated by the movable element, wherein the first generation means and the second generation means are activated in sequence by the movable element during its movement, in such a way that the second generation means generate a second signal with a predetermined delay with respect to a first signal generated by the first generation means.

Preferably, the first generation means comprise a first switch and/or the second generation means comprise a second switch.

Preferably, the first switch is activated at the end of a first stroke of the movable element and the second switch is activated at the end of a second stroke of the movable element, said second stroke being longer than said first stroke.

Preferably, the first stroke defines the extent of the movement of the movable element from its rest position to the position of activation of the first switch and the second stroke defines the extent of the movement of the movable element from its rest position to the position of activation of the second switch.

Preferably, the first signal and the second signal are generated by the first generation means and by the second generation means, respectively, during the movement of the movable element in a first activation direction.

Preferably, the second generation means and the first generation means are activated in sequence by the movable element during its movement in a second release direction opposite the first activation direction, in such a way that the first generation means generate a fourth signal with a predetermined delay with respect to a third signal generated by the second generation means.

Preferably, the first switch and/or the second switch comprise a mechanical switch.

Preferably, the first switch and/or the second switch comprise a magnetic switch. Preferably, the movable element comprises a lever.

Preferably, the power supply unit is not provided with batteries and/or external power supply devices.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further advantages, objects and characteristics, as well as further embodiments of the present invention, are defined in the claims and will be illustrated in the following description, with reference to the enclosed drawings; in the drawings, corresponding or equivalent characteristics and/or components of the present invention are identified by the same reference numbers. In particular, in the drawings:

- Figure 1 shows a schematic view of a welding and/or cutting system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

- Figure 1A shows an element of the system shown in Figure 1 isolated from the rest;

- Figure 2 shows another element of the system shown in Figure 1 isolated from the rest;

- Figure 3 shows the element of Figure 2 in a specific operating position;

- Figure 4 shows the trend of some signals related to the operation of the system of Figure 1; - Figure 5 shows a variant embodiment of the system of Figure 1 ;

- Figure 5 A shows an element of the system shown in Figure 5 isolated from the rest;

- Figure 6 shows an enlarged detail of the system of Figure 5;

- Figure 7 shows an exploded view of the detail shown in Figure 6;

- Figure 8 shows another variant embodiment of the system of Figure 1 ;

- Figure 8 A shows an element of the system shown in Figure 8 isolated from the rest;

- Figure 9 shows an enlarged detail of the system of Figure 8;

- Figure 10 shows an exploded view of the detail shown in Figure 9;

- Figure 11 shows the trend of some signals related to the operation of the system of Figure 8;

- Figure 12 shows a detail of a variant embodiment of the system of Figure 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention is described here below with reference to specific embodiments illustrated in the attached drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments illustrated in the following detailed description and represented in the figures; rather, the embodiments described simply exemplify the various aspects of the present invention, the scope of which is defined in the claims. Further modifications and variants of the present invention will be clear for the expert in the art.

Figure 1 shows a schematic view of a welding and/or cutting system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The welding and/or cutting system according to the present invention may comprise welding machines using technology of the MMA, TIG, MIG/MAG type, plasma or electrode technology, with or without protective gas. Here below, we make reference to a welding system for the sake of simplicity, but what is explained applies also to a cutting system.

The welding system 1 shown in the figure preferably comprises a generator 4, a welding torch 10 (or cutting torch in cutting systems) and a control unit 6.

The welding system 1 furthermore comprises an actuator unit 50 designed to be activated by the operator in order to carry out a welding operation (or cutting operation in the case of cutting systems) through the activation of said generator 4.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 1, the actuator unit 50 is represented as a single unit, preferably a unit that can be activated by the operator with his/her foot, or a pedal.

The operator, as described in greater detail below, activates the actuator unit 50 with his/her foot to carry out the welding operation on the element to be welded M.

The generator 4 is preferably connected to a cylinder containing a protective gas for welding and/or to a cooling circuit (not illustrated).

An earth cable 5 connects the generator 4 to the element to be welded M, while a connection element 40 connects the generator 4 to the torch 10.

The connection element 40 preferably comprises a connector 30, a cable bundle 11, pipes for the passage of water, if there is a cooling circuit for cooling the torch 10, and pipes for the passage of pressurized air, in the case of a plasma cutting torch, or for the passage of a protective gas or gas mixture, if the welding system is designed for the use of the latter.

The cable bundle 11 connects the torch 10 to the connector 30 and the connector 30 connects the cable bundle 11, and thus the torch 10, to the generator 4. The cable bundle 1 1 comprises one or more power cables for the torch 10, not illustrated in the figure.

The earth cable 5, closing the circuit constituted by the generator 4, the torch 10 and the element to be welded M, allows the start of the welding operations, in particular the striking of the welding arc 12.

In the embodiment illustrated in the figure, the control unit 6 is mounted inside the generator 4. The control unit can also be arranged outside the generator and connected to it through a connector. In this case, the control unit can be powered by means of batteries or through the power mains (not illustrated).

Alternatively, the control unit 6 can be mounted in any other position deemed suitable, for example in/on the grip of the torch 10. In this last case, the power supply system for the control unit can be constituted, for example, by one or more rechargeable or non-rechargeable batteries, or equivalent power supply means (not illustrated).

The control unit 6 preferably comprises first wireless signal transmission/reception means 7.

The first transmission/reception means 7 preferably comprise a radio frequency unit. Preferably, said radio frequency unit is of the Bluetooth® or ZigBee or Enocean type. In a preferred variant embodiment, the first transmission/reception means 7 preferably comprise an infrared unit.

The first transmission/reception means 7 allow data and/or information to be transferred to the other components of the welding system 1 and/or to any other external device comprising Bluetooth® or ZigBee or Enocean technology, for example a tablet or a similar device.

According to the embodiment illustrated, the welding system 1 comprises a protection unit 20 comprising a protective helmet 22 designed to be worn by the operator while welding. As better illustrated in Figure 1A, the protection unit 20, furthermore, comprises a protection shield 24, preferably an LCD filter, and second wireless signal transmission/reception means 26.

The protection unit 20, furthermore, preferably comprises optical sensors 28 designed to detect the light intensity in the spectrum of visible light and of infrared light.

The second transmission/reception means 26 preferably comprise a radio frequency unit. Preferably, said radio frequency unit is of the Bluetooth® type. The second transmission/reception means 26 allow data and/or information to be transferred from the protection unit 20 to the other components of the welding system and/or to any other external device comprising Bluetooth® or ZigBee or Enocean technology, for example a tablet, gateway or a similar device. For example, the second transmission/reception means 26 allow data and/or information to be transferred from or towards the first transmission/reception means 7.

The protection unit 20 preferably comprises a power supply unit (not shown). The power supply unit preferably comprises rechargeable or non-rechargeable batteries and/or solar cells.

The protection unit 20 is suited to protect the operator’s eyes from the dangerous radiation produced by the welding arc 12 during the welding operations. This is obtained by conveniently darkening the protection shield 24.

The LCD filter is preferably constituted by several layers comprising Polaroid sheets, glass and LCD. An LCD filter provides for filtering and attenuating light at certain wavelengths and, by changing the control voltage Vc applied to it, it is possible to vary the degree of filtering/attenuation of light for the different wavelengths, in particular for the wavelengths in the visible spectrum. The degree of darkening (darkening means the filtering and/or attenuation of radiation at a certain wavelength) ensured by an LCD filter is measured in DIN degrees. According to an advantageous aspect of the present invention, as shown in Figure 2, the actuator unit 50 comprises a movable actuator element 52 suited to be activated by the operator, first generation means 54 suited to generate a signal S, a control unit 60 for the acquisition of the signal S generated by the first generation means 54, transmission means 62 suited to transmit wireless signals and a power supply unit 64.

The movable actuator element 52 preferably comprises a lever 52 suited to be rotated around its fulcrum.

In variant embodiments, said movable element can be made in a different way, for example it can be a linear button.

The transmission means 62 preferably communicate with the first transmission/reception means 7 of the control unit 6 and with the second transmission/reception means 26 of the protection unit 20.

The transmission means 62 preferably comprise a radio frequency unit. Preferably, said radio frequency unit is of the Bluetooth® or ZigBee or Enocean type.

In a preferred variant embodiment, the first transmission/reception means 62 preferably comprise an infrared unit.

According to an aspect of the invention, the power supply unit 64, or self- powering unit, preferably comprises an electric energy generator, more preferably an induction generator.

Said electric energy generator advantageously transforms the mechanical energy deriving from the movement of the movable element 52 into electric energy.

In a preferred embodiment, the electric energy generator 64 transforms the mechanical energy deriving from the movement of the movable element 52, which causes a magnetic flow variation in a winding, into electric energy.

Preferably, the electric energy generated in the form of a voltage pulse is rectified and made available to a voltage regulator, so that it can be used as power supply voltage.

More specifically, during the activation of the movable element 52 a voltage pulse is generated that is capable of supplying power to the control unit 60 and the transmission means 62. Preferably, during the activation of the movable element 52 a voltage pulse is generated, which is rectified and made available to a voltage regulator for the purpose of supplying power to the control unit 60 and the transmission means 62.

Analogously, during the release of the movable element 52 a voltage pulse is generated that is capable of supplying power to the control unit 60 and the transmission means 62.

Preferably, during the release of the movable element 52 a voltage pulse is generated, which is rectified and made available to a voltage regulator for the purpose of supplying power to the control unit 60 and the transmission means 62. The first generation means 54 are preferably shaped in such a way that they can be activated by the movable element 52 during its movement.

According to the preferred embodiment of the actuator unit 50 shown in Figure 2, the first generation means 54 comprise a first switch 54a. Preferably, the first switch 54a is a switch of the mechanical type.

The first switch 54a is activated by contact at the end of a first stroke of the movable element 52 (as shown in Figure 3).

In variant embodiments, the switch and its activation may be of a different type, for example a reed magnetic switch or a Hall effect switch.

In a preferred embodiment related to the trend of the signals of Figure 4, following the activation of the first switch 54a, the actuator unit 50 generates a pulse signal S that is transmitted by the transmission means 62.

The signal S preferably comprises informative content (data/bytes) related to the operation of activation of the first switch 54a.

The signal S is received by the protection unit 20 through the second transmission/reception means 26. Said signal S is processed to define a signal SI for the darkening of the protection screen 24 and, if necessary, for other actions intended to modify the filter parameters, for example the increase/decrease of sensitivity/DIN degrees.

The same signal S is received through the first transmission/reception means 7 of the control unit 6. Said signal S is processed to define a second signal S2 intended to activate the generator 4 for the generation of the welding arc 12 at the level of the torch 10. The second signal S2 is advantageously generated by the control unit 6 after the introduction of a predetermined delay DT, as shown in Figure 4.

Advantageously, thanks to the delay DT between the first signal SI and the second signal S2, the activation of the generator 4 with the generation of the arc 12 takes place with a predetermined delay, for example a delay DT of 15 tenths of a second, with respect to the activation of the protection unit 20 and in particular with respect to the darkening of the protection shield 24. This ensures that at the moment of the beginning of the welding operation with the striking of the arc 12 the protective action for the operator’s eyes is active.

The welding step then continues with the protection unit 20 and the generator 4 activated until the movable element 52 of the actuator unit 50 is released (release of the pedal).

Following the release of the first switch 54a, the actuator unit 50 generates a pulse signal S’ that is transmitted by the transmission means 62.

The signal S’ preferably comprises informative contents (data/bytes) related to the operation of release of the first switch 54a.

The signal S’ is received through the first transmission/reception means 7 of the control unit 6. Said signal S’ is processed to generate a third signal S3 intended to stop the generator 4 for the purpose of interrupting the welding arc 12.

The same signal S’ is received also by the protection unit 20 through the second transmission/reception means 26. Said signal S’ is processed to generate a fourth signal S4 intended to deactivate the protection unit 20. The fourth signal S4 is advantageously generated after the introduction of a predetermined delay DT. Advantageously, it is ensured that the protection unit 20 is deactivated once the welding arc 12 has been interrupted, thus guaranteeing that the operator’s eyes are protected, for example with a delay DT’ of 20-30 milliseconds.

In a variant embodiment of the invention, following the activation of the first switch 54a, the actuator unit 50 itself generates two pulse signals SI, S2 in sequence, one of which is delayed with respect to the other (for example, generating the two signals SI and S2 as illustrated in Figure 4, one with a delay DT with respect to the other).

The first signal S is transmitted by the transmission means 62 and received by the protection unit 20 through the second transmission/reception means 26. Said signal SI is processed to define a corresponding signal for the darkening of the protection shield 24.

The second signal S2 is transmitted by the transmission means of the actuator unit 50 and received through the first transmission/reception means 7 of the control unit 6. Said signal S is processed to generate a corresponding signal intended to activate the generator 4 for the generation of the welding arc 12 at the level of the torch 10. Advantageously, and analogously to what has been described above, thanks to the delay DT between the first signal SI and the second signal S2 introduced directly by the actuator unit 50, the activation of the generator 4 with the generation of the arc 12 takes place with a predetermined delay, for example a delay DT of 15 tenths of a second, with respect to the activation of the protection unit 20 and in particular with respect to the darkening of the protection shield 24. This ensures that at the moment of the beginning of the welding operation with the striking of the arc 12 the protective action for the operator’s eyes is active.

In a further variant embodiment of the invention, following the activation of the first switch 54a, the actuator unit 50 generates a pulse signal S”.

The second signal S” is transmitted by the transmission means 62 of the actuator unit 50 and received through the first transmission/reception means 7 of the control unit 6. Said signal S” is transmitted by the control unit 6 to the protection unit 20 through the first transmission/reception means 7. The signal received by the protection unit 20 is processed to define a corresponding signal for the darkening of the protection shield 24.

Following the darkening step, the protection unit 20 sends the control unit 6 a signal indicating that the darkening step has been completed.

The control unit 6, which receives said signal indicating that the darkening step has been completed, can generate a signal intended to activate the generator 4 for the generation of the welding arc 12 at the level of the torch 10.

In this way, it is ensured that the generation of the welding arc 12 takes place after the darkening of the shield 24.

Therefore, according to the above, the generation and the management of the signals guarantee that the operator is never exposed to the light intensity of the arc.

Furthermore, to advantage, the presence of wireless transmission devices makes it possible to avoid the presence of buttons and/or signal cables between the generator 4 and the torch 10, reducing the complexity and the size of the cable bundle 1 1 compared to the systems of the known type, ensuring that the torch 10 is easier to handle, simplifying the assembly process of the cable bundle 11 and/or of the torch 10, reducing the failures due to the breakage of the cables during normal use.

It should also be stated that a further embodiment of the actuator unit, in addition to including the primary function of darkening of the shield before the striking of the welding arc as just described above, may also be provided with further signal generation means, for example a selector or one or more switches and/or one or more buttons located on the actuator unit itself. On activation of said further signal generation means, the content of the signal S in data/bytes is diversified, in such a way that it can be interpreted by the receiving control unit and that the same is allowed, in turn, to generate the signal S 1 for the purpose of carrying out secondary functions such as the adjustment of system parameters, for example the increase/decrease of the welding current, the increase/decrease of the DIN darkening degree of the protection shield.

To advantage, thanks to the presence of an independent energy generator, the actuator unit carried out according to the invention does not make use of batteries or other external power sources. Still to advantage, by avoiding the use of specific batteries, the actuator unit carried out according to the invention reduces the costs related to the use of the product during its life as well as its environmental impact.

In a further embodiment of the actuator unit 50, schematically shown in Figure 12 and related in particular to applications in welding systems of the TIG type, the actuator unit 50 can be configured in such a way that it can be activated with one’s hand and/or fingers (for example, the left hand). In this embodiment, the actuator unit 50 can be coupled with the“filler rod” B used with the weld material, in such a way as to allow the operator to start the welding machine and add the weld material using one hand only (for example, the left hand). In this embodiment, the welding torch 10 can be without controls and can be comfortably handled by the operator with the other hand (for example, the right hand).

According to a further aspect, the actuator unit 50 preferably introduces in each signal transmitted, for example the activation signal S or the release signal S’ described above, a univocal identification code, for example a pre-programmed code, which may consist of one or more bytes, or a byte packet, or even a single bit.

The protection unit 20 and the control unit 6 of the generator 4 will be provided with a special function that makes it possible to associate/store said identification code of the actuator unit 50 in such a way as to be able to decode only the signals S, S’ transmitted by that specific actuator unit 50 (and not by any other actuator units of other systems located nearby). According to another aspect of the actuator unit, the same contains a communication interface of the NFC (near field communication) type, which makes it possible to carry out maintenance, reprogramming or customized authorization operations through a special device, for example a smart device, a tablet, a mobile phone.

Figure 5 shows a variant embodiment 101 of the system that is the subject of the invention.

Said embodiment differs from the embodiment illustrated and described with reference to Figure 1 in that the actuator unit 150, better illustrated in Figures 6 and 7, is not in the shape of a pedal but is associated with/built in the torch 110 and is advantageously suited to be activated by the operator with his/her hand and/or fingers.

The component parts equivalent to those present in the preferred embodiment described above are identified by the same reference numbers.

The actuator unit 150 comprises a movable actuator element 52 suited to be activated by the operator, first generation means 54 suited to generate a signal S, a control unit 60 for the acquisition of the signal S generated by the first generation means 54, transmission means 62 suited to transmit wireless signals and a power supply unit 64.

The movable actuator element 52 preferably comprises a lever 52 suited to be rotated around its fulcrum.

The operation of said system 101 and of the actuator unit 150 is the same as described above with reference to Figures from 1 to 4, with the only difference that the movable element 52 is activated by the hand and/or fingers of the operator instead of by his/her foot.

Therefore, also this embodiment offers the advantages and achieves the objects described above.

It should be noted that in a preferred embodiment the actuator unit 150 can be made in such a way as to be integral with the torch 110.

In a variant embodiment, the actuator unit 150 can be made as an independent unit suited to be applied, for example snap-fitted, into a suitable seat 110a provided in the torch 1 10, as shown for example in Figure 7. This facilitates the maintenance and/or replacement operations required by the actuator unit 150. Figure 8 shows a schematic view of a welding and/or cutting system 201 according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention. The component parts equivalent to those present in the preferred embodiment described above are identified by the same reference numbers.

The welding system 201 shown in the figure preferably comprises a generator 4, a welding torch 210 (or cutting torch in cutting systems) and a control unit 6.

The welding system 1 furthermore comprises an actuator unit 250 designed to be activated by the operator in order to carry out a welding operation (or cutting operation in the case of cutting systems) through the activation of said generator 4.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 8, the actuator unit 250 is preferably associated with the torch 210 and can be activated by the operator with his/her hand and/or fingers in order to carry out the welding operation on the element to be welded M.

The generator 4 is preferably connected to a cylinder containing a protective gas for welding and/or to a cooling circuit (not illustrated).

An earth cable 5 connects the generator 4 to the element to be welded M, while a connection element 40 connects the generator 4 to the torch 210.

The connection element 40 preferably comprises a connector 30, a cable bundle 11, pipes for the passage of water, if there is a cooling circuit for cooling the torch 210, and pipes for the passage of pressurized air, in the case of a plasma cutting torch, or for the passage of a protective gas or gas mixture, if the welding system is designed for the use of the latter.

The cable bundle 11 connects the torch 210 to the connector 30 and the connector 30 connects the cable bundle 11, and thus the torch 210, to the generator 4. The cable bundle 11 comprises one or more control cables 1 1a suited to activate the generator 4 and connected to the actuator unit 250. Advantageously, the cable bundle 11 is without power cables for the actuator unit 250.

By closing the circuit constituted by the generator 4, the torch 210 and the element to be welded M, the earth cable 5 allows the start of the welding operations.

In the embodiment illustrated in the figure, the control unit 6 is mounted inside the generator 11.

According to the embodiment illustrated, the welding system 1 comprises a protection unit 20 comprising a protective helmet 22 designed to be worn by the operator while welding, as better illustrated in Figure 8A.

The description provided with reference to the previous embodiments applies to the protection unit 20.

In this embodiment and as shown in Figure 9, the actuator unit 250 comprises a movable actuator element 52 suited to be activated by the operator, first generation means 54 suited to generate a first signal SI, as shown in Figure 11, a control unit 60 for the acquisition of the first signal SI generated by the first generation means 54, transmission means 62 suited to transmit wireless signals and a power supply unit 64.

The transmission means 62 preferably communicate with the transmission/reception means 26 of the protection unit 20.

The movable actuator element 52 preferably comprises a lever 52 suited to be rotated around its fulcrum.

In variant embodiments, said movable element can be made in a different manner, for example it can be a linear push button, as better illustrated also below with reference to preferred variant embodiments.

The description provided with reference to the previous embodiments applies to the construction of the transmission means 62 and the power supply unit 64.

More specifically, during the activation of the movable element 52 a voltage pulse is generated that is capable of supplying power to the control unit 60 and to the transmission means 62 for the transmission of the first signal SI to the protection unit 20.

Analogously, during the release of the movable element 52 a voltage pulse is generated that is capable of supplying power to the control unit 60 and to the transmission means 60 for the transmission of a release signal S4 to the protection unit 20.

The actuator unit 250 comprises also second generation means 56 suited to generate a second signal S2. The second generation means 56 communicate with the control cables 11a designed to activate the generator 4.

According to an aspect of this embodiment, the first generation means 54 and the second generation means 56 are configured in such a way that they can be activated in sequence by the movable element 52 during its movement, in such a way that the second signal S2 is generated with a delay DT with respect to the first signal SI (as indicated in Figure 11).

In a preferred embodiment based on the system 201 shown in Figure 8 and described, the first signal SI is acquired by the control unit 60 and transmitted to the protection unit 20 through the transmission means 62. The second signal S2, with the delay DT, instead, is acquired by the control unit 6 of the generator through the control cables 11a.

The first signal S 1 preferably comprises informative contents (data/bytes) related to the operation of activation of the first switch 54a.

The first signal SI is received by the protection unit 20 through the second transmission/reception means 26. Said first signal S is processed to define a signal SI for the darkening of the protection shield 24 and, if necessary, for other actions intended to modify the filter parameters, for example the increase/decrease of sensitivity /DIN degrees.

It should also be stated that a further embodiment of the actuator unit, in addition to including the primary function of darkening of the shield before the striking of the welding arc as just described above, may also be provided with further signal generation means, for example a selector or one or more switches and/or one or more buttons located on the actuator unit itself. On activation of said further signal generation means, the contents of the signal S in data/bytes is diversified, in such a way that it can be interpreted by the receiving control unit and that the same is allowed, in turn, to generate the signal S 1 for the purpose of carrying out secondary functions such as the adjustment of system parameters, for example the increase/decrease of the welding current, the increase/decrease of the DIN darkening degree of the protection shield.

Advantageously, thanks to the delay DT introduced between the first signal SI and the second signal S2 by the actuator unit 250, the activation of the generator 4 with the generation of the arc 12 takes place with a predetermined delay, for example a delay DT of 15 hundredths of a second, with respect to the activation of the protection unit 20 and in particular with respect to the darkening of the protection shield 24. This ensures that at the moment of the beginning of the welding operation with the striking of the arc 12 the protective action for the operator’s eyes is active.

Therefore, the management of the two signals SI, S2 takes place directly and in a simple manner through the actuator unit 250, which automatically generates the two signals S 1 , S2 in sequence with the desired predetermined delay DT.

According to the preferred embodiment illustrated in Figure 9, the first generation means 54 comprise a first switch 54a and the second generation means 56 comprise a second switch 56a. Preferably, the first switch 54a and the second switch 56a are switches of the mechanical type. Preferably, the first switch 54a and the second switch 56a are aligned with respect to the direction of movement of the movable element 52.

The first switch 54a is activated by contact at the end of a first stroke of the movable element 52 and the second switch 56a is activated at the end of a second stroke of the movable element 52, said second stroke being longer than said first stroke.

It should be noted that the expression“first stroke” defines the extent of the movement of the movable element 52 from its rest position to the position of activation of the first switch 54a, and the expression“second stroke” defines the extent of the movement of the movable element 52 from its rest position to the position of activation of the second switch 56a.

In variant embodiments, the switches and their activation may be of a different type, for example reed magnetic switches or Hall effect switches.

Following the activation of the movable element 52, therefore, the welding operation is started, the operator’s eyes being protected by the protection unit 20. During the welding step, the control unit 6 detects that the movable element 52 is active through the control cables l la and consequently manages the system 201 in such a way as to maintain the generator 4 activated for the generation of the arc 12 while the protection unit is active.

This operating condition continues as long as the operator does not release the movable element 52.

When the operator releases the movable element 52 in order to end the welding operation, the second switch 56a and the first switch 54a are deactivated in sequence, with a delay DT’ (essentially corresponding to the delay DT introduced during the activation step). The deactivation of the second switch 56a is indicated in Figure 11 as a third pulse signal S3 and the deactivation of the first switch 54a is indicated as a fourth pulse signal S4.

The control unit 6 that acquires the third signal S3 through the control cables 1 la acts by interrupting the generator 4 and thus the welding arc 12.

The fourth signal S4 preferably comprises informative contents (data/bytes) related to the operation of release of the first switch 54a.

The fourth signal S4 is received by the protection unit 20 through the transmission/reception means 26. Said fourth signal S4 is processed to define a deactivation signal S4 intended to deactivate the protection unit 20.

Advantageously, it is ensured that the protection unit 20 is deactivated once the welding arc 12 has been interrupted, thus guaranteeing that the operator’s eyes are protected.

Therefore, according to the above, the generation and the management of the signals guarantee that the operator is never exposed to the light intensity of the arc.

Furthermore, to advantage, the establishment of wireless transmission between the actuator unit 250 and the protection unit 20 and the presence of an independent electric energy generator make it possible to avoid the presence of power cables for the actuator unit 250 between the generator 4 and the torch 210, reducing the complexity and the size of the cable bundle 11 compared to the systems of the known type, ensuring that the torch 210 is easier to handle, simplifying the assembly process of the cable bundle 11 and/or of the torch 210, reducing the failures due to the breakage of the cables during normal use.

Advantageously, thanks to the presence of an autonomous energy generator, the actuator unit 250 carried out according to the invention does not use batteries or other external energy sources. Still to advantage, by avoiding the use of specific batteries, the actuator unit carried out according to the invention reduces the costs related to the use of the product during its life as well as its environmental impact.

According to a further aspect of the actuator unit 250, the same preferably introduces a univocal identification code, for example a specific byte, preferably programmed in the factory, inside each signal transmitted, for example inside the activation signal S 1 or the release signal S4 described above.

The protection unit 20 will be provided with a special function that makes it possible to associate/store said identification code of the actuator unit 250 in such a way as to be able to decode only the signals SI, S4 generated by that specific actuator unit 250 (and not by any other actuator units of other systems located nearby).

In a preferred variant embodiment, the deactivation of the protection unit is not obtained through a specific deactivation signal but takes place automatically, wherein the protection unit is advantageously provided with optical sensors 28. In this case, the deactivation of the protection unit 20 takes place after the extinction of the welding arc 12, when the optical sensors 28 detect a radiation value that is below a given level.

Preferably, and in order to achieve a higher level of safety, the deactivation of the protection unit 20 depends on the detecting action of said optical sensors 28, while any deactivation signal received, for example the deactivation signal S4, is ignored by the protection unit 20 itself.

It has thus been shown, by means of the preceding detailed description of the embodiments of the present invention illustrated in the drawings, that the present invention makes it possible to achieve the desired objects while at the same time minimizing the drawbacks observed in the known technique.

It should also be noted that, even if the present invention has been illustrated by means of the preceding detailed description of its embodiments represented in the drawings, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and represented in the drawings. On the contrary, all the variants and modifications of the embodiments described and represented herein which are clear and obvious for the experts in the art fall within the scope of the present invention. For example, in the embodiments described above, the signals generated by the actuator unit are used to conveniently control the generator for the generation of the arc and/or the protection unit designed to protect the operator, as extensively described above. However, in variant embodiments an actuator unit according to the invention can be used inside a welding and/or cutting system to generate control signals of any other type. For example, if the system comprises a conveyance unit suited to convey a protective gas or gas mixture for welding, a signal generated by the actuator unit may correspond to an activation signal designed to activate the conveyance unit itself.

Even if the present invention has been illustrated with reference to the embodiments described above, it will be clear to the expert in the art that it is possible to carry out several modifications, changes and improvements of the present invention in the light of the teaching provided above and within the context of the attached drawings, without departing from the subject and scope of protection of the invention.

Consequently, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above but is limited only by the scope of protection defined by the attached claims.