Apparatus and method for selectively changing welding wire
First Claim
1. An apparatus for selectively changing consumable welding wires, comprising:
- a base;
a drive wheel rotatably secured to said base for engaging a consumable welding wire;
a pinch-roller arm pivotally secured to said base ;
a pinch roller rotatably secured to said pinch-roller arm for engaging the consumable welding wire; and
a cylinder assembly, pivotally secured to said base, for moving said pinch-roller arm towards said base, causing the pinch roller to engage and hold the consumable welding wire in driving engagement with the drive wheel.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for selecting a consumable welding wire from a plurality of consumable welding wires. The apparatus has a base, and a drive wheel rotatably supported by the base for engaging a consumable welding wire. A plurality of pinch-roller arms is pivotally secured to the base, and a plurality of pinch rollers is rotatably secured to the plurality of pinch-roller arms. The apparatus also includes a plurality of spring assemblies supported by the base for biasing the plurality of pinch-roller arms. A plurality of pneumatic cylinder assemblies engage the base and the pinch-roller arms for moving the pinch-roller arms relative to the base. A method for selecting any one of a plurality of consumable welding wires comprising pivoting a pinch-roller assembly to cause a rotatable pinch roller to engage and hold a consumable welding wire in driving engagement with a rotatable drive wheel.
52 Citations
36 Claims
-
1. An apparatus for selectively changing consumable welding wires, comprising:
-
a base; a drive wheel rotatably secured to said base for engaging a consumable welding wire; a pinch-roller arm pivotally secured to said base ; a pinch roller rotatably secured to said pinch-roller arm for engaging the consumable welding wire; and a cylinder assembly, pivotally secured to said base, for moving said pinch-roller arm towards said base, causing the pinch roller to engage and hold the consumable welding wire in driving engagement with the drive wheel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. An apparatus for selectively changing consumable welding wires, comprising:
-
a base having a base cavity; a drive wheel disposed in said base cavity and rotatably supported by said base for engaging a consumable welding wire; a pinch-roller arm pivotally secured to said base; a pinch roller rotatably secured to said pinch-roller arm for engaging the consumable welding wire; a spring assembly supported by said base for biasing said pinch-roller arm towards said base, causing the pinch roller to engage and hold the consumable welding wire in driving engagement with the drive wheel; and a cylinder assembly supported by said pinch-roller arm for moving said pinch-roller arm away from said base to cause said pinch roller to disengage and release the consumable welding wire from driving engagement with the drive wheel. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
-
-
23. An apparatus for selecting a consumable welding wire from a plurality of consumable welding wires, comprising:
-
a base; a drive wheel rotatably supported by said base for engaging a consumable welding wire; a plurality of pinch-roller arms pivotally secured to said base; a plurality of pinch rollers rotatably secured to said plurality of pinch-roller arms; a plurality of spring assemblies supported by said base for biasing said plurality of pinch-roller arms; and a plurality of cylinder assemblies engaging the base and the plurality of pinch-roller arms for moving the pinch-roller arms relative to the base. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27)
-
-
28. An apparatus for selecting and guiding any one of a plurality of consumable welding wires to a welding wire feeder assembly, comprising:
-
a first welding-wire source of supply having a first consumable welding wire; a second welding-wire source of supply having a second consumable welding wire; a wire changer assembly including a base, a drive wheel rotatably supported by said base for engaging the first consumable welding wire and the second consumable welding wire, a first pinch-roller arm pivotally secured to said base and having a first pinch roller rotatably secured thereto for engaging the first consumable welding wire, a second pinch-roller arm pivotally secured to said base and having a second pinch roller rotatably secured thereto for engaging the second consumable welding wire, a first spring assembly supported by said base for biasing the first pinch-roller arm, a second spring assembly supported by said base for biasing the second pinch-roller arm, a first cylinder releasably engaging said first pinch-roller arm for moving said first pinch-roller arm relative to said base to cause said first pinch roller to releasably engage the first consumable welding wire, a second cylinder releasably engaging said second pinch-roller arm for moving said second pinch-roller arm relative to said base to cause said second pinch roller to releasably engage the second consumable welding wire; an aligning assembly slidably contacting said first consumable welding wire and said second consumable welding wire and capable of passing only one of said first consumable welding wire and said second consumable welding wire; and a welding wire feeder assembly supporting said aligning assembly for receiving only one of said first consumable welding wire and said second consumable welding wire. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32)
-
-
33. A method for selecting any one of a plurality of consumable welding wires comprising the steps of:
-
(a) providing a wire changer assembly having a rotatable drive wheel, a first pinch-roller assembly having a first rotatable pinch roller spaced from said rotatable drive wheel, and a second pinch-roller assembly having a second rotatable pinch roller spaced from said rotatable drive wheel; (b) passing a first consumable welding wire between the rotatable drive wheel and the first rotatable pinch roller of the first pinch-roller assembly; (c) passing a second consumable welding wire between the rotatable drive wheel and the second rotatable pinch roller of the second pinch-roller assembly; and (d) pivoting the first pinch-roller assembly, causing the first rotatable pinch roller to engage and hold the first consumable welding wire in driving engagement with the rotatable drive wheel. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35)
-
-
36. A method for selecting any one of a plurality of consumable welding wires comprising the steps of:
-
(a) providing a wire changer assembly having a rotatable drive wheel, a first pinch-roller assembly having a first pinch roller and being biased for said first pinch roller engaging and holding a first consumable welding wire in driving engagement with said drive wheel, and a second pinch-roller assembly having a second pinch roller and being biased for said second pinch roller engaging and holding a second consumable welding wire in driving engagement with said drive wheel; and (b) pivoting the second pinch-roller assembly, causing the second pinch roller to disengage and release the second consumable welding wire from driving engagement with said drive wheel and allowing the first consumable welding wire to be moved when said drive wheel is rotated.
-
Specification