Wire gripper for a drive unit of a wire feeder
US7026574B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 22, 2003 |
| Grant date | Apr 11, 2006 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 11, 2024 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB23K9/124
- WIPO fieldMachine tools
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A gripping device for a set of pinch rollers used in a wire feeder that supplies a welding operation with a consumable welding wire. The welding wire passes between the pinch rollers whereby the pinch rollers engage the wire with a gripping force and incrementally rotate to control the outflow of the wire to the welding operation. The gripping device has a first member which is displaceable relative to a second member and a spring mechanism extending between the first and second members which has at least a first and a second spring modulus. The spring mechanism produces the gripping force as the first and the second members are displaced toward one another. The gripper urges one roller of the set of pinch rollers toward the other roller of the set to engage the wire and to apply the gripping force. By including a spring with a first and second spring modulus, the gripper can apply a first range of gripping forces with the force produced by the first spring modulus and a second range of gripping forces with the force produced by the second spring modulus.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.