Robin E Longenecker

US Patent:

62957082, Oct 2, 2001

Filed:

May 16, 2000

Appl. No.:

9/571930

Inventors:

Dennis A. Spaid - Mentor OH
James D. Floro - Painesville OH
Robin Longenecker - New Hudson MI

International Classification:

B21B 4504

US Classification:

29 8115

Abstract:

An apparatus and a method are described for dislodging and removing welding slag from the tip of an electric arc welder, particularly a robotically controlled welder. When a torch finishes its welding cycle, it is moved to a designated cleaning point where it is positioned between two positioning blocks. A double lobed cam on the output shaft of a reciprocating air motor turns against a cam follower. The cam causes the cam follower to compress a spring during the lift portion of the cam cycle, and allows the spring to drive the hammer into impact with the tip during the fall portion of the cycle The repeated impact with the tip serves to loosen the slag from the nozzle. The slag then falls and is collected in a basket located beneath the positioning blocks. The motor rotates at a speed of about 200-1000 rpm to move the hammer about 3/16" for a cleaning cycle of about 5-10 seconds. The apparatus also includes a positioning device for training a welding robot to precisely locate the impact area for a given size and shape of welding nozzle tip.