GB1118707A - Welding apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

1,118,707. Welding by pressure. WARREN FASTENER CORP. 12 July, 1965, No. 29544/65. Heading B3R. An apparatus for welding components, such as trim fixing buttons, to sheet metal surfaces, such as automobile body panels, comprises a support 20, having forwardly extending members 28 holding a block 30 on which is mounted a panel sleeve 36. Slidably mounted in the support 20 is an electrode assembly 22 comprising a tubular member 62 having a chuck or collet 64 for holding a button B and an inlet for receiving buttons fed from passages 116, 50, into the tubular member 62 for subsequent delivery to the collet 64 by electrode element 66. The tubular member 62 is connected to a cylinder 56 containing a fluid operated piston 70 for reciprocating the electrode element 66 and a rear member 54 extends rearwardly from the cylinder 56 to bear against a spring biasing member 110 in the support 20. In operation the button B is pressed against the panel P and spring 110 allows the members 62, 56 and 54 to move rearwardly relatively to the support 20 until sleeve 36 abuts the panel P and thereby operating a switch 100, Fig. 1, to pass welding current through the electrode element 66. After the welding operation piston 70 is retracted to allow another button to feed into the member 62 and to be pushed into the collet 64 on return of the piston to its forward position. An electrical control circuit includes relays and time delays to control the sequence of operations and to prevent double welding of a button. The apparatus may be used for resistance welding or a solenoid lifting device may be arranged for the electrode assembly 22 for use in drawn arc capacitor discharge welding.