US009393639B2
`
`(12) United States Patent
`Kaeseler
`
`(10) Patent N0.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 9,393,639 B2
`*Jul. 19, 2016
`
`(54) SPOT WELDING CAP CHANGER
`
`(58) Field of Classification Search
`None
`
`(71) APP1iCam3 002152706 ONTARIO LTD-, OakVi11e
`(CA)
`
`(72)
`
`Inventor: Werner Kaeseler, Baunatal (DE)
`
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`(73) Assignee: 002152706 ONTARIO LTD., Oakville,
`Qmano (CA)
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term Ofthis
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
`
`( >x< ) Notice:
`
`*
`
`_
`_
`7/1973 Kristiansson ........ .. B21D4§;;g49l
`3,745,646 A
`3,755,291 A * 10/1973 Stenfeldt ~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~
`.
`(Contlnued)
`
`This patent is Subject to a terminal dis-
`claimer.
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 14/848,782
`.
`Filed:
`
`Sep. 9, 2015
`
`(22)
`
`CA
`
`DE
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`2395598 A1
`
`8/2001
`
`4/1972
`2048495 A1 *
`(Continued)
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`........... ~ B2113 37/04
`
`(65)
`
`Prior Publication Data
`US 2015/0375333 A1
`Dec. 31, 2015
`
`Canadian Office Action for Canadian Application No. 2,614,533
`Letter of Oct. 26, 2015.
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`
`(commued)
`
`(63)
`
`E/Iontirguaztgilrrlof appl;catticI)\rI1 N3.1164é267039,9261,fifii::d on
`ay.
`’
`.
`’ now . a 1
`0‘
`’
`’
`’ W C
`15 a
`continuation of application No. 13/680,915, filed on
`Nov. 19, 2012, now Pat. No. 8,742,281, which is a
`
`Primary Examiner _ Kiley Stoner
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm — Browdy and Neimark,
`PLLC
`
`continuation of application No. 11/997,131, filed as
`:1;1£iIC,:?O§g\I%' §1C4Tg]§§2006/064417 on Jul' 19’ 2006’
`' " ’
`'
`
`(57)
`ABSTRACT
`The invention relates to a spot welding cap changer (1) with a
`ca
`u er
`an two ca ma azines
`,
`, t e ca
`u er
`ppll 2.d
`p.g'.
`33Ah pp.ll
`
`60>
`Jul. 28, 2005
`Int_ C1_
`)
`
`51
`
`(
`
`(DE) ......................... 10 2005 035 915
`
`323K 9/26
`323K 11/30
`
`(2005.01)
`(2006.01)
`(Continued)
`
`-
`
`-
`-
`(52)USC1
`CPC ........... .. B23K 11/3072 (2013.01); B23K11/11
`(201301), B23K 11/115 (2013.01), B23Q
`3/15573 (2013.01)
`
`m01Vd9meI111t dztélchesda Spgtrwelfiiliflg Cap (Kb) 191" afPi1I11°er.SP0t
`we ing ea
`intro uce
`into it
`rom a s a t o t e pincer
`we ing ea
`in sue
`a way t at it is c ampe to prevent it
`ld'
`h d '
`h
`h
`'
`'
`1
`d
`'
`twisting, and the cap magazines (3, 3A) holding spot welding
`caps respectively in a round cap carrier (31) such that they are
`circularly arranged in a directed and oriented manner
`are
`respectively transported individually one after the other into
`an access ositiona ainsta sto
`ana vancin
`orce
`p "
`g'
`p32 by
`d
`'gf
`
`(p).
`
`60 Claims, 5 Drawing Sheets
`
`
`
`Ex. C&D 1001, page 1
`
`Ex. C&D 1001, page 1
`
`

`
`US 9,393,639 B2
`Page 2
`
`Int. Cl.
`
`(51)
`
`B23Q 3/155
`B23K 11/11
`
`(2006.01)
`(2006.01)
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`4,084,300 A *
`
`4/1978
`
`4,794,221
`4,870,744
`
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`5,387,774
`
`5,495,663
`5,530,218
`5,734,141
`7,353,578
`8,134,356
`2003/0106878
`2003/0201253
`
`12/1988
`* 10/1989
`
`12/1991
`2/1995
`
`3/1996
`6/1996
`3/1998
`4/2008
`3/2012
`6/2003
`10/2003
`
`2005/0023250
`
`A1*
`
`2/2005
`
`Narushima ...... .. B23Q 3/15526
`29/26 A
`Takabe et al.
`Araki
`............... .. B23Q 3/15706
`483/56
`Jackson et al.
`Boyer
`.............. .. B23K 11/3072
`219/117.1
`
`Saito
`Nakamura et al.
`Voilmy et al.
`Nakajima et al.
`Dobberpuhl et al.
`Sundstrom
`Rigaux ............ .. B23K 11/3072
`219/86.8
`............... .. B23K 11/3072
`219/86.8
`
`Izumi
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`....... .. B23K 11/3072
`
`....... .. B23K 11/3072
`
`DE
`DE
`DE
`DE
`DE
`DE
`EP
`FR
`FR
`JP
`JP
`W0
`W0
`
`A1 *
`A1
`C1
`
`A1
`
`A1 *
`A1
`
`3605099
`19905477
`101 24 243
`10124243
`102 22 248
`10222248
`2072170
`2 760 392
`2760392
`2002-79381
`2005111537
`2004/035251
`2004035251
`
`10/1987
`8/2000
`11/2002
`11/2002
`11/2003
`11/2003
`6/2009
`9/1998
`9/1998
`3/2002
`4/2005
`4/2004
`4/2004
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`Changer & Dresser, Inc ., Petition for Inter Parties Review ofU.S. Pat.
`No. 8,742,281 Pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §§ 311-319 and 37 C.F.R. §42,
`dated May 1, 2015.
`Translation of JP 2002-79381 from Petition for Inter Parties Review
`ofU.S. Pat. No. 8,742,281 Pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §§ 311-319 and 37
`C.F.R. § 42, dated May 1,2015.
`Certified Translation of DE 199 05 477 from Petition for Inter Parties
`Review ofU.S. Pat. No. 8,742,281 Pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §§ 311-319
`and 37 C.F.R. § 42, dated May 1, 2015.
`Delcaration of Dr. Michael Miles from Petition for Inter Parties
`Review ofU.S. Pat. No. 8,742,281 Pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §§ 311-319
`and 37 C.F.R. § 42, dated May 1, 2015.
`002152706 Ontario Limited, Patent Owner’ s Response to Petition for
`Inter Parties Review ofU.S. Pat. No. 8,742,281, datedAug. 11,2015.
`The New Oxford American College Dictionary, pp. 86, 202, 262, 309,
`1200, 1413, Oxford University Press, 2nd Edition 2005 from Patent
`Owner’s Response to Petition for Inter Parties Review of U.S. Pat.
`No. 8,742,281 dated Aug. 11,2015.
`Merrian-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, pp. 68, 147, 148, 189, 224,
`875, 1038, 11th Edition 2003, from Patent Owner’s Response to
`Petition for Inter Parties Review of U.S. Pat. No. 8,742,281 dated
`Aug. 11,2015.
`Second Amended Complaint, 002152 706 Ontario Limited et al.
`v. Changer & Dresser C0rp., Case No. 1: 15-cv-00020 (NYWD) ECF
`12, Apr. 17, 2015 from Patent Owner’s Response to Petition for Inter
`Parties Review of U.S. Pat. No. 8,742,281 dated Aug. 11, 2015.
`Answer
`to Second Amended Complaint
`and Counterclaim,
`002152706 Ontario Limited et al. v. Changer & Dresser C0rp., Case
`No. 1: 15-cv-00020 (NYWD) ECF 14, May 4, 2015 from Patent
`Owner’s Response to Petition for Inter Parties Review of U.S. Pat.
`No. 8,742,281 dated Aug. 11,2015.
`The McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, p.
`2030, 6th Edition 2004 from Patent Owner’s Response to Petition for
`Inter Parties Review ofU.S. Pat. No. 8,742,281 dated Aug. 11,2015.
`English Translation of DE 199 05 477 Koch from Patent Owner’s
`Response to Petition for Inter Parties Review of U.S. Pat. No.
`8,742,281 dated Aug. 11,2015.
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`Ex. C&D 1001, page 2
`
`Ex. C&D 1001, page 2
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 19,2016
`
`Sheet 1 of5
`
`US 9,393,639 B2
`
`Ex. C&D 1001, page 3
`
`Ex. C&D 1001, page 3
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 19,2016
`
`Sheet 2 of5
`
`US 9,393,639 B2
`
`Ex. C&D 1001, page 4
`
`Ex. C&D 1001, page 4
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 19,2016
`
`Sheet 3 of5
`
`US 9,393,639 B2
`
`Ex. C&D 1001, page 5
`
`Ex. C&D 1001, page 5
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 19,2016
`
`Sheet 4 of5
`
`US 9,393,639 B2
`
`Ex. C&D 1001, page 6
`
`Ex. C&D 1001, page 6
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 19,2016
`
`Sheet 5 of5
`
`US 9,393,639 B2
`
`Ex. C&D 1001, page 7
`
`Ex. C&D 1001, page 7
`
`

`
`1
`SPOT WELDING CAP CHANGER
`
`US 9,393,639 B2
`
`2
`
`The invention relates to a spot welding cap changer with a
`cap extractor and two cap magazines, the cap extractor having
`a gripper with spring-loaded, pivoting jaws, which in
`response to a turning and axial extraction movement detaches
`a spot welding cap of a pincer spot welding head inserted into
`it from a shaft of the pincer welding head in such a way that
`it is clamped to prevent twisting,
`and the cap magazines holding spot-welding caps in a cap
`carrier in such a way that they are circularly arranged in a
`directed and oriented manner and are one by one transported
`by an advancing force against a stop, into an access position
`allowing to attach them axially to the free shaft of the pincer
`and to extract them with it.
`
`Such a mechanical electrode cap changer is known from
`the DE 102 22 248 A1. It has a two-part cap extractor, acces-
`sible from both sides, in a body separate from the magazine.
`Since gravity causes the caps to slide against a cap stop, the
`device can only be operated stationary in the vicinity of a
`mobile welding robot. Changing caps at a stationary pincer
`spot welding head, to which each component is fed by a robot
`for welding, is therefore not possible. The pincer spot welding
`heads/welding installations often have short shafts, which are
`for instance curved, so that the cap extractor, equipped with
`three large jaws and accordingly big, carmot be positioned for
`extraction.
`
`It is the object of the invention to provide for an automatic
`faster and safer exchange of the spot welding caps both at
`mobile and stationary spot welding installations with a short
`access distance.
`The solution resides in that
`
`the cap extractor has two opposed grippers, each with jaws
`that are open at their ends and can be rotated towards each
`other with approximately parallel
`toothed grip surfaces
`whose distance is slightly smaller than a diameter of a spot
`welding cap,
`and each cap magazine contains a cap carrier, which, driven
`by a spring box, presses by way of its advancing force one of
`the caps respectively against the stop, and in the access posi-
`tion a rim overlap overlaps the cap on one side.
`Advantageous forms of the invention are indicated in the
`subclaims.
`
`In the new embodiment the cap extractor and the magazine
`are mounted on a support which preferably is spring-
`mounted. In contrast to the known system, the new construc-
`tion design gives the possibility not only to be used at welding
`robots, but also at stationary pincer welding heads or welding
`installations.
`
`Compared with the known clamping system with three
`jaws, the new cap-extraction installation provides for shorter
`clamp and spin travels, therefore much shorter intervals for
`detaching the caps. Moreover, from the smaller design results
`a wider array of application, for instance at non-standard
`pincers or very short, curved shafts.
`The two cap extractors are each open at the ends ofthe jaws
`and thus accessible to a cap. The jaws grip it directly by way
`ofthe undersize of their distance and detach the cap, whereby
`a rotation around an angle of about 30-60° sufiices. This way
`a cap change is possible even in extremely narrow confines.
`Since the two grippers are oriented in opposite directions,
`respectively one of them is accessible from the various sides
`in a clockwise rotation, so that no turning of the pincer is
`necessary, even if the pincer shafts are screwed on.
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`Furthermore, the round magazine is much more compact
`than the straight magazine functioning by gravity of the
`known installation. It can be held and operated in any position
`because of the spring drive.
`Furthermore, the two round magazines arranged on paral-
`lel axes provide in each case for an access with short radial
`travel to the access positions in the access openings. In an
`embodiment with a magazine cover, this cover is directly
`shifted during access, far enough to let the rim overlap
`uncover the cap frame, so that the detaching is possible. The
`example shows a radial infeed and an axial access ofthe shafts
`into the magazine.
`Both partial devices, the cap changer, and the cap maga-
`zine, are mounted on a support close to one another, and thus
`can be set up stationary, or mounted to a robot arm in a fixed
`or detachable manner. In the first case the welding robot
`changes the caps of its own pincer, and in the second case the
`robot changes the caps at the stationary pincers or installa-
`tions respectively by means of the device. The changing
`device at the robot arm is movably mounted, constantly ready
`for operation in a free space next to the gripper of the robot or
`on a guide rail, or it is located in a parking position, where it
`can be picked up and brought to operation by the gripper; this
`is called alternating pincer principle.
`Advantageously, cap sensors are arranged on the device,
`which indicate whether a cap is in place or not. Moreover, the
`charging level of the magazines is monitored. This way it is
`ensured that after a cap change a cap is in place at the shaft of
`the pincer welding head before the cooling water is switched
`on. Furthermore it can be verified, whether the old cap was
`removed, when it is reported that there is no cap inplace while
`the shaft is approaching.
`The embodiment of the cap magazine without a cover
`holds the welding caps in an elastic cap carrier in a close fit,
`axially movable by propulsive or tractive force.
`Advantageous embodiments are represented in the FIGS. 1
`to 6.
`
`FIG. 1 shows the entire device schematically and in per-
`spective;
`FIG. 2 shows a transparent top view of the cap extractor;
`FIG. 2A, 2B show detailed enlargements of the grip sur-
`faces;
`FIG. 3 shows a perspective of the cap extractor;
`FIG. 4 shows a cap magazine in perspective, closed,
`enlarged
`FIG. 5 shows a cap magazine in perspective, open,
`enlarged
`FIG. 6 shows a top view of the magazine cover.
`FIG. 1 shows a complete spot welding cap changer 1,
`which is movably held on a support rail 5 at a robot arm.
`Alternatively, it is firmly mounted with the mounting plate 50.
`The bilaterally equipped cap extractor 2 is bolted at the free
`end ofthe mounting plate 50, with the two grippers 20 respec-
`tively on the sides, their direction opposite to one another.
`Pulled off caps K are depicted between the jaws 21, 22, after
`being detached at the rim of a storage container they drop into
`it.
`
`Offset to the rear from the cap extractor 2 respectively one
`cap magazine 3, 3A laterally offset to the other is mounted on
`the mounting plate 50, with the magazine cover 4 respectively
`directed laterally and the access openings 40 oriented axially
`parallel to the extracted welding caps K that are still held by
`the gripper, so that the shafts of the pincer spot welding head
`have to travel only short distances while changing the caps.
`FIG. 2 shows a top view on the cap extractor 2, which
`consists of very few parts. The grippers 20 are composed of
`one fixed, toothed jaw 21 respectively, and one jaw 22 which
`Ex. C&D 1001, page 8
`
`Ex. C&D 1001, page 8
`
`

`
`US 9,393,639 B2
`
`3
`is mounted in such a way that it can be pivoted towards said
`jaw 21. The pivotjoint 24 is located behind the fixedj aw 21 by
`way of a U-shaped structure of the movable jaw arn1 25, so
`that a cap K positioned in the gripper 20 will be clamped at a
`twist depending on the direction of rotation.
`The initial pressing force ofthejaws 21, 22 is caused by a
`bracing spring 26, which for example, is formed as a spiral or
`bracing spring with spread ends, each pressing against a jaw
`arm 25.
`
`On the infeed side the grippers 20 are provided with infeed
`skews 27, 28. From these extend the roughly parallel grip
`surfaces 23, each with a toothing in opposite direction 29A,
`29B, as FIGS. 2A and 2B show in partial view and in detail.
`If there is no cap K inserted in the grippers 20, then the
`distance A of the grip surfaces 23 has a minor undersize
`compared to the cap outside diameter D.
`FIG. 3 shows that the spring 26 and the movable jaws 21, 22
`as well as a jaw plate 62, on which the fixed jaws 21 are
`formed, are held between two cover plates 60, 61. The jaw
`plate 62 has a corresponding cavity, in which the U-shaped
`jaw arms 22 have free space to move.
`FIG. 4 shows a round cap magazine 3, which consists of a
`barrel shaped cap carrier 31, closed with a magazine cover 4,
`whereas a radial section remains free up to the rounded access
`opening 40, in which a welding cap K in the withdrawal
`position is pressed to the edge of a stop 32 at the cover.
`The cover 4 has a small rim overlap 41 of the cap frame in
`the curve of the access opening 40, an induct skew 42 con-
`necting to said rim overlap which is cascaded to the top side
`of the cover. At an embodiment with a hinged cover 4, a slot
`43 is formed, through which reaches a bracket 34, bevelled on
`the outside, which keeps the cover shut.
`On the other side of the access opening 40 a hinge 44 with
`a slotted hole 45 is formed in the extension level of the cover,
`the cones 46 of said hinge being held in a hinge support 47.
`FIG. 5 shows the open round magazine 3 with a hinge and
`equipped with a welding cap K in the drill holes 30 of the cap
`carrier 31, the cap K protruding by a few millimeters. A firmly
`mounted spring box 33, schematically depicted, is in the
`centre of the cap carrier 31, said spring box carrying the
`bracket 34 so that it can be radially moved. A preloaded
`spindle or spiral spring is arranged centrally in the spring box
`33, one end of the spring being fixed to the spring box 33, the
`other to the cap carrier 31, so that the latter is pressed with a
`torsion force P in the direction of the stop 32, which extends
`radially on the magazine cover.
`The plate-shape bracket 34 extends in a diagonal guiding
`slot on the cover of the spring box 33. In the closed state, as
`shown here, a compression spring arrangement 35, held in the
`cover, extends from the bracket 34 and is supported by means
`of a support pin 36 on the rounded hinge support 47, and
`presses the bracket 34 in the closed position, in which it
`overlaps the cover 4 in the closed state and holds the rim
`overlap 41 in the overlap position, the cone 46 being in the
`rear stop position in the slotted hole 45, as FIG. 1 shows. To
`open the cover 4, the bracket 34 is pushed back manually.
`Alternatively, the round magazine can be implemented with-
`out a hinge for the opening of the cover. In this case the cover
`is only held in a movable manner, so that the shaft of the
`pincer, when inserted, slides the cover by the skew 42 to
`release the rim overlap.
`FIG. 6 shows a top view on the magazine cover 4, whose
`main outline consists of two semi-circles with shifted centres
`
`M1, M2, whereby on one side the access opening 40 extends
`in the direction of the centre, and on the opposite side the
`hinge 44 extends on the outside. The slot in the cover 43
`extends 4 in the central area in the direction between the
`
`4
`
`access opening 40 and the hinge 44. The bracket 34 in the
`cover and in the fixed spring box 33 is guided in this direction.
`The cover 4 is about 15 mm high and largely hollow shaped
`and has a stiffening cover rim 48, which passes into the stop
`32 and on the other side into the hinge 44. The cover 4 is
`lowered at the induct skew 42 by about 5 mm to the infeed
`area. Internally, the cover surface drives the caps to the with-
`drawal level when turned in the stop position. A chamber 49,
`which contains the compression spring arrangement 35, is
`represented with a dashed outline.
`The compact construction of the cap extractor with the
`magazines allows for a significant reduction of the changing
`times, for example, from 22 to 17 sec, which corresponds to
`about 23%.
`
`LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS
`
`1 spot welding cap changer
`2 cap extractor
`20 gripper
`21, 22 jaws
`23 grip surfaces
`24 pivot joint
`25 jaw arm
`26 bracing spring
`27, 28 infeed skews
`29A, 29B toothing
`3, 3A cap magazine
`30 drill holes
`
`31 cap carriers
`32 stop
`33 spring box
`34 bracket
`
`35 compression spring
`36 support pin
`4 magazine cover
`40 access opening
`41 rim overlap
`42 induct skew on the cover
`43 slot in the cover
`
`44 hinge
`45 slotted hole in the hinge
`46 cones
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`47 hinge support
`48 cover rim
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`49 compression spring chamber
`5 support rail
`50 mounting plates
`60, 61 cover plates
`62 jaw plate
`A gripping jaw distance
`D outside diameter of the caps
`K cap
`P advancing force
`M1, M2 semicircle centres
`The invention claimed is:
`
`1. A cap magazine for spot welding caps, the cap magazine
`comprising:
`a cap carrier having a plurality of holes sized and shaped to
`receive a plurality of spot welding caps in a circular
`arrangement; and
`a spring for driving the cap carrier, the spring providing an
`advancing force to advance the caps one by one so that
`one of the caps bears against a stop in the cap magazine
`in an access position, the access position allowing one of
`the spot welding caps to be attached axially to a shaft of
`a pincer spot welding head and to be extracted from the
`Ex. C&D 1001, page 9
`
`Ex. C&D 1001, page 9
`
`

`
`US 9,393,639 B2
`
`5
`cap carrier, and when the cap in the access position is
`extracted from the cap carrier,
`the spring advances
`another one of the caps into the access position.
`2. The cap magazine of claim 1 further comprising a maga-
`zine cover positioned over the cap carrier.
`3. The cap magazine of claim 2, wherein the magazine
`cover includes an access opening at the access position.
`4. The cap magazine of claim 2, wherein the cap carrier
`rotates relative to the magazine cover.
`5. The cap magazine of claim 2, wherein the magazine
`cover has a diameter that is greater than a diameter of the cap
`carrier such that the magazine cover extends beyond the cap
`carrier.
`
`6. The cap magazine of claim 2, wherein the magazine
`cover has a stiffening cover rim.
`7. The cap magazine of claim 1, wherein the cap carrier has
`an exterior surface that is at least partially exposed.
`8. The cap magazine of claim 1, wherein when one of the
`spot welding caps is in one of the plurality of holes, the spot
`welding cap protrudes beyond an upper surface of the cap
`carrier.
`
`9. The cap magazine of claim 1, wherein the cap carrier has
`a surface opposite the plurality of holes that is exposed at the
`access position.
`10. The cap magazine of claim 1, wherein the cap carrier
`has an odd number of holes.
`
`11. The cap magazine of claim 1, wherein the plurality of
`holes are non-uniformly spaced around the cap carrier.
`12. The cap magazine of claim 1, wherein the plurality of
`holes are spaced around the cap carrier with an increased
`spacing between two of the plurality of holes.
`13. The cap magazine of claim 1 wherein the spring is a
`spindle or spiral spring.
`14. The cap magazine of claim 1, wherein the spring is
`arranged centrally in the cap carrier and the plurality of holes
`are positioned around the spring.
`15. The cap magazine of claim 2, wherein the stop is below
`an upper surface of the magazine cover.
`16. The cap magazine of claim 1, further comprising a
`spring box that includes the spring, one end of the spring
`being fixed at the spring box and the other end is fixed to the
`cap carrier.
`17. A spot welding cap changer comprising:
`a cap extractor having a gripper which in response to an
`extraction movement detaches a spot welding cap of a
`pincer spot welding head inserted into the gripper from
`a shaft of the pincer spot welding head; and
`a cap magazine comprising a cap carrier having a plurality
`of holes sized and shaped to receive a plurality of spot
`welding caps in a circular arrangement, and a spring for
`driving the cap carrier, the spring providing an advanc-
`ing force to advance the caps one by one so that one of
`the caps bears against a stop in the cap magazine in an
`access position, the access position allowing one of the
`spot welding caps to be attached axially to a shaft of a
`pincer spot welding head and to be extracted from the
`cap carrier, and when the cap in the access position is
`extracted from the cap carrier,
`the spring advances
`another one of the caps into the access position.
`18. The spot welding cap changer of claim 17, wherein the
`cap magazine further comprises a magazine cover positioned
`over the cap carrier.
`19. The spot welding cap changer of claim 18, wherein the
`magazine cover includes an access opening at the access
`position.
`20. The spot welding cap changer of claim 18, wherein the
`cap carrier rotates relative to the magazine cover.
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`6
`21. The spot welding cap changer of claim 18, wherein the
`magazine cover has a diameter that is greater than a diameter
`of the cap carrier such that the magazine cover extends
`beyond the cap carrier.
`22. The spot welding cap changer of claim 18, wherein the
`magazine cover has a stiffening cover rim.
`23. The spot welding cap changer of claim 17, wherein the
`cap carrier has an exterior surface that is at least partially
`exposed.
`24. The spot welding cap changer of claim 17, wherein
`when one of the spot welding caps is in one of the plurality of
`holes, the spot welding cap protrudes beyond an upper sur-
`face of the cap carrier.
`25. The spot welding cap changer of claim 17, wherein the
`cap carrier has a surface opposite the plurality of holes that is
`exposed at the access position.
`26. The spot welding cap changer of claim 17, wherein the
`cap carrier has an odd number of holes.
`27. The spot welding cap changer of claim 17, wherein the
`plurality of holes are non-uniformly spaced around the cap
`carrier.
`
`28. The spot welding cap changer of claim 17, wherein the
`plurality of holes are spaced around the cap carrier with an
`increased spacing between two of the plurality of holes.
`29. The spot welding cap changer of claim 17, wherein the
`spring is a spindle or spiral spring.
`30. The spot welding cap changer of claim 17, wherein the
`spring is arranged centrally in the cap carrier and the plurality
`of holes are positioned around the spring.
`31. The cap magazine of claim 2, wherein the stop is below
`an upper surface of the magazine cover.
`32. The spot welding cap changer of claim 17, wherein the
`cap magazine further comprises a spring box that includes the
`spring, one end of the spring being fixed at the spring box and
`the other end is fixed to the cap carrier.
`33. The spot welding cap changer of claim 17 further
`comprising an additional cap magazine, wherein both cap
`magazines are positioned opposite each other such that one
`magazine faces in a first direction and the other faces in the
`opposite direction.
`34. The spot welding cap changer of claim 17, wherein the
`cap magazine is removable from the spot welding cap
`changer.
`35. A cap magazine for spot welding caps, the cap maga-
`zine comprising:
`a cap carrier having a plurality of holes sized and shaped to
`receive a plurality of spot welding caps in a circular
`arrangement;
`a spring for advancing the caps one by one; and
`a stop for successively retaining each cap in an access
`position, the access position for allowing one of the spot
`welding caps to be extracted from the cap carrier;
`wherein, when the cap in the access position is extracted
`from the cap carrier, the spring advances another one of
`the caps into the access position.
`36. The cap magazine of claim 35 further comprising a
`magazine cover positioned over the cap carrier.
`37. The cap magazine of claim 36, wherein the magazine
`cover includes an access opening at the access position.
`38. The cap magazine of claim 36, wherein the cap carrier
`rotates relative to the magazine cover.
`39. The cap magazine of claim 36, wherein the magazine
`cover has a diameter that is greater than a diameter of the cap
`carrier such that the magazine cover extends beyond the cap
`carrier.
`
`40. The cap magazine of claim 36, wherein the magazine
`cover has a stiffening cover rim.
`Ex. C&D 1001, page 10
`
`Ex. C&D 1001, page 10
`
`

`
`US 9,393,639 B2
`
`7
`41. The cap magazine of claim 35, wherein the cap carrier
`has an exterior surface that is at least partially exposed.
`42. The cap magazine of claim 35, wherein when one ofthe
`spot welding caps is in one of the plurality of holes, the spot
`welding cap protrudes beyond an upper surface of the cap
`carrier.
`
`43. The cap magazine of claim 35, wherein the cap carrier
`has a surface opposite the plurality of holes that is exposed at
`the access position.
`44. The cap magazine of claim 35, wherein the cap carrier
`has an odd number of holes.
`
`45. The cap magazine of claim 35, wherein the plurality of
`holes are non-uniformly spaced around the cap carrier.
`46. The cap magazine of claim 35, wherein the plurality of
`holes are spaced around the cap carrier with an increased
`spacing between two of the plurality of holes.
`47. The cap magazine of claim 35, wherein the spring is a
`spindle or spiral spring.
`48. The cap magazine of claim 35, wherein the spring is
`arranged centrally in the cap carrier and the plurality of holes
`are positioned around the spring.
`49. The cap magazine of claim 2, wherein the stop is below
`an upper surface of the magazine cover.
`50. The cap magazine of claim 35 further comprising a
`spring box that includes the spring, one end of the spring
`being fixed at the spring box and the other end is fixed to the
`cap carrier.
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`8
`51. The cap magazine of claim 1, wherein the cap carrier
`further comprises an inner sidewall defining a central cavity.
`52. The cap magazine of claim 51, wherein the central
`cavity is located at the center of the cap carrier and is central
`to the plurality of holes.
`53. The cap magazine of claim 51 further comprising a
`spindle located in the central cavity about which the cap
`carrier rotates.
`
`54. The cap magazine of claim 53, wherein the spring is
`located in the central cavity and is attached at one end to the
`spindle and at the other end to the cap carrier.
`55. The cap magazine of claim 1, wherein the spring drives
`the cap carrier without directly contacting the caps.
`56. The cap magazine of claim 35, wherein the cap carrier
`further comprises an inner sidewall defining a central cavity.
`57. The cap magazine of claim 56, wherein the central
`cavity is located at the center of the cap carrier and is central
`to the plurality of holes.
`58. The cap magazine of claim 56 further comprising a
`spindle located in the central cavity about which the cap
`carrier rotates.
`
`59. The cap magazine of claim 58, wherein the spring is
`located in the central cavity and is attached at one end to the
`spindle and at the other end to the cap carrier.
`60. The cap magazine of claim 35, wherein the spring
`drives the cap carrier without directly contacting the caps.
`*
`*
`*
`*
`*
`
`Ex. C&D 1001, page 11
`
`Ex. C&D 1001, page 11