US009168609B2
`
`(12) United States Patent
`Kaeseler
`
`(10) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 9,168,609 B2
`*Oct. 27, 2015
`
`(54) SPOT WELDING CAP CHANGER
`
`(56)
`
`(71) Applicant: 002152706 ONTARIO LTD., Oakville
`(CA)
`
`(72)
`
`Inventor: Werner Kaeseler,Baunatal (DE)
`
`(73) Assignee: 002152706 ONTARIO LTD., Oakville,
`Ontario (CA)
`
`( * ) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
`
`DE
`DE
`
`This patent is subject to a terminal dis-
`claimer.
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`4,794,221 A
`5,073,692 A
`
`12/1988 Takabe et al.
`12/1991 Jackson et al.
`
`(Continued)
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`29710142 U1
`19905477 C2
`
`8/1997
`8/2000
`
`(Continued)
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 14/273,926
`
`(22)
`
`(65)
`
`Filed:
`
`May 9, 2014
`
`Prior Publication Data
`
`US 2014/0238957 A1
`
`Aug. 28,2014
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`
`(63) Continuation of application No. 13/680,915, filed on
`Nov. 19, 2012, now Pat. No. 8,742,281, which is a
`continuation of application No. 11/997,131, filed as
`application No. PCT/EP2006/064417 on Jul. 19, 2006,
`now Pat. No. 8,314,356.
`
`(30)
`
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`
`Jul. 28, 2005
`
`(DE) ........................ .. 10 2005 035915
`
`(51)
`
`Int. Cl.
`B23K 9/28
`B23K11/11
`
`(2006.01)
`(2006.01)
`(Continued)
`
`(52) U.S. Cl.
`CPC ............. .. B23K 11/115 (2013.01); B23K11/11
`(2013.01); B23K 11/3072 (2013.01); B23Q
`3/15573 (2013.01)
`
`(58) Field of Classification Search
`None
`
`The New Oxford American College Dictionary, pp. 86, 202, 262, 309,
`1200, 1413, Oxford University Press, 2”’ Edition 2005 from Patent
`Owner’ s Response to Petition for Inter Partes Review ofU.S. Pat. No.
`8,742,281 dated Aug. 11, 2015*
`(Continued)
`
`Primary Examiner — Kiley Stoner
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Browdy and Neimark,
`PLLC
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`The invention relates to a spot welding cap changer (1) with a
`cap puller (2) and two cap magazines (3, 3A), the cap puller
`(2) having a gripper (20) with spring-loaded, pivotable jaws
`(21, 22), which in response to a turning and axial pulling-off
`movement detaches a spot welding cap (K) of a pincer spot
`welding head introduced into it from a shaft of the pincer
`welding head in such a way that it is clamped to prevent it
`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 and are
`respectively transported individually one after the other into
`an access position against a stop (32) by an advancing force
`(P)
`
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`30 Claims, 5 Drawing Sheets
`
`
`
`Ex. C&D 1007, page 1
`
`Ex. C&D 1007, page 1
`
`

`
`US 9,168,609 B2
`Page 2
`
`(51)
`
`(56)
`
`Int. Cl.
`B23K 11/30
`B23Q 3/155
`
`(2006.01)
`(2006.01)
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`5,495,663 A
`5,530,218 A
`5,734,141 A
`7,353,578 B2
`8,134,356 B2
`2003/0106878 A1
`
`3/1996 Saito
`6/1996 Nakamuraetal.
`3/1998 Voilmyetal.
`4/2008 Nakajimaet al.
`3/2012 Dobberpuhlet al.
`6/2003 Sundstrom
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`DE
`DE
`DE
`DE
`FR
`FR
`FR
`JP
`W0
`W0
`W0
`
`10124 243 C1
`10124243
`102 22 248 A1
`10222248
`2 760 392 A1
`2760392
`2874523 A1 *
`2002-79381
`W09917902 A1
`2004/035251 A2
`2004035251
`
`11/2002
`11/2002
`11/2003
`11/2003
`9/1998
`9/1998
`3/2006
`3/2002
`4/1999
`4/2004
`4/2004
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`Merrian-Webster’sCollegiate Dictionary, pp. 68, 147, 148, 189,224,
`875, 1038, 11”’ Edition 2003, from Patent 0wner’s Response to
`Petition for Inter Partes Review ofU.S. Pat. No. 8,742,281 datedAug.
`11, 2015.*
`of W01999017902A1
`Machine Translation
`TotalPatents on Dec. 3, 2014.
`
`obtained
`
`from
`
`Machine Translation of DE29710 142U1 obtained from TotalPatents
`on Dec. 3, 2014.
`Machine Translation of DE19905477C2 obtained from TotalPatents
`on Dec. 3, 2014.
`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 ofDE 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 0ntario Limited, Patent 0wner’s Response to Petition
`For Inter Parties Review ofU.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 0wner’ 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,
`002152 706 Ontario Limited et al. v. Changer & Dresser C0rp., Case
`No. 1:15-cv-00020 (NYWD) ECF 14, May 4, 2015 from Patent
`0wner’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 0wner’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 0wner’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 1007, page 2
`
`Ex. C&D 1007, page 2
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 27, 2015
`
`Sheet 1 of5
`
`US 9,168,609 B2
`
`Ex. C&D 1007, page 3
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`Ex. C&D 1007, page 3
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`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 27, 2015
`
`Sheet 2 of5
`
`US 9,168,609 B2
`
`Ex. C&D 1007, page 4
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`Ex. C&D 1007, page 4
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 27, 2015
`
`Sheet 3 of5
`
`US 9,168,609 B2
`
`Ex. C&D 1007, page 5
`
`Ex. C&D 1007, page 5
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 27, 2015
`
`Sheet 4 of5
`
`US 9,168,609 B2
`
`Ex. C&D 1007, page 6
`
`Ex. C&D 1007, page 6
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 27, 2015
`
`Sheet 5 of5
`
`US 9,168,609 B2
`
`Ex. C&D 1007, page 7
`
`Ex. C&D 1007, page 7
`
`

`
`1
`SPOT WELDING CAP CHANGER
`
`US 9,168,609 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 Al. 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 position 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.
`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.
`
`10
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`15
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`20
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`25
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`30
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`35
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`40
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`45
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`50
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`55
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`60
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`65
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`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
`is mounted in such a way that it can be pivoted towards said
`jaw 21. The pivotjoint 24 is located behind the fixedjaw 21 by
`way of a U-shaped structure of the movable jaw arm 25, so
`Ex. C&D 1007, page 8
`
`Ex. C&D 1007, page 8
`
`

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`US 9,168,609 B2
`
`3
`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
`
`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
`
`10
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`15
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`20
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`25
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`30
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`35
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`40
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`45
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`50
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`55
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`60
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`65
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`4
`
`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
`
`47 hinge support
`48 cover rim
`
`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 use with a cap extractor that detaches
`a spot welding cap of a pincer spot welding head inserted into
`the cap extractor from a shaft of the pincer welding head, the
`cap magazine comprising:
`a cap carrier having a plurality of holes sized and shaped to
`receive a plurality of spot welding caps; and
`an actuator for driving the spot welding caps within the cap
`carrier, the actuator providing an advancing force to
`advance the caps one by one so that one of the caps
`moves to an access position, the access position allowing
`one ofthe spot welding caps to be attached axially to the
`shaft of the pincer spot welding head and to be extracted
`from the cap carrier with the shaft of the pincer spot
`welding head, and when the cap in the access position is
`Ex. C&D 1007, page 9
`
`Ex. C&D 1007, page 9
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`

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`US 9,168,609 B2
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`5
`extracted from the cap carrier, the actuator advances
`another one of the caps into the access position;
`wherein the actuator includes a spring box; and
`wherein the spring box includes a spring, one end of which
`is fixed at the spring box, and the other end of which is
`fixed at the cap carrier.
`2. The cap magazine of claim 1, further comprising a stop
`for successively retaining each cap in the access position.
`3. The cap magazine of claim 1, further comprising a rim
`overlap that overlaps the cap in the access position on one
`side.
`
`4. The cap magazine of claim 3, wherein a magazine cover
`is held preloaded by a spring in the direction of the access
`position so that the rim overlap overlaps a cap frame in a stop
`position of the magazine cover.
`5. The cap magazine of claim 1, wherein the cap carrier is
`sized and shaped to receive the spot welding caps in a circular
`arrangement.
`6. A spot welding cap changer comprising:
`a cap extractor having a gripper which in response to a
`turning and axial 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
`in such a way that the spot welding cap is clamped by the
`gripper to prevent the spot welding cap from twisting;
`and
`
`at least one cap magazine including: a cap carrier sized and
`shaped to receive a plurality of spot welding caps, and an
`actuator for driving the spot welding caps within the cap
`carrier, the actuator providing an advancing force to
`advance the caps one by one so that one of the caps
`moves to an access position, the access position allowing
`one ofthe spot welding caps to be attached axially to the
`shaft ofthe pincer spot welding head and to be extracted
`from the cap carrier with the shaft of the pincer spot
`welding head, and when the cap in the access position is
`extracted from the cap carrier, the actuator advances
`another one of the caps into the access position.
`7. The spot welding cap changer according to claim 6,
`wherein the gripper includes at least one moveable gripping
`element for engaging the spot welding cap.
`8. The spot welding cap changer according to claim 7,
`wherein the moveable gripping element includes spring-
`loaded, pivoting jaws that are open at their ends and can be
`rotated towards each other with approximately parallel
`toothed grip surfaces whose distance is smaller than a diam-
`eter of a spot welding cap.
`9. The spot welding cap changer according to claim 8,
`wherein respectively one ofthejaws is fixedj aw at ajaw plate,
`and the other jaw is a movable jaw formed at a U-shaped jaw
`arm, which is supported with a pivot joint behind the fixed
`jaw.
`10. The spot welding cap changer according to claim 9,
`further comprising a preloaded spring mounted to the move-
`able jaw for biasing the moveable jaw toward the fixed jaw.
`
`5
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`10
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`15
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`20
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`25
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`30
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`35
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`40
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`45
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`50
`
`55
`
`6
`11. The spot welding cap changer according to claim 6,
`further comprising a stop for successively retaining each cap
`in the access position.
`12. The spot welding cap changer according to claim 6,
`wherein the actuator includes a spring box.
`13. The spot welding cap changer according to claim 12,
`wherein the spring box includes a spring, one end of which is
`fixed at the spring box, and the other end of which is fixed at
`the cap carrier.
`14. The spot welding cap changer according to claim 6,
`further comprising a rim overlap that overlaps the cap in the
`access position on one side.
`15. The spot welding cap changer according to claim 14,
`wherein a magazine cover is held preloaded by a spring in the
`direction of the access position so that the rim overlap over-
`laps a cap frame in a stop position of the magazine cover.
`16. The spot welding cap changer according to claim 6,
`wherein the cap carrier is sized and shaped to receive the spot
`welding caps in a circular arrangement.
`17. The spot welding cap changer according to claim 6,
`wherein the cap extractor with the gripper is mounted on a
`mounting plate, on which the cap magazine is mounted with
`a rearward offset.
`18. The spot welding cap changer according to claim 6,
`wherein the at least one cap magazine includes at least two
`cap magazines.
`19. The cap magazine of claim 1, wherein the cap carrier is
`sized and shaped to contain the plurality of spot welding caps
`in a circle-like pattern.
`20. The cap magazine of claim 19, wherein the spring box
`is distinct from the cap carrier.
`21. The cap magazine of claim 19, wherein the spring
`provides a torsion force to advance the plurality of spot weld-
`ing caps contained within the cap carrier.
`22. The cap magazine of claim 19, wherein the cap carrier
`is barrel shaped.
`23. The cap magazine of claim 1, wherein the plurality of
`holes are arranged in a circle-like pattern for holding the
`plurality of spot welding caps.
`24. The cap magazine of claim 23, wherein the spring box
`is distinct from the cap carrier.
`25. The cap magazine of claim 23, wherein the spring
`provides a torsion force to advance the plurality of spot weld-
`ing caps contained within the cap carrier.
`26. The cap magazine of claim 23, wherein the cap carrier
`is barrel shaped.
`27. The cap magazine of claim 5, wherein the spring box is
`distinct from the cap carrier.
`28. The cap magazine of claim 5, wherein the spring pro-
`vides a torsion force to advance the plurality of spot welding
`caps contained within the cap carrier.
`29. The cap magazine of claim 5, wherein the cap carrier is
`barrel shaped.
`30. The cap magazine of claim 5, wherein the plurality of
`holes are arranged in a circle-like pattern for holding the
`plurality of spot welding caps in the circular arrangement.
`*
`*
`*
`*
`*
`
`Ex. C&D 1007, page 10
`
`Ex. C&D 1007, page 10