US3763344A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Industrial robot with a welding gun
Assignee: Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd
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Filing: 1972-07-10
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Granted: 1973-10-02
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Expires: 1992-07-10
Abstract
Abstract An industrial robot having a base, a welding body supported on the base, a reciprocating, movable arm supported by the welding body, and a welding gun supported on the outer end of the arm. The welding transformer is secured to the stationary welding body and is provided with a pair of secondary conductors extending parallel to each other and the arm. A pair of current conducting plates are secured to the arm and connected to the ends of a pair of conductors connected to the gun. The pair of current conducting plates slidably contact the pair of secondary conductors. One of the pair of secondary conductors is connected to the welding transformer such that the impedance in conducting the welding current through the current conducting plate, in sliding contact therewith, is reduced as the arm is moved away from the transformer, while the other secondary conductor is connected to the transformer such that the impedance is increased as the arm is moved away from the transformer. The resultant impedance of the secondary conductors is thereby held constant regardless of the movement of the arm during the welding operation.
Inventors
- 👤 Y Okabe
- 👤 K Yamane
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 11:12
CPC Classifications
B; B23; B23K; B23K11/00; B23K11/36; B23K11/362; B23K11/366
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
219 words
In an industrial robot having a base; a welding body supported on said base; at least one arm supported by said welding body for reciprocating movement towards and away from said welding body; a welding gun supported at the outer end of said arm; a welding transformer; and a pair of secondary conductor means connected between said welding transformer and said welding gun for supplying welding current from said welding transformer to said welding gun, the improvement wherein said welding transformer is secured to said welding body and said pair of secondary conducTor means extend from said transformer parallel to said arm wherein each of said secondary conductor means has the same impedance characteristics per unit length, and said arm includes a pair of current conducting plate means secured thereto, said pair of current conducting plate means slidably contacting with said pair of secondary conductor means such that each plate means contacts a corresponding secondary conductor means, one of said pair of secondary conductor means being connected to said welding transformer such that the impedance thereof is reduced as said arm moves away from said welding body, and the other of said pair of secondary conductor means is connected to said welding transformer such that the impedance thereof is increased as said arm moves away from said welding body.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
219 words
In an industrial robot having a base; a welding body supported on said base; at least one arm supported by said welding body for reciprocating movement towards and away from said welding body; a welding gun supported at the outer end of said arm; a welding transformer; and a pair of secondary conductor means connected between said welding transformer and said welding gun for supplying welding current from said welding transformer to said welding gun, the improvement wherein said welding transformer is secured to said welding body and said pair of secondary conducTor means extend from said transformer parallel to said arm wherein each of said secondary conductor means has the same impedance characteristics per unit length, and said arm includes a pair of current conducting plate means secured thereto, said pair of current conducting plate means slidably contacting with said pair of secondary conductor means such that each plate means contacts a corresponding secondary conductor means, one of said pair of secondary conductor means being connected to said welding transformer such that the impedance thereof is reduced as said arm moves away from said welding body, and the other of said pair of secondary conductor means is connected to said welding transformer such that the impedance thereof is increased as said arm moves away from said welding body.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
89 words
The industrial robot according to claim 1, wherein one of said pair of secondary conductor means extends from said transformer parallel to the other secondary conductor means and said arm and the other of said pair of secondary conductor means has a bent portion bent back upon itself to form a U-shape extending toward said welding transformer parallel to the secondary conductor means, and wherein said pair of current conducting plate means slidably contact said one secondary conductor means and said bent portion of said other secondary conductor means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
69 words
The industrial robot according to claim 1, wherein said pair of secondary conductor means extend from said welding transformer parallel to each other and said arm, one of said pair of secondary conductor means being connected to said welding transformer at its end adjacent to said transformer and the other of said pair of secondary conductor means being connected to said transformer at its end remote from said transformer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The industrial robot according to claim 1, further including electrical insulating material between said pair of secondary conductor means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
The industrial robot according to claim 1, wherein said welding transformer, said pair of secondary conductor means and said pair of current conducting plate means are housed in said welding body.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The industrial robot according to claim 1, further including a cover means, secured to said welding body, for covering said pair of secondary conductor means and said current conducting plate means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2697157A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-10-01 | 1977-04-02 | 1977-10-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-10-01 | 1981-04-02 | 1981-10-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-10-01 | 1985-04-02 | 1985-10-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |