Stud escapement mechanism

Claim 2

In stud welding apparatus, an escapement mechanism for receiving a stud from an orientation mechanism and dispatching the stud to a welding gun for welding comprising: a channel formed by parallel side walls and an interposed bottom wall; a stud transfer block having a stud receptacle therein disposed within said channel for transverse movement therealong; a cover plate for said channel having stud feeding and discharge ports therein in registery with said channel; fluid operated means interconnected with said stud transfer block for moving the transfer block alternately into and out of registry with said loading and discharge ports in the cover plate, and quick detachable means interconnecting said cover plate to the channel and maintaining the same in proper position whereby the cover plate can be quickly removed to replace the transfer block to accommodate studs of different lengths.

Claim 3

The escapement mechanism of claim 1 wherein the fluid operated means is a pneumatic cylinder and piston disposed adjacent said channel and operating along an axis parallel therewith and further including a connecting pin journaled within the piston and transfer block and operating through a slot in one of the walls of the channel.

Claim 4

The escapement mechanism of claim 2 wherein the transfer block includes a vertical elonagte slot therein which cooperates with the connecting pin and which permits the transfer block to be quickly removed from the assembly by vertical withdrawal from the channel whenever the cover plate of the escapement mechanism has been removed.

Claim 5

In welding apparatus, an escapement mechanism for receiving a stud from an orientation mechanism and dispatching the stud to a welding gun for welding comprising; a stud loading port through which studs are adapted to pass by gravity; a welding gun feed port disposed adjacent said loading port through which studs are dispatched to the welding gun; a stud transfer block having a stud receptacle therein; transfer block actuating means for alternately registering said stud receptacle with said loading port to receive a stud therein by means of gravity and to register said stud receptacle with said feed port while closing off said loading port for transfer of said stud through said feed port to the welding gun; and means including an external passageway adjacent the feed port and in open communication with the feed port whenever the transfer block is in the loading position permitting any stud not entirely dispatched to the welding gun to return, in a reverse direction, to the feed port and to be ejected through the passageway externally of the mechanism without causing jamming thereof.

Claim 6

In welding apparatus, an escapement mechanism for receiving a stud from an orientation mechanism and dispatching the stud to a welding gun for welding comprising; a stud loading port through which studs are adapted to pass by gravity; a welding gun feed port disposed adjacent said loading port through which studs are dispatched to the welding gun; a stud transfer block having a stud receptacle therein; transfer block actuating means for alternately registering said stud receptacle with said loading port to receive a stud therein by means of gravity and to register said stud receptacle with said feed port while closing off said loading port for transfer of said stud through said feed port to the welding gun; and means including an external passageway adjacent the feed port and in open communication with the feed port whenever the transfer block is in the loading position permitting any stud not entirely dispatched to the welding gun to return, in a reverse direction, to the feed port and to be ejected through the passageway externally of the mechanism without causing jamming thereof.

Claim 7

In stud welding apparatus, an escapement mechanism for receiving a stud from an orientation mechanism and dispatching the stud to a welding gun for welding comprising: a channel formed by parallel side walls and an interposed bottom wall; a stud transfer block having a stud receptacle therein disposed within said channel for transverse movement therealong; a cover plate for said channel having stud feeding and discharge ports therein in registry with said channel; operating means including a conneCting pin interconnected with the stud transfer block for moving the transfer block alternately into and out of registry with the loading and discharge ports in the cover plate; and connecting means including a vertical elongate slot in the transfer block interconnecting the transfer block and connecting pin to permit vertical withdrawal of the transfer block from the channel of the escapement mechanism whenever the cover plate has been removed.

Claim 8

In stud welding apparatus, an escapement mechanism for receiving a stud from an orientation mechanism and dispatching the stud to a welding gun for welding comprising: a channel formed by parallel side walls and an interposed bottom wall; a stud transfer block having a stud receptacle therein disposed within said channel for transverse movement therealong; a cover plate for said channel having stud feeding and discharge ports therein in registry with said channel; operating means including a conneCting pin interconnected with the stud transfer block for moving the transfer block alternately into and out of registry with the loading and discharge ports in the cover plate; and connecting means including a vertical elongate slot in the transfer block interconnecting the transfer block and connecting pin to permit vertical withdrawal of the transfer block from the channel of the escapement mechanism whenever the cover plate has been removed.