Patent ID: 6476339
Filing Date: 2002-11-05
Classification: B23K

Abstract:
A stud welding gun for use in welding studs of a first length and a second length to base members, said stud welding gun comprising:a handle assembly; a frame which is connected with and extends outward from said handle assembly; a stud holder disposed at an outer end portion of said frame, said stud holder being effective to hold a stud while an electrical current flows between the stud held by said stud holder and the base member during welding of the stud held by said stud welding gun to the base member; a stud feed member which is connected with said frame and is movable from a retracted position to an extended position to move a stud toward said stud holder; a housing connected with said frame; at least two stud cartridges each having a plurality of studs, each cartridge having opposed first and second side walls to receive a plurality of studs in side by side array and opposed end walls extending between said first and second side walls, including a first cartridge having end walls spaced a distance approximately equal to said first length to receive studs having said first length and a second cartridge having end walls spaced a distance approximately equal to said second length to receive studs having said second length, at least one of said side walls of each of said cartridges extending beyond said end walls to a pre-determined overall length, each of said cartridges having said pre-determined overall length, and said housing adapted to receive cartridges of said pre-determined overall length, with a longitudinal central axis of each stud of the plurality of studs extending along the path of movement of said stud feed member between the extended and retracted positions; and a stud mover which sequentially moves studs in the plurality of studs into the path of movement of said stud feed member between the extended and retracted positions.