Patent ID: 7196285
Filing Date: 2007-03-27
Classification: B23K

Abstract:
1. An umbilical-member managing structure for a welding torch provided in an arc welding robot, for laying and managing, along a manipulator, a plurality of umbilical members connected to a welding torch attached to said manipulator; wherein said plurality of umbilical members include a welding wire to be fed to said welding torch, a tubular liner surrounding said welding wire, a tube for supplying an assist gas to said welding torch, and a plurality of electrical conductors for feeding a welding current to said welding torch; wherein said arc welding robot is provided with a wire feeding device mounted on said manipulator for feeding said welding wire to said welding torch; wherein said umbilical-member managing structure comprises: a flexible conduit containing said plurality of umbilical members, said flexible conduit including a first connecting section provided at one longitudinal end to be connected to said welding torch, and a second connecting section provided at another longitudinal end to be connected to said wire feeding device; and a connection mechanism provided for at least one of said first and second connecting sections of said conduit, said connection mechanism connecting said conduit in a rotatable manner to at least one of said welding torch and said wire feeding device; wherein said plurality of electrical conductors are integrated into a multi-core cable; and wherein, in said flexible conduit, said multi-core cable is separated from both of said tubular liner for welding wire and said tube for assist gas.