Patent GB-1200621-A (GB)
Title: Machine for welding wire to a metal element
Inventor: WARNER SAMUEL
IPC: B23K11/00
Filed: 1967-08-31
Abstract: 1,200,621. Welding by pressure; making electrical connections; upsetting; shearing. S. WARNER. 31 Aug., 1967 [8 March, 1967], No. 39901/67. Headings B3A, B3H, B3R and B3W. A machine for welding wire to a metal element, e.g. a transistor can Q, wherein the wire is fed longitudinally and its leading end is pressed into contact with the element while welding current passes, comprises an electrode holder and element feed mechanism D, including electrodes 55, for feeding elements in succession to and holding them at a welding position, an elongated tubular electrode B for passage of the wire therethrough and movable from a normal position to the welding position, an upsetting device C including wire-clamping die jaws and an upsetting die coactive with the jaws for upsetting the leading end of the wire projecting from the tubular electrode, a cutting mechanism for cutting the wire, means to pull the wire and yieldingly press the head thereof into contact with the element and to return the tubular electrode to the normal position, a clamp X to hold the wire against retraction during the return movement of the tubular electrode and means for closing a welding current circuit upon pressure of the wire against the element. Operation.-Initially, wire H is fed manually through a straightening device J and thence into the tubular electrode B such that its leading end projects from the electrode B and extends beyond the die jaws, which clamp the wire. While clamped, the end of the wire is upset and formed with a head by an upsetting die. The tip of the electrode B is then brought into abutment with the head on the wire and continued movement of the electrode B in the same direction brings the head into contact with the metal can Q, which is held on an electrode 55 of a rotatable can-feed device D. The head on the wire is applied to the can under the yielding pressure of a spring (16), (Fig. 2, not shown) in the tubular electrode actuation mechanism, and at the same time a microswitch 59 is tripped by a screw 60 to feed current to the wire, the circuit being completed by a contact F contacting the body of the feed device D. After the wire has been welded to the can the wire is clamped by the clamp X while the electrode B returns to its normal position after which a cutter G cuts the wire leaving a portion welded to the can. The feed mechanism D then rotates to bring a new can to the welding position. The welded cans are removed from the device D by a gripping device (V), (Fig. 11, not shown).  Element feed.-The element feed and holder device D (Fig. 10), mounting electrodes 55 on which the elements are clamped during welding by a clamp (Fig. 14, not shown), operated via an axial cam, comprises a rotatable body portion 57 rotated intermittently to present the elements to the welding position. The stepped rotation is achieved as shown by a ratchet and pawl mechanism, the pawl being driven by an oscillating piston of a fluid pressure motor U. The electrodes 55 are adjustably mounted in the body portion. Upsetting.-The upsetting die (36), (Fig. 6, not shown), is mounted on a carrier (37) normally positioned to one side of the wireclamping die jaws. At the appropriate time the carrier is moved by a fluid pressure motor (P) to locate the upsetting die in position opposite the leading end of the wire. With the die in position, further movement of the piston (48) of the motor (P), in the same direction, operates an axial cam and lever linkage whereby the die upsets a head on the end of the wire. By co-operation of the upsetting die with the wireclamping die jaws, the head is formed as a solid body having the shape of two frustocones mounted base-to-base but with a circular cross-section disc of the same diameter as the bases interposed between the bases (Fig. 15, not shown). The wire-clamping die jaws (27, 28), (Figs. 4, 5, not shown), are provided with co-operable grooves and wire guides and are operated by a fluid-pressure motor N. Shearing.-After the welding step the wire is clamped against retrograde movement by a fluid-pressure operated clamp X while the tubular electrode B returns to its normal position. A pair of co-operable cutters (105, 106) then cut the wire to leave a portion welded to the element. One cutter (105) is operated directly and the other indirectly, through a bell-crank linkage 116, by fluid-pressure motors 111 and 120 respectively.