Patent ID: 8178817

Claim:
Spot welding tongs for robotic applications for the resistance welding of workpieces comprising: a base body; an actuating means; electrodes; electrode holders for holding said electrodes; a strip for protection of at least one of said electrodes; tong arms which are each pivotally mounted on said base body and adjustable by said actuating means and to which said electrode holders for said electrodes are fastened, and further including winding means comprising a wind-off roller and a wind-up roller coupled to at least one tong arm of said tong arms, said wind off roller and wind up roller for winding off and on said strip for the protection of at least one electrode of said electrodes, wherein the wind-off roller and the wind-up roller of the winding means are arranged on the base body or on at least one tong arm of said tong arms, and that at least one guiding groove comprising a recess is provided on said at least one tong arm and on the electrode holder for the guidance of the strip along said at least one tong arm; a pressure element arranged in a longitudinal direction with an electrode cap of at least one electrode of said electrodes; and a spacer coupled to said pressure element, said spacer disposed in a longitudinal direction with said electrode and configured to selectively space said strip from said at least one electrode, wherein said pressure element and said spacer comprise at least one guiding groove for guiding said strip around said at least one electrode wherein said spacer and said pressure element are configured to lift said strip from said at least one electrode during or after an opening of the spot welding tongs to protect said at least one electrode and wherein the spacer and the pressure element are movable relative to said at least one electrode of said electrodes.