Welding wire feeding apparatus with orbital mounting assembly

摘要

A welding wire feeding apparatus with orbital mounting assembly for use in combination with an industrial manipulator of the type including a "Z" axis assembly from which there is dependingly supported an extended welding axis post for rotational movement about the "Z" axis. The improved welding wire feeding apparatus mounting assembly is rotatably mounted on the bottom of the "Z" axis or wrist assembly of the robot and is in communication with the extended axis post by a rubber-lined yoke so that the rotational movement of the orbital welding wire feeding apparatus is simultaneous with that of the extended welding post. As a result of a support bearing and the attachment through a rubber-lined yoke, no mass or stiffness coupling occurs between the wire feeding apparatus and the extended axis post so that the natural frequencies of the extended axis post remain unchanged.