Method of loading a stud welding head

Abstract

A method for feeding a component to a component holder and for joining the component onto a work piece in a joining direction, the method comprising the steps of: turning the component holder to a transfer position in which the component holder is aligned with a feed channel, wherein it is turned about an axis that is aligned transversely relative to the joining direction; feeding the component, through the feed channel, into the component holder; turning the component holder to a joining position; and performing a joining operation, including moving a slide bearing the component holder in the joining direction.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for feeding a component to a component holder and for joining the component onto a work piece in a joining direction, the method comprising the steps of:
 turning the component holder, on a slide, to a transfer position in which the component holder is aligned with a feed channel, wherein it is turned about an axis that is aligned transversely relative to the joining direction;   feeding the component, through the feed channel, into the component holder;   turning the component holder to a joining position; and   performing a joining operation, the slide being moved in the joining direction.   
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the feeding of the component through the feed channel into the component holder is effected in an uninterrupted manner. 
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein, when a first component holder is turned to the joining position, a second component holder is turned to a transfer position. 
     
     
         4 . A method for feeding a component to a component holder and for joining the component onto a work piece, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a joining head arrangement comprising:
 a housing; 
 a linear drive located on the housing; 
 a slide mounted on the housing and drivable by the linear drive in a joining direction, one of toward and away from the work piece; 
 a component holder operable to releasably hold the component during a joining operation, the component holder mounted on the slide and rotatably about an axis that is aligned transversely relative to the joining direction; 
 a feed device including a feed channel for feeding the component to the component holder, and 
 the component holder is rotatable between a transfer position, where the component is transferable from the feed device to the component holder at a transfer location, and a joining position, where the component is joinable to the work piece. 
   turning the component holder to the transfer position in which the component holder is aligned with the feed channel;   feeding the component, through the feed channel, into the component holder;   turning the component holder to the joining position; and   performing a joining operation, including moving the slide in the joining direction.   
     
     
         5 . A method for feeding a component to a component holder and for joining the component onto a work piece according to  claim 4 , and wherein:
 providing the joining head arrangement further includes that the component holder is a first component holder mounted at a first circumferential position on the shaft, and the joining head arrangement further includes a second component holder mounted at a second circumferential position on the shaft, and the first circumferential position is angularly separated from the second circumferential position; and   turning the component holder to the transfer position in which the first component holder is aligned with the feed channel further includes turning the second component holder to the joining position.