Swing arm assembly with lift assembly

Abstract

A swing arm assembly is provided for a spot welding machine. The swing arm assembly can accommodate a tip dresser or a tip exchanger and can include a lift assembly that can translate the tip dresser from a first position to a second position along a lateral axis.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A swing arm comprising:
 an arm;   an extendible arm mount slidably coupled with the arm such that the extendible arm mount is slidable with respect to the arm along a first axis between a retracted position and an extended position; and   a head mounted to the extendible arm mount and comprising:
 a support plate; and 
 an actuator coupled with the support plate and configured to facilitate selective sliding of a tip dresser with respect to the support plate. 
   
     
     
         2 . The swing arm of  claim 1  wherein the actuator comprises a piston. 
     
     
         3 . The swing arm of  claim 2  wherein the piston is electrically powered. 
     
     
         4 . The swing arm of  claim 1  wherein the actuator facilitates selective sliding of the tip dresser in a direction that is perpendicular to the first axis. 
     
     
         5 . A swing arm comprising:
 a mounting base; and   an arm assembly pivotably coupled with the mounting base, the arm assembly comprising:
 an arm; 
 an extendible arm mount slidably coupled with the arm such that the extendible arm mount is slidable with respect to the arm along a first axis between a retracted position and an extended position; and 
 a head mounted to the extendible arm mount and comprising:
 a support plate; and 
 an actuator coupled with the support plate and configured to facilitate selective sliding of a tip dresser with respect to the support plate. 
 
   
     
     
         6 . The swing arm of  claim 5  wherein the actuator comprises a piston. 
     
     
         7 . The swing arm of  claim 6  wherein the piston is electrically powered. 
     
     
         8 . The swing arm of  claim 5  further comprising a driver cylinder pivotally coupled to the mounting base, the driver cylinder being operably mounted to the arm assembly to facilitate pivoting of the arm assembly with respect to the mounting base about a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis. 
     
     
         9 . The swing arm of  claim 8  wherein the driver cylinder comprises a pneumatic drive. 
     
     
         10 . The swing arm of  claim 5  wherein the actuator facilitates selective sliding of the tip dresser in a direction that is perpendicular to the first axis. 
     
     
         11 . A swing arm comprising:
 a mounting base; and   an arm assembly pivotably coupled with the mounting base, the arm assembly comprising a head that comprises a support plate;   at least one self-equalizing spring that is coupled with the support plate, the at least one self-equalizing spring being configured to support a tip dresser; and   an actuator coupled with the head, wherein the actuator is configured to facilitate selective sliding of the tip dresser with respect to the support plate and in opposition to the at least one self-equalizing spring.   
     
     
         12 . The swing arm of  claim 11  wherein the arm assembly comprises:
 an arm; and 
 an extendible arm mount slidably coupled with the arm such that the extendible arm mount is slidable with respect to the arm along a first axis between a retracted position and an extended position, wherein the head is mounted to the extendible arm mount. 
 
     
     
         13 . The swing arm of  claim 11  wherein the actuator comprises a piston. 
     
     
         14 . The swing arm of  claim 13  wherein the piston is electrically powered. 
     
     
         15 . The swing arm of  claim 12  further comprising a driver cylinder pivotally coupled to the mounting base, the driver cylinder being operably mounted to the arm assembly to facilitate pivoting of the arm assembly with respect to the mounting base about a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis. 
     
     
         16 . The swing arm of  claim 15  wherein the driver cylinder comprises a pneumatic drive. 
     
     
         17 . The swing arm of  claim 12  wherein the actuator facilitates selective sliding of the tip dresser in a direction that is perpendicular to the first axis.