Abstract: Devices which shorten the time needed for the assembly of electrode capsules on welding grippers are provided. Such devices may have two stations for withdrawal of electrode capsules. The withdrawal stations may have a mirror-image arrangement with respect to a given intermediate plane and may be situated in a peripheral zone of the apparatus. Two guide ducts may house two respective rows of electrode capsules. Two prechambers can be provided, each one being arranged between the associated withdrawal station and an outlet end of the associated guide duct. A retractable stop pin may be mounted between each prechamber and the associated withdrawal station, said pin, when extracted, blocking an electrode capsule inside the withdrawal station. To transfer an electrode capsule from the prechamber to the associated withdrawal station, the apparatus may be provided with two positioning devices which can be selectively operated in order to accomplish this.

Abstract: A mechanism for releasing a pair of electrode caps from a pair of electrode cap holders of a spot welding gun. A rotatable member (11) which can be rotated about an axis (x) has an axially extended through cavity (19) with an inner cylindrical wall in which there are formed two axially spaced sets of niches (20, 21). The niches each have a curved axial wall (20c, 21c) with an eccentric profile relative to the axis of rotation (x). The niches of each set have depths and curvatures progressively increasing in a same circumferential direction. Two sets of gripping rollers (24, 25), partially received in the two sets of niches (20, 21), are provided for gripping two electrode caps (E) on a same welding gun.

Abstract: A mechanism for releasing a pair of electrode caps from a pair of electrode cap holders of a spot welding gun. A rotatable member (11) which can be rotated about an axis (x) has an axially extended through cavity (19) with an inner cylindrical wall in which there are formed two axially spaced sets of niches (20, 21). The niches each have a curved axial wall (20c, 21c) with an eccentric profile relative to the axis of rotation (x). The niches of each set have depths and curvatures progressively increasing in a same circumferential direction. Two sets of gripping rollers (24, 25), partially received in the two sets of niches (20, 21), are provided for gripping two electrode caps (E) on a same welding gun.

Abstract: Devices which shorten the time needed for the assembly of electrode capsules on welding grippers are provided. Such devices may have two stations for withdrawal of electrode capsules. The withdrawal stations may have a mirror-image arrangement with respect to a given intermediate plane and may be situated in a peripheral zone of the apparatus. Two guide ducts may house two respective rows of electrode capsules. Two prechambers can be provided, each one being arranged between the associated withdrawal station and an outlet end of the associated guide duct. A retractable stop pin may be mounted between each prechamber and the associated withdrawal station, said pin, when extracted, blocking an electrode capsule inside the withdrawal station. To transfer an electrode capsule from the prechamber to the associated withdrawal station, the apparatus may be provided with two positioning devices which can be selectively operated in order to accomplish this.