US 11,969,836 B2
Reciprocating wire feed welding system and method
Christopher Hsu, Mentor, OH (US); Dennis Sigl, Greenville, WI (US); and Herbert Alexius Bankstahl, Appleton, WI (US)
Assigned to ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC., Glenview, IL (US)
Filed by Illinois Tool Works Inc., Glenview, IL (US)
Filed on Aug. 4, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/984,922.
Application 16/984,922 is a continuation of application No. 15/380,960, filed on Dec. 15, 2016, granted, now 10,730,132.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/271,983, filed on Dec. 28, 2015.
Prior Publication US 2021/0016385 A1, Jan. 21, 2021
Int. Cl. B23K 9/12 (2006.01); B65H 51/32 (2006.01); B23K 9/133 (2006.01); B65H 51/10 (2006.01)
CPC B23K 9/125 (2013.01) [B23K 9/124 (2013.01); B23K 9/133 (2013.01); B23K 9/1336 (2013.01); B65H 51/10 (2013.01); B65H 51/32 (2013.01); B65H 2701/36 (2013.01)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method, comprising:
driving rotation of a gear of a reciprocating welding wire feed system with a motor rotating in only one rotational direction;
feeding a welding wire through the reciprocating welding wire feed system in a first linear direction by driving the gear in the one rotational direction;
retracting the welding wire through the reciprocating welding wire feed system in a second linear direction opposite the first linear direction by driving the gear in the one rotational direction;
applying an electrical signal to a first expandable roll to radially expand the first expandable roll such that the first expandable roll captures the welding wire with a first drive roll to feed the welding wire in the first linear direction;
suspending application of the electrical signal to the first expandable roll to radially contract the first expandable roll such that the first expandable roll disengages from the welding wire and the first drive roll; and
applying the electrical signal to a second expandable roll to radially expand the second expandable roll such that the second expandable roll captures the welding wire with a second drive roll to retract the welding wire in the second linear direction.