US 12,378,093 B2
Wire spool rotation resistance adjusters and wire feed assemblies having adjustable wire spool rotation resistance
Mark Richard Christopher, Neenah, WI (US); Justin Durik, Greenville, WI (US); and Connor Denis Uitenbroek, Appleton, WI (US)
Assigned to Illinois Tool Works Inc., Glenview, IL (US)
Filed by Illinois Tool Works Inc., Glenview, IL (US)
Filed on Jun. 30, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/855,087.
Prior Publication US 2024/0002187 A1, Jan. 4, 2024
Int. Cl. B65H 49/34 (2006.01); B23K 9/133 (2006.01); B65H 49/26 (2006.01)
CPC B65H 49/34 (2013.01) [B23K 9/133 (2013.01); B65H 49/26 (2013.01); B65H 2403/725 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A wire spool hub assembly, comprising:
a spindle configured to hold a wire spool;
a spool rotation resistor positioned to resist rotation of the wire spool on the spindle; and
a resistance adjuster, comprising:
a spring positioned between a compressive surface and a spool hub and configured to bias the spool hub toward the spool rotation resistor, the spool hub configured to carry the wire spool on the spindle; and
a cam lever coupled to the spindle to adjust the compression of the spring, wherein the resistance adjuster is configured to selectively apply two or more rotation resistances via the spool rotation resistor based on two or more discrete positions of the resistance adjuster by adjusting, via the cam lever, the compression of the spring between a first compression force in the first discrete position and a second compression force in the second discrete position.