Parallel gap welder

Abstract

A welder having two generally parallel, closely spaced electrodes for manual or automatic welding of wire having displaceable insulation, for use particularly in the wiring of electronic circuit boards. The two electrodes have independent suspensions electrically isolated from one another, and have an aperture formed therebetween sufficiently large to allow a wire to pass therethrough. During the welding process, the wire is captured between the tip of one of the two electrodes and a conductive surface to which the wire is to be welded. As downward force is applied to the welder, the tip of the one electrode displaces the insulation on the wire adjacent thereto and adjacent the surface, while the other electrode tip is driven directly into electrical contact with the surface. Once sufficient force has been applied to the electrode to displace the insulation on the wire, a switch is actuated, supplying a current to the electrodes to weld the wire to the surface. The welder may be either automatically or manually operated, and may utilize either a pneumatic drive or a cable actuation system. The electrodes may be returned to an unactuated position either by a spring arrangement or by a pneumatic cylinder.