Self-adjusting wire feeder mounting assembly

A robotic welding torch, comprising:

• a robotic arm;
• a welding torch mounted to the robotic arm;
• a power cable connected to the welding torch at a first end;
• and
• a wire feeder connected to power cable at a second end opposite the first end, the wire feeder being mounted to a wire feeder mounting assembly, the wire feeder mounting assembly comprising:
• a stationary mounting bracket fixedly connected to the robotic arm,
• a moveable adapter plate, the moveable adapter plate being separate and moving relative to the stationary mounting bracket, the wire feeder being mounted to the moveable adapter plate,
• a stationary track coupling the mounting bracket to the moveable adapter plate, the stationary track being defined by one or more stationary bolts, and the moveable adapter plate being moveable along said stationary bolts, and
• one or more resilient members biasing the moveable adapter plate relative to said stationary mounting bracket, each of the one or more stationary bolts extending through at least one of the one or more resilient members,
• the one or more resilient members biasing the moveable adapter plate towards and the one or more resilient members biasing the moveable adapter plate away from the stationary mounting bracket as the moveable adapter plate moves along the stationary bolts based on movement of the robotic arm.

A method of adjusting a position of a wire feeder of a robotic welding torch, the method comprising:

• moving a welding torch of the robotic welding torch about an axis of rotation, the welding torch being connected to a power cable, and the movement of the welding torch changing a tension of the power cable;
• moving a wire feeder in response to the change in tension of the power cable, the wire feeder being connected to the power cable and mounted on a moveable adapter plate configured for movement along a stationary track defined by one or more stationary bolts,
• wherein moving the wire feeder comprises:
• moving the moveable adapter plate toward or away from the welding torch along the stationary track,
• moving the moveable adapter plate relative to a stationary mounting bracket that attaches the moveable adapter plate to a robotic arm,
• biasing the moveable adapter plate towards the stationary mounting bracket by one or more resilient members, as the moveable adapter plate moves along the stationary bolts based on movement of the robotic arm, and
• biasing the moveable adapter plate away from the stationary mounting bracket, by the one or more resilient members, as the moveable adapter plate moves along the stationary bolts based on movement of the robotic arm.