With Sonic Or Ultrasonic Means Patents (Class 156/580.1)
  • Patent number: 6215195
    Abstract: A wire bonding method includes aligning the face of a capillary along a first direction to make a first wire bond at a first bond point. The capillary face is realigned to a second direction to make a second wire bond at a second bond point. The realignment may be achieved by a system including an wire bonding capillary having an indicator located thereon. A detector detects a signal from the indicator. The signal corresponds to a rotational alignment of the capillary and, therefore, to a direction of alignment of the capillary face. A first signal indicates a first alignment of the capillary face and a second signal indicates a second alignment of the capillary face. The signals may each have a relative signal strength which indicates rotational an offset of the capillary face from a given direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Sreenivasan Koduri
  • Patent number: 6209608
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for the high volume manufacture of fluid infusion devices which embody a self-contained, stored-energy source for expelling fluids from the reservoir of the device into an ambulatory patient at precisely controlled rates over extended periods of time. In accordance with the method of the invention, the base and cover infusion components of the devices of the invention are manufactured in injection molded arrays which comprise a cover array which is superimposed over and connected to a base array with the elastomeric membrane being captured therebetween. The elastomeric membrane material, which forms the stored-energy source of the infusion devices, is continuously unrolled from a large roll of film-backed membrane material which is rotatably mounted on a turret assembly upon which a second back-up roll of elastomeric membrane material is also mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Assignee: Science Incorporated
    Inventor: Marshall S. Kriesel
  • Patent number: 6197138
    Abstract: A machine and process are disclosed for bonding an elastic member to a moving substrate web while the elastic member is in an un-stretched condition. The machine provides for upwardly folding a moving substrate web along a longitudinal centerline while maintaining the side edge regions of the web in a flat un-folded or un-gather condition. An elastic member is applied to the moving web while the elastic member is un-stretched, applying the first and second end regions of the elastic member to the respective first and second side edge regions of the moving web. The end regions of the elastic member are next bonded to the side edges of the web, leaving the remainder of the elastic member un-bonded to the web. The web is then un-folded or un-gathered to its first normal width, stretching the bonded elastic member. At least a portion of the remainder of the elastic member previously un-bonded to the web is then bonded to the web, and the stretched elastic member is allowed to relax.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventor: Patrick Sean McNichols
  • Patent number: 6190497
    Abstract: A bonding tool for applying pressure and ultrasonic energy simultaneously to join miniature components together includes an ultrasonic driver having four composite wafers separated by electrodes. Such bonding tools are known that use wafers made of wholly of ceramic material. By using wafers having four sector parts of ceramic material separated by layers of polymer as shown, bonding tools are provided with broader bandwidth operation and reduced spurious resonance modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Assignee: The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
    Inventors: Helen Lai Wa Chan, Siu Wing Or, Kei Chun Cheng, Chung Loong Choy
  • Patent number: RE37025
    Abstract: A fitment comprising a pouring spout having a peripheral flange at one end and a closure at a second end is attached to a paperboard carton formed with a hole in a side panel. The carton is moved intermittently along a conveyor, such as that used in a filling machine. An arm having a spud oscillates about a horizontal axis parallel to the conveyor. The arm is pivoted to down position as the carton reaches the fitment attaching station so that the fitment enters the open end of the carton with the spud aligned with the carton hole. The arm is mounted on a first carriage which reciprocates horizontally in a first direction to project the closure through the hole until the flange abuts the inside of the carton panel. An ultrasonic welding horn is mounted on a second carriage which reciprocates in alignment with the first carriage in a second direction opposite the first direction. The horn welds the fitment flange to the inside of the carton panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2001
    Assignee: Portola Packaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Rodger A. Moody, Gerald M. Blain, Ronald J. Billet