Abstract: An apparatus for heat staking utilizes an infrared lamp to direct radiant energy onto a plastic part to heat and so soften it prior to the staking punch impacting the part. The apparatus comprises an energy directing means for concentrating the infrared energy onto the part, and a moveable carriage for moving the punch toward and away from the part. One embodiment of the energy concentrating means is a reflector, wherein the reflector includes a central aperture for admission of the part, and wherein the reflector comprises different curved sections for concentrating the energy over the surface of the part. In an alternate embodiment, the energy directing means comprises fiber optic cables for directing the infrared energy to the surface of the part.

Abstract: An apparatus for heat staking utilizes an infrared lamp to direct radiant energy onto a plastic part to heat and so soften it prior to the staking punch impacting the part. The apparatus comprises an energy directing means for concentrating the infrared energy onto the part, and a moveable carriage for moving the punch toward and away from the part. One embodiment of the energy concentrating means is a reflector, wherein the reflector includes a central aperture for admission of the part, and wherein the reflector comprises different curved sections for concentrating the energy over the surface of the part. In an alternate embodiment, the energy directing means comprises fiber optic cables for directing the infrared energy to the surface of the part.

Abstract: A machine for heat staking utilizes an infrared heat lamp to direct radiant energy onto a plastic stud to heat and soften the plastic material prior to the staking punch impacting the stud. In a first embodiment of the invention, the lamp is mounted directly above and in coaxial alignment with the staking punch such that the lamp points downward toward the plastic stud. An annular reflector is positioned in a radially surrounding relationship to the stud such that all of the radiant energy emitted by the lamp strikes the reflector and is redirected radially inward onto the stud. In an alternate embodiment of the invention, an infrared lamp is mounted on a non-moving portion of the staking press machinery and one or more fiber-optic cables extend from the lamp to the vicinity of the stud. The fiber-optic cables gather substantially all of the radiant energy produced by the lamp and direct it onto the stud.