Specified Structure Of Sonic Or Ultrasonic Work Contacting Surface Patents (Class 156/580.2)
  • Patent number: 6871770
    Abstract: A transducer for a wire bonding apparatus is formed of two separate parts sandwiching therebetween a plurality of piezoelectric elements. One of the two parts is the amplifying horn, and by selecting appropriate sizes and shapes for the two parts, vibrational energy can be concentrated at the distal end of the amplifying horn where the bonding tool is located.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Assignee: ASM Assembly Automation Limited
    Inventors: Hing Leung Li, Kelvin Ming Wai Ng, Helen Lai Wa Chan, Peter Chou Kee Liu
  • Patent number: 6841921
    Abstract: An ultrasonic horn assembly for applying ultrasonic energy at an operating location which assembly includes a connector between horn assembly components which provides uniform clamping pressure between transfer faces of the components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2005
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventor: Norman R. Stegelmann
  • Patent number: 6835257
    Abstract: Method of preparing an adsorbent containing package and package made thereby. The method comprises providing a mounting surface of the package and heat fusing the mounting surface via ultrasonic welding to provide a multiplicity of depressed hard seal portions and relief surfaces on the mounting surface. The ratio of hard sealed portions to total seal area is within 10-60%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2004
    Assignee: Flow Dry Technology Ltd
    Inventor: Glenn D. Perrine
  • Patent number: 6830639
    Abstract: The present invention includes a method and apparatus for producing individual folded labels. The method includes the steps of providing a ribbon of labels and folding the ribbon of labels so as to form at least one folded portion. The folded ribbon is subjected to sufficient heat and pressure to set the at least one folded portion. The ribbon of labels is advanced to a cutting device and subdivided into individual folded labels with an ultrasonic cutting device. Immediately prior to cutting, the advance of the ribbon of labels is paused to allow the material to partially melt and flow prior to being subdivided. The corners of the label can also be rounded to provide improved comfort for the wearer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Pittsfield Weaving Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Frederick Bleckmann, Gilbert A. Bleckmann
  • Patent number: 6824632
    Abstract: The invention concerns an ultrasonic device for sealing at least two superimposed sheets, said device comprising a sealing assembly consisting of two elements which are respectively an anvil and a sonotrode, arranged opposite each other so that their facing surfaces form an interstice for passing through the sheets to be sealed, said interstice having an inlet section and an outlet section, the sonotrode vibrating at high frequencies to emit ultrasonic waves, characterised in that means are provided for generating between the superimposed sheets and said sealing assembly a relative movement along a specific feeding direction relative to the sealing assembly, and the section of said passage interstice decreases between its inlet section and its outlet section, and at least one element of said sealing assembly comprises a projecting ridge emerging into said passage interstice and extending along a direction globally parallel to said feeding direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignee: Mars Incorporated
    Inventors: Daniel Blanchard, Patrick Faul
  • Patent number: 6824630
    Abstract: A flexible flat cable connecting method includes stripping an insulation coating (5) surface of a flexible flat cable (1) to be connected with a busbar (2) to expose a conductive element (4). The method continues by introducing the flexible flat cable (1) and the busbar (2) between a horn (7) and an anvil (6) of an ultrasonic welding machine (3), and then transmitting an ultrasonic vibration to the horn (7). The horn (7) has a plurality of elongated projections (9) of tapered cross-section pressed in contact with the insulation coating (5) of the flexible flat cable (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Akinori Oishi, Takeshi Kihara
  • Publication number: 20040232202
    Abstract: In an ultrasonic welding apparatus comprising an ultrasonic sonotrode and a backing plate, flat workpieces to be welded are pressed between the sonotrode and the backing plate. Projections are provided on a portion of the surface of the sonotrode and on a portion of the surface of the backing plate, each projection-bearing surface portion being adjoined by a smooth portion. The flat workpieces are for example ends of a strapping tape formed in a loop around a package in a strapping machine and the aim is to produce a weld of increased strength.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2004
    Publication date: November 25, 2004
    Applicant: Maschinenfabrik Gerd Mosca AG
    Inventors: Timo Mosca, Peter Ludtke
  • Patent number: 6821367
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for securing a flexible covering about a frame having a peripheral edge and at least one corner. A portion of the flexible covering is folded over the peripheral edge of the frame at or about the corner and an excess portion of the covering is provided. Ultrasonic welding is used to create a seam of contacting portions of the flexible covering. In an embodiment, the excess portion of the flexible covering is removed in connection with the welding operation. An apparatus for securing a flexible covering about a frame is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2004
    Assignee: Steelcase Development Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas B. MacDonald, Daniel V. Constantino, Dean K. Hubbard, Robert T. Ruthven, Daniel M. Ursul, Larry B. Hanify
  • Publication number: 20040226645
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for ultrasonically welding plastic parts together. The ultrasonic welding apparatus includes: an air cylinder having a piston rod; an ultrasonic horn substantially rigidly coupled to an end of the piston rod and having a distal end; a rotary anvil having an axis of rotation generally perpendicular to an axis of the piston rod and comprising a periphery; a transducer for converting electric potential differences into ultrasound wave energy, the horn being acoustically coupled to the transducer; and drive means for causing the anvil to rotate. The distal end of the horn confronts the periphery of the anvil throughout rotation of the anvil. On one application, interlocked zipper strips are passed through a gap between the distal end of the horn and the periphery of the anvil. The anvil periphery has a plateau that presses the zipper against the distal end of the horn. The transducer is energized in synchronism with the plateau being opposed to the distal end of the horn.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2003
    Publication date: November 18, 2004
    Inventor: Kevin Owen
  • Patent number: 6818098
    Abstract: After the fixing of an angle indexing body to a holder by fixtures is canceled by loosening the fixtures, a resonator is turned by operating the angle indexing body with an axis in a vibration transmission direction as the center of rotation, a bonding work face is replaced by another bonding work face, and the angle indexing body is fixed to the holder by the fixtures so that the new bonding work face becomes parallel to the top face of a mounting table. Therefore, the replacement of the bonding work face can be simplified. Since overlapped workpieces are sandwiched between the bonding work face of the resonator and the mounting table, the mounting table makes a follow-up movement by a bearing composed of a spherical projection portion and a spherical depression portion to ensure that the bonding work face becomes parallel to the top face of the mounting table, thereby making it possible to optimize the position of the sandwiched workpieces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2004
    Assignee: Ultex Corporation
    Inventors: Shigeru Sato, Seiya Nakai
  • Patent number: 6811631
    Abstract: A device (10) for welding thin-walled work pieces (52) such as e.g. food containers of foil, fibrous web or foil-fibrous web composites using ultrasound has at least two components, i.e. a sonotrode (12) and a counter tool (14) for the sonotrode (12). One component (12) has a working region (16) which faces a working region (18) of the other component (14). The working region (18) of one component (14) comprises at least one projection (41) and the working region (16) of the other component (12) comprises at least one recess (46) into which the projection (41) can engage during the welding process. In this manner the work piece is securely held without slippage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignee: Herrmann Ultraschalltechnik GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Hartmut Möglich
  • Patent number: 6811630
    Abstract: An ultrasonic vibration method and an ultrasonic vibration apparatus, which do not have a directional property in the direction of vibrations, are disclosed. A pair of ultrasonic horns (11), (12), each having an ultrasonic vibrator (13), (14) provided at an end portion thereof, are disposed in an intersecting relationship to each other, and the composite vibrations of transverse vibrations produced by the pair of ultrasonic horns (11), (12) when the other ultrasonic horns (12), (11) are excited to generate longitudinal vibrations are extracted at the intersecting point of the pair of horns (11), (12) and applied to a contact object member through a presser (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Morio Tominaga, Shinji Iwahashi
  • Patent number: 6802920
    Abstract: An ultrasonic container sealing method of sealing a closure 12 to a container main body 11 with use of an ultrasonic horn 54 having a sealing action face 53 comprises applying pressure to a lap of an outer peripheral portion of the closure 12 and a flange 24 of the container main body 11 as lapped over each other by the sealing action face 53, and causing ultrasonic rotational vibration in a rotating direction about an axis parallel to the direction of application of the pressure to act on the sealing action face 53.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2004
    Assignee: Shikoku Kakoki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuhiko Shinohara, Michio Ueda
  • Patent number: 6797088
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the connection of pieces of textile fabric, a textile band and a method for producing same. In order to provide a textile band or continuous textile product which is suitable for continuous processing, it is proposed that, for the connection of pieces of textile fabric, a cut edge, at which the threads are essentially bound at the edge, is first formed. The textile pieces are then laid one on the other with an overlap, and are pressed one onto the other between a sonotrode and an anvil, where the anvil and/or the sonotrode have a surface profile with a number of elevations, The textile pieces are connected to each other by introducing an ultrasonic oscillation into the sonotrode, thus welding the textile pieces to one another ultrasonically.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Assignee: Imtex S.L.
    Inventor: Knut Georg Solinski
  • Patent number: 6790312
    Abstract: A form-fill-seal machine has an ultrasonic vibration emitter head 11 positioned outside the tube being formed by the overlapping of the margins 3 and 5 of a film web, and an anvil 13 positioned inside the tube defined by those margins, the anvil being mounted on an anvil carrier 25 which is supported by a frame element entirely independent of the forming box 1 used to fold the film, so as to isolate the anvil from vibrations sustained from the forming box. The anvil carrier can be mounted directly to a carrier body for the ultrasonic vibration emitter, and preferably has the shape of an inverted letter J where the anvil is positioned near the toe 25a of the J, the mounting to the sealing machine frame is at the top of the stem 25c of the J, with a slot 25b between the toe 25a and the stem 25c.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Cryovac, Inc.
    Inventors: Lino Cosaro, Stefano Capitani
  • Patent number: 6786989
    Abstract: A method for sealing a surface (13) of a body (11), wherein a thin material (21) is applied to the surface (13), and the material is connected to the surface by melting due to mechanical stimulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: Woodwelding AG
    Inventors: Laurent Torriani, Marcel Aeschlimann
  • Patent number: 6786384
    Abstract: An ultrasonic welding assembly is disclosed. The assembly includes a vibratory horn and at least one mount securing the horn. The horn has a resonant frequency and the mount has a resonant frequency about the same as the horn. The mount includes an inner portion that holds the horn at a nodal region. The mount also includes an outer surface that is coupled to a support member, for example, a bearing. The mount vibrates in resonance with the horn at the resonant frequency, wherein the vibration amplitude of the outer surface of the mount is generally up to about 15 percent of the vibration amplitude of the inner portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Gopal B. Haregoppa
  • Patent number: 6786987
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for sealing packaging material using ultrasonic technology. The method includes the steps of supplying the packaging material to a sealing station that includes an anvil and horn, and sealing the packaging material. The apparatus is a cam-shaped, rotatable anvil where the rate of rotation of the anvil can be changed based upon the speed of an AC Servo driving the anvil and the desired spacing between the seals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: Mars Incorporated
    Inventors: Bruce W. Keen, Alex Hanna
  • Patent number: 6780263
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for producing zippered bags at faster speeds. This is accomplished by speeding up the ultrasonic welding operation. More specifically, ultrasonic welding is performed continuously while the web of bag making film and the zipper tape are moving, instead of being performed while the film and zipper tape are stopped. To facilitate this improvement, the ultrasonic welding station is moved from the bag machine, where the bag making film and zipper tape move intermittently, to the sealer frame, where the film and zipper tape move continuously. The ultrasonic welding apparatus comprises a pair of rotary elements, one of which is acoustically coupled to an ultrasonic transducer. One of the rotary elements is provided with a protuberance on its periphery that acoustically couples the zipper tape to the energized rotary element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Victor Delisle
  • Patent number: 6780264
    Abstract: A method for welding synthetic resin members includes the steps of detecting a temperature of a high frequency electrode or an ultrasonic horn (or an anvil) by a temperature detector, cooling the high frequency electrode or the ultrasonic horn (or the anvil) by cooling means when the temperature detected by the temperature detector during a high frequency or ultrasonic vibration exceeds a preset temperature range, thereby reducing the temperature rapidly down to the preset temperature range, and stopping an operation of the cooling means when the temperature of the high frequency electrode or the ultrasonic horn (or the anvil) is reduced to the preset temperature range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshifumi Nakata, Osamu Igarashi, Michio Ito
  • Patent number: 6776323
    Abstract: A sonotrode for an ultrasonic welding device has an ultrasound generator that supplies high-frequency electrical energy to a converter that converts this energy into mechanical vibrations and conveys the latter, optionally via a booster, to a sonotrode (2). The sonotrode (2) is formed with a contact surface (3). In order to avoid troublesome sink marks, pegs (1) are arranged on the contact surface (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: Dynamit Nobel Kunststoff GmbH
    Inventor: Gerhard Schmidt
  • Patent number: 6773527
    Abstract: A method for ultrasonically bonding thermoplastic materials, for example melt-compatible thermoplastic materials, wherein the thermoplastic materials are preheated prior to entering an ultrasonic bonding means, thereby substantially increasing an ultimate bond strength established between the materials during the ultrasonic bonding process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Michael Campbell, Kile Patrick Mangan, Mark Michael Mleziva, Kent Allan Franklin, Adrian Roy Eggen
  • Patent number: 6767420
    Abstract: An ultrasonic horn having substantially uniformly isotropic radial expansion and contraction amplitude in all radial directions upon excitation. The horn has a microstructure characterized by isotropically random directional grain alignment. A method for manufacturing a horn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventor: Norman R. Stegelmann
  • Patent number: 6758925
    Abstract: An acoustical energy transfer component for transporting acoustical energy, the component having a shaped metal component body having a substantially uniformly isotropic expansion and contraction amplitude upon acoustical excitation. A method of manufacturing an acoustical energy transfer component having a component body with a uniformly isotropic expansion and contraction amplitude upon acoustical excitation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2004
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventor: Norman R. Stegelmann
  • Publication number: 20040118524
    Abstract: An ultrasonic horn having substantially uniformly isotropic radial expansion and contraction amplitude in all radial directions upon excitation. The horn has a microstructure characterized by isotropically random directional grain alignment. A method for manufacturing a horn.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2002
    Publication date: June 24, 2004
    Inventor: Norman R. Stegelmann
  • Patent number: 6752886
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for ultrasonic processing of workpieces (6) with a vibratory structure (1) comprising a sonotrode (3) and a converter (2). Energy is fed to the converter (2) by means of an ultrasonic generator (7), which is switched on and off by electrical switch-on and switch-off signals respectively, only for the duration of processing cycles. According to the invention the switch-off signals are generated on the basis of at least one state parameter (P) of the generator (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Assignee: Maschinenfabrik Spaichingen GmbH
    Inventor: Armin Distel
  • Publication number: 20040112547
    Abstract: There is provided an ultrasonic vibration welding equipment (1000) and an ultrasonic vibration horn (2000, 2000′ or 2000″) in which a sufficient path line for welding operation is secured and ultrasonic vibration of vertical component is not induced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2004
    Publication date: June 17, 2004
    Inventor: Osamu Tamamoto
  • Patent number: 6749102
    Abstract: The invention relates to an ultrasonic welding and cutting device for use in the manufacture of a flat-cable. The flat cable includes a plurality of wire conductors which are arranged in parallel at a given interval with respect to each other and interposed between first and second insulator films. The device has a product flow line in an upstream to downstream direction. The device comprises a horn unit including a horn melter unit that imparts ultrasonic oscillations, and a horn cutter unit. The horn melter unit and the horn cutter unit are located sequentially from upstream to downstream at a predetermined distance along the product flow line. The device further includes an anvil unit including an anvil melter unit and at least one anvil blade unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Yamano, Koji Fukumoto
  • Patent number: 6749703
    Abstract: In order to weld a reinforcing tape piece formed of a synthetic resin to a separable bottom stop attachment portion of a slide fastener chain by ultrasonic heating over a core portion and a main tape portion in a fastener tape, a welding time and/or an amplitude which are/is suitable for welding the reinforcing tape piece to the core portion and the vicinity of the core portion, and a welding time and/or an amplitude which are/is suitable for welding the reinforcing tape piece to the main tape portion are preset respectively. The welding of the reinforcing tape piece to the core portion and the vicinity of the core portion and the welding of the reinforcing tape piece to the main tape portion are carried out in two stages in accordance with the welding time or the amplitude which is set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventors: Keisuke Iwashita, Hideji Maeda, Satoshi Matsumura
  • Patent number: 6743330
    Abstract: A method and a system for forming slider end stops on a zipper tape that comprises first and second interlockable zipper parts. The method comprises the following steps: (a) transmitting sufficient ultrasonic wave energy into first and second areas of the zipper tape to cause the first and second interlocked zipper parts to deform and fuse in the first and second areas, the first and second areas being separated by a gap; and (b) applying sufficient heat and pressure onto a third area of the zipper tape to cause the interlocked zipper parts to deform and fuse in the third area, at least part of the third area being located between the first and second areas in the gap. The first and second areas do not impinge upon the zipper rails. The third area does impinge upon the zipper rails. Thus the zipper rails are deformed in the third area, but not in adjacent areas located below and contiguous with the first and second areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Donald L. Crevier
  • Patent number: 6743331
    Abstract: A bonding tool for bonding electronic components by ultrasonic vibration. The bonding tool includes a horn supported by two ribs from both sides, and a transducer is attached to an end of this horn. A protrusion protruding downward from the center between the ribs is provided on the horn, and a tip of the protrusion is a bonding portion which contacts the electronic component. The transducer is driven to apply vertical vibration to the horn. A phase of vertical expansion and compression vibration on the horn generated by this vertical vibration is set to have the same phase as that of bending vibration on the protrusion. Accordingly, displacement by expansion and vertical vibration at side ends of the bonding portion is canceled out by displacement caused by bending vibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seiji Takahashi, Masafumi Hizukuri
  • Patent number: 6740197
    Abstract: An apparatus for ultrasonic processing of workpieces is described. The apparatus comprises a converter plate, at least one feed unit mounted on said converter plate, at least one vibratory structure being coupled to said feed unit and having a converter, a sonotrode and a longitudinal axis, and adjusting means for adjusting the vibratory structure in at least two directions transversely to its longitudinal axis. The adjusting means include a plurality of fixing means arranged in the manner of a raster on said converter plate in such a manner that the feed unit can be fixed on the adapter plate with the aid of at least one fixing means selected from the plurality of fixing means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Assignee: Maschinenfabrik Spaichingen GmbH
    Inventor: Manfred Sans
  • Patent number: 6740181
    Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing cleaning pads is provided including a base, a pair of supply plates mounted over the base, a supporting plate protruded from an end of the supply plate, a lifting plate located on both sides of the supporting plate, an ultrasonic horn with a groove formed in a bottom being vertically movable located over the supporting plate and driven by an ultrasonic oscillator, an actuator mounted on both sides of the ultrasonic horn to help the ultrasonic horn separate from the cleaning pad, a moving body located under the supporting plate and being movable along a guide rail, a rotary blade mounted on an upper end of the moving body, an air cylinder for moving the moving body, and an inhaler to draw off broken pieces of the cleaning pad, wherein the actuator includes a case mounted on a side of the ultrasonic horn, a press member being vertically slidable in the case, a bottom of which is movable lower than that of the ultrasonic horn, and a spring located in the case to downwardly compress
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Inventor: Young-Chul Lim
  • Publication number: 20040094254
    Abstract: An apparatus of manufacturing cleaning pads includes a base, a pair of supply plates mounted over the base, which has a supporting plate protruded from an end of the supply plate, a lifting plate located on both side of the supporting plate, a ultrasonic horn with a groove in a bottom being vertically movable, located over the supporting plate and driven by a ultrasonic oscillator, an actuator mounted on both sides of the ultrasonic horn to help the ultrasonic horn separated from the cleaning pad, a moving body located right under the supporting plate and being reciprocally movable along a guide rail, a rotary blade mounted on a upper end of the moving body, an air cylinder to make the moving body reciprocally moved, and an inhaler to draw off a broken pieces of the cleaning pad, wherein the actuator includes a case mounted on a side of the ultrasonic horn, a press member being vertically slidable in the case, a bottom of which is movable lower than that of the ultrasonic horn, and a spring located in the cas
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2002
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Inventor: Young-Chul Lim
  • Patent number: 6733622
    Abstract: An ultrasonic welding assembly comprising a horn, an anvil and an anvil cover. The horn comprises a generally T-shaped flattening surface and a rail projecting forward of the flattening surface. The rail is shaped to serve as a dam for flowing thermoplastic zipper material during stomping of slider end stops. The horn further comprises a plurality of vertical energy directors designed to direct ultrasonic energy into the mass of zipper material and deflect flowing zipper material toward the dam. The horn further comprises first and second recesses located on opposite sides of a stem of the T-shaped flattening surface. The anvil cover overlies opposing portions of the anvil and comprises a T-shaped cutout. The T-shaped flattening surface of the horn fits in the T-shaped cutout of the anvil cover. The resulting zipper has slider end stops located at opposing ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. McMahon, Lawrence Share, Michael A. Pollack, Donald L. Crevier, Nigel D. Knight, Stanley Piotrowski
  • Patent number: 6719183
    Abstract: A transducer vibrated by a vibrator and used in a bonding apparatus, the transducer including holding portions provided so as to protrude at at least two locations that correspond to the nodes of vibration of a transducer main body, and connecting portions each connecting the tip ends of two protruding holding portions to each other. The transducer main body, holding portions and connecting portions are integrally formed from a single material member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Shinkawa
    Inventors: Ryuichi Kyomasu, Yoshihiko Seino
  • Patent number: 6673178
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method for the constant maintenance of the mean gap width between a sonotrode of an ultrasonic system and a tool of an ultrasonic cutting device, designed as a counter surface, for cutting and/or welding of various types of materials such as, for example, synthetic foils, textile fabrics containing synthetic substances, by means of a cutting tool, using an adjusting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Dr. Hielscher GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Ellner, Harald Hielscher
  • Publication number: 20030234085
    Abstract: The present invention pertains to a multilayer flexible wiring board.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2003
    Publication date: December 25, 2003
    Applicant: Sony Chemicals Corp.
    Inventors: Hideyuki Kurita, Masanao Watanabe, Masayuki Nakamura, Mitsuhiro Fukuda, Hiroyuki Usui
  • Patent number: 6655623
    Abstract: There is provided a leader tape which is capable of preventing breakage of a tape body when the tape body is pulled out, and a tape cartridge incorporating the leader tape. A leader tape includes a tape body having one end fixed to a tape, for enabling the tape to be pulled out of a cartridge body, and a pin attached to the tape body, for pulling out the tape therewith. The tape body has a portion on a side of another end opposite to the one end, the portion being folded such that the folded portion surrounds the periphery of the pin and that the folded portion has a leading end portion thereof welded to a tape surface of the tape body opposed to the folded portion. The welding is effected non-densely in at least one of a pin-side boundary portion of a welded area where the leading end portion and the tape surface opposed thereto are welded to each other and a one end-side boundary portion of the welded area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kaneda, Cyoutarou Kouzu, Kenji Kotegawa, Shintaro Shinkawa
  • Patent number: 6645330
    Abstract: An absorbent article including one or more images disposed thereon and a method for making the same are provided according to the present invention, wherein an ultrasonic assembly is used to impart sufficient energy to a deformed web to either partially or fully melt the web either in the deformed areas, or non-deformed areas to thereby form an image. The method can be used to print graphics directly on an absorbent article after its formation, or it can be used to print graphics on an appliquélayer that is subsequently placed on a predetermined portion of the absorbent article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Paragon Trade Brands, Inc.
    Inventors: Sunita Pargass, Joseph Vergona
  • Patent number: 6637490
    Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided an anvil assembly adapted for selective cooperation with a horn operatively connected to an ultrasonic wave generator such as to enable a textile workpiece disposed between the horn and the anvil assembly to be cut with the cut and simultaneously sealed. The anvil assembly comprises an anvil and a cradle, the anvil adapted to be selectively mounted onto the cradle in any one of at least two mounting positions, wherein corresponding to each mounting position the anvil comprises one peaked longitudinal cutting edge and a corresponding engagement section parallel to a longitudinal axis of the anvil. The corresponding positioning and engagement section is adapted for selective engagement for removably positioning and locked onto the cradle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: R.M.D. Robotics Ltd.
    Inventor: Meir Azulay
  • Patent number: 6634539
    Abstract: The invention is an apparatus comprising an ultrasonic horn. The horn is mounted to a support structure and includes a first mounting surface. An anvil is mounted to the support structure and spaced from the ultrasonic horn. The anvil has a first bearer surface. A bearer assembly supportably links the first mounting surface to the first bearer surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2003
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: John R. Mlinar, Donald S. Oblak
  • Publication number: 20030188819
    Abstract: A method for ultrasonically bonding thermoplastic materials, for example melt-compatible thermoplastic materials, wherein the thermoplastic materials are preheated prior to entering an ultrasonic bonding means, thereby substantially increasing an ultimate bond strength established between the materials during the ultrasonic bonding process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2002
    Publication date: October 9, 2003
    Inventors: Stephen Michael Campbell, Kile Patrick Mangan, Mark Michael Mleziva, Kent Allan Franklin, Adrian Roy Eggen
  • Publication number: 20030183315
    Abstract: An ultrasonic welding assembly comprising a horn, an anvil and an anvil cover. The horn comprises a generally T-shaped flattening surface and a rail projecting forward of the flattening surface. The rail is shaped to serve as a dam for flowing thermoplastic zipper material during stomping of slider end stops. The horn further comprises a plurality of vertical energy directors designed to direct ultrasonic energy into the mass of zipper material and deflect flowing zipper material toward the dam. The horn further comprises first and second recesses located on opposite sides of a stem of the T-shaped flattening surface. The anvil cover overlies opposing portions of the anvil and comprises a T-shaped cutout. The T-shaped flattening surface of the horn fits in the T-shaped cutout of the anvil cover. The resulting zipper has slider end stops located at opposing ends.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2002
    Publication date: October 2, 2003
    Inventors: Michael J. McMahon, Lawrence Share, Michael A. Pollack, Donald L. Crevier, Nigel D. Knight, Stanley Piotrowski
  • Patent number: 6626349
    Abstract: Large vibration tool, vibrating at ultrasonic frequency, especially for applications in the welding, joining or cutting of materials, especially thermoplastics, in cleaning or emulsifying by the activation of a liquid medium, in gas spraying or in shot blasting by blasting any kind of medium, made in the form of a circular sonotrode hollowed out at its center so as to produce a cavity allowing a shape approaching that of a bell to be obtained, said tool having a linking mass providing surface coupling with a vibrational excitation element; at least one circular membrane vibrationally excited at its center or at one end; and at least one tube-shaped final element, the end of which defines the working area of the sonotrode, linked to the linking mass via the said membrane, the latter transmitting the vibration to the said final element whose length is defined by a longitudinal vibration mode tuned to the said excitation frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: Mecasonic
    Inventors: Jean-Louis Janin, Jean-Louis Berthet
  • Patent number: 6620270
    Abstract: An ultrasonic processing method and apparatus (20) can include a rotatable, ultrasonic horn member (28) that is operatively joined to an isolation member (42) which has high rigidity. Additionally, a rotatable anvil member (86) can be cooperatively positioned to provide a selected horn-anvil gap (106) between the anvil member (86) and the horn member (28). A transfer device (110) can be configured to selectively adjust the horn-anvil gap (106), and an automated drive (130) can be operatively connected to the transfer device (110) to selectively modify the horn-anvil gap (106). A force sensor (126) can be configured to detect a gap force at the horn-anvil gap (106), and an electronic processor (128) can be configured to employ an output from the force sensor (126) to monitor the gap force, and provide a drive signal to the automated drive (130) to thereby adjust the horn-anvil gap (106).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas David Ehlert, Patrick Sean McNichols, Barton Andrew Laughlin, Harold Norbert Heller, Timothy James Blenke, Tauhid Husain, Paul Gordon Klemp, John Ford Condron
  • Patent number: 6613171
    Abstract: A method and apparatus (20) for ultrasonic bonding or other processing can include a rotatable ultrasonic horn member (28) having a first axial side (30) and a second axial side (32). The first axial side (30) of the horn member (28) can be operatively joined to a first rotatable axle member (34), and the first axle member (34) can be operatively joined to a first isolation member (42). The second axial side (32) of the horn member (28) can be operatively joined to a second rotatable axle member (36), and the second axle member (36) can be operatively joined to a second isolation member (44). The isolation members (42, 44) are capable of bending under a horn-life range of sonic frequencies to provide an operative component of motion along a radial direction (102) of each isolation member (42, 44), and an operative component of motion along an axial direction (100) of each isolation member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick Sean McNichols, Timothy James Blenke, Thomas David Ehlert, Tauhid Husain, Daniel Edward Wallander, Norman Rudolf Stegelmann
  • Patent number: 6605178
    Abstract: An ultrasonic sealing apparatus comprises at least one horn having an elongated sealing face for sealing a packing material. Plural converters are erected on a side of the horn opposite to the sealing face for resonating the horn with a vibrating frequency. The ultrasonic sealing apparatus has a length that is one wavelength of the vibrating frequency and is fixed in position to a sealing jaw at a nodal plane of the vibrating frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2003
    Assignee: Shikoku Kakoki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuhiko Shinohara, Takeshi Iseki, Michio Ueda, Satoshi Kume, Osamu Tamamoto, Tadayoshi Hamaguchi
  • Patent number: 6599381
    Abstract: A method and device for vacuum assist picking and placing a first component part relative to a second component part in preparation for ultrasonically welding the first component part to the second component part and ultrasonically welding the first component part to the second component part with the combination ultrasonic weld horn/vacuum pickup. A combination ultrasonic weld horn/vacuum pickup includes an ultrasonic weld horn including a vacuum conduit. A vacuum or negative pressure is directed through the vacuum conduit providing necessary suction at the tip of the weld horn to permit the weld horn to pick and hold a first component part during positioning of the part for welding to a second component part. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the conduit is formed as a bore milled along a longitudinal axis of the weld horn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2003
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Kevin J. Urlaub, Michael W. Keyes
  • Publication number: 20030121589
    Abstract: In order to weld a reinforcing tape piece formed of a synthetic resin to a separable bottom stop attachment portion of a slide fastener chain by ultrasonic heating over a core portion and a main tape portion in a fastener tape, a welding time and/or an amplitude which are/is suitable for welding the reinforcing tape piece to the core portion and the vicinity of the core portion, and a welding time and/or an amplitude which are/is suitable for welding the reinforcing tape piece to the main tape portion are preset respectively. The welding of the reinforcing tape piece to the core portion and the vicinity of the core portion and the welding of the reinforcing tape piece to the main tape portion are carried out in two stages in accordance with the welding time or the amplitude which is set.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2002
    Publication date: July 3, 2003
    Applicant: YKK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keisuke Iwashita, Hideji Maeda, Satoshi Matsumura