Abstract: An apparatus for ultrasonically welding workpieces that reduces sonotrode adhesion during the ultrasonic welding process. The sonotrode tip has a specific surface configuration, including a curvilinear shaped outer surface combined with a plurality of grooves and lands. Due to the curvilinear surface, the depth of the grooves gradually decreases near the outer edge or periphery of a contact surface of the sonotrode tip. Further, such a groove and land combination also provides a sharp edge or corner that reduces sliding of the tip on the workpiece and correspondingly reduces sticking. In addition, various types of coatings or inserts may also be used to reduce sticking of the sonotrode tip to the workpiece.

Abstract: This invention relates to an apparatus and a method for manufacturing a member which makes a part of a car body of an automobile or the like by mash-seam welding a plurality of blanks. Standby areas (B) are provided at both right and left sides of an welding area (A) to/from which a seam welding machine (130) moves forward/backward, and a lapping device (100) for overlapping respective end portions of blanks (W1)(W2) and a temporary clamping device (80) for temporarily clamping the blanks (W1)(W2) are disposed on two transfer tables (70) which are sent from the standby areas (B) to the welding area (A) by turns. When the blanks (W1)(W2) with these end portions overlapped one another and temporarily clamped are sent to the welding area (A) by the transfer table (70), the blanks (W1)(W2) are permanently clamped by a permanent clamping device (180) and thereafter, subjected to a mash-seam welding by upper/lower electrode rollers (142)(148) of the seam welding machine 130.

Abstract: A terminal pressure-welding apparatus is provided, which includes: a first pattern; a second pattern facing the first pattern, one of the first and second patterns is provided approachably and disapproachably with respect to the other thereof; a mounting portion to mount the other of the first and second patterns; a displacing member carrying the one of the first and second patterns and being movable relatively to the other of the first and second patterns; and a stopping means to check an abutment of the first pattern and the second pattern, wherein a terminal metal fitting and an end portion of an electric wire are placed between the first and second patterns, and the terminal metal fitting and the end portion are pressure-welded by making the first and second patterns approach each other.

Abstract: Described herein is an integrated clamping and clinching device for sheet-metal panels which simultaneously performs a clamping operation on two or more panels in the precise assembly condition, and application of at least one clinching point for obtaining joining of the panels. The device is provided with at least one pair of clamping elements and at least one pair of clinching elements which are controlled by one and the same fluid cylinder in such a way that the pair of clamping elements reaches a closed position immediately before the pair of clinching elements.

Abstract: A band saw strip manipulator is arranged to receive a toothed metal strip for welding from a cut to length machine. The strip is moved into the band saw strip manipulator by powered rollers. The strip extends between a first edge detector at one side of the manipulator and a second edge detector at the opposite side of the manipulator. First and second end clamps are located to either side of a carriage mounted for vertical movement. When the strip has been approximately centrally located in the manipulator the carriage moves upwardly thereby pulling the strip upwardly until the edge detectors detect the ends of the strip. The first and second end clamps are then closed and pivoted about first and second guide rollers so that the two ends of the strip are located in close proximity for welding together.

Abstract: A locating and locking unit for sheet metal parts which are to be assembled by electric spot-welding on a motor-vehicle body, comprising a base platform, for receiving the trolley of a positioning frame equipped with locating and locking devices for the parts to be welded. The base platform can be rotated between a non-operative horizontal position and an inclined position in which the positioning frame can engage the parts to be welded in a welding station along the assembly line. Locating elements are provided for defining the precise position of the positioning frame along two mutually orthogonal axes in a plane that is perpendicular to the axis of the line and along an axis parallel to the line.

Abstract: A method and system for instantaneous heat-sink soldering comprising a gripper device, an intense heat source, and an air-jet cooling system is provided for soldering terminals to structures of dissimilar material composition. The gripper device is adapted to secure the terminal between a pair of jaws and selectively position the terminal closely adjacent the structure. The jaws further serve as heat sinks to continually remove residual heat from the terminal, both during and after the application of heat to the terminal. Upon termination of the heat application, air-jet cooling is provided to the terminal to quickly cool the terminal and the molten layer of solder. The method of rapidly heating and cooling the terminal and layer of solder prevents the annealing of certain silica substrates and provides better solder connections.

Abstract: A weld gun having a pair of opposing arms movable relative to each other to apply pressure to a workpiece during a welding operation. The opposing arms of the weld gun can be rotatable or translatable relative to each other. The opposing arms are moved relative to each other by an inverted roller screw linear actuator. The weld gun can include an electric control for controlling the operation of the actuator. The actuator can be mounted on either of the opposing arms.

Abstract: Welding of two or more steel sheets, at least one of which has a protective layer of a material with a low vaporization temperature, is carried out by directing a laser beam on two overlapped flanges of the sheets, which are clamped in position during welding by means of clamping devices. These clamping devices are able to hold the flanges to be welded in a slightly spaced apart position from each other, so as to create a gap, which does not jeopardize the possibility of carrying out the welding while enabling evacuation of the vapours of the protective material, which are generated during welding.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for positioning and soldering together multiple stanined glass sections is disclosed.

Abstract: A feed unit for moving parts over short distances has a four-bar chain forming a translating solid parallelogram having two parallel rigid opposite legs, one of which constitutes a base leg, connected to one another by elastic elements and a piezoelectric stack translator extending between and flexibly connected to the rigid legs for articulation relative to the rigid legs and oriented at an angle of incidence (&agr;) with respect to a base leg that is less than 90° and greater than 45°.

Abstract: There is provided an inclination prevention member for preventing a pressing part from inclining to a supporting part. Therefore a pressing face and a stage face can be arranged to be nearly parallel. The pressing face can be thus disposed with the higher parallelism to the bonding stage as compared with the conventional art, so that components and a circuit form object can be bonded with a high bonding quality.

Abstract: The invention concerns an apparatus for friction stir welding, comprising a welding unit including a welding head, a worktable including a backing unit to support the workpieces to be welded together along their joint line, and clamping means to clamp the workpieces to the worktable in a direction towards one another during the welding operation. The backing unit consists of at least two backing parts or of at least one backing part and one additional welding head, said backing parts being freely exchangeable, one for the other, before each welding operation as is also each backing part freely exchangeable for the additional welding head, and vice versa.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for positioning and soldering together multiple stained glass sections is disclosed.

Abstract: A welding head for looping machine is provided with a strap guide (7) for passing the looping strap (5) through the welding head (1), a strap fixing element (14) for holding the lapping strap sections (3, 4) which are to be welded together, a welding set (17) for melting the looping strap sections (3, 4) which are to be welded together, a pressing arrangement for joining the melted strap sections (3, 4) which are to be welded together, and a mechanically operating ejector (30) which is integrated in the welding head (1) for lifting the welded looping strap (5) out of the welding head (1).

Abstract: A pipe fitting apparatus includes first and second connector units for releasable connection to respective first and second pipe sections adjacent pipe ends to be coupled, so as to hold the pipe sections relative to one another in the desired relative orientations during welding. Each connector unit has a groove on one face for location against the outside of a pipe, with the longitudinal groove axis extending parallel to the axis of a pipe to which it is secured. The units are adjustably secured together by a pivot coupling having a pivot axis extending transverse to the groove axis for pivotal adjustment of the orientation of the second connector unit relative to the first connector unit, whereby the relative orientation of the first and second pipes to be coupled can be adjusted. A releasable locking device releasably secures the second connector unit at a selected orientation relative to the first connector unit.

Abstract: Handle clamps and a clamping kit for clamping or clamping and fastening a mold during exothermic welding are disclosed in which a single handle clamp may be utilized in at least three different exothermic welding operations. The handle clamp may be utilized with or without removable support arms to simply clamp the mold parts together where only the ends of cables are to be connected together within a cavity of the mold. If it is desired to connect the cables to either a flat surface or a curved surface, the support arms are attached to the handle clamp, and either a magnetic fastening assembly or a chain assembly is attached to the support arms to fasten the handle clamp and mold to the respective differently shaped surfaces.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus (22) for removing solder from a circuit board (5) from which electrical or electronic components have been removed at soldering points. The invention is addressed to the problem of offering a method and an apparatus by which the residual solder can be entirely removed from the circuit board (5) and by which even a large area on the circuit board (5) can be freed quickly and easily of the residual solder. This problem is solved by a method in which the solder after melting is pushed away from the soldering points by at least one pushing means (13a) or displaced therefrom by a plunger element, and is then removed from the circuit board (5). The apparatus (22) according to the invention makes available the means needed for the purpose.

Abstract: An apparatus for friction welding a first element to a second element includes a forge assembly having a table defining a platform, a crank, a forge link and a reaction link disposed oppositely of the forge link relative to the platform. Various construction details are disclosed that provide a friction welder that minimizes bending in the forge and motion planes and enhances repeatability of the welds performed. In a specific embodiment, the friction welder may be used in a method to form integrally bladed rotors and further includes a reciprocal motion assembly adapted to generate motion between the elements being welded, a gripper and an base tool. The reciprocal motion assembly includes a servo hydraulic actuator having a hydraulic column frequency greater than the frequency of reciprocation. The gripper is a device for use with bonding an airfoil to the rotor. The base tool is a device for mounting and positioning the rotor for the bonding operations.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for precisely aligning and holding two thin walled stainless steel sanitary tubing segments end-to-end to allow for tack welding of the segments together during a tube assembly process are disclosed. The apparatus includes two pivotally connected C-shaped clamp halves that contact almost an entire circumferential path along the outer walls of both aligned tubing segments. The apparatus is not designed to reshape the ends of the tubing segments, but rather is designed for precision alignment of the ends of the tubing segments during the tack welding process. The process includes use of an apparatus constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention.

Abstract: Two position detectors for a leading strip and two position detectors for the trailing strip are provided so as to be separated each other by a certain distance along each of the strips in a transferring direction of the strips to detect a deviation of a center line of each of the strips in a width direction of the strips with respect to a center line of a processing line. Two alignment devices for the leading strip and two alignment devices for the trailing strip, which are provided so as to be separated by a certain distance in the transferring direction, clamp each of the strips and adjust a position of each of the strips in the width direction in response to each of the detected deviations to align the center line of each of the strips with the center line of the processing line.

Abstract: A die set for welding a panel like heat pipe to a heat sink, by the die set used in welding, the heat pipe with extremely high heat conductivity is effectively combined with the heat sink for use. Thereby, the heat sink can have better heat-conducting efficiency and working of it is fast and convenient. The die set includes a first and a second die seat. The first die seat is placed under a heat conductive bottom plate, and the top thereof has a first frame-like stub of which the top surface has a lot of protruding granules. The second die seat is placed above a heat conductive top plate, and the bottom thereof has a second frame-like stub (opposite to the first die seat) of which the bottom surface also has a lot of protruding granules. The top plate is lapped over the bottom plate with a connecting frame therebetween in opposition to and having a shape similar to that of any of the first and second frame-like stubs.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of forming improved wire bonds between the contact pads on semiconductor devices and individual lead frame fingers of a lead frame. The apparatus and method includes the use of a penetrating individual independent lead finger clamp during the wire bonding process to provide increased stability of the individual lead finger for improved bonding by the clamp penetrating a portion of the lead finger being bonded. If desired, the apparatus and method also provides for the use of either a penetrating or non-penetrating fixed clamp for the lead fingers during the wire bonding process in addition to the penetrating individual independent lead finger clamp during the wire bonding process to provide increased stability of the individual lead finger for improved bonding.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of supporting lead fingers during a wire bonding process and of preventing the bonding apparatus and clamping assembly from applying force against the die. The present invention includes the use of a movable arm with a portion that is positionable under a portion of the lead fingers of a lead frame during the wire bonding process to provide increased stability of the lead fingers and prevent the bonding apparatus and clamping assembly from applying force against the die. The present invention also provides for the transfer of heat from the heat block directly to the lead fingers during the wire bonding process. The present invention includes the use of a clamp for stabilizing lead fingers during the wire bonding process.

Abstract: An installation for positioning and welding body parts of different types of motor vehicles. The installation includes a mounting frame (5) which is guided on a conveyor line and which has receiving elements for at least some vehicle body parts. Positioning devices (8) are provided for the vehicle body parts (6) and at least one robot is provided for carrying out welding work. The invention is very flexible in terms of product modifications. The mounting frame (5) has positioning devices for at least some vehicle body parts (6) and clamping devices for the vehicle body parts. An additional (lower) conveyor line (10) is located under the first conveyor (2). One of several auxiliary mounting frames (12) is guided on the additional conveyor line. Parking positions (13) for the auxiliary mounting frames (12) are provided next to the lower conveyor line (10).

Abstract: An end effector has a tower with non-stacked spatulas. Tolerance stacking is avoided by making grooves in the tower relative to a common reference surface, and mounting the spatulas in such grooves. The grooves are provided in separate planar walls of the tower. The walls intersect to enhance the structural properties of the tower. The tower has a dual-purpose clamp formed integrally with one wall for use in assembling the tower and the spatulas, and for mounting the completed end effector in a load lock. The spatula may carry a wafer during various operations, e.g., semiconductor processing, material deposition and etching systems, or in flat panel display processing systems. The carrying of the wafers is notwithstanding vibration of equipment for performing the manufacturing operations, which vibration is primarily in a range of frequencies.

Abstract: An upper shearing blade 3 equipped with a protrusion 30 of a triangle-columnar shape and a lower shearing blade 4 equipped with a protrusion 40 of the same shape are applied onto the overlapped portion of metal plates 1 and 2 to be bonded, and then pressed into the metal plates 1 and 2 in an oblique direction inclined with respect to the thickness direction by a stroke in such a range that the metal plates 1 and 2 are not completely cut off. The operating loci of the upper shearing blade 3 and the lower shearing blade 4 are overlapped each other so that one falls inside the other, and the sheared surfaces of the metal plates 1 and 2 are formed into a bonded portion by plastic flow deformation. Therein, since a compressive force is applied onto the portions to be bonded, the portion being defined by the amount of overlap, and the portions are compressed to form a compressed portion after completion of bonding, the bonding strength enhances.

Abstract: A weld gun cylinder and piston assembly includes a common center end wall interposed between two cylinders. The common center end wall functions as a manifold with bores extending therethrough. The manifold houses two spool valves. The spool valves control the passage of pneumatic pressure through passages of the manifold to and from the cylinders to extend and retract two piston rods for controlling jaws and a weld tip on a robotic arm.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for solid bonding without using a bonding agent are provided. A surface of metal, glass, or other bond members 16a and 16b is fluorinated by exposure to a mixture of HF gas from a HF gas supply unit 24 and water vapor from a vapor generator 26 in a fluorination process section 12. The bond members 16a and 16b are then placed in contact at the fluorinated surface on table 36 in bonding process section 14. Argon is then introduced to bonding chamber 34. Pressure is then applied to the first bond member 16a and second bond member 16b by a cylinder 46, and heated to below the melting point by a heater 48, to bond the first and second bond members together.

Abstract: A back-up tooling apparatus for supporting the inner side of a hollow cylindrical workpiece during a circumferential friction stir weld includes a plurality of arcuate shoes configured to mate end-to-end to form a substantially continuous ring, and an expandable support for supporting the shoes and operable to retract and expand the shoes inward and outward. The expandable support includes at least one rotatable feed screw and central support members mounted on the feed screw or screws and pivotally connected to the shoes by support arms. The central support members are moved axially toward or away from each other for expanding or retracting the shoes. The shoes in one embodiment overlap in the circumferential direction, and a seal material is disposed between mating end faces of adjacent shoes. A restraining device is provided for clamping about the workpiece to reduce thermal expansion thereof. Cable-and-winch and geared drive devices are provided for rotatably driving the workpiece from its outer surface.

Abstract: A clamping device for a motor vehicle production line has, on both sides of a transport apparatus for rough car bodies, ways on a common base frame leading underneath the transport apparatus for one side carriage each which can run separately on one side of the transport apparatus. The side carriage bears only the side members of one side of the transport apparatus. Clamping means serve to connect the side carriages with the base frame whenever the side carriages are in the working position.

Abstract: An ultrasonic vibration bonding tool comprising a square bar-like horn body, bonding working portions projecting from the upper and lower surfaces of the horn body at the central maximum vibration amplitude point, and crooked support portions projecting from front and rear surfaces of the horn body at the two minimum vibration amplitude points which are separate the same distance from the bonding working portions on both sides. Proper bonding can be carried out with this ultrasonic vibration bonding tool.

Abstract: A gripper for retaining a first element, such as a rotor blade, to a reciprocal motion assembly during friction welding includes a pair of clamp halves and a base. The base includes two spaced end walls. Upon joining the clamp halves together, around a collar on the first element, in the base the end walls compress the clamp halves both longitudinally and transversely, consequently causing the clamp halves to firmly grip the collar of the first element. Thus, the first element is securely held, while the motion provided by the reciprocal motion assembly is translated to the blade.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for leveling the clamping surface to obtain proper heat sink for narrow strips in a coil end joiner which includes a coil material support table and a retaining plate which is positioned against the upper surface of the coil material to be joined by, for example, one or more air cylinders. A weld clamp leveler is also provided which is adjustable to provide a preselected offset between the coil material support table and the retaining plate in a forward portion of the coil material support table. The weld clamp leveler is preferably used when relatively narrow coil material is being joined to preclude tilting of the retaining plate relative to the coil material support table and the coil material being joined and is preferably adjusted to provide approximately the same offset between the coil end support table and the retaining plate as the thickness of the coil material being joined.

Abstract: A welding device includes a number of welding members disposed on a bases and a frame slidably supported in the base for supporting wires to be welded together. A moving device may move the frame between the welding members for allowing the wires to be welded together by the welding members. A removing device may remove the wires from the frame after the wires are welded together. An elevating device may elevate the frame for allowing the other frame to be moved through the frame and for allowing the other wires to be welded together by the welding members.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for circumferential application of materials to an interior surface of a curved pipe includes providing a pipe support with a rotational axis. A curved section of pipe is mounted to the pipe support. An arm supporting an applicator head is positioned within the curved section of pipe. The pipe support is rotated about the rotational axis, while coordinating movement of the arm to maintain the applicator head in a working position within the curved section of pipe.

Abstract: A die set for welding fins and a base plate of a heat sink, it is used to complete fixing of the U shaped heat sinking fins and the base plate of the heat sink by welding. It has the object to increase heat-sinking efficiency and to render the welding process to finish fast. The die set comprises mainly a first die seat and a second die seat. Wherein, the first die seat is disposed beneath the base plate of the heat sink to support the latter. While the second die seat is disposed above the U shaped heat sinking fins, and is comprised of a pressing portion and a connecting portion. The pressing portion is provided in corresponding to the lower bends of the U shaped fins with pressing bars. The connecting portion having a plurality of connecting ends is provided on the bottoms of the pressing bars to supply energy to generate large heat.

Abstract: A fixture for holding two members in alignment and in pressure engagement with each other during partial welding of the two members to each other and for holding the members in alignment and pressure engagement with each other while the two members are repositioned in the welding machine so the welding of the members to each other can be completed. The fixture includes a magnetic base for postionably mounting the fixture with respect to a welding unit, an extension extending from the magnetic base with the extension angularly supporting a lever spring in a cantilevered fashion with the free end of the cantilevered spring engaging a ball held in position by a magnetic holder.

Abstract: A system for manufacturing an aluminum alloy roof for a railway car includes a welding station, a welding unit moveably coupled to the welding station, the welding unit for applying a weld, a roof retainer for selectively holding roof components thereto and for removably coupling to a portion of the welding station, and a rotator unit coupled to the roof retainer for selectively rotating the roof retainer to allow the welding unit to weld the roof components with an orientation substantially perpendicular with respect to gravity. A method of manufacturing a railcar roof includes placing roof carlines and roof sheets on a roof retainer, aligning and clamping the roof carlines and roof sheets to the roof retainer, rotating the roof retainer with respect to a welding to unit, and welding desired weld locations between the roof sheets and roof carlines during rotation of the roof retainer with a desired orientation.

Abstract: In a guide and calibrating tool for guiding container bodies for welding, at least one of the guide rollers is driven. The drive is pneumatic, by compressed air blown by a nozzle onto recesses in the roller. The roller is driven only initially upon restart of the welding machine or in the event of a break in the passage of a series of bodies, in order that no braking is caused by the arrival at the guide tool of the first (and possibly second) body. This enables the gaps between the bodies to be kept more constant even at the start of a series of bodies to be welded, and the first bodies to be welded do not suffer increased slip between the bodies and the welding electrodes.

Abstract: A method of brazing together a lightweight metallic aerostructure sandwich panel having at least two spaced face sheets and an intermediate honeycomb core layer comprises: providing a tooling base having a determinable upper surface; assembling spaced upper and lower metal face sheets and an intermediate metal honeycomb core layer together with at least one layer of braze material upon the upper surface of the tooling base to provide an unbrazed aerostructure panel; positioning a layer of conformable working honeycomb core upon the upper face sheet; positioning apressure means upon the layer of conformable working honeycomb core to provide downward pressure upon the layer of conformable working honeycomb core and causing the conformable working honeycomb core to provide a uniform downward pressure over the upper face sheet of the unbrazed aerostructure panel; and subjecting the unbrazed aerostructure panel to a predetermined cycle of elevated temperature and time to permit the layer of braze material to

Abstract: The top and bottom parts of a one-piece cover of a PCMCIA card are snapped together to form lap-joint seams which are welded together with a laser, under argon gas. Only a few small tack welds are required to substantially increases the mechanical strength and moisture resistance and to eliminate the risk of accidentally opening the card. The operation can be done at a high rate with minimal cost. Also, an internal frame may be made much narrower to allow more card area, while still meeting structural requirements for PCMCIA cards. The weld penetrates fully through the first layer of the seam and only partially through a second layer. During welding a fixture holds the seams in reasonably precise position and tightly closed so the seams are much tighter after welding than when the card is only snap closed. The precise positioning of the seams also allows the size of the weld to be minimized which reduces the risk of burn through which may damage electronic components enclosed within the card during welding.

Abstract: A fitting gear for assisting in the alignment of metal plates so that the edges thereof can be welded together includes an inverted substantially U-shaped electromagnet which, when energized, is adapted to be secured to the upper surface of one of the plates adjacent on edge thereof. A wedge-shaped tapered pin is forced into the U and contacts the upper surface of the other plate to move the edges into substantial alignment with each other.

Abstract: The fastener, which can be arc-welded to a component, is in the form of a resilient sleeve (1) and has a longitudinal slit (2). In a preferred embodiment both its end faces (3) are identical in construction, in order to simplify previous sorting to ensure accurate positioning in the welding assembly apparatus, and provided with a thread-shaped internal bore (4). The welding assembly apparatus for welding on elongate fasteners is provided with a feed channel and an axially displaceable holder for the fasteners. Instead of a slitted collet chuck, the axially displaceable holder (5) is in the form of a rigid tube in which are retained the fasteners in the form of resilient sleeves (1). The arrangement for attaching an assembly part to the fastener has an assembly part (21) which may be set on the fastener in a frictionally- and positively-engaging manner. The assembly part (21) can have in its bore (27) a projection (28) for engaging behind holder (23) mounted on the external wall of the fastener (20).

Abstract: Apparatus for connecting a first area array component to a substrate with a joining material. The apparatus has a nozzle directing heat toward both the first area array component and the portion of the substrate beneath the first area array component to melt the joining material. An elastic seal contacts the substrate and prevents the heat from affecting other components adjacent the first area array component. The nozzle is pressed against the substrate to restrain warping of the substrate, which might be caused by the heating of the first area array component, and to prevent damage to the substrate. The nozzle can tilt so that it conforms to the surface of the substrate. The first area array component is allowed to move freely in the direction of a plane of the substrate under the surface tension of the molten joining material during heating to center the first area array component.