Vibration welding apparatus and vibration welding method

Details Vibration welding apparatus and vibration welding method Vibration welding apparatus and vibration welding method

2000-02-23

2001-08-14

Sells, James (Department: 1734)

Adhesive bonding and miscellaneous chemical manufacture

Methods

Surface bonding and/or assembly therefor

C156S580000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06273980

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a vibration welding apparatus and a vibration welding method. More specifically, the present invention relates to a vibration welding apparatus and vibration welding method capable of vibration welding large synthetic resin members and in which the weight of the vibrating member is reduced.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
An apparatus and method for joining two synthetic resin members through vibration welding have been well known.
FIG. 2
shows an example a of a conventional vibration welding apparatus.
A fixed jig part d and a movable jig part e, which constitute a fixed-side jig c, are disposed on a base b. The movable jig part e is slidably supported on a slide rail f so as to be movable towards or away from the fixed jig part d. The movable jig part e is moved toward or away from the fixed jig part d by a cylinder g mounted on the base b.
A vibrating member h, which is supported so as to be vibrated by a vibration generating mechanism i, supports a fixed jig part k and a movable jig part l, which together constitute a jig j on the side of the vibrating mechanism. The movable jig part l is slidably supported on a slide rail m so as to be movable towards or away from the fixed jig part k. The movable jig part l is moved toward or away from the fixed jig part k by a cylinder n mounted on the vibrating member h.
For example, to join two lens members o, p by vibration welding, the lens member o is first temporarily fixed to the movable jig part e, and then the cylinder g is then driven to move the movable jig part e towards the fixed jig part d such that the lens member o is fixed between the movable jig part e and the fixed jig part d. Then, the lens member p is temporarily fixed to the movable jig part l, and the cylinder n is driven to move the movable jig part l toward the fixed jig part k such that the lens member p is fixed between the movable jig part l and the fixed jig part k.
A cylinder (not shown) is driven to move the base b upward such that welding portions o′, p′ of the respective lens members o, p are brought into pressure contact with each other. The vibration generating mechanism i is then activated to vibrationally drive the vibrating member h so as to weld together the welding portions o′ and p′ of the lens members o, p.
In the conventional vibration welding apparatus a as described above, the vibrating member h carries all elements required for holding one of the synthetic resin members, that is, in the aforementioned example, the lens member p, including the fixed jig part k, movable jig part l, slide rail m for supporting the movable jig l, cylinder n for moving the movable jig l, and the like. As a result, the weight of the overall vibrating member is high, requiring a large vibration generating mechanism. Welding of a large synthetic resin member requires a large jig, thus further increasing the weight of the vibrating member. In this case, it becomes difficult to vibrationally drive the vibrating member.
In conjunction with the foregoing problem, it is an object of the present invention to reduce the weight of the vibrating member and to make vibration welding of large synthetic resin members possible.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In order to solve the foregoing problem, there is provided a vibration welding apparatus for joining two synthetic resin members through vibration welding which includes a vibration generating mechanism, a vibrating member vibrated in a predetermined direction by the vibration generating mechanism, a base, a fixed-side jig disposed on the base for holding a first synthetic resin member, a holding jig part mounted on the base in such a manner as to be slidable in the direction of vibration for holding part of a second synthetic resin member, and a holding jig part mounted on the vibrating member for holding the second synthetic resin member in cooperation with the holding jig part on the base side such that the second synthetic resin member vibrates synchronously with the vibrating member.
In the vibration welding apparatus of the present invention, because one of the two jig parts that together form the vibrating-side jig which holds the second synthetic resin member is disposed on the base, the total weight of the vibrating member is reduced, making it possible to effect the vibration of the vibrating member without requiring the use of a substantially large vibration generating mechanism while enabling large synthetic resin members to be vibration welded.
Further to solve the aforementioned problem, there is further provided a vibration welding method including the steps of holding a first synthetic resin member with a fixed-side jig mounted on a base, holding a second synthetic resin member with a holding jig composed of a holding jig part mounted on a vibrating member and a holding jig part slidably mounted on the base in such a manner as to be slidable in the same direction as the direction of vibration of the vibrating member, bringing the portions to be welded of the first and second synthetic resin members into pressure contact with each other, and welding the welding portions of the first and second synthetic resin members by vibrating the vibrating member.


REFERENCES:
patent: 5160393 (1992-11-01), Snyder
patent: 5378951 (1995-01-01), Snyder
patent: 5464498 (1995-11-01), McGrath
patent: 5468336 (1995-11-01), Lotz et al.
patent: 6033505 (2000-03-01), Sugiyama et al.
patent: 6159317 (2000-12-01), Sugiyama et al.

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