Patent · US Expired

Method and device for joining workpieces made from plastic in three-dimensional form by means of a laser beam

US7211166B2 · kind B2 · utility

6Cited by
1References
5Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 22, 2003
Grant dateMay 1, 2007
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 29, 2024

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB29K2995/0027
  • WIPO fieldOther special machines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A method for joining workpieces made from plastic, the upper workpiece, facing a laser source, consisting of a material transparent to the laser beam, and the lower workpiece consisting of a material absorbent to the laser beam, such that the mutually bordering contact surfaces for the two workpieces melt and are joined to one another under pressure during a subsequent cooling, the guiding of the laser beam onto the site to be joined, and the mechanical compression of the workpieces being carried out simultaneously by a machining head. The corresponding device comprises a machining head with focussing devices for the laser beam onto the contact surface, and pressure-exerting devices for compressing the workpieces. A rotatably mounted glass ball or roller is particularly suitable as pressure-exerting device. The invention permits welding quality to be assured in conjunction with flexibility of the welding operation without expensive and complicated damping balls.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.