Ultrasonic horn assembly with fused stack components

• US 6,786,383 B2
• Filed: 11/14/2002
• Issued: 09/07/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Inventors: Stegelmann, Norman R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Edmondson, L.
• Application Number:
  US10/294,162
• Publication Number:
  US 20040094603A1
• Time in Patent Office: 663 Days
• Field of Search: 228/4.5, 228/1.1, 228/180.5, 228/180.22, 228/110.1, 228/102, 228/120, 228/121, 219/56.21, 219/56.22, 310/334, 310/364, 310/366, 310/367, 310/317, 310/318, 310/348, 601/2
• US Class Current: 228/1.1
• CPC Class Codes: B06B 3/00 Methods or apparatus specially adapted for transmitting mechanical vibrations of infrasonic, sonic, or ultrasonic frequency
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/085 using a rotary sonotrode
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/087 using both a rotary sonotrode and a rotary anvil
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/41 Joining substantially flat articles B29C66/47 and subgroups take precedence; Making flat seams in tubular or hollow articles B29C66/51 and subgroups take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/73921 characterised by the materials of both parts being thermoplastics
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/83411 Roller, cylinder or drum types B29C66/83431 takes precedence; rollers, cylinders or drums moving relative to and tangentially to the parts to be joined B29C66/8362
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/83413 cooperating rollers, cylinders or drums
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/951 by measuring or controlling the vibration frequency and/or the vibration amplitude of vibrating joining tools, e.g. of ultrasonic welding tools
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/9513 characterised by specific vibration frequency values or ranges
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/9517 characterised by specific vibration amplitude values or ranges
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2101/12 Thermoplastic materials
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/4878 Diapers, napkins

Abstract

An ultrasonic horn assembly for applying ultrasonic energy at an operating location which assembly includes a metallic fusion zone at an interface between adjacent horn assembly components. A method of manufacturing an ultrasonic horn assembly including forming this metallic fusion zone.

Claims

1. An ultrasonic horn assembly for transporting ultrasonic energy to an operating location to apply the ultrasonic energy to at least one article at the operating location, the horn assembly comprising:

a first stack component having at least one transfer face, wherein the first stack component is metal and is selected from the group consisting of an ultrasonic horn, an ultrasonic energy booster, and an ultrasonic energy converter;

a second stack component having at least one transfer fate adapted to engage the transfer face of the first stack component at an interface for transmitting ultrasonic energy from one of the first and second stack components to the other, wherein the second stack component is metal and is selected from the group consisting of an ultrasonic horn, an ultrasonic energy booster, and an ultrasonic energy converter, and wherein the first and second stack components are not the same component; and

a fusion zone at the interface integrally connecting the first and second stack components together, wherein the fusion zone comprises metallic fusion of the first stack component to the second stack component.

3. The ultrasonic horn assembly of claim 1 further comprising a solid pin adapted to connect the first and second stack components together by interference fit with their transfer faces in engagement, the pin extending through the fusion zone at the interface.

7. The ultrasonic horn assembly of claim 1 wherein the first stack component is an ultrasonic energy booster and the second stack component is an ultrasonic energy converter.

8. The ultrasonic horn assembly of claim 7 comprising a solid pin adapted to connect the first and second stack components together by interference fit with their transfer faces in engagement, the pin extending through the fusion zone at the interface.

9. The ultrasonic horn assembly of claim 7 comprising a connector adapted to connect the first and second stack components together with their transfer faces in engagement, the connector extending through the fusion zone.

2. An ultrasonic horn assembly for transporting ultrasonic energy to an operating location to apply the ultrasonic energy to at least one article at the operating location, the horn assembly comprising

a first stack component having at least one transfer face, wherein the first stack component is metal;

a second stack component distinct from the first stack component, the second stack component having at least one transfer face adapted to engage the transfer face of the first stack component at an interface for transmitting ultrasonic energy from one of the first and second stack components to the other, wherein the second stack component is metal;

a fusion zone at the interface integrally connecting the first and second stack components together, wherein the fusion zone comprises metallic fusion of the first stack component to the second stack component; and

a connector adapted to connect the first and second stack components together with their transfer faces in engagement, the connector extending through the fusion zone.

4. An ultrasonic horn assembly for transporting ultrasonic energy to an operating location to apply the ultrasonic energy to at least one article at the operating location, the horn assembly comprising

a first stack component having at least one transfer face, wherein the first stack component is metal;

a second stack component distinct from the first stack component, the second stack component having at least one transfer face adapted to engage the transfer face of the first stack component at an interface for transmitting ultrasonic energy from one of the first and second stack components to the other, wherein the second stack component is metal;

a fusion zone at the interface integrally connecting the first and second stack components together, wherein the fusion zone comprises metallic fusion of the first stack component to the second stack component; and

wherein the first stack component is an ultrasonic horn and the second stack component in an ultrasonic energy booster.

5. The ultrasonic horn assembly of claim 4 comprising a connector adapted to connect the first and second stack components together with their transfer faces in engagement, the connector extending through the fusion zone.

6. The ultrasonic horn assembly of claim 4 comprising a solid pin adapted to connect the first and second stack components together by interference fit with their transfer faces in engagement, the pin extending through the fusion zone at the interface.

27. The ultrasonic horn assembly of claim 4 further comprising an anvil, wherein the ultrasonic horn assembly is capable of bonding two or more thermoplastic polymers between the transfer face of the first or second stack component and the anvil.

10. An ultrasonic horn assembly for transporting ultrasonic energy to an operating location to apply the ultrasonic energy to at least one article at the operating location, the horn assembly comprising:

a first stack component selected from the group consisting of an ultrasonic energy booster and an ultrasonic energy converter, wherein the first stack component is metal;

an isolation ring shell for mounting the first component to a mounting housing and supporting the stack component in suspension, wherein the isolation ring shell is distinct from the first stack component and is connected to the first stack component at an interface; and

a fusion zone at the interface integrally connecting the isolation ring shell and the first stack component together, wherein the fusion zone comprises metallic fusion of the isolation ring shell to the first stack component.

11. The ultrasonic horn assembly of claim 10 wherein the first stack component is an ultrasonic energy booster.

12. The ultrasonic horn assembly of claim 10 wherein the isolation ring shell and first stack component are manufactured from different materials.

13. The ultrasonic horn assembly of claim 10 wherein the first stack component is manufactured from a titanium-based material and the isolation ring shell is manufactured from a non-titanium-based material.

14. The ultrasonic horn assembly of claim 10 wherein the isolation ring shell is manufactured from an iron-based material and the first stack component is manufactured from a non-iron-based material.

15. The ultrasonic horn assembly of claim 10 wherein the isolation ring shell is manufactured from an iron-based material and the first stack component is manufactured from a titanium-based material.

16. A method for manufacturing an ultrasonic horn assembly for transporting ultrasonic energy to an operating location to apply the ultrasonic energy to at least one article at the operating location, the method comprising:

engaging a transfer face of a first stack component with a transfer face of a second stack component to define an interface between the stack components, wherein the first and second stack components are metal and are selected from the group consisting of an ultrasonic horn, an ultrasonic energy booster, and an ultrasonic energy converter, and wherein the first and second stack components are not the same component; and

metallurgically fusing the transfer face of the first stack component with the transfer face of a second stack component to form a fusion zone at the interface between the stack components.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the first stack component is an ultrasonic energy converter and the second stack component is an ultrasonic energy booster.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein the first stack component is an ultrasonic energy booster and the second stack component is an ultrasonic horn.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein the first stack component is an ultrasonic energy booster and the second stack component is an isolation ring shell.

20. A method for manufacturing an ultrasonic horn assemble for transporting ultrasonic energy to an operating location to apply the ultrasonic energy to at least one article at the operating location, the method comprising:

engaging a transfer face of a first stack component with a transfer face of a second stack component to define an interface between the stack components; and

metallurguically fusing the transfer face of the first stack component with the transfer face of a second stack component to form a fusion zone at the interface between the stack components, wherein the metallurgically fusing comprises hot isostatic pressing.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the first stack component is an ultrasonic energy converter and the second stack component is an ultrasonic energy booster.

22. The method of claim 20 wherein the first stack component is an ultrasonic energy booster and the second stack component is an ultrasonic energy booster.

23. The method of claim 20 wherein the first stack component is an ultrasonic energy booster and the second stack component is an ultrasonic horn.

24. The method of claim 20 wherein the first stack component is an ultrasonic energy booster and the second stack component is an isolation ring shell.

25. A method for manufacturing an ultrasonic horn assembly for transporting ultrasonic energy to an operating location to apply the ultrasonic energy to at least one article at the operating location, the method comprising:

fitting an isolation ring shell onto a component of the ultrasonic horn assembly, which isolation ring shell is adapted for mounting the ultrasonic horn assembly component to a mounting housing and supporting the component in suspension, such that a surface of the isolation ring shell engages a surface of the component at an interface, wherein the ultrasonic horn assembly component is metal and is selected from the group consisting of an ultrasonic energy booster and an ultrasonic energy converter; and

metallurgically fusing the isolation ring shell to the component to form a fusion zone at the interface.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein the ultrasonic horn assembly component is an ultrasonic energy booster.