Fusion joining device for plastic tubes

• US 7,015,421 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2003
• Issued: 03/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Flowell Corporation
• Original Assignee: Flowell Corporation
• Inventors: Nakagawa, Hisaji
• Primary Examiner(s): Walberg, Teresa J.
• Application Number:
  US10/739,081
• Publication Number:
  US 20040206741A1
• Time in Patent Office: 823 Days
• Field of Search: 219/243, 219/535, 219/543, 228/212, 285/420, 285/41
• US Class Current: 219/243
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/18 using heated tools
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/1122 Single lap to lap joints, i.e. overlap joints B29C66/45, B29C66/472, B29C66/52272 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/5221 for forming coaxial connections, i.e. the tubular articles to be joined forming a zero angle relative to each other
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/5229 involving the use of a socket
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/8122 characterised by the composition of the material constituting the pressing elements, e.g. constituting the welding jaws or clamps
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/81261 Thermal properties, e.g. thermal conductivity, thermal expansion coefficient
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/81423 being concave
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/81812 the welding jaws being cooled from the outside, e.g. by blowing a gas or spraying a liquid
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/81871 of the welding jaws
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/9121 by measuring the temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/91212 involving measurement means being part of the welding jaws, e.g. integrated in the welding jaws
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/91221 of the parts to be joined
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/91421 of the joining tools
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/91431 the temperature being kept constant over time
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/91641 the heat or the thermal flux being non-constant over time
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/961 involving a feedback loop mechanism, e.g. comparison with a desired value
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/9672 involving special data inputs, e.g. involving barcodes, RFID tags
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2909/02 Ceramics
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/42 non-flexible

Abstract

A fusion joining device for plastic tubes with which a pair of clampers 30 is supported such that it can be pivoted between the closed position where the joint portion T1 is sandwiched from both sides through a pair of members for heat conduction 20 and the open position where the spacing between the pair of members for heat conduction 20 is widened; and a pair of heaters 40 made of a resistance heat generation material in the shape of a sheet is formed such that it is along the pair of members for heat conduction 20, respectively, in order to heat the joint portion T1 through the pair of members for heat conduction 20.

Claims

1. A fusion joining device for plastic tubes that heats a joint portion of plastic tubes for fusion joining the joint portion, comprising:

a fusion joining head for sandwiching said joint portion from both sides to heat the joint portion, wherein

said fusion joining head comprises a pair of members for heat conduction, a pair of clampers, and a pair of heaters;

said pair of members for heat conduction is disposed so as to be opposed to each other through said joint portion;

said pair of clampers is supported to be pivoted between a closed position where said pair of clampers sandwiches said joint portion from both sides through said pair of members for heat conduction, and an open position where a spacing between said pair of members for heat conduction is widened; and

said pair of heaters is made of a resistance heat generation material in a sheet shape, and is arranged along said pair of members for heat conduction, respectively, for heating said joint portion through the pair of members for heat conduction,

a supporting head for removably supporting the fusion joining head, and

a heating circuit for supplying power to the fusion joining head through the supporting head;

wherein

said supporting head supports the pair of clampers pivotably between the closed position and the open position;

said heating circuit comprises a pair of head electrodes;

one of said pair of head electrodes is provided on the fusion joining head;

the other of said pair of head electrodes is provided on the supporting head;

said pair of head electrodes is connected to each other when the fusion joining head is loaded onto the supporting head; and

at least one of said pair of head electrodes is energized in a direction in which the one of the pair of head electrodes is connected to the other of the pair of head electrodes.

2. The fusion joining device for plastic tubes of claim 1, wherein said pair of heaters is connected in series with each other.

3. The fusion joining device for plastic tubes of claim 1, wherein said heating circuit comprises a pair of clamper electrodes;

one of said pair of clamper electrodes is provided in one of said pair of clampers, being connected to one of said pair of heaters;

the other of said pair of clamper electrodes is provided in the other of said pair of clampers, being connected to the other of said pair of heaters;

said pair of heaters is connected to a power supply such that a voltage is generated across the pair of heaters; and

said pair of clamper electrodes is disposed so as to be connected to each other at least when said pair of clampers is pivoted to said closed position.

4. The fusion joining device for plastic tubes of claim 1, further comprising controlling means for adjusting power to be supplied to said fusion joining head side through said supporting head;

wherein

said supporting head has a data detection section;

said fusion joining head has specific data for the fusion joining head;

said data detection section detects said specific data when said fusion joining head is loaded onto said supporting head; and

said controlling means adjusts said power on the basis of the specific data detected by said data detection section.

5. The fusion joining device for plastic tubes of claim 1, wherein

said pair of clampers comprises exhaust vents;

and

said exhaust vents are provided for exhausting cooling air fed into said fusion joining head through said supporting head to the outside of said fusion joining head.

6. The fusion joining device for plastic tubes of claim 1, wherein

said fusion joining head comprises a pair of adiabatic members;

said pair of clampers comprises opposed surfaces and accommodation recesses;

said opposed surfaces are opposed to each other when said pair of clampers is in said closed position, and are provided with said adiabatic members;

said accommodation recesses are provided in said opposed surfaces for accommodating said heaters and said members for heat conduction;

each of said heaters is formed approximately in a shape of Ω

in section, and includes a central portion and both-end portions which extend from both ends of the central portion, respectively;

the central portions of said heaters are situated in the accommodation recesses of said clampers along said members for heat conduction; and

the both-end portions of said heaters are extended from the accommodation recesses toward the opposed surfaces along said adiabatic members.