# US 10,479,022 B2 · Apparatus for the transverse welding of a moving tape > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,479,022 B2 - Document ID: US10479022B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/863,640 - Filed: 2018-01-05 - Published: 2018-07-26 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2017-01-26 - Assignees: Fameccanica.Data S.p.A. - Applicants: Fameccanica.Data S.p.A. - Inventors: Gabriele Sablone; Oscar Centorame - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10479022B2 ## CPC - B29C 65/02: by heating, with or without pressure - A61F 13/15739: {Sealing, e.g. involving cutting} - B29C 65/087: {using both a rotary sonotrode and a rotary anvil} - B29C 65/7847: {using vacuum to hold at least one of the parts to be joined (vacuum work holders in general B25B11/005)} - B29C 65/7858: {characterised by the feeding movement of the parts to be joined} - B29C 65/7885: {Rotary turret joining machines, i.e. having several joining tools moving around an axis} - B29C 66/1122: {Single lap to lap joints, i.e. overlap joints (B29C66/45, B29C66/472, B29C66/52272 take precedence)} - B29C 66/431: {Joining the articles to themselves (B29C66/4322 and B29C66/4332 take precedence)} - B29C 66/80: {General aspects of machine operations or constructions and parts thereof} - B29C 66/81465: {one placed behind the other in a single row in the feed direction} - B29C 66/83511: {jaws mounted on rollers, cylinders or drums} - A61F 2013/15869: {with ultrasonic energy} - A61F 2013/15878: {by thermal bonding} - B29C 66/8322: {Joining or pressing tools reciprocating along one axis} - B29L 2031/4878: {Diapers, napkins} - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) - A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C) - B29L: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES ## Abstract An apparatus for the transverse welding of a tape traveling in a machine direction, comprising: a stationary structure, a rotary structure rotatable with respect to the stationary structure about a rotation axis perpendicular to said machine direction, a plurality of welding units carried by said rotary structure and spaced apart in a circumferential direction, wherein each of said welding units comprises an inner welding element fixed relative to the rotary structure and an outer welding element cyclically movable with respect to the rotary structure between a release position and an operative position, and vice versa, wherein each of said outer welding elements during the movement from said release position to said operative position, and vice versa, performs an angular rotation movement about a respective radial axis perpendicular to said rotation axis, and a linear translation movement along said radial axis. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for the transverse welding of a tape traveling in a machine direction, comprising: a stationary structure; a rotary structure rotatable with respect to the stationary structure about a rotation axis perpendicular to said machine direction; and a plurality of welding units carried by said rotary structure and spaced apart in a circumferential direction, wherein each of said welding units comprises an inner welding element fixed relative to the rotary structure, and an outer welding element cyclically movable with respect to the rotary structure, between a release position and an operative position, and vice versa and wherein each of said outer welding elements during the movement from said release position to said operative position, and vice versa, performs an angular rotation movement about a respective radial axis perpendicular to said rotation axis and a linear translation movement along said radial axis. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) An apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a stationary cam element comprising a first cam and a second cam independent from each other, which control, respectively, the linear translation movement and the angular rotation movement of said outer welding elements. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein each of said welding units comprises a respective actuating device comprising a shaft rotatable around the respective radial axis and a tubular sleeve coaxial to said shaft and movable in a linear direction in the direction of the respective radial axis, said tubular sleeve and said shaft being connected to respective first and second cam followers that engage, respectively, said first cam and said second cam of said stationary cam element. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein each of said outer welding elements comprises a body rotationally connected to a respective shaft, and movable with respect to said shaft in the direction of the respective radial axis. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said body of each of said outer welding elements is connected to the respective tubular sleeve via a bearing, so that said body is rotatable with respect to said tubular sleeve about the respective radial axis, and is connected to said tubular sleeve in the direction of the respective radial axis. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein each of said outer welding elements comprises an anvil connected in a floating manner to the respective body. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein between said body and said anvil of each of said outer welding elements, a pneumatic actuator is arranged, configured to push said anvil towards the respective inner welding element. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said inner welding element is a sonotrode of an ultrasonic welding unit. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said rotary structure comprises a perimeter wall carrying a plurality of suction chambers connected by respective conduits to a rotary distributor.