Method of joining two objects
AssigneesWoodwelding AG, Inter IKEA Systems B.V.
InventorsJörg Mayer, Mario Lehmann, Laurent Torriani
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Abstract
A method for joining two objects by anchoring an insert portion provided on one of the objects in an opening provided on the other one of the objects. The anchorage is achieved by liquefaction of a thermoplastic material and interpenetration of the liquefied material and a penetrable material, the two materials being arranged on opposite surfaces of the insert portion and the wall of the opening. Before such liquefaction and interpenetration, an interference fit is established in which such opposite surfaces are pressed against each other, and, for the anchoring, mechanical vibration energy and possibly a shearing force are applied, wherein the shearing force puts a shear stress on the interference fit.
Claims20
A machine for joining a first object comprising a first, thermoplastic material and a second object comprising a second material that is solid and is penetrable by the first material when in a liquefied state, the second object further comprising an opening having a depth and the first object further comprising an insert portion having a length, wherein the machine comprises:
- an insertion device equipped for inserting the insert portion in the opening so as to establish an interference fit with an interference force acting between opposite surface areas of the insert portion and of the opening;
- and
- an anchoring device, the anchoring device being equipped to carry out an anchoring step, the anchoring step comprising transferring energy suitable for liquefaction of the first material, the to a vicinity of said opposite surface areas in an amount and for a time sufficient, for liquefaction of a flow portion of the first material, the flow portion of the first material being material of the insert portion, and interpenetration of the second material by the flow portion in a vicinity of said opposite surface areas, whereby after stopping the transfer of energy for a time sufficient for the first material liquefied during the step of anchoring to re-solidify, anchoring of the insert portion in the opening is established
- an insertion station with the insertion device, and an anchoring station with the anchoring device, the insertion station and the anchoring station being separate from each other.
A machine for joining a first object comprising a first, thermoplastic material and a second object comprising a second material that is solid and is penetrable by the first material when in a liquefied state, the second object further comprising an opening having a depth and the first object further comprising an insert portion having a length and, proximally of the insert portion, a proximal head portion, wherein the machine comprises:
- an insertion device equipped for inserting the insert portion in the opening so as to establish an interference fit with an interference force acting between opposite surface areas of the insert portion and of the opening;
- and
- an anchoring device, the anchoring device being equipped to carry out an anchoring step, the anchoring step comprising transferring energy suitable for liquefaction of the first material, the to a vicinity of said opposite surface areas in an amount and for a time sufficient, for liquefaction of a flow portion of the first material, the flow portion of the first material being material of the insert portion, and interpenetration of the second material by the flow portion in a vicinity of said opposite surface areas, whereby after stopping the transfer of energy for a time sufficient for the first material liquefied during the step of anchoring to re-solidify, anchoring of the insert portion in the opening is established;
- an insertion station with the insertion device, and an anchoring station with the anchoring device, the insertion station and the anchoring station being separate from each other
- wherein the machine is equipped and programmed for the insertion device to insert the insert portion by applying a force on the first object relative to the second object such as to push the insert portion into the opening and to thereby cause a displacement of the first object relative to the second object with no first object material being liquefied, and for the anchoring device to cause a further displacement of the first object relative to the second object due to a shearing force acting on the first object while the energy is transferred;
- wherein the machine is equipped and programmed to carry out the anchoring step until the head portion abuts a surface of the second object in a vicinity of the opening.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.