Optical wheel assembly for a laser transmission welding apparatus

An optical wheel assembly for a laser transmission welding apparatus, comprising:

• an optical wheel having two convex side surfaces that are joined by a polished working surface, the polished working surface extending circumferentially around the optical wheel;
• a pair of dish cup holders each having a supporting portion with a concave surface that is complementary to a shape of a respective one of the two convex side surfaces of the optical wheel, the optical wheel being disposed between the pair of dish cup holders such that the two convex side surfaces of the optical wheel frictionally engage the concave surface of a respective dish cup holder of the pair of dish cup holders, each dish cup holder having an axle portion extending away from a side of the dish cup holder that is opposite the concave surface thereof;
• and
• a bearing assembly comprising a pair of bearings, each bearing of the pair of bearings being disposed for receiving the axle portion of a respective dish cup holder of the pair of dish cup holders,
• wherein during use laser light from a laser source impinges on the working surface of the optical wheel and is transmitted through the optical wheel to a desired weld region between overlapping first and second plastic workpieces to be welded together, and wherein during use the working surface presses the first and second plastic workpieces together to supply a clamping force during forming of a weld therebetween.

A laser transmission welding apparatus, comprising:

• a laser source for providing laser light for welding together a first plastic workpiece and a second plastic workpiece;
• a support surface for supporting the first plastic workpiece and the second plastic workpiece in an at least partially overlapping relationship one with the other;
• an optical wheel assembly disposed between the laser source and the support surface, and comprising:
• a housing;
• an optical wheel having two convex side surfaces that are joined by a polished working surface, the polished working surface extending circumferentially around the optical wheel;
• a pair of dish cup holders each having a supporting portion with a concave surface that is complementary to a shape of a respective one of the two convex side surfaces of the optical wheel, the optical wheel being disposed between the pair of dish cup holders such that the two convex side surfaces of the optical wheel frictionally engage the concave surface of a respective dish cup holder of the pair of dish cup holders, each dish cup holder having an axle portion extending away from a side of the dish cup holder that is opposite the concave surface thereof;
• and
• a bearing assembly comprising a pair of bearings mounted to the housing, each bearing of the pair of bearings being disposed for receiving the axle portion of a respective dish cup holder of the pair of dish cup holders and for applying a biasing force to the respective dish cup holder of the pair of dish cup holders along a respective direction toward the optical wheel;
• wherein during use the laser light from the laser source impinges on the working surface of the optical wheel and is transmitted through the optical wheel to a desired weld region within an overlapping portion of the first and second plastic workpieces, and wherein during use the working surface presses on the overlapping portion to supply a clamping force during forming the weld.