Method for obtaining improved ultrasonic bond strength
AssigneeKimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
InventorsStephen Michael Campbell, Kile Patrick Mangan, Mark Michael Mleziva, Kent Allan Franklin, Adrian Roy Eggen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for ultrasonically bonding thermoplastic materials, for example melt-compatible thermoplastic materials, wherein the thermoplastic materials are preheated prior to entering an ultrasonic bonding means, thereby substantially increasing an ultimate bond strength established between the materials during the ultrasonic bonding process.
Claims35
A method for ultrasonically bonding thermoplastic materials, the method comprising:
- preheating at least a first thermoplastic material;
- subsequently feeding the first thermoplastic material and at least one second thermoplastic material through an ultrasonic bonding apparatus;
- and
- ultrasonically bonding the preheated first thermoplastic material to the at least one second thermoplastic material to form an ultrasonic bond.
A method for bonding at least a portion of two thermoplastic materials together, the method comprising:
- feeding the two thermoplastic materials into an ultrasonic preheating unit at a first production line speed;
- preheating the two thermoplastic materials to a preheating temperature;
- subsequently feeding the two thermoplastic materials into a separate ultrasonic bonding unit;
- and
- ultrasonically bonding at least a portion of the preheated thermoplastic materials together to form an ultrasonic bond.
A method for bonding a first thermoplastic material to a second thermoplastic material to form a garment, the method comprising:
- feeding the first thermoplastic material and the second thermoplastic material through a preheating unit, thereby preheating the first thermoplastic material and the second thermoplastic material;
- feeding the first thermoplastic material and the second thermoplastic material through an ultrasonic bonder;
- and
- ultrasonically bonding the first thermoplastic material and the second thermoplastic material to form a garment.
An apparatus for bonding two thermoplastic materials comprising:
- a preheating unit;
- and
- a separate ultrasonic bonding unit.
An apparatus for bonding at least two thermoplastic materials comprising:
- a first unit having means for preheating at least one of the at least two thermoplastic materials;
- and
- a second unit having means for ultrasonically bonding the at least two thermoplastic materials.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.