US 2010/0163531 A1 · METHOD FOR THERMAL WELDING OF JACKET MEMBER OF ENDOSCOPE FLEXIBLE TUBE

Abstract

A flexible tube is placed in large and small furnaces separated by a heat-shield panel, and two kinds of jacket resin of the flexible tube are heated separately at different temperatures for their own softening points. A connecting area of the jacket resin enters the small furnace to a predetermined distance. In this connecting area, the jacket resin fails to reach the softening point temperature, and is not firmly welded to a blade. A cylindrical attachment is used to surround the spot that has lower temperature than the softening point, and hot air of approximately 250° C. is supplied from a spot heater into the cylindrical attachment. The spot in the cylindrical attachment reaches the softening point in a short time, and the jacket resin is welded to the blade.

Claims3

Dependent claims

A method for thermal welding of a jacket member of an endoscope flexible tube comprising steps of:

surrounding a flexible tube material with serially connected first and second jacket resin having different softening points;
heating said first and second jacket resin separately at different temperatures for said softening points of their own;
and
applying additional heat from a spot heater to a spot which lies in a connecting area of said first jacket resin and said second jacket resin and fails to reach said softening points.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

12/346,585Filed 30 Dec 2008

Published

1 Jul 2010

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification30 codes

B29C 70/84
By incorporating or moulding on preformed parts, e.g. inserts or layers , e.g. foam blocks: by moulding material on preformed parts to be joined
B29C 63/18
Lining or sheathing, i.e. applying preformed layers or sheathings of plastics; Apparatus therefor: using tubular layers or sheathings
B29C 65/02
Joining or sealing of preformed parts , e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor: by heating, with or without pressure
B29C 65/10
By heating, with or without pressure: using hot gases or flames coming in contact with at least one of the parts to be joined

Method for thermal welding of jacket member of endoscope flexible tube

Life of this patent

Method for thermal welding of jacket member of endoscope flexible tube

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims3