# US 2013/0153115 A1 · Appartus and method for welding > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0153115 A1 - Document ID: US20130153115A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/682,460 - Filed: 2012-11-20 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2011-11-25 - Assignees: Ms Spaichingen GmbH - Inventors: Joachim WEIN; Hartmut POLL; Elmar NODER; Clemens BALLE - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130153115A1 ## CPC - B32B 37/06: characterised by the heating method - B23K 20/10: making use of vibrations, e.g. ultrasonic welding - B26D 5/00: Arrangements for operating and controlling machines or devices for cutting, cutting-out, stamping-out, punching, perforating, or severing by means other than cutting - B26D 7/086: {by vibrating, e.g. ultrasonically} - B29C 65/08: using ultrasonic vibrations {(non-plastics element to plastics elements B29C65/645)} - B29C 65/7443: {by means of ultrasonic vibrations} - B29C 66/0062: {of the joining tool, e.g. avoiding wear of the joining tool} - B29C 66/1122: {Single lap to lap joints, i.e. overlap joints (B29C66/45, B29C66/472, B29C66/52272 take precedence)} - B29C 66/43: {Joining a relatively small portion of the surface of said articles (B29C66/45 takes precedence)} - B29C 66/7352: {Thickness, e.g. very thin} - B29C 66/81262: {Electrical and dielectric properties, e.g. electrical conductivity} - B29C 66/81463: {comprising a plurality of single pressing elements, e.g. a plurality of sonotrodes, or comprising a plurality of single counter-pressing elements, e.g. a plurality of anvils, said plurality of said single elements being suitable for making a single joint} - B29C 66/8242: {Pneumatic or hydraulic drives (using fluid pressure directly acting on the parts to be joined B29C66/8266)} - B29C 66/8322: {Joining or pressing tools reciprocating along one axis} - B29C 66/92311: {with special measurement means or methods} - B29C 66/92441: {the pressure, the force or the mechanical power being non-constant over time} - B29C 66/92611: {by controlling or regulating the gap between the joining tools} - B29C 66/9516: {by controlling their vibration amplitude} - B29C 66/961: {involving a feedback loop mechanism, e.g. comparison with a desired value} - G01B 7/14: for measuring distance or clearance between spaced objects or spaced apertures (G01B7/30 takes precedence) - B29C 66/81871: {of the welding jaws} - B29C 66/929: {characterized by specific pressure, force, mechanical power or displacement values or ranges} - Y10T 83/04: Processes - Y10T 83/088: Responsive to tool detector or work-feed-means detector - B32B: LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM - B23K: SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM - B26D: CUTTING; DETAILS COMMON TO MACHINES FOR PERFORATING, PUNCHING, CUTTING-OUT, STAMPING-OUT OR SEVERING (for growing crops or plants A01D, A01G; for fodder or straw A01F; for bulk butter A01J; for dough A21C; slaughtering A22B; for tobacco, cigars or cigarettes A24; marking-out, perforating or making buttonholes A41H25/00; manufacturing footwear A43D; brushmaking A46D; surgery A61B; disintegrating, mincing or shredding in general B02C; cutting wire, making pins or nails B21F, B21G; of the kind used formetal B23; cutting by abrasive fluid jets B24C5/02; hand-held cutting tools B26B; perforating, cutting-out, stamping-out or punching, or severing by means other than cutting B26F; for wood B27; for stone B28D; working of plastics or substances in a plastic state B29; making boxes, cartons, envelopes or bags, of paper or similarly worked materials, e.g. metal foil, B31B; article or web delivery apparatus incorporating cutting or line-perforating devices B65H35/00; for leather or upholstery B68, C14B; for glass C03B; making matches C06F; for peat C10F; for sugar C13B45/00; for textile materials D06H; civil engineering, building, mining, see Section E; for light guides G02B6/25; cutting processed photographic material G03D15/04) - 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) - G01B: MEASURING LENGTH, THICKNESS OR SIMILAR LINEAR DIMENSIONS; MEASURING ANGLES; MEASURING AREAS; MEASURING IRREGULARITIES OF SURFACES OR CONTOURS - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract In an apparatus and a method for welding of workpiece layers, a feed device is activated with a predefined adjustment force without ultrasound activation and the sonotrode is advanced in the direction of an anvil. The adjustment force is subsequently reduced and the sonotrode is activated. The sonotrode can subsequently be deactivated and the adjustment force can be increased on the basis of a deactivation signal. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for welding or for cutting and sealing workpiece layers (10, 12) by means of ultrasound comprising at least one sonotrode (14) and at least one anvil (16) which can be positioned relative to one another by a feed device (18), wherein a detector device (30) is provided which detects an electrical resistance between the sonotrode (14) and the anvil (16) and which generates a deactivation signal (D) for the sonotrode (14) and/or for the feed device (18) in dependence on the determined resistance. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the detector device (30) has a terminal point (A2) at the sonotrode (14) and a terminal point (A1) at the anvil (16) which are both connected to a current source (32); and in that an electric load resistor (RL) is connected between the two terminal points (A1, A2). ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) An apparatus in accordance with claim 2, wherein the electric load resistor (RL) is variable. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) An apparatus in accordance with claim 2, wherein the load resistor (RL) is of low ohm resistance. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) An apparatus in accordance with claim 4, wherein the load resistor (RL) has a resistance in the range from approximately 50-2000 ohms. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) An apparatus in accordance with claim 5, wherein the load resistor (RL) has a resistance in the range from approximate 500-1000 ohms. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) An apparatus in accordance with claim 3, wherein the load resistor (RL) has a resistance in the range from approximately 50-2000 ohms. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) An apparatus in accordance with claim 7, wherein the load resistor (RL) has a resistance in the range from approximate 500-1000 ohms. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the current source (32) is a constant current source which generates a current of approximately 5-1000 mA. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the current source (32) is a constant current source which generates a current of approximately 10-30 mA. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein a plurality of sonotrodes (14) and a common anvil (16) are provided; and wherein each sonotrode (14) is provided with its own detector device, with in particular only one single, common terminal point being provided at the anvil (16) for all detector devices. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein a plurality of sonotrodes (14) and a plurality of anvils (16) are provided; and wherein each anvil (16) is provided with its own detector device, with in particular only one single, common terminal point being provided at the sonotrodes (14) for all detector devices. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) An apparatus in accordance with claim 11, wherein the sonotrodes (14) or the anvils (16) are fastened to a common carrier (24) electrically insulated from one another. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) An apparatus in accordance with claim 12, wherein the sonotrodes (14) or the anvils (16) are fastened to a common carrier (24) electrically insulated from one another. ### Claim 15 (depends on 2) An apparatus in accordance with claim 2, wherein the detector device (30) includes a voltmeter which measures the voltage (U) over the load resistor (RL) for determining the resistance between the sonotrode and the anvil; and wherein a comparator (34) is provided which compares the measured voltage (U) with a limit value (US). ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) An apparatus in accordance with claim 15, wherein the limit value (US) is adjustable. ### Claim 17 A method for welding or for cutting and sealing workpiece layers by means of ultrasound while using an apparatus comprising at least one sonotrode (14) and at least one anvil (16) which can be positioned relative to one another by a feed device (18), wherein a detector device (30) is provided which detects an electrical resistance between the sonotrode (14) and the anvil (16) and a deactivation signal (D) is generated for the sonotrode (14) and/or for the feed device (18) in dependence on the determined resistance, the method having the following steps: a) activating the feed device at a predefined positioning force without activating the sonotrode or with activating the sonotrode at a low amplitude and positioning the sonotrode in the direction of the anvil to compress the workpiece layers; b) reducing the positioning force; c) activating the sonotrode or increasing the amplitude to a higher value; and d) deactivating the sonotrode and increasing the positioning force, in particular to approximately the original value, when the detector device has generated a deactivation signal. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) A method in accordance with claim 17, wherein the reduced positioning force amounts to approximately half the predefined positioning force. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) A method in accordance with claim 17, wherein the sonotrode is also deactivated when the detector device does not generate any deactivation signal, but the sonotrode is acted on by a predefined maximum energy or over a predefined time.