# US 2013/0153151 A1 · System for joining sheets to form a belt

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- Number: US 2013/0153151 A1
- Document ID: US20130153151A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/329,560
- Filed: 2011-12-19
- Published: 2013-06-20
- Earliest claimed: 2011-12-19
- Inventors: Jeffrey A. Trest; Kimberly W. Standish; Mark C. Zaretsky
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130153151A1

## CPC

- B29C 66/71: {characterised by the composition of the plastics material of the parts to be joined (welding bar compositions B29C65/125)}
- B29C 65/167: {using laser diodes}
- B29C 65/1696: {making use of masks}
- B29C 65/18: using heated tools
- B29C 65/245: {the heat transfer being achieved contactless, e.g. by radiation (B29C65/32 takes precedence)}
- B29C 66/1162: {Single bevel to bevel joints, e.g. mitre joints}
- B29C 66/14: {the joint having the same thickness as the thickness of the parts to be joined (B29C66/1142 takes precedence)}
- B29C 66/4322: {by joining a single sheet to itself (B29C66/4332 takes precedence)}
- B29C 66/4324: {for making closed loops, e.g. belts}
- B29C 66/49: {Internally supporting the, e.g. tubular, article during joining (B29C66/63 takes precedence)}
- B29C 66/723: {being multi-layered (B29C66/7292, B29C66/72941 take precedence)}
- B29C 66/73921: {characterised by the materials of both parts being thermoplastics}
- B29C 66/8122: {characterised by the composition of the material constituting the pressing elements, e.g. constituting the welding jaws or clamps}
- B29C 66/81267: {Transparent to electromagnetic radiation, e.g. to visible light}
- B29C 66/82661: {by means of vacuum}
- B29C 65/1612: {Infrared [IR] radiation, e.g. by infrared lasers}
- B29C 65/1677: {making use of an absorber or impact modifier}
- B29C 65/1687: {making use of light guides}
- B29C 66/72326: {Glass}
- B29C 66/73941: {characterised by the materials of both parts being thermosets}
- B29C 66/81261: {Thermal properties, e.g. thermal conductivity, thermal expansion coefficient}
- B29C 66/81263: {Dielectric properties}
- 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}
- B29K 2995/0027: for light outside the visible spectrum
- 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)
- B29K: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR {MOULDS, } REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS

## Abstract

A system for joining a first sheet (10) to a second sheet (11), wherein the first and second sheets have a first layer and a second layer, including a first rigid plate (6); a gas absorbing layer on the first rigid plate; positioning the second sheet having a first layer (52) and a second layer (54) on the gas absorbing layer (8); wherein an edge of the of the first sheet abuts an edge of the second sheet; a second rigid plate on top of the first and second sheet; a press for applying pressure to the first sheet edge and second sheet edge; and a laser for welding the edge of the first sheet to the edge of the second sheet through the second rigid plate.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system for joining a first sheet to a second sheet, wherein the first and second sheets have a first layer and a second layer, comprising:
a first rigid plate;
a thermal conductive layer consisting of a material selected from polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyimide, or polycarbonate on the first rigid plate;
positioning the first sheet, wherein the first sheet has at least a first layer and a second layer, on the thermal conductive layer;
positioning the second sheet, wherein the second sheet has at least a first layer and a second layer, on the thermal conductive layer;
wherein an edge of the first sheet abuts an edge of the second sheet;
a second rigid plate on top of the first and second sheet;
a press for applying pressure to the first sheet edge and second sheet edge; and
a laser for welding the edge of the first sheet to the edge of the second sheet through the second rigid plate.

### Claim 2

The system of claim I wherein the first and second rigid plates are glass.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The system of claim 2 wherein a second laser welds the edge of the first sheet to the edge of the second sheet through the first rigid plate.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 wherein the first and second rigid plates are thermal insulators.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 wherein the first edge and the second edge are tapered at an angle.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 wherein the first laser comprises a laser connected to a plurality of radiation conducting fibers.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The system of claim 6 further comprising:
operating a first laser in the plurality at a first power at full power to preheat the edge; and
operating a second laser in the plurality at a second power less than the first power.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The system of claim 6 further comprising:
operating a first laser in the plurality at a first power less than full power to preheat the edge; and
operating a second laser in the plurality at a second power greater than the first power.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 wherein the first laser is a laser diode array.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 wherein the first layer of the first and second sheet is selected from a group consisting of thermoplastics including polycarbonate, polyimide, polyamide, PET, PEN, PETG, loaded with a laser energy absorbent materials such as carbon or an infrared absorbing dye or pigment.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 wherein the second layer of the first and second sheet is selected from a group consisting of thermoplastic elastomers including polyurethanes, styrenic block copolymers, or EPDM.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 wherein the first and second sheets have a third layer comprising a release layer.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 wherein the pressure applied is between 20 and 95 psi.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 wherein at least one layer absorbs the laser energy and converts it to heat.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 wherein the first sheet and the second sheet form a belt after joining the edge of the first sheet to the edge of the second sheet.

### Claim 16

A system for joining a first sheet to a second sheet comprising:
a first rigid plate;
a thermal conductive layer consisting of a material selected from polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyimide, or polycarbonate on the first rigid plate;
positioning a first sheet having a polycarbonate layer and a polyurethane layer on the thermal conductive layer;
wherein the polyurethane layer is adjacent to the thermal conductive layer;
positioning a second sheet having a polycarbonate layer and a polyurethane layer on the thermal conductive layer;
wherein the polyurethane layer is adjacent to the thermal conductive layer;
wherein an edge of the of the first sheet abuts an edge of the second sheet;
a second rigid plate of transparent material on top of the first and second sheet;
a press for applying pressure to the first and second sheet;
and laser welding the edge of the first sheet to the edge of the second sheet with a first laser.

### Claim 17

A system for joining a first sheet to a second sheet comprising:
a first rigid plate;
a thermal conductive layer consisting of a material selected from polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyimide, or polycarbonate on the first rigid plate;
positioning the first sheet on the thermal conductive layer;
positioning the second sheet on the thermal conductive layer; wherein an edge of the of the first sheet abuts an edge of the second sheet;
a layer of laser energy absorbing material on the first and second sheet;
a second rigid plate, wherein the second rigid plate is comprised of transparent material, on top of the first and second sheets;
a press applying pressure to the first sheet edge and second sheet edge; and
laser welding the edge of the first sheet to the edge of the second sheet with a first laser.