# US 2014/0150979 A1 · Pressure control mechanism for adhesive thermal compression bonding machines

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- Number: US 2014/0150979 A1
- Document ID: US20140150979A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/924,122
- Filed: 2013-06-21
- Published: 2014-06-05
- Earliest claimed: 2008-05-19
- Inventors: Kwangwoo Michael Ko
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140150979A1

## CPC

- B32B 37/10: characterised by the pressing technique, e.g. using action of vacuum or fluid pressure
- B29C 65/5057: {positioned between the surfaces to be joined (B29C65/5035 takes precedence)}
- B29C 65/7841: {Holding or clamping means for handling purposes (clamping means for the purpose of applying pressure on the parts to be joined, in the area to be joined B29C66/81; work holders in general B25B; devices for holding or positioning work for welding metal B23K37/04)}
- B29C 66/0322: {Post-pressing without reshaping, i.e. keeping the joint under pressure after joining}
- B29C 66/0342: {Cooling, e.g. transporting through welding and cooling zone}
- B29C 66/54: {Joining several hollow-preforms, e.g. half-shells, to form hollow articles, e.g. for making balls, containers; Joining several hollow-preforms, e.g. half-cylinders, to form tubular articles}
- B29C 66/742: {to metals or their alloys}
- B29C 66/81451: {being adaptable to the surface of the joint (B29C66/81453, B29C66/81455, B29C66/81457, B29C66/81459, B29C66/81461 take precedence)}
- B29C 66/8161: {said pressing elements being supported or backed-up by springs or by resilient material}
- 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 66/9241: {by controlling or regulating the pressure, the force or the mechanical power}
- C09J 5/06: involving heating of the applied adhesive
- B29C 65/4815: {Hot melt adhesives, e.g. thermoplastic adhesives}
- B29C 65/4825: {Pressure sensitive adhesives}
- B29C 65/4835: {Heat curing adhesives}
- B29C 66/92445: {by steps}
- B29C 66/929: {characterized by specific pressure, force, mechanical power or displacement values or ranges}
- B29K 2101/12: Thermoplastic materials
- B29K 2305/00: Use of metals, their alloys or their compounds, as reinforcement
- Y10T 156/10: Methods of surface bonding and/or assembly therefor
- B32B: LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
- 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)
- C09J: ADHESIVES; NON-MECHANICAL ASPECTS OF ADHESIVE PROCESSES IN GENERAL; ADHESIVE PROCESSES NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE; USE OF MATERIALS AS ADHESIVES (preparation of glue or gelatine C09H)
- 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
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

Mechanism for controlling pressure during the adhesive thermal compression bonding provides benefits of higher production yield, improved adhesive bonding performance and quality. Springs and pneumatic pistons are utilized to provide improved pressure control during the adhesive thermal compression bonding process. All production parts have certain geometric tolerances and automatically accommodating these tolerances increases production yield by reducing waste of incompletely adhesive bonded parts. The gaps caused by the parts tolerance are closed in a controlled manner using the mechanism and the pressure is controlled for effective adhesive bonding.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A pressure control mechanism for use in a bonding machine that joins two superimposed and mated parts together which parts have contacting portions that abut one another over a predetermined contact area, the bonding machine comprising a powered actuator to compress the parts against one another along an axis of movement, which comprises:
(a) a fixture having a contact surface that abuts against an exterior surface of one of the parts during the compression of the parts against one another; and
(b) a plurality of powered pistons carried on the fixture for movement with the fixture, wherein each piston comprises a cylinder and a head that is extensible and retractable from the cylinder, wherein the heads of the cylinders are extensible through the contact surface of the fixture to directly engage against the exterior surface of the one part to further help push the parts together and close any gaps occurring over the contact area therebetween.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The mechanism of claim 1, further including a plurality of springs for moving the fixture along the axis of movement to further force the fixture against the exterior surface of the one part.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The mechanism of claim 1, wherein the powered pistons are spaced apart relative to one another approximately uniformly over the contact area.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The mechanism of claim 1, wherein the movable heads of at least some of the powered pistons move along axes that are parallel to the axis of movement of the powered actuator as the powered actuator forces the first and second parts together.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The mechanism of claim 1, wherein the movable heads of at least some of the powered pistons move along axes that are angled to the axis of movement of the powered actuator as the powered actuator forces the first and second parts together.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The mechanism of claim 1, wherein the two parts being joined together comprise parts of a case or housing of an electronic device.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The mechanism of claim 6, wherein the electronic device comprises a cell phone.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The mechanism of claim 6, wherein the fixture that carries the powered pistons is a bottom fixture with the contact surface facing upwardly during compression of the parts, and wherein the heads of the powered pistons extend vertically upwardly relative to the fixture to engage against the exterior surface of the one part to apply force to the one part to help push the parts together.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The mechanism of claim 8, further including an opposing top fixture having a contact surface that abuts against an exterior surface of the other part during the compression of the parts against one another, and wherein the powered actuator is connected to the top fixture for moving the top fixture towards the bottom fixture to additionally push the parts together.

### Claim 10

A method for joining together two superimposed and mated parts of a case or housing of an electronic device which parts have contacting portions that abut one another over a predetermined contact area, which comprises:
(a) providing a fixture having a contact surface that abuts against an exterior surface of one of the parts of the case or housing of the electronic device during the compression of the parts against one another;
(b) providing a plurality of powered pistons carried on the fixture for movement with the fixture, wherein each piston comprises a cylinder and a head that is extensible and retractable from the cylinder, wherein the heads of the cylinders are extensible through the contact surface of the fixture to directly engage against the exterior surface of the one part of the case or housing of the electronic device to help push the parts together and close any gaps occurring over the contact area therebetween;
(c) applying pressure to the superimposed and mated parts using a powered actuator that is separate from the powered pistons; and
(d) actuating the powered pistons during the pressure applying step to cause the heads of the powered pistons to extend in a direction that pushes the parts together with a force that is additive to whatever force is applied by the powered actuator to the parts.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein the electronic device comprises a cell phone.