Clamping of film-like material for radiant energy welding
AssigneeW. R. Grace & Co.
InventorRichard F. Osborne
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Sheets of film-like material such as thermoplastic sheets, coated paper, or metallic foil may be clamped together for radiant energy welding by directing jets of gas against the outer surfaces of two opposed sheets to press or clamp the sheets firmly into contact with each other; and, then by irradiating the contact area to heat the material to its welding temperature, the sheets will be fused together.
Claims14
A method of clamping and welding sheets of thermoplastic material together with radiant energy comprising the steps of:
- a. positioning two sheets of thermoplastic material in a vertically opposed, face-to-face relationship;
- b. placing a pair of jets adjacent the outer surface of each of said sheets, each of said jets being slot-shaped and opposed to the other pair of said jets;
- c. supplying a gas to said jets;
- d. directing both jets in the same pair of jets so that gas emerging therefrom impinges on the same area of said outer surface of said sheets thereby pressing and clamping said sheets into contact in said area;
- and,
- e. irradiating said clamped area with radiant energy to heat the material to its welding temperature thereby fusing said sheets together in their area of contact.
Apparatus for clamping and welding sheets of film-like material together with radiant energy comprising:
- a. aligned, opposed gas jets for directing gas streams against said sheets which are placed in face-to-face relationship between said jets;
- b. means for supplying gas to said jets and thereby pressing and clamping said sheets together;
- and,
- c. means for irradiating the area where said sheets are clamped together with radiant energy.
A method of clamping and welding sheets of film-like material together with radiant energy comprising the steps of:
- a. placing two sheets of weldable material in opposed, face-to-face relationship;
- b. positioning a pair of gas jets on opposite sides of said opposed sheets;
- c. directing each jet of gas in said pair against the same surface area of the respective sheet to press and clamp the sheets firmly into contact with each other;
- and,
- d. irradiating at least a portion of the area of contact of said sheets to heat the material to its welding temperature thereby fusing said sheets together in their area of contact.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.