US 4,542,771 AGranted

Adjustable anvil for ultrasonic material cutting and sealing apparatus

AssigneeSprings Industries, Inc.

InventorsGeorge L. Payet, James E. Hendrix, Jack R. Lowery, Sr.

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Abstract

An improved anvil construction, for use in an ultrasonic apparatus for edge cutting and sealing moving lengths of at least partially thermoplastic material, particularly textile fabric having at least some thermoplastic fibers, and including a vibrating sonic horn cooperating with and vibrating against the anvil for such ultrasonic edge cutting and sealing as the material moves between the sonic horn and the anvil. The anvil includes a peaked cutting edge and first and second surfaces extending in respective opposite directions from the cutting edge and is characterized by being adjustable to positions for effecting clean and sharp edge cutting and desired amounts of edge sealing in the material while resisting wear on the anvil. Such adjustment is in the form of pivotal movement of an anvil member to adjust the acuteness of the included angles of first and second surfaces extending from the cutting edge of the anvil and in the form of timed rotation of an anvil wheel member so that a fresh portion of the cutting edge thereof may be positioned for contact by the sonic horn when wear occurs on such cutting edge.

Claims14

Dependent claims

In an ultrasonic apparatus for edge cutting and sealing moving lengths of at least partially thermoplastic material, particularly textile fabric having at least some thermoplstic fibers, and including anvil means and vibrating sonic horn having a flat working face cooperating with and vibrating against said anvil means for the ultrasonic edge cutting and sealing as the material moves between said sonic horn means and said anvil means;

the improvement of a construction of said anvil means characterized by being adjustable to positions for effecting clean and sharp edge cutting and desired amounts of edge sealing in the material while resisting wear on said anvil means, said anvil means comprising:
an anvil member defining a peaked cutting edge for cutting the moving material as said sonic horn means vibrates against said cutting edge, and first and second surfaces extending in respective opposite directions from said peaked cutting edge and forming respective included acute angles with said horn face from said cutting edge, of said first and second surfaces surfaces forming a sealing surface for sealing the cut edge of the material a predetermined distance inwardly of the out edge as said sonic horn vibrates against said anvil member and the other of said first and second surface forming a reinforcing surface for said cutting edge;
and
means mounting said anvil member for selective pivotal movement about an axis perpendicular to said cutting edge for varying the included angles of said sealing and reinforcing surfaces so that the included angle of said sealing surface is less than the included angle of said reinforcing surface, the predetermined distance of sealing being determined by and increasing with the increasing acuteness of the predetermined included angle of said sealing surface.

1 more element

In an ultrasonic apparatus for edge cutting and sealing moving lengths of at least partially thermoplastic material, particularly textile fabric having at least some thermoplastic fibers, and including anvil means and vibrating sonic horn means having a flat working face cooperating with and vibrating against said anvil means for the ultrasonic edge cutting and sealing as the material moves between said sonic horn means and said anvil means;

the improvement of a construction of said anvil means characterized by being adjustable to positions for effecting clean and sharp edge cutting and desired amounts of edge sealing in the material while resisting wear on said anvil means, said anvil means comprising:
a wheel-shaped anvil member having a beveled periphery defining therearoung a peaked cutting edge for cutting the moving material as said sonic horn vibrates against said cutting edge, and first and second surfaces extending in respective opposite directions from said peaked cutting edge and forming respective included acute angles with said horn face from said cutting edge, one of first and second surfaces forming a sealing surface for sealing the cut edge of the material a predetermined distance inwardly of the cut edge as said sonic horn vibrates against said anvil member and the other of said first or second surface forming a reinforcing surface for said cutting edge;
means mounting said anvil member for rotation so that a fresh portion of said peaked cutting edge can be positioned for vibrating contact by said sonic horn face after wear has occurred on said peaked cutting edge and for selective pivotal movement about an axis perpendicular to said cutting edge for varying the included angles of said sealing and reinforcing surfaces so that the included angle of said sealing surface is less than the included angle of said reinforcing surface, the predetermined distance of sealing being determined by and increasing with the increasing acuteness of the predetermined included angle of said sealing surface;
and
timed driving means connected with said anvil member for rotating said anvil member.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.