Bobbin assembly for a soldering/desoldering device using an etched foil heater

A bobbin assembly for heating the tip of a soldering/desoldering device comprising:

• a metallic heat conductive bobbin body having an axis, said bobbin body having a receiving means for receiving a soldering/desoldering tip in coaxial thermally conductive contact with said bobbin body;
• and
• a heater assembly, having an axis, coaxially disposed about said bobbin body for heating said bobbin body, said heater assembly comprising a first electrically insulating layer disposed about and in contact with said metallic heat conductive bobbin body, a metal foil heater disposed about and in contact with said first electrically insulating layer, and a second electrically insulating layer disposed about and in contact with said first electrically insulating layer, and a second electrically insulating layer disposed about and in contact with said metal foil heater;
• said metal foil heater being a planar etched metal foil heater substantially in the form of a serpentine comprising a plurality of substantially coextensive parallel leg portions disposed side by side and a plurality of U-shaped portions, each leg portion having two ends, each leg portion joined to the adjacent leg portion on one side by a respective first U-shaped portion at one end of the leg portion and joined to the adjacent leg portion on the other side by a respective second U-shaped portion at the other end of the leg portion, said planar electric resistance heater rolled about said bobbin body with said leg portions parallel to said bobbin body axis.

A bobbin assembly for heating the tip of a soldering/desoldering device comprising:

• a heat conductive bobbinbody having an axis, said bobbin body having a holding means for holding a soldering/desoldering tip in coaxial thermally conductive contact with said bobbin body;
• a heater assembly, having an axis, coaxially disposed about said bobbin body for heating said bobbin body;
• clamping means, having an axis, coaxially disposed about said bobbin body for holding said heater assembly in thermally conductive contact with said bobbin body;
• wherein said heater assembly comprises:
• a first electrically insulating layer disposed about and in contact with said bobbin body,
• a planar etched foil electric resistance heater substantially in the form of a serpentine comprising a plurality of substantially coextensive parallel leg portions disposed side by side and a plurality of first and second portions, each leg portion having two ends, each leg portion joined to the adjacent leg portion on one side by a respective first U-shaped portion at one end of the leg portion and joined to the adjacent leg portion on the other side by a respective second U-shaped portion at the other end of the leg portion, said planar etched foil heater having said leg portions parallel to said bobbin axis and disposed about and in contact with said first layer, and
• a second electrically insulating layer disposed about and in contact with said heater.