Apparatus for ultrasonically bonding endcaps to a container of dissimilar material
AssigneePhilip Morris Incorporated
InventorsSteven R. Rinehart, Jonah Adams, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus are provided for ultrasonically bonding endcaps to a food or tobacco product container comprised of a material dissimilar from the endcaps. Ultrasonic vibration is applied to the joint between the container and the endcaps, which includes a strip of preapplied adhesive, so that the adhesive partially melts. The partially melted adhesive quickly resolidifies, providing a durable bond without the disadvantageous and time consuming use of wet glues. The apparatus includes a pair of opposingly mounted ultrasonic devices, a controller associated with each ultrasonic device, and a general purpose computer programmed to synchronize and mointor the controllers.
Claims13
Apparatus for ultrasonically sealing a food or tobacco container comprised of a tube and an endcap, said endcap engaged with said tube, said apparatus comprising:
- a. a frame;
- b. a work block having a hole therethrough, said work block mounted on said frame;
- c. a pair of ultrasonic devices having acoustical horns, the acoustical horns being opposingly mounted on said frame so that when said acoustical horns of said ultrasonic devices are in contact with said container, one of said acoustical horns extends through said hole in said work block;
- d. means for synchronizing and monitoring the operation of said ultrasonic devices.
Apparatus for ultrasonically sealing a food or tobacco container including a tube and an endcap, said endcap engaged with said tube, said apparatus comprising:
- a. a pair of ultrasonic devices having acoustical horns, the acoustical horns being opposingly mounted so that when said acoustical horns of said ultrasonic devices are in contact with said container, said acoustical horns substantially surround the circumference of the tube adjacent the endcap;
- and
- b. means for synchronizing and monitoring the operation of said ultrasonic devices.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.