Back to results
US 5,707,470 AGranted
Rotary ultrasonic apparatus and methods
AssigneeKimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
InventorsGregory John Rajala, Thomas David Ehlert
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Loading patent…
Loading patent…
AssigneeKimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
InventorsGregory John Rajala, Thomas David Ehlert
Estimating the term…
This invention pertains to methods for processing workpieces, including effecting changes in the workpieces by applying ultrasonic energy to the workpieces using novel apparatus and steps for applying the ultrasonic energy to the workpieces. Specifically, an ultrasonic horn and anvil are used to apply ultrasonic energy in a limited amount, to effect change such as cutting in one layer of a workpiece without effecting a corresponding change in the other layers of the workpiece, although some change in the other layers may be tolerated and/or desired. A rotary horn and anvil are taught, with a protuberance on either the horn or the anvil. In use, the horn and anvil preferably rotate cooperatively in close proximity to each other at a nip, and apply pressure and corresponding ultrasonic energy to the workpiece only when the protuberance rotates into the nip, even though ultrasonic energy may be applied uniformly to the ultrasonic horn throughout the rotation of the protuberance. The workpieces may be presented to the horn/anvil combination as contained serially in a web of workpieces passing through the gap at a given speed; the speed of the protuberance being preferably substantially matched to the speed of the web while the protuberance is applying ultrasonic energy to a workpiece, but may differ from the speed of the web when the protuberance is not applying ultrasonic energy to a workpiece.
A method of processing a multiple layer workpiece having at least first and second layers and an outer surface, and wherein ultrasonic energy applied to the outer surface at a selected locus of the workpiece can effect physical change in the first layer before effecting a corresponding physical change in at least the second layer at the selected locus, the method comprising applying ultrasonic energy to the outer surface of the multiple layer workpiece at the selected locus, sufficient to sever and thereby separating the first layer into discrete elements without severing the second layer.
A method of processing a multiple layer workpiece having at least first and second layers and an outer surface, and wherein ultrasonic energy applied to the outer surface at a selected locus of the workpiece can effect physical change in the first layer before effecting a corresponding physical change in at least the second layer at the selected locus, the method comprising the steps of applying ultrasonic energy to the outer surface of the multiple layer workpiece at the selected locus, sufficient to effect a physical change in the first layer without effecting corresponding physical change in the second layer, wherein the first layer comprises a plurality of layer elements, and wherein the plurality of layer elements concentrate the ultrasonic energy in the first layer, the method comprising applying the ultrasonic energy with sufficient power, for sufficient limited time, and with sufficient force, to effect cutting layer elements in the first layer.
A method of processing a multiple layer workpiece having at least first and second layers and an outer surface, and wherein ultrasonic energy applied to the outer surface at a selected locus of the workpiece can effect physical change in the first layer before effecting a corresponding physical change in at least the second layer at the selected locus, the method comprising applying ultrasonic energy to the outer surface of the multiple layer workpiece at the selected locus, sufficient to effect a physical change in the first layer without effecting corresponding physical change in the second layer, the method including (i) using an anvil to support the workpiece adjacent an energized and vibrating ultrasonic horn, and thereby creating a close relationship comprising a gap between the ultrasonic horn and the anvil, while moving the workpiece relative to the ultrasonic horn, and applying energy to the ultrasonic horn, and (ii) intermittently closing the gap to form a nip by rotating a working protuberance on the ultrasonic horn through the nip, and thereby applying ultrasonic energy through the protuberance to the workpiece to thereby effect the physical change, the ultrasonic horn including a non-working protuberance spaced from the working protuberance.
A method for processing a series of workpieces to be made into garment-type products, in a continuous web, including using apparatus comprising an ultrasonic subsystem for effectively applying ultrasonic energy to effect physical changes in the workpieces in the continuous web, at intervals spaced in time, and at locations spaced in the web, the method comprising the steps of:
A method for processing a series of workpieces to be made into garment-type products, in a continuous web, including using apparatus comprising an ultrasonic subsystem for effectively applying ultrasonic energy to effect physical changes in the workpieces in the continuous web, at intervals spaced in time, and at locations spaced in the web, the method comprising the steps of:
A method of fabricating a multiple layer product containing fabric and elastic, said method comprising the steps of:
A method of cutting elastic threads in a workpiece comprising a first layer of fabric and having elastic as one or more threads in the workpiece, the first layer of fabric having a first surface and a second opposing surface, the elastic being adjacent the first surface, and wherein the elastic is so disposed in the workpiece as to be susceptible to being cut by ultrasonic energy before the first layer is cut, the method comprising applying ultrasonic energy to the workpiece at a selected locus on the second surface of the first layer sufficient to effect cutting of the elastic without cutting the first layer.
A method of processing a multiple layer workpiece having at least first and second layers and an outer surface, and wherein ultrasonic energy applied to the outer surface at a selected locus of the second layer of the workpiece can effect physical change in the first layer before effecting a corresponding physical change in at least the second layer at the selected locus, the method comprising applying ultrasonic energy to the outer surface of the multiple layer workpiece at the selected locus, sufficient to effect a physical change in the first layer without effecting corresponding physical change in the second layer, the method including applying ultrasonic energy to the workpiece for an effective period of time through an ultrasonic horn and a cooperating anvil, the ultrasonic horn including a protuberance thereon, by rotating the ultrasonic horn about an axis, and thereby applying the ultrasonic energy through the protuberance to the workpiece.
A method of processing a multiple layer workpiece having an interior first layer between opposing second and third outer layers, and a first outer surface of the workpiece on the second layer, the method comprising applying ultrasonic energy passing through the second layer to thereby sever the first layer, without severing the second layer.
A method of processing a multiple layer workpiece having an interior first layer between opposing second the third lawyers, and a first outer surface of the workpiece on the second layer, the method comprising applying ultrasonic energy from ultrasonic members through the second layer, thereby to effect severing of the first layer without any ultrasonic member directly physically contacting the first layer, and without severing of the second layer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.