Ultrasonic cutting apparatus
AssigneeEastman Kodak Company
InventorsRobert G. Engle, Wendy A. Foster, Fugui He, Douglas G. Maley, Harold Moore, David J. Regan
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An ultrasonic apparatus and method for cutting a non-planar workpiece. The apparatus includes an anvil having a non-planar surface for closely engaging an underside of the workpiece. An ultrasonic horn has a non-planar cutting surface closely receiving a topside of the workpiece, wherein the cutting surface and the support surface have complementary non-planar shapes. The ultrasonic horn resonates at a predetermined frequency effect cutting of the workpiece. If the workpiece has a heat fusible component, the workpiece can also be seamed.
Claims9
An ultrasonic apparatus for cutting a non-planar workpiece, the workpiece having a topside and an underside, the apparatus comprising:
- a non-rotating-anvil having a non-planar anvil surface supporting the underside of the workpiece;
- and
- an ultrasonic cutter adapted to resonate at a predetermined frequency toward and away from the anvil to effect cutting of the workpiece, the ultrasonic cutter having a non-planar cutting surface meeting the topside of the workpiece, the ultrasonic cutting surface and the anvil surface having complementary non-planar shapes.
An ultrasonic apparatus for cutting and seaming a discrete non-planar workpiece having a heat fusible component, the workpiece having a topside and an underside, the apparatus comprising:
- a non-rotating anvil having a non-planar anvil surface supporting the underside of the workpiece;
- and
- an ultrasonic cutter adapted to resonate at a predetermined frequency toward and away from the anvil to effect cutting and seaming of the workpiece, the ultrasonic cutter having a non-planar cutting surface meeting the topside of the workpiece, the ultrasonic cutting surface and the anvil surface having complementary non-planar shapes.
An ultrasonic apparatus for providing a plurality of cuts in a non-planar workpiece, each workpiece having a topside and an underside, the apparatus comprising:
- a plurality of non-rotating anvils, each anvil having a non-planar anvil surface supporting the underside of the workpiece at a respective cutting location;
- and
- an ultrasonic cutter having a plurality of non-planar cutting surfaces, each cutting surface having a corresponding anvil surface, each cutting surface meeting the topside of the workpiece, the ultrasonic cutter adapted to resonate at a predetermined frequency toward and away from the plurality of anvils to effect cutting of the workpiece, each cutting surface and corresponding anvil surface having complementary non-planar shapes.
An apparatus for simultaneously providing a plurality of cuts in a non-planar workpiece, the workpiece having a first and second non-identical cutting location, a topside, and an underside, the first cutting location being spaced from the second cutting location, the apparatus comprising:
- a first and second non-rotating anvil, the first and second anvils each having a non-planar anvil surface supporting the underside of the workpiece at the first and second cutting locations, respectively, the first anvil surface differing from the second anvil surface;
- and
- an ultrasonic cutter having a first and second non-planar cutting surface, the first cutting surface corresponding with the first anvil surface to form a first cut in the workpiece at the first location, the second cutting surface corresponding with the second anvil surface to form a second cut in the workpiece at the second location, each cutting surface meeting the topside of the workpiece, the ultrasonic cutter adapted to resonate at a predetermined frequency toward and away from the first and second anvils to simultaneously effect cutting of the workpiece at the first and second cutting locations, each cutting surface and corresponding anvil surface having complementary non-planar shapes.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.