US 6,099,291 A · Heat staking apparatus with radiant heat source

Abstract

A machine for heat staking utilizes an infrared heat lamp to direct radiant energy onto a plastic stud to heat and soften the plastic material prior to the staking punch impacting the stud. In a first embodiment of the invention, the lamp is mounted directly above and in coaxial alignment with the staking punch such that the lamp points downward toward the plastic stud. An annular reflector is positioned in a radially surrounding relationship to the stud such that all of the radiant energy emitted by the lamp strikes the reflector and is redirected radially inward onto the stud. In an alternate embodiment of the invention, an infrared lamp is mounted on a non-moving portion of the staking press machinery and one or more fiber-optic cables extend from the lamp to the vicinity of the stud. The fiber-optic cables gather substantially all of the radiant energy produced by the lamp and direct it onto the stud.

Claims12

Dependent claims

A heat staking apparatus for deforming a thermoplastic workpiece comprising:

a surface for supporting the workpiece;
a reciprocating carriage movable along an axis toward the surface;
a punch mounted to the carriage for impacting the workpiece;
a radiant heat source mounted to the carriage for directing heat toward the surface;
and
a reflector disposed adjacent the surface to reflect radiant energy emitted by the radiant source onto the workpiece, the reflector having a central aperture and being disposed in surrounding relationship to the workpiece and with at least part of the workpiece projecting into the central aperture whereby the reflector reflects the radiant energy radially inward onto the workpiece.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Heat staking apparatus with radiant heat source

Life of this patent

Heat staking apparatus with radiant heat source

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims12