Method and apparatus for manufacturing laminates

A method for manufacturing laminates comprising a plurality of continuously formed component members having different cross-sectional shapes;

• the component members having outside contours corresponding to the cross-sectional shapes of the laminate being formed from a sheet material and sequentially laminated into one piece comprising
• indexing a long-sized workpiece in the longitudinal direction,
• forming clearance holes within the outside contours of the component members, or projections at locations corresponding to the clearance holes,
• forming the component members having predetermined outside contours with non-separating indentation, with at least part of the outside contours left unseparated from the workpiece,
• sequentially punching out the component members from the workpiece and laminating the component members into one piece in the final stage of indexing of the workpiece, and
• causing the projections to pass through the clearance holes on the underlying component member and welding the component member with the non-adjoining component member into one piece.

An apparatus for manufacturing laminates comprising a plurality of continuously formed component members having different cross-sectional shapes comprising

• a feeding device for indexing a long-sized workpiece in the longitudinal direction,
• a plurality of punch-die sets disposed in the feeding direction of the workpiece for forming multiple types of component members having outside contours corresponding to each of the cross-sectional shapes of the laminate with non-separating indentation, with at least part of the outside contours left unseparated from the workpiece, and
• a laminating device disposed on the most downstream side of the punch-die sets in the feeding direction of the workpiece for sequentially punching out the component members from the workpiece and laminating the component members into one piece;
• the punch-die sets being selectively operable.

An apparatus for manufacturing laminates comprising continuously formed component members having different cross-sectional shapes;

• the component members having outside contours corresponding to the cross-sectional shapes of the laminate being formed from a sheet material and sequentially laminated into one piece comprising
• a feeding device for indexing a long-sized workpiece in the longitudinal direction,
• a plurality of first punch-die sets for clearance holes passing through the outside contours or projection,
• a plurality of second punch-die sets for a plurality of the component members with non-separating indentation, with at least part of the outside contours left unseparated from the workpiece, and
• a laminating device disposed on the most downstream side in the feeding direction of the workpiece;
• the laminating device comprising
• a holding device having a hole for allowing the component members to pass and formed in such a manner as to constrain the downward movement of the workpiece,
• a pressure-welding device disposed above the holding device and having a vertically movable pressure-welding electrode for punching out, laminating and pressure-welding the component members, and
• a support device provided below the holding device and having a vertically movable support member that can hold in place the punched out component members;
• a selectively operable welding power supply being connected between the pressure-welding device and the support device.

An apparatus for manufacturing laminates comprising a plurality of continuously formed component members having different cross-sectional shapes;

• the component members having outside contours corresponding to the cross-sectional shapes of the laminate being formed from a sheet material and sequentially laminated into one piece comprising
• a feeding device for indexing a long-size workpiece in the longitudinal direction,
• a plurality of punch-die sets for forming a plurality of component members with non-separating indentation, with at least part of the outside contours left unseparated from the workpiece, and
• a laminating device disposed on the most downstream side in the feeding direction of the workpiece for sequentially punching out, laminating the component members into one piece;
• the laminating device comprising
• a holding device having a hole for allowing the component members to pass and formed in such a manner as to constrain the downward movement of the workpiece,
• a pressure-welding device disposed above the holding device and having a vertically movable pressure-welding punch for punching out, laminating and pressure-welding the component members, and
• a support device provided below the holding device and having a vertically movable support member that can hold in place the punched out component members;
• a plurality of the laminating devices being provided in the feeding direction of the workpiece and adapted to be operated alternately.