# US 9,751,257 B2 · Ultrasonic welder clamp > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,751,257 B2 - Document ID: US9751257B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/735,555 - Filed: 2015-06-10 - Published: 2015-12-17 - Granted: 2017-09-05 - Earliest claimed: 2014-06-17 - Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC - Applicants: GM Global Technology Operations LLC - Inventors: Yongqiang Li; Saul S Lee; Bradley J. Blaski; Jorge F. Arinez - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9751257B2 ## CPC - B29C 65/7841: {Holding or clamping means for handling purposes (clamping means for the purpose of applying pressure on the parts to be joined, in the area to be joined B29C66/81; work holders in general B25B; devices for holding or positioning work for welding metal B23K37/04)} - B29C 65/08: using ultrasonic vibrations {(non-plastics element to plastics elements B29C65/645)} - B29C 66/1122: {Single lap to lap joints, i.e. overlap joints (B29C66/45, B29C66/472, B29C66/52272 take precedence)} - B29C 66/21: {said joint lines being formed by a single dot or dash or by several dots or dashes, i.e. spot joining or spot welding} - B29C 66/41: {Joining substantially flat articles (B29C66/47 and subgroups take precedence); Making flat seams in tubular or hollow articles (B29C66/51 and subgroups take precedence)} - B29C 66/73921: {characterised by the materials of both parts being thermoplastics} - B29C 66/81265: {Surface properties, e.g. surface roughness or rugosity} - B29C 66/81429: {comprising a single tooth} - B29C 66/81457: {comprising a block or layer of deformable material, e.g. sponge, foam, rubber (pressing elements supported or backed-up by resilient material B29C66/8161)} - B29C 66/816: {characterised by the mounting of the pressing elements, e.g. of the welding jaws or clamps} - B29C 66/8161: {said pressing elements being supported or backed-up by springs or by resilient material} - B29C 66/8322: {Joining or pressing tools reciprocating along one axis} - B29C 66/863: {Robotised, e.g. mounted on a robot arm} - B29C 66/92451: {using joining tools having different pressure zones or using several joining tools with different pressures} - B29C 66/9592: {in explicit relation to another variable, e.g. X-Y diagrams} - B29C 65/7802: {Positioning the parts to be joined, e.g. aligning, indexing or centring} - B29C 66/71: {characterised by the composition of the plastics material of the parts to be joined (welding bar compositions B29C65/125)} - B29C 66/7212: {characterised by the composition of the fibres} - Y10T 156/1702: For plural parts or plural areas of single part - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A device for joining thermoplastic workpieces includes an ultrasonic welder including an ultrasonic transducer, a booster and a horn having a welding tip. A clamping mechanism attaches to the ultrasonic welder and includes an upper frame coupled to a boot. The welding tip of the horn of the ultrasonic welder projects into an aperture in the boot of the clamping mechanism. The clamping mechanism exerts a clamping force on the workpieces that differs from a welding force exerted on the workpieces by the ultrasonic welder when the ultrasonic welder is operating to join the thermoplastic workpieces. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A device for joining thermoplastic workpieces, comprising: an ultrasonic welder including an ultrasonic transducer, a booster and a horn having a welding tip; a clamping mechanism coupled to the ultrasonic welder and including an upper frame coupled to a boot; and the welding tip of the horn of the ultrasonic welder projecting into an aperture in the boot of the clamping mechanism; wherein the upper frame of the clamping mechanism mechanically couples to the boot via a plurality of compression springs arranged in parallel; wherein the boot includes an air passageway fluidly coupleable to a pressurized air supply to supply air into the aperture in the boot of the clamping mechanism; and wherein the clamping mechanism exerts a clamping force on the workpieces separate from a welding force exerted on the workpieces by the ultrasonic welder when the ultrasonic welder is operating to join the thermoplastic workpieces. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The ultrasonic welder of claim 1, wherein the clamping mechanism exerts the clamping force on the workpieces against an anvil when the ultrasonic welder is joining the thermoplastic workpieces. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The ultrasonic welder of claim 1, wherein the boot of the clamping mechanism further comprises a face portion for contacting the workpiece. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The ultrasonic welder of claim 3, wherein the face portion of the boot includes a smooth incompressible surface. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The ultrasonic welder of claim 3, wherein the face portion of the boot includes a compressible surface. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The ultrasonic welder of claim 1, wherein the welding tip of the horn of the ultrasonic welder projects through the aperture of the boot of the clamping mechanism and is flush with the face of the boot when the ultrasonic welder is joining the thermoplastic workpieces. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The ultrasonic welder of claim 6, wherein the welding tip of the horn is circularly-shaped and the face of the boot is annular thereto. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The ultrasonic welder of claim 6, wherein the welding tip of the horn is circularly-shaped and the face of the boot has a partial annular shaped. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The ultrasonic welder of claim 6, wherein the welding tip of the horn is rectangularly-shaped and the face of the boot has a fragmented rectangular shape. ### Claim 10 A device for joining thermoplastic workpieces, comprising: an ultrasonic welder including an ultrasonic transducer, a booster and a horn having a welding tip; a clamping mechanism coupled to the ultrasonic welder and including an upper frame coupled to a boot, wherein the upper frame of the clamping mechanism is rotatably coupled to the booster, and wherein the clamping mechanism rotates about a longitudinal axis of the ultrasonic welder; the welding tip of the horn of the ultrasonic welder projecting into an aperture in the boot of the clamping mechanism; and wherein the clamping mechanism exerts a clamping force on the workpieces separate from a welding force exerted on the workpieces by the ultrasonic welder when the ultrasonic welder is operating to join the thermoplastic workpieces. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The ultrasonic welder of claim 1, wherein the clamping mechanism coupled to the ultrasonic welder comprises the clamping mechanism coupled to the ultrasonic welder via a quick-connect attachment device. ### Claim 12 A device for joining thermoplastic workpieces, comprising: an ultrasonic welder including an ultrasonic transducer and a horn having a welding tip; a clamping mechanism coupled to the ultrasonic welder and including an upper frame coupled to a boot; and the welding tip of the horn of the ultrasonic welder projecting into an aperture in the boot of the clamping mechanism; wherein the boot includes an air passageway fluidly coupleable to a pressurized air supply that blows air onto the horn of the ultrasonic welder; wherein the clamping mechanism exerts a clamping force on the workpieces against an anvil; and wherein the ultrasonic welder exerts mechanical vibration on one of the workpieces to join the thermoplastic workpieces when the clamping mechanism exerts the clamping force on the workpieces against the anvil. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The ultrasonic welder of claim 12, wherein the upper frame of the clamping mechanism mechanically couples to the boot via a plurality of compression springs arranged in parallel, the boot including a lower face portion for contacting the workpiece. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The ultrasonic welder of claim 12, wherein the welding tip of the horn of the ultrasonic welder projects through the aperture of the boot of the clamping mechanism and is flush with the lower face of the boot when the ultrasonic welder exerts mechanical vibration on one of the workpieces to join the thermoplastic workpieces.