Holding structure of an ultrasonic vibration transmission mechanism

Abstract

A holding structure (2) in an ultrasonic vibration welding device that welds workpieces by applying ultrasonic waves to the workpieces holds an ultrasonic vibration transmitter (horn) (5) bearing the transmission of longitudinally vibrating ultrasonic waves in holding members (8, 8). The horn comprises a horn body (51) having the length of one-half the wavelength of the ultra-sonic vibration. Holding structure (2) includes holders (7x, 7y) having a prescribed volume and thin sheet connectors (6a, 6b) placed at different positions (Pa, Pb) on the horn body (51). The horn body (51) is fixed to holding members (8, 8) by means of the respective holders (7x, 7y).

Claims

1. A holding structure of an ultrasonic vibration mechanism, comprising: a horn body formed as a solid body having a length that is nearly a length of half a wavelength of an applied ultrasonic wave applied to the horn body by an ultrasonic vibration welding device in which the holding structure is disposed; the horn body having a first position Pb that is at an input end at which the applied ultrasonic wave is applied to the horn body and a second position Pa spaced a prescribed distance from the first position Pb that is a wavelength of the applied ultrasonic wave; at least one holder disposed on a side of the horn body with thin sheet connectors associated with that holder extending between that holder and the horn body to maintain a space between the horn body and that holder, the thin sheet connectors including a flat thin sheet connector extending between the horn body from the first position Pb of the horn body to that holder, and a S-shaped thin sheet connector extending between the horn body from the second position Pa to that holder; the horn body, each holder and associated thin sheet connectors constructed in one piece; and each holder holders affixable to an associated holding element of the ultrasonic vibration welding device.

2. The holding structure of the ultrasonic vibration transmission mechanism of claim 1 wherein the first position Pb is at an anti-nodal area of the horn body when the applied ultrasonic wave is applied to the horn body with each flat thin sheet connector interposed between the anti-nodal area and its associated holder and the second position Pa is at a nodal area of the horn body with each S-shaped thin sheet connector interposed between the nodal area and its associated holder.

3. The holding structure of the ultrasonic vibration transmission mechanism of claim 1 wherein each S-shaped thin sheet connector is constructed at a prescribed thickness of less than 5/100 of the wavelength of the ultrasonic wave, each flat thin sheet connector is constructed at a prescribed thickness of less than 3/100 of the wavelength of the ultrasonic wave, and a flat surface of each S-shaped thin sheet connector and each flat thin sheet connector is disposed parallel to a wave surface of longitudinally vibrating ultrasonic waves of the applied ultrasonic wave.

4. The holding structure of the ultrasonic vibration transmission mechanism of claim 1 including at least another said holder disposed on another side of the horn body.

5. The holding structure of the ultrasonic vibration mechanism of claim 4 wherein the sides of the horn body on which the holders are disposed are opposite sides of the horn body.

6. The holding structure of the ultrasonic vibration transmission mechanism of claim 2 including at least another said holder disposed on another side of the horn body.

7. The holding structure of the ultrasonic vibration mechanism of claim 6 wherein the sides of the horn body on which the holders are disposed are opposite sides of the horn body.

8. The holding structure of the ultrasonic vibration transmission mechanism of claim 3 including at least another said holder disposed on another side of the horn body.

9. The holding structure of the ultrasonic vibration mechanism of claim 8 wherein sides of the horn body on which the holders are disposed are opposite sides of the horn body.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is an oblique view showing the holding structure and the ultrasonic vibration transmitter relating to an embodiment of the invention.

(2) FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the holding structure and the ultrasonic vibration transmitter relating to an embodiment of the invention.

(3) FIG. 3 is a side view showing the holding structure and the ultrasonic vibration transmitter relating to an embodiment of the invention.

(4) FIG. 4 is an oblique view typically showing the holding structure relating to an embodiment of the invention.

(5) FIG. 5 is a side view typically showing the holding structure relating to an embodiment of the invention.

(6) FIG. 6 is an oblique view showing the holding structure relating to another embodiment of the invention.

(7) FIG. 7 is an oblique view showing the holding structure of an ultrasonic vibration transmission mechanism in the ultrasonic vibration welding device of prior art.

(8) FIG. 8 is a side view showing the holding structure of an ultrasonic vibration transmission mechanism in the ultrasonic vibration welding device of prior art.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(9) The holding structure 2 will be described in reference to FIGS. 4 and 5 which include FIGS. 1 to 3. The holding structure 2 is as follows. Namely, a space is maintained between the horn body 51 and holders 7x, 7y by thin sheet connectors 6b, 6b at a 1st position Pb on one edge of the horn body 51, and, having a structure that maintains a space between the horn body 51 and holders 7x, 7y by second thin sheet connectors 6a, 6a at a 2nd position separated a prescribed distance from the edge of the horn body 51 on an edge in another direction, the horn body 51 is fixed to holding members 8, 8 by the holders 7x, 7y.

(10) Embodiments for Implementing the Invention

(11) An embodiment of the invention will be described below, with reference to the figures.

(12) FIGS. 1 to 5 are explanatory drawings showing the holding structure and the ultrasonic vibration transmitter relating to an embodiment of the invention.

(13) FIGS. 1 to 3 of the drawings show the ultrasonic vibration transmission mechanism 1 and the holding structure 2 in the ultrasonic vibration welding device. In the drawings, the ultrasonic vibration transmission mechanism 1 is composed of an ultrasonic wave oscillator (convertor) 3, a booster 4 disposed on the same axis as the converter 3 and an ultrasonic vibration transmitter (horn) 5 disposed on the same axis as the booster 4. The holding structure 2 fixes the ultrasonic vibration transmitter (horn) 5 to the holding members 8 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3.

(14) The holding structure 2 will be described in reference to FIGS. 4 and 5 which include FIGS. 1 to 3. The holding structure 2 is as follows. Namely, a space is maintained between the horn body 51 and holders 7x, 7y by thin sheet connectors 6b, 6b at a 1st position Pb on one edge of the horn body 51, and, having a structure that maintains a space between the horn body 51 and holders 7x, 7y by second thin sheet connectors 6a, 6a at a 2nd position separated a prescribed distance from the edge of the horn body 51 on an edge in another direction, the horn body 51 is fixed to holding members 8, 8 by the holders 7x, 7y.

(15) To describe further, the ultrasonic vibration transmitter (horn) 5 has a horn body 51 that is formed in a solid form (respective columnar shape) of a prescribed length. This horn body 51 is constructed in one piece with holders 7x, 7y facing the center of the horn body 51 and 2 thin sheet connectors 6a, 6b disposed at different axial positions Pa, Pb of the horn body 51 in order to maintain a space between the horn body 51 and the holders 7x, 7y.

(16) The horn body 51 is formed as a right-angled parallelpiped of a length of about one half wavelength (/2) of 1 wavelength of an ultrasonic wave. The 1.sup.st position Pb on one end of the horn body 51 is on the anti-node position of the horn body 51 when ultrasonic waves are applied to the horn body 51, and flat thin sheet connectors 6b, 6b are interposed between the abovementioned anti-node of the horn body 51 and the respective holders 7x, 7y.

(17) Furthermore, holder 7x and holder 7y are respectively constructed as follows. That is, holder 7x and holder 7y are respectively formed with a length of about /4 of the ultrasonic wave oscillation used and in the shape of a rectangular column having a prescribed weight at a pre-scribed volume; construction is such that holder 7x or holder 7y can fix holding elements 8, 8.

(18) The 2.sup.nd position Pa separated at a prescribed distance at the other end from the abovementioned end of the horn body 51 is at the node of the horn body 51; S-shaped thin sheet connectors 6a, 6a are interposed at the node between the horn body 51 and the respective holders 7x, 7y.

(19) The holding structure 2 will now be further described. The ultrasonic vibration transmitter (horn) 5 transmits a longitudinally vibrating ultrasonic wave and, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, has a horn body 51 with a length of about one half wavelength of the ultrasonic vibration. The horn body 51 has a rectangular column shape up to the vicinity of the 2nd position Pa, the edge at a distance of /4 from the 1st position Pb at the ultrasonic wave input side edge, i.e., the position of another edge of the horn body 51. From the 2nd position, seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, it gradually tapers downwards for a prescribed length Lc and, from this prescribed length Lc over a prescribed length Ld up to the tip on the other side, it has a uniform thickness D.

(20) At the 1.sup.st position, the ultrasonic input end edge, when ultrasonic vibrations are input to the horn, it becomes the anti-node position of the standing wave located on the horn body 51. Also, at the 2.sup.nd position Pa, when ultrasonic vibrations are input to the horn, it becomes the node position of the standing wave located on the horn 5. That is, the 1.sup.st position and 2.sup.nd position have a /4 relation on the horn body 51 of the horn 5.

(21) The S-shaped connectors 6a are constructed in respective S-shapes at a prescribed thickness of less than about 5/100 of one wavelength of an ultrasonic wave; the planes of the respective S-shaped thin sheet connectors 6a form a parallel disposition to the wave surface of the longitudinal vibrating ultrasonic waves. The longitudinally vibrating ultrasonic waves are densely propagated in the transmission direction.

(22) Similarly, the flat thin sheet connectors 6b are constructed in flat plates at a prescribed thickness of less than 3/100 of one wavelength of the transmitted ultrasonic waves, and the flat plate surfaces of the flat thin sheet connectors 6b are parallel to the wave surface of the longitudinally vibrating ultrasonic waves.

(23) With an ultrasonic vibration welding device equipped with an ultrasonic vibration transmission mechanism 1 and a holding structure 2 thus constructed, pieces to be welded (workpieces) W1, W2 are loaded on a workpiece loading anvil 9, the ultrasonic vibration transmission mechanism 1 is lowered, pieces to be welded (workpieces) W1, W2 are kept at increasing pressure between the tips of the horn 5 and the anvil 9, and thus, the workpieces are welded together by applying ultrasonic vibrations to the horn 5.

(24) Now, the ultrasonic vibration welding devise operates as follows. That is, the ultrasonic electrical energy from the ultrasonic vibration generator (not shown in the figures) is converted to mechanical vibration energy in a converter (ultrasonic wave oscillator) 3. This mechanical vibration energy is supplied to the ultrasonic vibration transmitter (horn) 5 after being amplified by a booster 4. After the ultrasonic vibration transmitter (horn) 5 resonates with mechanical vibrations, the mechanical vibration energy of this resonance is applied to the workpieces. As a result, friction heat occurs on the pieces to be welded (workpieces) W1, W2 situated between the tip of the horn 5 and the anvil 9. The pieces to be welded (workpieces) are then welded together by the friction heat occurring on these pieces to be welded (workpieces) W1, W2. In this way, the pieces to be welded (workpieces) W1, W2 can be welded by friction heat on the pieces to be welded (workpieces) W1, W2 applying ultrasonic mechanical vibration energy from the ultrasonic vibration transmitter (horn) 5 resonating with ultrasonic vibrations to the pieces to be welded (workpieces) W1, W2.

(25) In addition, the ultrasonic vibration transmitter (horn) 5 is made into one piece comprising the horn body 51, the thin sheet connectors 6a, 6b and holders 7x, 7y; because of the construction in which the thin sheet connectors 6a, 6b are placed at a /4 position, the ultrasonic vibration transmitter (horn 5) can be solidly held in a condition of strengthened mechanical intensity.

(26) With the holding structure of the ultrasonic vibration transmission mechanism constructed as above, an ultrasonic vibration transmitter (horn) 5 is formed on a horn body 51 of an approximately one half wavelength of the ultrasonic wave, respective thin sheet connectors 6a, 6b are placed on a 2nd position Pa and a 1st position Pb of the horn body 51, the horn body 51, the thin sheet connectors 6a, 6b and holders 7x, 7y are made in one piece, the holders 7x, 7y are fixed to holding elements 8, 8, and the flat surfaces of the thin sheet connectors 6a, 6b are disposed parallel to the wave surface of longitudinally vibrating ultrasonic waves; wherefore, the following excellent effects are manifested.

(27) First, as the embodiment adopts such a construction, the holding rigidity of the ultrasonic vibration transmitter is enhanced.

(28) Additionally, as the embodiment adopts such a construction, the withstand load of the ultrasonic vibration transmitter is enhanced compared to that of prior art.

(29) Furthermore, as the embodiment adopts such a construction, even with a transverse load on the ultrasonic vibration transmitter, there is little displacement imparted to the ultrasonic vibration transmission mechanism, including the ultrasonic vibration transmitter.

(30) FIG. 6 is an explanatory drawing showing the holding structure of an ultrasonic vibration mechanism according to another embodiment of the invention. Using the same reference numerals for the same construction elements as in the holding structure of the ultrasonic vibration transmission mechanism shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, a detailed description can be brief.

(31) As shown in FIG. 6, the holding structure 2x of the ultrasonic vibration transmission mechanism 1x according to the other embodiment of the invention is made in one piece in a form in which the tip Pc of the 1st ultrasonic vibration transmitter (horn) 5A having the exact same holding structure as the abovementioned embodiment and the tip Pd of the 2nd ultrasonic vibration transmitter (horn) 5B having the exact same holding structure as the abovementioned embodiment are placed against each other. In this ultrasonic vibration transmission mechanism 1x, the tip Pc of the 1st ultrasonic vibration transmitter (horn) 5A and the tip Pd of the 2nd ultrasonic vibration transmitter (horn) 5B are made into one piece by being placed against each other. The part 55 corresponding to the point at which they abut becomes the point of operation; ultrasonic mechanical vibration energy is supplied from the part 55 to the workpieces.

(32) Subsequently, the combined length of the ultrasonic vibration transmitters (horn) 5A, 5B is one wavelength of the ultrasonic wave being used. The 1.sup.st positions Pb, Pb of the ultrasonic vibration transmitters (horn) 5A, 5B are the anti-nodal part of the amplitude, the 2.sup.nd positions Pa, Pa of the ultrasonic vibration transmitters (horn) 5A, 5B are the nodal part of the amplitude, and the part 55 corresponding to the point at which they abut is the anti-nodal part of the amplitude.

(33) The ultrasonic vibration transmitter (horn) 5A has a construction in which the horn body 511, holders 7Ax, 7Ay facing the center of the horn body 511 on one edge of the horn body 511 and two thin sheet connectors 6Aa, 6Ab disposed at different axial positions PAa, PAb of the horn body 511 to maintain a space between the horn body 511 and the holders 7Ax, 7Ay are made in one piece; similarly, the ultrasonic vibration transmitter (horn) 5B also has a construction in which the horn body 511, holders 7Bx, 7By facing the center of the horn body 511 on another edge of the horn body 511 and two thin sheet connectors 6Ba, 6Bb disposed at different axial positions PBa, PBb of the horn body 511 to maintain a space between the horn body 511 and the holders 7Bx, 7By are made in one piece.

(34) Such a holding structure 2x of an ultrasonic vibration transmitter 1x according to the other embodiment of the invention disposes thin sheet connectors 6a, 6a and holders 7x, 7y on both sides of the horn body and disposes thin sheet connectors 6a, 6a and holders 7x, 7y respectively facing the center of the horn body 511; wherefore, the following effects succeed.

(35) By means of the holding structure of the ultrasonic vibration transmission mechanism of the other embodiment of the invention, the holding rigidity of the ultrasonic vibration transmitter is enhanced because there is a holding structure on both sides of the body.

(36) Moreover, by means of the holding structure of the ultrasonic vibration transmission mechanism of the other embodiment of the invention, the withstand load of the ultrasonic vibration transmitter is enhanced compared to that in prior art.

(37) Furthermore, by means of the holding structure of the ultrasonic vibration transmission mechanism of the other embodiment of the invention, even with a transverse load on the ultrasonic vibration transmitter, there is little displacement imparted to the ultrasonic vibration transmission mechanism, which includes the ultrasonic vibration transmitter.

EXPLANATION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

(38) 1, 1x ultrasonic vibration transmission mechanism 2, 2x holding structure 3 converter 4 booster 5 horn 51, 511 horn body 6a, 6b, 6Aa, 6Ab, 6Ba, 6Bb thin sheet connectors 7x, 7y, 7ax, 7ay, 7bx, 7By holders 8 holding member