Workpiece Receptacle

Abstract

Disclosed is a workpiece receptacle, in particular for an ultrasonic welding device, that has a receiving element for receiving a workpiece. The receiving element can be moved in relation to a base element. A bearing device disposed between the receiving element and the base element for this purpose. The bearing device has spherical surfaces lying opposite one another.

Claims

1. A workpiece receptacle for a workpiece comprising: a receiving element for receiving the workpiece, a base element movably receiving the receiving element, a bearing element allowing for a movement between the receiving element and the base element, a first bearing cup connected with the receiving element, and a second bearing cup connected with the base element, wherein both the first bearing cup and the second bearing cup have a spherical surface.

2. The workpiece receptacle of claim 1, wherein the spherical surface of the first bearing cup and the spherical surface of the second bearing cup are arranged concentrically with regard to each other and in particular have a same center.

3. The workpiece receptacle of claim 2, wherein a processing plane passes through the same center.

4. The workpiece receptacle of one of claim 1, wherein balls are provided between the first bearing cup and the second bearing cup.

5. The workpiece receptacle of claim 4, wherein the balls are retained by a bearing cage.

6. The workpiece receptacle of claim 5, wherein the balls are arranged equidistantly.

7. The workpiece receptacle of claim 1, further comprising a fixing element for fixing the receiving element with respect to the base element.

8. The workpiece receptacle of claim 7, wherein the fixing element has a tensioning element for tensioning the receiving element with respect to the base element so as to fix the receiving element with respect to the base element.

9. The workpiece receptacle of claim 1, further comprising a holding element for holding a workpiece support on the receiving element.

10. The workpiece receptacle of claim 3, further comprising an adjustment element for adjusting the workpiece such that the processing plane passes through the same center.

11. The workpiece receptacle of claim 10, wherein the adjustment element allows for a displacement of the workpiece.

12. A welding apparatus comprising an ultrasonic welding device, the workpiece receptacle of claim 1, and a closing device for moving the ultrasonic welding device relative to the workpiece arranged in the workpiece receptacle.

13. The workpiece receptacle of claim 3, wherein the processing plane is a welding plane.

14. The workpiece receptacle of claim 6, wherein the balls are arranged equidistantly because of the bearing cage.

Description

[0016] The invention will be explained in more detail hereunder with reference to a preferred embodiment and to the accompanying drawing.

[0017] The FIGURE illustrates a schematic sectional view of a workpiece receptacle suited in particular for a welding apparatus, but also for other devices for the processing of workpieces.

[0018] The workpiece receptacle illustrated in the FIGURE comprises a receiving element 10 for receiving a workpiece. Here, the workpiece may be arranged on the receiving element 10 e.g. in a recess 12 serving in particular for adjustment purposes. It is also possible to provide clamping and/or holding devices e.g. on an upper surface 14 of the receiving element 10. The receiving element 10 is movable with respect to a base element 16. In the embodiment illustrated the base element 16 is supported by a frame element 18 and is stationary. To allow for a movement between the receiving element and the base element, a bearing means 20 is provided. In the embodiment illustrated, the bearing means 20 comprises a plurality of balls 22. The balls 22 are regularly distributed or equidistantly arranged between the receiving element 10 and the base element 16. For this purpose, a bearing cage 24 is provided in the embodiment illustrated. For forming the bearing means, a lower side of the receiving element 12, as illustrated in the FIGURE, is designed as a bearing cup 26 by shaping the lower side of the receiving element 10 as a spherical surface 28. The part of the base element 16 opposite the bearing cup 26 is designed as a bearing cup 30. A surface 32 directed towards the surface 28 is also designed as a spherical surface. The two spherical surfaces 28, 32 forming the surfaces of the bearing cups are at a constant distance from each other. In particular, the two spherical surfaces 28, 32 have the same centre 34.

[0019] For welding two workpieces, the same can be arranged on the upper surface 14 of the receiving element and may, for example, be fixed or held. However, the arrangement of the workpieces is preferably such that the welding plane of the workpieces is in a plane 36 passing through the common centre 34 of the two spherical surfaces 28, 32. Thus, it is possible in particular to lower a welding device from above onto the workpieces to be welded, so that the parts to be welded are thereby in particular aligned automatically or self-actingly in the welding plane 36 in a plane-parallel manner.

[0020] Further, it is possible to fix the receiving element 10, and thus also the workpiece arranged on the receiving element 10, with respect to the base element 16. This could be effected e.g. by fixing elements having electromagnets or the like. As shown in the embodiment illustrated it is possible to provide a holding element 38. In the embodiment illustrated the same has an abutment element 40 resting on a lower side 42 of the base element 16. Using a lever 44 connected with a nut 48 arranged on a threaded rod 46, a clamping fixation of the receiving element 10 relative to the base element 16 can be effected.