PROCESS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF FLEXIBLE RESISTANCES

Abstract

A process for the production of laminar electric resistances by laser cutting a metallic foil fixed to a template provided with a shaped trace and provided with foil fixing means.

Claims

1. A process for the production of laminar electric resistances having plan geometry according to a predetermined pattern, wherein there are provided: a metallic (1) foil; a first template (2), which has a rigid structure and a trace (3), the trace (3) being shaped so as to have a plan geometry substantially tracing the plan geometry of said predetermined pattern forming a path, the first template (2) having fixing means adapted to fix the foil (1); at least one first sheet of insulating material; said process comprising the steps of: fixing the metal foil (1) onto the first template (2) by means of fixing means (4); cutting, according to a predetermined pattern, the metal foil (1) by means of a laser to obtain a cut foil (1); adhering a first sheet of insulating material to the surface of the cut foil (1) which is distal from the first template (2); detaching the foil (1) from the first template (2).

2. A process according to claim 1, wherein the fixing means are a plurality of holes (4) connected to a vacuum system to fix the foil (1) in reversible manner.

3. A process according to claim 1, wherein the fixing means are magnetic means.

4. A process according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the adhering of a second sheet of insulating material onto the surface of the cut foil (1) on the side opposite to the one of the first sheet, is provided after the step of detaching the foil (1) from the first template (2).

5. A process according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the plan dimensions of said trace (3) are slightly smaller than the plan dimensions of said predetermined pattern, preferably from 5% to 50% smaller.

6. A process according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first template (2) is made of metal or plastic material.

7. A process according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the thickness of the metal foil (1) is between 5 and 200 m.

8. A process according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a second template is provided, and wherein the detaching of the foil (1) from the first template (1) occurs by means of the action of said second template.

9. A template (2) for implementing the process according to any one of the claims from 1 to 8, which has a rigid structure and a trace (3), the trace (3) being shaped so as to have a plan geometry substantially tracing the plan geometry of said predetermined pattern and being provided with fixing means.

10. A template (2) according to claim 9, wherein the fixing means are a plurality of holes (4) arranged along the path of the trace (3) and connectable to a suction system, adapted to fix the metal foil (1) in reversible manner.

11. A template (2) according to claim 9, wherein the fixing means consist of an electromagnet.

12. A template (2) according to any one of the claim 9, 10 or 11, wherein the trace (3) is in relief.

13. A template (2) according to claim 12, wherein the height from a base plane of the trace (3) is comprised between 10 and 50 mm.

14. A template (2) according to any one of the claim 9, 10, 11, 12 or 13, wherein the plan dimensions of the trace (3) are slightly smaller than the plan dimensions of said predetermined pattern, preferably from 5% to 50% smaller.

15. Use of a laser metal cutting machine for implementing the process according to any one of the claims from 1 to 8.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0044] Further features and advantages of the invention will be apparent in light of the description of the process according to the invention, shown by way of non-limiting example with the help of the accompanying drawings, which are diagrammatic and not in scale, in which:

[0045] FIG. 1 shows a production process according to the prior art.

[0046] FIG. 2 shows the use process of the laser according to the invention.

[0047] FIG. 3 shows a plan view from above, diagrammatic and not in scale, of the final shape of a flat heating resistance made of metallic foil ready for use.

[0048] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view, diagrammatic and not in scale, of the template according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0049] FIG. 5 shows, diagrammatically and not in scale, a part of a section of cut foil fixed to a template according to the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0050] In particular, FIG. 2 shows a process for the production of a flat, thin resistance which may also have a complex shape, by cutting with a laser beam or ray. Laser cutting is a rather mature, known technology and will therefore not be described.

[0051] We will only say that thin metal sheets, e.g. in the order of 5-500 m, or for example 5-200 m thick, can be laser cut using semiconductor or fiber lasers with short wavelengths in the realm of visible light, to avoid the reflection of the metallic surface which is higher at longer wavelengths. A typical laser may be an Ytterbium (Yb) laser with repetition frequencies of a few kHz and beam powers of a few tens of Watt, operating in second harmonics.

[0052] As shown in FIG. 2, the foil 1 can be fixed to a template and then cut by the laser cutting machine according to the instructions of a specific computer program, for example by means of a computer assistance manufacturing program, and in particular according to a predetermined pattern. The advantages of such an approach can be easily apparent by comparing FIG. 1 and FIG. 2:

[0053] Reduction of lead time,

[0054] Reduction of costs by eliminating costly consumable materials and reducing the time required for each cycle,

[0055] Reduction of the space needed for the production line (up to 70%, 45 m.sup.2 versus 10 m.sup.2)

[0056] Reduction of the energy consumption needed for the production process, the final product being equal,

[0057] Reduction of the preparation time,

[0058] Elimination of consumption of acids, with consequent reduction of risks for the operators and the environment,

[0059] Reduction and ease of recovery of waste material,

[0060] Reduction of maintenance costs,

[0061] Better finished product quality.

[0062] Advantageously, according to a particularly preferred method of the invention, the foil 1, before the laser cutting operation, is fixed to a template 2 which is provided with a trace 3. Preferably, the template 2 is shaped as a parallelepiped on side of which the trace 3 is cut. The trace 3 is preferably in relief. For example, the trace 3 is in relief with respect to a base 7. Preferably, the trace 3 is shaped so as to have the same geometric plan shape as the foil 1 once cut according to the desired pattern, i.e. that the plan geometry of the trace 3 substantially traces the desired pattern of the cut foil 1. Even more preferably, the dimensions of the geometric plan shape of the trace are slightly smaller than the final plan geometric of the foil 1 to be cut, e.g. from 5 to 50% smaller, or for example from 5 to 30% smaller, as shown in FIG. 5. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 4, which illustrates a detail of the template 2, the template 2 is provided with a plurality of holes 4 connectable to a suction system which generates vacuum, e.g. a pump. By virtue of the holes 4 and the vacuum system, the foil 1 to be processed may be reversibly fixed to the template 2. Preferably, the template 2 is provided with holes 4, which open along the entire path of the trace 3, so as to fix the foil 1, also when it was cut, adequately otherwise it could be difficult to withhold and handle. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the holes 4 could cross through the template 2, so that they could be connected to a suction system on one side, while on the other side they open towards the foil 1 to be cut. When the base 7 is present, the holes 4 can also cross the latter.

[0063] By virtue of these contrivances, the laser beam strikes the foil 1 to be processed without damaging the template 2, which may be reused.

[0064] Indeed, as shown in FIG. 5, which illustrates a detail of the template 2 to which the cut foil 1 is fixed, in this manner the foil 1 cut with the desired geometry slightly protrudes laterally with respect to the trace 3, forming a step 5. By virtue of the presence of the trace 3, the laser beam does not strike and does not damage the template 2, in particular the zones of the template 2 which are under the zones of the foil 1 on which the laser beam acts are not damaged.

[0065] It is worth noting that the laser ray would damage the template underneath if the template 2 did not have the trace 3, considering the thinness of the foil.

[0066] Furthermore, it is worth noting that the foil 1 which was cut and protrudes from the trace 3 is not subject to undesired bending because the dimensions of such a protruding portion are only slightly larger than the trace 3 of the template 2.

[0067] Indeed, the template 2 may be produced, preferably of metallic or plastic material, with known techniques, e.g. by molding or by chip forming.

[0068] FIG. 3 shows an example of embodiment of a finished or semi-finished product. In particular, a complex shape flat resistance 6 made by means of this new process is shown. The resistance 6 can either consist of the foil 1 incorporated between two sheets of insulating material or the foil 1 can be made to adhere on a sheet of insulation material. This is a product which can reproduce all the uses of the electric resistances made with the known process of the prior art. In particular, the cut foil 1 can be incorporated in an insulating material, e.g. silicon material. In particular, according to a preferred process of the invention, a sheet of insulating material is made to adhere to the cut foil 1 on the distal surface of the template 2, i.e. not in contact with the latter; subsequently, once the vacuum system is deactivated and the foil 1 is removed from the template 2, a second sheet of insulating material is made to adhere onto the free surface of the cut foil 1, i.e. the surface which during the cutting process was in contact with the template 2. The two sheets of insulating material adhere to the respective surfaces of the cut foil 1 and also to one another, thus providing a fluid-tight, insulating seal. The two sheets of insulating material may then be further cut according to a required geometry.

[0069] Furthermore, although possible, further preliminary cleaning and/or subsequent surface finishing operations are not necessary.

[0070] According to an alternative embodiment of the invention, in the process of the invention the foil is reversibly fixed to a template by means of magnetic force.

[0071] Preferably, the magnetic force is generated by an electromagnet with which the template according to the invention is provided.

[0072] According to a further embodiment of the invention, once the first layer of insulating material is made to adhere to the foil, a second template, equivalent to template 2, is used to pick, by means of vacuum or magnetic force, the first insulating layer, and thus the foil adhering thereto and position the foil on a second layer of insulating material to which it is made to adhere.

[0073] It is apparent for a person skilled in the art that a template according to the invention provided with suction and magnetic fixing means goes not beyond the scope of the present invention.