Abstract:
A method of welding two thermoplastic workpieces (W) together along a predetermined weld line during a weld cycle utilizing a high frequency vibration sonic or ultrasonic welding apparatus. This welding apparatus includes an electroacoustic transducer (18) which transmits such vibrations to a horn (19) which is dimensioned to be resonant with the horn being brought into forced engagement with at least one of the workpieces to be welded. The method comprising the steps of bringing the workpieces into bearing relation against one another along the weld line. Then the electroacoustic transducer is energized so as to resonate the horn with a desired motional amplitude. Forceful contact is established between the horn and one of the workpieces. Then, the forceful contact between the horn and the one workpiece is maintained throughout the weld cycle. The motional amplitude of the horn is varied in accordance with a desired motional amplitude profile.
Abstract:
An expert system for a welding machine has an installed knowledge base concerning weld problems and preferred solutions. Trial welds are made from which input data concerning weld quality is obtained. The expert system applies predetermined rules and historic confidence levels to determine changes in weld parameters to attempt to correct any weld defects.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a method for a unique control of the frequency andutput power of a digital generator, in particular for an ultrasonic welding process. Based on a digital processing, the method according to the present invention compensates not only for variations of the resonant frequency in a broad range, but further provides to control a shifting of the resonant point during the welding process in response to temperature or pressure variations. Power variations caused by variations of the line supply voltage or by the pressure are detected and levelled out by the software. The software monitors the overall operation of in-line machinery, matches its parameters and monitors the complete cycle. The software further ensures an optimum efficiency and effectively protects the end stage against stress caused by high-reactive currents.
Abstract:
The ultrasonic energy applied to a workpiece to be welded in an ultrasonic welding operation, over a predetermined welding time, is measured by processing the output of a load cell beneath the workpiece to produce a signal voltage for comparison with a predetermined reference voltage corresponding to the accumulated ultrasonic energy that should have been applied to the workpiece during said predetermined time to satisfactorily weld the workpiece. A one-shot timer is started at the commencement of the welding operation. If the comparison reveals that signal voltage has reached the reference voltage before the timer has run out, a success signal is generated to indicate the completion of the welding operation.
Abstract:
Apparatus and method for determining the operative effectiveness of a vibrating means coupled to a non-linear load, said apparatus comprising a vibrating means operatively connected to a source of vibratory energy and having coupling means for connecting to a non-linear load, vibration sensing means electrically connected to a harmonic analyzing means having an output electrically connected to an indicator means which may include a display means and a control means.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a method for determining at least one physical characteristic value of an electromechanical oscillatory system, which comprises a piezoelectric element and at least one additional element coupled, with respect to oscillation, to the piezoelectric element, the piezoelectric element having an electrode and a counter electrode. The method comprises the following steps: (a) applying an electrical alternating voltage between the electrode and the counter electrode for the duration of an excitation interval in order to induce mechanical oscillation of the oscillatory system or of a sub-system of the oscillatory system, so that after the excitation interval has expired, the oscillatory system or the sub-system performs a free oscillation without excitation, (b) after the end of the excitation and during the free oscillation of the oscillatory system or of the sub-system without excitation: (i) measuring a time curve of a voltage U between the electrode and the counter electrode, or (ii) short-circuiting the electrode and the counter electrode with a line and measuring a time curve of a current I through the line, and (c) determining the at least one physical characteristic value of the electromechanical oscillatory system from the time curve of the voltage U, which time curve was measured in step b) i), or the time curve of the current I, which time curve was measured in step b) ii).
Abstract:
A resonance method for a vibration system for resonant vibration of an excitation unit having a vibrating mass includes detecting a deflection of the vibrating mass, differentiating the deflection to form a velocity of the vibrating mass; generating from the deflection and the velocity a mechanical phase position; forming from the mechanical phase position a corrected phase position by using a correction value; forming, based on the corrected phase position, an electrical angular frequency with a P-regulation; integrating the electrical angular frequency to determine an electrical phase position; forming from the electrical phase position a correction factor by using a trigonometric function; and applying the correction factor to an excitation setpoint value to generate a corrected excitation setpoint value. Also disclosed are a converter, an excitation unit having the converter, and a vibration system having the excitation unit and the vibrating mass.
Abstract:
A method for testing the integrity of a stack during ultrasonic welding, includes the steps of: (i) ultrasonically welding two or more work pieces with a stack, the stack including a convertor and a horn; (ii) measuring a frequency profile based on a vibration of the horn during the welding step; and (iii) comparing the measured frequency profile to a standard frequency profile to obtain an error rate, the error rate being indicative of a difference between the measured frequency profile and the standard frequency profile. A system employing the aforementioned method is also provided.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a device for the ultrasonic processing of materials, which has an ultrasonic processing system, which comprises: an ultrasound generator, a converter (12), a sonotrode (16), and a counter tool (18); wherein the sonotrode (16) and/or the counter tool (18) has a substantially cylindrical sealing surface having at least one elevation (45) and can be rotated such that, during the processing, the elevation (45) rotates about the axis of rotation and comes in contact with the material web (20) during a sealing time, wherein a control apparatus (24) is provided for the ultrasound generator, to which control apparatus a feedback variable from the ultrasound processing system is fed and which control apparatus determines a manipulated variable therefrom and feeds said manipulated variable to the ultrasound generator, wherein a process variable from the processing process is determined and is linked to the manipulated variable determined by the control apparatus (24) before the feeding to the ultrasound generator. In order to provide an improved device for the ultrasonic processing of materials having an ultrasonic processing system, a trigger apparatus (44) is provided, which determines the position of the elevation (45) and is designed to permit or prevent the linking of the process variable to the manipulated variable in accordance with the position determination.
Abstract:
Methods and devices are described for driving ferroelectric perovskite oxide crystals to achieve polarization inversion with reduced coercivity. In some embodiments, the anisotropy in the potential energy surface of a ferroelectric material is employed to drive polarization inversion and switching with a reduced coercive field relative to uniaxial excitation. In some embodiments, polarization inversion with reduced coercivity is produced via the application of an electric field that exhibits a time-dependent orientation, in contrast with conventional uniaxial electrical excitation, thereby causing the central ion (and the crystal structure as a whole) to evolve along a lower-energy path, in which the central ion is driven such that it avoids the potential energy maximum. This may be achieved, for example, by applying at least two non-parallel time-dependent voltages (e.g. bias, potential) such that orientation of the electric field changes with time during the switching cycle.